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Joe Biden, 80, is the oldest U.S. president to ever serve in the White House, and nearly two decades older than the median age of the world's national leaders, 62, Pew Research found. Republican Senator Chuck Grassley of Iowa, 89, Democratic Senator Dianne Feinstein of California, 89, and Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders, 81, are older than McConnell. Many congressional lawmakers are in their 70s, and the median age of the Senate is 65.3, FiveThirtyEight calculated, the oldest ever, versus a median age of 38.8 years in the United States as a whole. Reuters GraphicsBiden's advanced age has raised questions about whether he should stand for a second term. Biden doesn't make the top 10 of the world's oldest currently serving leaders, according to Pew, which in addition to Biya is led by Mahmoud Abbas, president of the Palestinian Authority, at age 87.

Persons: Mitch McConnell's, Joe Biden, Biden, Paul Biya of, Gabriel Boric, Sanna Marin, McConnell, Chuck Grassley, Dianne Feinstein, Bernie Sanders, Donald Trump, Biden doesn't, Biya, Mahmoud Abbas, Steve Holland, Heather Timmons, Cynthia Osterman Organizations: Republican, Pew Research, U.S . Congress, Capitol, Democratic, U.S . Senate, Interparlimentary, Reuters Graphics, Pew, Palestinian Authority, Thomson Locations: U.S, Paul Biya of Cameroon, Chilean, Iowa, California, Vermont, United States, Japan, Italy, Greece

Meanwhile, the black market for smuggled subsidised Nigerian fuel in Togo and neighbouring Benin and Cameroon has collapsed, further reducing demand for shipments via Nigeria. Average monthly West African (WAF) gasoline imports fell by 56% in the second quarter compared with the first, according to Refinitiv Eikon data. "The key point is demand from West Africa is drying up," said Refinitiv Lead Oil Analyst Raj Rajendran. There may simply be a baseline decrease in demand," said Sparta Commodities gasoline market analyst Philip Jones-Lux. The challenge is coming from the new refineries in the Middle East that are expanding from their traditional East Africa market to now include West Africa and beyond even to the Americas," Rajendran said.

Persons: Bola Tinubu, Jeremy Parker, Raj, naira, Philip Jones, Jones, Lux, Rajendran, Shadia, Barbara Lewis Organizations: Nigeria's, West, ARA, Reuters Graphics, Sparta Commodities, Thomson Locations: Africa, Nigeria, North America, West Africa, Europe, United States, Asia, Ukraine, Togo, Benin, Cameroon, Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Antwerp, Sparta, Mideast, Russia, European, East Africa

☆ Cambodia leader Hun Sen is set to win another one-sided election
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-21 | by ( Heather Chen | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

“The July 23 election is just a day for Hun Sen to impose (his choices) onto the Cambodian people,” she said. A former Khmer Rouge commander who switched sides, Hun Sen has ruled Cambodia for nearly four decades. But in more recent years Hun Sen has turned increasingly autocratic – quashing dissent and jailing critics, forcing many to flee overseas. ‘Future prime minister’Political watchers say this Cambodian election will set the stage for Hun Sen’s transition of power to his son Hun Manet. Hun Manet walks past an honour guard during a military ceremony in Phnom Penh on June 18, 2020.

Persons: Cambodia’s, Hun Sen, –, crackdowns, Hun Sen’s, ”, Mu Sochua, “, …, Bridget Welsh, “ Hun Sen, ” Kenneth Roth, Hun Manet, Tang Chin Sothy, Welsh, ” Hun Manet, Markus Karbaum, ” Karbaum, Phil Robertson, Sam Rainsy, CHARLY TWO, Rainsy, Hun, ” Rainsy, “ I’ve Organizations: CNN, Voters, Cambodian People’s Party, “, Women, Veterans ’ Affairs, ” CNN, Human Rights, ‘, Cambodian, US Military Academy, West, New York University, University of Bristol, Getty, Cambodian People's Party, Cambodian National Rescue Party, Party, Human Rights Watch, Facebook, Reuters Locations: Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, Cambodian, Cambodia, Khmer, China, Phnom Penh, AFP, ”, Sunday’s, Asia

☆ Factbox: Why Indian rice export ban is so important to global trade
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-20 | by ( Rajendra Jadhav | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

* India exports rice to more than 140 countries. Key buyers of Indian non-basmati rice include: Benin, Bangladesh, Angola, Cameroon, Djibouti, Guinea, Ivory Coast, Kenya and Nepal. * India exported 17.86 million tons of non-basmati rice in 2022, including 10.3 million tons of non-basmati white rice. In September 2022, India banned exports of broken rice and imposed a 20% duty on exports of various grades of rice. New Delhi has not put any restrictions on the export of basmati rice and parboiled rice, which stood at 4.4 million tons and 7.4 million tons, respectively, in 2022.

Persons: Rajendra Jadhav, Conor Humphries Organizations: Thomson Locations: MUMBAI, India, Thailand, Vietnam, Pakistan, United States, Benin, Bangladesh, Angola, Cameroon, Djibouti, Guinea, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Nepal, Iran, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, New Delhi, . West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Punjab, Odisha

☆ How a Vast Demographic Shift Will Reshape the World
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-16 | by ( Lauren Leatherby | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +18 min

1990 Younger populations Workingage Older populations For decades, the world’s dominant powers have benefited from large working-age populations that help drive economic growth. Russia U.K. France Pakistan Pakistan China China U.S. U.S. Japan U.S. Japan China India India India Nigeria Nigeria Ethiopia D.R.C. Russia U.K. France Pakistan Pakistan China China U.S. U.S. U.S. Japan Japan China India India India Nigeria Nigeria Ethiopia D.R.C. Russia U.K. France Pakistan China U.S. U.S. U.S. Japan Japan China China India India India Nigeria Nigeria Ethiopia D.R.C. Russia U.K. France Pakistan China U.S. U.S. U.S. Japan Japan China China India India India Nigeria Nigeria Ethiopia D.R.C.

Persons: That’s, ”, Mikko Myrskylä, Max Planck, Carolina Cardona, Philip O’Keefe, –, O’Keefe, Myrskylä, “ We’ve, “, aren’t, Mr Organizations: Korea Germany Italy Russia United, France, France Pakistan Pakistan China China U.S ., U.S, China India Nigeria D.R.C, France Pakistan Pakistan China China U.S . U.S, France Pakistan, France Pakistan China U.S . U.S, for Demographic Research, Youth, Niger, Dem, Central African Rep, Herzegovina Bulgaria Croatia Czech Rep, Denmark Estonia Finland France Germany Greece, Denmark Estonia Finland France Germany Greece Hungary Ireland, Denmark Estonia Finland France Germany Greece Hungary Ireland Italy Kosovo, Macedonia Norway Poland Portugal Moldova Romania, Macedonia Norway Poland Portugal Moldova Romania Russia Serbia Slovakia Slovenia, Hong Kong North Korea Japan Mongolia South Korea Taiwan Northern America, New Zealand, New, Benin Botswana Burkina Faso Burundi Cameroon Central African Rep, Chad Comoros, Congo Ivory Coast Dem, Johns Hopkins University, Aging, ARC Center of Excellence, Aging Research, World Bank, Spain Taiwan, Young, Korea, Spain, “ Locations: Japan, Western Europe, South Korea, Britain, Eastern Europe, China, Europe, India, East Asia, Florida, United States, South, Southeast Asia, Africa, Korea Germany Italy, Korea Germany Italy Russia United States France China Thailand United Kingdom, South Korea Brazil Colombia China Thailand Iran Myanmar Vietnam Bangladesh Indonesia, South Africa Myanmar Indonesia Bangladesh Philippines Pakistan Kenya Indonesia Egypt Ethiopia, Russia, France Pakistan Pakistan China China U.S, France Pakistan Pakistan China China U.S . U.S, Japan U.S, Japan China India India India Nigeria Nigeria Ethiopia D.R.C, Indonesia Indonesia Brazil Brazil Brazil, China Japan India Brazil, Pakistan France China U.S, Japan India Nigeria Brazil Indonesia, Pakistan U.S, China India Nigeria, Ethiopia Brazil Indonesia, France Pakistan Pakistan China China U.S . U.S . U.S, Japan Japan China India India India Nigeria Nigeria Ethiopia D.R.C, France Pakistan China, France Pakistan China U.S . U.S . U.S, Japan Japan China China India India India Nigeria Nigeria Ethiopia D.R.C, Congo Somalia, Angola Tanzania Nigeria, Afghanistan Ethiopia Tajikistan Kenya, Asia, Oceania, Kenya, Demographically, South Asia, Singapore, Albania, Austria Belarus Belgium Bosnia, Herzegovina Bulgaria, Denmark Estonia Finland France Germany, Denmark Estonia Finland France Germany Greece Hungary, Denmark Estonia Finland France Germany Greece Hungary Ireland Italy, Denmark Estonia Finland France Germany Greece Hungary Ireland Italy Kosovo Latvia Lithuania Netherlands, Macedonia Norway Poland Portugal, Macedonia Norway Poland Portugal Moldova Romania Russia Serbia Slovakia, Macedonia Norway Poland Portugal Moldova Romania Russia Serbia Slovakia Slovenia Spain Sweden Switzerland Ukraine, Eastern Asia, Hong Kong North Korea Japan Mongolia South Korea Taiwan Northern, Canada, States Australia, New, Australia, New Zealand, Saharan Africa, Angola, Benin Botswana Burkina Faso Burundi Cameroon, Congo, Congo Djibouti, Guinea Eritrea Eswatini Ethiopia Gabon Gambia Ghana Guinea Guinea, Bissau Kenya Lesotho Liberia Madagascar Malawi Mali Mauritania Mauritius Mozambique Namibia Niger Nigeria Rwanda Senegal Sierra Leone Somalia South Africa South Sudan Togo Uganda Tanzania Zambia Zimbabwe, Aging Asia, Pacific, America, “, Hong Kong, Italy, Spain, Spain Taiwan Greece, Singapore Slovenia Thailand Germany, Mainland China Finland Japan Netherlands Canada, Hong Kong South Korea, Singapore Slovenia Japan Thailand Germany, Mainland China Finland Netherlands, U.N, Korea Japan Spain, Korea Japan, France, West, East, Vietnam

☆ StanChart to sell sub-Saharan Africa business to Access Bank
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-14 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

DUBAI, July 14 (Reuters) - Standard Chartered (STAN.L) said on Friday it has reached an agreement to sell its subsidiaries in sub-Saharan Africa to Nigeria's Access Bank, putting into motion a plan announced last year to divest those businesses. Standard Chartered will sell its shareholding in its subsidiaries in Angola, Cameroon, Gambia and Sierra Leone to Access. It will also sell its consumer, private & business banking business in Tanzania to Access Bank, a subsidiary of Access Holdings (ACCESSCORP.LG). "Access Bank will provide a full range of banking services and continuity for key stakeholders including employees and clients of Standard Chartered's businesses across the five aforementioned countries," Standard Chartered said in a statement. The agreement is in line with Standard Chartered's global strategy "aimed at achieving operational efficiencies, reducing complexity, and driving scale," it said.

Persons: Sunil Kaushal, Roosevelt Ogbonna, Yousef Saba, Jason Neely Organizations: Nigeria's Access Bank, Chartered, Access Bank, Access Holdings, Thomson Locations: DUBAI, Saharan Africa, Angola, Cameroon, Gambia, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, Africa, Nigeria

☆ Exclusive: Ivory Coast halts cocoa forward sales as rains hit production
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-13 | by ( Ange Aboa | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

SummaryCompanies Torrential rains hit Ivory Coast cocoa farmsIvory Coast CCC cocoa regulator says output could declineBlack pod fungal disease spreading in farmsABOISSO, Ivory Coast, July 13 (Reuters) - Ivory Coast has stopped selling contracts for cocoa exports for the 2023-2024 season after heavy rains battered and flooded farms in the world's top cocoa-producing nation in recent weeks, the head of the country's cocoa sector regulator told Reuters. Ivory Coast is in the middle of its April to November rainy season. But Ivory Coast and other major cocoa producers Ghana, Nigeria and Cameroon that account for around 70% of global production, have witnessed heavy tropical downpours in recent weeks. On May 15, tropical rains fell continuously for eight hours with unprecedented intensity in the Aboisso region in southeastern Ivory Coast, farmers and residents told Reuters. Farmers, cocoa pod counters, and cocoa exporters based in Ivory Coast, also told Reuters that they expected a significant decline in output during the first part of the main harvest.

Persons: Yves Brahima Kone, Barry Callebaut, Kone, Jean Paul Kadjo, Soubre, Kouman Kouadio, Kouadio, CCC's Kone, Ange Aboa, Bate Felix, Elaine Hardcastle Organizations: Ivory Coast, Reuters, United Nations, Cocoa Council, Cargill, Hershey, Nestle, Plantations, Thomson Locations: Ivory, ABOISSO, Ivory Coast, United, Ghana, Nigeria, Cameroon, Aboisso, Farmers, Akressi, San Pedro, Tai

The MT Arman 114 was carrying 272,569 metric tons of light crude oil, valued at 4.6 trillion rupiah ($304 million), when it was seized last week, the Indonesian authorities said. The Very Large Crude Carrier (VLCC) was suspected of transferring oil to another vessel without a permit on Friday, the Southeast Asian nation's maritime security agency said. "MT Arman was spoofing their automatic identification system (AIS) to show its position was in the Red Sea but in reality it is here," Aan told reporters. Along with the Arman, authorities detained its Egyptian captain, 28 crew and 3 passengers, who were the family of a security officer on board, the agency said. A "shadow" fleet of tankers carrying oil from sanctioned Iran, Russia and Venezuela has been transferring cargoes in the Singapore Strait to avoid detection, a Reuters analysis showed this year.

Persons: Arman, Stefanno Sulaiman, Fransiska, Lincoln, Clarence Fernandez Organizations: Indonesia's Maritime Security Agency, AIS JAKARTA, Malaysian, Thomson Locations: Marore, Cameroon, Iranian, Indonesia's North Natuna, Iran, Russia, Venezuela, Singapore, Indonesia, Panamanian

☆ Indonesia seizes Iranian-flagged tanker suspected of illegal oil transshipment
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-11 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

JAKARTA, July 11 (Reuters) - Indonesia's coast guard (Bakamla) said on Tuesday it has seized an Iranian-flagged tanker suspected of involvement in the illegal transshipment of crude oil. The vessel, MT Arman 114, was carrying 272,569 metric tons of light crude oil and was suspected of transferring the oil to another vessel without a permit, the coast guard said in a statement. Bakamla said the vessel was captured after it was spotted conducting an oil transfer to another vessel, the Cameroon-flagged MT STinos. MT Arman was also suspected of violating other maritime regulations, such as turning of its automatic identification system, sailing without a flag and operating without port clearance, Bakamla said. Reporting by Stefanno Sulaiman, Fransiska Nangoy; Editing by Martin PettyOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Arman, Bakamla, Stefanno Sulaiman, Fransiska, Martin Petty Organizations: Thomson Locations: JAKARTA, Iranian, Cameroon

☆ Maison Sara Chraibi shows geometric patterns in haute couture lineup in Paris
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-06 | by ( Mimosa Spencer | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/5] A model presents a creation by designer Sara Chraibi as part of her Haute Couture Fall/Winter 2023-2024 collection show for fashion house Maison Sara Chraibi in Paris, France, July 6, 2023. REUTERS/Sarah MeyssonnierPARIS, July 6 (Reuters) - Maison Sara Chraibi presented a sculptural lineup of garments with elaborate, geometric patterns on Thursday, the final day of Paris haute couture week. "It's like a building where you look at it from all sides," said Chraibi, after the show. It was her second outing as a guest on the Paris haute couture calendar, which includes leading luxury houses like Chanel, Dior and Giorgio Armani Prive. Other guest presenters this season were Juana Martin from Spain and Imane Ayissi, who was born in Cameroon.

Persons: Sara Chraibi, Maison Sara Chraibi, Sarah Meyssonnier PARIS, Dior, Giorgio Armani Prive, Juana Martin, Imane Ayissi, Mimosa Spencer, Josie Kao Organizations: Couture, REUTERS, Paris haute, Left Bank, Thomson Locations: Paris, France, Rabat, Spain, Cameroon

☆ South Korea to help Africa cut dependence on rice imports - minister
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-06 | by ( Soo-Hyang Choi | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

SEOUL, July 6 (Reuters) - South Korea is set to sign an agreement next week with eight African nations to help boost rice production and cut their dependence on imports, Agriculture Minister Chung Hwang-keun told Reuters, amid concerns over food security on the continent. The minister said during several visits to Africa starting late last year officials told him they desperately needed help. Rice prices had almost doubled due to supply chain disruptions," Chung said, noting how food imports had squeezed the countries' foreign exchange reserves. South Korea has been able to produce enough rice to meet more than 90% of local demand, though still depends heavily on some other food imports. "The K-Rice project will bring outstanding rice varieties and hope to the small farmers in Africa suffering from the climate crisis," Marian Sunhee Yun, the director of WFP Korea Office, said.

Persons: Chung Hwang, keun, Yoon Suk Yeol, Chung, Rice, Yoon Suk, Marian Sunhee Yun, 1,302.3500, Soo, hyang Choi, Ed Davies, Sonali Paul Organizations: Agriculture, Reuters, Economic, West African States, United Nations, Food, WFP Korea Office, Thomson Locations: SEOUL, South Korea, Ghana, Guinea, Bissau, Gambia, Senegal, Cameroon, Uganda, Kenya, Africa, West Africa, Seoul

☆ Nine new African countries to receive millions of malaria vaccines- GAVI
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-05 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

July 5 (Reuters) - Global vaccine alliance GAVI said on Wednesday 12 countries in Africa would receive 18 million doses of malaria vaccine over the next two years, expanding access to the shots to nine new countries in the region. Malaria remains one of the continent's deadliest diseases, killing nearly half a million children each year under the age of five. In 2021, Africa accounted for about 95% of global malaria cases and 96% of deaths, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). "At least 28 African countries have expressed interest in receiving the RTS,S (malaria) vaccine," WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said at a media briefing, adding that a second malaria vaccine was under review for pre-qualification and if successful, could provide additional supply in the short term. The first doses of the RTS,S vaccine are expected to reach the 12 African countries during the last quarter of 2023, allowing them to start rolling out by early next year.

Persons: GAVI, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Raghav Mahobe, Shinjini Organizations: World Health Organization, WHO, GAVI, UNICEF, British, GSK, Democratic, Thomson Locations: Africa, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Liberia, Niger, Sierra Leone, Uganda, Bengaluru

☆ Putin’s Options for Dealing With the Wagner Group Aren’t Great - The New York Times
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-04 | by ( Colin P. Clarke | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +3 min

(Those who did participate could join Mr. Prigozhin in Belarusian exile.) Even if Wagner fighters do decide to join Russian military units en masse, it won’t be easy for Moscow to integrate them. Another option would be for Mr. Putin to leave Wagner’s overseas operations as is, and install a new leader to replace Mr. Prigozhin. Mr. Prigozhin was revered by Wagner fighters, many of whom may chafe at the prospect of new leadership or a drastic change in organizational culture. Corporation is another Russian private military company, founded by Russian nationalist Igor Mangushev, with some experience abroad, but is much less influential and experienced than Wagner.

Persons: Putin, Wagner, Prigozhin, Sergei Shoigu, —, Prigozhin’s, Sergei Lavrov, ”, Wagner’s, Igor Mangushev Organizations: Russian, Ministry of Defense, Russian Ministry of Defense, Central African, Corporation, Gazprom Locations: Russia, Russian, Moscow, Cameroon, Burkina Faso, Equatorial Guinea, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Kenya, Africa, Mali, Central African Republic . Russia, Syria, Burundi, Central African Republic, Gabon, Yemen

☆ As Nigeria scraps fuel subsidy, a vibrant black market collapses
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-26 | by ( Desire Danga Essigue | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Since Nigeria scrapped a state fuel subsidy on May 31, black market fuel vendors and commercial drivers in Cameroon, Benin and Togo who were heavily reliant on petrol smuggled from Nigeria have seen their businesses collapse. With supplies dwindling, queues have been forming at official petrol stations, where fuel is now competitively priced. "Supply has become scarce and customers think we're ripping them off with this high price, yet it's from Nigeria that prices have soared," said Perevet Dieudonne, a black market seller. The trade in black market fuel is so central to the local economy that authorities either turn a blind eye or are complicit. At Hilacondji, a border crossing between Togo and Benin, some black market fuel stalls were shut, while at others vendors waited among rows of empty plastic jerricans for potential deliveries.

Persons: Danga, turvy, Perevet Dieudonne, Ousmanou Mal Djoulde, Ayi Hilla, Alice Lawson, Pulcherie, Amindeh Blaise Atabong, Elisha Bala, MacDonald Dzirutwe, Estelle Shirbon, Bate Felix, Elaine Hardcastle Organizations: REUTERS, CFA, Reuters, Dangote Petroleum, United Nations, Thomson Locations: Garoua, Cameroon, GAROUA, West, Nigeria, Benin, Togo, Nigerian, West Africa, Dangote, Hilacondji, Africa, Cotonou, Pulcherie Adjoha

Last week, for instance, Nigeria's central bank allowed the naira currency to drop as much as 36% on the official market. Nestle, which is replacing imported corn starch in Nigeria with cassava starch, told Reuters it has helped seven local suppliers to boost capacity to meet the company's supply needs. ONION POWDER AND TURMERICNestle said it was working to develop local suppliers of vegetables and spices used in Maggi products, for instance onion powder in Nigeria and Senegal, and turmeric powder in Nigeria. Nestle did not comment on whether its position in Nigeria would help insulate it from foreign exchange volatility, neither did it give an indication of the economic impact of the local sourcing. ($1 = 0.8967 Swiss francs)Reporting by Richa Naidu; Editing by Emelia Sithole-MatariseOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Arnd, Kat, Nestle, Richa Naidu, Emelia Sithole Organizations: Swiss, Nestle, REUTERS, LONDON, Reuters, Unilever, Thomson Locations: Bern, Konolfingen, Switzerland, Nigeria, Cameroon, Senegal, Swiss, Asia, East, Africa

☆ UK SFO delays decision on whether to charge Glencore staff until year-end
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-26 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

The SFO is investigating former employees of Glencore's UK subsidiary Glencore Energy UK Limited over potential criminal offences in relation to its operations in West Africa. The ex-Glencore employees who are under investigation by the SFO have been granted anonymity pending a decision by the SFO on whether to bring criminal charges. Glencore's UK subsidiary last year admitted seven bribery offences related to paying – or failing to prevent the payment of – millions of dollars in bribes to officials in Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, Ivory Coast, Nigeria and South Sudan. At its sentencing in November, prosecutors told the court that Glencore employees and agents used private jets to transfer cash to pay bribes to officials in Cameroon and South Sudan. Glencore was ordered to pay a total penalty of 276.4 million pounds ($352 million) for its offending, which the sentencing judge described as "endemic" corruption.

Persons: Alexandra Healy, Glencore, Sam Tobin, Christina Fincher Organizations: SFO, Glencore's, Glencore Energy, Limited, Glencore, London's, London's Southwark Crown, Thomson Locations: London, West Africa, London's Southwark, Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, Ivory Coast, Nigeria, South Sudan

☆ Why this in-flight magazine is the fashion industry’s new must-read
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-25 | by ( Nick Remsen | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

Model Ismael Savane pictured in an Air Afrique T-shirt during Paris Fashion Week Mens Spring-Summer 2023 on June 23, 2022 in Paris. “We want to revive the African transcendence that Air Afrique represented,” Lamine Diaoune, the founder and creative director of the Air Afrique collective, said in a statement. It really was about more than just flights.”An Air Afrique stewardess, pictured during training in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, in 1971. The cover of Air Afrique magazine's first issue, featuring the French rapper Tiakola (far right). (All members of the Air Afrique collective have backgrounds in creative fields; each also has projects outside of the group, too.)

Persons: Michel Renaudeau, Côte, Senegal —, Ismael Savane, Melodie Jeng, ” Lamine Diaoune, ”, Djibi Kébé, ” Kébé, “, Côte d’Ivoire, they’ve, Bottega, Tiakola, Lamine Diaoune, Djiby Kébé, Jeremy Konko, Amandine Nana, Zhedy Nuentsa, Bamba Thiam, Axel Pelletanche, ” Nana, Paul Kodjo, Marie, Hélène Tusiama, Tusiama, ’ ” Pope Jean, Paul II, Jean, Claude Delafosse, Pope Jean, Abdel El Tayeb, El Tayeb, Matthieu Blazy, El Tayeb’s Organizations: France CNN, Afrique, Air, Central African, Paris, Centre Pompidou, Air Afrique, “, Air Afrique Air Afrique’s, Franco, El Locations: Paris, France, New York City, Mauritania, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Côte d’Ivoire, Gabon, Niger, Republic of, Congo, Senegal, West Africa, New York, Abu Dhabi, Europe, Abidjan, Côte, Dakar, West, Africa, Ivory Coast, ”, ‘, Sudanese, El

☆ Cocoa prices are soaring. Here’s what that means for your chocolate
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-21 | by ( Danielle Wiener-Bronner | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

New York CNN —If you have a sweet tooth, take note: Cocoa prices have been soaring — and that could drive chocolate prices higher. Because of that, there is an “outsize impact of the region’s weather patterns on world cocoa prices and supplies,” according to Gro Intelligence’s post. Tony's Chocolonely welcomes higher cocoa prices. Petra Figueroa/SOPA Images/LightRocket/Getty Images“We are very happy that cocoa prices are rising,” said Pascal Baltussen, chief of impact and operations at Tony’s. “Cocoa prices have been way too low for West African cocoa farmers to earn a living income.”Cocoa futures are used to determine the prices paid to farmers for cocoa in Ivory Coast and Ghana.

Persons: El, Paul, Christophe Gateau, Niño, ”, Intelligence’s, Tony's Chocolonely, Petra Figueroa, Pascal Baltussen, Alex Assanvo, Côte, “ Price, Tony’s, Baltussen, Steven Voskuil, Hershey, “, we’ll, —, Laura Paddison, Rachel Ramirez Organizations: New, New York CNN, Rabobank, International Cocoa, Getty, Cocoa Organization, Gro Intelligence, Hershey Locations: New York, Europe, Asia, Agboville, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Cameroon, Nigeria, Amsterdam, Tony’s, NIQ

He warned that contaminated medicines could still be found for several years, because adulterated barrels of an essential ingredient may remain in warehouses. Cough syrups and the ingredient, propylene glycol, both have shelf-lives of around two years. Unscrupulous actors sometimes substitute propylene glycol with toxic alternatives, ethylene glycol and diethylene glycol, because they are cheaper, several pharmaceutical manufacturing experts told Reuters. The WHO said it has also offered help to Liberia and Cameroon – which recently signalled that it too may have contaminated cough syrups for sale. The contaminated syrups in Liberia were made by India's Synercare Mumbai, according to the Nigerian regulator.

Persons: Rutendo Kuwana, Kuwana, –, syrups, Naresh Kumar Goyal, QP Pharmachem, India's Synercare, Synercare, It's, Jennifer Rigby, Krishna N.Das, Edward McAllister, Stanley Widianto, Sumit Khanna, Sophie Yu, Sara Ledwith, Michele Gershberg Organizations: World Health Organization, WHO, Reuters, Pharmaceutical, Marshall, Indonesian, –, PT Universal Pharmaceutical Industries, AFI, Pharmaceuticals, Marion Biotech, Maiden Pharmaceuticals, Thomson Locations: LIBERIA, CAMEROON, Liberia, Nigeria, Gambia, Uzbekistan, Micronesia, Indonesian, – Timor Leste, Cambodia, Senegal, Philippines, Cameroon, syrups, Marshall Islands, India's Synercare Mumbai, Nigerian, Liberian, India, Panama, Delhi, Dakar, Jakarta, Ahmedabad, Beijing

☆ Titan of Cameroon's opposition politics John Fru Ndi dies at 81
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-13 | by ( Amindeh Blaise Atabong | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

"It is with sadness that we announce the transition into eternal glory of John Fru Ndi on June 12, 2023, at 11:30 p.m.," it said. "I salute the memory of a singular, charismatic and courageous leader," said current opposition leader Maurice Kamto. An English-speaking businessman from Cameroon's northwest region, Fru Ndi formed the SDF, the first opposition party in the bilingual Central African country, which is dominated by its French-speaking majority. Fru Ndi claimed the vote had been rigged and he was placed under house arrest as riots swept opposition strongholds. As Biya's grip on power tightened, Fru Ndi secured fewer votes, according to official figures.

Persons: John Fru Ndi, Paul Biya, Fru Ndi, Moussa Faki, Maurice Kamto, Ndi, Cameroon's, Akere Muna, Akintunde, Cabral Libii, Biya, Amindeh Blaise Atabong, Nellie Peyton, Anait, Edward McAllister, Conor Humphries Organizations: Social Democratic Front, Union's, Central, REUTERS, Cameroon People's Democratic, Thomson Locations: YAOUNDE, Central, Cameroon's, Central African, Cameroon, Yaounde, CAMEROON, U.S

☆ John Fru Ndi, titan of Cameroon's opposition, dies
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-13 | by ( Reuters Editorial | ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

PoliticsJohn Fru Ndi, titan of Cameroon's opposition, diesPostedJohn Fru Ndi, who formed Cameroon's first opposition party and battled President Paul Biya at the ballot box for decades, has died aged 81 his party has said. David Doyle has more.

Persons: John Fru Ndi, Cameroon's, Paul Biya, David Doyle

☆ Uncle Sam wants migrants. Facing shortages, military recruiters trade citizenship for service.
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-11 | by ( Associated Press | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

The biggest challenges have been identifying geographic pockets of immigrant populations, finding ways to reach them and helping any of those interested navigate the complex military recruiting applications and procedures. The Air Force effort began this year, and the first group of 14 graduated from basic training and were sworn in as new citizens in April. As of mid-May there were about 100 in basic training who had begun the citizenship process and about 40 who had completed it. Thomas said the program required changes to Air Force policy, coordination with U.S. By the time Air Force recruits finish their seven weeks of training, the process is complete and they are sworn in as American citizens.

Persons: —, Bidari, Kalden Lama, Ed Thomas, Thomas, Natalia Laziuk, I've, Christine Wormuth Organizations: US Army, Navy, Service, U.S . Army Reserves, Army, Air Force, Army Staff, Dallas, Marine Corp, Defense, . Citizenship, Immigration Services Locations: Nepal, Dallas, U.S, America, American, United States, Cameroon, Jamaica, Kenya, Philippines, Russia, South Africa, Chicago, Mexico, Haiti, Nigeria, Ghana, Colombia, Dominican Republic

☆ Samuel Fosso, known for his iconic self-portraits of famous figures, wins prestigious photography prize
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-07 | by ( Maheshpreet Kaur Narula | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

These faces aren’t from history books – they are self-portraits of renowned photographer Samuel Fosso, and they have earned him this year’s Deutsche Börse Photography Foundation Prize. A jury then awards one artist a £30,000 ($37,000) prize for their significant contributions to contemporary photography. Samuel Fosso strikes the iconic pose of Olympian Tommie Smith in this photograph from the 2008 series "African Spirits." Samuel Fosso/Courtesy JM Patras, Paris“It’s never evident, what Black people suffered for independence or during slavery,” said Fosso. And yet he was still surprised to receive a call announcing he’s won this year’s Deutsche Börse Photography Foundation Prize.

Persons: Samuel Fosso, Maison, ”, ” Fosso, Martin Luther King, Jr, Shoair Mavlian, “, He’s, Prince Nico Mbarga, Tati, –, Fosso, Kwame Nkrumah, Malcolm X, Muhammad Ali, Angela Davis, Tommie Smith, Paris “ It’s, Fondation Louis Vuitton, he’s, they’ve, ” Samuel Fosso’s Organizations: CNN, Börse, ’, Central African, Guggenheim, Fondation Louis, Tate Locations: London, Europe, Nigerian, Paris, Cameroon, Nigeria, Biafra, Central African Republic, Ghana’s, New York

☆ How a 14-Year-Old Came to Animate a Scene in ‘Across the Spider-Verse’
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-07 | by ( Carlos Aguilar | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: 1 min

Early in the thrill-packed sequel “Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse,” the story takes a brief yet memorable detour into a dimension that resembles Lego building blocks and figures. The clever and amusing scene, a tribute to “The Lego Movie,” was not the work of seasoned animation artists, but that of a 14-year-old fan turned professional creator living in Toronto. Forgoing the instructions for a set of Lego blocks, he built cars with his own designs. “I also used to make comics when I was younger,” Mutanga said during a recent video interview. “Looking back at them now, they’re not the greatest, I’m not going to lie, but it was good practice for telling stories.”

Persons: ”, Preston Mutanga, “, ” Mutanga, they’re, I’m Locations: Toronto, Minnesota, Northwest Region, Cameroon

☆ Ports in China's oil hub Shandong scrutinizing old tankers -sources
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-05 | by ( Muyu Xu | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Qingdao and Lanshan are two of the top five biggest Chinese oil importing ports, according to data from Kpler. Shandong is home to numerous independent refineries known as teapots that account for up to one-fifth of China's processing capacity. Port authorities could detain ships for days to rectify any issues, prompting shippers to divert cargoes to other Chinese ports, the sources said. Almost all tankers hauling crude to Qingdao for independent refiners are more than 10 years old, said Vortexa analyst Emma Li. In April, tankers calling at Shandong ports experienced delays after customs authorities stepped up checks on diluted bitumen cargoes.

Persons: Seapalm, Emma Li, Eikon, Muyu Xu, Florence Tan Organizations: Kpler, Shandong Maritime Safety Administration, Reuters, Seapalm Shipping, Thomson Locations: SINGAPORE, China's Shandong, Qingdao, Rizhao, Lanshan, Shandong, Tokyo, Cameroon, Seychelles, Jiangsu, Hebei, Liaoning, Beijing

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