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Ferry services to and from Holyhead Port have resumed after being disrupted for over six weeks due to damage sustained during Storm Darragh in early December. The storm caused significant damage to terminals 3 and 5 at the Welsh port, with terminal 5 operating on a temporary basis upon reopening.   The Irish Ferries ship WB Yeats arrived in Dublin Port from Holyhead this morning, marking the resumption of services. However, the initial restart was not without problems. Ger Hyland, President of the Irish Road Haulage Association (IRHA), reported a three-hour delay for the second ferry from Dublin to Holyhead due to an electrical fault at the port. Hyland expressed concern about the port's readiness, citing the large backlog of freight on the Welsh side. He emphasized the potential for "huge disaster" for the haulage sector, passengers, and Ireland's imports […]

A critical rescue operation is underway at a disused gold mine in Stilfontein South Africa where illegal miners have been trapped underground for months following police crackdowns on illicit mining activities last year. Recently released videos, which the BBC has not independently verified, reveal the severe conditions inside the mine. One video shows corpses in makeshift body bags, while another depicts emaciated surviving miners. A court-ordered rescue operation began Monday after significant delays. The situation escalated last year when authorities took a hardline approach, blocking food and water supplies to the mine located 145km southwest of Johannesburg. One government minister stated in November: "We are going to smoke them out." Reports suggest over 100 of these illegal miners, known locally as "zama zamas," have died underground since the crackdown began, though authorities have not officially confirmed this figure. While hundreds […]

Sierra Leone has implemented a public health emergency following the confirmation of two mpox cases in the country. Health Minister Austin Demby made the announcement in Freetown after confirming the second case of the viral disease. "The confirmation of two cases of mpox in the country has prompted immediate action as mandated by the Public Health Act," Demby stated. "On behalf of the government of Sierra Leone, I am declaring a public health emergency." The nation reported its first mpox case last week, marking its first confirmation since the African Union's health authority declared a continental emergency over the growing outbreak last year. The National Public Health Agency subsequently confirmed a second case involving a 21-year-old man who developed symptoms on January 6. The Ministry of Health and Sanitation reported that neither patient had known contact with infected animals or […]