Mine Safety & Accountability: A gold mine collapse in Kenya’s Migori County left residents feared trapped after houses fell into underground shafts, as authorities deployed disaster teams while the cause remains under review. Illegal Mining Crackdown Fallout: In Nigeria, questions are growing over NSCDC’s Niger State raids that ended with 37 detainee deaths, with claims Mining Marshals were sidelined despite a specialised anti-illegal-mining unit. Critical Minerals Diplomacy: Mongolia and Australia agreed to expand cooperation on mining, geology and workforce development, aiming for steadier investment conditions and policy stability. Copper Market Watch: Freeport-McMoRan faces a make-or-break mix of tight copper support and tariff uncertainty, with investors watching whether higher output can translate into stronger cash flow. Urban Mining Push: The Philippines’ Board of Investments is in talks with BioMetallica on an integrated urban mining facility to boost e-waste recycling and recover critical metals. Tech in Exploration: KoBold Metals is using AI-directed field teams in the DRC to hunt critical minerals, targeting lithium as demand accelerates. Arctic Environmental Risk: A study in Alaska links thawing tundra to “rusting” rivers that are more metallic and acidic than traditional mine drainage. Corporate Moves: Gerald Group took full control of Congo-Brazzaville’s Soremi copper-zinc complex, signaling a push to improve profitability and operations. Governance & Data Integrity: Malaysia’s anti-corruption research highlights geotagging, real-time monitoring and blockchain to reduce leakage and manipulation in mining reporting. Mining Permitting & Community Tension: In the Philippines, residents filed a complaint over a municipal endorsement of a mining project on environmentally sensitive Sibuyan Island.