China has gained a dominant position in Africa’s critical minerals sector through long-term investments in mining and refining capacity–factors that make it challenging for African countries to advance up the value chain. Global demand for critical minerals–nickel, graphite, manganese, cobalt, copper, lithium, and rare earth minerals–used in defense and aerospace systems, electronic vehicles (EV), semiconductors,…
A new report from the Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI) and the NYU Center for Environmental and Animal Protection (CEAP) warns that the current UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) systematically neglect animal welfare and health — a gap undermining progress on human health, environmental protection and social equity. Despite growing international support for a One Health…
In the past three months, Afrika Tikkun has trained over 600 unemployed young people in Diepsloot. Afrika Tikkun, in partnership with the MTN SA Foundation, has opened a digital skills hub in Diepsloot. Through the Afrika Tikkun Digital Skills Hub, the partners aim to equip young people with the skills needed to thrive in a…
Burkina Faso’s security minister headed to Tehran on Nov. 12, 2025, for high-level talks with Iranian officials. The visit was a fruitful one: The West African nation reopened its Iranian embassy, finalized new agreements on security cooperation and held discussions about strengthening relations in agriculture and industry. Far from being a routine bilateral diplomatic event…
United Nations — Although Africa holds more than 30 per cent of the world’s critical green minerals–including cobalt, lithium, manganese, and rare earth elements vital for building batteries, wind turbines and solar panels– this has not translated into prosperity for the continent. At the Africa Climate Summit 2025 held in Addis Ababa in September 2025,…
Traditional painted houses overlooking sea ice in the Old Nuuk district near the Sermitsiaq mountain in Nuuk, Greenland, on Thursday, April 3, 2025. Bloomberg | Bloomberg | Getty Images A global scramble to exploit the Arctic’s untapped resources appears to be kicking into overdrive. In a push to break China’s mineral dominance, countries around the…
UN Climate Change Executive Secretary Simon Stiell, delivered during the opening of the high-level segment at COP30 in Belém, Brazil. PHOTO/ Kiara Worth/UN Climate Change. By PATRICK MAYOYO [email protected] The high-level segment of the 30th Conference of the Parties (COP30) to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) commenced in Belém, Brazil, with Simon…
Rome — New WFP report, ‘A Lifeline at Risk’, finds that 13.7 million WFP food aid recipients could be pushed into emergency levels of hunger as support is cut The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) today warned that six of its most critical humanitarian operations are facing severe pipeline breaks by year end, putting…
As humanitarian aid dries up, these countries are especially vulnerable New WFP findings show how deep aid cuts threaten to leave millions without lifesaving assistance – and dramatically push up hunger. These six operations are most at risk: Afghanistan Follow us on WhatsApp | LinkedIn for the latest headlines There are 9.5 million food-insecure people…
Critical minerals such as lithium, cobalt, nickel, copper, rare earth elements, and platinum group metals are essential for modern technologies. They are key to industries ranging from electronics and telecommunications to renewable energy, defence, and aerospace systems. The global demand for these minerals has been growing, as has the competition for them. The supply and…
