Metro

South Africa wants UK to return 500 carat Great Star of Africa diamond ‘stolen’ from its mine in 1905

Published

2 years ago

September 19, 2022

With the demise of Queen Elizabeth II, South Africa has called on the UK Royal Family to return one of the world’s largest clear-cut jewels, a 500 carat diamond, the Great Star of Africa, or Cullinan Diamond, with claims that the precious stone was stolen from one of its mines in 1905.

In 1907, a military commander, Luis Botha, said that the diamond was bought for 150,000 pounds, and then gifted it to Edward VII on his birthday, which outraged many South Africans.

A petition which has gathered over 10,000 signatures on Monday, demanded that the diamond which was gifted to the Queen should be returned to the South African Museum now that the monarch is no more.

But according to the Royal Collection Trust which oversees the collections of the British Royal Family, the Cullinan Diamond was presented to King Edward VII who was the British monarch at the time, in 1907, two years after its discovery in a private mine in South Africa’s old Transvaal province.

The Diamond was later presented to Queen Elizabeth on her ascension of the throne in 1952 at a time South Africa was a British Colony.

The Great Star of Africa is currently mounted on a royal scepter belonging to the Queen.

The Trust added that the Diamond which weighed around 3,106 carats in its natural form, was “the size of a human heart,” before it was sent to Asscher of Amsterdam to be cleft in 1908.

It was split into two parts, which were then turned into nine smaller pieces in total. The two biggest belong to the crown, and the other seven were Elizabeth II’s and she wore them as part of necklaces, rings, and other accessories.

After South Africa’s independence, they tried to claim back things that were theirs.

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Metro

EU launches initiative to reintegrate over 417,661 out-of-school children in Nigeria

Published

22 minutes ago

November 15, 2024

Isaac Dachen

The European Union (EU) has launched an initiative to reintegrate over 417,661 out-of-school children in Nigeria, particularly in the northwestern parts of the country.

Mrs. Tobi Ransomed, who is the consortium lead, disclosed this during the launching of the “Accelerating Basic Education and Livelihood Opportunities for Children and Youth in North West Nigeria Program” (ABEP), held in Dutse, the capital of Jigawa State, on Thursday.

While declaring the event open, Ransomed noted that the high rate of out-of-school children in the region required a holistic approach from all relevant stakeholders to ensure these children reached their potential.

Speaking further, she said the ABEP three-year pilot program would be implemented through Save the Children International, PLAN, and Development Alternatives Incorporated (DAG) across twelve local government areas in Kano, Jigawa, and Sokoto States.

“Data from Save the Children International (SCI), has shown that 10% of the world’s out-of-school children are in Nigeria, with over 10 million primary school-age children not in school. Approximately 25% of girls and 10% of boys in the country have been victims of sexual violence,” she stated.

“The program aims to increase access to safe, quality, and inclusive alternative and accelerated education programs for 324,000 young girls and boys, as well as 32,400 persons with disabilities, supporting their transition into formal or non-formal education.

“This project plans to increase access to livelihood opportunities, vocational education, and green job opportunities for 60,000 youths and 6,000 persons with disabilities, with 20,000 beneficiaries in each participating state.

“The overall objective is to contribute to the empowerment of the poorest, underserved, and most marginalized population groups, including women, girls, and youth, by providing access to quality, inclusive, gender-sensitive, and conflict-sensitive education in northwestern Nigeria with a special focus on Kano, Jigawa, and Sokoto States,” she stated.

Metro

World Bank pledges $3b to support Zambia’s development goals

Published

19 hours ago

November 14, 2024

Isaac Dachen

The World Bank Group has pledged to avail Zambia with approximately $3 billion to support the country’s development goals under the new Country Partnership Framework (CPF) for 2025-2029, with nearly half of the funds already disbursed.

World Bank Country Manager, Achim Fock, who made this known at the CPF launch at the Mulungushi Conference Centre in Lusaka on Wednesday, outlined the global lender’s focus areas, which included enhancing jobs, human capital, and climate resilience.

Fock highlighted that $200 million had been approved to strengthen Zambia’s social protection programs, including the Refugee and Host Community Project.

He also expressed optimism for upcoming approvals, including the Climate and Economic Resilience Financing and the Zambia-Tanzania Interconnector.

Zambia’s Finance and National Planning Minister, Situmbeko Musokotwane, who also spoke at the event, noted that 2.3 million Zambian households have so far benefited from social protection interventions such as the Cash for Work Programme, emphasizing the government’s commitment to safeguarding lives amid crises like the recent drought.

Musokotwane further reiterated the government’s commitment to protecting lives during times of crises such as the recent drought.

“More than two thirds of the Zambian population was affected by the drought. It was the government’s view that the first priority was to save lives,” Musokotwane stated.