How Climate Warming Will Influence Rainfall and Vegetation in the Sahara Region
Algeria’s Tassili N’Ajjer plateau is Africa’s largest national park. Among its vast sandstone formations is perhaps the world’s largest art museum. Curiously, however, these images do not depict the arid, barren landscape that is present in the Tassili N’Ajjer today. This rock art is an important record of the past environmental conditions that prevailed in the Sahara, the world’s largest hot desert. These images depict a period approximately 6,000-11,000 years ago called the Green Sahara or North African Humid Period.
Source:The North Africa Journal
December 20, 2023 12:15 UTC
Peackeepers to Leave DRC Sooner than Expected
The United Nations Security Council has voted unanimously in favour of gradually phasing out its peacekeeping operations known as MONUSCO in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The 15-member body voted on Tuesday to draw down peacekeeping forces in the Central African nation about a year earlier than originally scheduled despite continued concerns over violence. The decision was made as the DRC prepares for presidential and parliamentary elections on Wednesday, in which poverty and widespread insecurity are expected to be key issues for voters. Numerous armed groups, including the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) and M23, are active in provinces such as North Kivu, South Kivu and Ituri in the eastern DRC, where civilians face violence and displacement. Despite concerns over security, Congolese authorities have persistently called for the UN to scale down its presence in the country, saying it has failed to protect civilians from armed groups.
Source:The North Africa Journal
December 20, 2023 12:09 UTC
A Morocco – Spain rail link in time for the football World Cup 2030?
Map of the Gibraltar Strait ShutterstockThe idea of building a crossing to connect the European and African continents dates back to the 1930s. The decision of FIFA to hold the 2030 World Cup in Morocco, Spain, and Portugal may breathe new life into this project. Could a tunnel containing a high-speed rail link be built in time for football fans to use? The “Europe-Africa Gibraltar Strait fixed link” project involves the construction of an underwater tunnel housing a high-speed rail link connecting Spain and Morocco. According to various sources, including the Spanish publication ‘La Razón,’ the proposed rail link would span 42 kilometres.
Source:The North Africa Journal
December 20, 2023 11:20 UTC
Germany keen to continue to bolster defense cooperation with Niger – The North Africa Post
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Source:The North Africa Journal
December 20, 2023 11:19 UTC
Iliad project presents 22 pilot sites at Barcelona Consortium Meeting
Iliad project presents 22 pilot sites at Barcelona Consortium Meeting 20 December 2023 20 December 2023The EU-funded Iliad Project, specializing in Digital Twins of the Ocean (DTO), has unveiled 22 pilot sites across Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East. These pilot sites showcase the application of Iliad's technologies in tackling various challenges specific to ocean industries. The live demonstration of these sites is a focal point of the annual Iliad consortium meeting this week in Barcelona, Spain. The pilot sites, many of which have reached the Minimum Viable Product (MVP) stage, showcase the versatility of Iliad's technologies. "The pilot sites will enable us to demonstrate the value of the DTO approach by engaging with a variety of stakeholders and topics," said Iliad Coordinator Charalampos Ipektsidis, from Netcompany-Intrasoft.
Source:The North Africa Journal
December 20, 2023 10:53 UTC
African Development Fund Grants Nearly 303 Million for Mauritania-Mali Electricity Interconnection Project as Part of the Desert to Power Initiative
The African Development Fund’s Board of Directors has sanctioned a $302.9 million loan for a cross-border power initiative benefiting 100,000 households in Mauritania and Mali. This project, part of the Desert to Power Initiative, allocates $269.6 million to Mauritania and $33.3 million to Mali. This venture involves a 225kV electricity interconnection between Mauritania and Mali, coupled with the establishment of solar power facilities. Additionally, it involves constructing a 50 MW solar power plant in Kiffa, Mauritania, linked to this interconnection. Furthermore, 100,000 new households, 80,000 in Mauritania and 20,000 in Mali, along the cable’s path, will join the power grid.
Source:The North Africa Journal
December 20, 2023 10:39 UTC
International Collaboration to Improve Cancer Care in Sub-Saharan Africa Updates Resources for Sixth Year
Allied Against Cancer's work involves several initiatives, including the development of NCCN Harmonized Guidelines™ for Sub-Saharan Africa. NCCN Harmonized Guidelines™ for Sub-Saharan Africa are available free-of-charge at NCCN.org/harmonized or via the Virtual Library of NCCN Guidelines® App. "Allied Against Cancer activities and tools like the NCCN Harmonized Guidelines help us to ensure cancer care can be provided according to the latest research, based on all available resources. To date, the NCCN Harmonized Guidelines™ for Sub-Saharan Africa have been downloaded over 56,000 times. Learn more about Allied Against Cancer's collaborative work to improve cancer care in Sub-Saharan Africa at alliedagainstcancer.org.
Source:The North Africa Journal
December 20, 2023 10:20 UTC
Unleashing AI’s Power: Chatbots Transforming Healthcare Experiences
As a result of their capacity to merge communication and medical care, chatbots are becoming an increasingly significant role in the healthcare sector. Healthcare professionals can prioritize their clinical decision-making process and devote more time to patient care rather than data analysis thanks to this preliminary diagnostic tool. The chatbot’s AI compares reported symptoms with a vast database of medical information to suggest potential diagnoses, streamlining the initial stages of the healthcare delivery process. Navigating the complexities of AI chatbots in healthcare presents a number of issues – particularly in the African environment. Such collaborative efforts will not only increase the relevance of AI chatbots but will also develop trust and acceptance among the communities they want to serve.
Source:The North Africa Journal
December 20, 2023 10:18 UTC
Beyond oil and gas: how to unlock MENA’s low-carbon hydrogen potential
Firstly, theIntergovernmental Declaration of Intent on Mutual Recognition of Certification Schemes for Hydrogen and Hydrogen Derivatives, which provides a crucial step towards capturing green premiums for low-carbon hydrogen. Preparing for a post-oil and gas eraThe MENA region holds 52% of global oil reserves, 43% of global gas reserves and accounts for one-third of global energy trade. Notably, competing with EU low-carbon hydrogen prices is demanding due to robust capital deployment and exploitation subsidies from the Hydrogen Bank. The grey for low-carbon play: early stagesIn the MENA region, capitalizing on the decarbonization of current hydrogen uses and industries involves leveraging low-carbon hydrogen, particularly in fertilizer, steel, and the chemicals industry. Our research indicates that widespread domestic demand support mechanisms are currently insufficient to significantly accelerate the adoption of low-carbon hydrogen in hard-to-abate sectors.
Source:The North Africa Journal
December 20, 2023 10:04 UTC
Large Boxships Trapped in Red Sea Head North for Expensive Return Through Suez
Large Boxships Trapped in Red Sea Head North for Expensive Return Through Suezby Ship & Bunker News TeamContainer analyst Lars Jensen, CEO of consultancy Vespucci Maritime, noted the development in a LinkedIn post on Tuesday. Image Credit: Lars Jensen / LinkedInSeveral large boxships that had moved south through the Suez Canal, only to be trapped in the Red Sea by threats to shipping around the Baab al-Mandab, are now heading north for an expensive return through the waterway. Container analyst Lars Jensen, CEO of consultancy Vespucci Maritime, noted the development in a LinkedIn post on Tuesday. These ships faced two options: either to wait until it was safe to resume their southbound voyage, or to pay more in Suez transit fees and bunker costs to return north and then voyage around Africa. "It is certainly understandable why the carriers were waiting since Friday hoping for a resolution," he said.
Source:The North Africa Journal
December 20, 2023 07:15 UTC
Carbon markets in Africa – where to next?
As a senior consultant to the World Bank on a project and programme to scale voluntary carbon markets in middle-income countries, Javier Manzanares, co-CEO of Climate Digital Investment, is very much immersed in carbon markets. The AGES adboard member sees carbon markets as a logical step in the battle for decarbonisation. Carbon markets offer an alternative for that process of decarbonisation. Carbon markets and finance in AfricaThe former deputy executive director of the Green Climate Fund does see enormous opportunities for carbon finance in Africa. Africa presents probably the greatest growth opportunity within carbon markets.
Source:The North Africa Journal
December 20, 2023 07:10 UTC
Africa could lead the just energy transition
This profile was published in the African Power & Energy Elites 2023. Despite being a fraction of the cause, Africa can lead the way in decarbonisation while lifting hundreds of millions out of energy poverty. Mallinson’s everyday work revolves around systems thinking in the energy sector to create a critical understanding of the entire energy system – from electricity generation to the electrification of everything. If he were to be declared his country’s energy minister, his first decree would be that, within the next decade, the energy transition should be rapidly unfolding to ensure the democratisation of the energy system. He imagines an Africa where its people own the means of electricity production, and the continent leads the world in a just transition embodied by just transformation.
Source:The North Africa Journal
December 20, 2023 07:04 UTC
BMLL adds Canadian data amid global expansion strategy
London-based data market data provider BMLL has integrated data from stock exchanges in multiple countries this year, furthering the global expansion that followed its $26 million Series B investment late last year. This December, data from major Canadian trading venues and exchanges—including the Toronto Stock Exchange, Nasdaq Canada and the Canadian Securities Exchange—became available to a host of BMLL clients, ranging from banks to asset managers and hedge funds. Before that, the company
Source:The North Africa Journal
December 20, 2023 06:41 UTC
How to demonstrate success in the energy sector in Africa?
Sameh Shenouda, Chief Investment Officer at the African Finance Corporation spoke to ESI Africa at Africa Energy Forum about their work on early stage development to get projects to bankability. “We face this challenge quite a lot. Our biggest challenge in Africa is funding,” said Shenouda. Find out more about Africa Energy Forum.
Source:The North Africa Journal
December 20, 2023 06:40 UTC
Israel-Hamas war live: Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Egypt for Gaza talks
blinking-dot Live updates Live updates,Israel-Hamas war live: Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Egypt for Gaza talksGaza death toll nears 20,000 as UN Security Council vote on draft resolution is delayed.
Source:The North Africa Journal
December 20, 2023 06:11 UTC