Africa: U.S.-Africa Trade Desk Secures $56 Million South African Table Grape Deal, Benefiting Us Consumers and Boosting Us-Africa Trade

Arop Akol, a rising South Sudanese model, shares her journey from watching fashion shows as a child to walking runways for luxury brands in London and Paris. Despite the loneliness of traveling for work, she finds camaraderie with fellow South Sudanese models, who are gaining prominence in the industry, with one in five models on Models.com’s "future stars" list having South Sudanese heritage. While Akol’s career took off after being scouted in 2019, she highlights...

Summary Under scrutiny for the State's handling of an extradition ruling that permitted Ace Magashule's former PA, Moroadi Cholota, to evade justice, prosecutions chief Shamila Batohi has announced her intention to pursue the extradition of the Gupta brothers once more. This decision comes amid growing criticism regarding the effectiveness of the legal processes surrounding high-profile cases. Batohi's renewed efforts reflect a commitment to addressing perceived failures in the extradition system and ensuring accountability for those...

YouTube channels and fake news websites are disseminating a multitude of false stories regarding Sassa grants and employment opportunities each month, as highlighted by Andrew Thompson. These hoaxes exploit vulnerable individuals, creating confusion, false hope, or panic among recipients. Despite being easily identifiable as fake, such misinformation has infiltrated public discourse and gained significant traction online, leading to widespread sharing and concern. Full Article

Botswana's main diamond company, Debswana, has paused production at some mines due to a prolonged downturn in global demand, with sales revenue dropping by nearly 50% last year. The company plans to reduce output to 15 million carats in 2024, a 40% decrease, while temporarily closing its Jwaneng and Orapa mines for three months to achieve cost savings. Despite the challenges, Debswana has stated there will be no involuntary job cuts, although voluntary redundancy options...

The Wagner Group has announced its withdrawal from Mali, citing the completion of its mission to combat Islamist militants alongside the Malian military since 2021. This decision coincides with reports of Malian soldiers withdrawing from a major base following a series of deadly attacks by jihadist groups, raising concerns about the effectiveness of Wagner's presence. Despite Wagner's exit, Russian forces will maintain a role in Mali's security through a rival mercenary group, Africa Corps, as...

A selection of the week's best photos from across the African continent and beyond:This week's photo selection features impactful images, including a mural in Congo addressing cobalt mining issues, cast members performing at "Sarafina The Musical" in South Africa, and a girl learning in Zanzibar. Additional highlights include a market trader inspecting a ram in Nigeria ahead of Eid, grape harvesting in Egypt, and cultural festivities in Senegal. The series captures the vibrancy and diversity...