Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappé delivered memorable performances as Argentina and France began their World Cup campaigns with impressive victories, underlining why they remain among the tournament’s biggest contenders.

For Argentina, Messi once again took center stage, scoring a hat trick in a commanding 3-0 win over Algeria. The reigning world champions controlled much of the contest, with the 39-year-old captain producing a performance that delighted supporters and added another chapter to his remarkable international career.

For Ethiopians, coffee is far more than a drink. It is a way more integrated to a day to day life involving conversations, peace-makings, counseling sessions, and often the heartbeat of community life. While much of the world begins its day with a hurried cup of coffee on the go, Ethiopians have long embraced a different philosophy: coffee is not something to be rushed. It is a quality time to be shared.

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has called for unity and constructive engagement in addressing the country’s social and economic challenges, emphasizing that cooperation and shared responsibility are key to building a stronger nation. Speaking during Youth Day commemorations marking the 1976 Soweto uprising, Ramaphosa honored the students who played a pivotal role in South Africa’s struggle for freedom and democracy. The annual event remembers the young people who stood up against apartheid-era education policies and helped shape the country’s future. During his address, Ramaphosa encouraged South Africans to work together in addressing concerns related to unemployment, poverty and inequality, while promoting social cohesion and national unity. “We are not going to allow the grievances and concerns of our people to be misused and abused,” the president said, stressing the importance of finding solutions that benefit all communities. His remarks came as migration and economic development continue to be part of national discussions across South Africa, reflecting broader global conversations taking place in many countries around the world. Ramaphosa also highlighted South Africa’s longstanding tradition of openness and diversity, rejecting narratives that seek to portray the country negatively on the international stage. “There is a lot of disinformation aimed at tarnishing the image of South Africa,” he said, noting that migration management remains a challenge faced by many nations. The president used the occasion to reflect on the aspirations of South Africa’s youth, nearly five decades after the historic Soweto uprising. While acknowledging ongoing economic challenges, he emphasized the importance of expanding opportunities for young people through education, skills development and job creation. Youth Day remains one of South Africa’s most significant national commemorations, serving as both a tribute to the courage of past generations and a reminder of the work that continues to build a more inclusive and prosperous future. African Updates

In communities across Rwanda’s Southern Province, women who once struggled with poverty, limited economic opportunities and family conflicts are increasingly becoming business owners, community leaders and contributors to household prosperity.

Much of that transformation has been supported by BRAC, one of the world’s largest development organizations, whose programs in Rwanda focus on women’s economic empowerment, financial inclusion and family wellbeing.

Founded in Bangladesh in 1972 by the late social entrepreneur Fazle Hasan Abed, BRAC has grown into a global organization operating across Asia and Africa, reaching more than 100 million people through its development and financial inclusion programs. In Rwanda, the organization combines microfinance services with development initiatives aimed at helping vulnerable women and young people gain the skills, confidence and resources needed to improve their lives.

Ethiopians headed to polling stations on Monday for parliamentary elections expected to reinforce the political dominance of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and his ruling Prosperity Party.

Voting began early across the country, with more than 50 million registered voters eligible to cast ballots at around 48,000 polling stations nationwide. Polls opened at 6 a.m. local time and were scheduled to close 12 hours later, according to Ethiopia’s National Election Board.

Vote counting was underway in Guinea on Monday following legislative and municipal elections seen as an important stage in the country’s ongoing political transition under President Mamadi Doumbouya.

The polls, held across the West African nation on Sunday, were part of efforts to restore constitutional governance after the 2021 military takeover that brought Doumbouya to power.

More than seven million registered voters were eligible to elect 147 members of parliament as well as local municipal representatives in a nationwide ballot closely watched across the region.

ACCRA, Ghana The first group of nearly 300 Ghanaians evacuated from South Africa following a surge in anti-immigrant protests arrived in Accra on Wednesday, as concerns grow over the safety of foreign nationals living in Africa’s most industrialized economy.

The returnees landed at Kotoka International Airport to an emotional reception led by Ghana’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, with patriotic music echoing through the arrival terminal.

Ghanaian authorities said about 800 citizens have so far registered for government-assisted repatriation flights from South Africa, citing fears for their safety amid escalating hostility toward migrants.

The World Health Organization has warned that escalating violence in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo is severely undermining efforts to contain a growing Ebola outbreak, raising fears of a worsening humanitarian and public health crisis.

WHO Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the combination of armed conflict and disease posed a major threat in the mineral-rich eastern region of the country, where insecurity has complicated access for health workers and humanitarian agencies.

African leaders and policymakers gathering in Kigali to mark Africa Day said the continent must now focus on economic sovereignty and regional integration more than six decades after political liberation movements swept across Africa.

The Africa Liberation Day celebrations, organized by the Pan African Movement Rwanda Chapter on Sunday, brought together senior officials, diplomats and Pan-African leaders under this year’s theme on sustainable water access and sanitation as part of the African Union’s Agenda 2063 vision.

The World Health Organization has intensified emergency operations in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo following a sharp rise in Ebola cases linked to the Bundibugyo strain, a rare variant with no approved vaccine or specific treatment.

Congolese Health Minister Samuel Roger Kamba said the outbreak has so far caused 136 deaths, while suspected infections have climbed to around 543 cases.

The epicentre of the outbreak remains in Bunia, in Ituri province near the borders with Uganda and South Sudan, where health authorities are racing to contain the spread of the virus.