CAR Agrees to Accept U.S. Deportees Under New Deal
The Central African Republic has agreed to accept migrants deported from the U.S. under a third-country arrangement, according to sources familiar with the deal. Details remain unclear, including how many people could be sent and when flights might begin, but aid agency IOM is expected to assist deportees upon arrival.
Mexican Cartels Linked to South African Meth Labs
Authorities say a series of methamphetamine labs uncovered on remote South African farms points to growing involvement by Mexican criminal networks in local drug production. Investigators have linked at least four major meth lab busts over the past two years to Mexican nationals, raising concerns that cartels are establishing a longer-term presence in the country.
DR Congo Court Issues Final Verdict in UN Experts Murder Case
The Democratic Republic of Congo’s High Military Court has sentenced all 54 defendants in the 2017 killings of United Nations investigators Michael Sharp and Zaida Catalan to death. Families of the victims welcomed the ruling but say more work is needed to identify and prosecute those who may have masterminded the murders.
Climate Change Linked to Malaria Surge in Southern Africa
Health officials say heavier rains, flooding, and rising temperatures are contributing to a sharp increase in malaria cases across southern Africa. South Africa’s Mpumalanga province recorded four times as many cases in January as a year earlier, while Mozambique and Namibia have also reported major spikes in infections.
Mauritius Says No U.S. Proposal Received on Chagos Islands
Mauritius says it has not received any proposal from the Trump administration regarding the Chagos Islands after weekend reports suggested Washington was considering purchasing the archipelago. The government reiterated that its sovereignty over the islands is “non-negotiable” and said it has not been approached directly or indirectly by U.S. officials.
Royal Air Maroc Launches First Africa-Los Angeles Nonstop Flight
Royal Air Maroc has launched the first nonstop air route between Africa and the U.S. West Coast, connecting Casablanca and Los Angeles. The airline says the new service will support tourism, business travel, and movement ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with flights operating three times a week.
