1. Cold-pressed Extreme drought last year cut Germany’s potato crop, Europe’s largest, by 30%. Now Italy’s olive harvest has been mashed 57% as result of climate change, and the country might have to import olive oil by April. The worst olive crop in 25 years sparked protests by thousands of Italian farmers wearing gilet arancioni — orange vests — in Rome. Reports say olive trees across the Mediterranean have been hit by freak events that mirror climate change predictions — erratic rainfall, early spring frosts, strong winds and summer droughts. Italy’s Coldiretti farmers’ union estimates that the cost of the olive oil collapse this year has already reached €1bn. 2. Is no one clean? Three high-profile politicians have resigned from Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s government after accusations that he and top aides tried to shield SNC-Lavalin, one of the world’s largest engineering companies, from a corruption trial involving $36m in bribes paid to Libyan officials when Muamm...

Subscribe now to unlock this article.

Support BusinessLIVE’s award-winning journalism for R129 per month (digital access only).

There’s never been a more important time to support independent journalism in SA. Our subscription packages now offer an ad-free experience for readers.

Cancel anytime.

Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.

Speech Bubbles

Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.