The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is among the countries facing a humanitarian crisis. The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) reported that it’s not only experiencing one of the world’s longest humanitarian crises but also one of the most complex. A most prevalent issue in the DRC is child labor. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, nearly 25,000 children work in cobalt mines. Despite the alarming rate of exploitation, a case in the U.S. regarding the matter has ended with the defendants not found at fault. Previously, in 2022, Apple, Alphabet Inc. (Google), Dell, Microsoft, and Tesla were said to have been “knowingly benefiting from and aiding and abetting the cruel and brutal use of young children in the Democratic Republic of Congo to mine cobalt,” according to ABC News. However, in March 2024, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia found the five tech giants not liable due to only having an “ordinary buyer-seller transaction” with...

The NBA’s household names are continuing to be seasoned basketball players turned aspiring wine connoisseurs. Essence reports that Tony Parker is next up to enter into the wine industry. The former San Antonio Spurs superstar is now taking his talents to working with French businessman Michel Reybier, who’s companies are known for being driven by luxury and hospitality. Tony Parker, a former NBA Finals MVP, looks to become a champion in the wine industry as well. “We both share a passion for wine, but also for sport,” Reybier said, according to Essence. “I’m from Lyon and particularly admire the dedication Tony shows for the LDLC ASVEL.” He continued, “Our joint commitment will allow us to go even further in the wineries’ development. I am very happy to be able to share this entrepreneurial adventure with fans of our products all over the world.” Parker’s work ahead of him will focus on Château La Mascaronne and Reybier’s brands in Champagne as “the plan to move forward on a common...

Ensuring haircare can be accessible to more women, Curls Dynasty has expanded from the kitchen to retail shelves. Not only can the brand be found in select Walmart and Target stores, but in addition, the haircare brand secured a deal with  Kroger back in January 2022, according to a press release. This marks another win for Haitian entrepreneur Nickie Nougaisse, who founded the company five years ago after her personal struggles stemming from a relaxer. “Curls Dynasty was born out of my own hair care journey. It wasn’t easy figuring out which products worked best after deciding to go natural with my hair. My cabinet was filled with lots of unreliable solutions from different brands and after a while, I decided that I was going to do it myself, ” Nougaisse said, according to a press release. Nougaisse created a hair oil from her kitchen, which bookmarked her venture toward healthy haircare. It was not long before others began flocking to Nougaisse for tips and advice. Evidently many...

NBA player Bismack Biyombo has been an active source of support for his home country of the Congo, and his latest heartwarming announcement is no different. The Phoenix Suns center is donating his entire 2021-22 salary to build a hospital in the Congo to pay homage to his late father, according to Bleacher Report. The generous contribution was announced in a video from his charity foundation, which “creates opportunity for game changers in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC)” through athletics, education, and health, per its website. After initially leaving basketball in the fall of 2021 due to the loss of his father, Biyombo returned under the condition of him playing on the court being for a greater cause. “What I told my agent was my salary for this year would be going to the construction of a hospital back home to give hope to the hopeless,” he shared in the video. “And those individuals who can not take their family members out and want to be able to give them better...