Study showing Botswana as the origin of humans is under scrutiny

Since 2019, when two French citizens were kidnapped from Benin's Pendjari National Park and their local guide murdered, the West African country has been dealing with regular incursions by armed groups, including terrorists. According to official figures, 40 civilians and 20 soldiers have been killed over the past three years. Our regional correspondents followed the Beninese army in the northern border areas, where it has beefed up its presence.

The president has ordered officials to "take a firm stance." Germany's human rights commissioner has raised concern over the rights situation in the region that forces many to flee.

In 2021, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko began letting migrants cross his country's border into Poland to retaliate against EU sanctions. Poland strengthened its border controls, but the number of illegal migrant crossings into Germany has been surging in recent months. The Brandenburg region in eastern Germany now finds itself at the crossroads between the Belarus and Balkans migrant routes.

The Cook Islands and Niue have been recognized by the United States as "sovereign and independent states." The move appeared to be aimed at curbing further Chinese inroads into the Pacific region.

Mali's military leadership has said presidential elections could not be held on schedule due to "technical" reasons. Since taking power in 2020, the junta has promised to hold elections, but has repeatedly issued delays.

Niger has hailed France's withdrawal as a "step towards sovereignty." But experts argue that the move has broad implications for the country, the Sahel region and beyond.

Find these stories and much more when you grab a copy of The Guardian on Thursday.

Tensions are flaring up between India and Canada over Khalistan separatists, with the row also sending out shockwaves throughout the Sikh diaspora.

Malaysia intends to double the quantity of palm oil it exports to China, in an effort to counterbalance the EU's push to cut down on its own imports.

The former US president is being sued by the New York attorney general for deceiving banks and insurers by over-valuating assets. The judge's decision narrows the parameters of a trial next week.

A Rwandan court orders a suspected serial killer to be detained for 30 days. Denis Kazungu pleaded guilty after multiple bodies were found buried in his kitchen, in a case that has shocked the nation. Also, several children are amongst the eight people killed following heavy rains in Cape Town. And in Senegal, Tiak Tiak drivers gear up to hit the streets once again. The moto-taxis offer commuters a way to zip in and out of the dense Dakar traffic, but with a risk of accidents.

Britain's Home Secretary Suella Braverman called for governments to rewrite global refugee rules to make them "fit for the modern age." She said "simply being gay, or a woman" should not in itself entitle refuge.