Chocolate shortage, brain tapeworm, and viral tote bags.

Adam Rogers
March 14, 2024

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Big Stories

Major cocoa processing plants in Ivory Coast and Ghana have halted or reduced operations because they can’t afford cocoa beans.

Chocolate manufacturers have increased consumer prices due to poor cocoa harvests over the past three years. with a fourth expected. Now, their suppliers are running low on raw cocoa beans.
The global cocoa trade mechanism, which typically involves farmers selling to local dealers who supply processors and traders, has broken down. Shortages have caused increased cash market prices, leaving processors struggling to get beans.
Forecasts predict a big shortage in cocoa production and processing capacity, meaning there won't be enough cocoa for making chocolate. The shortage is expected to drain cocoa supplies to their lowest levels in many years. As a result, chocolate prices might stay high, and it could become harder to find chocolate in stores because there won't be enough to meet the demand.

A 52-year-old American man with worsening migraines was found to have parasitic tapeworm larvae in his brain.

The man hadn’t traveled to high-risk areas but admitted to eating undercooked bacon regularly. Doctors believe this is likely the source of the infection Diagnostic imaging found cystic lesions in his brain, which led to a diagnosis of neurocysticercosis.
Neurocysticercosis is caused by ingesting tapeworm eggs, which hatch and become larvae and sometimes lodge themselves in the brain. Symptoms vary, including epilepsy, headaches, dizziness, and stroke, depending on the location and number of parasites. It’s most prevalent in regions with poor sanitation like Latin America, Asia, and Africa. But, it’s also seen in the US, particularly in states like New York, California, Texas, Oregon, and Illinois.
The man was treated successfully with anti-inflammatory and anti-parasitic medication, including albendazole and praziquantel. However, controversy surrounds treatment options due to inflammation caused by killing the cysts.
Pro tip: Cook your bacon all the way through.

Biden and Trump clinched their party nominations, setting the stage for a rematch in the general election.

Both candidates faced minimal opposition and gained enough delegate support to win their party’s nomination only halfway through the presidential primary calendar. The prospect of a rematch between the two has caused unease in voters headed into the 2024 election.
Trump faces legal challenges, including 91 felony counts in four criminal cases, alongside questions about his policy plans and relationships with dictators like Viktor Orbán. Biden, the oldest president in US history, contends with doubts about his physical and mental fitness, as well as criticism from progressive factions within his party regarding his handling of issues like immigration and the conflict in Gaza.
Some voters are dissatisfied with their choices. They want alternative options within their respective parties but are resigned to the current candidates.

Italian police arrested three Palestinians in central Italy for planning attacks in an unspecified country. The suspects were associated with the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades, deemed a terrorist group by Israel, the EU, and the US. Charged with terrorism-related offenses, including plotting suicide attacks abroad, they face prison terms of up to 15 years. (More)

The House passed a bill aimed at forcing the sale of TikTok by its Chinese owner due to concerns about national security. It must now go to the Senate for further consideration. Lawmakers fear that TikTok's ties to its Chinese parent company, ByteDance, could compromise the privacy of its 150 million American users, as Chinese laws may require companies to share data with the government. (More)

Paul Alexander, a Texas man who spent most of his life in an iron lung due to polio, passed away at 78. Despite his condition, he earned a law degree and gained a large social media following, particularly on TikTok, where he shared his life story. Alexander recently battled COVID-19 and died in a Dallas hospital. (More)

Rats in the New Orleans Police Department headquarters are reportedly eating marijuana from the evidence room, causing them to get high. The building is described as rundown, with cockroach infestations, mold, broken elevators, and non-functional bathrooms. (More)

Dollar Tree reported a surprise fourth-quarter loss and will close nearly 1,000 stores, mainly Family Dollar locations. Family Dollar will spend over $594 million on store closures or rebranding, essentially wiping out holiday season profits. (More)

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