African cocoa plants run out of beans as global chocolate crisis deepens 

A US-funded flight carrying 59 white South Africans granted refugee status landed at Dulles Airport, expedited by President Trump, who cited their persecution as victims of "racial discrimination." The South African government has denied these claims, asserting they do not meet refugee law criteria, while immigrant rights activists criticized the initiative as unfair given the suspension of other refugee admissions. The situation has sparked controversy, with assertions of a genocide against white farmers in South...

At least 130 civilians were reportedly killed by Burkina Faso government forces and allied militia in March near Solenzo, according to Human Rights Watch (HRW), which describes the incident as a "massacre" linked to operations by Burkinabè special forces. The Fulani community, often accused of supporting Islamist militants, has faced increased violence, with HRW calling for investigations into these actions, which it defines as potential war crimes. The situation is compounded by ongoing militant attacks,...

Group A: Kenya (co-hosts), Morocco, Angola, DR Congo, Zambia. Group B: Tanzania (co-hosts), Madagascar, Mauritania, Burkina Faso, Central African Republic. Group C: Uganda (co-hosts), Niger, Guinea, Algeria, South Africa. Group D: Senegal, Equatorial Guinea*, Sudan, Nigeria. *Equatorial Guinea replaced Congo-Brazzaville after the latter fielded an ineligible player in qualifying. Full Article

Malawian cricket is mourning the death of Arjun Menon, a top official and operations manager of Cricket Malawi, who was "brutally murdered" at his home in Blantyre at the age of 48. The Malawi National Council of Sports condemned the violence, highlighting Menon's significant contributions to the sport and urging law enforcement to ensure justice. Menon, a former wicketkeeper for Singapore, also coached in various countries and was remembered as a mentor and leader, with...

Ibrahim Traoré/XBurkina Faso's military ruler, Capt Ibrahim Traoré, has cultivated a pan-Africanist image since seizing power in 2022, appealing to a youth population disillusioned with Western influence. His regime has shifted alliances from France to Russia, implemented leftist economic policies, and nationalized foreign mining operations to benefit Burkinabé citizens. Despite his rising popularity across Africa, Traoré faces criticism for failing to address a persistent Islamist insurgency and for cracking down on dissent. Full Article

A U.S.-funded charter plane departed Johannesburg carrying 49 white South Africans claiming discrimination, welcomed as refugees by the Trump administration. This expedited process for Afrikaners, who assert they face job denial and violence due to their race, contrasts sharply with the near halt on refugee admissions from conflict regions. Critics argue this initiative undermines the refugee system's integrity and has heightened tensions between the U.S. and South Africa, with many Afrikaners expressing a desire for...