Congo, a major player in the global cobalt market, has decided to put a stop to unregulated mineral processing. This move is part of a broader effort to tackle corruption and ensure that minerals are sourced legally. The government has ordered all artisanal copper and cobalt processing units to hal
In Naples, Italy, Christmas traditions take a quirky turn. Artisans craft detailed nativity scenes, known as presepi, for generations. These scenes often feature miniatures of famous figures. In the past, people loved statues of soccer star Diego Maradona and former Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi.
In a bold move, Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders decided to close state offices on December 26, giving employees extra time with their families. This decision, however, did not sit well with everyone. The Freedom From Religion Foundation (FFRF) sent her a letter, arguing that the closure was
Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy shared some hopeful news. He said that talks to end the long-standing war with Russia are making real progress. These discussions have been happening with the help of the United States and other European countries. Negotiators from Ukraine, led by Rustem Umer
In Huger, a small rural community, residents are up in arms over a sand mine project. Cedar Hill Acquisition LLC wants to open a 140-acre sand mine, but the locals are not happy. They remember the problems that came with the Donmar Sand Mine, which opened in 2017. Noise, dust, and heavy truck traffi
In 2025, the Trump administration took a hard stance against cartels by targeting the entertainment industry. Musicians, DJs, and promoters found themselves under scrutiny for alleged ties to cartel money laundering or glorification of drug lords. This crackdown led to canceled tours, frozen assets,
Venezuela's oil industry is facing fresh challenges. Shipments are slowing down. Most tankers are just moving oil between local ports. This follows recent U. S. actions against two more ships. State-run oil company PDVSA is also dealing with a cyberattack. The U. S. Coast Guard seized a supertanker
The world is facing a new challenge: a secret fleet of ships, often old and poorly maintained, is being used to move oil and other goods while avoiding sanctions. This fleet, known as the "shadow fleet, " is growing rapidly, especially after Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022. It now includes arou
In San Francisco, a massive power outage left a large part of the city without electricity on a Saturday afternoon. The blackout started around 1:09 p. m. and quickly grew, affecting 130, 000 homes and businesses by 3 p. m. The good news is that by 11 p. m. that same day, power was back for about 95
The U. S. Coast Guard made a bold move on Saturday. They tried to stop a ship called the Bella 1. This ship has ties to Venezuela and was in the Caribbean Sea. Three U. S. officials shared this news. They spoke on the condition of anonymity. This was because the operation was sensitive. The Bella 1
