The DRC, which supplies 70% of the world’s cobalt, halted exports of the mineral in February following a slump in prices. Daniel Mukoko Samba, who is deputy prime minister as well as economy minister, said his country was talking to Indonesia, the world’s second biggest producer, in discussions that have widened to include forestry products and other goods.

“ We understand that we can't do it alone, that we need some kind of cooperation between the big producers and the big exporters,” Mukoko told GSW on the sidelines of the Crans Montana Forum in Casablanca. Asked whether he would like to see the formation of an organisation among resource-rich states, he replied: “ That's what we would like to see happening.”

OPEC, or the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries, was set up in 1960 by a group of mainly Middle Eastern countries to control the supply of oil to world markets. Although its power has waned in recent years, it has largely succeeded in limiting supply to support prices.

Mukoko Samba confirmed that the government will review the cobalt export ban at the end of the initially announced four-month period, noting that prices had risen following its introduction.

Cobalt is a key ingredient in rechargeable batteries and semiconductors, but its price has been extremely volatile. Twice in the past decade, the market price for a ton of the metal has peaked at over $80,000 a ton before dropping below $30,000. Part of the challenge for producers is that because cobalt is largely mined together with copper and nickel, production becomes delinked from the market.

Indonesia’s Ministry for Energy and Minerals did not respond to a request for comment.

Update: In June, DR Congo decided to extend its cobalt export ban for another three months, although the impact on prices has been muted because of significant stockpiles around the world. The nation did invite US investments in its mineral industry as part of a June accord brokered by Donald Trump to end fighting the country's east. Videography: Glody Nzita Matondo

After throwing out French troops and the end of a United Nations operation in the country, Mali has looked to new allies to support it.

“ I think the military success that we have on the ground has been possible. Also, thanks. The partnership we have with China, which also allows us to access key military equipments to be able to conduct this fight,” Diop said.

Diop also said he welcomed the Chinese investment that he hoped would increase as security continued to improve.

Some analysts have questioned Mali’s claims to be gaining the upper hand in the conflict as attacks on troops and civilians continue.

Update : Four months after the interview a United Nations report stated that terrorist activity was rising across the region. “Terrorist activity has surged in scale, complexity and sophistication,” UN special representative Leonardo Santos Simão told the Security Council, according to the Associated Press. He pointed to the use of drones and increasing collusion with organized criminals working across borders. The report went on to call for more support for the authorities in their fight, particularly to protect vulnerable women and children.

Watch the full interview here :

“When you look at the global backdrop and what happened with the war in Ukraine and, given my first-hand experience, I said to myself that Africa is too reliant on other countries, on Europe, on Asia and that Africa has the potential to feed the world,” Forrest said in an interview for Global South World. 

Forrest, whose businesses cultivate tens of thousands of hectares of land in the Democratic Republic of Congo, has turned author for a new book called: Africa Can Feed the World. He says his experiences in the fertile, untapped landscapes of his homeland have convinced him that a tipping point, first towards self-sufficiency and then towards agri-exports, is far nearer than people realise.

Africa holds 60% of the world’s uncultivated arable land, according to the World Bank, yet contributes less than 10% of global agricultural output. This paradox is not due to poor soil or climate — in fact, regions such as the Guinea Savannah and the Congolese Plateau offer fertile soils, reliable rainfall, and abundant water reserves. Rather, the gap stems from decades of underinvestment in rural infrastructure, poor access to markets and finance, and minimal technological input.

Forrest points to the example of Brazil. Between the 1970s and early 2000s, Brazil transformed its Cerrado region - a once-dismissed savannah - into one of the world’s most productive agricultural zones. This was achieved through a combination of state research institutions, incentives for private sector investment, and the development of infrastructure like rural roads and silos. Today, Brazil is the world’s largest exporter of soybeans, beef, and poultry. 

As climate change threatens traditional breadbaskets like the American Midwest, Australia, and parts of India due to extreme weather events and soil degradation, some parts of sub-Saharan Africa may be able to make up the deficit.

However, he is scathing about the attitude of external players, and Europe in particular. As European policymakers riding a nationalist populist wave seek to close borders and cut development funding, Forrest warns that they may one day regret treating Africa as a threat.

‘Broken ties’

“The day when Europe has nothing, it will be dependent on others. And it will depend on whom? That’s what I’m saying. That in 2050, if we are not careful, it’s Europe which will be migrating to Africa…. So we need to maintain the ties that we have broken. That is what I am asking. That Europe comes to its senses and considers Africa rather as a partner, not to exploit but for win-win relations.”

In particular, Forrest is critical of policies which prevent younger generations of Africans from travelling to Europe to study - a decision which pushes them towards Russia, China and India, where they will develop relationships and sympathies for the future. By 2050, Africa’s population is projected to exceed 2.5 billion people, with over 60% under the age of 25. 

Forrest’s criticisms extend to the international justice system, which he sees as unfairly focused on Africa.

“When you look at cases around illicitly obtained assets, who gets prosecuted? Only Africans. What about the Middle East? Have we seen asset appropriation there? Did we prosecute people from China or elsewhere? No. Let’s be fair, we can’t have two standards, two tiers, let’s be evenhanded.”

Indeed, Forrest sees the fight against corruption waged upon Africa as being counterproductive, because it drives away the investment which is needed to improve the situation. Non-governmental organisations that come with lectures and impose standards bring nothing but drive away business investment, he claims.

“The more you have investors, the more you have promising projects. The more the government and the authorities are forced to keep rules and structures, the more you will have a better justice system because corruption will gradually disappear. It’s true that it is a curse, but let’s be realistic.”

Dare to dream

But for Forrest, everything comes back to agriculture, which has the potential both to supercharge African economies and remove the curse of hunger and poor nutrition from their populations. 

The African Development Bank estimates that agriculture could be worth $1 trillion to the continent’s economy by 2030. But the scale of investment required is also significant - estimated at $80 billion per year.

While the scale of the ambition requires industrial methods, Forrest remains convinced that there can still be a place for smaller family farms. And he insists that increasing food production will not threaten the ecological marvels of the tropical forests of Congo or other nations.

“It’s not a question of replacing the forests. We don’t need to touch the forests. There’s plenty of available space, even in the Savannah.”

Forrest is an optimist, but also a pragmatist. He believes greater use of science and technology is essential to achieving his vision. His giant agri-food business GoCongo, uses extensive soil testing to determine which crops are best suited to each area. This choice needs to be informed by study, not habit, he states. As an example, he highlights French efforts to impose rice cultivation in the country to replace stocks lost after the demise of IndoChina, which were often poorly located and resulted in low yields.

But with science, human effort and natural bounty, Forrest is confident Africa’s detractors will be proved wrong and his 2050 vision will come to pass.

“In order to do something, first you need a dream. When you dream, you have a goal in mind. This is what you do to achieve it.”

“We still have diseases that we can treat with little means. It is  infectious diseases  that kill the most. It's the haemorrhages affecting mothers giving birth. We can treat it with a compress. Its diseases are caused by the lack of vaccines. So these are diseases that we can treat with little means,” he said in an interview at the Crans Montana Forum in Casablanca. 

Kamba estimates that for as little as $13 per person or around $2 billion a year, he could solve 60% of his people’s health problems. That still represents a considerable chunk of the country’s $15 billion budget but Kamba believes it is achievable because of the potential to draw tax revenue from the vast swathes of the informal economy.

Kamba points to initiatives like free medical care during childbirth, an achievement of which the former pediatric doctor is clearly proud as it addresses the top cause of premature mortality in the country and an expanded vaccination programme. His goal is to increase life expectancy by two years annually, moving the DRC quickly clear of the top 20 worst-performing countries in the  world .

Big Pharma look elsewhere

He stresses that he wants Congo to pay its own way, but at the same time is critical of a lack of engagement from big pharmaceutical companies which he says are missing the opportunity to find a place in a huge potential market.

“Big Pharma is very interested in new formulas, in new products that are still expensive. And that Africans in general and the Congo in particular can't buy yet. And so they don't make much effort on the older formulae, on the older medicines that are still effective in our country. Because in our countries, with infectious diseases, with the problems of women and newborns, we still need old medicines that still are very good for us. And Big Pharma is not very involved in this,” he told Global South World.

A bigger immediate challenge for Kinshasa’s health officials is the conflict in North and South Kivu which has displaced around 7 million people. As well as putting those individuals in peril through malnutrition and lack of sanitation, the destruction of health centres and attacks on medical staff pose an array of problems. Of particular concern from an  international  perspective is the inability of the authorities to monitor cases of mpox, as patients flee the fighting and take their illnesses into vulnerable communities.

Despite the  war , Kemba genuinely seems to feel that his country has turned a corner in taking control of its destiny and putting its people first. He laments how, as a doctor for three decades he didn’t see a single public hospital built in his country. And had he worked twice as long, back to the first days of independence he still would not have.

That drought has been ended by President Félix Tshisekedi who has also backed Kamba in bringing in measures such as centralised purchases of medicines. But the health system remains fragile, especially following the withdrawal of US funding, and will depend on far-reaching economic reform to deliver the resources it needs to fulfil Kamba’s hopes.

Only the week before, Mukoko had been visiting one of Forrest’s farms. There he saw some of the techniques that can transform his country’s economy from one powered by removing chunks of land to process into foreigners’ computer chips to one based on nurturing the earth and delivering what its own people need most.

It will be a challenging journey, as Mukuko Samba acknowledges: “So the yields are very low, food yields are low, rice, maize, and all those foodstuffs, we have very low yields. So until we see a sharp rise in the yields in the DRC, it's very difficult for us.”

But Mukoko Samba is confident - “we know what we need to do” - citing investment in infrastructure such as irrigation projects, seed production and research into better practices and technologies. Farmers also need support sourcing fertiliser and seeds, he adds.

The first step towards Africa feeding the world will be Africa feeding itself.

According to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation, the DRC produced 4.1 million tonnes of cereals in 2024 but still needed to import a further 770,000 tonnes.

The government in Kinshasa sees self-sufficiency in staple crops as a ten-year project. Work has already started, but a lot more needs to be done.

Watch the full interview :

Videography: Anoir4art

“No war today is won with guns alone. It is about information,” Kone told Global South World in an interview at the Crans Montana Forum.

His grouping unites politicians from defence committees across Africa, and all are showing an increased interest in preventing and countering threats through human and digital information.

At the heart of these operations is the Centre for Anti-Terrorist Intelligence Operations, which works closely with Kone’s Network.

As well as building information-sharing structures, personal relationships remain important on the continent. Kone noted the example of the Alliance of Sahel States, which has officially separated from many of the multilateral organisations in the region. Intelligence continues to be shared through informal channels, however, because many officers from different militaries have studied or served together in the past, he said.

And while Kone hailed the role of Artificial Intelligence to analyse signals from social media and other sources, he believes firmly in the primacy of human sources. To leverage these, he calls on military leaders to consider not only how they fight their enemies but also how they can build trust with their own populations.

“Our role [as politicians specialising in defence] is to go on the ground and talk with the security forces so that they don't frighten the population and tell the population not to be afraid of the security forces. They need to collaborate together, they need to do activities together so that they can regularly exchange information.“

The threat from terrorism on the continent has been increasing in the past decade. According to figures from the Africa Centre for Strategic Studies, 2023 saw the highest-ever number of killings attributed to Islamist terrorism at 23,000. Better coordination, better intelligence and most importantly, confidence between the public and security forces will all be needed to fight the danger.

Videography: Anoir4art

The DR Congo is resilient, and government finances remain robust despite large-scale rebel attacks in the east, Mukoko Samba said.

“We have lost the revenues because there are two provinces that we are not… controlling any more. We hope it's not going to take too much time. But so far, inflation is going down; growth is high; and public finances are doing well. So far so good. And we wish that this situation can come to an end so quickly so that we can recover.”

He put the lost revenue from the provinces of North and South Kivu at 5% of total government receipts. Rebels from the M23 group, which Kinshasa says is backed by neighbouring Rwanda, captured the areas earlier this year. With its eyes on mineral concessions in the region, Washington stepped in and last week brokered peace talks between the two nations.

Despite regular outbreaks of violence, the DRC economy has grown every year for more than two decades, recovering strongly after COVID. Much of that has been as a result of buoyant demand for commodities such as copper, cobalt and gold.

In February, the country halted cobalt exports following a price collapse, a decision that is still expected to be reviewed in June, according to the minister.

Dedollarisation

To help improve its control of the economy, the government is seeking to shift away from widespread use of the US dollar, which has been a popular shield against inflation and swings in the local currency, the Congolese franc. The central bank last year mandated that electronic payments should be made exclusively in francs but Mukoko Samba conceded that the switch is not happening as quickly as the government would like.

“ We still have 90% to 95% of bank deposits in the US dollars, in the entire banking system in the country. And it's almost the same figure for bank credits, 95%. So that's the best illustration, you could have that. We have a highly dollarized economy.”

Asked how the government planned to change the situation, Mukoko Samba, a trained economist, said completing the process would require 10 to 15 years of consistent growth with low inflation. He indicated that he was looking to the central bank to help out by lowering interest rates which would encourage borrowers to take out local currency loans.

“ Let's hope that the central banks will become, I would say, less worried about what could happen if it lowers the interest rate. They've kept it for now. One year and even more. So once that interest rate keeps going down or starts going down, then probably the interest rates on credits in Congolese francs will also be lower.”

Feeding the world

As the second biggest country in Africa and holding an astonishing 52% of the continent’s surface water, the DRC should be an agricultural powerhouse. And yet it is reliant on imports of some of its most important foodstuffs. Yet George Forrest, the businessman behind the country’s biggest food producers, believes that the country should be producing enough to feed the whole of Africa.Forrest’s vision is shared by Mukoko Samba, who puts a ten-year time frame on achieving self-sufficiency in staple crops such as maize and rice. Nevertheless, the country has a long way to travel with only around 1% of its cultivable land currently being farmed.

“ What needs to be done is first, we have to invest more in agriculture because the whole chain is not in place. We are not putting money into seeds production; we are not putting money into irrigation; systems; we are not investing enough in research, agronomic research. So public investment in the agriculture sector is the first step. ”

Videography: Glody Nzita Matondo

Speaking to Global South World , Del Re argued that the EU’s true strength lies not in military might, but in the enduring power of humanitarian and development support.

"Humanitarian aid and development cooperation are our distinctive aspects because... the European Union is the main provider at the global level, which gives the European Union a profile, a very important profile," Del Re said. "We have to reinforce our positive aspects, our credibility, our capability of influence without, of course, imposing our influence."

Del Re warned against following the trend of cutting aid budgets, as seen in the United States and parts of Europe. Instead, she urged the EU to embrace its soft power identity more fully. "I think that the European Union should go in the opposite direction because both humanitarian aid and development cooperation are a distinctive aspect and profile of the European Union," she told GSW.

"Soft power is absolutely necessary in the global system and also, of course, favours a system that really goes straight within the communities rather than only thinking about restructuring and redefining the defence system," she added.

Del Re also discussed the challenges facing EU engagement in the Sahel. She described the EU as "the main partner of each country of the Sahel," but noted ongoing struggles with coherence and perception. 

"The European Union has found itself in a difficult position, being considered still very much related to the former colonialist country, France and also being considered as a partner that imposes rather than discusses the way forward," she said.

The legacy of colonialism continues to affect relationships with African countries, the Italian diplomat noted, "We have not developed what I call a European-African or African-European language that can really favour the canalisation of common messages."

Videography: Anoir4art

Carnegie, founder of risk management firm Thouwd, paints a grim picture where the U.S., Turkey, China and others are competing for agricultural and mineral wealth without regard to the people whose livelihoods those goods represent.

“It's a bit like if you go back to 150, 200 years to the 1860s and that sort of land grab for Africa. And that causes friction and tension … with the countries where are rich in minerals or commodities that people need,” he observes, warning that powerful nations are not looking for sustainable relationships," he told GSW.

“You have the various different countries that are looking to get into some of these Africa, Middle East , wider areas, Central Asia. They compete against each other. You've got the Turks, Turkish, Chinese, you know, American, European and It's essentially the influence that China can have in terms of repaying or paying national debts, taking stakes in land, and they know that some of these countries will never be able to pay that debt back,” he added.

This new form of colonialism may have apparent upsides - Donald Trump ’s US administration is brokering peace talks between Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo in order to gain access to mineral deposits in the conflict zone - but the long term damage will persist for years if states sign away the future revenues they need to develop.

Several African countries, including South Africa , are enforcing much stricter rules on foreign businesses in a bid to keep wealth onshore. Mali’s foreign minister, Adboulaye Diop, explained to GSW that his country was also implementing tough rules to stop miners from draining all their profits to foreign shareholders.

And Carnegie sees mutual mistrust being one of the key threats to businesses operating in Africa.

“The perception will be that this foreign company will want to come in and take their mineral assets and their perception is it will go back to that sort of colonialism, that period where they come in, take the land, take everything out of it and leave them with nothing."

“And the perception of the investor will be when we go into this country. We're going to be met with hostility, we're gonna be met with bureaucracy, we've got to be met with corruption, we got to be met, you know, and the list goes on." 

“If you were to take a step back and look at that and manage that perception from the outset. I think it would be a very different picture.”

Carnegie, a former senior British soldier, points out that the United Arab Emirates, where he is based, is trying to take a more collaborative approach with its investments to avoid tensions and future crises.“They look at it very much from a collaborative approach, where essentially they can go in and work with governments, rather than trying to take advantage of a disadvantaged situation to their long-term gain, so it destabilises,” he says.

John Mahama, who will challenge Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia in the December 7, 2024, election, says the economy is in crisis and needs urgent fiscal reforms and a “total reset” to get a fresh start.

“I'm going to give it my all. My purpose for going back into office is to establish a legacy. And once I do that, I will hand over to the next generation and go to my farm,” he told Global South World in an exclusive interview.

Watch the full interview below :

Human Rights Watch (HRW) has reported that the Rwandan army and the M23 rebel group have been launching attacks on camps close to Goma in eastern DRC throughout 2024. The Congolese armed forces (FARDC) and allied militias have heightened the risk for displaced people in camps by stationing artillery nearby, according to the organisation, both factions have been involved in killing and raping camp residents, disrupting aid delivery, and committing various abuses.

“There are around 7 million internally displaced persons who lack access to water, electricity, and shelter. This is deplorable,” Mwavita stated, emphasising the scale of the crisis.

She also stressed the need for international support to ensure peace and punish companies involved in the illegal trade of “blood minerals.” She questioned why economic considerations often take precedence over human rights, asking, “Why is human consideration put aside in favour of economic consideration?”  

In April, the DRC  accused tech giant Apple of using unethically sourced minerals from the country in the manufacturing of the company's products. They expressed concerns that Apple's supply chain may be tainted by "blood minerals" obtained through unethical mining practices in the DRC.

President Felix Tshisekedi, appointed London-based law firm Amsterdam & Partners LLP to represent the DRC in litigation concerning individuals and companies involved in the extraction, supply, and commercialisation of natural resources and minerals pillaged from the country.

The DRC possesses abundant reserves of tantalum, tin, tungsten, and gold, commonly known as 3T or 3TG, all of which are essential for manufacturing smartphones and various electronic devices. The legal team representing the DRC submitted an official notice to Apple, which included inquiries regarding the "3T minerals utilised in Apple products."

Children are among the most affected by the DRC conflict, with many recruited into armed groups and then reportedly forced into child labour in the artisanal mining sector. To combat this, the Minister noted that the government has implemented a policy of free education, aimed at providing vulnerable children with opportunities and reducing their risk of exploitation. “Child soldiers are often street children who cannot afford to go to school,” Mwavita explained.  

In June, the testimony of a former child soldier revealed that as a result of the conflict, children in the DRC are sometimes abducted and forced to join armed groups. In the case of this 16-year-old whose identity was kept hidden, he was forced into an armed group while on his way to school.

Efforts to improve basic infrastructure and human rights were also highlighted. While the nation holds 13% of the world's potential in hydropower, mostly from the Congo River. About 80% of DRC’s population lacks access to electricity.

According to the Human Rights Minister, the government is constructing roads and hydroelectric dams to address this problem. “The right to electricity is also a fundamental right,” Mwavita stated, linking infrastructure development to human rights and national progress.  

Amidst the ongoing conflict and humanitarian crisis, the DRC has made strides in female representation in government. Following the resignation of Sama Lukonde as Prime Minister earlier this year, President Félix Tshisekedi appointed Judith Suminwa as his successor—the first female to occupy the position.

Mwavita pointed out that women now hold 31% of positions in the government, praising the leadership of President Tshisekedi, who has been recognised as a “champion of positive masculinity.” 

The Minister also called for transitional justice to address the violence suffered by Congolese communities and compensate victims of war. She advocated for the establishment of a criminal court for the DRC to combat impunity and deliver justice. “The promotion of human rights is one of the foundations of peace and humanity,” Mwavita said, affirming the DRC government’s commitment to these principles.  

Mwavita concluded with a plea to the international community, urging countries and organisations to take more than symbolic actions. “We are asking the international community to do even more, not to limit itself to denunciation but to sanction and take a stand,” she stated. For the Congolese people, she emphasised, the priority remains clear: “Peace in Congo is all we can ask for.”

Watch the full interview here:

“This is to respond to the huge challenges that are affecting Africa in general and in particular the Sahel, which is probably the most difficult region at the moment,” she told Global South World. 

The Sahel faces mounting instability, marked by multiple coups, escalating security threats, and developmental obstacles. According to the Global Terrorism Index, Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger—countries currently under military regimes—are among the world’s ten most terrorism-affected nations. Vast regions in these countries remain outside government control, with the number of internally displaced persons rising steadily over the past decade.

Despite the instability, Del Re highlighted the EU’s commitment to sustainable and impactful partnerships with African nations. She described the EU as a vital ally, balancing humanitarian aid with long-term development projects. 

“We will continue in our policy based on humanitarian aid and development cooperation,” she stated, highlighting the need for stability in countries like Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso.

According to the Italian diplomat, human rights remain central to the EU’s approach, despite resistance from some African leaders who view these discussions as unwelcome. “Many countries often tell me, ‘Don’t talk about human rights,’” she revealed, describing such resistance as "racist" and counterproductive.

Del Re also weighed in on global geopolitical developments, including US foreign policy toward Africa. She downplayed the likelihood of significant changes in US-Africa relations regardless of electoral outcomes. 

“I would say that most probably the foreign policy will not change drastically regarding certain general directions that the US has always taken,” she stated.

Many have contemplated the implications of a Donald Trump presidency on US-Africa relations . Analysts have forecast that Trump’s "America First" policy will take precedence, potentially limiting cooperation with African countries. However, Del Re noted that US policies promoting national interest resonate with current trends in many African nations.

Del Re also spoke of the inclusion of the African Union (AU) in the G20, facilitated by India’s presidency. “This is a huge change,” she said, pointing to the additional representation of 54 countries. 

Previously classified as an "invited international organisation," the AU gained full member status during the G20 summit in Delhi, India, in September 2023. This move places the AU on par with the EU, alongside major global powers like the US, Russia, and the UK.

She hopes this expanded participation will steer discussions toward more inclusive solutions on pressing issues like economic development and multilateral collaboration. “We cannot live on our own,” she remarked, emphasising the importance of interdependence in addressing global challenges.

Watch the full interview here:

“My only goal when I was a kid was to go inside the box… the television, I thought it was just a box. I wanted to go inside,” Miles recalled in an exclusive interview with Global South World.

Unlike many child stars, who were pushed into the spotlight by their parents, it was Miles herself who pursued the acting world. “Some of the artists that I've worked with when I was a kid, it was their parents who wanted them to be in the industry. In my case, I am the one who asked my parents to bring me to the auditions,” she shared.

Over the years, Miles evolved from a child star into one of the most influential actors in the Philippines, appearing in movies, and TV shows, and even gracing the covers of magazines. In 2024, she ranked #9 in Global South World's list of the 60 most powerful actors on Instagram in the country. But with fame comes responsibility, something Miles has always taken seriously.

“Being a personality is such a big responsibility for me, especially with the influence,” she explained, acknowledging the weight that comes with being in the public eye.

In March 2023, Miles faced one of the toughest battles of her life: a diagnosis of Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma, the most common type of thyroid cancer. This diagnosis came after she experienced difficulty breathing and discomfort in her throat, which at first didn’t seem serious.

“I felt dizzy all the time… like someone's grabbing my throat,” she recounted. “I was not aware that it was so serious. I was not aware that it was cancer.” Miles underwent surgery to remove her thyroid glands, a procedure that saved her life but also introduced new challenges.

Following her surgery, Miles faced another battle—depression. The removal of her thyroid glands led to fluctuations in her weight, a sensitive issue for someone working in an industry that emphasises physical appearance.

“I went through depression at the time because my thyroid case affected my weight. In our industry, you have to look presentable all the time. You have to look sexy. You have to look fit to fit into this industry,” she said.

Online comments criticising her weight gain only made things harder. “I've been reading comments that I look like a mom already… was I able to eat and eat,” she revealed. However, with the support of her loved ones, Miles found a way to cope. “With the help of the people around me, especially my partner, I just woke up and I don’t want to care anymore… why do I pressure myself so much with something I really can't control?”

Despite the challenges, 2023 ended on a high note for Miles. She starred in the movie “Family of Two”, a role that earned her the Best Supporting Actress award at the 2023 Metro Manila Film Festival.

She also returned to television as a co-host of “Eat Bulaga!”, the Philippines’ longest-running noontime variety show, airing for 45 years.

“I was supposed to be a guest host for a week only. And it’s my second year now,” she said. “Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine hosting a noontime show. It was life-changing for me.”

Miles expressed that her recent project, "Padyak Princess”, was the most memorable because of the responsibility she felt as the titular character. The show revolves around Miles’ character “Princess” who is determined to make the lives of those around her better.

“It's the first time that I was able to have a project that the title of the show was named after my role so it was a big responsibility,” she said.

At 27, with a career that has already spanned two decades, Miles Ocampo is in it for the long haul—exploring different roles as an actress. “I love this industry and I want to work in this industry because I live for the longevity,” she explained.

A career behind the scenes as a scriptwriter could be on the cards when she is not gracing the screens. “One thing that I'm sure of is I really want to write my own screenplay someday,” she disclosed her interest in life behind the scenes.

But for now, her focus remains on acting, using her platform to make a positive impact and trusting in herself.  As Miles put it, “I will just love myself and accept myself because no one will.”

Watch the full interview here :

Beyond the effects of climate change, coffee production itself contributes to the carbon footprint. So, while a cup of coffee can bring a lot of joy, the rising temperatures, lack of rainfall, and humidity are all reducing the growth and production of the crop.

Simply put, there’s high demand for coffee but less supply, which means you either need more money to buy it or be prepared to change your coffee-drinking habits.

This gap in the market is what motivated Prefer CEO and Founder Jake Berber and his Co-founder, the "Fermentation Prince" Ding Jie Tan, to create bean-free coffee.

Together, they introduced Asia’s first bean-free coffee in 2022, a product that has become the leading alternative to traditional coffee on the market.

“We use bread, soy, and barley from local manufacturers here to create coffee flavours via our fermentation process. And after we ferment it, we roast it and then we grind it up into coffee grounds,” Berber told GSW.

“It is the real deal. It tastes just like coffee. It gives the same experience as drinking coffee and, if you want, it gives that same kick or caffeine that coffee does. We're just able to create coffee in a more affordable and sustainable way,” he added.

Prefer currently works with several businesses in Singapore, including cafes and restaurants, that are happy to integrate their bean-free coffee into their operations to reduce costs and their carbon footprint.

Watch the full interview below:

Nevertheless, Sabin Aboitiz, CEO of holding company Aboitiz Equity Ventures, told Global South World that the Philippines remains reliant on fossil fuels to ensure cheap, reliable electricity for its growing population.

“Sustainability is in our DNA. It’s just that it's harder in the Philippines because, you know, we cannot rely on expensive renewable power only because we need it and we still need the old conventional way of doing power,” he said in an exclusive interview from his office in Manila.

“We need to balance our thinking of sustainability and, um something that will not hamper our growth, like higher power rates or no power at all, or no water, right or so, between power and water,” he added.

As an example of achieving this balance, Aboitiz cites his company’s involvement in Apo Agua - a project which combines the needs of power generation with water supply and waste-water management.

Another illustration can be found in the use of coal domes at the Therma Visayas and Therma South power plants. The first in the country to introduce the structures, these plants have been able to dramatically reduce their environmental footprint as a result of trapping coal dust which would otherwise have escaped into the air.

By ensuring the Philippines' energy needs are fulfilled from increasingly diversified and more and more sustainable sources, Aboitiz says he believes his businesses can ensure the Philippines fulfils its potential to become “the next big thing” among Asian economies.

He described the impetus behind his strategy in an exclusive interview with Global South World.

“It's like we're just being in tune with the times, and it's reminding us, that we must transform because we live our lives every day, and sometimes we transform automatically when we're forced to - like the pandemic. People had to do certain things because they were forced to. We don't want to go there. We want to be prepared, right? Let's not be forced to do something. So let's lead. Let's not follow.” 

The efforts he is making are so important that he did not consider the word “transformation” sufficient on its own to express the urgency and the scale of the challenge. So, taking inspiration from the Great Migrations of Africa, which saw mass movements across hundreds and thousands of miles, he decided to add a prefix.

“The transformation is something that we need to do so to escalate and make sure that we kind of exaggerate what transformation is needed. We put these two words together,” he said.

And of course, at the heart of The Great Transformation is technology. Aboitiz Equity Ventures’ interests span operations as diverse as Coca-Cola, Mactan airport, UnionBank and its core earnings driver, AboitizPower. Bringing systems and data across those operations can deliver huge benefits to customers in all sectors, Aboitiz believes.

“We can use data to be able to benefit the whole instead of individual companies. So, our clients in food data, for example, can benefit the bank and maybe benefit our clients of Coca Cola who can benefit the bank, too. And our clients of the distribution utilities, for example, again can benefit the food group or the Coca-Cola Group and that data used to be able to have better information on customers so that now creates a premium.”

Aboitiz describes his business as the first Asian Techglomerate and is passionate about its ability to improve the lives of Filipinos, whether through expanding the reach of education or finding solutions to generate cleaner affordable energy.

“We have a growing population, we have a very digital-savvy population … as the infrastructure, the roads are being built, so you're seeing infrastructure go in …I think before this president finishes, we will be the next big thing in Asia. I truly believe that,” Aboitiz said.

Aboitiz, 57, whose own businesses have been transformed into what he describes as a “techglomerate” spanning the fields of energy, transport, food and finance, said that by listening to business, the government was identifying and addressing issues which had previously held the country back.

He highlighted the work required to improve the infrastructure to support tourism, an area where his group has been contributing by developing Mactan Airport. Another important challenge is around the supply of clean and sustainable water, he noted. AEV’s lead project Apo Agua is an example of the kind of investments needed to secure the future prosperity of urban centres, he said.

"We have a great opportunity now. The success of the nation is really not the burden of the government but the burden of us, Filipinos. How we vote, how we act, how we support,” he concluded. “It lies on us.”

In the lengthy interview with Global South World, the businessman talked about his strategy to build a “techglomerate” that can leverage data across different units to benefit customers.

He also addressed some of the infrastructure challenges facing the Philippines including what his own companies are doing, for instance: managing water supplies to ensure sustainable and clean supplies for growing populations; improving airports to attract more tourists and ensure the kind of positive first impressions that will encourage them to return; balancing the need to supply reliable energy to power the economy with the necessity of reducing carbon emissions.