The demise of Algerian media started with co-option under Bouteflika’s long rule to repression under the couple Chengriha-Tebboune. Unemployment, the shortage of basic commodities, the democracy deficit, inflation, lack of diversified economy, dropping volumes of gas and oil exports in addition to impending economic and financial crises are all issues that the Algerian media prefers to look away from. These days, the media indulges in conspiracy theories targeting Morocco and the UAE, without offering whatsoever evidence for their claims. Algerian media has failed to do its fact-checking job in many cases, falling prey to regime manipulation and intimidation. In recent months, a simple report by a journalist on chemical substances in Algeria’s dates was enough to send him to jail.

December 14, 2023 12:02 UTC

The harsh, remote landscape of Alaska’s North Slope does not evoke thoughts of digital transformation. “Carlo had an inkling that 3D printing could really change the game.”Mathur, who held tech chief roles at Staples and Biogen before coming to ConocoPhillips in 2021, is referring to Carlo De Bernardi, a principal engineer at ConocoPhillips responsible for scaling the company’s adoption of 3D printing. To understand 3D printing’s value proposition in this region, says De Bernardi, you must first appreciate the extreme operating conditions. On Alaska’s North Slope, about 250 miles from Fairbanks, lies Kuparuk (pictured above). Yet this site is home to one of ConocoPhillips’s three major development programs in the state, and central to its operations are the company’s gas turbines.

December 14, 2023 11:14 UTC

By NJ Ayuk, Executive Chairman, African Energy Chamber (https://EnergyChamber.org). Even in some well-electrified African nations such as Ghana, Gabon, and South Africa, the supply is inadequate and often unavailable. In South Africa, for instance, this type of staged rationing has been used every day this year by the power utility, Eskom. Changes in Progress: South Africa as a Case in PointThe South African government is taking a proactive approach to the regulatory side of improving energy supply, shortening timelines for obtaining environmental authorizations and grid approvals. Download The State of African Energy 2024 Outlook report: https://apo-opa.co/3QLEoHdDistributed by APO Group on behalf of African Energy Chamber.

December 14, 2023 10:31 UTC

Africa’s main producers of black tea are facing a slump in prices amid depressed demand as interlinked factors are seen impacting future production as well as consumption of the world’s second-most widely consumed beverage. There's more to this story Get unlimited access to our exclusive journalism and features today. Our award-winning team of correspondents and editors report from over 54 African countries, from Cape Town to Cairo, from Abidjan to Abuja to Addis Ababa. Subscribe Now cancel anytime Already a a subscriber Sign In

December 14, 2023 10:27 UTC

Participants have denounced “US imperialism” for enabling Israeli aggression, ethnic cleansing and genocide while others have charged Israel itself with “settler colonialism”. However, many attendees – especially pro-Palestinian immigrants – have failed to comprehend their own relationship to settler colonialism. They were used to justify the expropriation of Indigenous land and resources as well as the enslavement and continued “after-life of slavery” projects targeting Black peoples. This activism and work help us understand that the US’s imperial commitments abroad are informed by the violence it has wreaked against Black peoples and Indigenous peoples in North America – or what the latter refer to as Turtle Island. Palestine’s freeing is simultaneously entwined with the freeing of Indigenous and Black people in Turtle Island.

December 14, 2023 10:26 UTC

India — a relatively developed country — has by far the biggest Share for global-south nations. Ukraine is the only European nation to appear in the north–south data as a global-south country owing to it being a lower middle-income country. World Bank income groups were used to define countries as global north or south (see ‘A guide to the Nature Index’ for more information). Source: Nature Index. Iran and Pakistan are the biggest contributors to north–south collaborations among global-south nations in western Asia (see ‘Concentrated connections’).

December 14, 2023 10:24 UTC

Sigachi MENA FZCO, its wholly owned subsidiary, recently entered a joint venture with Saudi National Projects Investment Ltd (SNP), signaling a robust entry into MENA markets with the establishment of Sigachi Arabia. Their strategic insights will be pivotal as Sigachi charts its course in the dynamic MENA region. Expressing honor at the new appointments, Mr. Amit Raj Sinha, CEO of Sigachi, acknowledges the valuable expertise Mr. White and Ms. Aga bring. Their combined wisdom is anticipated to elevate Sigachi's strategic initiatives, guiding the company to new heights in the pharmaceutical, nutraceutical, and nutrition sectors. As Advisors, Mr. White and Ms. Aga will provide strategic guidance aligning with Sigachi's mission to deliver high-quality solutions tailored to the evolving needs of the MENA market.

December 14, 2023 10:13 UTC

A presidential order published in the National Gazette on 11 December has confirmed the date for next year Presidential and Legislative elections, which will take place on 15 July 2024. A former rebel chief, the 66-year-old Kagame has ruled over the landlocked African nation with an iron fist for three decades. Kagame presided over controversial constitutional amendments in 2015 that allowed him to continue in office for another decade. His only known challenger is opposition Green Party leader Frank Habineza, who announced in May his intention to run in 2024. Kagame has won international acclaim for presiding over peace and economic growth in Rwanda that lays claim to being one of the most stable countries in Africa.

December 14, 2023 09:44 UTC

The latest municipal polls were held on Sunday amid a low turnout and renewed allegation of fraud by the opposition. Opposition parties, the main Mozambican National Resistance Movement (RENAMO) and the Democratic Movement of Mozambique (MDM) have rejected the latest set of results as they did the outcome of the October 11 elections. RENAMO has since the announcement of the elections in October been organizing so-called victory parades, claiming they were the outright winner of the municipal elections. The Constitutional Council, the last body of appeal in the electoral process, in November ruled that FRELIMO won 56 municipalities, RENAMO four and the MDM one. The South African-based Institute for Security Studies warned “fraudulent” municipal elections were crippling democracy in Mozambique.

December 14, 2023 09:35 UTC

Several cases of travel fraud have stood out as prime examples of how vulnerable South Africans can be caught in criminal activity. He noted the so-called holiday swindler’s company touted luxury getaways, complete with first-class air tickets and five-star accommodation, to destinations such as the Maldives and Dubai. CS Forensics recently investigated a case in which a travel agency was defrauded of an amount over R3 million. The agent received two upfront payments from the school, however, the agent failed to make the necessary bookings. The agency has since been contacted by numerous airlines and passengers who purchased air tickets, but subsequently discovered that their tickets had been voided without their permission.

December 14, 2023 09:10 UTC

How do Russian officials “coexist” with the war nearly two years after the invasion? Do officials who openly endorse the invasion or are deployed to work in occupied territories receive better roles or resources ? ECFR’s new podcast on Russia, “Under the Overcoat”, will explore the deeper trends beneath the surface of daily politics. To investigate the role of Russian bureaucrats, our host Kadri Liik is joined by ECFR visiting fellow Mikhail Komin and Russian political scientist Ekaterina Schulmann. Bookshelf:Legislation as a Political Process and Practical Political Science: A Guide to Contact with Reality by Ekaterina SchulmannNomenklatura by Voslenskiy

December 14, 2023 08:17 UTC

These crops account for 61% of the African crop production (kcal capita-1 day-1) and 62% of African harvested area (ha). Future scenarios of crop water footprintTo compute the water footprint of every crop for each scenario, the high-resolution crop water footprint model WaterCROP24 was used. Accordingly, we have adapted our methodology to include the non-linear linkage between crop yield and crop water use to obtain water footprint results mirroring the GAEZ attainable crop yields. Regarding climatic and yield data estimates, we use the ensemble obtained as the average of all the GCMs realizations available. 5, according to current extensification trends, while assuming the same total crop production as the hard-intensification scenario is achieved.

December 14, 2023 07:43 UTC

A 15MW solar project is set to be developed and constructed in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) as part of the International Solar Alliance’s (ISA) first pilot project under its Global Solar Facility (GSF). The ISA was conceived as a joint effort by India and France to “mobilise efforts against climate change through deployment of solar energy solutions.”In collaboration with Nuru, a solar power company in the DRC, the project aims to develop and construct 15MW of solar metro grid capacity across three provinces in the Eastern Congo. It is expected to attract private capital to flow into off-grid solar projects, rooftop solar projects, and productive use solar projects. “This financing vehicle, bolstered by payment guarantees, insurance and investment funds, aims to mitigate project risks, provide technical assistance to address regulatory gaps, reduce currency risks, and resolve contractual and financial uncertainties in the solar energy sector.”Have you read? Goma hybrid solar project in the Democratic Republic of CongoAccording to the World Bank, only 19% of the DRC’s around 102 million people have access to electricity.

December 14, 2023 07:21 UTC

Held recognized among leading Forensic & Litigation consulting firms in the Middle East. DUBAI, UAE, Dec. 14, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Global consulting firm J.S. Held receives recognition from Consultancy Middle East, ranked as one of the top Forensic and Litigation consulting firms in the Middle East region. As part of Consultancy, Consultancy Middle East works with top-tier consulting firms active in the Middle East and North Africa, following the developments and publications of consulting firms across 60+ industries and functional areas. The Middle East Consulting Firm ranking is based on assessments of the firm's capabilities in forensic & litigation consulting, company reputation, analyst benchmarks, industry recognitions, thought leadership, and other criteria, as evaluated by thousands of industry executives and consultants.

December 14, 2023 07:03 UTC

Scatec ASA, a prominent renewable energy player, has clinched the preferred bidder status for the Mogobe (Ferrum) battery energy storage project, a significant move in South Africa’s renewable energy landscape. This achievement comes under the Battery Energy Storage Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme (BESIPPPP) of the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy. The project, totaling 103 MW with a 412 MWh capacity, signifies Scatec’s pivotal role in the country’s transition towards renewable energy. Terje Pilskog, CEO of Scatec, expressed enthusiasm, highlighting this award as a testament to their standing in South Africa’s renewable energy domain. The overarching aim of the program is to procure 513 MW of battery storage across specific Eskom transmission substations in the Northern Cape province.

December 14, 2023 06:27 UTC