Former Australia captain Steve Waugh has come down hard on Cricket South Africa for naming a second-string side for the New Zealand Tests. He also slammed New Zealand Cricket for allowing a top-tier nation like South Africa to undermine them by sending a B-Team for the Test series. Why would you when it shows a lack of respect for New Zealand cricket?,” Waugh told the Sydney Morning Herald. Someone like Nicholas Pooran is really a Test batsman who doesn’t play Test cricket. If the ICC or someone doesn’t step in shortly then Test cricket doesn’t become Test cricket because you’re not testing yourself against the best players,” he added.

Traditionally, attention has been centered on risks to infrastructure systems like transport, water, and energy in terms of climate resilience. Anna Murphy, the co-lead author, emphasized the necessity of focusing on the people who utilize the infrastructure when contemplating climate resilience in infrastructure investments. They show how determined and creative problem-solving are identifying win-win-win solutions for climate resilience local livelihoods, wider economies, and the planet." Infrastructure plays a crucial role in promoting climate resilience and development by offering direct adaptation or resilience benefits that shield against climate hazards. This is particularly crucial for addressing climate resilience and sustainable development challenges in regions where these issues are most pressing.

CAIRO - Egypt's transport ministry raised the price of tickets on the Cairo metro by up to 20% on Monday, officials in metro stations said. Tickets for rides of up to 9 stations rose to 6 Egyptian pounds ($0.19) from 5 pounds, those for up to 16 stations rose to 8 pounds from 7 pounds, and those for up to 23 stations rose to 12 pounds from 10 pounds. A new category of ticket was created for trips extending more then 23 stops, which will now cost 15 pounds, according to the metro officials. The heavily subsidised Cairo metro system, used mainly by lower-income travellers, has long run at a loss. ($1 = 30.8500 Egyptian pounds)(Reporting by Patrick Werr; Editing by Alison Williams)

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — North Korean leader Kim Jong Un said his military should “thoroughly annihilate” the United States and South Korea if provoked, state media reported Monday, after he vowed to boost national defense to cope with what he called an unprecedented U.S.-led confrontation. North Korea has increased its warlike rhetoric in recent months in response to an expansion of U.S.-South Korean military drills. Since 2022, North Korea has conducted more than 100 missile tests, prompting the U.S. and South Korea to expand their joint military exercises. Estimates of the size of North Korea’s nuclear arsenal vary, ranging from about 20-30 bombs to more than 100. Many foreign experts say North Korea still has some technological hurdles to overcome to produce functioning nuclear-armed ICBMs, though its shorter-range nuclear-capable missiles can reach South Korea and Japan.

The world cannot continue to ignore the humanity and suffering of Palestinian men in Gaza and beyond. Through this refusal to explicitly count and grieve their deaths, Palestinian men are denied civilian status. First, they pose an existential threat to Palestinian men and boys in the occupied Palestinian territories and beyond because they permit their maiming and murder. Any deal for the release of captives must include Palestinian men, such as hundreds being held in so-called administrative detention. Illegal settlers should be held accountable for the violence they inflicted on the Palestinian people, including Palestinian men and boys who are disproportionately killed.

The 28-year-old’s first job offer comes from a large state-owned enterprise to work as a manager for its infrastructure projects in Russia. But despite this, overseas vacancies for Chinese workers are rising. 11:11 The reasons behind China’s high youth unemployment rate The reasons behind China’s high youth unemployment rateChina’s non-financial outbound direct investment rose 12.7 per cent year on year to US$115.7 billion in the first 11 months of 2023. Currently, there are several million Chinese people working overseas in oilfields , infrastructure construction sites or Chinese-invested factories. However, working overseas will become an increasingly popular option as many middle-class families need a stable cash flow to pay their mortgage instalments and family bills.

Mohamed Amine Htiouich began honing his metal engraving skills as a teenager. While it is gaining recognition abroad, local artisans regret that metal engraving remains undervalued at home and suffers from a lack of government support. Soula said that local craftsmen were "inspired by the aesthetic, religious and cultural references of their societies" when creating the exquisite works. While the traditional craft is gaining recognition abroad, local artisans regret that metal engraving remains undervalued at home and suffers from a lack of government support. Public initiatives are also few and far between in Algeria, but engraved metal remains in high demand.

CAIRO - Egypt's deficit in net foreign assets narrowed by 5.26 billion Egyptian pounds ($170.5 million) in November to 834.0 billion pounds after commercial bank assets rose and central bank liabilities declined, according to central bank data. The deficit is still the country's third highest ever, following record deficits in June and October. Net foreign assets (NFAs) represent both central bank and commercial bank assets held by non-residents, minus their liabilities. The central bank has drawn on the country's NFAs to help support Egypt's currency over the past two years. In September 2021, NFAs stood at a positive 248 billion pounds.

Algeria will participate in the TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations for the 19th time in its history. The North African giants are drawn in Group D alongside Angola, Burkina Faso and Mauritania. Algeria’s TotalEnergies AFCON fixtures:15 JanuaryAlgeria – Angola: 20:00 GMT, Bouaké Stadium. 20 JanuaryAlgeria - Burkina Faso: 14:00 GMT, Bouaké Stadium. 23 JanuaryMauritania – Algeria: 20:00 GMT, Bouaké Stadium.

"Although North Korea has no intention of giving up nuclear weapons, it might try to extract payment for acting like a so-called responsible nuclear power." Nam Sung-wook, a professor at Korea University in South Korea, said if President Joe Biden is reelected, North Korea won't get what it wants. Nam said North Korea will also test-launch more intercontinental ballistic missiles capable of reaching the continental U.S. this year. "North Korea will act to the fullest extent under its timetable for provocation until the U.S. election day," Nam said. South Korean officials said Russian support likely enabled North Korea to put its spy satellite into orbit for the first time on Nov. 21.

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It appears to be the first time Mr Kim has said such a thing and marks an official change in policy - although in practice there has been little prospect of unification for some years, with no progress and little effort being made.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un wrapped the year with fresh threats of a nuclear attack on Seoul and orders for a military arsenal build-up to prepare for a war that can “break out at any time” on the peninsula, state media reported Sunday. North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un attends a meeting Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea, at the party's headquarters, in Pyongyang, North Korea on December 31, 2023. The North has previously described the deployment of Washington’s strategic weapons – such as B-52 bombers – in joint drills on the Korean peninsula as the “intentional nuclear war provocative moves”. File photo: A rocket carrying a spy satellite Malligyong-1 is launched, as the North Korean government claims, in a location given as North Gyeongsang Province, North Korea on November 21, 2023. The United Nations Security Council has adopted many resolutions calling on North Korea to halt its nuclear and ballistic missile programmes since it first conducted a nuclear test in 2006.

Morocco has stepped up its extensive social reform program by introducing direct financial assistance for needy families. As of this December 28, nearly one million families, or 3.5 million Moroccans, started receiving direct financial assistance for the first time. Submitting applications remains open to families meeting the eligibility threshold, and will benefit from direct social assistance. The program, part of a comprehensive social reform launched by King Mohammed VI in 2020, also includes the expansion of social coverage. Concurrently, the country has undertaken to extend mandatory health coverage to the entire population, a process initiated in 2021.

While Silicon Valley may be known as the world’s biggest tech hub, Houston is quickly catching up when it comes to clean tech. This has spurred the development of a plethora of clean tech and green energy startups, viewing Houston as the U.S. energy transition hub. Related: Chinese Cities Ease Gasoline Car Restrictions to Boost EconomyAs a major city, Houston is home to a three million-strong workforce. Established in 2021, it provides 266,000 square feet of commercial office space for tech companies, individuals, and early-stage startups, as well as event spaces. As Houston rises as a clean tech hub, Silicon Valley is looking over its shoulder as Texa is rapidly attracting more young tech professionals and startups.