Africa

Mining operations at the Kagem emerald mine will be suspended from today 1 January 2025 due to the disrupted dynamics in the emerald market, which have been triggered by an oversupply of Zambian emeralds at discounted prices during the latter half of 2024

Tachilowa, iconic song by veteran singer Peter Sambo, is poised to be the hit on New Year’s Day; released in 2003 it is since then, every January 1st, a beacon of hope that lights the way for the year ahead

Malaria continues to pose a public health risk in Ethiopia, reaching 'epidemic proportions' with an average of 'over 300.000 cases' reported weekly across the country, the WHO stated

New protections for women and the family will be included in the legislation, with reference to polygamy, a ban on marriage for children under 18, and new, more protective provisions during divorce

The foundation stone of what will become the most important temple of the Russian Orthodox Church in Africa was consecrated in the city of Kiboga; the Russian Orthodox Church is seeing a rapid expansion in Uganda

28 trucks of food and medical supplies have reached Jebel Awliya, facing starvation since area access was cut off; it’s the first since the beginning of the civil war in 2023, a result of negotiations between UN and local associations with warring parties

Nominations for Mail&Guardian’s 200 Young South Africans 2025 are open; at its 20th edition, the initiative celebrates the achievements of young people in 19 categories including agriculture, arts-entertainment, finance, health, justice, sport, technology

The students registered for the examinations in 2024 amounted to 29.635, +11,21% on 2023 data, but the national pass rate in the EPC exams declined this year by approximately 1%

Over 4.000 detainees have been pardoned this year by President Abdelmadjid Tebboune to mark the 70th anniversary of the independence war with France; Algerian journalist Ihsane El Kadi was also freed thanks to the initiative

The road safety campaign on drink and drug driving was launched in Port Louis in the presence of the Minister of Land Transport, Osman Cassam Mahomed

The UN authorised a new peacekeeping mission to continue supporting Somalia in its fight against al-Shabaab, the insurgent group affiliated with al-Qaida; it is not clear whether troops from neighboring Ethiopia will in the 12.626 personnel deployment

At the end of the first month of the G20 presidency, SA said it will leverage the opportunity of being the first African country to hold the role to "highlight the barriers to AI of developing countries, including unequal access to digital infrastructure"

Ridah bin Saleh al-Yazidi has been released from Guantanamo Bay prison camp: the Tunisian detainee has never been charged with any crime and has been held for nearly 23 years, since the day the facility opened