At Least 7 Explosions and Low-flying Aircraft are Heard in Venezuela’s Caracas

2:17 AM EST, January 3, 2026

CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) — At least seven explosions and low-flying aircraft were heard around 2 a.m. local time Saturday in Venezuela’s capital, Caracas.

It was not immediately clear what was behind the explosions. Venezuela’s government, the Pentagon and White House did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

People in various neighborhoods rushed to the streets. Some could be seen in the distance from various areas of Caracas.

This comes as the U.S. military has been targeting, in recent days, alleged drug-smuggling boats. On Friday, Venezuela said it was open to negotiating an agreement with the United States to combat drug trafficking.

The South American country’s President Nicolás Maduro also said in a pretaped interview aired Thursday that the U.S. wants to force a government change in Venezuela and gain access to its vast oil reserves through the monthslong pressure campaign that began with a massive military deployment to the Caribbean Sea in August.

Maduro has been charged with narco-terrorism in the U.S. The CIA was behind a drone strike last week at a docking area believed to have been used by Venezuelan drug cartels in what was the first known direct operation on Venezuelan soil since the U.S. began strikes on boats in September.

U.S. President Donald Trump for months had threatened that he could soon order strikes on targets on Venezuelan land. The U.S. has also seized sanctioned oil tankers off the coast of Venezuela, and Trump ordered a blockade of others in a move that seemed designed to put a tighter chokehold on the South American country’s economy.

The U.S. military has been attacking boats in the Caribbean Sea and the eastern Pacific Ocean since early September. As of Friday, the number of known boat strikes is 35 and the number of people killed is at least 115, according to numbers announced by the Trump administration.

They followed a major buildup of American forces in the waters off South America, including the arrival in November of the nation’s most advanced aircraft carrier, which added thousands more troops to what was already the largest military presence in the region in generations.

Trump has justified the boat strikes as a necessary escalation to stem the flow of drugs into the United States and asserted that the U.S. is engaged in an “armed conflict” with drug cartels.

Meanwhile, Iranian state television reported on the explosions in Caracas on Saturday, showing images of the Venezuelan capital. Iran has been close to Venezuela for years, in part due to their shared enmity of the U.S.

China to Exempt Sudan from 345 Million Yuan in Debt

1 January 2026

The Undersecretary for Planning at the Sudanese Ministry of Finance discussed with the Chinese Charge d'affaires (right) Beijing's support for several Sudanese projects

January 1, 2026 (PORT SUDAN) – China plans to exempt Sudan from repaying 345 million yuan ($45 million) in interest-free loans previously provided to finance various development projects, the Sudanese Ministry of Finance and Planning said in a statement.

The move followed an extensive meeting on Wednesday between Mohamed Bashar, Undersecretary for Planning at the Sudanese Ministry of Finance, and Zhang Jian, the Acting Charge d’Affaires of the Chinese Embassy in Sudan. The two officials also reviewed the progress of a separate 200 million yuan ($28.58 million) grant allocated for infrastructure projects in Sudan’s water, agriculture, and electricity sectors.

The Chinese envoy expressed Beijing’s readiness to provide further assistance through United Nations organizations. This support will focus on solar energy projects for drinking water stations in Khartoum, Gezira, Sennar, and Blue Nile states.

Sudan’s public debt-to-GDP ratio reached 147% in 2024, according to World Bank data. While the ratio is projected to decline to 124% in 2026 and 106% by 2027, the country’s fiscal position remains precarious.

International financial institutions noted that Sudan had been making progress toward debt relief under the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) initiative before October 2021. However, that momentum was derailed by political instability and the subsequent war between the army and the Rapid Support Forces.

Currently, the Sudanese government is unable to issue new public debt bonds, leaving the central bank to fund the deficit through monetary expansion. Expenditures are expected to rise to 9.9% of GDP in 2026, outpacing a projected revenue increase of 6.2% of GDP, as the lack of formal debt relief continues to strain the national budget.

Sudanese Leaders Call for an End to War on Independence Day

02/01/2026 10:23

Maryam El Sadig El Mahdi, Sudan’s former foreign minister and vice-president of the National Umma Party (File photo: Supplied)

On the 70th anniversary of Sudan’s independence, prominent political figures have issued statements calling for an end to the current conflict, describing the war not as an unavoidable fate, but as the consequence of systemic political failures and totalitarian rule.

In a statement on January 1, titled, “Seventy years since Sudan’s independence and the question of the state remains: how do we govern ourselves without fighting each other?”, Maryam El Sadig El Mahdi, Sudan’s former foreign minister and vice-president of the National Umma Party, argued the ongoing war between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) is the result of political failure, “not destiny.”

“This conflict stems from sins and transgressions committed, or left unaddressed, under totalitarian rule marked by the absence of political participation, the rule of law, and accountability,” she said.

Ending the war, she argued, requires more than temporary deals. She called for a “conscious reconciliation” based on justice, recognition of victims, learning from the past, and a clear vision for the future.

“We need unity built on truth, not denial,” she said, adding that sovereignty is “not protected by weapons alone, but by a social contract that safeguards the people’s dignity.” She stressed that dignity cannot be sustained through aid, but through a responsible state that places women’s rights at the centre of peacebuilding and treats women as equal partners in ending the war and preserving society.

‘Sudan for the Sudanese’

Restoring trust in politics, national parties, and popular participation is “not a luxury, but a condition for Sudan’s survival.” El Mahdi argued that meaningful participation is impossible without the genuine empowerment of women and their equal inclusion in peace processes, decision-making, reconstruction, and transitional justice. She also called for a new role for youth, saying “a generation worn down by repeated wars should become the builders of peace, not the fuel of conflict.”

Addressing the international community, El Mahdi said support for peace must begin with respect for the will, unity, and sovereignty of the Sudanese people, backing a just path that prioritises civilian protection and human dignity.

“The National Umma Party has long argued that Sudan should belong to its people, rather than become the spoil of war, a hostage to weapons, or an arena for external conflicts.” She warned that the absence of a just state and the dominance of violence over politics have put independence itself at risk, despite the sacrifices made to achieve it.

“On the 70th anniversary of independence, we must renew our commitment to a different future,” she said, “a civil, just, and unified state where Sudan truly belongs to the Sudanese.”

‘Failure to build a civil state’

In a statement marking Sudan’s independence, Omar El Degeir, chair of the Sudanese Congress Party, echoed the sentiment that the ongoing war is “not simply an armed confrontation between rival forces,” but the outcome of a “prolonged failure to build a civil state capable of monopolising the use of force.” El Degeir warned that the continuation of the conflict is producing a humanitarian catastrophe while threatening Sudan’s unity, increasing risk of fragmentation.

“Ending the war must not be reduced to a fragile settlement based on power-sharing arrangements or the imposition of solutions dictated by the balance of force.” Instead, he argued, it should lead to a national consensus that affirms the country’s unity and redefines the foundations of the state.

El Degeir stressed that such a consensus can only be achieved through a serious, peaceful political process. He called on the Sudanese majority to unite against those seeking to prolong the war and to push for a humanitarian truce that silences the guns, allows the delivery of aid, and opens the way for a political process capable of producing that consensus.

‘National will and external initiatives’

Reflecting on international efforts, El Degeir said experience has shown that external initiatives to end the war are “often vulnerable to the conflicting interests of participants.” He said that even the broadest international agreement would fail to deliver sustainable peace unless it is accompanied by decisive national action that “restores politics from the arena of weapons to that of dialogue.”

Reclaiming national will, he said, does not mean confronting foreign powers or rejecting their role in ending the war. Rather, it requires a unified national vision able to engage realistically at regional and international levels, guided by the national interest as the ultimate reference for foreign relations.

‘The challenge of self-reckoning’

According to El Degeir, the real challenge facing the Sudanese people today is to develop the historical awareness and courage for self-reckoning necessary to break with an accumulated legacy of failure. He called for building “a democratic, civil state that accommodates all components of society” and “institutions that represent citizens and guarantee a dignified life for all, without exclusion or discrimination.”

“The Sudanese people share one homeland shaped by history and geography, a reality that carries a moral obligation to recognise diversity, affirm equal citizenship, and accept mutual concessions.” He said these principles are essential foundations for national unity, not temporary political arrangements vulnerable to collapse during crises.

Tracing Sudan’s political history, El Degeir noted that from independence in January 1956 to the Declaration of Freedom and Change in January 2019, “including the October and April uprisings,” one pattern stands out: the Sudanese people have repeatedly succeeded in rising up collectively for change, but have faltered in transforming those uprisings into a stable state. “This history demonstrates that collective action with a unified will is never impossible, even when crises deepen,” he said, describing it as the key to achieving major national gains.

Khartoum (2025): The Story of a City that Will Never be the Same Again

31/12/2025 11:54 KIGALI

Sudanese film director Rawia Alhag (Photo: Radio Dabanga)

Interview by Abbas Muhammad Abbas for Radio Dabanga

The film Khartoum (2025) is not just a documentary about a city, but a persistent attempt to capture a spirit that walked the streets, sat on the sidewalks, drank tea in the morning, and dreamed despite everything. The film, which was shot before the outbreak of the mid-April war, follows the lives of five characters from different social and educational backgrounds. It was shown at several international festivals, traveling from the USA to Europe, and finally to Doha, where it had its first screening in the Arab world.

At the heart of this work stands Sudanese film maker Rawia Alhag, one of the directors, alongside Ibrahim Snoopy Ahmad, Timeea Mohamed Ahmed, Philip Cox, and Anas Saeed.

She believes that Khartoum was not merely a documentary, but an attempt to tell the truth. In an interview with Radio Dabanga, Alhag says that the city is recovering, but it will never be the same again. As she puts it, Sudanese people “carry within them the memory of a city,” but memory alone cannot bring back the streets or the friends as they once were.

She explains that for them as filmmakers, the film was a voice for the Sudanese to the world, a message saying that what is happening inside is not a civil war in the traditional sense, but a conflict driven by external parties with multiple agendas, while the Sudanese citizen remains the biggest loser.

Our guest doesn’t separate the film’s content from the reality in which it was made. She points out that the challenges facing the Sudanese film industry existed even before the war, especially regarding filming in public spaces. She says: “Getting to the real scene, capturing people’s natural reactions in the street, was extremely difficult, even with permits.”

Radio Dabanga interview with director Rawia Alhag, conducted by Abbas Mohamed Abbas

Alhag reminisces about her artistic beginnings back to her university days, when she became involved in student theater before transitioning to cinema. Regarding her role as a female director, Alhag believes the primary challenge stems not so much from gender but rather from the structure of the film industry itself. She maintains that fundamental challenges—such as funding, filming, locations, and legal hurdles—are faced by both men and women within the film community. However, she acknowledges the existence of additional social constraints that may specifically affect female directors, particularly those related to family and societal perceptions.

Khartoum (2025): The story of a city that will never be the same again

After leaving Sudan, Alhag continued to work in cinema as an act of resistance, through her short film “Off the Record,” which tells a Sudanese love story in exile. The film follows a young Sudanese couple who decide to marry, but the circumstances of their refugee status impose a different reality on them. They hold an “online” wedding, a virtual celebration where they share their joy with their families inside and outside Sudan.

Alhag says the film was an attempt to tell the story of refugees, the suffering of Sudanese people inside the country, and to depict the harsh transformations that war has imposed on the simplest aspects of life.

Despite the war and exile, Alhag doesn’t hide her optimism about the future of Sudanese cinema. She believes that recent years have witnessed the rise of a new generation of young directors who bring bold stories and are shedding light on Sudanese homes and streets, after years of being shrouded in darkness in the eyes of the world. She attributes this transformation to the impact of the December Revolution, which broke the silence and expanded the space for storytelling.

Alhag concludes her interview with Radio Dabanga with a seemingly simple dream: that Sudanese filmmakers will connect, exchange experiences, and have a unified body to represent them. She dreams of a day when a red carpet is rolled out in Sudan, and film festivals are held, hosting artists from around the world.

Fierce Battles for Control in North and South Kordofan

01/01/2026 17:57 

NORTH & SOUTH KORDOFAN

Current battle zones in Kordofan

The states of South and North Kordofan have witnessed fierce battles and accelerated military developments during the past four days, characterized by the exchange of control over the sites at breakneck speed, amid uncertainty surrounding their results, and a difference in the analyses of military experts between those who believe that it is an attempt to drain the Rapid Support Forces without achieving actual control on the ground, and other analyses that are being carried out as a serious attempt to lift the siege on Dilling and Kadugli, after the SPLM’s announcement that its control of the two cities is imminent, and its demand that the armed forces surrender.

Through a series of operations, the SPLM and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) aim to take control of the cities of Dilling and Kadugli, as well as the control of El Obeid and the rest of North Kordofan, after consolidating its control over West Kordofan. In contrast, the attacks by the armed forces and the joint forces aim to distract and deplete the operational effort of the RSF.

Counterattacks

Major Mutawakkil Ali, the official spokesman of the Joint Force of the Armed Struggle Movements, announced in a statement yesterday that they had taken control of Kazgil, El Riyash, Hammadi, Habila and Debeibat.

However, on Thursday morning, soldiers from the Rapid Support Forces broadcast video recordings from several locations inside the city of Habila, including the area of El Hafira and in front of the command of the 53rd Infantry Brigade, in which they confirmed their continued control over the city.

Military sources said that the force that attacked Habila belongs to the Dalami area and thus aims to open the road between the two areas. While there were conflicting reports about the arrival of a group of forces from Dalami to Dilling, the sources confirmed that the process of opening the road was not completed.

The Rapid Support Forces also broadcast videos that showed flames and smoke plumes rising, which they said were caused by the battles that took place on Wednesday between them and an army force. It explained that a military force coming from the Kartala region launched an attack on its positions in Habila, but it managed to repel the attack, inflicting heavy losses on the attacking force in terms of lives and equipment, and chasing it as far as the Kartala area.

The Rapid Support Forces (RSF) announce the continuation of their control over Habila in South Kordofan

At the time of writing, the Sudanese Armed Forces have not issued any official statement clarifying its position on these developments or commenting on the news circulating about the progress of the battles in Kweik and Habila.

These battles come after the Popular Movement, led by El Helou, and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) took control of three locations, where the movement announced that after the liberation of garrisons (intersection, “Balf” station, Hajar Daliba), the liberation of Kadugli and Dilling became “a matter of time”.

Exchange of control

During the past hours, the western axis of the city of El Obeid in North Kordofan state witnessed an exchange of control between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Joint Forces on the one hand, and the Rapid Support Forces on the other hand, amid conflicting news about who controls the situation on the ground decisively.

On Wednesday evening, the joint force announced its control of the areas of El Riyash and Kazqil, west of the city of El Obeid, after the publication of video clips that it said documented the presence of its forces inside those areas.

On the other hand, the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) broadcast other videos in which they confirmed that they had regained control of the two areas, after battles between them and the armed forces and the joint forces in the same axis.

This morning, the joint force published videos in which it confirmed that it had retaken the Kazgil area, while military sources revealed that battles between the armed forces and the Rapid Support Forces continued in Hammadi and Debeibat in South Kordofan, at a time when the armed forces’ marches targeted locations in South Kordofan.

At the time of this report, neither side has issued an official statement supporting or definitively clarifying the claims of mutual control, leaving the field open to multiple possibilities in light of the continued military tension in the region.

This development comes at a time when North Kordofan state is witnessing a continuous military escalation, amid fears of its repercussions on the security and humanitarian conditions in the vicinity of the city of El Obeid and neighbouring areas.

Control

Meanwhile, the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and the Popular Movement, led by El Helou, announced their control of El Kweik, about 18 kilometres north of the city of Kadugli, where fierce battles took place between the two sides, at a time when there were conflicting reports about the control of the town of Habila, east of the city of Dilling.

The Rapid Support Forces (RSF) said in a statement that an army force stationed in the Kweik area, with the support of a force from the 14th Infantry Division in Kadugli, launched an attack on its positions in the area of the intersection, but the SPLM and Rapid Support Forces repelled the attack and chased the attacking force to the Kweik area.

It added that the battles ended with the control of the SPLM and Rapid Support Forces in the area after the dispersal of the attacking force, pointing out that a number of officers and soldiers were killed, most notably the commander of the intelligence division of the 14th Division, Colonel Moussa Ismail, and the deputy of Prince Kafi Pilot Mohamed Teh, commander of the reconnaissance force of the Kafi militia, in addition to the occurrence of a large number of prisoners and missing persons, and the destruction of a number of military vehicles.

While leaders in the Rapid Support Forces announced the death of Rapid Support Forces adviser Hamid Ali Abu Bakr, they did not reveal additional details.

A screenshot from a video clip posted by soldiers from the rapid support yesterday who said that it was from inside the Kwek in South Kordofan

Displacement

On the humanitarian front, sources told Radio Dabanga that the displacement of the residents of the city of Kadugli continues to move towards the areas under the control of the SPLM in the west of the city, amid a state of relative calm inside Kadugli itself.

The sources explained that the displacement movement is taking place through the western gates towards the areas of El Baram under the control of the SPLM, and from there to the “Ida” camps designated for Sudanese refugees in the State of South Sudan.

On the other hand, the movement of displacement through the northern gates of the city has stopped as a result of the ongoing military clashes in the areas of El Taqtar and El Kweik for three days. The sources indicated that a number of families remain inside the city of Kadugli facing very difficult humanitarian conditions, in light of their financial inability to displace to safer areas.

North Darfur: Wartime Education Collapse Portends ‘Lost Generation’

01/01/2026 10:47 NORTH DARFUR

Sudanese refugee students from Darfur, attending secondary school in the Farshana camp in eastern Chad, sit on the ground taking their first-term exams for the 2025/26 academic year at the beginning of last week. (Photo: Radio Dabanga)

Report by Abdelmoneim Madibu for Radio Dabanga

Since the outbreak of war in Sudan on April 15, 2023, education has not been spared the repercussions of armed conflict; in fact, it has been one of the most severely affected sectors, particularly in historically fragile states like North Darfur. In the localities of Saraf Omra and Kutum, field reports prepared by the Darfur Victims Support Organisation reveal a dire educational situation, where armed violence intersects with poverty, natural disasters, and the collapse of state institutions, threatening the future of tens of thousands of children.

According to UNICEF, the April 15 war has created an unprecedented educational crisis, with the number of children out of school in Sudan estimated at 7.9 million by the end of 2025, due to school closures and escalating violence.

Paralysis of the educational process

In Saraf Omra locality, with an estimated population of 301,000, the entire educational process has been suspended since the outbreak of war, depriving thousands of students of schooling for nearly three consecutive years. A report by the Darfur Victims Organisation, reviewed by Radio Dabanga, indicates that this suspension was not due to an emergency situation, but rather the cumulative result of insecurity, a deteriorating economic situation, and the collapse of basic services in an area that includes a mix of settled and pastoral communities, making the provision of formal education a double challenge even in times of peace.

In the Furuk area, in the north of Kutum locality, the conflict has disrupted most schools, reflecting the broader collapse of the education system in rural Darfur. According to the report, the suspension of education here is no longer temporary, but has transformed into a structural crisis that threatens the social fabric and undermines the right to education as a constitutional and international obligation.

Distribution imbalance and weak infrastructure

Data from Saraf Omra reveals a profound imbalance in the distribution of educational institutions. Despite the presence of approximately 40 government primary schools and more than 10 private schools, high classroom density and poor infrastructure remain chronic challenges. The situation is even more dire at the intermediate and secondary levels, where schools are concentrated in the local government headquarters, while rural administrative units are deprived of these services, forcing students to either relocate or drop out of school altogether.

In the Furuk area of Kutum locality and its surroundings, there are only nine schools, some of which are partially operational, serving 3,362 students with 81 teachers and 43 support staff. Some schools, particularly intermediate schools, suffer from a severe shortage of personnel. One intermediate school has only two teachers and no support staff, indicating the fragility of the educational process even before its complete collapse.

Teachers at the heart of the crisis

The situation of teachers is no better than that of schools. In Saraf Omra, teachers have suffered from a near-total cessation of salaries for over two years, with only limited partial payments of no more than 60% for a meagre period of eight months, in amounts insufficient to cover even the minimum cost of living. The report also noted that authorities in Port Sudan suspended the salaries of 26 teachers through administrative decisions described as vindictive and politically motivated, in procedures that violate the Civil Service Law, constituting a clear violation of their professional and human rights.

In the Furuk region, the absence of salaries and incentives has led to a widespread exodus of educational personnel seeking safety or alternative sources of income, exacerbating the shortage of qualified teachers, and undermining any attempt to resume education.

Natural disasters deepen the wounds.

In addition to the war’s impact on education in North Darfur, 2024 saw heavy rains and floods that severely damaged school buildings in the Furuk area, rendering many unusable. Without maintenance and support, the schools have become dilapidated structures, unable to provide a safe learning environment.

Efforts to reopen schools

On November 26, 2025, the reopening of schools in Saraf Omra locality was announced. However, the report described the move as merely procedural and symbolic, given the continued suspension of salaries, the displacement of large numbers of students, the lack of textbooks and educational materials, and the absence of adequate infrastructure. Similarly, a local initiative in the Furuk area was launched to resume basic education by teaching only core subjects. However, according to the Darfur Victims Organisation report, these efforts cannot succeed without organised and sustained humanitarian intervention and external support.

Loss of an entire generation

The two reports warn that prolonged school closures are alarmingly increasing dropout rates and child labour*. In Saraf Omra, some children have turned to traditional Quranic schools as a last resort, while others have been forced to work in the markets to support their families. In the village of Farouk, there are fears that many students, particularly those from the poorest families, may never return to school.

The Darfur Victims Support Organisation called on international and humanitarian organisations, particularly UNICEF, to intervene urgently and comprehensively to support education in North Darfur. This support should include paying teachers’ salaries, providing textbooks and educational materials, rehabilitating schools, and launching remedial and accelerated learning programs for children who have dropped out of school. The organisation also stressed the importance of integrating psychosocial support for students and teachers into any educational response, given the profound effects of war, displacement, and instability.

Education as a matter of survival

The organisation concluded in its two reports that education in North Darfur is no longer merely a public service, but a matter of survival and social protection. The continuation of education, even in its most basic form, represents the last line of defence against ignorance, violence, and the loss of an entire generation. The organisation warns that any delay in investing in this vital sector will incur a heavy human and social cost that will be difficult to compensate for in the future.

*Child labour

As Sudan continues to face one of the world’s most complex humanitarian crises, the rise in child labour underscores the urgent need for a coordinated response. As reported by Radio Dabanga on the World Day Against Child Labour in June, according to the 2024 UNICEF Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS), 25 per cent of children aged 5 to 17 work, with higher rates in conflict regions, 49.4 per cent in East Darfur and 48.2 per cent in South Darfur, compared to 7.5 per cent in Khartoum. Children mainly engage in agriculture, herding, artisanal mining, domestic service, and informal urban jobs, often lacking legal protection or safe conditions.

Sudan’s situation demonstrates how child labour is often linked with conflict, displacement, hunger, and institutional challenges. Although international conventions provide protections, enforcing them necessitates effective systems, which are currently compromised in Sudan.

According to UNICEF Sudan, approximately 23 million children are exposed to violence, abuse, or exploitation, which increases their likelihood of entering child labour, according to UNICEF Sudan’s child protection overview.

A UNICEF briefing note adds: ‘‘children face recruitment and use by armed actors’’ amid ‘‘grave violations,” reflecting mounting pressures on vulnerable youth. It also states that “Children are being killed, maimed, and displaced, with grave violations reported daily. Many face recruitment and use by armed actors, child labour, and early marriage.”

AFCON 2025: Sudan’s ‘Falcons of Jediane’ to Face Senegal on Saturday

01/01/2026 08:28 

CASABLANCA

The captains of the Sudanese and Burkina Faso national teams with the match officials before kickoff at the King Mohammed V Stadium in Morocco on Wednesday

The coach of the Sudanese national soccer team ‘Falcons of Jediane’, James Kwesi Appiah, has confirmed that his focus is now on the team’s upcoming match against Senegal in round 16 of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON 2025) football tournament, currently being held in Morocco, which prompted him to play the team’s last group stage match with substitutes.

The Sudanese national team was missing key players in its match against Burkina Faso on Wednesday, in the third (and final) round of Group E of the continental competition, which ended with the Falcons of Jediane losing 0-2, at the (Mohammed V) stadium in Casablanca.

Sudan will meet Senegal, the 2021 champions, in the next round, as the 1970 champions look to progress further in the competition, despite the difficulty of facing the Lions of Teranga.

Sudan’s Ghanaian coach said in media statements following the match against Burkina Faso: I preferred not to field the key players in order for them to get more rest before the next match, which comes in just 72 hours.

James Kwesi Appiah, the technical director of the Sudanese national team

Appiah added: “I wasn’t concerned about the team’s level today (Wednesday). I don’t care that Burkina Faso scored 10 goals, but what’s important is that we perform and improve our level in the upcoming matches.”

The Sudanese national team coach stressed: After securing qualification for the round of 16, my focus was solely on the Senegal match, and I hope for success in it.

Burkina Faso secured second place in Group E of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, currently being held in Morocco, after defeating Sudan 2-0.

Sudan, who played Wednesday’s match with a group of reserve players, will meet Senegal, the 2021 champions, in the round of 16 next Saturday at 6 pm Sudan time, while Burkina Faso will play against the leader of Group F in the same round next Tuesday.

The teams that have already qualified for the round of 16 are: Morocco, Mali, Egypt, South Africa, Nigeria, Senegal, Democratic Republic of Congo, Benin, Algeria, Burkina Faso, Sudan, Ivory Coast, Cameroon, and Mozambique.

UN Makes First Visit to Sudan’s el-Fasher Since its Fall, Finding Dire Conditions

Sudanese refugee girls carry water supplies near a polling station in the refugee camp of Zamzam, on the outskirts of El Fasher, Darfur, Sudan, on April 13, 2010. (AP Photo/Nasser Nasser, File)

By FATMA KHALED

10:18 AM EST, December 31, 2025

CAIRO (AP) — A U.N. humanitarian team visited el-Fasher in Sudan’s Darfur region for the first time since a paramilitary force overran the city in October, carrying out a rampage that is believed to have killed hundreds of people and sent most of the population fleeing.

The hours-long visit gave the U.N. its first glimpse into the city, which remains under control of the Rapid Support Forces. The team found hundreds of people still living there, lacking adequate access to food, medical supplies and proper shelter, the U.N. said Wednesday.

“It was a tense mission because we’re going into what we don’t know … into a massive crime scene,” Denise Brown, the U.N. humanitarian coordinator for Sudan, said of Friday’s visit.

For the past two months, el-Fasher has been nearly entirely cut off from the outside world, leaving aid groups unsure over how many people remained there and their situation. The death toll from the RSF takeover, which came after a more than a year-long siege, remains unknown.

Survivors among the more than 100,000 people who fled el-Fasher reported RSF fighters gunning down civilians in homes and in the streets, leaving the city littered with bodies. Satellite photos have since appeared to show RSF disposing of bodies in mass graves or by burning them.

Brown said “a lot of cleaning up” appeared to have taken place in the city over the past two months. The U.N. team visited the Saudi Hospital, where RSF fighters reportedly killed 460 patients and their companions during the takeover.

“The building is there, it’s clearly been cleaned up,” Brown said of the hospital. “But that doesn’t mean by any stretch of the imagination that this story has been wiped clean because the people who fled, fled with that story.”

El-Fasher lacks shelters and supplies

El-Fasher, the capital of North Darfur state, had been the last stronghold of the Sudanese military in the Darfur region until the RSF seized it. The RSF and the military have been at war since 2023 in a conflict that has seen multiple atrocities and pushed Sudan into one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises.

The U.N. team visiting el-Fasher focused on identifying safe routes for humanitarian workers and conducted only an initial assessment on the situation on the ground, with more teams expected to enter, Brown said.

“Villages around el-Fasher appeared to be completely abandoned. We still believe that people are being detained and that there are people who are injured who need to be medically evacuated,” said Brown, citing the initial U.N. findings.

The exact number of people still living in the city is hard to determine, but Brown said they’re in the hundreds and they lack supplies, social services, some medications, education and enough food.

They are living in deserted buildings and in shelters they erected using plastic sheets, blankets and other items grabbed from their destroyed homes. Those places lack visible toilets and access to clean drinking water.

The first charity kitchen to operate since the city’s fall opened Tuesday in a school-turned- shelter, according to the Nyala branch of the local aid initiative Emergency Response Rooms (ERR). The charity kitchen will be operated by ERR Nyala, serving daily meals, food baskets, and shelter supplies. More community kitchens are expected to open across 16 displacement centers, sheltering at least 100 people.

The U.N. team found a small open market operating while they were in the city, selling limited local produce such as tomatoes and onions. Other food items were either unavailable or expensive, with the price of one kilogram (2.2 pounds) of rice reaching as high as $100, Brown said.

‘Paralyzed’ health care system

Mohamed Elsheikh, spokesperson for the Sudan Doctors Network, told The Associated Press Wednesday that medical facilities and hospitals in el-Fasher are not operating in full capacity.

“El-Fasher has no sign of life, the healthcare system there is completely paralyzed. Hospitals barely have access to any medical aid or supplies,” he added.

Brown described the situation in el-Fasher as part of a “pattern of atrocities” in this war that is likely to continue in different areas.

The United States has accused the RSF of committing genocide in Darfur during the war, and rights groups said the paramilitaries committed war crimes during the siege and takeover of el-Fasher, as well as in the capture of other cities in Darfur. The military has also been accused of rights violations.

Anthony Joshua’s Driver Charged After Deadly Crash in Nigeria

In this photo provided by the Federal Road Safety Corps, people gather at the accident scene of British boxer Anthony Joshua in Lagos, Nigeria, on Monday, Dec. 29, 2025. (Federal Road Safety Corps via AP)

1:33 PM EST, January 2, 2026

LAGOS, Nigeria (AP) — The driver in a deadly car crash that injured heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua and killed his two friends in Nigeria was charged, the police said on Friday.

Adeniyi Mobolaji Kayode, 46, was charged with dangerous and reckless driving in southwestern Ogun state following Monday’s crash, police spokesman Oluseyi Babaseyi said in a statement on Friday.

The vehicle carrying Joshua, Sina Ghami and Latif “Latz” Ayodele hit a stationary truck on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway which links Ogun state to Lagos.

Kayode has been in custody since Thursday following his release from hospital, and was subsequently granted bail of 5 million naira ($3,480), Babaseyi told the Associated Press.

The defendant was charged on four counts, including dangerous driving causing death, reckless and negligent driving, driving without due care as well as driving without a valid national driver’s license.

“He was remanded pending when he meets his bail condition,” the police spokesman said.

The court case was adjourned to Jan. 20 for trial.

Joshua, a two-time heavyweight champion, was released from hospital on Wednesday after sustaining minor injuries in the crash that raised questions about road safety in Nigeria. The boxer was discharged after being deemed clinically fit to recuperate at home, authorities said.

Joshua has family roots in Nigeria and he briefly attended boarding school there as a child. He also holds Nigerian nationality.

Joshua’s promoter, Matchroom Boxing, told The AP on Thursday that the boxer will remain in Nigeria.

A Tall Building Under Construction Collapses in Nairobi, with 4 Believed to be Trapped

By ANDREW KASUKU and JACKSON NJEHIA

3:11 PM EST, January 2, 2026

NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — A multi-story building under construction in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi, collapsed Friday, leaving at least four people believed trapped.

Rescue workers are digging through the rubble. The building was in an area of Nairobi known as South C, according to the Kenya Red Cross, which said in a statement that a multi-agency response team was at the scene “managing the situation.”

Geoffrey Ruku, the Cabinet secretary in charge of public service, told reporters that four people were believed trapped.

Safia Ali Aden, the sister of one of those trapped, told reporters at the scene that her brother made a phone call “while under there.”

“We are asking the government to be speedy in the rescue so we can find my brother alive,” she said.

There was no immediate comment from authorities on the likely cause of the collapse.

Building collapses are common in Nairobi, where housing is in high demand and unscrupulous developers often bypass regulations or simply violate building codes.

After eight buildings collapsed and killed 15 people in Kenya in 2015, the presidency ordered an audit of buildings across the country to see if they were up to code. The National Construction Authority found that 58% of the buildings in Nairobi were unfit for habitation.

Guinean Opposition Party Appeals Presidential Election Results to Supreme Court

Source: Xinhua| 2026-01-03 09:57:00|Editor: huaxia

CONAKRY, Jan. 2 (Xinhua) -- An opposition party in Guinea, the Democratic Front of Guinea, announced on Friday that it has officially filed an appeal with the country's Supreme Court over the provisional results of the presidential election held on Dec. 28, 2025.

In a statement released the same day, the party said it had mandated a team of lawyers to file legal documents with the Supreme Court, contesting the election results.

According to the provisional results announced by Guinea's General Directorate of Elections on Dec. 30, independent candidate and Guinea's transitional president Mamady Doumbouya won the election with 86.72 percent of the vote, while Abdoulaye Yero Balde, leader of the Democratic Front of Guinea, came second with 6.59 percent.

The statement said the party resorted to judicial channels to defend what it believes to be the will of the people, stressing that it will strictly uphold democratic principles within the legal and institutional framework. It also reaffirmed the party's commitment to the rule of law, republican legality and the lawful exercise of rights.

The Supreme Court is expected to examine the appeal within the legally prescribed time limit.

Egypt's New Administrative Capital Welcomes New Year with Landmark Celebration at China-Built CBD

Source: Xinhua| 2026-01-01 19:39:45|Editor: huaxia

CAIRO, Jan. 1 (Xinhua) -- Egypt's new administrative capital ushered in the New Year with a grand public celebration centered on the Chinese-built Central Business District (CBD) on Thursday, marking the district's first major festive event.

A massive fireworks display illuminated the sky around the Iconic Tower at midnight, drawing an estimated 15,000 attendees.

The celebration also featured performances by Arab stars, drone shows depicting Egyptian symbols, and family entertainment zones.

The CBD, located some 50 km east of the capital Cairo and constructed by China State Construction Engineering Corporation, comprises 20 skyscrapers. Its centerpiece, the 385.8-meter Iconic Tower, is currently the tallest building in Africa.

As a key project of China-Egypt cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative, the CBD is designed as a smart-city hub aimed at boosting Egypt's economic modernization.

Participating in the New Year festivities, Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly described the new capital as the "crown jewel of the 'new republic.'"

"Nearly five or six years ago, I witnessed the pouring of the concrete foundations for this tower and the surrounding area ... It is a smart city built to the highest standards, featuring residential neighborhoods, schools, and universities," Madbouly said.

Many attendees expressed pride in the CBD and confidence in its future amid strengthening Egypt-China ties.

"To have a place like this in Egypt, with the CBD and the Iconic Tower, fills me with immense pride," said Omar Samy, a lawyer from Cairo. "It feels like we have finally stepped into the future."

"I wish Egypt nothing but the best, and I hope to see our cooperation with China grow even stronger, as it has clearly brought us world-class results that will benefit my generation for decades," he added.

"The determination of the Egyptian leadership, paired with the strategic partnership with China, has made incredible progress possible in just a few years," said 30-year-old sales manager Mustafa Emad.

When you stand here, the organization, architecture, and technology make you feel like you are in Shanghai, Dubai, or New York, Emad noted, adding, "This is the Egypt we want to see -- a place that can compete on the global stage."

Where Clean Water Flows, Disease Recedes: China's Schistosomiasis Control Effort Saves Lives in Zanzibar

Source: Xinhua| 2026-01-03 00:12:45|Editor: huaxia

Residents get tap water on Pemba Island, Zanzibar, Tanzania, Jan. 1, 2026. (Xinhua/Emmanuel Herman)

by Xinhua writers Hua Hongli, Lin Guangyao, Lucas Liganga

ZANZIBAR, Tanzania, Jan. 2 (Xinhua) -- With a gentle turn of the tap, clean water gushes out -- a sight that villagers in Chaani had long thought impossible.

Located in Zanzibar's North Region on Unguja Island, Chaani struggled for decades with unsafe water sources. That reality began to change in 2025.

"For many years, water was our biggest problem," said 53-year-old Haji Makame Omari, a father of eight and resident of Chaani.

"We fetched water from rivers, and that is where we got infected with schistosomiasis. Now we no longer go there. We feel safe," he said, crediting a China-aided schistosomiasis control project jointly implemented with the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Zanzibar government in Tanzania.

In Chaani, one of the project's beneficiaries, clean water now flows morning, noon, and night, a simple change that has transformed daily life and helped curb one of the region's most persistent diseases, schistosomiasis.

By combining safe water supply systems with disease treatment, snail control and health education, the project has significantly reduced infection rates while improving livelihoods.

Schistosomiasis, a waterborne parasitic disease, has long burdened Zanzibar, particularly rural areas, where residents relied on rivers and unsafe wells, exposing themselves to infection. Mothers like 30-year-old Mwanaisha Abdallah, also a Chaani villager, recall frequent hospital visits for their children due to water-related illnesses.

For women, who bore much of the burden of fetching water and caring for children, the change has been transformative. "Before, we struggled a lot," Abdallah said. "Now I just take my bucket, walk a short distance, and come back. I can grow vegetables, keep chickens, and wash clothes easily. Happiness in my family has increased."

Behind the visible changes lies a decade-long cooperation effort.

According to Wang Wei, team leader of the 5-member Chinese expert group and a professor at China's Jiangsu Institute of Parasitic Diseases, the cooperation began after Zanzibar sought international assistance in 2014, when schistosomiasis prevalence remained high despite earlier control efforts.

"China's experience in schistosomiasis control had already proven effective and scalable," Wang said. "Based on shared commitment, China, the WHO, and the Zanzibar government signed a memorandum of understanding, and the project was officially launched in 2016."

According to project data, Phase I of the project, implemented on Pemba Island from 2017 to 2020, reduced infection rates in demonstration areas from 8.92 percent to 0.64 percent, meeting WHO standards for eliminating schistosomiasis as a public health problem. Phase II, launched in 2023, expanded coverage to Unguja Island.

The results have been striking. Baseline surveys showed an infection rate of about 1.23 percent. After two and a half years, the latest data indicate a drop to just 0.15 percent, well below the WHO threshold of 1 percent.

A key innovation in Phase II has been the construction of safe water supply systems. Five projects -- four in Pemba Island and one in Unguja Island -- now serve about 30,000 people in total.

In Unguja alone, 18,000 residents benefit from clean, accessible water, cutting off disease transmission at its source while also reducing other water-related illnesses such as intestinal infections and cholera.

"This is a genuine livelihood project," Wang said. "It not only controls disease but also improves daily life."

Rashid Kassim Juma, project coordinator from Zanzibar's Ministry of Water, Energy, and Minerals, described the initiative as "a big help from China."

"Before, people fetched water from ponds and unsafe wells," Juma said. "Now they have fresh water. We are very thankful to China and hope to see more projects like this."

Beyond infrastructure, the project has focused on sustainability. Community hospitals and volunteers were trained, health education bases and demonstration schools were established, and monitoring was gradually integrated into Zanzibar's health information systems.

The next milestone is set for January 2026, when a fully digital schistosomiasis surveillance and response system goes live. Once cases are detected at the community level, reports can be sent instantly via computer or mobile phone, triggering rapid responses and preventing outbreaks.

"This will be one of the first schistosomiasis information systems in Africa," Wang said. "It has the potential to be replicated in other Belt and Road partner countries."

Back in Chaani, the impact is already visible. Small vegetable gardens have sprung up around homes, made possible by nearby water sources. The small square where the water tap stands has become one of the liveliest areas in the village.

"We are truly grateful," Omari said. "This water has protected our health and changed our lives." 

Chinese Medical Team Donates Supplies to Sierra Leone's Orphans

Source: Xinhua| 2026-01-03 01:06:16|Editor: huaxia

Justina Zainab Conteh (R), executive director of the Saint George Foundation, presents a gratitude plaque to the 26th batch of the Chinese medical team to Sierra Leone at the Saint George Foundation Children's Welfare Institute in Freetown, Sierra Leone, on Jan. 2, 2026. The 26th Chinese medical team to Sierra Leone on Thursday donated a batch of supplies as New Year gifts to a welfare home in Freetown, the country's capital.

The supplies, including rice, bread, snacks, and daily necessities, were handed over to the Saint George Foundation Children's Welfare Institute as part of the team's efforts to improve the health and daily lives of the vulnerable children in the country. (The 26th Chinese medical team to Sierra Leone/Handout via Xinhua)

FREETOWN, Jan. 2 (Xinhua) -- The 26th Chinese medical team to Sierra Leone on Thursday donated a batch of supplies as New Year gifts to a welfare home in Freetown, the country's capital.

The supplies, including rice, bread, snacks, and daily necessities, were handed over to the Saint George Foundation Children's Welfare Institute as part of the team's efforts to improve the health and daily lives of the vulnerable children in the country.

During his visit, Liu Longfei, head of the medical team, expressed hope for the children, saying they will be the successors in building Sierra Leone and the inheritors of China-Sierra Leone friendship.

According to Liu, the medical team has been constantly providing free healthcare for the children at the welfare home with traditional Chinese medical techniques and bringing supplies to improve their livelihoods.

Justina Zainab Conteh, executive director of the Saint George Foundation, expressed her appreciation for the support of the medical team and the Chinese government. ■

The 26th Chinese medical team to Sierra Leone poses for a group photo at the Saint George Foundation Children's Welfare Institute in Freetown, Sierra Leone, on Jan. 1, 2026. The 26th Chinese medical team to Sierra Leone on Thursday donated a batch of supplies as New Year gifts to a welfare home in Freetown, the country's capital.

The supplies, including rice, bread, snacks, and daily necessities, were handed over to the Saint George Foundation Children's Welfare Institute as part of the team's efforts to improve the health and daily lives of the vulnerable children in the country. (The 26th Chinese medical team to Sierra Leone/Handout via Xinhua)

The 26th Chinese medical team to Sierra Leone poses for a group photo at the Saint George Foundation Children's Welfare Institute in Freetown, Sierra Leone, on Jan. 1, 2026. The 26th Chinese medical team to Sierra Leone on Thursday donated a batch of supplies as New Year gifts to a welfare home in Freetown, the country's capital.

The supplies, including rice, bread, snacks, and daily necessities, were handed over to the Saint George Foundation Children's Welfare Institute as part of the team's efforts to improve the health and daily lives of the vulnerable children in the country. (The 26th Chinese medical team to Sierra Leone/Handout via Xinhua)

Ugandan Official Warns Against Misuse of AI Ahead of General Elections

Source: Xinhua| 2026-01-02 21:57:45|Editor: huaxia

KAMPALA, Jan. 2 (Xinhua) -- A senior Ugandan official on Friday warned the public against the misuse of artificial intelligence (AI) as the country heads toward general elections scheduled for Jan. 15, noting that the technology could be exploited by negative elements to sway public opinion.

Aminah Zawedde, permanent secretary at the Ministry of Information, Communication, Technology and National Guidance, said in a statement that when used responsibly, AI can expand access to information and strengthen democratic engagement.

However, the technology can also be abused to distort the truth, inflame divisions, and undermine public trust, said Zawedde, who also chairs the National AI Taskforce.

"We are already witnessing the misuse of AI to create deceptive content, including deepfake images and videos that falsely portray candidates, AI-generated audio that impersonates leaders, and automated accounts that spread false narratives at speed. In some cases, manipulated data is deliberately presented as official election results to undermine confidence in democratic institutions," she said.

Zawedde said that while AI itself is not an enemy, its manipulation during elections interferes with citizens' ability to make informed choices. She urged the public to refrain from digitally sharing any unverified or sensational content.

Zawedde further warned that although Uganda is still developing a dedicated legal framework for AI, existing laws already apply. "Election-related misconduct remains unlawful whether committed offline or online, and the misuse of AI to mislead or manipulate carries serious consequences," she said. 

Interview: Innovation, Structural Upgrading Expected to Drive China's 2026 Growth, Says African Media Analyst

Source: Xinhua| 2026-01-03 00:08:30|Editor: huaxia

ABIDJAN, Jan. 2 (Xinhua) -- China's economic outlook in 2026 is expected to be largely promoted by two drivers: innovation and structural upgrading, according to an African media analyst.

Wendmy Osee Ouangraoua, vice president of the Consortium of African Professional Journalists for Strengthening Sino-African Cooperation, recently told Xinhua that the two elements will influence not only the pace of China's economic growth but also its position in the global economy.

Citing the recommendations adopted for formulating China's 15th Five-Year Plan, Ouangraoua underlined new quality productive forces and high-quality development as two particularly prominent concepts.

"China will rely on these concepts to develop its economy," he said, adding that they reflect the direction of China's ongoing economic transformation and provide insight into how the country aims to sustain growth amid increasing global uncertainty.

According to Ouangraoua, China has accelerated self-reliance in science and technology, as advances in artificial intelligence, new energy, biotechnology, and other advanced fields are reshaping industrial production.

Ouangraoua noted electric vehicles and solar energy as concrete examples, both demonstrating China's growing capacity for technological innovation rather than simple manufacturing.

By developing advanced technologies that remain relatively affordable, China can make them accessible to the Global South, enabling these countries to accelerate their own development, he added.

He further noted that China has activated multiple mechanisms for technology and skills transfer to support developing countries, with the Luban Workshop being one notable example.

Meanwhile, China is expanding technological and digital cooperation with Africa, including support for digital and e-government infrastructure, which Ouangraoua said reflects a deeper shift toward capacity building and the transfer of industrial know-how.

According to Ouangraoua, amid both domestic and external challenges, China's dual circulation strategy takes on greater significance.

By stimulating domestic demand while continuing to engage international markets, China seeks to maintain a balance between internal economic stability and external demand, the analyst observed.

Ouangraoua added that he believes China will be well-positioned in 2026 through a combination of structural reforms and policy measures, as a major global economic player and a driving force of the Global South. 

How Would History Have Been Different Without the Black Press? 

“We wish to plead our own cause. Too long have others spoken for us.”

January 2, 2026 

by William Spivey

The Black Press has been one of the most influential yet underappreciated institutions in American history. Since the publication of Freedom’s Journal in 1827, Black newspapers have served as a platform for African Americans to share their own stories, challenge racist narratives, and mobilize their communities. When mainstream outlets ignored or distorted events affecting Black lives, the Black Press stepped in to document reality. Its historical significance lies not only in advocacy but in its ability to break stories that forced the nation to confront uncomfortable truths.

When I grew up in Minneapolis, Minnesota, I read the mainstream paper, The Minneapolis Star & Tribune, every day. I started with the comics and sports section, but eventually read the paper cover to cover. Black news I got from reading Jet and Ebony Magazines at Crown Barbershop, and the Minneapolis Spokesman, which came weekly to my grandmother’s house. Much of Jet and Ebony’s focus was on celebrities and sports, but when important news needed to be covered, they were there, as evidenced by Jet’s publication of graphic photos of Emmett Till. The Spokesman gave me local and national news that the Star and Tribune never covered.

This essay examines the trajectory of the Black Press, focusing on landmark stories first reported in Black newspapers that were later picked up by the mainstream media. By examining these cases, we see how the Black Press shaped national discourse, preserved historical truth, and challenged systemic racism in journalism.

1. Origins of the Black Press: Freedom’s Journal and Early Advocacy

In 1827, Samuel Cornish and John Russwurm launched Freedom’s Journal in New York City. Its mission statement declared:

“We wish to plead our own cause. Too long have others spoken for us.”

The paper covered abolitionist debates, education, and community news, topics that white papers ignored. Early Black newspapers became tools of resistance, countering racist depictions and advocating for emancipation and civil rights. The founding of Freedom’s Journal set the precedent: the Black Press existed to tell stories mainstream outlets refused to tell.

2. Ida B. Wells and Anti‑Lynching Investigations (1890s)

Wells, co‑owner of the Memphis Free Speech, began investigating lynchings after three of her friends were murdered in 1892. Her reporting revealed lynching was not about punishing crime but about enforcing racial hierarchy and suppressing Black economic success. Mainstream outlets either ignored or justified lynchings. Wells’s fearless journalism sparked a national debate and laid the groundwork for anti-lynching campaigns. Her work exemplifies how the Black Press documented racial terror long before mainstream America acknowledged it.

3. The Tulsa Race Massacre (1921)

The Tulsa Star, a Black newspaper, documented the destruction of Greenwood (“Black Wall Street”) when white mobs attacked. Mainstream papers downplayed or distorted the event, often blaming Black residents. Without the Black Press, much of the massacre’s history would have been erased. Only decades later did mainstream outlets acknowledge its scale. The Tulsa case demonstrates how the Black Press preserved historical truth in the face of deliberate suppression.

4. The Scottsboro Boys Case (1931)

Nine Black teenagers were falsely accused of raping two white women in Alabama. The Chicago Defender and other Black papers reported on the injustice early on, mobilizing national protests and legal defense campaigns. Mainstream media picked up the story only after the Black Press had made it impossible to ignore. This case highlights the Black Press’s role in exposing judicial racism and rallying public support.

5. Emmett Till’s Murder (1955)

The Chicago Defender and Jet magazine published graphic accounts and photos of Till’s mutilated body. Mainstream outlets initially avoided the story. It was the Black Press that forced America to confront racial violence in the South. This coverage became a catalyst for the Civil Rights Movement. Till’s story demonstrates the Black Press’s power to shock the nation’s conscience.

6. The Double V Campaign (1942)

The Pittsburgh Courier launched the “Double V” campaign: victory abroad against fascism and victory at home against racism. This campaign galvanized Black soldiers and citizens, highlighting contradictions in America’s fight for democracy. Mainstream outlets later acknowledged the campaign, but only after it had gained traction through the Black Press. The Double V campaign shows how the Black Press connected global struggles to domestic civil rights.

7. Civil Rights Era Coverage (1960s)

Black newspapers like the Afro‑American and the Los Angeles Sentinel documented police brutality against protestors. Mainstream outlets often portrayed civil rights activists as agitators, while the Black Press highlighted their courage and the violence they endured. This coverage preserved a truthful record of the movement. The Civil Rights era illustrates how the Black Press provided context and advocacy that mainstream journalism lacked.

8. Contemporary Significance

The Black Press continues to play a role in covering issues like police violence, voter suppression, and systemic inequality. During the George Floyd protests in 2020, Black‑owned outlets provided context and community perspectives that mainstream media often missed. The tradition of amplifying marginalized voices remains central to its mission.

The historical significance of the Black Press lies in its ability to report stories that mainstream outlets ignored, distorted, or suppressed. From Ida B. Wells’ anti‑lynching investigations to Emmett Till’s murder and the Tulsa Race Massacre, the Black Press forced America to confront uncomfortable truths. It preserved history, mobilized communities, and challenged systemic racism in the journalism industry.

Without the Black Press, many pivotal events in African American history might have remained hidden. Its legacy reminds us that journalism is not just about reporting facts but about ensuring that voices excluded from dominant narratives are heard.

Here are some of the major Black newspapers still in existence. Consider subscribing to one, or possibly one in your city, to get important news you might have missed otherwise:

Major Black Newspapers Still in Existence

The Philadelphia Tribune

Founded in 1884, it is the oldest continuously published African American newspaper in the U.S. It still publishes five days a week and remains a leading voice for Black communities.

The Afro-American (AFRO)

Founded in 1892 in Baltimore, also known as the Baltimore Afro or the Washington Afro. It is the longest-running family-owned Black newspaper in the country.

Chicago Defender

Founded in 1905, historically been one of the most influential Black newspapers. Now published weekly, it continues to cover national and local issues affecting African Americans.

Los Angeles Sentinel

Established in 1933, it is the largest and oldest Black newspaper in Los Angeles. Known for strong coverage of politics, culture, and community issues.

Atlanta Daily World

Founded in 1928, one of the first successful daily Black newspapers. Continues to publish with a focus on Atlanta’s African American community.

African American News & Issues (Houston, TX)

Founded in 1996, it is Texas’s widest circulated African American newspaper.

New York Amsterdam News

Established in 1909, it is one of the most influential Black papers in New York City. Historically covered the Harlem Renaissance and civil rights struggles.

I’m going to throw in The Minneapolis Spokesman, which merged with the St. Paul Recorder to become the Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder, one of the top remaining newspapers still in existence. I also want to shout out the Pittsburgh Courier, now the New Pittsburgh Courier, which, along with the Chicago Defender, broke several national stories. The Pittsburgh Courier was renowned for publishing its own national sports rankings, particularly in the mid-20th century. Most notably, it created the Pittsburgh Courier National Negro High School and College Football Rankings, which evaluated Black teams during segregation when mainstream outlets ignored them. Among HBCUs, the National Black Champion was selected by the Pittsburgh Courier.

—

This post was previously published on Momentum.

Meet Roxanne Brown, the 1st African American and 1st Woman President of the United Steelworkers

by Black Press USA Staff Report

January 1, 2026

Roxanne Brown will become the first African American and first woman president of the United Steelworkers in March, leading North America’s largest industrial union with a focus on diversity, worker engagement and advocacy. (Courtesy Photo)

By Black Press USA

(NNPA Newswire) – In a significant moment for the labor movement, Roxanne Brown is set to become the first African-American woman elected as president of the United Steelworkers (USW), North America’s largest industrial union.  With the official transition happening in March, Brown’s ascent is more than just a personal achievement; it represents a shift in the labor movement’s leadership reflecting the demographics of today’s workforce.

Born in Kingston, Jamaica, she moved to New York at the age of 2 and was raised by what she affectionately refers to as “the Amazons”—a family of strong, single women who were deeply involved in healthcare and unions. Her first exposure to the labor movement came through the nurses union and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees’ (AFSCME) Civil Service Employees Association (CSEA) in New York. This early influence clearly set the stage for what would be a lifelong commitment to labor rights and leadership.

Reflecting on her path to this esteemed position during an appearance on “Make It Plain” with Rev. Mark Thompson Brown shared, “I cut my teeth in our policy shop and I had to learn about our core issues and our core values. I literally spent my entire career fighting on behalf of our members across so many sectors.”

The USW under Brown’s leadership will be setting the tone with what she believes is a much-needed representation change. Brown emphasized, “We are the most diverse union in North America. … We’re cradle to grave and have everything in between.”

With a membership boasting varied backgrounds, Brown’s leadership is a reflection of this variety, as the board she is set to lead will be its most diverse in the union’s history.

Leading a predominantly male union presents its unique set of challenges. Brown noted, “When people think about our union, there’s an image that comes to mind that does not look like me. But … we are the most diverse union in North America, in terms of our sectors and membership.”

She recognized the importance of transcending stereotypes and advocated for a more inclusive image representing the diversity within the union. Amidst the intricate challenges of tariffs and economic pressures, uncertainty remains a theme. Brown said, “This current environment of tariffs is not strategic and creates uncertainty—not just for sectors but for our ability to use the tools we’ve relied on for survival.”

Brown is poised to take on these challenges head-on with strategies rooted in education, engagement and advocacy at all governmental levels. She affirmed the union’s commitment by saying, “Engage, engage, engage. Because we are charged to do that on behalf of our membership.”

In discussing the broader significance of her leadership and that of fellow African-American union leaders, Brown reflects, “Leadership should always reflect who is being led. … I’m opening the door so that others know what is possible.”

“It is not about us alone; it is about what we represent and showing what is possible to our members who look like us,” she said.

Brown listed some of the products USW members produce:

Goodyear, Bridgestone Firestone, and Michelin tires

Libby glassware

Starbucks cups

Paper towels

Amazon boxes

Wine bottles and beer cans

Bourbon bottles

Car components, including glass and steel

Glass on iPhones and Android devices

Fiber optic cables used for 5G systems

Oil for powering vehicles

Cement used in construction

Various pharmaceutical products, including some COVID-19 drugs

School buses and taxi services in certain areas

Baskerville coffins and caskets

This article was originally published by Black Press USA.

African American Medu Bookstore to Close After 35 years in Atlanta

By FOX 5

January 2, 2026 7:55am EST

Andrew Young at Medu Bookstore. Source: Medu Bookstore Facebook

The Brief

Medu Bookstore will close after 35 years in Atlanta.

Founder Nia Damali is retiring but staying in the literary field.

The store hosted major civil rights leaders and bestselling authors.

ATLANTA - A longtime African American–owned bookstore in Atlanta is preparing to close its doors after more than three decades serving the community.

What we know:

Medu Bookstore was founded in 1989 by Nia Damali and originally opened inside Greenbriar Mall. Over 35 years, the store became a cultural hub for readers, writers and scholars, earning a reputation as one of the city’s largest African American bookstores.

Throughout its history, Medu hosted book signings and events featuring prominent figures, including civil rights leader John Lewis, Ambassador Andrew Young, the Rev. Jesse Jackson, author Terry McMillan and pastor and author T.D. Jakes.

What they're saying:

Owner Nia Damali announced she is retiring from the business she has operated at Greenbriar Mall for three and a half decades. The store, which specializes in literature by and about people of African descent, has long served as a gathering place for the community.

"It’s time for me to just have a moment for me to turn the chapter," Damali said. "I feel good about it."

Medu Bookstore has been a destination for those seeking works on African diasporic history and literature. Over the years, Damali hosted a variety of political, religious, and literary luminaries, including T.D. Jakes, Andrew Young, Jesse Jackson, and Terry McMillan.

The news of the closure is bittersweet for regular patrons like Carlton Clark, who has frequented the shop for 30 years.

"Sad, sad," Clark said. "I don’t think I’ll ever find another bookstore where I can come to find information on Black history, Black authors."

While Damali is an author herself and plans to continue writing in her retirement, she admitted that walking away from the storefront is an emotional transition.

"I’m sad, to be honest, I’m sad," Damali said. "It’s a hard decision. It’s time for me to move forward and to let someone else move into the space and take it to the next level."

What's next:

Damali reportedly said she is retiring from operating the bookstore but plans to remain involved in the literary world. The store is expected to close at the end of March.

The Source

Information for this story gathered from posts on social media. FOX 5's Christopher King contributed to this report.

USPS Honors Phillis Wheatley, First Published African American Poet, With 49th Black Heritage Stamp

(PRNewsfoto/U.S. Postal Service)

News provided by

U.S. Postal Service 

Jan 02, 2026, 13:00 ET

WASHINGTON, Jan. 2, 2026 /PRNewswire/

Phillis Wheatley Forever Stamp

What:

The U.S. Postal Service is honoring Phillis Wheatley (1753-1784), the first author of African descent in the American Colonies to publish a book, with the 49th stamp in the Black Heritage series.

The first-day-of-issue event for the Phillis Wheatley Black Heritage stamp is free and open to the public. News of the stamp is being shared with the hashtag #BlackHeritageStamp.

When:

Thursday, Jan. 29, 2026, at 11 a.m. EST

Where:

Old South Meeting House

310 Washington St.

Boston, MA 02108

Background:

Born in West Africa and brought to Boston on a slave ship, Phillis Wheatley was enslaved but educated in the Wheatley household. Wheatley published her first collection, "Poems on Various Subjects, Religious and Moral," in 1773. This collection showcased her impressive mastery of various poetic forms, including hymns, elegies, and narrative verse, securing her place in history. Freed from slavery that same year, she went on to correspond with figures such as George Washington, who praised her poetic talent.

Wheatley's legacy continues to inspire generations, earning her the title "the mother of African American literature." Before the Civil War, abolitionists used her accomplishments to affirm the intellectual capability of people of African descent and argue against slavery. Today schools, libraries, community centers and university buildings across the country have been named for Wheatley, and she has been the subject of numerous inspirational books for children. In 2003, a statue of the poet was included in a new Boston Women's Memorial. The first full-length scholarly biography of Wheatley was published in 2011, with a second biographical study published in 2023, part of an ongoing effort to recognize her resilience in adversity.

Antonio Alcalá, an art director for USPS, designed the stamp using an existing portrait by Kerry James Marshall.

The Phillis Wheatley stamp will be issued in panes of 20. As a Forever stamp, it will always be equal in value to the current First-Class Mail 1-ounce price.

Federal Judge Dismisses Louisville Police Reform Agreement Spurred by Breonna Taylor's Death

Story by DYLAN LOVAN 

© John Minchillo

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — A federal judge in Kentucky has dismissed Louisville’s proposed settlement with the U.S. Department of Justice over police reforms after the department withdrew its support of the plan earlier this year.

The Justice Department announced in May it was canceling proposed consent decrees with Louisville and Minneapolis that sought to curb police racial bias and abuses after the killings of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor that spurred nationwide protests in the summer of 2020.

U.S. District Judge Benjamin Beaton wrote in a Dec. 31 ruling that “the responsibility to lead the Louisville Metro Police Department in compliance with federal law must remain with the city’s elected representatives and the people they serve.”

A judge in May dismissed Minneapolis’ proposed consent decree, which places a federal officer in charge of tracking the progress of reforms laid out in the agreement.

Justice Department officials under President Joe Biden's administration conducted a multiyear investigation in Louisville prompted by the fatal shooting of Taylor and police responses to public protests in 2020. A draft of the investigation was released in early 2023, alleging the Louisville Police Department “discriminates against Black people in its enforcement activities,” uses excessive force and conducts searches based on invalid warrants.

New DOJ leadership accused the Biden Justice Department of using flawed legal theories to judge police departments and pursuing costly and burdensome consent decrees.

The consent decrees with Louisville and Minneapolis were approved by the Justice Department in the final weeks of the Biden administration, but the settlements had to be approved by a judge.

Beaton wrote that his ruling “doesn’t prevent the parties from undertaking the hard work of reform themselves.”

Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg pledged to continue to pursue reform after the Justice Department's withdrawal of support in May. The city created a local police reform plan and hired an independent law enforcement consulting group as monitor. Greenberg said some of the progress in 2025 included addressing a backlog of open records requests and making police shooting body camera videos public within 10 business days.

In a statement Friday, a spokesman for the mayor said Greenberg is “committed to ongoing reforms” and “did something no mayor in the country has done — he voluntarily created and implemented” Louisville's own reform plan.

The city initiated some reforms after Taylor’s death in March 2020, including a city law banning the use of “no-knock” warrants. The warrants were typically used in surprise drug raids. The city also started a pilot program that sends behavioral health professionals to some 911 calls.

The city also paid a $12 million wrongful death settlement to Taylor’s family.

Earlier this year, former Louisville Police Detective Brett Hankison became the first officer involved in the Taylor raid to go to prison. A judge sentenced Hankison to nearly three years in prison on an excessive force conviction despite the Justice Department’s efforts to reduce his sentence to one day of time served.

Hankison shot 10 rounds after police were fired on by Taylor’s boyfriend from inside her apartment. Hankison shot blindly into Taylor’s windows but didn’t strike anyone inside or in a neighboring apartment.