Knowledge is power

Congo and Palestine: Two Crises We Can’t Ignore

-by Asemahle Mbobo

Right now, two very different corners of the world are experiencing heartbreak that shouldn’t be ignored. The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) in central Africa and Palestine in the Middle East may be thousands of kilometers apart, but the pain people are going thr…Read More

Revised Trade Offer to U.S. Aims to Lift High Tariffs

South Africa is preparing a revised trade proposal to present to the U.S. in hopes of reducing a 30% tariff on its exports—the highest rate in sub-Saharan Africa. The new offer addresses concerns raised in the 2025 U.S. National Trade Estimates Report, marking a potential reset in stalled n…Read More

TotalEnergies Permit Scrapped Over Flawed Impact Assessment
A South African court has rescinded the environmental permit granted to TotalEnergies and Shell for oil exploration offshore (Block 5/6/7, between Cape Town and Cape Agulhas), citing inadequate socio-economic impact assessments—especially regarding oil spills and climate effects. T…Read More

Glencore Raises Alarm Over Cobalt Oversupply
Congo’s extended cobalt export ban may cause Glencore to leave much of its output unsold by the end of 2025. The company has been stockpiling cobalt in DRC due to the ban aimed at controlling oversupply and setting up a quota system. Despite this, Glencore expects no significant financial impact and p…Read More

U.S. Sanctions Target Armed Groups and Illicit Mineral Trade
The U.S. has imposed sanctions on PARECO (an armed group tied to Rubaya coltan mining), Congolese mining company CDMC, and two Hong Kong exporters—East Rise and Star Dragon—for involvement in conflict mineral trafficking, forced labor, and violence. These measures freeze U.S…Read More

Coltan Mining Fuels Conflict and Tech Industry
In eastern DRC’s Rubaya region, about 15% of the world’s coltan—vital for electronics and aerospace—is mined by impoverished workers, including children. The area is under control of the M23 rebel group, which reportedly taxes mineral production to fund its insurgency, earning up to $800,000 per m…Read More

Taylor Swift’s 12th Album Announced in Wholesome Camp Moment
A summer camp in Cape Cod became the unlikely epicenter of a viral Taylor Swift news moment when a counselor—described as a “die-hard Swiftie”—dramatically announced the release of Swift’s upcoming album The Life of a Showgirl. Since the camp is technology-free, the news was delivered i…Read More

Trump–Putin Summit in Alaska Focuses on Ukraine
In an unexpected diplomatic development, U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin have met in Alaska for high-level talks on the ongoing war in Ukraine. The summit marks one of the few face-to-face meetings between the two leaders since the invasion began in 2022.
The a…Read More

Hurricane Erin — First of the 2025 Atlantic Hurricane Season
Hurricane Erin officially became the first named hurricane of the 2025 Atlantic season earlier this week. Currently a Category 1 storm with maximum sustained winds near 75 mph (120 km/h), Erin has already triggered tropical storm watches for parts of the Northern Leeward Islands, i…Read More

Gauteng man in court for buying a R1.7 million Porsche Cayenne using fraudulent documents

A 43-year-old Gauteng man handed himself over to police after he was wanted for allegedly using fraudulent documents to buy a R1.7 million Porsche Cayenne.

Police spokesperson, Warrant Officer Thatohatsi Mavimbela, said Lucky Kgomotso Mokwena has been…Read More

FIRST TAKE | Blue lights, platitudes, and a glimpse of hope at National Convention