Cocoa Value Addition Push: Nigeria’s Tinubu used the Cocoa Value Addition Summit to argue for a West African cocoa “bean to brand” alliance with Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana, aiming to keep more value in farming communities instead of export-only profits. Cocoa Supply & Health Risks: New forecasts warn Ivory Coast’s 2026/27 cocoa crop could fall by 10%+ as heavy rains, disease pressure, and weak crop treatment threaten yields—while farmers say more sun is still needed to protect flowers and pods. EU Cocoa Innovation: The EU backed Coco-AI with €5.5M to help grow cell-based cocoa ingredients using plant cell culture and AI, targeting more resilient supply chains. Child Health Alarm: UNICEF reports widespread pesticide exposure among children worldwide, estimating hundreds of millions may be exposed and linking long-term exposure to serious health harms. ARC Climate Resilience: African Risk Capacity appointed David Maslo CEO to expand disaster risk financing and insurance across Africa, including flood coverage. Travel Health Measure: The US imposed temporary flight restrictions on Americans recently in the DRC amid Ebola-related precautions. Visa Access Update: India published a 2026 e-Visa list including Côte d’Ivoire, easing online medical, tourism, and business travel.