But it wasn’t until 2006, when Tunisia launched its first national strategy to promote Tunisian olive oil, that things really started to change. And because the country doesn’t allow olive oil imports, everything produced there—including oils from other independent brands like KAÏA and Olivko—is single-origin by definition, too. Photo: Clémence Polès Photo: Clémence PolèsEven so, global recognition hasn’t quite caught up with the progress on the ground. “We still need people to know that Tunisia is a producer of olive oil. Photo: Clémence Polès Photo: Clémence PolèsPhoto: Clémence Polès Photo: Clémence Polès“This is a bigger project than just olive oil,” he reflected.

A map showing the geographic division of the 188 missions in various areas of the world that will have new mission presidents and companions assigned, who will begin their service on or about July 1, 2026. The First Presidency is calling new mission leaders — mission presidents and their wives — for 188 missions worldwide, including 55 newly created missions. These couples will begin their three-year service on or about July 1. Their names and mission assignments are below. In coming weeks, Church News will publish information and photos of each of the mission presidents and their wives.

Flutterwave, Africa’s leading payments technology company, has acquired Mono, a pioneer in open banking infrastructure. The move is designed to deepen Flutterwave’s account-to-account (A2A) payment capabilities and build a more connected financial ecosystem across the continent. The transaction, announced on 5 January, positions open banking as a central pillar in Flutterwave’s strategy. Open banking provides the connective tissue, and Mono has built critical infrastructure in this space. Founded in 2020, Mono connects to over 50 banks and reaches more than 8 million bank customers across Africa.

Updates: Syria’s army begins attack on SDF in Aleppo’s Sheikh MaqsoudThese were the updates from Friday, January 9, 2026.

Country overview:IOA has acquired data-based expertise into Morocco through conducting targeted research and providing consulting services on the vibrant North African country. Rabat’s claims of ownership over Western Sahara have been a decades-old source of conflict with the Saharawi people and the international community. Despite intermittent rainfall in 2025 offering temporary relief, Morocco continues to face structural water scarcity. Key opportunities in Morocco: Vast solar resources have been exploited for renewable energy, and the industry is growing. Meanwhile, foreigners are allowed to own 100% share capital in locally incorporated firmsLLCs, a popular choice for foreign investors in Morocco can be registered with a minimum of US$3200.

Economic cooperation between Morocco and Spain continues to deepen in the agri-food industry, with investors from both countries demonstrating strong interest in biscuit manufacturing and industrial bread production. de C.V., through its Spanish subsidiary Bakery Iberian Investments S.L., has acquired 100% of the capital and voting rights of Joy Food International SARL. This transaction represents Grupo Bimbo’s strategic expansion into Morocco’s promising food manufacturing sector. Spain remains Morocco’s leading commercial partner, while Morocco holds the distinction of being Spain’s primary commercial partner and top investment destination in Africa. Moroccan Minister Karim Zidane highlighted the excellent bilateral momentum, noting intensified political exchanges and historic economic milestones.

ASP Isotopes has finalized its acquisition of South Africa-based energy producer Renergen, adding hydrogen-linked natural gas assets and one of the world’s most helium-rich gas fields to its expanding critical materials portfolio. The transaction positions the combined company to scale production of helium and isotopes used across clean energy, semiconductors and emerging quantum technologies, while leveraging Renergen’s Virginia Gas Project­ – a multi-phase development designed to supply LNG with downstream potential for hydrogen applications. Located in South Africa, the Virginia Gas Project hosts world-class helium concentrations alongside natural gas production and is backed by substantial international financing. With the acquisition complete, ASP Isotopes aims to establish itself as a global supplier of liquid helium, a material facing persistent supply constraints amid rising demand from electronics, space, medical imaging and advanced computing industries. The company plans to combine its isotope enrichment technologies with Renergen’s upstream gas operations to support cross-sector applications tied to clean energy transition and next-generation computing.

Abdelatty pressed for a full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, the establishment of a technocratic committee to administer the territory, and the deployment of an international stabilization force to oversee the transition. Israel, however, has delayed moving to the agreement’s second phase, which analysts say reflects an attempt to shape outcomes on its own terms. On Yemen, the Egyptian minister reaffirmed Cairo’s support for the country’s unity and national institutions, calling for de-escalation and a Yemeni-led political settlement. He also condemned Israel’s unilateral recognition of Somaliland as a breach of Somalia’s sovereignty and international law, warning of its broader security implications. Guterres, in turn, praised President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi’s role in promoting regional stability and commended Egypt’s commitment to the principles of the UN Charter and international peace and security.

Trump warns of more Nigeria strikes if Christians 'continue to be killed'21 hours ago Share Save Makuochi Okafor , BBC Africa, Lagos and Jean Otalor Share SaveReuters Last year, Trump declared Nigeria a "country of particular concern" because of what he said was the "existential threat" to its Christian populationUS President Donald Trump has warned that he could order more airstrikes on Nigeria if Christians continue to be killed in the West African nation. But if they continue to kill Christians it will be a many-time strike," he said. Nigeria's government has rejected Trump's earlier accusations that it is failing to protect Christians from jihadist attacks, saying that "Muslims, Christians and those of no faith alike" are targeted. When questioned about this in the interview published on Thursday, Trump replied: "I think that Muslims are being killed also in Nigeria. ''Nigeria remains committed to protecting all citizens, Christians and Muslims alike, without discrimination,'' said Alkasim Abdulkadir.

News IndustryAfrica’s energy & mining exports benefit from US tariff exemptions, cushioning trade as most other sectors face sharp contraction in 2025. Electricity exports are forecast to grow by between 41.9% and 51.9%, gas exports by 35% to 48%, and crude oil exports by 15.5% to 20.7%. Even under adverse global trade conditions, intra-African energy trade is projected to increase modestly by 0.04%, signalling the latent potential of a continental energy market. Analysis from African Energy Week 2026 points to shifting global energy dynamics, particularly the European Union’s phased exit from Russian gas, as a new source of demand for African producers. With energy exports expanding at double-digit rates while most other sectors contract, the window for action is narrow but significant.

Skip next section 1 in 5 Germans consider leaving the countrySome 20% of Germans have thought about emigrating, according to a new study from the German Center for Migration and Integration Research (Dezim). The main reasons given were to find a better life and — among those with a migrant background — experiences of discrimination. According to the German Federal Office of Statistics (Destatis), 1.2 million people left Germany in 2024. The authors of the report noted that the rate had remained steady throughout the survey, apart from the build-up to the 2025 election when there was a 10% jump among people with migrant backgrounds saying they were considering leaving the country. That election was marked by an increase in anti-migrant rhetoric.

#Cryptocurrency BingX Launches TradFi Feature, Bridging Crypto and Global Financial Markets With this launch, BingX takes a significant step beyond cryptocurrency trading by integrating real-world financial assets into its platform. With this launch, BingX takes a significant step beyond cryptocurrency trading by integrating real-world financial assets into its platform. Accessible directly via futures trading, BingX TradFi streamlines the trading experience without additional steps. “In today’s dynamic trends in the market, BingX TradFi opens up more opportunities for traders and serves our commitment to empowerment. Leveraging its position as one of the top 5 crypto derivatives platforms, BingX TradFi scales up the trading space for users with more possibilities.

President Mohamed Ould Ghazouani on Thursday chaired a brief meeting at the presidential palace to initiate consultations on a proposed national political dialogue, bringing together representatives of both the ruling majority and the opposition. The closed-door discussions were limited to the Head of State and the designated dialogue coordinator, Moussa Fall, who presented a draft document outlining a preliminary organizational framework for the dialogue process. In his opening remarks, President Ghazouani noted a partial renewal of participants compared with those present at the launch of the initiative during a Ramadan iftar in March 2025. Moussa Fall called on political parties to study the proposed framework and submit their observations within one to two weeks. President Ghazouani, however, made it clear that the process would not be bound by rigid deadlines.

North Africa postal agency pilots self-service kioskPhoto: Adobe StockJanuary 9, 2026The Algerie Poste, in Algeria, North Africa, is running a pilot of a self-service postal kiosk in a quest to boost customer experience. The trial, which starts this spring, will be run by imageHOLDERS, a U.K. kiosk provider, according to a Logistics Manager report. The kiosks will let customers weigh and size letters and packages and print labels as well as confirmation and tracking information.

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