With a record-breaking 30 million tonnes of sugar produced last year, India recently became the world's largest sugar producer, surpassing Brazil. But at what cost? Every year, from September to March, over 1.4 million Indian workers migrate internally, searching for work in sugar cane fields. The labourers are paid a meager €300 to €400 for six months of hard toil, with only one day off per month.

It’s been a whirlwind, but we are proud to announce the release of The Economist’s World Ahead 2023 under an exclusive license. This year’s edition features coverage of Ghana and Nigeria unlike before. The event for the launch took place on April 27th at the Ecobank Pan African Centre (EPAC) in Lagos, Nigeria. Industry leaders and the Lagos State Governor, represented by the Deputy Governor, Dr. Kadri Obafemi Hamzat, were present and participated in panel discussions about how we can improve in Western Africa.

Economy Minister Robert Habeck wants to support German industry for years to come with lower electricity prices. His electricity price cap proposal is intended to ensure that energy-intensive companies remain in Germany.

They may rule the online universe, but how are influencers being regulated in the real world? And what's next for their business models? Kate Moody talks to Quentin Bordage, Founder and CEO of Kolsquare, an influencer marketing platform in France.

2022 was a tumultuous year for crypto. One company fell after another, culminating with the spectacular collapse of the FTX cryptocurrency exchange and the arrest of its founder Sam Bankman-Fried, who is now under investigation for fraud.

The 9th edition of FIMO, Togo's international fashion festival, didn’t open with a series of fashion shows, but instead with a science symposium organised by the University of Lomé. The theme of the discussion: how to pursue ethical fashion production while Africa continues to be the recipient of thousands of tonnes of the rest of the world’s unsold merchandise? And how to make the most of the rich pool of African design talent? We get some insightful answers from designers, fashion students and academics.

Bolanle Okusanya Feyita, MD, LTJ Funerals International talks about her journey into funeral services and being a female undertaker in an industry dominated by men.

The hotel chain Marriott has said bookings at its South African locations have been hit by new Covid-19 travel restrictions, but that they have "not seen a huge number of cancellations as yet". President Cyril Ramaphosa has criticised the travel bans imposed on his country and its neighbours after the Omicron variant was first identified there. Marriott's EMEA (Europe, Middle East and Africa) President, Satya Anand, told FRANCE 24 that the company is hopeful the effects will merely be temporary.

Ghana's smock garment used to be reserved for royal use. These days, a flood of imported yarn has opened the market to near universal use, and the smock has become a Ghanaian clothing icon. Yet the country's collapsed cotton industry has left the financial fortunes of weavers and smock makers hanging by a thread.

From luxury boutiques to royal wedding favours, jute is growing in popularity worldwide as demand for alternatives to plastic soars. At a colonial-era jute mill in India's West Bengal state, hundreds of workers labour in a vast hall covered in fine dust, but the environment-friendly fibre is hanging by a thread in India, the world's biggest producer, despite recent efforts to revive the industry.

Nigeria's foremost highlife musician, Sir Victor Uwaifo passed away a few days ago at the age of 80. GuardianTV takes a look at the life and time of the legendary singer and how he impacted the Nigerian music industry during his time.

Singer Bella Shmurda sat down with The Guardian Life for rapid-fire questions. Enjoy!