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Alex Kozul-Wright

China concedes ground to US over rare earth metals [delayed]

China concedes ground to US over rare earth metals [delayed]

As part of continued efforts to resolve its long-running trade conflict with the United States, China recently raised its production quota of rare earth metals to a record 132,000 tonnes. Additionally, customs data published in January showed that China’s exports of rare earth magnets to the US increased

DRC mining reform may come back to bite Big Tech [delayed]

DRC mining reform may come back to bite Big Tech [delayed]

Late last month, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) outlined a plan to assume monopoly control of the country’s artisanal cobalt sector. A newly created state-owned company, Enterprise Generale du Cobalt (EGC), will be given standalone rights to purchase the metal from the informal mining industry. Combined with sulphur,

Opec+ expected to deepen cuts in response to coronavirus [delayed]

Opec+ expected to deepen cuts in response to coronavirus [delayed]

Oil prices have nosedived since the outbreak of the coronavirus, with Brent crude down 25 per cent since the start of January. The outbreak of Covid-19 has almost certainly pitched China’s economy into contractionary territory, disrupting everything from manufacturing supply chains to property construction. The grim economic outlook was

There will be blood [delayed]

There will be blood [delayed]

The sharp contraction in global economic activity prompted by Covid-19 has sent oil prices into a tailspin. Brent crude, already on the backfoot since the outbreak of the coronavirus, suffered an additional leg-down this month when two of the world’s biggest producing nations – Russia and Saudi Arabia – set the

External debt crisis should not be overlooked in Sudan’s struggle for power

External debt crisis should not be overlooked in Sudan’s struggle for power

As thousands camp outside Sudan’s makeshift military headquarters in Khartoum, there is genuine hope of a civilian transfer of power in Africa’s third largest country. After years of suppressive military rule and a decline in oil revenues following South Sudan’s secession in 2011, Omar al-Bashir was ousted

Canary in the cobalt mine

Canary in the cobalt mine

Washington makes overtures to Beijing in Republic of Congo Though details of the Republic of Congo’s (ROCs) restructuring deal with China remain undisclosed, they’ve crucially been approved by the International Monetary Fund. A deal was struck on April 29thand “represents a decisive step to restore debt sustainability”, according

Bond holders skittish of Kirchner return

Bond holders skittish of Kirchner return

With elections just over six months away, the release of Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner’s autobiography, Sincerely, has sent Argentinian bond yields soaring. But why has the suggestion of a Fernandez presidency spooked the bondholder community? Ms Fernandez, who oversaw the country from 2007 to 2015, has not yet declared