Middle East/Africa

Case Study

Ace Hardware Nails Global Operations' Replenishment Costs

October 19, 2018

As its jingle says: “Ace is the place with the helpful hardware folks.” But in a store with frequent stockouts, customer service can only go so far.

Blood, Sweat and Batteries: An In-Depth Look at the World's Cobalt Sourcing

Two-thirds of the world's cobalt, an essential ingredient in our smartphones and electric cars, comes from one of the planet's poorest countries. All too often it is mined by children.

August 29, 2018

Fortune

Two-thirds of the world's cobalt, an essential ingredient in our smartphones and electric cars, comes from one of the planet's poorest countries. All too often it is mined by children.

Q&A | Technology Could Revolutionize Agriculture in Africa

The stakes are high. Africa currently holds the highest prevalence of the world’s undernourished people and has among the lowest agricultural yields in the world. The continent will double in population to hold an estimated 2.5 billion of the world’s nearly 10 billion people by 2050.

August 28, 2018

Forbes

The stakes are high. Africa currently holds the highest prevalence of the world’s undernourished people and has among the lowest agricultural yields in the world. The continent will double in population to hold an estimated 2.5 billion of the world’s nearly 10 billion people by 2050.

Bitter Sweets: Inside Big Chocolate’s Child Labor Problem

For a decade and a half, the big chocolate makers have promised to end child labor in their industry — and have spent tens of millions of dollars in the effort.

August 22, 2018

Fortune

For a decade and a half, the big chocolate makers have promised to end child labor in their industry — and have spent tens of millions of dollars in the effort.

TMS Awards secures royal patronage

August 13, 2018

Dubai, 1st August 2018: For the fifth year in a row The Maritime Standard (TMS) has secured the royal patronage of His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President, Dubai Civil Aviation Authority and Chairman and Chief Executive, Emirates Airline and Group.

Human Trafficking Is Widespread in Global Fishing Industry, Report Shows

Local communities play a critical role in recognizing and combating slavery, according to the U.S. Department of State’s 2018 Trafficking in Persons Report, an annual publication that provides a global overview of the nature and scope of human trafficking — and various efforts underway to confront it.

July 17, 2018

Maritime Executive

Local communities play a critical role in recognizing and combating slavery, according to the U.S. Department of State’s 2018 Trafficking in Persons Report, an annual publication that provides a global overview of the nature and scope of human trafficking — and various efforts underway to confront it.

Big-Name Retailers Make Pride Merchandise in Places That Aren’t L.G.B.T.-Friendly

June 21, 2018

The New York Times

The merchandise has never been more plentiful or easier to find. Tote bags that say “United” from H&M. T-shirts emblazoned with “I Am Proud” from Levi Strauss & Co. An inflatable, rainbow-colored whale from Target — a “Pride Narwhal.”

Unethically Mined Cobalt Haunts Companies’ Supply Chains

June 13, 2018

Environmental Leader

Cobalt, a chemical element crucial for making lithium-ion batteries, continues to be mined using child labor in the Democratic Republic of Congo. With the DRC producing two-thirds of the world’s cobalt and demand expected to increase, companies are struggling to clean up their supply chains, CNN reported.

Mid-Sized Cars to Lead 5 Percent Growth in Global Used Car Market Through 2022

May 31, 2018

Technavio

The global used car market is expected to grow at a CAGR of almost 5 percent from 2018 through 2022, according to research from Technavio.

In Congo Outbreak, Ebola Vaccine Faces Cold-Chain Reality Tests

May 23, 2018

Reuters

An experimental Ebola vaccine to be deployed in an outbreak in Democratic Republic of Congo has conquered some major scientific hurdles in giving high protection, but it now faces extreme real-world tests including heat, humidity, language barriers and lack of roads.