Anti-LGBTQ+ Crackdown: Human rights campaigners say West Africa is seeing a surge in restrictive anti-LGBTQ+ laws, pointing to Senegal’s tougher penalties and bans, plus similar measures reported in Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso, with Ghana also criminalizing LGBTQ+ activities while awaiting presidential approval. Press Freedom Under Pressure: In Bamako, a prominent Malian journalist, Chahana Takiou of 22 Septembre, was sentenced to one year in prison under cybercrime rules after criticizing how the law is used to silence another reporter—part of a wider crackdown on expression. Rights at the Frontline: Human Rights Watch accuses Russia-linked Africa Corps forces of killing eight civilians in Mali airstrikes on June 15 in the Mopti region, disputing Malian army-linked claims that JNIM fighters were among the victims. Security Operations in the North: The Malian Armed Forces and Africa Corps report operations against militants in northern Mali, including strikes around Abeibara, Kidal, and Tessalit, as reconnaissance and surveillance continue. Climate & Health: New research says climate change is already shifting malaria’s map across Africa—slightly reducing risk in some current hotspots, including parts of Mali, while raising risk in cooler southern and eastern regions. Aviation & Lifestyle: Air Peace has launched Lagos–Conakry–Bamako flights, boosting travel links across West Africa and making it easier for business, tourism, and cultural exchange to move between Nigeria, Guinea, and Mali.