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LONDON, United Kingdom (AFP) — British consumer goods group Unilever on Thursday logged a rising net profit in 2021 but warned that soaring inflation would ramp up costs again this year. Profit after tax rose 8.4 percent to six billion euros ($6.9 billion) last year, Unilever said in a statement. The group, which has faced fierce criticism over its recent failed $50-billion bid for the health care unit of drugmaker GlaxoSmithKline, ruled out any […]
by Robbie COREY-BOULET Agence France Presse ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia (AFP) — Nearly 40 percent of people in Ethiopia’s Tigray are suffering “an extreme lack of food” in the face of an extended de-facto blockade of the war-hit region, a UN agency said Friday. The dire assessment published by the World Food Programme (WFP) comes as humanitarian groups are forced to increasingly curtail activities because of fuel and supply shortages, with aid having to be […]
by Anne-Sophie THILL Agence France-Presse LAURIERVILLE, Canada (AFP) – Pancake lovers, fear not. Strong demand for maple syrup after a poor Canadian harvest has created supply-side woes, but Quebec province is tapping its strategic reserves to keep the world awash in the sweet, sticky stuff. Experts are warning the shortages could be further compounded by climate change, which is already being blamed for last spring’s shorter and warmer sugaring season. To avoid shortages, the Quebec […]
by Joseph SCHMID with Clara GUILLARD in Paris SAINT-HILAIRE-DE-BRIOUZE, France (AFP) — It’s a trend — some would say a threat — that touches a pungent symbol of French culinary pride: Sales of camembert, the Normandy speciality that has long graced cheese platters, are set to be eclipsed by an import, Italian mozzarella. The two are not exactly rivals, the first savoured on its own, while the latter is used mainly in salads, pizzas and […]
LONDON, United Kingdom (AFP) — US pizza delivery giant Domino’s unveiled plans Thursday to create 8,000 new jobs in the UK and Ireland after a strong pandemic performance. The group’s British-based division added in a statement that it had thrived despite the ongoing supply chain crunch, high inflation and a challenging labour market. Domino’s noted, however, that supply chain issues and rising wages were starting to impact the business, adding that labour availability and food […]
SEOUL, South Korea (AFP) — North Korea’s most vulnerable are “at risk of starvation” with the economy worsening due to a self-imposed coronavirus blockade, and UN sanctions imposed over the country’s nuclear programmes should be eased, a UN human rights expert said Wednesday. The impoverished nation has been behind a rigid blockade since early last year to protect itself from the pandemic, with the economy suffering and trade with key partner China dwindling to a […]
COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (AFP) — Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa admitted his government is “not delivering” as shortages persist of food, medicines and other essential items because of a dire foreign exchange squeeze. “The people may have a sense of displeasure towards me and the government for not delivering as they expected,” Rajapaksa’s office quoted him as saying on Sunday. “I accept that. Not only me, but all ministers and Members of Parliament should accept […]
by Yelim LEE / Claire LEE SEOUL, South Korea (AFP) — Simple, sweet, and fictionally fatal: the stallholder who makes the traditional South Korean children’s treat featured in the global cultural phenomenon “Squid Game” — and once associated with post-war poverty — has hit a real-life jackpot. The Netflix smash hit series features a group of South Korea’s most marginalised and deeply in debt, who compete in children’s games for the chance of 45.6 billion […]
COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (AFP) — The Sri Lankan government on Friday ended price controls on essential foods in a bid to end black market trading as food shortages worsen amid a foreign currency crisis. The cabinet decided to free prices for milk powder, wheat flour, sugar and liquified petroleum gas hoping it would increase supplies. “Prices could go up by as much as 37 percent across the board, but it is hoped dealers will not […]
ZURICH, Switzerland (AFP) — Nestle is offering plant-based alternatives to eggs and shrimp as the Swiss food giant expands its menu in the growing vegan market, the company said Thursday. Nestle, owner of everything from chocolate to coffee and baby food brands, has for several years been reorganising its activities to focus more on health and wellness. The Swiss company has among other things been making a major push in vegetarian and vegan products. Its […]
LONDON, United Kingdom (AFP) – Britain has signed a deal enabling it to restart production of captured carbon dioxide for three weeks, Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng said Tuesday, after a shortage of the gas had sparked renewed food supply concerns. Two UK fertiliser plants accounting for up to 60 percent of Britain’s CO2 supply — which is vital for the food industry — shut last week due to spiking natural gas costs. But Kwarteng announced […]
COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (AFP) — Sri Lankan government officials on Wednesday raided private warehouses to seize thousands of tonnes of sugar, a day after a state of emergency was declared over food shortages caused by a currency crisis. A military officer put in charge of efforts to bolster food stocks said at least 13,000 tonnes of white and brown sugar were found in the raids. “The objective is to prevent hoarding,” Major General Senarath Niwunhella, […]
