North India Cold Wave: No Respite Till Jan 29, IMD Issues Red & Orange Alerts In These States
Furthermore, North India is predicted to see cold day to severe cold day conditions for the next two days, with an eventual reduction in intensity. The IMD issued a yellow alert for the districts of Sundergarh, Jharsuguda, Deogarh, Keonjhar, and Angul. According to the IMD, cold day to severe cold day conditions are expected to prevail in various locations from January 27 to 30, with a focus on Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. Isolated areas in West Rajasthan are also expected to encounter these extreme cold weather from January 27 to 28. Furthermore, isolated pockets in Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, East Rajasthan, and Uttarakhand are expected to experience chilly day weather on January 27.
Source:The North Africa Journal
January 27, 2024 03:41 UTC
US, UK impose sanctions on 4 Houthi leaders, Red Sea attacks continue
The United States, jointly with the United Kingdom, imposed sanctions on four military officials of Ansarullah, commonly known as the Houthis, who have supported the Houthis’ recent attacks in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. The Houthis’ terrorist attacks on merchant vessels and their civilian crews in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden have disrupted international supply chains and infringed on navigational rights and freedoms, says a statement from the U.S. Department of State. "The United States is committed to safeguarding international commercial trade and taking action alongside our allies and partners to safeguard the safety of these critical waterways." Those sanctioned were Houthi Defence Minister Mohamed Nasser al-Atifi, Commander of Houthi Naval Forces Muhammad Fadl Abd Al-Nabi, coastal defence forces chief Muhammad Ali al-Qadiri and Muhammed Ahmad al-Talibi, who the two governments described as the Houthi forces' director of procurement, Reuters reported. Freight rates continue to rallyDrewry’s World Container Index increased five percent to $3,964 per 40ft container for the week to January 25, 2024.
Source:The North Africa Journal
January 27, 2024 01:17 UTC
Galp finds deeper lying oil with Mopane well offshore Namibia
Offshore staffLISBON, Portugal — Galp Energia’s Mopane 1-X discovery well in Block PEL83 offshore Namibia has proven more oil in a deeper target. AVO-2, which underwent coring and logging, delivered a substantial light oil in good-quality reservoir-bearing sands. The rig will likely now transfer to the Mopane-2X appraisal well location to assess the extent of the discoveries, before returning to Mopane-1X to perform a DST. PEL83 is north of Shell’s earlier Graff-1, La Rona-1 and Jonker-1 oil finds, and north and west of TotalEnergies’ reportedly giant oil discovery at Venus-1.
Source:The North Africa Journal
January 26, 2024 22:43 UTC
Israel braces for World Court ruling, focuses attack on south Gaza
The Israeli military said on Friday it was engaged in “intensive battles in the heart of Khan Younis”, with forces striking dozens of Hamas fighters and infrastructure from the air and ground. It said forces also fired at Hamas targets in northern Gaza and along the Gaza coastline. Residents said gun battles continued overnight, with Israeli forces blowing up buildings and houses in the western part of the city.
Source:The North Africa Journal
January 26, 2024 22:27 UTC
Israel in Paralysis
Over three months into the Israel-Gaza war, Israel has neither a clear path to victory nor a feasible exit strategy. Operations in the south of Gaza are likely to follow suit, even if for now Israel has intensified pressure in Khan Younis. Yet none of these essential decisions have been taken, a reflection of the division and disarray in Israel’s war cabinet. Open dissent by the army and criticism of the political echelon is virtually unheard of in Israel. The Israeli military and security establishment, which was humiliated on 7 October, remains intent on redeeming its reputation.
Source:The North Africa Journal
January 26, 2024 20:44 UTC
Cleary Gottlieb Shortlisted for Chambers Africa 2024 Dispute Resolution Law Firm of the Year
Cleary Gottlieb was shortlisted and selected as a finalist for Africa-Wide Dispute Resolution Law Firm of the Year at the Chambers Africa Awards 2024. The awards reflect “a law firm’s pre-eminence in key jurisdictions in the region,” as well as “notable achievements over the past 12 months including outstanding work, impressive strategic growth and excellence in client service.”To learn more, click here.
Source:The North Africa Journal
January 26, 2024 18:48 UTC
South Africa: Premier Bushy Maape pays courtesy visit to Ambassador Darkey Ephraim Africa in Thailand
Yesterday, 25 January, the Premier of North West, Kaobitsa Bushy Maape paid a courtesy visit to the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of South Africa in Thailand, H.E. Premier Maape is in Thailand for medical assessment. They agreed on the need to identify trade and investment opportunities in Thailand for the North West Province. On his part, Ambassador Africa acknowledged Premier Maape’s desire to mobilise trade and investment for his Province. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of North West Office of the Premier, Republic of South Africa.
Source:The North Africa Journal
January 26, 2024 18:44 UTC
Mauritania: Over $289 million in financing to develop solar power generation and transmission and accelerate energy transition
The medium- and long-term objectives are to boost solar energy production and provide universal access to electricity in both countries. This financing is the largest ever granted by the African Development Bank to Mauritania. The second project, RIMDIR, is a $16 million grant from the Sustainable Energy Fund for Africa (SEFA) and concerns rural electrification for 40 localities in south-eastern Mauritania. The African Development Bank has been active in Mauritania for over fifty years in various strategic development sectors, including agriculture, governance, water and sanitation, energy, mining, private sector, transport and social. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Development Bank Group (AfDB).
Source:The North Africa Journal
January 26, 2024 18:38 UTC
Proteas out to make history with first win over Aussies
Australia are the only team the Proteas have never recorded a win against, with a tied ODI in Coffs Harbour in 2016 the closest they have come in the 27 years since the teams first met. But opportunities have also been scant: Australia and South Africa have only played 22 times across the white-ball formats, and never in Tests. 00:55 Play video Perry eager to take India momentum into Proteas series"It'll be nice to have an extended run against the Aussies," Wolvaardt told reporters in Canberra on Friday. South Africa’s tour started with a final-over defeat to the Governor-General’s XI in a warm-up match at North Sydney Oval. "We're playing two ODIs there at North Sydney Oval, so conditions wise, it was perfect (preparation)," she said.
Source:The North Africa Journal
January 26, 2024 17:49 UTC
MENA Digest: DXWand, Crysp Farms, Karty, Crealo secure funding
MENA Digest: DXWand, Crysp Farms, Karty, Crealo secure fundingCredit: 123RF.comEgyptian artificial intelligence startup DXWand led dealmaking in the Middle East and North Africa region this week. Dubai-based farming solutions provider Crysp Farms secured pre-Series A funding while Qatari fintech Karty and Morocco’s copyrights management platform Crealo raised seed funding. DXWandAdvertisementDXWand secured a $4 million Series A funding led by Shorooq Partners and Algebra Ventures to accelerate regional and product expansion. AdvertisementCrysp FarmsDubai-based agri startup Crysp Farms raised $2.25 million in a pre-Series A round of funding led by Gate Capital to facilitate regional expansion. KartyThree-year-old fintech startup Karty raised $2 million funding in a seed round from local investors to facilitate the official launch of the product.
Source:The North Africa Journal
January 26, 2024 16:40 UTC
Middle East, North Africa apparel unite to drive circular economy
Key topics discussed included circular economic models, exploration of the latest technologies, and issues related to carbon reduction and life cycle assessments in circular textile practices. Participants delved into international regulations, ongoing research and development scenarios, and the technical intricacies of textile circularity. The workshop aimed to raise awareness among academic institutions of their key role in the textile and apparel ecosystem. He noted that a circular economy implies “regionally logistically small circles close to the consumer” with the MENA (Middle East and North Africa) region well-positioned to develop existing and additional business, particularly considering Europe’s significant market presence with new legislation. Phase II of GTEX/MENATEX is committed to catalysing change by collaborating with businesses and the institutional ecosystem of partner countries.
Source:The North Africa Journal
January 26, 2024 16:37 UTC
Daily Review: Washington’s Counterproductive Africa Policy
Biden himself, however, has yet to visit Africa as president, despite a promise that he would do so in 2023. But despite the symbolic progress of this engagement, the substance of Washington’s policy toward Africa remains problematic. That’s largely because the White House’s motivations for engaging with African countries are clearly based on competition with China, even as U.S. officials have attempted to avoid mentioning Beijing explicitly during visits. It doesn’t help that Washington continues to repeat previous policy mistakes in Africa. To be sure, there has undoubtedly been progress in U.S. Africa policy under the Biden administration.
Source:The North Africa Journal
January 26, 2024 16:37 UTC
African Development Bank, Attijariwafa Bank Europe sign €100 million risk-sharing agreement to unlock private sector potential to drive African trade
The African Development Bank (www.AfDB.org) and Attijariwafa bank Europe, European subsidiary of the Attijariwafa bank group, have signed a €100 million risk-sharing agreement to strengthen businesses and trade across Africa. The pact is expected to catalyse nearly €500 million worth of trade for companies operating in more than twenty African countries. We are creating new opportunities for all those who undertake and project themselves in Africa”, said Mohamed El Azizi, African Development Bank Director General for North Africa. Media Contact:Department of Communication and External Relationsmedia@afdb.orgAbout the African Development Bank Group:The African Development Bank Group (AfDB) is Africa’s premier development finance institution. It comprises three distinct entities: the African Development Bank (AfDB), the African Development Fund (ADF) and the Nigeria Trust Fund (NTF).
Source:The North Africa Journal
January 26, 2024 16:25 UTC
Salafi-Jihadi Movement Update Special Edition: Blinken Visits West Africa as Former Sahelian Counterterrorism Partners Continue to Slide into Russia and Iran’s Orbit
[2] The new Sahelian juntas have expanded economic and military relationships with each other, Iran, and Russia. [14]The Sahelian juntas have also turned to Iran and Russia for economic development and cooperation to alleviate the effects of Western and African sanctions. [18]Iran and Russia see North Africa and the Sahel as a means to advance their strategic aims of destabilizing Europe. The partnerships undermine Western efforts to economically isolate Iran, Russia, and other unfriendly authoritarian states by helping all countries mitigate sanctions. Stronger Salafi-jihadi insurgencies in Burkina Faso and Niger will amplify pressure on vital US counterterrorism and economic partners in littoral West Africa.
Source:The North Africa Journal
January 26, 2024 15:11 UTC
Court order: Why Europeans should support the ICJ’s decision on South Africa’s genocide case against Israel
The International Court of Justice (ICJ) has announced provisional measures in the genocide case brought by South Africa against Israel over its military campaign in Gaza. It also ordered Israel to report to the court within a month on the implementation of these orders. Europe’s responseEuropean countries have different views about South Africa’s genocide case, as they do of Israel’s military campaign more broadly, but it is essential that they now unite to fully support the ICJ’s decision and demand the implementation of the measures it imposes. The genocide case will take years to resolve. Finally, the ICJ’s case has attracted enormous attention around the world.
Source:The North Africa Journal
January 26, 2024 15:04 UTC