A strategic agreement to build Oman’s first locally-manufactured tugboat for Oman LNG has been signed between Asyad Drydock, a subsidiary of Asyad Group, and Svitzer. This project builds on the long-standing partnership between Oman LNG and Asyad Group, based on shared roles across Oman’s energy, logistics, and maritime ecosystem. The selection of Asyad Drydock for this critical marine asset is a testament to the advanced state of the national industrial capabilities. Al Balushi stated: “Asyad Drydock serves as a national industrial platform for localising the construction of high-value marine assets in Oman. Al Numani added: “From the start, Oman LNG was clear that building the tugboat locally, supported by Asyad Group’s investment, should go beyond delivering an operational asset.

Ethiopia began building a $12.5 billion international airport that officials say will be completed in 2030, as the country moves to address capacity constraints at its main aviation hub. “Bishoftu International Airport will be the largest aviation infrastructure project in Africa’s history,” Abiy said in a post on X. The four‑runway airport will provide parking for 270 aircraft, more than four times the capacity of Addis Ababa Bole International Airport, which Abiy said would reach its operational limits within two to three years at current traffic levels. Ethiopian Airlines’ Infrastructure Development & Planning Director Abraham Tesfaye said the carrier would finance 30% of the project, with the remainder funded by lenders. Tesfaye said lenders from the Middle East, Europe, China and the United States had shown strong interest in financing the project.

Recognition underscores Brown’s leadership and Hays’ commitment to shaping the future of staffingNEW YORK, CT, UNITED STATES, January 14, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ — Hays, a leading global specialist recruitment company, is proud to announce that Dave Brown, CEO of Hays Americas, has been named to the Staffing Industry Analysts (SIA) 2026 Staffing 100 list for North America. The SIA Staffing 100 list celebrates the most influential leaders who are driving innovation and shaping the workforce solutions ecosystem. “I’m honored to be recognized again among such an outstanding group of industry leaders,” said Brown. “This achievement is a testament to the incredible work of our teams across the Americas and our shared mission to help people succeed.”For more information on the SIA Staffing 100 list, visit https://www.staffingindustry.com/lists/staffing-100-north-america/2026-staffing-100-north-america. About HaysHays is the world’s leading specialist in recruitment and workforce solutions, including Recruitment Process Outsourcing (RPO) and Managed Service Provider (MSP) services.

Eni has launched Coral North, the second floating liquefied natural gas (FLNG) facility to be deployed in the Rovuma Basin waters, offshore Cabo Delgado, north of Mozambique, and will bring to production the gas from the northern part of Coral gas reservoir. With a 3.6 MTPA liquefaction capacity, Coral North will double Mozambique’s total LNG output to 7 MTPA. This will position the country as Africa’s third-largest LNG producer and exporter, strengthening its role as a key player in the global energy market. Coral North is expected to more than double economic impact for Mozambique, including revenues from LNG, a boost to local industry, and the creation of new jobs. Coral North will also expand investments in local development initiatives.

European Union crisis management commissioner Hadja Lahbib announced at the Davos Forum (19-24 January) that the EU would spend €1.9 billion on humanitarian aid, of which €557 million (US$658.6m) is for Africa. Contracting out aid provision and development policy to the private sector is at the heart of United States President Donald J Trump’s agenda (Dispatches, 8/12/25, Ruto moves adeptly to shore up ties with Washington). These cuts are expected to continue in 2026, dropping ODA to its lowest level since 2020 of around €160bn. But the real figures for aid to developing and least developed countries (LDCs) are much lower in reality. This is because billions of euros formally counted as ODA have been diverted support for Ukraine’s war and housing asylum seekers.

Sadio Mane was given a hero's welcome by his Al-Nassr teammates following Senegal's Africa Cup of Nations success. Mane given hero's welcomeAnd Mane was given the appropriate greeting upon his return to the Saudi Pro League side, with Cristiano Ronaldo and Co. greeting the attacker with series of hugs and a special cake to commemorate Senegal's triumph in North Africa. Mane was key in Senegal's second AFCON success, scoring twice and providing an additional three assists on their way to lifting the trophy. The Saudi Pro League outfit are currently four points behind league leaders Al-Hilal, who have a game in hand on Jesus' side. Ivan Toney and Roger Martinez, meanwhile, have both bagged 14 times in the Saudi Pro League this season.

Algeria’s Ministry of Communication this week formally warned the independent daily El Watan, over a front page headline describing parliamentary debate on a new highway code. El Watan reported that senators had said “no” to the bill after the upper house rejected 11 articles and sent the draft back for revision. Reporters Without Borders ranks Algeria 126th out of 180 in its 2025 World Press Freedom Index, placing it in the “difficult” category. RSF highlights expanding legal red lines, frequent prosecutions, blocked websites, and a regulatory framework that enables control without overt censorship. In such an unsafe environment for the media, independent international media and reporters are also under attack.

Libya’s state-owned National Oil Company (NOC) predicts that deepwater exploration in the Mediterranean will unlock new acreage and attract a wider range of international and national oil companies. This, according to the NOC, will set the stage for a major regional expansion of upstream activity while de-risking exploration and divining international interest. Announced by NOC Director of Exploration Abdulmonem Betikh during the Libya Energy & Economic Summit (LEES) in Tripoli, the comments underscore Libya’s push to revive exploration of deep offshore targets and accelerate production growth across the region. “Production is going to be increased significantly in the coming years, driven primarily by the bid round and offshore exploration and development,” Al Nabhani stated. “One of the big drivers is to shorten the time between discovery and production,” he said.

(3 Minutes Read)The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) has partnered with Tunisie Telecom, Tunisia’s national telecommunications operator, to strengthen the country’s digital infrastructure and support the company’s long-term transformation. The EBRD financing is complemented by an EUR 11 million EU grant provided through the Neighbourhood Investment Platform. The project reflects the EBRD’s holistic approach to supporting Tunisia’s digital sector and its close cooperation with the Tunisian government to advance national digital transformation. The financing is further supported by a first-loss guarantee from the European Fund for Sustainable Development Plus (EFSD+), provided through its Digital Transformation Platform. Read Also;https://trendsnafrica.com/afdb-ebrd-joint-initiative-to-develop-msmes-in-northern-africa/The European Union remains Tunisia’s largest trading partner and investor, with European companies supporting more than 400,000 jobs nationwide.

When you reserve Morocco Tour Packages, ensure that you confirm your visa position far in advance of the traveling dates. Reserve at least two weeks before the trip to avoid delays, particularly during the peak seasons. ADVERTISEMENTThe Budget Breakdown of Every TravelerThe prices in Morocco are great compared to those in Europe or North America. It takes just a week to visit such places as Marrakech, the Atlas Mountains, and a trip into the desert. Your first visit will be a memorable one with arrangements over visas, budgets, and seasons.

The African Energy Chamber (AEC) welcomes Libya’s accelerating recovery in the energy sector, as rising production, renewed investment and policy clarity signal the country’s re-emergence as a key African and Mediterranean energy producer. At the Libya Energy & Economic Summit (LEES) 2026 in Tripoli, Libya’s leadership outlined a clear commitment to restoring output, monetizing gas resources and creating an investment environment capable of supporting long-term energy development. Gas monetization is emerging as a central pillar of Libya’s energy strategy. Libya’s energy resurgence also carries a strong regional and pan-African dimension. Investments in skills training and technology will be vital to ensuring that energy development translates into jobs, knowledge transfer and long-term economic benefits.

Denver-based Newmont’s power over Barrick’s strategy is a significant change from a few years ago when the Canadian miner had hoped to buy Newmont’s minority stake in the Nevada mines. In an email response, Barrick said it respects the joint venture with Newmont and abides by all the terms. Newmont spokesperson said the company’s Nevada Gold Mines joint venture agreement has not changed from what is publicly available. Newmont’s say over the sale of the Nevada mines despite having only a minority stake in them is unusual, according to three executives aware of the restructuring efforts. On Friday shares of Barrick were trading up by 1.90% at the Toronto Stock Exchange and Newmont shares were trading up 1.52% at New York Stock Exchange.

Saudi Arabia's Olympic Committee and the Olympic Council of Asia have agreed to indefinitely postpone the 2029 Asian Winter Games, which were to have been held in a mountain resort in Saudi's futuristic city project NEOM. Instead, Saudi will host a series of standalone winter sports events in coming years, the statement said. It added that the decision came after "extensive consultations between the two organizations and reflects a shared strategic commitment to the long-term and sustainable development of winter sports in Saudi Arabia and across the West Asia region." The games were to have been held in Trojena, planned as a year-round ski resort in the mountains of NEOM, a $500 billion project to build a new city in Saudi Arabia's western desert on the Red Sea. At its core is spending on sports by the $900 billion sovereign wealth operation, the Public Investment Fund.

Marrakech – Morocco ranks 23rd of 50 countries on Open Doors’ 2026 World Watch List, with approximately 37,400 Christians living in the North African country of 38.5 million people. According to the World Watch List 2026, more than 388 million Christians globally face high levels of persecution or discrimination. Morocco’s ranking reflects what the report describes as “very high” pressure combined with a rising violence score from 8.3 to 9.3 points over the monitoring period. Morocco’s Christian population includes approximately 37,400 believers, according to World Christian Database figures accessed in April 2025. “Since Morocco’s independence in 1956, most Europeans and their churches have largely departed,” the report states.

Across the global football ecosystem, African academies have emerged as indispensable suppliers of elite talent to Europe’s top clubs. The so-called hidden pipeline refers to the integrated system often non-transparent and commercially significant through which African young players transition from local academies into European club football. Anatomy of the African Development Pipeline2.1 Academy FoundationsAfrican academies fall into three broad categories:Club-affiliated Academies: Operated by European clubs on African soil (e.g., Right to Dream linked to FC Nordsjælland; West African Football Academy and associations with Aalborg BK). Conclusion: Reframing the Pipeline as PartnershipThe narrative around African academies must shift from one of extraction to one of mutual advancement. Only through deliberate reform can this pipeline be fully harnessed as a sustainable engine of development for African football.