Ivory Coast

Faithful descend on Portugal’s Fatima to pray for peace as wars rage

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Faithful descend on Portugal’s Fatima to pray for peace as wars rage

Tens of thousands of faithful prayed for peace at Portugal’s Fatima shrine amid wars in Ukraine, Gaza, and other places. The shrine marks the site of reported visions of the Virgin Mary over 100 years ago. The Roman Catholic Church believes she gave three messages to three Portuguese children in 1917. Pope Francis made two of the children saints in 2017. Some pilgrims brought Ukrainian flags in support following Russia’s invasion in February 2022.

EU will not delay deforestation law, environment chief says on Ivory Coast visit

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EU will not delay deforestation law, environment chief says on Ivory Coast visit

The European Union is not planning to delay a new law cracking down on commodities linked to deforestation, set to come into force at the end of 2024. The law will require companies to prove their goods were not grown on deforested land. Some EU countries requested a delay, but the Commissioner stated that producers and governments have had nearly two years to prepare. Ivory Coast has launched a national sustainable cocoa strategy to comply with the EU requirements, with the Commissioner stating they are well-prepared. The EU will not fully cover the costs of compliance, but has launched various support programs and a reforestation loan for Ivory Coast.