African nations face significant struggles due to surge in food costs, as per latest findings
In a tragic turn of events, a landslide in western Sudan has resulted in at least 1,000 deaths, intensifying hardship in a country already besieged by years of civil war. The humanitarian crisis has been further compounded as agencies have been prevented from providing aid. Over 25 million people in Sudan face extreme hunger, and inflation in the country peaked at more than 350%.
Elsewhere, political turmoil continues to grip Thailand as the constitutional court sacked the country's prime minister. This development has thrown the nation into renewed political turmoil. In Africa, the presidents of Congo Brazzaville and Zimbabwe attended China's military parade, where Africa appeared to have a reduced presence compared with a decade ago.
The Trump administration's efforts to deport undocumented migrants faced further legal setbacks. In a significant ruling, a US federal appeals court ruled that sweeping global tariffs imposed by President Trump were illegal, representing a major setback for his economic agenda.
Economic discontent and opposition to police brutality led to widespread protests in Indonesia. The protests were driven by economic discontent, much like the deadly protests in Kenya, Uganda, and Nigeria last year, which were linked to the rising cost of living.
In a positive development, India-Africa trade rose to a new record of $100 billion in 2024-25. China on Sunday welcomed more than a dozen world leaders for a summit aimed at countering a Western-led world order. The summit marked a significant display of diplomatic and military force.
In international relations, the displays of warmth and laughter between the leaders of India, China, and Russia in Tianjin underscored how much US President Donald Trump has shaken up global diplomacy. Meanwhile, Israel is reportedly considering annexing parts of the occupied West Bank in response to several Western countries' plans to recognize a Palestinian state.
In the world of science, Chinese scientists turned succulents into glow-in-the-dark, rechargeable lights that shine in a variety of colors. Researchers also used artificial intelligence to spot hidden signs of consciousness in comatose patients long before they were noticed by doctors.
The UN report shows that food prices have risen sharply in African countries due to the COVID-19 pandemic and Russia's invasion of Ukraine, leading to a 3.5% increase in moderate or severe food insecurity. A United Nations panel also said four international oil companies breached human rights obligations by selling their assets in Nigeria before carrying out remediation for damage caused by their oil spills in local communities.
In other news, the airplane carrying the European Commission president was the target of a suspected Russian interference operation. The verdict for the former Brazilian leader, if convicted, could result in decades in prison. Two major studies disagreed over the impacts of beta blockers for heart attack patients.
Lastly, London-listed mining company Glencore is planning job cuts at its ferrochrome and vanadium plants in South Africa amid rising economic pressures. Nigeria's state oil company NNPC awarded two offshore oil blocks to TotalEnergies, deepening the French giant's presence in the country. Israel's actions in Gaza meet the legal definition of a genocide, according to the world's largest association of genocide scholars.
The death toll of the conflict in Sudan is likely to surpass 400,000. The US military killed 11 people in a strike on a vessel off the coast of Venezuela, which Venezuela claims is an attempt to drive regime change. The search results do not provide the name of the African government leader who attended the Chinese military parade in Beijing.
