South Africa declares gender-based violence a national disaster

Investigators have identified the source of a fuel leak in the Olympic pipeline, operated by BP, two weeks after it was first detected near a blueberry farm in Everett, Washington. The leak was traced to a 20-inch pipeline, allowing the neighboring 16-inch pipeline to be restarted.

All 24 schoolgirls kidnapped from the Government Girls Comprehensive Secondary School in Kebbi state, Nigeria, have been rescued, as confirmed by President Bola Tinubu. The girls were abducted on November 17, with one escaping on the same day, while the remaining were saved later, although details of the rescue remain undisclosed.

Twenty-four schoolgirls who were kidnapped in Kebbi State, Nigeria, have been released, prompting President Bola Tinubu to call for intensified efforts to rescue other captives still held by armed groups. The release comes amid ongoing security challenges in the region.

South African police are investigating allegations that Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla, daughter of former President Jacob Zuma, was involved in recruiting men to fight alongside Russian mercenaries in the ongoing Ukraine conflict. The investigation follows claims that she, along with two others, helped recruit 17 South Africans, prompting the presidency to seek their rescue from the war-torn Donbas region.

Over 250 schoolchildren remain missing in Nigeria after being abducted from a Catholic boarding school, prompting criticism from a Catholic bishop regarding the government's failure to secure their release. The police have denied claims of inaction, suggesting that the school has not cooperated adequately in the search efforts.

Trump’s envoy has denied allegations of bias while advocating for a peace plan in Sudan, where ongoing conflict has displaced 12 million people. Despite efforts to negotiate an end to the war, progress remains elusive, highlighting the dire humanitarian situation in the region.

Sudanese refugees fleeing el-Fasher have reported severe abuses by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), including torture and rape, as highlighted in a recent Amnesty report. These testimonies underscore the dire humanitarian situation in Sudan amid ongoing civil conflict.

Nollywood actor Odira Nwobu has passed away in South Africa at the age of 43, a development that has shocked many in Nigeria and led to an outpouring of grief from fans and colleagues alike.