World Cup 2018: Will an African team reach semi-finals for first time?
By the end of the 2010 World Cup, the Swede understood Drogba was not being negative - just realistic. "I could say we'll have a team in the semi-finals but that's not the reality," said the two-time Africa Cup of Nations winner. Patrick Mboma remembers Cameroon's 2002 World Cup hopes virtually end before the team even arrived in Japan. Morocco have qualified for the World Cup for the first time since 1998Morocco is in the running to host the World Cup in eight years' time. "The problem is wider than just: 'Oh yeah, definitely an African team will win the World Cup,'" said Jaidi.
Source:The North Africa Journal
June 10, 2018 07:46 UTC
Belittling Europe, attacking Canada and Mexico and defending Russia, here are transcripts of President Trump’s press conference at G7 Summit in Canada
In Fairmont Le Manoir Richelieu Charlevoix, Canada, President Donald Trump attacked the United States closest allies like never done by an American President. He said they have been taking advantage of the United States “for decades and decades”, and were laughing at the United States’ stupidity. I think it’s very important for North Korea and South Korea and Japan, and the world, and the United States. In other words, let’s say Canada — where we have tremendous tariffs — the United States pays tremendous tariffs on dairy. We have the strongest economy that we’ve ever had in the United States — in the history of the United States.
Source:The North Africa Journal
June 09, 2018 20:22 UTC
King Hannibal: From Rome’s biggest enemy to the greatest military strategist of all time
These wars were fought between the cities of Carthage in North Africa and Rome in northern Italy for supremacy of the Mediterranean region. In 218 BCE, Hannibal decided to bring the fight to the Romans and invade northern Italy by crossing the mountain range of the Alps. By the time they reached the other side, Hannibal’s army had been reduced to about 26,000 men in total and a few elephants. In 183 BCE, Hannibal in his 60s killed himself by drinking poison to avoid capture by the Romans. Till date, Hannibal’s journey through the Alps is described as one of the greatest achievements of ancient warfare.
Source:The North Africa Journal
June 08, 2018 21:11 UTC
More migrant children expelled to Niger as Europe, North Africa tighten borders: UNICEF - Xinhua
Source: Xinhua| 2018-06-09 01:23:07|Editor: yanVideo Player CloseGENEVA, June 8 (Xinhua) -- An increasing number of migrant children are being expelled to Niger as countries across Europe and North Africa seek to curtail irregular migration, the UN children's fund UNICEF said Friday. There are insufficient cross-border mechanisms to protect these children from the many risks they face: trafficking, violence, abuse, exploitation and detention. "We are seeing clampdowns on migration from across Europe into North Africa and now farther south with a big spike in forced returns recently," said Sarah Crowe, UNICEF's spokesperson on migration in Geneva, who recently returned from Niger. She said the answer is robust systems that keep children safe across all borders north, south, east and west, with better investment to poor countries like Niger facing the brunt of this. UNICEF said that with government negotiations on the Global Compacts for Migration and Refugees currently underway in the UN system, UNICEF is calling for solutions to keep children safe.
Source:The North Africa Journal
June 08, 2018 17:48 UTC
'1983 - The Dark Years' play asks for closure to Gukurahundi
0Jonathan MbiriyamvekaHarare -The play ‘1983 –The Dark Years’ which premiered at Harare’s Theatre in the Park retraces Gukurahundi massacres and seeks closure to what has become a national issue. The play is based on what transpired in Matabeleland and Midlands where the atrocities occurred at the instigation of Mugabe’s administration. The North Korean trained 5th Brigade was unleashed after independence in Matabeleland and Midlands provinces to quell an insurgence allegedly by former Zapu fighters. According to the writer, Bhekumusa Moyo, who also acts in the play, there was wide consultation before he scripted the play. Perhaps this is why “1983 - The Dark Years” is running under the banner ''true peace, true healing, true reconciliation".
Source:The North Africa Journal
June 08, 2018 14:26 UTC
United Nations sanctions six 'millionaire migrant smugglers' in Libya
The United Nations has imposed sanctions against six human traffickers operating inside Libya. The second was Mohammed Kachlaf, described by the sanctions committee as head of a militia in Zawiya in western Libya that controls a refinery which is 'a central hub of migrant smuggling operations.' Another is Abd Al Rahman Al-Milad, described by the sanctions committee as head of the regional Coast Guard unit in Zawiya 'that is consistently linked with violence against migrants and other human smugglers.' It said U.N. experts monitoring sanctions claim Al-Milad and other Coast Guard members 'are directly involved in the sinking of migrant boats using firearms.' There was widespread global outrage after video footage was broadcast on CNN last November showing the auction and sale of migrant men as slaves in Libya.
Source:The North Africa Journal
June 08, 2018 12:00 UTC
Morocco to Receive New Batch of F16 fighters
Morocco will reinforce its air force with another fleet of 12 F16 Viper fighter jets that have been upgraded. The country’s air force have been revamped with the reception of 24 F16 jets that made of Morocco one of the mightiest air powers in Africa, the well-informed military website Far-Maroc website said. Morocco is also planning to bring its F16 fleet to the same level of the F16 Viper, the website said. A Pentagon report said that Morocco’s Royal Air Force will bolster the defense capabilities of its F16 jets with the acquisition of advanced medium range air-to-air AMRAAM missiles. Morocco’s F16 were tested in a real life battle field in Yemen as Morocco takes part in the Saudi-led coalition against the Houthis.
Source:The North Africa Journal
June 08, 2018 10:52 UTC
Spice exploration: Symrise tempts with ethnic flavors
08 Jun 2018 --- Major flavor supplier Symrise claims to have created “previously unexplored ethnic spices and seasonings” that have their roots in Latin America, North Africa and Southeast Asia. Growing consumer trends toward exciting exotic and ethnic spices and seasoning flavors are driving new product development. The producer of flavors and fragrances has responded with an in-depth study of Latin American, North African and Southeast Asian foods and beverages, compiling its findings in product literature and developing flavors and seasonings they claim can inspire breakthrough product development concepts. “We encourage our customers to request informative literature, gathered from our hands-on exploration of these areas. Symrise also tapped into the Flavor Designers Club, its online panel that is comprised of “foodies”; and, the knowledge gathered from experiential treks undertaken by the company’s flavor team.
Source:The North Africa Journal
June 08, 2018 09:37 UTC
Climate adapted farming through Conservation Agriculture
0By Timo ShihepoThe Namibian Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Forestry (MAWF) is fostering the uptake of Conservation Agriculture (CA) through the implementation of a national Conservation Agriculture programme. Conservation Agriculture has proven potential to improve crop yields, while improving the long-term environmental and financial sustainability of farming. There is a need for Namibia to adopt climate adapted practices like Conservation Agriculture. MAWF/GIZ results show that farmers could achieve 70 percent higher yields on their conservation agriculture plots as compared to conventional agriculture. But despite progress, there are still challenges that need to be addressed with regard to conservation agriculture in Namibia.
Source:The North Africa Journal
June 08, 2018 08:37 UTC
Southern African Boxing Convention: Start of a Promising Era
0By Andrew Bonani KamangaThe inaugural Southern African Boxing Convention was held in Johannesburg, South Africa on May 24-25, 2018. The event brought together boxing authorities from most of Southern and Central Africa to discuss the way forward for professional boxing in the region. This will continue to be the rallying cry for Southern African boxers to make a decent living and generate wealth through the sport. African boxers should not pummel each other for a few dollars whilst in North America and Europe, just stepping into the ring makes millions for the boxers, who in most cases, are not as talented as the African boxers. Southern African professional boxing needs innovative sports marketers and leaders to diagnose the reasons for the sorry state of the sport.
Source:The North Africa Journal
June 08, 2018 07:53 UTC
USA lobby Zim for support in 2026 World Cup bid
This is the first battle for the right to host the World Cup, where all of FIFA’s 208 members will cast a vote. This included money used to lure executive members to vote in a certain way, in the battle for the rights to host the World Cup. The Liberians also said there was more commercial value in having the 2026 World Cup held in the United States, Canada and Mexico than in Morocco. FIFA stands to earn more than £8bn profit if the World Cup is held in the three countries. “We can only refer to the FIFA Regulations for the selection of the venue for the final competition of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, and in particular to the Bid Rules of Conduct incorporated therein.
Source:The North Africa Journal
June 08, 2018 07:39 UTC
North Africa: IOM Repatriates 130 Stranded Liberian Migrants From North Africa
Abadez is in Niger and was used by the International Organization for Migration as a pickup point for Liberian migrants to bring them home. She was among 130 stranded Liberian migrants that the IOM helped to return home. Many of them became stranded while traveling from North Africa to Europe via the Mediterranean Sea. Kabla Amihere, Chief of Mission of the IOM, told reporters that the decision of migrants to return to their country was best-suited move. The IOM confirmed Thursday that several Liberians are still stranded in exile and need assistance to return home.
Source:The North Africa Journal
June 08, 2018 00:45 UTC
Durum demand lackluster
Durum demand could be as soggy as a wet spaghetti noodle this year based on good crop conditions in key growing regions. “Winter cereals are reaching maturity under good conditions and remote sensing indicators corroborate a very good winter crop season,” the monitor said in a May 22 report. Algeria received “abundant” rains in April prior to flowering, improving the yield outlook for winter crops. The crop monitor is forecasting average durum yields for the EU of 53 bushels per acre, which is five percent above the five-year average. New crop harvest prices are lower than the nearby prices, suggesting that buyers are not in “search mode” for durum.
Source:The North Africa Journal
June 07, 2018 22:41 UTC
Africa seeing signs of revival
According to Sverre Strandenes, head of sales and services at Oslo-listed Petroleum Geo-Services (PGS), seismic activity in Africa “has been somewhat slower in the past few years compared to what we saw five, six or seven years ago”, but he sees certain areas showing signs of a revival. For PGS — which owns eight marine seismic vessels — activity is also picking up in Namibia and South Africa. Planned roundOff North Africa, PGS is supporting a planned licence round for the West Mediterranean area and aims to carry out further 2D and 3D seismic work to support this offering. WesternGeco is also active in 3D operations in Angolan ultra-deepwater blocks and reprocessing of 2D seismic on open acreage off Guinea. Elsewhere in Africa, Eng said “oil companies are very active along the Senegal, Mauritania, Guinea-Bissau and further to the south” while companies such as Total are shifting focus to Africa’s South Atlantic margin.
Source:The North Africa Journal
June 07, 2018 22:07 UTC
Saving golf from decline
According to Golf Digest, the number of golfers in North America has fallen from a high of nearly 30 million in 2002 to about 21 million in 2016 – the decline continues. Not only have the number of golfers fallen, the average number of rounds per golfer have also fallen. Other arguments advanced for the decline in the game centre around demographics; apparently golf doesn’t appeal to the millennials, although research shows that they actually watch golf on TV. According to Golf Digest the number of courses closing down every year is higher that the number of courses opening, a trend that is expected to continue. According to the National Golf Foundation in the US, the game has to do more to appeal to new golfers.
Source:The North Africa Journal
June 07, 2018 19:07 UTC