Chocolate prices are on the rise this holiday season, in part because climate change is threatening the cocoa harvest in West Africa, the largest region for cocoa production in the world. For consumers buying chocolate in the U.

March ICE NY cocoa (CCH25) today is up +340 (+3.75%), and March ICE London cocoa #7 (CAH25) is up +105 (+1.38%). Cocoa prices today are moving higher, with Mar NY and London cocoa posting contract highs and Dec London cocoa posting a 4-1/2 month nearest-futures high.

Douglas McIntyre, editor-in-chief at Climate Crisis 24/7, discusses rising cocoa prices driven by climate change impacts in West Africa, where drought and floods have damaged crops. In addition, he highlights the tough choices facing chocolate companies like Hershey as they weigh raising prices or reducing portion sizes to manage higher costs,

A French plan to significantly reduce its military presence in West and central Africa risks backfiring and further diminishing the former colonial power's influence in the region at a time when Russia is gaining ground.

The decision by Chad is another blow to what remained of France’s military influence in the troubled stretch of countries below the Sahara, where Russia’s influence has been growing.

Chad is a key partner in the West's fight against Islamist militants in the West African Sahel region. But prior to the presidential election in May, Chad's authorities ordered the withdrawal of US troops from the country,