Who created the alphabet? A historian describes the millennia-long story of the ABCs
There are plenty of ways we could structure the alphabet; the computer keyboard in front of me provides one alternative. Our ABCs, known as the Latin alphabet, are the result of millions of people over thousands of years slowly working together and ultimately agreeing on which letters to use and under what circumstances. But many letters change sound completely when they appear in a different language. The Romans spread their language, Latin, and its alphabet all over modern Europe, the Near East and North Africa. The earliest example of the Latin alphabet in use is called the duenos inscription and comes from the sixth century BCE, 2,500 years ago.
Source:The North Africa Journal
January 29, 2024 21:07 UTC
Industry Insights: Top Manufacturing Trends to Watch in 2024 - IT News Africa
Predictions for 2024 also paint a bleak picture, urging modern manufacturers to scrutinize processes, supply chains, and automation levels to thrive in this demanding environment. Securing AI Opportunities:Generative AI, gaining traction since 2023, is expected to integrate into business systems and processes, particularly in supply chain management. ERP technologies support predictive maintenance by simplifying data collection and analysis, aiding in developing maintenance plans, reducing downtime, and enhancing operational efficiency. Digital Supply Chain Efficiency:In 2024, manufacturers will leverage digital platforms, like ERP systems, to enhance supply chain resilience, visibility, and agility. Digital supply chain solutions provide a unified view of operations, streamlining and automating activities without increasing operating costs.
Source:The North Africa Journal
January 29, 2024 20:36 UTC
MENA Film Festival celebrates stories from the Middle East and North Africa
1 of 3 2 of 3Returning for its fifth consecutive year, the MENA (Middle East North Africa) Film Festival in Vancouver provides an engaging platform for movie enthusiasts, local filmmakers, artists, and writers. This year’s festival takes a deep dive into the exploration of MENA bodies through time, encapsulated in the themes of play, pause, rewind, and forward. In addition to a week of screenings, workshops, and panels, the MENA Film Festival offers a $5,000 filmmaking grant each year in collaboration with Movies Move Us, an organization dedicated to film distribution and production for social impact. This year’s winner is a film called HAIR, directed by filmmaker and writer Sara Jade Alfaro-Dehghani. The MENA festival is on now until February 1.
Source:The North Africa Journal
January 29, 2024 20:12 UTC
Red Sea route accounts for 50% country’s exports, 30% of imports
Red Sea route accounts for 50% country’s exports, 30% of importsShare This News Story:NEW DELHI : The impact of the ongoing crisis around the Red Sea shipping route, which accounts for 50 per cent of the country’s exports and 30 per cent of imports last fiscal, will vary depending on the industry, according to a report. Domestic companies use the Red Sea route through the Suez Canal to trade with Europe, North America, North Africa and part of the Middle East. Last fiscal, these regions accounted for 50 per cent of the country’s exports worth Rs 18 lakh crore and 30 per cent of imports worth Rs 17 lakh crore. Increasing attacks on ships sailing in the Red Sea region since November 2023 have persuaded shippers to consider the alternative longer route past the Cape of Good Hope. It is not that the impact of the Red Sea crisis will be negative for all sectors.
Source:The North Africa Journal
January 29, 2024 19:00 UTC
Rates boom and alliance shake-up strengthen objections to HMM sale
HMM came under state control in 2016 after swapping debt for equity to avert bankruptcy. And opponents of the sale say there will, therefore, be less synergy between the flagship carrier and the dry bulk-focused operations of Harim. Harim acquired Pan Ocean, South Korea’s largest dry bulk shipping company, in 2015. It’s highly possible that investment in HMM’s dry bulk fleet will be called off to pre-empt weakened profitability.”There have been concerns that HMM’s dry bulk operations would be consolidated with those of Pan Ocean, which has nearly 80 bulk carriers. Jung Il-hwan, CEO of logistics consultancy Youngone NCS, said: “KDB and KOBC were attempting to sell HMM before its profitability deteriorated.
Source:The North Africa Journal
January 29, 2024 18:13 UTC
Weekly Economic Index: The Junta cuts ties with Ecowas, NIN in the diaspora, and Netflix’s largest Q4 ever
Netflix cracks 260 million subscribersIn its Q4 2023 report, Netflix revealed that it gained 13.12 million new subscribers, reaching 260 million subscribers. The increase was driven by 5.05 million subscribers from the Europe, Middle East, and Africa (EMEA) region. The streaming platform equally saw a 12% rise in revenue in Q4 2023, 6% higher than 2022 and 2% more than expected. Netflix said its 13.12 million paid net additions were its “biggest Q4 ever”, while it had 7.66 million additions in Q4 2022. Therefore, NIMC plans to enrol 148 million Nigerians by June 2024 as part of the Digital Identity for Development (DID4D) project supervised by the World Bank.
Source:The North Africa Journal
January 29, 2024 17:32 UTC
Barcelona, Bilbao host business meetings to bolster investment dynamic between Morocco & Spain – The North Africa Post
Two Business Forums are held this Monday in Barcelona and Tuesday in Bilbao to discuss ways of strengthening the investment dynamic between Morocco and Spain. The economic meetings attest to the shared desire to further strengthen, encourage, and catalyze existing investment opportunities for the business communities of both countries. They also reflect the strength of diplomatic relations and the renewed economic partnership between Morocco and Spain. The program also includes several working meetings with Spanish business leaders in key sectors, including the automotive industry, aeronautics, railways, renewable energies, household appliances, textiles, and pharmaceuticals. The Moroccan delegation will visit Bilbao on Tuesday for talks with members of the Basque Business Confederation (CONFEBASK) on various topics relating to Basque investment in Morocco.
Source:The North Africa Journal
January 29, 2024 16:53 UTC
Italy Pursues Closer Energy Ties With Africa Through $6 Billion Fund
Italy is creating a $5.95 billion (5.5 billion euro) fund to boost its energy ties with Africa and support healthcare and education there in a bid to stem migrant flows from North Africa to Italian shores, Italy’s right-wing Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said on Monday. Energy is one of the five priorities for Italy in Africa, alongside education, healthcare, agriculture, and water resources, Meloni said. Of the initial $6 billion funding for the ‘Mattei plan’, around $3.24 billion (3 billion euros) will come from the Italian climate fund and about $2.7 billion (2.5 billion euros) from resources for development cooperation, the Italian prime minister added. Eni has been particularly active in securing more natural gas supply for Europe from Africa and has fast-tracked projects in Africa to meet Europe’s gas demand in the absence of Russian pipeline deliveries. Early last year, Eni’s chief executive Claudio Descalzi told the Financial Times in an interview that Europe should look to Africa for a “south-north” energy axis that would deliver gas from Africa to the EU.
Source:The North Africa Journal
January 29, 2024 16:37 UTC
The EU Should Do More to Help Armenia Shake Off Russia
Azerbaijan’s military offensive in Nagorno-Karabakh in September cemented Baku’s control over the breakaway region, three decades after it gained autonomy under Armenia’s protection amid the breakup of the Soviet Union. That in turn has created an opportunity for the European Union to forge stronger ties with Armenia and reshape the geopolitical orientation of the South Caucasus. Armenia has diverged from many other post-Soviet countries—such as the Baltic states, Ukraine and Georgia—by maintaining deep ties with Russia rather than seeking to integrate with the EU. As a formal Russian ally under the Moscow-led Collective Security Treaty Organization, or CSTO, Yerevan has long counted on Moscow to guarantee its security. Their robust defense ties include discounted purchases of Russian arms as well as a Russian military base in Gyumri, Armenia’s second-largest city.
Source:The North Africa Journal
January 29, 2024 16:03 UTC
Italian leader Meloni unveils plan to promote Africa development and curb migration at summit
Meloni opened a summit of African leaders on Monday aimed at illustrating Italy's big development plan for the continent that her government hopes will stem migration flows and forge a new relationship between Europe and Africa. Meloni opened a summit of African leaders on Monday aimed at illustrating Italy's big development plan for the continent that her government hopes will stem migration flows and forge a new relationship between Europe and Africa. Meloni opened a summit of African leaders on Monday aimed at illustrating Italy's big development plan for the continent that her government hopes will stem migration flows and forge a new relationship between Europe and Africa. Meloni opened a summit of African leaders on Monday aimed at illustrating Italy's big development plan for the continent that her government hopes will stem migration flows and forge a new relationship between Europe and Africa. Alongside the Mattei Plan, Meloni's government has forged controversial deals with individual countries to try to mitigate the migration burden on Italy.
Source:The North Africa Journal
January 29, 2024 15:47 UTC
Italian PM Meloni's Africa plan swaps energy investment for migration curbs
Among other initiatives, Meloni's plan seeks to swap energy investments for African efforts to curb migration. The so-called Mattei Plan hopes to position Italy as a key bridge between Africa and Europe, funneling energy north in exchange for investment in deals aimed at curbing migrant departures across the Mediterranean Sea. Meloni said the summit had been a success that had produced many areas of potential cooperation, particularly with regards to energy. In a news conference after the summit, Meloni acknowledged that it was important to ensure that work begin on projects that will make a difference on the ground. Von der Leyen described the plan as "complementary" to the European Union's own Africa package, unveiled in 2022 and worth €150 billion.
Source:The North Africa Journal
January 29, 2024 15:46 UTC
Italy-Africa Summit kicks off in Rome with Morocco’s participation – The North Africa Post
Meloni outlined Italy’s cooperative vision with Africa, rooted in the “Mattei Plan,” which she described as an effective and tangible platform for collaboration based on equality. He underlined that Italy as one of the largest investors in Africa, with an investment volume of €24 billion in 2018. President of the AU Commission Moussa Faki Mahamat noted that Africa faces unique challenges in living standards, security, and climate. He commended the “Mattei Plan” as an effective model reflecting Europe’s concrete commitment to assisting Africa. The Italy-Africa Summit marks a pivotal moment in the Italian government’s ongoing efforts, initiated since it took office.
Source:The North Africa Journal
January 29, 2024 15:35 UTC
Israel's ‘Hamas Completely Dismantled’ Lie Exposed | IDF To Bolster North Gaza Deployment, Raids
Israel's ‘Hamas Completely Dismantled’ Lie Exposed | IDF To Bolster North Gaza Deployment, RaidsIsrael is reportedly planning to bolster troop activity in North Gaza in the coming weeks. The decision comes as Hamas is attempting to re-establish its military presence in the region. The move comes after rocket fire emanated from the area on Sunday, Army Radio reports. IDF brigade-level raids are likely on areas where Hamas is attempting to retake Northern redoubts. Watch for more.
Source:The North Africa Journal
January 29, 2024 15:01 UTC
Tesla-beating Chinese EV manufacturer debuts in Rwanda
Electric vehicles (EVs) produced by the world’s largest manufacturer in the sector have been introduced in Rwanda. This applies not only to individual and corporate customers but also to stakeholders including urban public transport networks and government agencies.”Have you read? Tax-driven incentives to bolster East Africa’s e-mobility growthThe United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) has supported Rwanda’s shift to electric vehicles. Rwanda government pushing for expansion of EVsUNEP notes that Rwanda has, in recent years, introduced tax breaks for EV buyers. BYD surges past TeslaIn terms of China’s BYD, it surpassed Tesla last year as the world’s biggest EV manufacturer.
Source:The North Africa Journal
January 29, 2024 14:21 UTC
AfDB and research centres to transform African agriculture and improve food security
With 65% of global uncultivated arable land, the African Development Bank believes that the continent can feed itself and the rest of the world. CGIAR centres are located across African countries and focus on enhancing food and nutrition security, reducing poverty, and improving natural resources and ecosystem services. They also discussed capacity building for country-based national agricultural research services partners, young scientists and extension workers, and private-sector seed growers to produce certified seeds. Following the success of TAAT phases I and II, the African Development Bank President announced that the Bank plans to roll out phase III. The African Development Bank, together with the AfricaRice centre, recently launched the $650 million Regional West Africa Rice Development (REWARD) programme in 15 West African countries.
Source:The North Africa Journal
January 29, 2024 13:59 UTC