Gold and silver have rallied this year — and prices keep climbing. Gold futures for February delivery rose settled 0.8% higher at $4,505.7, after hitting a record of $4,530.80 per ounce. Spot gold was up 1.03% to $4,491.23 per ounce. Meanwhile silver futures for March advanced 4.46% and was last seen at $71.62 per ounce, while spot silver was last trading…
The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) says the continent is moving closer to meeting the criteria for downgrading Mpox as a Public Health Emergency of Continental Security. The move, it said, becomes imperative as more countries record zero cases for extended periods. Prof. Yap Boum, Incident Manager for Health Emergencies at…
New York — Surging conflicts, rising hunger, global funding cuts, and collapsing basic services are driving humanitarian needs for children to extreme levels worldwide. As UNICEF’s Humanitarian Action for Children 2026 (HAC) appeal is launched today, US$7.66 billion is urgently required to provide life-saving assistance to 73 million children – including 37 million girls and…
Vienna, Austria — Africa enters 2025 at a pivotal moment in its development. The ambition to transform the continent’s economies through sustainable industrialization, regional integration, and innovation is clearer than ever, and is picking up pace. The foundations are being laid. Industrial strategies are expanding, regional integration is progressing, infrastructure projects are advancing, and a…
Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed leveraged his engagements in South Africa to advance Ethiopia’s strategic interests, deepen key alliances, and elevate the country’s influence on continental and global platforms. PM Abiy’s latest diplomatic mission on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in Johannesburg signaled a renewed assertiveness in Ethiopia’s foreign policy. Held on the sidelines of…
As the world marks World Prematurity Day, global health agencies are calling attention to the increasing challenges faced by babies born too soon and the families who care for them. The 2025 theme, “Give preterm babies a strong start for a hopeful future,” aligns with the World Health Organisation’s, WHO, Healthy beginnings, hopeful futures campaign,…
Bern, Switzerland — President Cyril Ramaphosa says South Africa is hopeful of reaching a trade agreement with the United States soon, following ongoing text-based negotiations aimed at addressing the impact of steep tariffs imposed under the Trump administration. Speaking during a media briefing in Bern, Switzerland, on Wednesday, where he is undertaking a State Visit,…
Lesaka Technologies has rapidly emerged as a vital fintech enabler in Southern Africa, with its strategic focus on township economies attracting national attention. Building on its broader market ambitions, the company is now demonstrating tangible impact at street and store level among consumers, traders and township entrepreneurs. Lesaka currently serves over 90 000 micro merchants and…
South African fintech borrowers are concentrated in below prime risk tiers. South Africa’s fintech market is projected to reach $19.5 billion (R340 billion) by 2030, signalling a major shift in how consumers engage with credit. This is according to TransUnion’s latest research into SA’s fintech lending market, which reveals insights into borrower behaviour, loyalty and…
New York – The world is experiencing the highest number of active conflicts since 1946, creating unprecedented risks and suffering for women and girls. The 2025 UN Secretary-General’s report on Women, Peace and Security warns that 676 million women now live within 50 kilometers of deadly conflict, the highest level since the 1990s. Civilian casualties among women and…
