Category BreakingNews

BusinessTech

Private schools in South Africa are renowned for their prestige and academic excellence, with smaller class sizes and highly qualified teachers. The 2024 matric results showed a 4.4 percentage point increase in the pass rate to 87.3% for private schools, with the IEB reporting an overall pass rate of 98.47%. Parents opt for private schools due to the perceived superior education they offer.

Read More from source

Daily Maverick

China’s December exports surged by 10.7% year-on-year, beating expectations, with a trade surplus of $104.8 billion. Analysts attribute the increase to frontloading due to Trump trade risks and Lunar New Year. Challenges remain, including potential US tariff hikes and unresolved disputes with the EU. Despite signs of recovery, China aims for around 5% economic growth in 2025 amid ongoing challenges.

Read More from source

BBC News

Disturbing videos reveal illegal miners living in dire conditions at a disused gold mine in South Africa. Some miners seen dead, others emaciated. Rescue operation ongoing after court order. Authorities previously blocked food and water supplies, vowing to “smoke them out.”

Read More from source

AP News

Over 100 illegal miners in South Africa died of starvation and dehydration while trapped in an abandoned gold mine. More than 500 others remain trapped. Bodies were found wrapped in plastic underground. Rescue operations have recovered 18 bodies and 26 survivors. The miners had been stuck for months as police tried to remove them.

Read More from source

Al Jazeera

400 men are trapped in an abandoned South African gold mine, with reports suggesting at least 100 deaths. Rescuers have retrieved illegal miners and bodies from the mine near Stilfontein. A professional rescue company successfully brought up seven people and four bodies. Videos from rescued miners’ phones show numerous bodies underground. Police had previously tried to remove illegal miners from the site.

Read More from source

Daily Maverick

The Economist magazine has been criticized for its inaccurate coverage of Africa, with notable blunders like labeling the continent as “The Hopeless Continent” in 2000. Despite its insightful articles on America and Europe, its portrayal of Africa reflects biases of urban, developed world readers. The magazine failed to anticipate Africa’s economic growth driven by manufacturing and building, influenced by China and Asia’s resource extraction activities.

Read More from source

Daily Maverick

The US president’s threats of military action and economic pressure on various countries raise concerns about imperialist tendencies. South Africa faces Agoa suspension due to its foreign policy alignment, risking preferential US market access. The Biden administration recently renewed South Africa’s Agoa eligibility, but uncertainties loom with Trump’s potential return to power.

Read More from source

The Economist

Africa’s importance is set to rise significantly in the coming years, with its share of the world’s population expected to reach 21% by 2030. The continent will become a key source of labor as the rest of the world ages, with over half of the young workforce in 2030 projected to be African. This demographic shift will have significant global implications.

Read More from source

Daily Maverick

South African court orders police to lift blockade at abandoned gold mine where miners are trapped. Videos show bodies and emaciated miners inside. Rescue efforts underway with new machinery replacing pulley system. Over 400 miners still awaiting rescue. Authorities preparing for planned rescue this week. MACUA group restored pulley system for supplies. Police crackdown on illegal mining. (Words: 58)

Read More from source

eNCA

The rand, previously strong, is now the second worst-performing emerging market currency, losing 1.75% against the US dollar. The local unit is being impacted by a stronger US dollar following positive job growth in the US economy.

Read More from source