West Africa’s cocoa producers are under threat from this year’s El Niño, which threatens to be the worst on record. The weather phenomenon has been known to intensify the yearly Harmattan winds, which dry out topsoil and cause pods to fall. Côte d’Ivoire — the world’s top producer — is ...
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Sasol pollution linked to premature deaths, study suggestsSasol pollution linked to premature deaths, study suggests
South African energy company Sasol faces mounting climate scrutiny after researchers tied emissions from its flagship Secunda plant to about 1,000 premature deaths annually. A study by the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air, a Finland-based nonprofit, found emissions from the plant had an overall health cost of ...
Democrats make the midterms about one big pitch: Lower costsDemocrats make the midterms about one big pitch: Lower costs
David’s view House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries shared good news with his caucus this week: His Democrats’ bid for a midterm campaign focused on “affordability” is cutting through the noise. According to polling that Jeffries circulated this week, Democrats have fixed a mismatch that looked glaring five months ago. In ...
Democrats face a tough call: Cut a college sports deal with Trump, or hold out?Democrats face a tough call: Cut a college sports deal with Trump, or hold out?
The News After warring with President Donald Trump for more than 20 months, Senate Democrats are considering a high-profile bipartisan deal with him that would reshape college sports. Their party is in a tricky spot on the subject. The Democratic coalition is fractured over the legislation championed by Sens. Ted ...
US-Africa trade pact extendedUS-Africa trade pact extended
A key US-Africa trade program will be extended for two years when President Donald Trump signs the short-term government funding bill passed by the House on Tuesday. The bill, easily passed in a 370-48 vote, extends the African Growth and Opportunity Act for two more years without modifying it. The ...
Paid actors, AI writing: How a new kind of video business cashed in on America’s divided politicsPaid actors, AI writing: How a new kind of video business cashed in on America’s divided politics
The Scoop “William,” a middle-aged man in a blue short-sleeved button-down shirt whose YouTube videos have more than 14 million views, looked straight into the camera at his kitchen table in August and read a script about New York City’s mayor. His video, quickly racked up more than 474,000 views. ...
Americans see sprawling government corruption, poll findsAmericans see sprawling government corruption, poll finds
The count of Americans who believe that corruption is widespread in government is at its highest point in the last 20 years. Almost nine in 10 Americans say that government corruption is widespread, according to new Gallup polling, an increase of 10 percentage points in the last year. The shift ...
Gulf’s biggest port Jebel Ali waits for the war to endGulf’s biggest port Jebel Ali waits for the war to end
The Scene Jebel Ali is one of the largest container ports in the world. Driving through the port and free zone last week, I saw a single crane in operation: A jarring scene for those used to the symphony of ships, trucks, and people moving stuff, some bound for the ...
Markey leads incumbent sweep in MassachusettsMarkey leads incumbent sweep in Massachusetts
The News Sen. Ed Markey, D-Mass., decisively won his primary on Tuesday, defeating Rep. Seth Moulton on a bad night for insurgent Democratic candidates. Markey, who turned 80 this summer, defeated Moulton across the state, losing to the 47-year-old only in parts of Moulton’s northeast congressional district. “Challenging the establishment ...
Beijing warns automakers against overseas price warsBeijing warns automakers against overseas price wars
China’s regulators warned the country’s automakers on Tuesday not to launch aggressive pricing strategies in overseas markets, as the sector’s blistering global expansion raises fears of so-called involution. Calling for “rational and orderly” expansion, Beijing hopes to avoid the price war dynamics that have eroded profits among its domestic e-commerce ...