London-listed miner pauses Mozambique operation amid political unrest

The London-listed mining company Gemfields said it had temporarily halted its ruby mining operation in Mozambique after groups “took advantage” of political unrest to set fire and attempt to invade its site, resulting in two deaths.Gemfields, one of the world’s largest miners of coloured gemstones, said more than 200 people associated with illegal ruby mining attempted to invade the residential village built by the company next to its Montepuez Ruby Mining (MRM) operation in northern Mozambique on Christmas Eve.The company, which is incorporated in Guernsey and listed on the London and Johannesburg stock exchanges, said the groups were trying to take advantage of the widespread civil unrest after the controversial and disputed national election.Gemfields said on Friday that looters set fire to community buildings built by MRM and that security forces, made up of the Mozambican police and the military, protected the residential village in a “staged escalation of force” that resulted in two individuals being shot and killed.On the same day, a vocational training centre built by MRM, and operated by Mozambique’s Institute for Vocational Training and Labor Studies, in the nearby village of Wikupuri was looted and damaged

More UK retailers in critical financial distress, as Boxing Day sales footfall drops – business live

The London-listed mining company Gemfields said it had temporarily halted its ruby mining operation in Mozambique after groups “took advantage” of political unrest to set fire and attempt to invade its site, resulting in two fatalities.Gemfields, one of the world’s largest miners of coloured gemstones, said that more than 200 people associated with illegal ruby mining attempted to invade the residential village built by the company next to its Montepuez Ruby Mining (MRM) operation in northern Mozambique on Christmas Eve.The company, which is incorporated in Guernsey and is listed on the London and Johannesburg stock exchanges, said that the groups were trying to take advantage of the widespread civil unrest after the controversial and disputed recent national election.The oil price has risen today, amid hopes of a pick-up in demand from China.Brent crude is up 0

There’s no reason for older people to fear smartphones | Letters

In wishing to ban smartphones, Tim Watson (nearly 94) throws the baby out with the bathwater (Letters, 20 December). Being of a certain age myself, I remember when nobody in my close family even had a landline.Smartphone use can become misuse but, used intelligently, the smartphone is one of the greatest modern inventions. With mine, I can call people on the other side of the world cheaply or even at no cost; I can use it as a satnav; I do not have to speak to everyone because I can simply send them a text; I can store important information and use any number of apps.I agree with banning smartphone use during school hours – and appropriate use and misuse should be part of education today because, of course, there are dangers

Older music has been getting a second life on TikTok, data shows

This was the year that gen Z had their “Brat summer”, or so we were led to believe.Inspired by the hit album by pop sensation Charli xcx, the trend was seen to embody all the messiness of modern youth: trashy, chaotic and bright green.But on the teenager’s social media platform of choice, TikTok, a more sepia music trend has been taking root.Despite having an endless amount of music to pair with their short, scrollable videos, TikTok users have been raiding the back catalogues of artists from yesteryear including Bronski Beat and Sade to soundtrack their posts.This year set a new high for use of old tracks on British TikTok posts, with tunes more than five years old accounting for 19 out of its 50 top tracks this year

Sport in 2024: the moments that made us smile

Guardian writers recall their memorable occasions over the past year, from fraternity in the F1 paddock to an indiscreet moment in the dartsYou hear all sorts of whispers at the Olympics; my favourite this year was about the 61-year-old grandmother Ni Xialian, who had an outside shot in the women’s table tennis. She won world titles for China in the early 1980s, then fell in love with another player, Tommy Danielsson, and moved to Luxembourg to run a hotel. She still plays and at this year’s Games she won her first match but lost to the world champion in the second. Afterwards, she spent a happy hour offering life advice to the assembled press. “I was worried if I was good enough, but if you never play, you’ll never know,” she said, “and as I always say: ‘I’m always younger today than I will be tomorrow

Welsh Grand National and more: horse racing news, tips and results – live

Good morning from Kempton Park ahead of another day of outstanding festive racing action both here and in south Wales, where 15 runners are due to go to post for the Coral Welsh Grand National, the most valuable event of the Welsh racing year.It was a foggy start to the day in Wales, but conditions have steadily improved ahead of the first race at 12pm, and the action in the market for the big race has been livening up too. Monbeg Genius, formerly the property of controversial couple Doug Barrowman and Michelle Mone, was favourite yesterday morning but has been friendless in the betting and is out to 9-1, and there are now no fewer than four horses – Atlanta Brave, Jubilee Express, Iron Bridge and Evies Vladimir – vying for favouritism at odds of around 7-1.Here at Kempton meanwhile, the big attraction is a head-to-head between two of the most exciting novice chase prospects around, Sir Gino and Ballyburn, in the Grade Two Wayward Lad Novice Chase at 1.55