Nigeria's President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has announced a six-month suspension on raw shea exports to boost local processing, job creation, and protect the shea value chain, predominantly benefiting women. This move aims to increase Nigeria's share in the $6.5 billion global shea market, currently capturing less than 1% despite producing nearly 40% of the world's supply. The initiative is part of the Renewed Hope Agenda, focusing on creating value domestically and competing globally. Vice President Kashim Shettima will lead efforts to expand processing capacity and ensure the reform brings lasting prosperity to farmers, women, and the nation.
The Israeli military is calling on Lebanese civilians in southern Lebanon to not drive vehicles in areas south of the Litani River until further notice. "There is intense fighting in southern Lebanon, in which Hezbollah operatives are using the civilian environment and you as a human shield to organize to carry out attacks," Col. Avichay Adraee, the IDF's Arabic-language spokesman, says on X. "For your safety, we ask you to avoid movement in vehicles in the north to the south direction, [south] of the Litani River," he says. "This warning is valid until further notice," Adraee adds.