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☆ Diamond prices have fallen 18% from their peak — and analysts say there's still more room to plunge
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-22 | by ( Lee Ying Shan | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

Diamond prices are down 18% from their all-time highs in February 2022, and are lower 6.5% year-to-date, according to one Global Rough Diamond Price Index. "A slightly better-than-average-quality 1-carat natural diamond was $6,700 a year ago, today this same diamond is selling for $5,300," Paul Zimnisky, the CEO of Paul Zimnisky Diamond Analytics, told CNBC. And when the economy started opening up again, diamond prices started moderating, and slid into a "steep decline," he added. said 29-year-old Singaporean Jonathan Lok, who proposed to his fiancée with a 0.76 carat lab-grown diamond ring late last year. The lab-grown diamond industry, which is energy-intensive, have also been seeing soaring energy costs taper off from its peak.

Persons: Diamond, Yuriko Nakao, Nakao, they're, Paul Zimnisky, Leon Neal, Daga, Jonathan Lok, Edahn Golan, Monirul Bhuiyan Organizations: Getty, Analytics, CNBC, Consumers, Bain & Company, Afp, Bloomberg, Edahn, Edahn Golan Diamond Research &, Labor, Sanctions Locations: Antwerp, Belgium, Harrods, London, Paris, France, Jwaneng, Botswana

☆ Opinion: This Trump indictment will change history. The question is how
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-11 | by ( Jane Carr | Opinion Jane Greenway Carr | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +17 min

We’re looking back at the strongest, smartest opinion takes of the week from CNN and other outlets. “Big Brother” is a fierce indictment of a power structure that surveils and oppresses while poverty and suffering proliferate. Clay Jones“Next year will mark 50 years since President Richard Nixon resigned as a result of the Watergate scandal. And yet, “Trump denies any and all wrongdoing and continues to remain the leader of the pack. “When former President Donald Trump took office in 2017, he left the rules in place.

Persons: CNN —, ”, Philippe Petit, Henri Matisse, Petit, Stevie Wonder, Jackson, Richard Nixon, —, interjected, “, Donald Trump, Clay Jones “, Julian Zelizer, “ Trump, Trump, Norman Eisen, Jack Smith, Eisen, Barack Obama’s, ” Eisen, Jennifer Rodgers, Ron DeSantis, Mike Pence, Chris Christie, Vivek Ramaswamy, Robert F, Kennedy Jr, Cornel West, Cupp, –, John Avlon, …, Avlon, Pence, televangelist Pat Robertson, Nicole Hemmer, “ Long, Robertson, Robertson “, David Mark, Geoff Duncan, Jason Lancaster, Kirsi Goldynia, Virginia Sole, Smith, ’, demonize fatness, Nick Anderson, Tess Taylor, Laura Schifter, Taylor, Marc Eichenbaum, Michael Nichols, “ Houston, Lawrence Downes, ” Eric Adams, ” —, ” Downes, Ellis, Evgeniy, it’s, Frida Ghitis, Reinhold Matay, Aaron David Miller, LIV, ” Miller, Octavio Jones, Jill Filipovic, ” Filipovic, Allison Hope, Justin Sullivan, Peter Bergen, Biden, Afghanistan Ana Homayoun, Amy Bass, Rose Zhang, Marty Irby, I’m, Britain's Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, Hannah McKay, Reuters Prince Harry, Queen Victoria’s, King Edward VII, Harry, Prince Harry, Holly Thomas –, Thomas Organizations: CNN, GOP, Republican, Trump, Florida Gov, New, New Jersey Gov, Getty, Former New Jersey Gov, Adobe, Tribune, East Coasters, …, The, Democratic, Ukraine Ukrainian, Orange County National, USA, Sports, PGA, Saudi, Hillsborough High School, Reuters, Human Rights, Apple Vision, Apple Worldwide Developers, Court, Daily Locations: Manhattan, Florida, New Jersey, Pence’s, Washington ,, ” Houston, “, Texas, Chicago , New York, Sacramento, New York, New York City, White, Ukraine, Kherson, Russia, Nova, Orlando , Florida, USA, Saudi Arabia, Tampa , Florida, U.S, United States, Cupertino , California, Afghanistan, London, England, British, Botswana

☆ Opinion: These shots at Prince Harry are cheap – and telling
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-08 | by ( Opinion Holly Thomas | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

CNN —For a man whose life has been marked by ceaseless public interest in his every move, Prince Harry’s performance over the last few days has felt remarkably amateur. The issue of phone hacking by Britain’s tabloid media is far more insidious than some coverage of Harry’s testimony might suggest. In 2021, it settled phone hacking claims with other actors including Martin Clunes and David Walliams, and issued an apology. So much of Harry’s life and experience is unrelatable and apparently contradictory. But none of us is ever likely to be judged as exhaustively — or as loudly — as Prince Harry.

Persons: Holly Thomas, Katie Couric, Prince, Harry, Holly Thomas Holly Thomas , —, MGN, Hugh Grant, Martin Clunes, David Walliams, unreservedly, we’re, Rupert Murdoch, Prince William, Milly Dowler, Murdoch, “, Princess Diana, Chelsy Davy, Harry’s, he’s, Prince Harry, ” It’s, who’d Organizations: Katie Couric Media, CNN, British, Group, MGN, Sunday People, News Corp, FBI, Eton, Twitter Locations: London, Botswana

☆ A ‘Dirty’ Job That Few Want: Mining Companies Struggle to Hire for the Energy Transition
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-01 | by ( Yusuf Khan | ) www.wsj.com time to read: +10 min

Despite their part in the energy transition, mining companies face a perception of being in a “dirty” industry thanks to a legacy of mining disasters and accusations of worker exploitation and sexual assault. Canada’s mining and mineral-engineering enrollment was down 10% in 2020 compared with 2016, according to Canada’s Mining Industry Human Resources Council. SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS What message should mining companies deliver to young workers to attract them to the industry? Mining companies also face accusations of exploitation of local workforces. She hopes that younger workers will help mining companies evolve, taking on more social responsibility and improving their mining practices.

Persons: Lily Dickson, Mawson, ”, Alex Gorman, Peel Hunt, Rohitesh Dhawan, Alex Gorman “, Gorman, “, Haydon Mort, Stacy Hope, Cole Burston, Hope, Codelco, Centamin, Martin Horgan, Mort, Geologize, Jamie Kelsey Fry, Dickson, Yusuf Khan Organizations: University of Leeds, Leeds, Rio Tinto, McKinsey, U.S . National Center for Education Statistics, Canada’s Mining, Resources Council, Peel, International Council, Mining, Metals, Tinto, of Labor Statistics, Australian Bureau, Statistics, Geologize Ltd, BHP, . Workers, Bloomberg, Codelco, Chilean, Walmart, Recruiting, Centamin, Sustainable Business, “ Locations: Finland, Vancouver, Europe, U.S, Australia, Rio, South Africa, Lily Dickson Canada, Botswana, “, Saharan Africa, Ontario, Canada, Chile, Africa, Congo, Ghana, Zimbabwe, yusuf.khan

☆ No, you can’t ride a lion on safari — why more companies are telling travelers ‘no’ these days
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-15 | by ( Monica Pitrelli | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

It's one of the dirtiest words in hospitality — and travelers may be hearing it more these days. The travel agency Discover Africa had to say it when potential clients asked if their young son could ride a lion while on safari. "When we said no to riding a lion, the guest asked what other wild animals he could ride," said Susan Swanepoel, a senior travel consultant at Discover Africa. There was the Japanese company that wanted Japanese food, prepared with Japanese ingredients by Japanese chefs, for some 6,000 guests for six weeks surrounding the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa. They wanted me to get hold of the camp manager to go to their tent to change the pillows around for them."

☆ Testosterone surges preserved in 33,000-year-old mammoth tusk
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-03 | by ( Ashley Strickland | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

In addition to cortisol, the mammoth tusk revealed annually recurring testosterone surges up to 10 times higher than baseline, according to the study. An African bull elephant tusk was used in the study to compare with mammoth tusks. Then we saw the same patterns in the mammoth — wow!”Both the elephant and male mammoth tusks contained evidence of musth-related testosterone surges. Meanwhile, the female mammoth tusk showed little variation and very low testosterone, as expected. Gleaning this type of information from mammoth tusks can reveal more insights into the lifetimes of the extinct creatures.

CNN —Growing up, Sindile Mavundla would cycle to school every day on a red BMX bicycle – then a rarity in Khayelitsha, a township in Cape Town, South Africa. In Africa, in addition to Mavundla, there is a bicycle mayor in Botswana, Kenya, and Zimbabwe, and two in Nigeria. As bicycle mayor of Cape Town, Mavundla is on a mission to create a more diverse and accessible cycling culture in South Africa. He has also worked with mobility non-profit Qhubeka to donate 1,220 bikes to Thembelihle High School, in Cape Town. “If you look at the poorer people in South Africa, a lot of their money goes in public transport.

☆ Bids for 2027 Africa Cup of Nations offer path for comprise over 2025 hosts
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-27 | by ( Mark Gleeson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

CAPE TOWN, April 27 (Reuters) - Algeria head a list of four bids to host the 2027 African Cup of Nations, which the Confederation of African Football announced on Thursday, but Morocco are a surprise omission suggesting a compromise over the 2025 edition has been struck. A statement said CAF had received bids from Algeria, Botswana, Egypt and a joint candidacy from Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda for the 2027 tournament after the expiry of the deadline for declarations of interest. CAF have repeatedly delayed deciding who will replace Guinea as the 2025 hosts. Algeria and Morocco are the top two contenders for 2025 but choosing between the two neighbours has become a political dilemma for CAF, sources have told Reuters. The two North African neighbours have an adversarial relationship, with diplomatic ties suspended, and winning the rights to host the 2025 Cup of Nations would be a matter of national pride and a public relations triumph.

☆ Spare the bear: Sculpture of Spain's rifle-wielding ex-king puzzles onlookers
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-26 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Once revered for his role in Spain's transition to democracy, he is now seen as a liability for his son, King Felipe. After eight minutes standing next to the bronze bear figure, Miranda removed his unauthorised statue - 170 cm (67 inches) tall and made of polyurethane and modelling clay covered with metallic paint resembling patina on bronze. The Bear and Strawberry Tree - the official symbols of Madrid - are photographed by thousands of tourists daily in the middle of the Puerta del Sol square. Miranda will have an exhibition in Madrid next month which will include images of the performance in Puerta del Sol. Reporting by Emma Pinedo, editing by Andrei Khalip and Mark HeinrichOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

The cause of death was not immediately known and authorities will perform a post-mortem to find out more, the outlet reported. Uday – who was named by Indian citizens in a contest – was among 20 cheetahs airlifted to India over the past few months from Africa. The news of the deceased 6-year-old cheetah came just three weeks after his fellow feline, Sasha, died from a kidney infection. Laurie Marker, founder of the Namibia-based Cheetah Conservation Fund (CCF), which also helped with transferring the animals, said re-establishing a population is very difficult. In late March, the country welcomed four newborn cheetahs for the first time since the species disappeared from India more than 70 years ago.

☆ A tour guide recalls the terrifying moment he was swallowed by a hippo and had his arm crushed
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-13 | by ( Marianne Guenot | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Paul Templer barely survived a hippo attack after a pod capsized his group's canoe when he was 28. He found himself inside a hippo's mouth three times and was swallowed up to his waist twice. "It was as if I had suddenly gone blind and deaf," Templer told The Guardian in 2013. Templer survived being in the hippo's mouth three timesA hippo is shown in Botswana. A third time, Templer found himself inside the hippo's mouth, this time with arms and legs dangling either side of its mouth.

☆ Hippo attacks: How to avoid one of Africa's most dangerous animals
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-12 | by ( Forrest Brown | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +22 min

“Hippos attack not to eat people, but to get them the hell away from them,” Lewison said. Larger vessels can offer more protection from a sudden hippo attack. photocech/Adobe StockGet to know the signs of disturbed hippos, Muruthi advised, in case you wander too closely. … If you slap the water, the percussion 99.9 times out of 100 will turn the hippo,” Templer said. Remember to suck in air if on the surface.”Another hippo attack survivor in this National Geographic video also was able to conserve her breath.

☆ Uganda’s anti-gay bill is the latest and worst to target LGBTQ Africans
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-06 | by ( Aditi Bhandari | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +14 min

Same-sex activity in Africa is punishable by … Map of the 32 African countries where same-sex activity is illegal. Same-sex activity in Africa … Map of the 22 African countries where same-sex activity is legal. In 1993, Guinea-Bissau became the first African country to legalise LGBTQ activity when it adopted a new Penal Code that didn’t include any laws criminalising it. Country Constitutional protection Broad protections Employment Hate crime Incitement Marriage or civil union Adoption Angola No Yes Yes Yes Yes No No Botswana No No Yes No No No No Cape Verde No No Yes Yes No No No Gabon No No No No No No No Guinea-Bissau No No No No No No No Lesotho No No No No No No No Mozambique No No Yes No No No No Sao Tome and Principe No No Yes Yes No No No Seychelles No No Yes No No No No South Africa Yes Yes Yes No Yes Yes YesNote: Broad protections include laws protecting against discrimination in at least 3 of 4 categories: the provision of goods and services, housing, healthcare and education. Namibia and Mauritius criminalise same-sex activity, but around 35% of respondents said they would dislike having a gay neighbour.

☆ ‘The New Big 5’: Wildlife photography book turns the lens on animals at risk
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-03 | by ( Flo Cornall | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

However, British photographer Graeme Green has reclaimed the narrative, creating a global “New Big Five” for wildlife photography. Green says that the book celebrates wildlife and is a global call to action on issues impacting wildlife, including habitat loss, poaching, pollution and climate change. British photographer Graeme Green is the founder of the New Big 5 project, an international conservation initiative supported by photographers, conservationists and wildlife charities. “These are the species that we are at risk of losing.”"The New Big 5: A Global Photography Project For Endangered Wildlife" by Graeme Green is out now. “The New Big 5: A Global Photography Project For Endangered Wildlife,” by Graeme Green, published by Earth Aware Editions, is on sale from April 4, 2023.

☆ How this 26-year-old went from running bitcoin trading desks in Taco Bells to creating the largest crypto exchange in Africa
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-25 | by ( Mackenzie Sigalos | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +28 min

Yellow Card CEO Chris Maurice just before meeting with the Securities and Exchange Commission in Accra, Ghana. Chris MauriceFrom there, Yellow Card users can send or receive digital cash in eligible markets. Zoom In Icon Arrows pointing outwards Yellow Card CEO Chris Maurice in Accra, Ghana loading cash onto his Mobile Money account, MoMo. Yellow Card has facilitated $1.75 billion in transactions since launching in 2019 and has about 220 employees – mostly in Africa. A resident checks his phone outside a mobile money kiosk in the Kibera district of Nairobi, Kenya, on Monday, Aug. 1, 2022.

☆ Factbox: Legal hurdles faced by LGBT+ people in Africa
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-22 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Africa accounts for nearly half of the countries worldwide where homosexuality is outlawed, according to the review, which was last updated in December 2020. - Life imprisonment is the maximum penalty for same-sex relations in Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia, while jail terms of up to 14 years are possible in Gambia, Kenya and Malawi. - Broad protection against discrimination based on sexual orientation exists in three countries: Angola, Mauritius and South Africa. - South Africa is the only African country where gay marriage is legal and where the constitution protects against discrimination based on sexual orientation. However, South Africa has high rates of rape and homophobic crime.

☆ Botswana mining growth seen flat amid dim diamond outlook
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-01 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

GABORONE, March 1 (Reuters) - Botswana expects output from its mining sector to be flat this year, as the diamond industry loses its sparkle due to a contraction in consumer spending and weaker demand for diamond jewellery, a finance ministry official said on Wednesday. Diamond trading grew 41% in the year as Botswana also benefitted from Western buyers shunning stones from Russia following its invasion of Ukraine. In 2023, Botswana expects diamond output to decline by 1%, while diamond trading growth is seen slowing to 7% from 41% last year. Finance ministry estimates show that government expects mineral royalties to fall to 4,5 billion pula ($3.41 billion) in 2023, from 6.1 billion pula last year. Dividends due to the state will also decline to 11,3 billion pula from 15 billion pula in 2022.

After Russia invaded Ukraine, the West formed what looked like an overwhelming global coalition: 141 countries supported a United Nations measure demanding that Russia unconditionally withdraw. South Korea Indonesia Israel Thailand Japan Saudi Arabia Philippines Afghanistan CambodiaBy contrast, Russia seemed isolated. Eritrea “Russian actions are being distorted” North Korea Russia Belarus Syria Eritrea “Russian actions are being distorted” North Korea Russia Belarus SyriaBut the West never won over as much of the world as it initially seemed. But like many other African countries, South Africa appears careful to balance its growing ties with Russia against maintaining a relationship with the West. Others that provided Ukraine with military support have declined to impose economic sanctions on Russia.

☆ India's HAL in talks on Tejas fighter jet exports, faces Malaysia setback
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-14 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

He said in Malaysia there had been a "slight setback" amid stiff competition with a Korean rival. "We have not received anything in black and white, but we are hearing that Koreans will get the order," Ananthakrishnan said. HAL is also in talks with the Philippines to sell its light-combat helicopters, he added. HAL is targeting export sales of 25 billion Indian rupees ($302.15 million) over the next few years, its director of operations Jayadeva EP told Reuters. The Tejas has been beset by design and other challenges, and was once rejected by the Indian Navy as too heavy.

☆ Russia, South Africa and a 'redesigned global order': The Kremlin's hearts and minds machine is steaming ahead
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-26 | by ( Elliot Smith | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +9 min

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov visited Pretoria as part of an African tour, his second since the invasion, which will also reportedly take him to Botswana, Angola and Eswatini. On Feb. 24 2022, shortly after the Ukraine invasion, South Africa urged Russia to immediately withdraw its forces from Ukraine. South Africa was one of 15 African nations to abstain from the subsequent U.N. vote in March to condemn Russia's war of aggression. watch nowShe emphasized the multilateral responsibilities of the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) bloc of leading emerging economies in a changing global landscape. White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Monday that "the United States has concerns about any country … exercising with Russia as Russia wages a brutal war against Ukraine."

☆ South Africa energy blackouts: Ramaphosa skips Davos to tackle crisis
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-18 | by ( Hanna Ziady | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

London CNN —South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa was forced this week to cancel a trip to Davos by an escalating energy crisis that is inflicting rolling blackouts on the continent’s most developed economy. At peak times, demand in South Africa averages between 28,000 MW and 34,000 MW. Electricity theft, including by impoverished townships in South Africa, and non-payment by municipal customers have made matters worse. Despite an abundance of sunshine and wind, South Africa still derives about 80% of its electricity from coal. South Africa’s National Energy Crisis Committee, a body run out of Ramaphosa’s office, has proposed several measures to ease the crisis in the short term, including importing energy from neighboring countries and buying excess energy from private producers.

☆ Factbox: How governments are trying to ease impact of inflation
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-19 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

* Ecuador's president decreed a 6% minimum wage hike for next year. * Hungary's government and private-sector employers have agreed on a 16% minimum wage increase for next year. * Poland will cap electricity prices for small businesses, hospitals and households in 2023, and raise the minimum wage twice. * Tunisia's government in September signed a deal with a major labour union to raise public-sector pay and the minimum wage. * Turkey in July raised the minimum wage by about 30%, adding to the 50% rise seen at the end of last year.

☆ What we learned from Harry and Meghan’s Netflix documentary
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-08 | by ( Lianne Kolirin | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

CNN —The first few episodes of the Duke and Duchess’ highly-anticipated Netflix documentary series aired on Thursday. The royal family regarded such intrusion almost as a workplace hazard, according to Harry. Why should she be protected?’ I said the difference here is the race element.”Formalities, and meeting William and CatherineMeghan recalled meeting Prince William and his wife Catherine over dinner. Meghan recalled being told that she would have to curtsy, while Harry said: “How do you explain that you bow to your grandmother? Hollywood – it was very easy for them to typecast that.”Royal family’s ‘unconscious bias’In contrast to Meghan’s experiences growing up mixed race, Harry said that there was a “huge level” of unconscious bias in the royal family.

Harry also recalled explaining that “the difference here is the race element.”In the end, the series offers no massive revelations or bombshells yet. That wasn’t addressed in this first volume from Netflix, so any bombshells the palace fears may still be yet to come. WATCHThe much-anticipated docuseries “Harry & Meghan” offers an intimate look at the lives of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. Video Ad Feedback Reporter breaks down what's in the 'Harry & Meghan' Netflix series so far 03:06 - Source: CNNKEY TAKEAWAYS FROM THE SUSSEX DOCThe series included photos of the Sussexes in both public and private moments. WHO IS LIZ GARBUS, THE DIRECTOR HARRY AND MEGHAN ENTRUSTED WITH THEIR SERIES?

☆ Harry and Meghan: the rebel royals
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-08 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

Weeks later, the prince takes Meghan, whose father is white and mother African-American, on a romantic holiday to Botswana. October: Harry and Meghan announce she is expecting their first child while in Australia on their first overseas tour. 2019:March: Buckingham Palace announces Harry and Meghan will set up their own household, breaking from the operation they shared with his elder brother Prince William and his wife Kate. Harry and Meghan return to Britain for celebrations to mark Elizabeth's 70 years on the throne. September: Harry and Meghan are in Britain when Queen Elizabeth dies.

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