The desert rain frog (Breviceps macrops), native to South Africa and Namibia, is now classified as vulnerable by the IUCN due to habitat destruction from mining and development. Concerns also arise from its increasing popularity in the pet trade.
China's Taiwan Affairs Office compared President Lai Ching-te to a 'rat crossing the street' after he secretly boarded an Eswatini government aircraft to complete an unannounced state visit to the small African kingdom. The visit, originally scheduled for late April, was disrupted when Seychelles, Mauritius, and Madagascar revoked overflight permits – which Taipei blamed on Chinese pressure. Eswatini remains one of only 12 countries with formal diplomatic ties with Taiwan. Beijing accused Lai of abandoning island residents after a major earthquake to pursue 'diplomatic achievements' that are 'nothing but trickery and a laughing stock.'
