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NEW YORK (AP) — It may not be too “appeeling,” but the price tags of some bananas are rising by a few cents. Trader Joe's recently upped the price for a single banana to 23 cents, a 4-cent — or 21% — increase from the grocer's previous going rate for the fruit that had remained unchanged for over 20 years. In contrast to other foods more heavily impacted by inflation, bananas have stayed relatively affordable over time — with average global prices never exceeding more than about 80 cents per pound (0.45 kilograms). Still, banana prices have seen some jumps in recent years. In the U.S., the cost of a pound of bananas averaged at about 63 cents last month.

Persons: Joe's, “, we’ve, Louis, ” Neil Saunders, Saunders Organizations: Federal Reserve Bank of St, United Nations, Food, Agriculture Organization Locations: Monrovia , California, U.S, —

☆ These are the 10 top-paying U.S. cities where women outearn men
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-27 | by ( Jennifer Liu | In Jljenniferliu | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Nationwide, women outearn men in just 42 U.S. cities out of an analysis of some 1,800 cities, according to a new GoBankingRates report using Census Bureau data. : Women earn a median $69,983 a year Oakland, Calif.: Women earn a median $68,260 a year Goleta, Calif.: Women earn a median $65,030 a year Laurel, Md. : Women earn a median $65,008 a year Monrovia, Calif.: Women earn a median $62,016 a year Hackensack, N.J.: Women earn a median $60,237 a year Newark, Del. : Women earn a median $58,769 a year Chamblee, Ga.: Women earn a median $58,590 a yearIn each of these cities, women outearn men by a share of .14% to 18.95% of what men earn. However, men outearn women in each of these cities by a rate of 60% to 70%.

Persons: Bowie, Andrew Murray, Murray, San Organizations: Washington D.C, CNBC, Research, Department of Defense, Calif Locations: U.S, Md, Clinton, Fort Washington, Oakland, Calif, Goleta, Laurel, Monrovia, Hackensack, N.J, Newark, Del, Washington, Jacksonville, N.C, Los Altos, Saratoga, McLean, Va, San Carlos, Wellesley, Mass

The mini totes are offered in four colors — blue, red, green, and yellow — and they are all in high demand. Videos shared on social media show crowds of customers visiting Trader Joe’s stores hoping to get their hands on one of the highly-coveted mini totes. “Our Mini Canvas Tote Bags certainly sold more quickly than we anticipated,” said Nakia Rohde, a spokesperson for Trader Joe’s. Of course, Trader Joe’s mini totes aren’t the first to become a viral sensation. “We do have more Trader Joe’s Mini Canvas Tote Bags coming,” said Rohde.

Persons: ”, Nakia Rohde, Joe’s, Rohde, Huy, Stanley, Wyatte Organizations: eBay, Facebook, “, AP, Philips Locations: Monrovia , California, Huy Fong, New York

☆ Costco has replaced Trader Joe's as America's favorite supermarket
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-09 | by ( Nicolas Vega | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Trader Joe's has lost the top spot as America's favorite supermarket chain. That's according to the annual American Customer Satisfaction Index Retail and Consumer Shipping Study. The index gives chains a satisfaction score out of 100, based on factors including a store's layout and hours, merchandise selection, courtesy and helpfulness of staff as well as speed of the checkout process. The scores were calculated based on interviews with 40,264 customers between January and December of 2023. Those customers were asked to evaluate their recent experiences at the nation's biggest chains.

Persons: Joe's Organizations: Consumer Shipping, Costco, Walmart, Sam's Locations: Monrovia, Calif

☆ Exclusive: Activist investor Blackwells plans Wendy's board challenge -sources
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-01 | by ( Svea Herbst-Bayliss | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Blackwells, run by Jason Aintabi, plans to nominate several directors to Wendy's 12-member board, said the sources, who asked not to be identified discussing confidential deliberations. It made no mention of any plans to challenge the Wendy's board. Wendy's reported adjusted third-quarter earnings per share of 27 cents last month, beating analysts' average estimate of 25 cents. Yet it posted same-restaurant sales growth of 2.8% globally and 2.2% for the United States that were lower than a year ago. In third quarter of 2022, Wendy's had reported global same-restaurant sales growth of 6.9% and U.S. same-restaurant sales growth of 6.4%.

Persons: Burger, Mario Anzuoni, Wendy's, Jason Aintabi, Nelson Peltz, Peter May, Matthew Peltz, Blackwells, Trian, Bob Iger, Peltz, Matthew H, McDonald's, Aintabi, John Foley, Foley, Svea Herbst, Bayliss, Chizu Nomiyama, Kirsten Donovan Organizations: Trian Fund Management, Walt Disney Co, Disney, Restaurant, International Inc, Burger, Interactive, Svea, Thomson Locations: Monrovia , California, North America, Wendy's, Dublin , Ohio, New York, United States, Rhode Island

He lost in a run-off vote to Weah in 2017. "Boakai strikes me as a grandfather figure – someone you would trust with your life. Official results on Friday showed Boakai had 50.9% of the vote over Weah's 49.1%, with more than 99% of votes counted, prompting Weah's concession. In an interview shortly after the results, a softly-spoken Boakai told Reuters that his primary focus would be to bring the country together after a divisive election. Boakai, meanwhile, lives in a relatively modest bungalow that has barely changed since he moved in 50 years ago.

Persons: George Weah, Joseph Boakai, Amara Konneh, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Robtel Neajai, Boakai, Konneh, Unity Party Joseph Boakai, Carielle, Sirleaf's, Weah, Prince Jaygbah, Joe, Edward McAllister, Clelia Organizations: Liberia's, College of West, Reuters, African, Bank, Unity Party, Toyota, Thomson Locations: MONROVIA, DAKAR, College of West Africa, Tuesday's, Monrovia, Africa's, Americas, Liberia, Warsonga, Sierra Leone, Milan, London, Paris

Boakai led with 50.89% of the vote over Weah's 49.11%, according to results from 99.6% of polling stations, the country's elections commission said on Friday. Final results are expected in the coming days. Boakai, a softly spoken career politician, was more than 28,000 votes ahead of Weah, according to the latest results. Arkoi Sarkor, 43, told Reuters she supported Boakai because she was not able to get a job during Weah's term. "We can safely declare victory – Boakai is the next president, but we will wait for the final result before celebrating," Boakai's spokesperson Amara Konneh said in an interview.

Persons: Unity Party Joseph Boakai, Carielle, Joseph Boakai, George Weah, Boakai, Arkoi Sarkor, Boakai's, Amara Konneh, Carielle Doe, Alphonso Toweh, Anait Miridzhanian, Edward McAllister, Louise Heavens, Jonathan Oatis Organizations: Unity Party, Reuters, Boakai, Thomson Locations: Monrovia, Liberia, MONROVIA, West, Weah

[1/3] Liberia's opposition Unity Party Joseph Boakai waves to his supporters as holds his final campaign rally for the presidential elections in Monrovia, Liberia October 7, 2023. The result marks a stark turnaround from 2017, when global soccer legend Weah, buoyed by a wave of hope, trounced Boakai with 62 percent of the vote. "A few moments ago, I spoke with president elect Joseph Boakai to congratulate him on his victory," Weah said on national radio. Instead, Boakai supporters in the capital Monrovia danced, shouted and honked car horns in the rain after the near-final results were announced. Many felt that Weah did not follow through on promises to alleviate poverty and improve the country's crumbling infrastructure.

Persons: Unity Party Joseph Boakai, Carielle, Boakai, George Weah, Joseph Boakai, Weah, Sarkor, Doe, Alphonso Toweh, Edward McAllister, Anait, Louise Heavens, Jonathan Oatis, Cynthia Osterman Organizations: Unity Party, Reuters, Boakai, Thomson Locations: Monrovia, Liberia, West Africa, MONROVIA, West, Central Africa

☆ Liberia votes in tight presidential run-off as many voters seek change
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-14 | by ( Story Reuters | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

Many voters said they were underwhelmed by Weah’s first term, which has been dogged by graft scandals and persistent poverty in Africa’s oldest independent republic. Both Weah and Boakai have received endorsements from candidates who lost in the first round. One significant unknown is the voting preference of the 6% of people whose ballots were invalidated in the first round. Any alleged irregularities in the second round could potentially fuel unrest, but there had been no reports of problems on Tuesday morning. “I am confident of winning.”‘A better Liberia’The vote is in many ways a test of Weah’s popularity.

Persons: Reuters — Liberians, George Weah, Joseph Boakai, Boakai, Weah’s, ”, Barbour, ” Weah, “, Samuel Carr Organizations: Reuters, World Bank, United Locations: Africa’s, “, Monrovia, Liberia, United States

☆ Panama Canal to slash booking slots due to drought over coming months
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-31 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Monrovia NSU CHALLENGER bulk carrier transits the expanded canal through Cocoli Locks at the Panama Canal, on the outskirts of Panama City, Panama April 19, 2023. REUTERS/Aris Martinez/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsPANAMA CITY, Oct 31 (Reuters) - The Panama Canal, one of the world's main maritime trade routes, will further reduce daily ship crossings in the coming months due to a severe drought, the authorities managing the canal said late on Monday, increasing shipping costs. Booking slots will be cut to 25 per day starting Nov. 3 from an already reduced 31 per day, the Panama Canal Authority (ACP) said in a client advisory, and will be gradually reduced further over the next three months to 18 slots from Feb. 1. In recent months, the ACP has imposed various passage restrictions to conserve scarce water, including cutting vessel draft and daily passage authorizations. It also said delays for some gas transporters were at record highs in Panama, pushing up the cost of shipping liquefied gas from the U.S.

Persons: Aris Martinez, Eli Moreno, Brendan O'Boyle, Isabel Woodford, Josie Kao Organizations: Monrovia NSU CHALLENGER, REUTERS, PANAMA CITY, Panama Canal Authority, U.S . Energy, Administration, Thomson Locations: Cocoli, Panama, Panama City, PANAMA, Gatun Lake

MONROVIA, Liberia (AP) — Liberia's presidential election Wednesday appeared headed for a run-off, with the top candidates neck and neck and the votes nearly fully counted. Once the votes from this round are finalized, the run-off will take place within 15 days. The Oct. 10 election is the tightest in the nearly two decades since the end of the country's civil war that killed some 250,000 people. Weah won that election amid high hopes brought about by his promise to fight poverty and generate infrastructure development in Africa’s oldest republic. But Weah has been accused of not living up to key campaign promises that he would fight corruption and ensure justice for victims of the country’s civil wars.

Persons: —, George Weah, Joseph Boakai, Weah, Boakai, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Africa’s, Ibrahim Al, bakri Nyei, “, Sam Mednick Organizations: National Elections Commission, “, Ducor Institute for Social, Economic Research, Associated Press Locations: MONROVIA, Liberia, Nimba county, West, Africa’s, Dakar, Senegal

☆ Liberia: Citizens vote in crucial polls amid flaring tensions
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-10 | by ( Nimi Princewill | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

‘Correcting a mistake’Boakai told CNN that his young supporters are now desperate for change. Weah’s campaign manager told CNN no Liberian law prevents them from running from office, adding that the government was awaiting evidence from US to enable prosecutions. A unique electionOscar Bloh, head of ECC, Liberia’s largest election observation group, told CNN this election is different from previous polls in the country. A spokesman for the electoral commission, Henry Flomo, told CNN, “Everything is in schedule,” as dictated by law. “It’s unlikely that any of the candidates will win outright during the first round,” he told CNN.

Persons: CNN —, George Weah, Weah, Joseph Boakai, Seif Magango, Ballon, Boakai, ’ Boakai, ’ ”, ” Boakai, Ahmed Jallanzo, Liberians, ”, Joel Cholo Brooks, Shutterstock, ” Weah, Samuel Tweah, –, they’ve, Eugene Nagbe, ” “, Nagbe, “, Brooks, Nathaniel McGill, ” McGill, Sayma Syrenius, Bill Twehway, Twehway, I’m, ” Nagbe, Oscar Bloh, Bloh, Henry Flomo, ” Flomo Organizations: CNN, UN, Bank, Coalition for Democratic, Unity Party, Facebook, UN Human Rights, Boakai, Soul Clinic, Global News Network Liberia, Coalition, Democratic, FIFA, Liberian, Liberia Anti, Corruption, Washington, Port Authority, US Treasury Department, McGill, Weah’s CDC, Transparency International, TI Locations: Liberia, Monrovia, Pipeline, “, Qatar, American, United States

☆ Panama Canal trims vessel passage quota again to deal with severe drought
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-30 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Monrovia NSU CHALLENGER bulk carrier transits the expanded canal through Cocoli Locks at the Panama Canal, on the outskirts of Panama City, Panama April 19, 2023. The Panama Canal Authority (ACP) in recent months has imposed various passage restrictions to conserve water, including cutting vessel draft and daily passage authorizations, which are normally 36 per day. The restrictions have generated long queues of waiting vessels, although the canal administration said Friday that levels were normal. The effects have led the canal to estimate a reduction in revenues of up to $200 million by 2024. Reporting by Elida Moreno; Editing by Drazen Jorgic and Leslie AdlerOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Aris Martinez, Elida Moreno, Drazen Jorgic, Leslie Adler Organizations: Monrovia NSU CHALLENGER, REUTERS, PANAMA CITY, Panama Canal Authority, ACP, Thomson Locations: Cocoli, Panama, Panama City, PANAMA

☆ Liberia opposition leader Boakai opens bid to beat President Weah
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-17 | by ( Alphonso Toweh | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/4] People gather as opposition leader Joseph Boakai launched his campaign ahead of October elections, in Monrovia, Liberia September 17, 2023. "We thought he (Weah) was going to bring the change he promised, but nothing," said businesswoman Martha Gould. An error in the accounting of fuel supplies in state-run tanks left Liberia short on gasoline in 2020, causing panic at the pumps. Still, it remains to be seen if Boakai and his Unity Party can turn the tide. Weah remains popular across much of the country, and the economy grew nearly 5% last year, driven by gains in agriculture and mining, the World Bank says.

Persons: Joseph Boakai, Carielle, George Weah, Joe, Martha Gould, Weah, Nathaniel McGill, Boakai, Edward McAllister, Christina Fincher Organizations: Reuters, Rights, Liberian, Unity Party, Bank, Thomson Locations: Monrovia, Liberia, Rights MONROVIA, Liberia's, United States

Monrovia NSU CHALLENGER bulk carrier transits the expanded canal through Cocoli Locks at the Panama Canal, on the outskirts of Panama City, Panama April 19, 2023. REUTERS/Aris Martinez Acquire Licensing RightsSept 12 (Reuters) - The Panama Canal could further reduce the maximum number of vessel transits authorized per day if a drought that has hit the waterway this year continues, its administrator said on Tuesday. In a move to ease the bottleneck of ships waiting, the canal has recently changed its reservation system to allow more non-booked vessels to pass and to give priority to the ships waiting the longest. The head of the Panama Canal Authority, Ricaurte Vasquez, said the waterway would opt for reducing daily transits if needed, before planning any further cut to authorized vessel draft, which affects shippers the most. PROLONGED DROUGHTVasquez said that even though this drought has not been the most severe Panama has ever seen, it could be very long.

Persons: Aris Martinez, Vasquez, Ricaurte Vasquez, Marianna Parraga, Gary McWilliams, Timothy Gardner Organizations: Monrovia NSU CHALLENGER, REUTERS, Aris, Panama Canal Authority, Thomson Locations: Cocoli, Panama, Panama City, Pacific

[1/2] Monrovia NSU CHALLENGER bulk carrier transits the expanded canal through Cocoli Locks at the Panama Canal, on the outskirts of Panama City, Panama April 19, 2023. The Panama Canal Authority has reduced maximum ship weights and daily ship crossings in a bid to conserve water. Container ships are the most common users of the Panama Canal and transport more than 40% of consumer goods traded between Northeast Asia and the U.S. East Coast. Some shipping executives are bracing for more reductions later this year, noting that in 2020 a less severe drought prompted canal operators to reduce crossings to 27 per day. "The Panama Canal is just the latest example."

Persons: Aris Martinez, Max, Drew Lerner, Peter Sand, Steve Ferreira, STRI's Steven Paton, Paton, Brian Bourke, Lisa Baertlein, Marianna Parraga, Elida Moreno, Louise Breusch Rasmussen, Deepa Babington Organizations: Monrovia NSU CHALLENGER, REUTERS, ANGELES, Evergreen Marine, Pacific, Panama Canal Authority, Northeast, U.S ., Smithsonian Tropical Research, El Nino, Central American, Canal Authority, SEKO Logistics, Thomson Locations: Cocoli, Panama, Panama City, HOUSTON, China, U.S, Northeast Asia, U.S . East Coast . U.S, United States, Chile, Brazil, Suez, Gatun Lake, El, U.S . East Coast, Los Angeles, Houston, Copenhagen

Monrovia NSU CHALLENGER bulk carrier transits the expanded canal through Cocoli Locks at the Panama Canal, on the outskirts of Panama City, Panama April 19, 2023. The Panama Canal is important for moving consumer goods from Asia to the United States, especially ahead of peak selling seasons like Christmas. The Canal also is maintaining a suspension of extraordinary auctions for transit slots in both locks through Sep. 2. "Demand remains high, which proves that the Panama Canal is still competitive in most segments, even with measures taken to save water," the authority added. The Panama Canal has a 40%-market share of containers moving from Northeast Asia to the U.S. East Coast.

Persons: Aris Martinez, Elida Moreno, Marianna Parraga, Gary McWilliams, Grant McCool Organizations: Monrovia NSU CHALLENGER, REUTERS, PANAMA CITY, Panama Canal Authority, Canal Authority, U.S ., Thomson Locations: Cocoli, Panama, Panama City, PANAMA, Asia, United States, South, Pacific Coast, Northeast Asia, U.S . East Coast

Monrovia NSU CHALLENGER bulk carrier transits the expanded canal through Cocoli Locks at the Panama Canal, on the outskirts of Panama City, Panama April 19, 2023. REUTERS/Aris Martinez/File PhotoPANAMA CITY, Aug 10 (Reuters) - The drought-hit Panama Canal has temporarily limited the number of new reserved passage slots to help ease a bottleneck of ships that are waiting to transit without reservations, the waterway's authority said on Thursday. The canal, however, in June postponed further restrictions that would have required ships to lighten their loads to more easily pass. The bottleneck of vessels waiting to pass, however, has grown, prompting logistics and supply chain experts to predict more disruptions. Still, the bottleneck will not fall as hard on shippers as pandemic-era mishaps, including the Suez Canal blockage in 2021, according to shipping firms and customers.

Persons: Aris Martinez, Ricaurte Vasquez, Anatol Feygin, Rolf Habben Jansen, Lloyd, Elida Moreno, Marianna Parraga, Lisa Baertlein, Marguerita Choy Organizations: Monrovia NSU CHALLENGER, REUTERS, PANAMA CITY, Reuters, El, El Nino, Walmart, Cheniere Energy, Thomson Locations: Cocoli, Panama, Panama City, China, El, Suez

☆ Panama Canal seen losing $200 mln next year as ship crossings dip
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-04 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Monrovia NSU CHALLENGER bulk carrier transits the expanded canal through Cocoli Locks at the Panama Canal, on the outskirts of Panama City, Panama April 19, 2023. Specifically, between 30 and 32 ships are expected to cross daily during the new fiscal year which starts in October, said canal administrator Ricaurte Vasquez at an event. That compares to the 36 to 38 ships that transit the waterway when it operates at full capacity. The $200 million cut would reduce the canal's revenues for the 2023-2024 fiscal year to $4.9 billion. Panama typically sees heavy rains in July, and the canal authority has called the lack of precipitation "historically unprecedented."

Persons: Aris Martinez, Ricaurte Vasquez, Elida Moreno, David Alire Garcia Organizations: Monrovia NSU CHALLENGER, REUTERS, PANAMA CITY, Thomson Locations: Cocoli, Panama, Panama City

☆ Drought-hit Panama Canal further restricts maximum ship depth
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-22 | by ( Elida Moreno | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] Monrovia NSU CHALLENGER bulk carrier transits the expanded canal through Cocoli Locks at the Panama Canal, on the outskirts of Panama City, Panama April 19, 2023. REUTERS/Aris Martinez/File PhotoPANAMA CITY, June 21 (Reuters) - The Panama Canal will expand restrictions on the largest ships crossing the waterway, one of the world's busiest trade passages, the canal authority's administrator said on Wednesday, citing shallower waters due to drought. Ship traffic, including container ships and oil tankers, using the canal between the Atlantic Ocean and Pacific Ocean accounts for about 3.5% of global trade. Despite the new rules limiting ships' weight, Vasquez said the flow of ships through the canal has carried on as expected so far. The limits will not affect liquefied natural gas (LNG) carriers, as they typically report drafts of up to 37 feet, according to the canal authority.

Persons: Aris Martinez, Ricaurte Vasquez, Vasquez, Eli Moreno, Kylie Madry, Sonali Paul Organizations: Monrovia NSU CHALLENGER, REUTERS, PANAMA CITY, Central, Reuters, Port, El Nino, Thomson Locations: Cocoli, Panama, Panama City, Central American, El

☆ Bat lands worldwide are besieged, seeding risk of a new pandemic
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-16 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +16 min

This collision – bats and humans competing for resources on territory long the domain of the bats – could trigger the next pandemic. As people destroy bat habitats worldwide, they are unwittingly helping bat-borne viruses mutate, multiply, and infect other species, including homo sapiens. For millennia, bat viruses lurked across the forests of West Africa and in other undisturbed parts of the world but posed little threat to humanity. They’re potent proliferators: Some roost tightly together and in close quarters with other bat species. Each of the bat viruses analyzed by Reuters has epidemic potential, according to the World Health Organization.

☆ Liberians protest over economic hardship and president's absence
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-17 | by ( Alphonso Toweh | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] President of Liberia George Weah arrives to address the 77th Session of the United Nations General Assembly at U.N. Headquarters in New York City, U.S., September 22, 2022. REUTERS/Mike SegarPAYNESVILLE, Liberia, Dec 17 (Reuters) - More than a thousand people joined a demonstration in a suburb of Liberia's capital on Saturday, protesting over economic hardships and President George Weah's prolonged absence from the country. Lewis Brown, a prominent Liberian politician who served in the cabinets of former presidents Ellen Johnson Sirleaf and Charles Taylor, was the event's main organiser. "Too many people in this country are suffering, cannot pay rent, cannot pay school fees," Brown said as she addressed the crowd. Reporting by Alphonso Toweh; Additional reporting by Carielle Doe; Writing by Cooper Inveen;Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Factbox: Some of the world's worst stampedes
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-29 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

April 1998: One hundred and nineteen Muslim pilgrims are crushed to death during the haj in Saudi Arabia. Feb 2004: A stampede kills 251 Muslim pilgrims in Saudi Arabia near Jamarat Bridge during the haj ritual stoning of the devil. Jan 2005: At least 265 Hindu pilgrims are killed in a crush near a remote temple in India's Maharashtra state. July 2010: A stampede kills 19 people and injures 342 when people push through a tunnel at the Love Parade techno music festival in Duisburg, Germany. Sept 2015: At least 717 Muslim pilgrims are killed and 863 injured in a crush at the haj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia.

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