UNICEF in the region is urgently appealing for $1.89 billion in its 2024 Humanitarian Action for Children (HAC) appeal, which would help reach an estimated 24.1 million children, up from 23.5 million in 2023. This includes 1.3 million children. Chad hosts around half of all refugees in West and Central Africa (1 million out of 2.2 million). In 2024, an estimated 4.3 million people, including 2.4 million children, will require humanitarian aid. In these four coastal countries the number of internally displaced persons, returnees and refugees is now estimated at 123,000, including 36,000 children.

The practice of celebratory firings, where men fire shots in the air at weddings and birthday parties, is common in north India, especially in Bihar, Punjab, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh. According to police data, celebratory firings in Bihar claimed 19 lives just between January and November this year, besides leaving over 35 injured. In 2022, 99 incidents of celebratory firings claimed eight lives and left 36 injured. “Celebratory firings are a status symbol.”The police say three rounds were fired on stage that night. The police say celebratory firings take place irrespective of the communities to which the men belong.

As 85 per cent of Indian crude is imported via the Strait of Hormuz (in the Persian Gulf) and Russian crude in transit to India via the Suez is believed to be untouched by Houthis, there is no direct impact that India faces, according to experts. However, indirect impacts may be felt through rising global crude prices because of the effect on international crude trade.

Two of Africa’s most prominent B2B e-commerce companies, Kenya’s Wasoko and Egypt’s MaxAB, have announced they have signed preliminary merger terms to join together as a combined entity to drive the transformation of Africa’s informal retail sector. Previously known as Sokowatch, Wasoko closed a US$125 million Series B equity round in March 2022. I am proud of what we have achieved as MaxAB, and even more excited for our future together with Wasoko. As a combined company, we can truly unlock the potential of Africa’s informal retail sector across a variety of technology-enabled services in e-commerce, fintech and logistics. As we embark on our next stage of expansion, our merger with MaxAB underscores our commitment to empowering businesses and connecting consumers across all parts of the African continent with an affordable and diverse range of essential products.

Where are the best places to shop? Who gives the best haircut? Who cooks the best burger? Vote today for "Best of Readings".

BACK GROUND Russia is working to deepen political and economic ties with North Africa and spread its narrative about wars in Ukraine and Gaza. Before Russia’s war with Ukraine, Tunisia received roughly half of its total wheat imports from Ukraine. While lamenting pressure from countries that isolate Russia, Lavrov announced new efforts to expand energy and agriculture trade with North Africa. And North Africa’s response since the start of the Israel-Hamas war has been largely in line with its stances throughout the war in Ukraine. “The (North African) countries have positioned themselves in ways to maximize their relations to the great powers — Russia, United States, Europe,” he said.

This live page is now closed. Please follow along with all the latest updates of the Israel-Gaza war on our new page, here.

Business-to-business (B2B) companies are famously known for their poor online presence on social media. However, new research from content operations software company StoryChief.io reveals the top companies spearheading engagement rates on Facebook. Computer Systems Design and Related ServicesBusinesses in the computer systems design sector have the highest engagement rates among all B2B companies evaluated by StoryChief.io. Scientific research and development services – 37 reactions/postBusinesses in scientific research and development services are the third best at engaging Facebook users among all the leading American B2B companies. It does not exactly scream ‘leadership’ to be a multi-billion dollar company with four likes per Facebook post.

The amount of Egyptian artichokes that enter the Italian market varies from 9 to 15 thousand tons per season (roughly from July to June). In the market for imported fresh artichokes in Italy, Egypt has been slightly behind Tunisia in the recent seasons. During this time, the Italian market receives fresh artichokes not only from local sources, but also from Tunisia, Egypt, and to a lesser extent, Spain. France, on the other hand, mainly exports fresh artichokes to Italy in May-November, ranking as the third largest exporter to the Italian market. Small amounts of frozen artichokes also come to the Italian market from Spain, Belgium, and France.

KasiNomics emerged as a book from the insights, practices, and case studies of the township economy. “And here is the thing, if someone comes to you and asks you if you are unemployed, you are going to say ‘yes’ but meanwhile you are renting out a backroom for let’s say R9,000 (tax- free) ($480) but you will still say you are unemployed.” The idea of the sector is also rapidly changing, says Bulelani Balabala, a township entrepreneur-developer and founder of Township Entrepreneurs Alliance. “Traditionally, backrooms were situated [in the back],” Balabala says. “And the back part of the house was not seen. And ideally, then, in a normal standard compound or house, you would have anywhere between two to about five of these backrooms.”

Africa Intelligence uses cookies to provide reliable and secure features, measure and analyse website traffic and provide support to the website users. Apart from those essential for the proper operation of the website, you can choose which cookies you accept to have stored on your device. Either “Accept and close” to agree to all cookies or go to “Manage cookies” to review your options. You can change these settings at any time by going to our Cookie management page.

EMIT delivers first-of-a-kind maps of minerals in Earth’s dust-source areas, enabling scientists to model the fine particles’ role in climate change and more. Launched to the International Space Station (ISS) in 2022, EMIT – short for Earth Surface Mineral Dust Source Investigation – is an imaging spectrometer developed by NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in Southern California. The mission fills a crucial need among climate scientists for more detailed information on surface mineral composition. Taken together, the scenes comprise billions of measurements – more than enough to create detailed maps of surface composition. “To this point we simply haven’t known the distribution of surface minerals over huge swaths of the planet,” said Phil Brodrick, a JPL data scientist who spearheaded the creation of the mineral maps.

The Trans-Kalahari Railway Project Management Office (TKR-PMO) has revealed that 12 companies/groups submitted expressions of interest to develop the Trans-Kalahari Railway between Botswana and Namibia as a public-private partnership. The TKR-PMO is looking to execute the project under a design, build, finance, operate, maintain, and transfer contract model. Investors would fund the feasibility study and develop the proposed new railway corridor and/or upgrade the existing railway between the two countries. The railway will run for about 1,500km from the coalfields at Mmamabula in Botswana to the port of Walvis Bay in Namibia. According to the timeline published by TKR-PMO, the prequalification stage will now run from December to February.

The specter of drought is still haunting Morocco for the fourth consecutive year amid delayed rainfall and emptying reservoirs. The alarm bell was rang by water minister Nizar Baraka who warned that some cities should prepare for a rationing of water as part of measures to reduce demand. “The country is heading to a fourth year of drought, if it does not rain in the next three months. Dam filling rate dropped across the country to stand at 22.5% of overall capacity, he said. Proactive measures, such as the waterway channeling water to Rabat and Casablanca, have spared the two cities water-cuts, he said.

When the Africa Cup of Nations gets underway in January, several Bundesliga clubs will have to do without some star names. With 24 Bundesliga players included in their respective countries' provisional squads for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Ivory Coast from January 13 until February 11, 2024, several of Germany's top sides are facing a month without some top performers. Simultaneously, a further eight Japanese and South Korean Bundesliga players could be missing as they compete in the Asia Cup in Qatar (January 12 until February 10). Leverkusen set to lose five playersBundesliga leaders Bayer Leverkusen are set to be hardest hit by the Africa Cup of Nations, if only in terms of sheer numbers. And Tapsoba and Kossounou have been almost permanent fixtures in a back-three that has only conceded 12 goals all season.