Air & Space Forces Magazine
C-130J Deliveries Paused due to Technical Issues, Air Force Says Breaking Defense Deliveries of Lockheed Martin-built C-130J aircraft to the U.S. Air Force have been halted due to a problem with integrating a new communications upgrade, according to the service. VIDEO: Strategic Attack: Maintaining the Air Force’s Capacity to Deny Enemy Sanctuaries The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies Analysts from AFA’s Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies and retired Gen. Tim Ray, former Commander of Air Force Global Strike Command, discuss the institute’s newest report on the need for new long-range stealthy bombers and fighters that can deny sanctuaries to adversary forces wherever they are located. AFA, USAA Send Wounded Airman to Super Bowl LX with CeeDee Lamb AFA The Air & Space Forces Association and USAA coordinated a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to send retired Air Force veteran and Purple Heart recipient Tech. China ‘Just Not There Yet’ on H-20 Stealth Bomber: Global Strike Command’s Top General The War Zone The head of U.S. Air Force Global Strike Command has downplayed the current significance of Chinese efforts to develop new long-range strike aircraft with more global reach. ‘Wake-Up Call’ for Greece as Air Force Officer Accused of Spying for China The Guardian A Greek air force officer arrested on suspicion of spying for China has been detained pending trial after appearing before a military judge in a case that is seen as exposing Beijing’s determination to infiltrate Europe’s security and intelligence services.
Source:The North Africa Journal
February 11, 2026 14:46 UTC
Algeria uses force to silence flood victims – The North Africa Post
Protesters from the wilaya’s 38 communes denounced the collapse of key infrastructure, prolonged power and sanitation failures, and shortages of drinking water, fuel and basic food supplies. Many said on social media the situation had deteriorated sharply since the floods, accusing authorities of failing to provide meaningful assistance. Beyond brief visits from the governor and a short stopover by Interior Minister Saïd Sayoud two weeks earlier, residents say no concrete support has been delivered. Videos circulating on social media showed large crowds demanding the restoration of essential services and access to indispensable goods such as potable water, electricity, fuel, milk, oil and legumes. Residents said flood victims had been “left to their own and abandoned” for weeks, with communities cut off from drinking water, electricity, fuel and basic food supplies as authorities failed to deliver meaningful assistance.
Source:The North Africa Journal
February 11, 2026 14:32 UTC
Horizon Aircraft to partner with NAI to build Cavorite X7 wings
New Horizon Aircraft (Horizon Aircraft) has partnered with North Aircraft Industries (NAI) to manufacture and test the custom-designed wings for the Company’s full-scale VTOL (vertical take-off and landing) aircraft, the Cavorite X7. North Aircraft Industries is internationally recognised for its expertise in complex aerospace composite engineering, manufacturing, and testing. Notably, North Aircraft Industries will carry out wing structural testing in-house once manufacturing is complete. The Cavorite X7 features an innovative wing design that allows vertical take-off and landing by opening wing covers to expose 12 embedded electric lift fans. North Aircraft Industries has the experience, skill, and agility to keep our production of the Cavorite X7 on track.
Source:The North Africa Journal
February 11, 2026 14:28 UTC
Visa Launches “Visa Connect Syria” to Support Modern Digital Payments Ecosystem
#Fintech Visa Launches “Visa Connect Syria” to Support Modern Digital Payments Ecosystem The event was followed by a technical workshop with the Central Bank of Syria, underscoring Visa’s support for the country’s payment modernization journey through close public-private collaboration. Visa, a global leader in digital payments, today reinforced its support for the establishment of a future-ready payments ecosystem in Syria through “Visa Connect Syria”, an inaugural industry gathering of financial institutions, ecosystem partners, and policymakers focused on advancing secure, modern digital commerce. The event was followed by a technical workshop with the Central Bank of Syria, underscoring Visa’s support for the country’s payment modernization journey through close public-private collaboration. “Visa Connect Syria” convened industry stakeholders to examine the technical foundations required for Syria to “leapfrog” into modern payments. On the second day, Visa hosted a dedicated workshop for the Central Bank of Syria, emphasizing the critical role of strong public private collaboration as Syria lays the foundations for a future ready digital payments ecosystem aligned with global standards.
Source:The North Africa Journal
February 11, 2026 14:17 UTC
Turning camera traps into conservation tools
The tool identifies houbara bustards alongside potential nest intruders, including foxes and monitor lizards that threaten the bird's natural habitat. Monitoring the vulnerable houbara bustard — a shy, ground-nesting bird of arid landscapes — is one of conservation’s quiet hard problems. Camera traps can help, but teaching algorithms to reliably recognise houbaras — and the many intruders that threaten them — has long been held back by lack of suitable data. Newer real-time systems, particularly YOLOv10, performed best, accurately distinguishing houbaras from intruders even under poor lighting or partial occlusion. Beyond one species, the researchers see HBID24K as a template for conservation AI in difficult environments.
Source:The North Africa Journal
February 11, 2026 12:51 UTC
Corruption Perception Index 2025: Top 10 most corrupt countries in the world — Check where India ranks
South Sudan ranks as one of the world’s most corrupt nations in the Corruption Perception Index 2025, scoring just 9 out of 100, according to Transparency International’s 2025 Corruption Perception Index (CPI) published on Tuesday. Years of conflict, weak institutions, and limited accountability have contributed to entrenched corruption, affecting governance, public services, and humanitarian aid delivery in the country.
Source:The North Africa Journal
February 11, 2026 11:31 UTC
As U.S. Drilling Cools, Oilfield Service Firms Chase Middle East Demand
U.S. oil drilling activity has been in a steady, long-term decline, with the number of active oil-directed rigs dropping by over 30% from late 2022 to October 2025. Helmerich & Payne (H&P) views the Middle East as a primary growth driver, particularly for international shale development and increased rig demand. H&P is investing heavily in the Middle East to offset stagnation in the U.S. market, with CEO Trey Adams highlighting continued focus on building Eastern Hemisphere land exposure. SLBSimilar to its peers, SLB N.V. (NYSE:SLB) views the Middle East as a primary growth driver. A week ago, the company secured a $1.5 billion, five-year contract with Kuwait Oil Company for development work in the Mutriba field.
Source:The North Africa Journal
February 11, 2026 10:18 UTC
Russia Rebuilds In MENA, Europe Pays At The Border
It undermines Washington’s influence among traditionally U.S.-aligned states by demonstrating that Russia remains a viable diplomatic partner even for countries deeply embedded in Western security and economic architectures. They are instructed in methods to circumvent border security, including the use of tools to dismantle metal fencing and barbed wire or to dig tunnels under the fence. By embedding itself within diplomatic processes, Russia reduces its exposure while benefiting from the erosion of Western dominated mediation frameworks. Poland is not only a US ally but a frontline state whose border security is inseparable from EU law, funding, Schengen governance, and internal security cooperation. It is not rebuilding an empire, it is building friction points, survivable footholds, and transactional partnerships that collectively dilute Western pressure.
Source:The North Africa Journal
February 10, 2026 23:09 UTC
Algeria artificially inflates GDP with no impact on economic activity or living conditions – The North Africa Post
On paper, that would mean well over 50% nominal growth from recent ranges (roughly $240–$270 billion), in barely three years. The effect is a bigger GDP number with little to no improvement in household welfare, export complexity, or private sector dynamism. Advocates of the artificially bloated GDP argue that true Algerian output is far higher once the informal economy is integrated into national accounts. A stronger official rate mechanically inflates GDP in dollars. To jump from roughly $240–$270bn to $400bn in three years, Algeria would need compound nominal growth of 15–20% per year.
Source:The North Africa Journal
February 10, 2026 21:14 UTC
Tunisia - Prominent Lawyer Arbitrarily Detained
Tunisian authorities prosecuted Souab, 69, for statements he made outside of court while representing defendants in a notorious case of "conspiracy against state security." "His abusive prosecution for defending others from abusive prosecution shows the sheer extent of the Tunisian authorities' crackdown on any dissent." Human Rights Watch has documented the authorities' repeated attacks on the judiciary in Tunisia, including President Kais Saied's dismantling of the High Judicial Council in February 2022. The Tunisian authorities are increasingly relying on remote trials for terrorism cases, especially for politically motivated trials against dissidents. Tunisian authorities should stop prosecuting individuals for exercising their human rights, guarantee fair trials, and release all those arbitrarily detained, Human Rights Watch said.
Source:The North Africa Journal
February 10, 2026 20:30 UTC
European, CIS countries dominate Dubai visitor numbers
Western Europe dominated tourism traffic in Dubai last year, with overall year-on-year visitor numbers up 5%. Arrivals from Western Europe stood at 4.1 million in 2025, making up a fifth of total visitor numbers, and up from 3.74 million in 2024. Dubai hosted 19.59 million international tourists in 2025, up 5% year-on-year from 18.72 million arrivals the previous year, as it solidifies its position as a regional and global tourism hotspot. The city welcomed a record 2.04 million international overnight visitors last December, rising 6% year-on-year and edging past last January’s record of 1.94 million tourists. Three Dubai properties found space on the list of the world’s 50 best hotels in 2025, including Atlantis The Royal, Jumeirah Marsa Al Arab, and The Lana Dubai.
Source:The North Africa Journal
February 10, 2026 18:02 UTC
The massive opportunity of sports tourism
Both the formal and informal African tourism sectors are increasingly aware of the significant revenue potential embedded in sport tourism. “Sport tourism can address several challenges in Africa’s leisure tourism sector, particularly by reducing seasonality and spreading tourism benefits more evenly. “Sport tourism, therefore, often acts as a gateway that broadens the tourism economy beyond the initial event visit,” she says. It brings people together across cultural and social divides, fosters national pride and contributes to social cohesion in ways few other tourism products can.”Another advantage is that many sport tourism events can make use of existing infrastructure and tourism facilities. Overall, sport tourism remains one of Africa’s most promising yet underutilised tourism opportunities.
Source:The North Africa Journal
February 10, 2026 17:02 UTC
Middle East, North Africa & Central Asia Economic Factbook 2026: Concise Economic Information That Will Help Prepare Business Decision-makers for the Emergence of This New Region
Company LogoDublin, Feb. 10, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Middle East, North Africa & Central Asia Economic Factbook" directory has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The Middle East, North Africa & Central Asia Economic Factbook recognizes and addresses the growing economic unity that includes the countries of the Middle East, North Africa, and Central Asia. It brings together clear and concise economic information that will help prepare business decision-makers for the emergence of this new region and as such will be invaluable to anyone doing business in the area. Features include:An extensive series of statistical tables presenting comparative figures for all the countries and political entities. Statistical tables cover:PopulationLife ExpectancyEconomically Active PopulationGross Domestic ProductExchange RatesBankingStock MarketsOil & Natural GasImports & ExportsManufacturingElectricityWaterInvestmentAir TransportTourismTelecommunicationsEducationDevelopment & GenderBroadcasting & MediaHealthLand UseThe EnvironmentA well-balanced, well-judged, and remarkably comprehensive volume, this Directory is probably the best reference economic factbook on the Middle East, North Africa & Central Asia.
Source:The North Africa Journal
February 10, 2026 16:18 UTC
South Korea investigators raid spy agencies over drone flights into North
North Korea has accused Seoul of dispatching the drone across the border, releasing images in January that purportedly showed the downed aircraft. Investigators raided South Korea's spy agency on Tuesday as they probed possible government links to a drone shot down over North Korea earlier this year. North Korea said last year it had proven that the South flew drones to drop propaganda leaflets over its capital. Lee said in December that he felt an apology was due to North Korea over his predecessor's alleged order to send drones. North Korea has previously sent trash-filled balloons over the South in what it called retaliation for activists in the South floating anti-regime propaganda missives northwards.
Source:The North Africa Journal
February 10, 2026 16:03 UTC
Mauritania advances debt-for-climate and SDG swap framework with UN support – The North Africa Post
Mauritania has taken a further step towards aligning public debt sustainability with climate action and sustainable development financing, following a Technical committee meeting held on Monday in Nouakchott by the Ministry of Finance. The meeting forms part of ongoing cooperation between the Mauritanian Government and the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA) on a proposed debt-for-climate action and Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) exchange program. The ESCWA mission to Nouakchott is aimed at shaping an innovative framework that balances debt management with investment in priority climate and development projects, against the backdrop of mounting climate risks and socio-economic pressures. He called for coordinated efforts to design an ambitious yet realistic program capable of delivering transformative outcomes for Mauritania’s sustainable development agenda. The meeting brought together representatives from key government ministries, the UN Development System, the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, the African Development Bank and the World Food program.
Source:The North Africa Journal
February 10, 2026 15:44 UTC