Terrorism in Spain and were warnings missed?
Despite Spain’s long and bloody history of domestic terrorism, it is more than 13-years since Islamists successfully carried out an attack in the country. On March 11 2004 a suspected al Qaeda terror cell exploded bombs on several Madrid commuter trains in a series of coordinated attacks, killing 192 and injuring more than 2,000. It was Europe’s most deadly attack since the bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 over Lockerbie in 1988. The attack took place 911 days after the 9/11 attacks on New York and sparked widespread fear that it marked the beginning of a new assault by Jihadists in Europe. But while its allies and neigbours, particularly in the UK, France and Germany were all subsequently hit by deadly Islamist attacks, Spain escaped any large scale outrage for 13-years - until now.
Source:The North Africa Journal
August 17, 2017 19:30 UTC
Political Meltdown in Algeria as President Appoints New Prime Minister
Algeria is in the midst of a new political meltdown, with the sacking of the Prime Minister Abdelmajid Tebboune who was replaced by the regime’s henchman Ahmed Ouyahya. Characterized by opacity, the Algerian regime is facing a new turmoil. Tebboune’s crackdown on corrupt businessmen with vested interest with leaders of the Algerian regime is the main reason for his dismissal. Ouyahya’s return to the position of prime minister, which he held three times before, completes his political comeback ahead of elections in 2019 after he was sidelined when Sellal was Prime Minister. In 2008, he campaigned to amend the constitution to suppress the two presidential term limits in favor of Bouteflika.
Source:The North Africa Journal
August 17, 2017 17:03 UTC
From East to West: scientists solve birds' ability to navigate longitude
Experiments using the common reed warbler showed they were sensitive to the difference between true north, the geographic North Pole, and magnetic north, a separate location in the Arctic Circle. In Europe, the difference increases from east to west, and the new study indicates warblers are able to sense this variation to determine where they are. The international team of researchers, including scientists from Bangor University, predict that this sensitivity is shared by many other species. It has long been believed that birds rely on the Earth’s magnetic fields to navigate their epic migrations, but precisely how they solve the longitudinal riddle has, until now, remained a mystery. “It seems that a bird as unassuming as the reed warbler, may have a geographic map or memory that enables it to identify its longitudinal position on the globe, only by detecting the magnetic north pole and its variance from true north,” said Dr Richard Holland, of Bangor University, who took part in the research.
Source:The North Africa Journal
August 17, 2017 15:56 UTC
Morocco, Haven of Stability in Region- Australian Ambassador
As a haven of stability in the region, Morocco managed under the leadership of King Mohammed VI to strengthen the rule of law, promote governance and build capacities of human rights and good governance institutions, said the Australian Ambassador to Rabat Berenice Owen-Jones. The Australian Ambassador expressed optimism at the prospects for strengthening bilateral ties stressing that the North African Kingdom offers a platform for Australia’s trade ties with Africa and the Mediterranean while Canberra can act as a gate for Morocco to Oceania and the pacific. Moroccan-Australian bilateral trade reached $89.3 million in 2016, of which Australia imported $ 66.1 million from Morocco and exported $ 23.2 million, she added. In line with the momentum witnessed in bilateral diplomatic ties, an Australian-Moroccan Parliamentary Friendship Group was officially established in the Australian Parliament last Tuesday (August 15). Berenice Owen Jones was positioned in Rabat last May as the first Ambassador of Australia to Morocco.
Source:The North Africa Journal
August 17, 2017 15:45 UTC
Spain Considers Using Drones to Patrol Land Borders with Morocco
The silent diplomatic row between Morocco and Spain over Ceuta and Melilla may worsen as the Spanish Defense Ministry considers deploying unmanned aerial vehicles to patrol the borders of the exclaves in northern Morocco. Enlisting airborne surveillance at Spain’s land borders with Morocco aims at reducing the numbers of Spain’s border guards, reports Spanish news website ABC. Last August, a program, worth €1.455 billion, was announced in a report published on the website of the Spanish defense ministry. Spain has installed high fencing topped with razor wire at its land borders with Morocco in its North African enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla. Morocco claims the city along with the other Spanish occupied city of Melilla as an integral part of its national territory.
Source:The North Africa Journal
August 17, 2017 15:22 UTC
Morocco Expects Growth Rate to Decrease to 3.2% in 2018
The Moroccan government released its GDP growth forecasts for 2018, which expects the economy to grow by 3.2% down from 4.8% this year. The Head of the Government office said in a statement that the forecasted rate is higher than the one announced by the government’s statistics agency (HCP), which said that Morocco’s economy will only grow by 2.9% in 2018. The outlook for the 2017 crop year bodes well for Morocco with a total cereal output reaching 102 million quintals, i.e. Last year late rainfall made the country double its wheat imports to meet demand, as Morocco’s wheat production remains vulnerable to unpredictable weather patterns. The large fluctuations in output are also reflected in fluctuation in agricultural imports of commodities such as animal feed, wheat, and oil-seeds.
Source:The North Africa Journal
August 17, 2017 15:11 UTC
Algeria: Notorious Terrorist killed in Bouira Province
The Algerian Ministry of Defense indicated Wednesday a detachment of the army neutralised a dangerous terrorist in the west of Bouira province, in the Kabylie region, during a combing operation. The army detachment seized during the operation a pistol machine gun of Kalashnikov type, two bullet magazines as well as several cell phones, the ministry said in a statement. The army also discovered early this week the corpse of a terrorist called ‘B. Mohamed’ east of Bouira, in a forest-covered region, between El Adjiba and Saharidj, El Watan reports. The army said it is continuing the hunting of remaining terrorists still running loose in Bouira province.
Source:The North Africa Journal
August 17, 2017 15:11 UTC
WENY News - Europe's migrant crisis isn't going away, but it is changing
Here's what has been happening in the Mediterranean:Why are NGOs suspending migrant search-and-rescue (SAR) operations in the Mediterranean? What is the Libyan coast guard doing? What assistance is Italy providing to the Libyan coast guard and why? Migrants intercepted by the Libyan coast guard are being returned to the north African country. Its crew recently reported that the Libyan coast guard fired warning shots while the vessel was in international waters.
Source:The North Africa Journal
August 17, 2017 15:00 UTC
World Bank Finances Water Supply Infrastructure as Countries Plan for Water Scarcity
August 2017: The World Bank has granted financing for water infrastructure in urban growth centers in Zimbabwe and Bangladesh and for integrated water resource management (IWRM) in Lao People’s Democratic Republic (PDR). World Bank financing for water is providing:US$25 million for the Government of Lao PDR to implement IWRM. US$20 million for the Zimbabwe National Water Project (ZINWA), for improving water supply and sanitation infrastructure in seven centers of urban growth. Recent World Bank research has warned that the impacts of climate change on water availability around the world will be severe. [World Bank Press Release on Lao PDR Project] [World Bank Press Release on Zimbabwe Project] [Publication: High and Dry: Climate Change, Water and the Economy] [UNECE Press Release]
Source:The North Africa Journal
August 17, 2017 14:26 UTC
North Africa Jihadi Must Pay $3.2 Million Damages For 14th Century Timbuktu Shrine Destruction
A jihadist from Mali has been ordered to pay $3.2 million in damages for his role in destroying 14th century Timbuktu shrines in 2012 in a landmark ruling by the International Criminal Court. Judges said that the victims of the Malian city’s destruction be compensated with “individual, collective and symbolic” reparations particularly those who relied on the sites for tourism income. Ahmad Al-Faqi Al-Mahdi directed the attacks on nine mausoleums and a mosque door in mid-2012 with pickaxes and bulldozers. It came as Tuareg rebels captured parts of northern Mali in 2012 before being ousted by a military operation a year later. Eric Feferberg/AFP/GettyThe Malian sites, most of them on UNESCO’s World Heritage List, date from the 14th century when Mali served as a center for Sufi Islam, a peaceful branch of Islam that radical Islamists view to be heretical.
Source:The North Africa Journal
August 17, 2017 12:11 UTC
Douglas Murray attacks 'hypocrites' Lily Allen and Nicola Sturgeon over migrant crisis
Controversial author Douglas Murray has blasted "hypocrites" such as Lily Allen and Nicola Sturgeon in an extraordinary interview with Julia Hartley-Brewer. "This has provided a magnificent opportunity for pseuds and hypocrites and grandstanders to have their moment," he told Julia. "The SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon said she would even take in some migrants. Lily Allen has still not got her group of young men from sub-Saharan Africa living in their spare room. If you ask a grandstander like Lily Allen or Nicola Sturgeon or Yvette Cooper, they will not, when put on the spot, say 'keep anyone out.'
Source:The North Africa Journal
August 17, 2017 12:00 UTC
Dance with the Devil: Europe finances Libyan militias to curb migration
This was not the first time Libyan authorities had made their presence on these seas felt. Last year, armed men belonging to the Libyan Coastguard forcefully interrupted a rescue operation being conducted by Sea Watch, leading to the drowning of over 20 people. Under the controversial deal, Italy has offered training and finical support to the Libyan Coastguard and even sent a navy ship to assist its operations. Detention, torture, extortionWhen Libyan authorities forcefully interrupt crossings to Europe, migrants are put at great risk on the seas, but the dangers do not stop there. However, by getting Libyan authorities in Libyan waters to stop people reaching its waters in the first place, Europe can circumvent this fundamental principle.
Source:The North Africa Journal
August 17, 2017 11:15 UTC
Spanish coastguard rescues 600 migrants from 15 vessels in just one day
In just 24 hours the Spanish coastguard has rescued around 600 migrants from 15 vessels. Most of the rescued migrants are from the Sub-Sahara region of Africa and North Africa. The International Organisation for Migration claims that more than 8,300 illegal migrants managed to get to Spain between January and July this year. But almost 100,000 illegal migrants are said to have travelled from Libya to Italy so far this year. However thousands of African migrants drown every year whilst travelling in smugglers' boats on their way to Europe.
Source:The North Africa Journal
August 17, 2017 10:52 UTC
Hikma Stock Dips On Cut In FY Outlook; H1 Profit Up; To Expand Deal With Takeda
Previously, the company expected full-year Group revenue to be in the range of $2.0 billion to $2.1 billion in constant currency and Generics revenue around $670 million in 2017. Core profit before tax was $148 million, compared with $147 million last year. Profit attributable to shareholders increased 19% to $69 million, while core attributable profit of $109 million was in line with last year. EBITDA grew 9 percent to $211 million and core EBITDA increased 2 percent to $215 million. Revenue increased 1 percent to $895 million from $882 million last year.
Source:The North Africa Journal
August 17, 2017 09:22 UTC
North Africa is surging as the continent’s top travel destination, but Nigeria is struggling
North Africa is re-emerging as a major travel and tourism force in Africa, after a dip in the last few years. Since the Arab Spring protests in late 2010, concerns over security slowed travel to key North African countries. However, an analysis of seat capacity for travel to the top ten international airports in Africa shows significant growth in flight arrivals to the continent with North Africa accounting for much of the growth. Tunisia, Egypt and Morocco all saw more than a 20% increase in international arrivals in the first half of 2017. Overall, Asia Pacific has accounted for the highest increase in international arrivals despite making up only 8% of the market.
Source:The North Africa Journal
August 17, 2017 08:48 UTC