Morocco, France hold new rounds of talks on security cooperation – The North Africa Post
Head of Morocco’s National Security and Territorial Surveillance Abdellatif Hammouchi held two working sessions in Rabat with France’s Director-General of Internal Security, Nicolas Lerner, who was on a working visit to the Kingdom. They also examined operational coordination mechanisms related to security issues of common interest, a statement by the General Directorate of Territorial Surveillance (DGST) said. These initiatives are founded on mutual trust and shared interests, the press release pointed out. The meeting with the Director General of the French National Police is part of a series of bilateral and multilateral meetings led by the Director General Morocco’s National Security and Territorial Surveillance. The goal is to fortify security collaboration and coordination with various regional and international partners and organizations involved in law enforcement, said the press release.
Source:The North Africa Journal
December 16, 2023 15:58 UTC
This Christmas Season, See One of the Oldest Icons of the Virgin Mother and Child in Met Exhibit
This Christmas season, New York City’s Metropolitan Museum of Art, commonly known as “the Met,” is displaying one of the oldest Madonna and Christ Child icons in existence along with other pieces of early Christian art in its “Africa & Byzantium” exhibit. Credit: Photo courtesy of The MetNot all the pieces on display at the Met’s “Africa & Byzantium” exhibit are overtly religious or Christian. Icon with the Virgin and Child, saints, angels, and the hand of God, one of the oldest icons of the Blessed Virgin and Christ Child in existence, sixth century. Credit: Photo courtesy of The MetAccording to the Met, the depiction of the Virgin and Child is one of the oldest surviving icons in the world. “Africa & Byzantium builds upon the long legacy of the Met’s award-winning Byzantine exhibitions,” Achi said in the November press release.
Source:The North Africa Journal
December 16, 2023 13:40 UTC
Singapore Tourism appoints Markus Tan as Regional Director
The Singapore Tourism Board has appointed Markus Tan as the Regional Director for India, Middle East, South Asia, and Africa (IMESA), effective January 1, 2024. In his new role, based in Mumbai, Tan will spearhead STB’s initiatives in promoting Leisure and Business Travel & Meetings, Incentives, Conventions, and Exhibitions (BTMICE) in the IMESA region. From 2015 to 2022, he was based in Tokyo, Japan, as the Regional Director for North Asia, overseeing STB operations in Japan and the Republic of Korea. Tan will be taking over from the current Regional Director, GB Srithar. Speaking on the leadership handover, Srithar said, “I am thrilled to pass on the baton to Markus to lead Singapore’s tourism business across the IMESA region.
Source:The North Africa Journal
December 16, 2023 12:34 UTC
Departing North Carolina Auditor Beth Wood pleads guilty to misusing state vehicle, gets probation
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — On her last day on the job, North Carolina State Auditor Beth Wood pleaded guilty Friday to two misdemeanors for misusing a state-issued vehicle for personal activities. Wake County Superior Court Judge Paul Ridgeway sentenced Wood to 12 months of unsupervised probation on the counts, news outlets reported. Wake District Attorney Lorrin Freeman said that Wood had paid $1,064 in restitution as part of a plea agreement. Wood attorney Roger Smith Jr. said Friday that she accepted responsibility for driving her state car for personal use. An apologetic Wood pleaded guilty in March to misdemeanor hit-and-run involving the crash and paid fines and court costs.
Source:The North Africa Journal
December 16, 2023 04:44 UTC
Moroccan-Spanish ties, a diplomatic success story – The North Africa Post
Relations between Morocco and Spain have never been stronger, offering an example of a success story of cooperation between two neighbours working hand on hand including on controversial issues. Both ministers welcomed the momentum in bilateral trade. Spain is Morocco’s largest trading partner while Morocco is the third largest trading partner for Spain outside the EU, right after the US and the UK. Bilateral trade totaled 20 billion euros last year and is set to break new records as businessmen from the two countries reap the benefits of improved diplomatic ties. Both ministers said the working group in charge is regularly meeting to find a mutually acceptable solution.
Source:The North Africa Journal
December 16, 2023 03:45 UTC
Best Times To Visit South Africa, According To Locals
According to Mandy, the quietest times to travel in South Africa are October, November, April, and May — the country as a whole receives fewer visitors during these months. One disclaimer: Because South Africa is so large, with lots of geographical diversity, there are plenty of climate quirks as you traverse different regions. Book your stay at Moditlo River Lodge via Booking.comBook your stay at Moditlo River Lodge via Agoda.comBest time to visit South Africa for a beach holidayThere’s no question that summer in South Africa (December to February) is the best time to sunbathe on one of the many spectacular beaches that wrap its long, 1,770-mile (2848.5 km) coastline. The Cape Town Art Fair and Cape Town International Jazz Festival, which both occur each February, are great draws. Worst time to visit South AfricaSouth Africa is one of those places that holds its appeal all year long.
Source:The North Africa Journal
December 16, 2023 03:20 UTC
Albania returns 20 stolen icons to neighboring North Macedonia
Share Comment on this story Comment Add to your saved stories SaveTIRANA, Albania — Albania on Friday returned 20 icons to neighboring North Macedonia that were stolen a decade ago, Albania’s Culture Ministry said. Later, the cargo arrived at the National Museum in North Macedonia’s capital, Skopje, where they were unpacked and briefly presented to the public. The icons, frescoes and other pieces were taken from churches and cultural centers in southeastern Albania and in the neighboring North Macedonia. Both Albania and North Macedonia have launched full membership negotiations with the European Union. ___Associated Press writer Konstantin Testorides in Skopje, North Macedonia, contributed to this report.
Source:The North Africa Journal
December 16, 2023 03:15 UTC
AM Best Affirms Credit Ratings of Arab War Risks Insurance Syndicate
LONDON, December 15, 2023--(BUSINESS WIRE)--AM Best has affirmed the Financial Strength Rating of B++ (Good) and the Long-Term Issuer Credit Rating of "bbb+" (Good) of Arab War Risks Insurance Syndicate (AWRIS) (Bahrain). The outlook of these Credit Ratings (ratings) is stable. For additional information regarding the use and limitations of Credit Rating opinions, please view Guide to Best’s Credit Ratings. For information on the proper use of Best’s Credit Ratings, Best’s Performance Assessments, Best’s Preliminary Credit Assessments and AM Best press releases, please view Guide to Proper Use of Best’s Ratings & Assessments. AM Best is a global credit rating agency, news publisher and data analytics provider specialising in the insurance industry.
Source:The North Africa Journal
December 16, 2023 01:41 UTC
Multigate expands remittance operations in East Africa
from MARIA MACHARIA in Nairobi, KenyaKenya BureauNAIROBI, (CAJ News) – AUTHORITIES have granted Multigate a license to facilitate remittances within Kenya. This is another boost for the treasury management technology company’s efforts to expand its presence and operations within the African continent, after successfully securing similar licenses in Nigeria and Uganda. The World Bank projects remittance flows to the Sub-Saharan Africa region to rise by 1,3 and 3,7 percent in 2023 and 2024 respectively. Remittance growth in 2022 was primarily driven by solid remittance growth in six countries, including Kenya (8,5 percent to US$4,1 billion) and Uganda (17,3 percent to $1,3 billion). Remittances to Africa’s largest economy and most populous country, Nigeria, accounted for around 38 percent of total remittance inflows to Africa.
Source:The North Africa Journal
December 16, 2023 00:44 UTC
Hundreds of Kenyans trapped by raging floods, death toll reaches 170
Floods in Kenya have killed at least 170 and displaced more than 600,000 since the onset of heavy rains in November. Tens of thousands of residents in the country's north have lost livestock, farmland, and homes. In early December, president Ruto said 38 of Kenya’s 47 counties were affected by the floods. Kenya's military continues nationwide efforts to evacuate hundreds of people trapped by rising waters. Kenya’s meteorological department has warned that heavy rains will continue into the new year and issued a warning for people living in lowlands and flood prone areas to evacuate to prevent further losses.
Source:The North Africa Journal
December 15, 2023 20:47 UTC
USAF B-2s Fly with British F-35s Over the North Sea
Share ArticleU.S. Air Force B-2 bombers teamed up with the U.K.’s Royal Air Force F-35 Lightning IIs to fly across Europe’s North Sea in a single-day exercise. The Bomber Task Force mission saw the Spirits hailing from Whiteman Air Force Base, Mo., join forces with the RAF’s fifth-generation fighters on Dec 13. Following the mission, one of the B-2s returned to Whiteman on the same day, and another landed at RAF Fairford. “Operating alongside RAF fifth-gen fighters enhances our strength through combined training.”The Air Force’s BTF deployments are part of long-planned exercises, independent from current global events. The B-1s returned to Dyess Air Force Base, Texas, in late November.
Source:The North Africa Journal
December 15, 2023 17:19 UTC
The Sahara Desert used to be a green savannah – new research explains why
This rock art is an important record of the past environmental conditions that prevailed in the Sahara, the world’s largest hot desert. These images depict a period approximately 6,000-11,000 years ago called the Green Sahara or North African Humid Period. Our results demonstrate the sensitivity of the Sahara Desert to changes in past climate. The similarity between the precession cycle and the timing of the humid periods indicates that precession is their dominant driver. Our ability to model the African humid periods helps us understand the alternation of humid and arid phases.
Source:The North Africa Journal
December 15, 2023 14:00 UTC
Student Energy Summit
Student Energy Summit (SES) 2023, the world’s largest youth-led conference on energy, made history this year by converging in the heart of the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region for the very first time. Central to the summit were two key events — the Leaders Forum and Innovation Jam. The prestigious ‘Leaders Forum’ brought together nearly 100 highly engaged young leaders to connect and collaborate through impactful discussions and thought-provoking sessions. The judges include Wanjiru Wambugu of the Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet (GEAPP), Adriana Elera of the Bezos Earth Fund, Danny Kennedy of New Energy Nexus, and Jana Sasakamoose of First Nations Power Authority. The Student Energy Summit 2023 serves as a testament to the immense potential of youth-driven initiatives in shaping the future of energy.
Source:The North Africa Journal
December 15, 2023 13:49 UTC
The Israel-Hamas War Has Torpedoed Biden’s Middle East Agenda
With the war in Gaza having intensified following the end of the recent U.S.-supported pause in fighting, it has become clear that this conflict is upending President Joe Biden’s plans for the Middle East. For the past three years, under both former President Donald Trump and Biden, Washington advanced the Abraham Accords between Israel and Arab states, in an effort to facilitate Israel’s regional integration with a promise of peace and prosperity. All the while, the U.S. was chasing after the crown jewel of normalization—an Israel-Saudi peace deal. But the war has dealt a body blow to Arab-Israeli normalization, at least on the terms previously considered. While Gulf states at the forefront of normalization like the United Arab Emirates are maintaining relations with Israel, the extraordinary death toll and destruction in Gaza is further stiffening public sentiment against normalization and constraining how far Arab leaders can pursue cooperation in such a regional climate.
Source:The North Africa Journal
December 15, 2023 13:32 UTC