Morocco leads the way in blueberry exports to Saudi Arabia, surpassing South Africa, Peru, Chile • EastFruit
Following up on the conversation about the record exports of Moroccan blueberries, EastFruit highlights the sharp increase in their deliveries to Saudi Arabia. In the MY 2022/23, Morocco exported 480 tons of fresh blueberries to Saudi Arabia, compared to less than 200 tons a year earlier. For instance, over the last two seasons, deliveries from Morocco to Saudi Arabia increased sevenfold, and in the current season, sales brought Morocco almost $3 million of export revenue. Until recently, the main exporters of blueberries to Saudi Arabia were South Africa, Peru, the USA, and Mexico. Moreover, Moroccan blueberries accounted for 43% of exports to Saudi Arabia, and in the peak months (from January to May) it exceeded 80%.
Source:The North Africa Journal
November 26, 2023 14:06 UTC
Antisemitism Explained
Though other peoples also claim to be “semites,” the term antisemitism refers solely to Jews. The term stuck and today “antisemitism” is used universally to describe hatred and bigotry against Jews. And while some of these reasons may describe a particular antisemite’s motivation, none of them really explain antisemitism, especially since antisemitism happens at times and in places where these reasons don’t make a whole lot of sense. So, no matter where you look in history, antisemitism is always there, and with the explanations always changing and evolving, it’s hard not to think they’re really just… excuses. So in a surprising way, Judaism teaches that antisemitism is a reminder to the Jews of what they stand for - morality and conscience.
Source:The North Africa Journal
November 26, 2023 13:07 UTC
Need Therapy? In West Africa, Hairdressers Can Help.
Joseline de Lima was wandering the dusty alleys of her working-class neighborhood in the capital of Togo one day last year, when a disturbing thought crossed her mind: Who would take care of her two boys if her depression worsened and she were no longer around to look after them? Ms. de Lima, a single mother who was grieving the recent death of her brother and had lost her job at a bakery, knew she needed help. But therapy was out of the question. “Too formal and expensive,” she recalled thinking. Help came instead from an unexpected counselor: Ms. de Lima’s hairdresser, who had noticed her erratic walks in the neighborhood and provided a safe space to share her struggles amid the curly wigs hanging from colorful shelves and the bright neon lights of her small salon in Lomé, Togo’s capital.
Source:The North Africa Journal
November 26, 2023 11:12 UTC
Israeli no-show at EU-Med meet deepens divisions
BARCELONA, SPAIN – Israel’s absence from an EU-Med summit is expected to further test Europe’s Middle East diplomacy, with Arab states and EU countries meeting amid a shaky ceasefire in the Gaza Strip. Sánchez has also been pushing to organise an international peace conference between Israelis and Palestinians and discussed the idea as recently as this week with Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. But while the foreign ministers of Jordan, Egypt, Palestine, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia and Tunisia are expected to take part in the meeting, Israel will not send its representative. “This carries the risk of transforming it into another international forum in which Arab states bash Israel. Its initial elements were broadly discussed among EU foreign ministers earlier this month, but it remains uncertain how the bloc would ensure buy-in from regional players.
Source:The North Africa Journal
November 26, 2023 10:48 UTC
Erdogan signs motion to extend Turkish troop presence in Libya until 2026
The Turkish presidency forwarded a motion yesterday to the presidency of the Parliament to extend the deployment of Turkish forces in Libya for a further 24 months, from next January 1st until 2026. The motion states that “in the event of a resumption of attacks against the legitimate government”, i.e. Turkey’s support for the Tripoli-based Government of National Accord helped turn the tide of war in Libya. Turkish military assistance — including advisors, equipment and intelligence — helped block a year-long military campaign by the Libya National Army (LNA), led by Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar, which sought to gain foothold in the capital. The deal added to tensions in Turkey’s dispute with Greece, Cyprus and Egypt over oil and gas drilling rights.
Source:The North Africa Journal
November 26, 2023 10:10 UTC
South Korea seeks to expand diplomatic, trade ties with Africa – The North Africa Post
South Korea’s recent announcement of the opening of new diplomatic missions in several African nations signals that Seoul aims to commit more resources to a continent that is widely seen as home to some of the world’s fastest-growing markets, according to experts. “More politically conservative Korean presidential administrations have focused on building ties to Africa with an eye towards countering or isolating North Korea, both in international fora and on the African continent,” she added. But, according to Matthew Minsoo Kim, a researcher into Korean-African relations based in Seoul, there are clearly numerous challenges for both South Korea and Africa to consider if they are serious about strengthening this new, developing relationship. As for Seoul, it will need to find ways to encourage its businesses to take advantage of the opportunities available in African markets. African nations, on their part, that are eager to establish economic ties with South Korea would do well to reassure potential investors that their capital and assets will be safe.
Source:The North Africa Journal
November 26, 2023 09:19 UTC
Roos win by one point to reach first AFLW grand final
Open Extended ReactionsTwo down, one to go -- North Melbourne will play Brisbane in their first grand final as they aim to complete an impressive collection of AFLW scalps. Now they take on the Lions, who won the 2021 flag and are in their fifth grand final after Saturday night's narrow win over Geelong. "You can say a few weeks ago that we couldn't beat the Big Three and now we've knocked over two of them and we have one to go in a grand final," he said. "Whether there was a bit of resolve from last year, whether there's a bit of resolve from some of the close losses we've had this year, I thought in the last quarter the players were just super -- they dug really, really deep." Adelaide are the only multiple AFLW premiers with three and, like Brisbane, were aiming for their fifth grand final.
Source:The North Africa Journal
November 26, 2023 06:40 UTC
Morocco capital market regulator greenlights CFG Bank IPO – The North Africa Post
Morocco’s capital market regulator AMMC gave its approval for the listing of merchant bank CFG Bank on the Casablanca Stock Exchange. Under this IPO, CFG aspires to raise 600 million dirhams at a price share of 110 dirhams, with the subscription period running from November 30 to December 7. CFG Bank is also the first bank to issue an IPO since 2004. In 2022, CFG Bank had a net banking income of 500 million dirhams, up 25% and a net profit of 54 million dirhams, up 73%. The goal is part of directives under Morocco’s new development model which also aims at increasing the stock exchange market capitalization from 50% to 70% by 2035.
Source:The North Africa Journal
November 26, 2023 03:01 UTC
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North Korea's Kim inspects spy satellite photos of 'target regions', US bases
Nuclear-armed North Korea launched the satellite on Tuesday, but South Korean defence officials and analysts said its capabilities have not been independently verified. Kim examined photos of Seoul and other cities of Mokpo, Kunsan, Pyeongtaek and Osan, where U.S. and South Korean military bases are located. The photos were taken as the satellite passed over the peninsula on Friday morning, state news agency KCNA said. On Saturday, Kim visited the control centre once again to examine more photos taken in the morning of different target regions in South Korea: Jinhae, Busan, Ulsan, Pohang, Daegu and Gangneung. On Thursday, South Korean Defence Minister Shin Won-sik said North Korea had "exaggerated" by saying Kim had already viewed images of Guam.
Source:The North Africa Journal
November 25, 2023 18:04 UTC
Humanitarian crisis worsening in eastern DRC - UN
The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) and the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) express grave concern over the humanitarian crisis unfolding in the eats of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The UNHCR and UNICEF say the crisis is made worse by the limited humanitarian access to those in need, primarily due to the obstruction of major routes. The humanitarian response in the DRC is significantly underfunded. The humanitarian response in the DRC is significantly underfunded, the U.N bodies say. For 2023, the coordinated Humanitarian Response Plan, which includes both UNHCR and UNICEF financial needs, is set at US$2.3 billion, but as of today, it is only 37 percent funded.
Source:The North Africa Journal
November 25, 2023 17:01 UTC
Mongolia tops 'Best In Travel' list for 2024, according to Lonely Planet
Lonely Planet has the answer, with its freshly released “Best In Travel” selection of must-visit hotspots for the year ahead. For its part, the renowned Lonely Planet travel guide publisher has now shared its travel inspirations for 2024, resulting in its Best In Travel pick for the year ahead. Looking across the board at Lonely Planet’s full selection of trendiest destinations – country, city, region, sustainable destination, value destination – the Balkans stands out as a recurring theme. Lonely Planet also recommends visiting the Bosnian city of Mostar, or opting for the Danube Limes in Bulgaria for an inexpensive change of scenery. Finally, for those in search of off-the-beaten-track escapism, Lonely Planet recommends a hike in Wales, or a trip to the Japanese island of Hokkaido, unless you’re tempted by Tanzania’s Swahili Coast.
Source:The North Africa Journal
November 25, 2023 16:58 UTC
Africa’s Largest Economy Intends To Join BRICS in Next Two Years
Nigeria, Africa’s most populous country, which also has the continent’s largest economy, appears to be looking toward the ascendent East and Global South as it seeks to strengthen its global strategic alliances and to increase its international clout. He added that he believes Nigeria not only meets the criteria for membership for BRICS+ but for the G-20 as well, Bloomberg reported. The African continent’s leading economic power has previously voiced its intention to join the BRICS bloc. Fourteen countries, including North Africa’s second-largest economy Algeria, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belarus, Bolivia, Cuba, Honduras, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Pakistan, Palestine, Senegal, Thailand, Venezuela, and Vietnam, have, at this point, formally applied to join the group. Despite that, BRICS member states only have 15% of the voting rights in the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
Source:The North Africa Journal
November 25, 2023 15:08 UTC
Germany commits to EUR-4bn green energy investment in Africa
The German government has committed to investing EUR 4 billion (USD 4.4bn) in Africa’s green energy by 2030, Chancellor Olaf Scholz announced on Thursday, prompting African leaders to produce green hydrogen for sale to Germany. Scholz made the pledge after meeting African leaders during the G20 Compact with Africa conference. So far, 13 African countries have joined the Compact with Africa initiative, which was initiated by Germany in 2017. The German Chancellor said the conference was “the starting signal for stronger, reliable cooperation between Africa and Europe to realise climate-friendly energy supply based on green hydrogen,” as quoted in a statement by the African Development Bank. African Development Bank Group president Akinwumi Adesina, who attended the meeting, called for stronger partnerships and investment in Africa and stressed the importance of private sector development.
Source:The North Africa Journal
November 25, 2023 07:19 UTC
AU chief calls for ‘positive competition’ from Europe in bid to counter China’s growing clout – The North Africa Post
As African leaders converged on Germany’s capital earlier this week to attend the G20 ‘Compact for Africa’ meeting, the African Union (AU) chief called for “positive competition” from Europe in the continent, which would be more welcome than its criticism of Chinese investments for saddling poor countries with huge debts. There was a need for “positive competition”. There is no monopoly anywhere… Everyone has a place,” he said. The ‘Compact for Africa’ that brings together the G20 and 13 African countries, with support from organizations including the World Bank and International Monetary Fund, aims to mobilize more private, sustainable investments in African countries. While welcoming Scholz’s praise of Africa’s potential and his call for investment, an African diplomat who did not wish to be identified also added that “at the moment Europe needs Africa more than Africa needs Europe.”
Source:The North Africa Journal
November 25, 2023 07:13 UTC
South African Runner Oscar Pistorius Granted Parole
Double-amputee Olympic runner Oscar Pistorius was granted parole Friday, 10 years after shooting his girlfriend through a toilet door at his home in South Africa in a killing that jolted the world. Pistorius' parole will come with other conditions, Department of Corrections spokesperson Singabakho Nxumalo said outside of the prison where Pistorius has been incarcerated in the South African capital, Pretoria. Pistorius will not wear a monitoring bracelet as that is not part of South African parole procedure, Nxumalo said. Pistorius' parole hearing was his second in the space of eight months. Pistorius killed Steenkamp just months after he had become the first double-amputee to compete at the Olympics.
Source:The North Africa Journal
November 25, 2023 05:12 UTC