US Visa Overhaul for Africa: The State Department plans to cut U.S. visa-processing embassies and consulates across Africa from nearly 50 to 20 hubs, with Port Louis (Mauritius) named as one of the full-processing centres; non-hub posts will stay open mainly for U.S. citizens and limited cases, meaning many applicants will face extra travel costs and longer journeys. Oil Shock Warning: UNCTAD says Strait of Hormuz tensions could add about US$20.4bn to annual fuel import bills for the world’s most vulnerable economies, hitting least developed and small island states hardest. Mauritius in the Spotlight: A story on the Flame Tree (Royal Poinciana/Delonix regia) traces how seeds and saplings moved from Madagascar to Mauritius and then onward—explaining why Cairo’s streets turn red each June. Culture & Books: Shana Chandra’s debut novel Banjara revisits the Indo-Fijian indenture system through two women across time, giving voice to histories shaped by colonial “shame.” Lifestyle & Parenting: A mother shares her “me-time” birthday wish—solo travel and self-care framed as a healthier approach to motherhood.