Southern African countries like Botswana, eSwatini, Namibia, and Zimbabwe have recently reported fresh malaria outbreaks. This shows how hard it still is to eliminate the disease in the region.

Data from the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) shows a sharp rise in malaria cases in Zimbabwe. By week 23 of 2025, the country had reported 111,998 suspected cases and 310 deaths, with a case fatality rate of 0.27%. During the same period in 2024, there were 29,031 cases and 49 deaths.

It's not just Southern Africa seeing a rise. In Nigeria’s Kano State, officials recently confirmed 2 million cases of malaria infections.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates that there were 263 million malaria cases and 597,000 deaths in 83 countries in 2023. The African region continues to carry the biggest burden—94% of all malaria cases and 95% of malaria deaths happened there.

Children under five made up about 76% of all malaria deaths in the region.

According to BP, the Bumerangue discovery is likely the company’s most significant since the Shah Deniz gas and condensate field, which was identified in 1999 in the Azeri sector of the Caspian Sea.

This discovery supports BP’s strategy to refocus on oil and gas. The company has increased its annual spending on fossil fuels to $10 billion, while reducing its planned investments in renewable energy. It has lowered its projected annual investment in energy transition businesses from earlier forecasts to between $1.5 billion and $2 billion.

BP forecasts its oil and gas production to range between 2.3 million and 2.5 million barrels of oil equivalent per day by 2030. The company produced 2.4 million barrels of oil equivalent in 2024 but expects a decline in output for 2025.

The Bumerangue block is located in Brazil’s Santos basin in deepwater pre-salt formations. BP acquired the block in December 2022 under what it described as “very good commercial terms.”

The Brazil find is BP’s tenth discovery of the year, with other recent discoveries made in Trinidad, Egypt , and other parts of Brazil.

BP had previously set an ambitious carbon-reduction target in 2020, positioning itself as a leader in the industry. However, the company has since scaled back its renewable energy plans as part of its revised strategic direction.

A joint programme known as Mission 300 has been launched by the African Development Bank and the World Bank Group. The initiative aims to provide electricity to 300 million people in Africa by the year 2030.

The plan includes connecting half of the unserved communities to the power grid within five years. Achieving this objective requires a large-scale investment in electricity generation and distribution infrastructure . The estimated requirement to reach universal energy access in Africa by 2030 is close to $25 billion annually.

One of the primary challenges is finding financing models that do not place an unsustainable debt burden on countries or expose communities to high energy costs from private firms.

Addressing the lack of electricity goes beyond simply powering homes. It also includes reducing dependency on traditional cooking fuels such as wood fires, which are a major contributor to climate change and public health issues in the region.

To further support this agenda, the African Guarantee Fund (AGF) introduced the Mission 300 Local Currency Guarantee Facility earlier this year. This programme is designed to mobilise $5 billion to support energy access projects across the continent.

The allegations were brought forward by Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, the police commissioner for KwaZulu-Natal, who claims Mchunu disbanded elite task forces and tampered with politically sensitive investigations, including cases of politically motivated killings.

While Mchunu is not a police officer, his role as Minister of Police gives him significant influence over national law enforcement. He was appointed in J une 2024, just after the ANC formed a Government of National Unity (GNU) following one of the country's most contested elections .

This scandal comes amid a broader crisis in public safety. South Africa is currently battling an epidemic of violent crime, and since the GNU took office, many citizens feel that insecurity has worsened and confidence in the justice system has eroded.

The situation has also placed President Cyril Ramaphosa under intense pressure. Just weeks ago, the opposition Democratic Alliance (DA) called for a vote of no confidence in the president, which has created more unrest and tension in the country.

With the public watching closely and institutions under strain, the question now is: will the government act in the interest of justice or protect its own?

In Africa, formal banking systems struggled to reach rural communities, so Africans turned to what they did have — mobile phones. Then, platforms like M-Pesa , MTN Mobile Money , and Airtel Money came to the rescue as financial lifelines.

Today, many African countries have skipped traditional banking entirely—no long queues. No forms. No internet .

Watch the video to learn how.

White House officials say Trump had initially refrained from retaliating, hoping to maintain Musk’s support ahead of the midterm congressional elections next year. But by Thursday, June 5, following a tirade from Musk on X, Trump responded publicly, expressing disappointment and threatening to cut Musk’s government subsidies. Musk fired back by endorsing impeachment calls and suggesting a new political party.

But mass deportations come at a steep financial cost for the U.S. government, amounting to billions of dollars. Under the Biden administration, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) spent an average of $10,500 to deport a single person, according to NBC . 

Beyond the U.S., deportations also have significant economic consequences for Latin America. In many countries, migrant remittances are a key pillar of the economy. In nations like El Salvador, Honduras, and Nicaragua, remittances account for more than 20% of GDP and serve as a crucial source of income for millions of households. 

Personal remittances as a share of GDP in Latin American and Caribbean countries in 2023, according to Statista :

Deportations mean fewer people sending money home, reducing household income, weakening local economies, and decreasing consumption.

Deportation is not just an immigration issue—it is a major factor shaping the global economy.

A combination of factors drives this dramatic surge and creates a perfect storm for the global coffee industry.

This controversy stems from one of the most harrowing issues in modern Britain, a long-running series of child exploitation cases that first came to attention in 2011. 

Born in 1908 in southern Brazil, Sister Inah has witnessed monumental events in history, from two world wars to the moon landing. Her extraordinary life includes a remarkable connection to Brazil's political history—she once taught General João Figueiredo, the country’s last military dictator.

Dogecoin, the first and most famous meme coin, started as a joke based on the Doge meme featuring a Shiba Inu. What began as lighthearted fun evolves into a major player in the crypto market, proving that even humour can hold value in the right context.

The rise of meme coins is fueled by social media platforms like X, Reddit, and TikTok. Viral trends and influencer endorsements can sky.

Later in March, far away in Latin America, Mexico specifically, a similar protest was replicated when over 180,000 women and allies protested against violence, murder and other forms of vices threatening the lives of women in the country.

Data from the Mexico National Institute of Statistics and Geography revealed an alarming rate of violence perpetrated against women in three years. In 2021, nearly 10 women were murdered in the country every day, culminating in 3427 women that year alone.

Later in 2022, state prosecutors reported that rape and its related violence have reached a peak and were more prevalent amongst girls within the 10-14 age bracket. A total of 4,197 such cases were filed. 

The year 2023 was no different. The Secretary of Security and citizens reported that over 2500 women had become victims of homicide and more than 800 of them were femicide victims

These instances are not only limited to Kenya and Mexico. Almost like a plague, it is a phenomenon prevalent in many countries the world over. The recent murder of Rebecca Cheptegei brought a rude reminder of the continued existence of impunity and injustices against women. Without any intentions of invoking emotions, here are some athletes who are victims of femicide.

Agnes Tirop, Kenya

In 2021, the gruesome murder of Agnes Tirop triggered a rave agitation for the protection of women. Her life was snuffed by none other than Ibrahim Rotich, her husband. Tirop’s lifeless body was found in her home with stab wounds. Aside from that, it was reported that her car windows had been smashed. It had only been five weeks after winning the women's 10km marathon in Germany. The Kenyan President at the time, Uhuru Kenyatta, remarked, "It is unsettling, utterly unfortunate, and very sad that we've lost a young and promising athlete. It is even more painful that Agnes, a Kenyan hero by all measures, painfully lost her young life through a criminal act perpetuated by selfish and cowardly people."

Damaris Muthee Mutua, Kenya/Bahrain

A Kenyan-born Bahraini athlete who was a two-time world championship bronze medalist was murdered in 2022. The autopsy report revealed her cause of death as strangulation, allegedly, by her boyfriend Koki Foi, also an athlete with Ethiopian descent. Mutua, a mother of one, held 2 nd place in a 10km race in Angola. “She was an upcoming road runner. People would describe her as someone with very good discipline. Earlier this month, she was third in a very tough half-marathon race in Angola. She was found dead just when her career on the road was picking up," Elias Makori, managing editor for sport at Nation Media Group, told BBC Sport .

Rebecca Cheptegei, Uganda

Cheptegei was set ablaze by her boyfriend following a disagreement. She sustained 75-80% burns on her body and succumbed to her injuries some hours after the incident. Prior to this, the 33-year Olympian held the Ugandan women’s title for a marathon record of 2:22:47 at the Abu Dhabi marathon in 2022. At the just-ended Paris Olympics, she participated in the 10,000m race and finished 44 th . Cheptegei had two children.

“We have learnt of the sad passing on of our Olympic athlete Rebecca Cheptegei OLY following a vicious attack by her boyfriend. May her gentle soul rest in peace and we strongly condemn violence against women. This was a cowardly and senseless act that led to the loss of a great athlete. Her legacy will continue to endure,” Donald Rukare, president of the Uganda Olympics Committee, wrote.

Background

Botswana recently celebrated a historic achievement when Letsile Tebogo won the country's first-ever Olympic gold medal in the men's 200m event at the Paris 2024 Olympics. This victory brought immense pride to the nation and was a significant milestone in Botswana's sporting history. However, the celebrations were soon overshadowed by the government's appeal for public donations to reward the athletes.

Government's request

On August 14, the Botswana government announced a fund to honour the Olympic champions, asking citizens to contribute financially. The government stated that this initiative was a way for the public to show their appreciation and support for the athletes who brought glory to the nation.

The request, unfortunately, was met with widespread criticism and anger. Many questioned why their taxes were not being used to reward the Olympians.

Social media platforms have been flooded with comments from citizens expressing their frustration. "We are already paying tax, give our champions money from the government purse," one user on Facebook remarked.

Another user on the same platform also shared "I would love to donate in support of the boy’s historic achievement, but unfortunately, I’m currently an unemployed electrical engineering graduate with a bachelor’s degree."

Economic situation

Botswana's GDP growth slowed to 2.7% in 2023, down from 5.8% in 2022. According to the World Bank , this decline is attributed to reduced diamond production and weaker global demand.

However, inflation has decreased to 5.3% in 2023, within the Bank of Botswana's acceptable range of 3%–6%. This reduction is due to lower domestic fuel prices and reduced imported inflation.

The country also faces high unemployment rates, with overall unemployment at 25.9% and youth unemployment at 34.4% as of the third quarter of 2023.

Despite a relatively high income level, Botswana has significant poverty and inequality issues. The poverty headcount ratio decreased from 17.0% in 2019 to 14.5% in 2022, but inequality remains high with a Gini index of 53.3.

Other countries' rewards to medallists

Before the Paris Olympics, Hong Kong announced that any gold medalists from the city would receive one of the largest cash rewards available: HK$6 million (over $750,000). This is part of the Athlete Incentive Awards Scheme, sponsored by the Hong Kong Jockey Club, the city's official betting organiser.

Several other governments also promised six-figure cash rewards to their Olympic champions, including those of Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Morocco, Italy, the Philippines, Hungary, Kosovo, Estonia, and Egypt.