US to Withdraw All Troops in Niger by September
The US government has set a timeline of September 15 for the withdrawal of its troops currently stationed in Niger, per a joint statement by the Pentagon and Nigerien defense officials that was published on Sunday. This move comes after months of diplomatic negotiations and rising tensions between the U.S. and Niger’s military junta, which worsened when last month when Niger alleged that US presence is illegal under international law. The withdrawal plan includes the relocation of over 1,000 personnel and the dismantling of military bases. It will also see the expatriation of US weaponry deemed lethal, classified, or hazardous, although some will likely be left behind. It is expected to mark a significant shift in U.S. counterterrorism strategy in the Sahel region, where American forces have been combating extremist groups.
Source:The North Africa Journal
May 21, 2024 14:56 UTC
Europe Complicit in North African Nations’ Inhumane Practice of Dumping Migrants in the Desert
A new report by The Washington Post has revealed that Europe is complicit in the inhumane North African nations’ practice of pushing migrants to the desert. According to the newspaper’s investigation, conducted alongside Lighthouse Reports and other international media houses, the European Union, alongside some individual European countries, finance these inhumane operations that see tens of thousands of migrants detained and subsequently dumped in remote locations, usually desert areas. The investigation revealed that European money were used to train and equip personnel involved in desert dumps and implicated in multiple other human right abuses. The Washington Post report claimed European officers were aware of these practices and have held discussion on them since at least 2019. SOURCE: THE WASHINGTON POSTShare
Source:The North Africa Journal
May 21, 2024 14:48 UTC
India's travel & tourism rank jumps to 39: WEF Index
India's rank on the World Economic Forum's Travel & Tourism Development Index 2024 has risen to 39th place as international tourist arrivals are expected to reach pre-pandemic levels by the end of 2024, according to the World Economic Forum. India has the largest Travel & Tourism sector in South Asia and scores as the Travel & Tourism Development Index’s top lower-middle-income economy, the WEF says. The highest-ranked economies in the 2024 TTDI edition are those of the United States, Spain, Japan, France, Australia, Germany, the United Kingdom, China, Italy and Switzerland. Low to upper-middle-income economies accounted for 52 out of the 71 economies that have improved their TTDI scores since 2019. “Countries such as China, Japan and India are home to some of the largest tourism economies in the world and all three rank near the top for natural, cultural and non-leisure assets,” says the report.
Source:The North Africa Journal
May 21, 2024 14:32 UTC
Rape-accused North West teacher to apply for bail
Reading Time: < 1 minuteA 47-year-old teacher is expected to appear in the Wolmaranstad Magistrate’s Court in the North West today in connection with the rape of two learners aged 12 and 14. The man, who works at a primary school, is expected to apply for bail. The Department of Education in the province says it will not tolerate misconduct among teachers. Department Spokesperson Mphata Molokwane says, “The suspect’s court appearance emanates from his arrest on Thursday last week at Leeudoringstad after the mother and the principal of two minors aged 12 and 14 registered cases at the local police station.”“It is alleged that the teacher has been sexually harassing these learners. So as the Department of Education, we have taken a stand that we will strongly condemn the occurrence and express sadness that the victims were allegedly abused by someone who was supposed to safeguard them.”VIDEO | Police in the North West say crimes such as rape and murder are very difficult to prevent:
Source:The North Africa Journal
May 21, 2024 14:25 UTC
Super apps: What’s in a name?
Nenad: To kick things off, what exactly do people mean when they say ‘super app’, and what’s the appeal of the business model? Nenad: On the question of emerging markets — why is it the case that super apps have taken off better here compared with established markets? Thomas: In emerging markets there are a number of clear dynamics that make the super app model so effective. Super apps also create the infrastructure for services like e-commerce, payments and digital banking where previously it didn’t exist. Nenad: Do you think it’s likely that the super app model will embed itself further in established economies?
Source:The North Africa Journal
May 21, 2024 14:06 UTC
Telecom Egypt partners with Huawei Cloud to host Huawei’s first public cloud in Egypt and Northern Africa
Beyond hosting, Telecom Egypt is leveraging its extensive network and expertise to seamlessly integrate Huawei Cloud solutions with existing infrastructure. About Telecom EgyptTelecom Egypt is the full-service telecom operator in Egypt providing a wide array of telecom services to a diverse customer base. Aside from its mobile operation "WE", Telecom Egypt holds a significant 45% ownership stake in Vodafone Egypt. Telecom Egypt’s shares and GDRs (Ticker: ETEL.CA; TEEG.LN) are traded on the Egyptian Exchange and the London Stock Exchange. Adopting the approach of Everything as a Service, Huawei Cloud is dedicated to building the cloud foundation for an intelligent world.
Source:The North Africa Journal
May 21, 2024 13:59 UTC
Why Europeans should support the International Criminal Court over the Gaza war
The chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) announced on 20 May that he is seeking arrest warrants against the leaders of both Hamas and Israel for war crimes and crimes against humanity. This has huge implications for the war in Gaza, the wider Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and for international justice. It is also the first time that an ICC prosecutor has applied for a warrant against the political leader of a Western ally. How Europeans should respondThe warrant application adds to the list of evidence suggesting both Hamas and Israel have committed violations of international law. If the arrest warrants are confirmed, Israeli prime minister Binyamin Netanyahu and defence minister Yoav Gallant will face arrest if they visit countries that are members of the ICC, including most of Europe.
Source:The North Africa Journal
May 21, 2024 13:56 UTC
Travel & Tourism Development Index 2024
About the Travel & Tourism Development Index 2024 - 1.1 Index overview - 1.2 Data and methodology - 1.3 Economy coverage 2. At a glance: Travel & Tourism Development Index 2021 overall rankings 3. Figure 14: 2024 TTDI scoresClick to enlarge Source: World Economic Forum; UN Tourism; World Travel & Tourism Council. On average, the Americas region underperforms the TTDI mean, with only eight economies scoring above the global mean in 2024. In the coming years, the region’s T&T market is expected to resume its historically high rate of growth.
Source:The North Africa Journal
May 21, 2024 13:40 UTC
Morocco donates fertilizer shipment to small farmers in Guatemala – The North Africa Post
Morocco offered a donation of 200 tons of fertilizers to 10,000 households in Guatemala, where nearly half the labor force depends on agriculture, Morocco’s diplomatic mission said. Guatemalan agriculture minister Maynor Estrada said the donation was consistent with efforts to develop farming and fight poverty in agriculture-dependent areas. Moroccan ambassador to Guatemala Tarik Louajri said the Kingdom is ready to help Guatemala develop its farming sector and the fight against malnutrition. Morocco’s OCP is a major producer of phosphates-based fertilizers and has been cooperating with partners across the globe, offering customized soil nutrients.
Source:The North Africa Journal
May 21, 2024 13:04 UTC
FCI: Global factoring industry sees 3.6% growth in 2023, returns to pre-pandemic stability
Estimated reading time: 3 minutesIn 2023, the World Factoring industry exhibited robust resilience and growth, with a 3.6% increase in volume compared to 2022. Although the growth rate has stabilised compared to recent years’ volatility, it reflects a return to pre-pandemic stability. Over the past two decades, factoring has shown remarkable strength, with a compounded annual growth rate of 8.3%. AfricaAfrica accounts for 1.2% of the global volume at €47 billion, with a growth rate of 13.5%. Middle EastThe Middle East, with 0.3% of the global volume, remained flat, largely due to data collection challenges.
Source:The North Africa Journal
May 21, 2024 13:01 UTC
We finally know how cockroaches conquered the world
If you’ve ever gotten up for a midnight snack and flicked on the kitchen light only to discover an army of shiny brown insects zipping beneath your fridge, then you already know the German cockroach. Despite their name, German cockroaches now inhabit every continent except Antarctica. In fact, scientists consider the species, Blattella germanica, to be the most prevalent of the 4,600 cockroach species on Earth. Which is surprising, given that the animals were basically unknown in Europe until Swedish biologist Carl Linnaeus first described them in 1767. That and the fact that they have no close relatives there, nor does the species exist in the wild.
Source:The North Africa Journal
May 21, 2024 12:36 UTC
Myriota Launches Satellite IoT Hardware Platform- FlexSense
Myriota, the global telecom company specializing in field-generated intelligence, has announced the launch of Myriota FlexSense, the fastest deployable hardware platform for developers aiming to create robust sensor-based solutions. With the capacity for four AA batteries, FlexSense can be configured to operate for over ten years. Seamless operationsCEO for Myriota, Ben Cade, comments, “With FlexSense we redefine the IoT landscape, making it easier than ever before for developers to design and deploy IoT solutions that work anywhere. This testing includes Denmark-based Grundfos, a global company specializing in pump and water solutions, which utilizes Myriota FlexSense ready-to-deploy hardware to implement a robust pump and tank monitoring system. FlexSense stands as the newest partner-enabling solution from Myriota, headquartered in Australia.
Source:The North Africa Journal
May 21, 2024 11:35 UTC
Solis brings cutting edge technology to MENA
Ginlong (Solis) a global leader in photovoltaic (PV) inverter technology, dedicated to providing reliable and innovative solar energy solutions worldwide, proudly announces its participation in Solar & Storage Live MENA, in Cairo Egypt. From 29 to 30 May, the company will showcase its cutting-edge energy storage solutions tailored specifically for the Egyptian market. Whether for residential, commercial, or utility-scale energy needs, Solis offers solutions that seamlessly blend efficiency with eco-friendliness. At Solar & Storage Live MENA, among its array of hybrid inverters, Solis will spotlight the 𝐒𝟔-𝐄𝐇𝟑𝐏(𝟐𝟗.𝟗-𝟓𝟎)𝐊-𝐇, designed specifically for the Commercial & Industrial sector. Visitors to the Solis booth B2 will have the exclusive opportunity to explore the distinctive features of this three-phase high-voltage energy storage inverter, poised to redefine the solar energy landscape.
Source:The North Africa Journal
May 21, 2024 11:33 UTC
Drone pilot can’t offer mapping without North Carolina surveyor’s license, court says
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — A North Carolina board that regulates land surveyors didn’t violate a drone photography pilot’s constitutional rights when it told him to stop advertising and offering aerial map services because he lacked a state license, a federal appeals court ruled on Monday. A state license requires educational and technical experience, which can include examinations and apprenticeships. The North Carolina Board of Examiners for Engineers and Surveyors began investigating his activities in late 2018. And there’s no evidence that the maps that Jones wants to create would constitute “unpopular or dissenting speech,” according to Wynn. And it does so on the theory that such a law somehow does not regulate ‘speech,’” Gedge wrote in an email.
Source:The North Africa Journal
May 21, 2024 11:10 UTC
EU is complicit in dumping migrants in North African desert, says investigative report
According to Lighthouse, the team established that the EU is well aware of the dump operations and sometimes directly involved. Two senior EU sources said it was “impossible” to fully account for the way in which European funding was used. The internal documents obtained by Lighthouse show that EU officials had held internal discussions on some of the abusive practices since at least 2019. Lighthouse estimates that tens of thousands of refugees and migrants are being rounded up across North Africa and dumped in the desert and remote areas. In April 2024, the European Ombudsman decided to continue her inquiry into the EU – Tunisia migration agreement and will likely ask for the same documents that Lighthouse already has disclosed.
Source:The North Africa Journal
May 21, 2024 10:14 UTC