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☆ Spain's drought has pushed olive oil prices to a 26-year high — and they're expected to stick
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-04 | by ( Lee Ying Shan | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

When renowned Spanish-American chef José Andrés tweeted that eggs should be fried in olive oil a finger deep, one user commented: "Olive oil can be expensive at a finger deep. "Aldi olive oil spread used to 99p. According to data from the International Monetary Fund, global olive oil prices have hit $5,989.8 per metric ton, marking a 26-year high. The outbreak of war in Ukraine, which created a global shortage in sunflower oil, pushed up the demand for olive oil even more. "The outbreak of war in Ukraine, which created a global shortage in sunflower oil, pushed up the demand for olive oil even more," he added.

☆ Wagner is 'desperate for manpower' and trying to poach regular Russian soldiers while feuding with their commanders, experts say
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-17 | by ( Sinéad Baker | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

The Wagner Group is trying to recruit from Russia's military, the Institute for the Study of War said. It's "increasingly desperate for manpower" after heavy losses in Ukraine, the think tank said. The group has feuded with the military, but now seems desperate for its troops, per the ISW. The Wagner group, which has thousands of mercenaries and recruited prisoners fighting in Ukraine, has, in recent months, been leading Russia's assault on the eastern Ukrainian city of Bakhmut. The Institute for the Study of War noted that Wagner and regular Russian military forces have recently started working more closely together in their bid to take Bakhmut.

☆ UK says Lockheed Martin, BAE Systems win nearly $200 mln contract, to create 140 jobs
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-04 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

April 4 (Reuters) - Lockheed Martin Corp (LMT.N) and BAE Systems Plc (BAES.L) won a F-35 jet maintenance support contract worth 161 million pounds ($200 million), creating 140 jobs in Britain, the country's Ministry of Defence said on Tuesday. The contract was signed by the U.S. Joint Program Office and Lockheed Martin as F-35 prime contractor, with BAE Systems to carry out the work as a sub-contractor, the government said in a statement. Of the 140 jobs, 130 jobs will be based at the Norfolk base and around 10 jobs more would be created through the supply chain, the statement added. ($1 = 0.8053 pounds)Reporting by Anirudh Saligrama in Bengaluru; Editing by Himani SarkarOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Default-stricken Zambia's debts creep higher
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-29 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

LONDON, March 29 (Reuters) - Default-stricken Zambia published figures on Wednesday showing that its total public debt stock climbed to $32.8 billion, including interest arrears at the end of last year, of which $18.6 billion was external. At the end of June 2022 its total debt including interest arrears was $32.5 billion, with $17.5 billion external. "Zambia urgently needs a significant reduction in its debt burden," the country's Ministry of Finance said in an accompanying statement. "Zambia enjoys productive and positive relationships with all its creditors and is hopeful that an agreement on debt restructuring can be reached swiftly." Reporting by Marc Jones and Rachel Savage; Editing by Karin Strohecker and Mark PorterOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Japan plans to raise the age of consent from 13 years old in an overhaul of sex crime legislation
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-26 | by ( Isobel Van Hagen | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

The Japanese government has proposed changing its consent age from 13 to 16 years old. If passed, the country will no longer have the lowest age of consent of all G7 nations. The overhaul of Japan's sex crime legislation comes after multiple acquittals in sexual abuse cases. The overhaul of the country's sex crime legislation proposed last week comes after multiple acquittals in sexual abuse cases and high-profile allegations that led to protests and public outrage in 2019. The age of consent is 16 years old in the UK and most states in the US.

☆ Madagascar suspends schools as cyclone Freddy approaches
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-21 | by ( Lovasoa Rabary | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

ANTANANARIVO, Feb 21 (Reuters) - Madagascar's government on Tuesday suspended schools and transport in the path of tropical cyclone Freddy, which was likely to make landfall in the southeast of the country by evening. The cyclone is expected to hit Mananjary district, about 270 km from the capital Antananarivo, with winds of nearly 155 km per hour, Madagascar's meteorological services said. All traffic in cyclone Freddy's projected path was suspended overnight from Tuesday to Wednesday, the country's ministry of transport and meteorology said. Cyclone Freddy is expected to make landfall nearly a month after storm Cheneso battered the island nation of 29 million, killing 33 people and forcing thousands from their homes. "It is expected to cause locally devastating winds and a very dangerous sea state near the impact zone in Madagascar," UNOCHA said on Monday.

☆ Bird flu spreads to new countries, threatens non-stop 'war' on poultry
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-15 | by ( Tom Polansek | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +8 min

Argentina found the virus in wild birds, while dead swans in Uruguay tested positive. The United States, Britain, France and Japan are among countries that have suffered record losses of poultry over the past year, leaving some farmers feeling helpless. Poultry in the Northern Hemisphere were previously considered to be most at risk when wild birds are active during spring migration. Some experts suspect climate change may be contributing to the global spread by altering wild birds' habitats and migratory paths. Farmers are trying unusual tactics to protect poultry, with some using machines that make loud noises to scare off wild birds, experts said.

☆ Bird flu spreads to new countries, threatens non-stop "war" on poultry
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-15 | by ( Tom Polansek | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +7 min

The United States, Britain, France and Japan are among countries that have suffered record losses of poultry over the past year, leaving some farmers feeling helpless. Poultry in the Northern Hemisphere were previously considered to be most at risk when wild birds are active during spring migration. Some experts suspect climate change may be contributing to the global spread by altering wild birds' habitats and migratory paths. Farmers are trying unusual tactics to protect poultry, with some using machines that make loud noises to scare off wild birds, experts said. Berkowitz said he is bracing for March and April when migration season will pose an even greater risk to poultry.

☆ Belarus' exiled opposition leader says trial has 'nothing to do with justice'
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-20 | by ( Karen Gilchrist | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Belarus' exiled opposition leader, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, has bene put of trial for charges of treason and attempting to seize power. Belarus' exiled opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, who was put on trial in absentia this week on treason charges, said she has no hope that she will receive a fair trial. Tsikhanouskaya fled Belarus after Lukashenko seized power in the sharply contested 2020 elections, which were followed by widespread demonstrations over alleged electoral fraud. She was put on trial Tuesday and faces a possible jail term of 15 years on charges of treason and attempting to seize power. Tsikhanouskaya's trial comes amid ongoing concerns over Lukashenko's ties with Russian President Vladimir Putin, and the possible escalation of Belarus' engagement in the war in Ukraine.

☆ New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern resigns, saying the job has 'taken a lot out of me'
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-19 | by ( Charles R. Davis | Azmi Haroun | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

New Zealand's prime minister Jacinda Ardern announced her resignation on Thursday. Ardern governed over tumultuous times in New ZealandArdern was elected to her role in October 2017 as New Zealand's youngest prime minister, and as the third woman to serve in the position. By early 2020, the coronavirus pandemic had gripped the world, positioning Ardern as a sensible leader in the face of varied policy reactions. "It's one thing to make a big decision a week, but with Covid, it was constant," Ardern told New Zealand broadcaster 1 News in April 2022. Absolutely," Ardern told 1 News.

☆ Canadian miner First Quantum starts arbitration against Panama, says government
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-24 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

PANAMA CITY, Dec 24 (Reuters) - Canada-based miner First Quantum Minerals Ltd (FM.TO) and its subsidiary Minera Panama started arbitration processes against Panama, the country's ministry of commerce and industry said on Saturday, as the two sides have been locked in a disagreement over payments and mine operations. Despite having agreed to meet with the government, the company decided on Friday to "advance efforts" by going ahead with two arbitration processes, the ministry said in a statement, without giving further details. The company initiated one of the arbitration processes under a 1997 contract, which regulates its operations, and the other under the free trade agreement between Canada and Panama, the government added. "The resolution ... that orders Minera Panama to accomplish a care and maintenance plan for the Panama copper mine remains in force, and the government will monitor its full compliance," the ministry said in a statement. Reporting by Valentine Hilaire; Writing by Carolina Pulice; Editing by Josie KaoOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ BP wins contract to market Guyana's share of oil production
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-25 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Lee SmithNov 25 (Reuters) - BP Plc (BP.L) will market Guyana's share of crude oil produced over the next year from two offshore production platforms, the South American country's Ministry of Natural Resources said. The London-based oil company agreed to market the state's share produced from the Liza Destiny and Liza Unity platforms at no charge per barrel, according to a ministry statement on Thursday. Through mid-year, Guyana's share of oil production from the consortium composed of Exxon Mobil (XOM.N), CNOOC Ltd (0883.HK) and Hess Corp (HES.N) was worth $307 million. The group markets two crudes: a medium to light sweet oil called Liza, and an even lighter grade called Unity Gold. BP will market crude to refiners, provide benchmark and performance comparisons, and help the government understand the behavior and yields of the Liza blend, the ministry said.

SHARM EL-SHEIK, Nov 10 (Reuters) - African nations must be allowed to develop their fossil fuel resources to help lift their pepole out of poverty, governments said at the COP27 talks in Egypt, which welcomed leaders of oil and gas companies sidelined at previous talks. African nations said wealthy countries had failed to deliver promised funding that would help them to expand clean energy instead of exploiting their fossil fuel resources. Some 636 fossil fuel lobbyists were registered to attend COP27, another report from a group of organisations that analysed the U.N.'s provisional list of attendees found. That's 100 lobbyists more than attended the Glasgow COP26 summit last year, the group said, lamenting what it described as "rise in the influence of the fossil fuel industry". The analysis also counted delegation members acting on behalf of their country's fossil fuel industry.

☆ Listenbourg is the hottest country on social media right now. The catch? It doesn't exist.
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-04 | by ( Https | Media-Cldnry.S-Nbcnews.Com Image Upload Newscms Kahlan-Rosenblatt.Jpg | Kalhan Rosenblatt | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +2 min

In their first tweet about the country, @gaspardooo wrote, "Je suis sûr que les américains ne connaissent même pas le nom de ce pays ptdrrr." As the Listenbourg post gains traction on social media, the lore around the fictional country grows. One user shared a made-up flag of Listenbourg, sharing fake historical moments and images of former leaders of the nation. Another Twitter user shared a photoshopped image of Fox News anchor Tucker Carlson appearing to talk about Listenbourg. French TikToker HugoDeCrypte posted a video about Listenbourg to his 3.3 million followers, which has been viewed more than 4.2 million times and liked more than 636,000 times.

☆ Mexico tells fans not to bring iconic 'Lucha Libre' masks to World Cup
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-11 | by ( Angelica Medina | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

MEXICO CITY, Oct 11 (Reuters) - Mexico fans have been advised by their government not to wear their colourful 'Lucha Libre' wrestling masks at World Cup matches in Qatar to comply with local rules. The masks of classic fighters, such as 'El Santo' and 'Blue Demon', are popular among Mexico fans, who routinely wear them at international competitions such as the World Cup and the Olympics. However, Qatar's World Cup organisers, the Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy (SC), told Reuters there was no policy prohibiting masks at the World Cup. "Full face masks, such as the famous Mexican wrestling masks, would obviously have to be removed for security reasons heading into a stadium," the SC wrote in an emailed statement. According to world soccer's governing body FIFA, Mexico will have one of the biggest fan contingents at the World Cup.

☆ Sri Lanka to present debt restructuring, IMF bailout plans to creditors
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-18 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

A vendor prepares Sri Lankan notes to bundle them at a shop in Colombo July 3, 2013. REUTERS/Dinuka LiyanawatteLONDON, Sept 18 (Reuters) - Crisis-hit Sri Lanka will make a presentation to its international creditors on Friday, laying out the full extent of its economic troubles and plans for a debt restructuring and multi-billion dollar International Monetary Fund bailout. Debt crisis veterans cite uniquely difficult elements in Sri Lanka. The country's borrowings are so complex that estimates of the total range from $85 billion to well over $100 billion. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com RegisterReporting by Marc Jones; Editing by Richard ChangOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

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