Hijab, Internet Top Issues in Iran's Presidential Debate
The third round of Iran's presidential debates focused on cultural issues, with the government's treatment of women and internet restrictions being the main points of contention. Candidates took turns discussing the brutal crackdown on women defying the mandatory hijab, despite their own roles in intensifying the enforcement. Internet restrictions were also a topic of debate. Even Masoud Pezeshkian, the reformist-backed candidate, defended the government's "intervention" in internet access, justifying shutdowns during national crises. Pezeshkian claimed that all countries intervene in internet access, a frequently repeated but inaccurate defense by Iranian officials.
Source:The North Africa Journal
June 22, 2024 10:16 UTC
West Indies open up three-way tussle for semifinal spot
T20 WORLD CUP 2024 SCENARIOSWest Indies open up three-way tussle for semifinal spotby Deepu Narayanan • Last updated onWest Indies chased down United States' 128 in 10.5 overs © AFPWest Indies' massive win over USA has opened up the group with many possibilities. South AfricaDespite remaining unbeaten throughout the tournament, South Africa could still face the axe if they lose to West Indies in the final Super 8 match. If both teams win, all three of South Africa, West Indies, and England will be tied on four points each. If England surpass South Africa's NRR in the first of the two matches in the group, the match between South Africa and West Indies will be a straight shootout. If both lose their respective games, all three of West Indies, England and USA will be tied on two points each and NRR comes to the picture.
Source:The North Africa Journal
June 22, 2024 09:26 UTC
North Carolina lawmakers appeal judge’s decision blocking abortion-pill restrictions
GREENSBORO, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina Republican legislative leaders are appealing portions of a federal judge’s order this month that blocked several state laws that restrict how abortion pills can be dispensed, including the requirement that only physicians can provide the drugs to patients. Lawyers for Senate leader Phil Berger and House Speaker Tim Moore filed a notice Thursday to seek a review by the 4th U.S. U.S. District Judge Catherine Eagles declared June 3 that the provisions were preempted by federal law and that prosecutors and health and medical officials, among others, couldn’t enforce them. Eagles declared that the provisions were in conflict with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s authority given by Congress to ensure the safe use and distribution of higher-risk drugs. They include requiring in-person consultation 72 hours in advance, an in-person examination and an ultrasound before obtaining a prescription.
Source:The North Africa Journal
June 22, 2024 08:01 UTC
Study assesses reuse of North Sea structures for hydrogen production
Offshore staffABERDEEN, UK — Apollo has completed a DEFINE study for the Net Zero Technology Centre for the Hydrogen Offshore Production Project (HOP2). The aim is to develop large-scale offshore green hydrogen production through repurposing oil and gas infrastructure in the UK North Sea and to investigate potential construction of new offshore facilities. Apollo’s team focused on reuse of existing offshore structures while maintaining safety and operational efficiency. Main considerations included safety, efficiency and structural integrity for the hydrogen production process, encompassing water treatment, electrolysis and compression. The study recommended pursuing repurposing of existing assets while also stressing the importance of collaboration with suppliers to develop electrolyser designs suitable for offshore application.
Source:The North Africa Journal
June 22, 2024 06:50 UTC
The resilient mallard is widespread
While the mallard might seem common to us, in several ways it can be considered special among waterfowl. They are the most widespread duck in the world, naturally occurring in North and Central America, Eurasia and North Africa. They have been introduced in such places as Australia, New Zealand, Hawaii, several South America countries and in South Africa. While a handful of other species — northern pintail, gadwall, northern shoveler — also can be found across the northern hemisphere, none boast the numbers and reach of the mallard population, according to several online sources. Still, mallard numbers have remained relatively steady from 1966 to 2019, according to the North American Breeding Bird Survey.
Source:The North Africa Journal
June 22, 2024 06:38 UTC
Norway awards four further North Sea CO2 storage licenses
Offshore staffOSLO, Norway — The Norwegian Energy Ministry has awarded six companies exploration licenses to store CO 2 in four areas in the North Sea. The successful bidders are Aker BP, Equinor, Lime Petroleum, OMV (Norge), PGNiG Upstream Norway and Vår Energi. The company’s Smeaheia storage license, awarded in 2022, is the anchor for this pipeline development, with Albondigas and Kinno to provide additional storage opportunities. "Gaining access to more CO 2 storage capacity aligns well with our ambition of having 30-50 MMt tons of CO 2 transport and storage capacity per year by 2035," Tveit said. Aker BP and PGNiG Upstream Norway were jointly awarded the Atlas CO 2 storage license in the North Sea, close to Aker BP-operated Yggdrasil Field development.
Source:The North Africa Journal
June 22, 2024 06:30 UTC
Learning to Live With a Nuclear North Korea
Yet policymakers who expect talks to fail nevertheless commonly advocate maintaining and increasing pressure on North Korea. North Korea has ignored Biden administration’s efforts to engage in the most basic diplomacy while pouring obloquy over both the United States and South Korea. … Prolonged diplomacy may give North Korea the time it needs to build nuclear weapons. One is that it is simply unacceptable for North Korea to have nuclear weapons, as successive U.S. administrations, including the current one, have declared. In demanding full denuclearization, successive administrations have encouraged North Korea to become a serious nuclear power.
Source:The North Africa Journal
June 22, 2024 03:12 UTC
Ethiopian Airlines Offers Alternative Route to South Africa from Atlanta
It is an African-owned alternative to reach the popular destinations of Johannesburg and Cape Town,” Mr. Mekonnen says. Ethiopian Airlines’ cargo service facilitates significant trade between Ethiopia and South Africa. For business or tourism, passengers find that Ethiopian Airlines offers a “gateway to Africa,” Mr. Mekonnen asserts. Global Atlanta Publisher Trevor Williams will board the Ethiopian Airlines flight to Addis Ababa and continue on to Johannesburg this month. For more information and to book a flight, visit Ethiopian Airlines.
Source:The North Africa Journal
June 22, 2024 03:11 UTC
How Africa’s War on Disinformation Can Save Democracies Everywhere
How much more chaos and murder would ensue if doctored images and deepfakes were proliferating on social media rather than radio, and radicalizing even more of the public? Low levels of digital literacy, fragile politics, and limited online safety systems render the continent ripe for hate speech and violence. Adversarial AI blows up this paradigm by allowing attackers to side-step safety systems based on content,” Haugen told Foreign Policy. As the tools of disinformation grow more sophisticated, old safety systems are becoming defunct. “Investors need to understand that allowing social media companies to continue to operate without oversight places systemic risk across their portfolios.
Source:The North Africa Journal
June 22, 2024 02:40 UTC
Doubts over £1bn plan to electrify north Wales mainline
Doubts over £1bn plan to electrify north Wales mainline1 day ago By Gareth Lewis , Political editor, BBC Wales news ShareGetty Images Rishi Sunak was speaking earlier at the Welsh Conservatives manifesto launchThere are doubts over the £1bn plan to electrify the north Wales mainline because it has not had funding agreed or an official go ahead from the UK government. BBC Wales has also seen a copy of a letter from Network Rail to Alun Davies, the Labour Senedd member for Blaenau Gwent. "Following the Network North announcement in October, we have no received any funding nor been formally remitted to carry out any development work". However he did say Network Rail had begun to "explore" its early thinking, produced a "well-received position paper which outlined our thoughts". Responding to a question from BBC Wales over why a remit letter had not been sent, Mr Sunak said: "We're really excited to deliver the north Wales electrification.
Source:The North Africa Journal
June 22, 2024 00:24 UTC
UN agency: Foreign investment in Africa drops; energy sector receives biggest deals
Africa became less attractive to foreign investors last year and finance deals declined by 50 percent to $64 billion, according to a new report. The World Investment Report, released Thursday by the U.N. Trade and Development, said foreign investment remains subdued by the global economic slowdown and rising geopolitical tensions. On the continent, central African countries recorded the largest drop in foreign investment, 17 percent, and West Africa recorded the lowest dip, 1 percent. Samuel Nyandemo, economics lecturer at the University of Nairobi, said the behavior of some African governments is turning away investors. The fall of foreign direct investment in Africa is blamed on insecurity in some African countries, the weakening of local currencies, a harsh business environment, corruption and political uncertainty.
Source:The North Africa Journal
June 21, 2024 23:44 UTC
South Africa: Planned water maintenance to affect water supply in cities in Gauteng, Mpumalanga, North West Provinces, June 22-July 29
Rand Water officials have announced water supply disruptions are likely in cities across Gauteng, Mpumalanga, and North West provinces through at least late July during planned water infrastructure maintenance from June 22-July 29. However, low water levels and pressure should be expected in the impacted areas and water tanks and trucks will be dispatched to mitigate the impact on communities. The maintenance affects systems that service large urban areas, including Ekurhuleni (East Rand), Govan Mbeki, Johannesburg, Lesedi, Madibeng, Mogale City, Merafong City, Pretoria (Tshwane), Rand West City, Rustenburg, Thembisile Hani and Victor Khanye municipalities. Business disruptions are possible, especially for companies that rely on large quantities of municipal water. Spontaneous protests are possible in areas affected by water shortages, especially in lower-income areas.
Source:The North Africa Journal
June 21, 2024 23:29 UTC
PRASA CEO gets top job at SADC rail association
PRASA CEO Hishaam Emeran has been elected as President of the Southern African Railways Association (SARA), a regional association of railways in the SADC region. The CEO of Eswatini Railways, Nixon Dlamini, was elected as SARA vice-president. Dlamini was appointed as Chief Executive Officer of Eswatini Railways in December 2019. He previously worked at Eswatini Railways as a Chief Civil Engineer from October 1997 to August 2001, before moving into the private sector. Prior to joining Eswatini Railways as CEO, Dlamini was with 2N Services (PTY) LTD as a lead consultant based in the UK.
Source:The North Africa Journal
June 21, 2024 21:58 UTC
New Lagos state fund pledges $660k to local startups
The Lagos State Science, Research & Innovation Council (LASRIC) has been endowed with NGN1 billion (US$660,000) to back local tech startups. The new LASRIC fund will foster innovation and research, and boost Lagos’s reputation as the home to many promising early-stage and unicorn startups. Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu said the LASRIC Council had been convened with a “stellar team”, and a renewed commitment to enhancing the state’s educational capacity. “We firmly believe that the evaluation needed for this economy will require significant investment in science, innovation, and technology. Therefore, at the reconstruction of this body today, I want to emphasise the key areas that we should focus on,” he said.
Source:The North Africa Journal
June 21, 2024 21:05 UTC
Russia-North Korea pact could dent China's influence, but Beijing still holds sway over both
BEIJING — With no obvious options, China appears to be keeping its distance as Russia and North Korea move closer to each other with a new defense pact that could tilt the balance of power among the three authoritarian states. Experts say China’s leaders are likely fretting over a potential loss of influence over North Korea after its leader Kim Jong Un and Russian President Vladimir Putin signed the deal this week, and how that could increase instability on the Korean Peninsula. We do not have information on the relevant matter,” he said, referring to North Korea by the initials for its official name, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. “If China is indeed concerned, it has leverage in both Russia and North Korea and it could probably try to put some limitations to that relationship,” he said. AdvertisementThat and other developments have raised alarms in the U.S. that Beijing, now the world’s second-largest economy, could challenge the U.S.-led world order by aligning itself with countries such as Russia, North Korea and Iran.
Source:The North Africa Journal
June 21, 2024 19:01 UTC