The world's third largest rough diamond was presented this week in New York. The still unnamed stone weighs 1175 carats. Two years ago, the Sewelo diamond was found in the same Karove mine in Botswana: 1758 carats. But the Cullinan remains unsurpassed. At about 3106 carats, it was mined in South Africa in 1906. The Cullinan was finally cleaved and cut into nine separate stones. Some ended up in the British crown jewels. The diamond now found will be auctioned soon. Then it is determined in how much it can be split. Together with this find, from the same mine, two slightly smaller rough diamonds of more than 1000 carats have been presented. More of these large stones are expected to be found in the coming years. Since 2015, the Karowe mine has been using X-ray equipment to locate huge diamonds in the soil.
Source: Daily Newspaper Trouw, The Netherlands, September 24, 2021.
With the large yield of this diamond, the Botswana government could make a substantial inventory in Botswana education and social work.

It is possible to visit Botswana, under strict regulations. However, the state of emergency still lasts until 30 September 2021. I am postponing my possible visit until April 2022.
We are having little contact with people in Botswana. To read the Botswana Sunday Times one has to take a subscription, which is not possible for me because from The Netherlands one cannot pay in Pula's. My email with the question if I can pay cash for a subscription when I am next in Botswana was not answered. It is possible to read the headlines and sometimes an article can be opened.
Today's headlines were:
Hungry Batswana prefer food vouchers over cash.
Examination fiasco looms.
Broke BDP struggling to pay staff salaries.
Opposition accost Masisi over electorial promises.
Government too broke to sponsor some students.