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Source: Wikimedia CommonsThe first major powers to stake a claim in Sicily were the Phoenicians and the Greeks. Carthage, a rising Phoenician power, and Syracuse, the jewel of Greek Sicily, became bitter opponents, frequently clashing over control. Sicily Becomes the Breadbasket of the Roman RepublicVilla Romana del Casale’s vivid mosaics offer a superb glimpse into aristocratic life during the height of Roman Sicily, photo by Jose Luis Bernardez Ribeiro. Source: Wikimedia CommonsThe Roman Republic, the predecessor of the Roman Empire, seized Sicily from the Phoenicians during the First Punic War. From Devastation to Rebirth Under Spanish RuleNoto’s Baroque facades capture the artistic legacy of Spanish Sicily after the devastating 1693 earthquake, photo by gnuckx.

By Hafed Al-Ghwell, Senior Fellow and Director, North Africa ProgramIntroductionThe Mediterranean, North Africa, and the Sahel can no longer be understood as separate or loosely adjacent regions; they are increasingly forming a unified strategic space shaped by dense, multidirectional interdependencies. Polarization and ConnectivityThe contemporary Mediterranean space continues to be shaped by a deep and persistent polarization between its northern and southern shores. This shift is epitomized by projects like the SoutH2 Corridor, a 3,300-kilometer pipeline intended to transport hydrogen from North Africa to Italy, Austria, and Germany. Energy corridors, electricity interconnections, hydrogen pipelines, and digital infrastructure are materially binding Europe, North Africa, and — indirectly — the Sahel into shared systems of dependence. Treating the Mediterranean, North Africa, and the Sahel as fundamentally separate spaces risks perpetuating mismatches between problems and policy responses.

Durham have signed David Bedingham in one of their overseas slots for the 2026 county season across all three competitions. Bedingham, 31, returns to the club for a seventh-straight year, having scored almost 5,000 runs for them in red-ball cricket. In 2024, the South Africa middle-order batter was the leading scorer in Division One of the County Championship with 1,331 runs at an average of over 78, while his 279 against Lancashire that summer is the county's highest first-class score. But Bedingham only managed 333 runs in six games last year as Durham were relegated. "Being at Durham for the full season next year is very exciting and I can't wait to hopefully play a vital role in getting us back into Division One," he told the club's website., external

School closures in Northern Ireland on Tuesday 27 JanuaryA number of schools in Northern Ireland are closed on Tuesday 27 January as a result of the weather. There is an amber warning for wind on Tuesday from 05:00 GMT until 21:00 and a rain warning will come into effect at midnight, which could lead to flooding. A full list of the affected schools are detailed below. Further closures will be added as and when BBC News NI is notified.

IPSOSIpsos strengthens its Audience Measurement expertise in Middle East & North Africa with the acquisition of Seventh DecimalParis, 27 January 2026 - Ipsos announces the acquisition of Seventh Decimal, a research technology company specialising in Out-Of-Home (OOH) audience measurement. Established in 2019 and headquartered in the UAE, Seventh Decimal is still in the initial phase of its development and will benefit from Ipsos to scale. Leveraging proprietary, state-of-the-art mobility intelligence, the company delivers advanced OOH media exposure measurement for brands, media agencies, and media owners. The combined offering will become the global reference for OOH measurement and enable advanced metrics such as cross media comparability. Jean Laurent Poitou, CEO of Ipsos, declared: “This acquisition positions Ipsos as the market leader for Out-of-Home audience measurement in the region.

While the zero-tariff policy appears in favor of increasing African exports to China, the story is not as straightforward. However, while the zero-tariff policy appears in favor of increasing African exports to China, the story is not as straightforward. Unless the policy facilitates capacity building and long-term economic growth based on industrialization and digitization, a zero-tariff policy may just deepen Africa’s status as the supplier of raw materials. With China’s zero-tariff policy, Africa could attract new foreign direct investment (FDI) from companies that wish to evade high tariffs elsewhere. Africa has a long way to go to make use of the potential the zero-tariff policy offers.

At the North Sea Summit in Hamburg, leaders and energy ministers of the North Sea region committed to co-operate closely to speed up the development of stable, secure, and affordable offshore energy and hydrogen and make European industry more globally competitive. Ministerial Declaration on closer coordination to accelerate offshore wind and hydrogen projects, including through better cross-border planning and financing. Representing the Commission at the North Sea Summit, Commissioner for Energy and Housing, Dan Jørgensen said: “In these turbulent geopolitical times, Europe must stand strong and united – and choose independence. It means building on our natural strengths, and few are greater than the North Sea and its vast offshore wind potential. Work will be coordinated through the North Seas Energy Cooperation (NSEC) High-level Group, with the Commission as co-President.

Jiangsu Aishelun Medical Technology Group has increased its investment in Morocco from €5 to 20 million for a plant specialized in the manufacturing and marketing of medical devices, health technology equipment, and related products. The facility will be set up in Mohammed VI Tangier Tech City, a strategic industrial hub which is attracting a growing number of Chinese and international high-tech firms. The project is expected to boost Morocco’s leadership in advanced healthcare manufacturing in Africa, particularly in pharmaceuticals, medical devices, and related health technologies. Morocco’s healthcare sector benefits from ambitious reforms, including the generalization of healthcare coverage and increase of public funding for the modernization of health infrastructure. The goal is to reduce import of highly expensive medical devices and bolster local manufacturing, turning the Kingdom into a regional hub for generic drugs, biosimilars, vaccines, and medical equipment.

Property Finder has announced a new $170 million equity investment led by Abu Dhabi-based sovereign investor Mubadala, alongside another UAE sovereign wealth fund and existing backer BECO Capital. Under the transaction, Mubadala and the unnamed UAE sovereign wealth fund will each commit $75 million, with BECO Capital investing $20 million from its newly launched $250 million Growth Fund I. The raise follows a significantly larger $525 million investment completed in 2025, led by funds advised by Permira with participation from Blackstone Growth. General Atlantic, which first invested in Property Finder in 2018, remains a major shareholder following the latest transaction. Commenting on the investment, Property Finder founder and CEO Michael Lahyani said:“We are honoured to welcome Mubadala and our new sovereign wealth fund partners at such an important moment in our journey.

Canon Achieves EcoVadis Platinum Status: Top 1% Global Recognition for Second Consecutive YearToday, Canon (www.Canon-CNA.com) has earned EcoVadis Platinum status for the second consecutive year, placing the company in the top 1% of businesses rated worldwide for sustainability performance. Canon’s overall score improved to 89/100, up from 85/100 in 2025, maintaining the company’s Platinum rating for a second consecutive year. The Canon Group’s strong performance highlights its comprehensive dedication to sustainability, leading to high scores in all four categories. « We are so proud of achieving the EcoVadis Platinum rating for the second consecutive year » said Peter Bragg, EMEA Sustainability&Government Affairs Director at Canon EMEA. About Canon Central and North Africa:Canon Central and North Africa (CCNA) (www.Canon-CNA.com) is a division within Canon Middle East FZ LLC (CME), a subsidiary of Canon Europe.

The American streamer and YouTuber IShowSpeed is wrapping up a 28-day tour of Africa aimed at showcasing the continent's cultural diversityAmerican YouTuber and online streamer Darren Jason Watkins Jr., known as IShowSpeed, meets fans at Independence Square in Accra, Ghana, during his Africa tour, Monday, Jan. 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Tsraha Yaw)American YouTuber and online streamer Darren Jason Watkins Jr., known as IShowSpeed, meets fans at Independence Square in Accra, Ghana, during his Africa tour, Monday, Jan. 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Tsraha Yaw)American YouTuber and online streamer Darren Jason Watkins Jr., known as IShowSpeed, meets fans at Independence Square in Accra, Ghana, during his Africa tour, Monday, Jan. 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Tsraha Yaw)American YouTuber and online streamer Darren Jason Watkins Jr., known as IShowSpeed, meets fans at Independence Square in Accra, Ghana, during his Africa tour, Monday, Jan. 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Tsraha Yaw)DAKAR, Senegal -- The American streamer and YouTuber IShowSpeed is on the final leg of a 28-day tour of Africa aimed at showcasing the continent's cultural diversity, which is often overshadowed by images of poverty and violence.

Donkeys are an unassuming yet ubiquitous presence in northern Namibia. They traverse sandy village roads, pull carts stacked with firewood, and graze freely along the northern edge of the Etosha National Park. We found that donkeys occupy a contradictory status in communities in northern Namibia. We conclude that this ambiguity has arisen from the long histories of colonial rule, labour migration, conservation and veterinary control that shaped northern Namibia. The Red Line separated the more densely populated northern parts of the country from the settler-colonial heartland, the so-called Police Zone in central and southern Namibia.

North Korea has launched suspected ballistic missiles into the sea, Seoul and Tokyo say, in what appears to be a weapons test before a major political congress in the country. Japan’s Prime Minister’s Office and Ministry of Defence also said Pyongyang fired what appeared to be two ballistic missiles towards the Sea of Japan. Japan said Pyongyang’s repeated launches of ballistic missiles threatened “the peace and security of our country, the region and the international community”. “Such ​ballistic missile launches also violate relevant UN Security Council resolutions ‌and constitute a grave issue affecting the safety of the public. North Korea is prohibited by United Nations resolutions from launching or testing ballistic missiles of any range.

The guest of honor at the European Parliament, Tatiana Bucci, spoked to DW before her address to the chamber, saying it was a "very emotional" occasion. "I came to Brussels back in 1964 because my husband was working for the European institutions, so I have a very European soul. It is very important to me to be here today," she said. "Being a witness is more important than ever, more important than yesterday," the 88-year-old told DW. You can watch full interview with DW's Teri Schultz here.