The earthquake that struck on Sept 8 had no impact on the macro-economic assumptions of the draft budget as the government expects to further cut the deficit from 4.5% expected this year to 4%. The draft budget targets a swift earthquake relief response, addressing water supply challenges, implementing social dialogue deal and backing citizen’s purchasing power. It also provides for forging ahead with the generalization of safety nets and the beginning of cash handouts to needy households starting from this year’s end. Direct financial aid to the needy would target 60% of households who do not benefit from social assistance, the statement said. The draft budget also attaches priority to the overhaul of the sectors of health, education and the reform of the judiciary.

Russia's Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov attends a meeting of Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov (not pictured) with his counterparts of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) member states and the GCC secretary general in Moscow on July 10, 2023. NATALIA KOLESNIKOVA/Pool via REUTERS/File photo Acquire Licensing RightsOct 19 (Reuters) - Russia said on Thursday it was coordinating its policy in the Middle East and North Africa with China, an increasingly close ally that President Vladimir Putin visited this week. Russia said Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov had held talks in Doha with Zhai Jun, China's special envoy for the Middle East, in which they exchanged views on the conflict between Israel and the Palestinian Hamas group that runs the Gaza Strip. Russia sees itself as a potential broker between Israel and Hamas, which triggered the current crisis with a surprise assault on Oct. 7 that killed 1,400 people. Israel has responded with aerial bombardments that Gaza authorities say have killed more than 3,500 Palestinians and left more than 12,000 wounded.

Just a few hours after the Palestinian militant Islamist group Hamas launched its attacks against Israeli civilians on Oct. 7, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi posted a message on X—formerly known as Twitter—declaring himself “[d]eeply shocked by the news of terrorist attacks in Israel.” Speaking for India, Modi added, “We stand in solidarity with Israel at this difficult hour.”The statement was almost startling for its timing and forthrightness. Not even U.S. President Joe Biden had expressed his support for Israel yet. There was no ambivalence in Modi’s words, no hedging, no waiting period for a committee to craft a diplomatic communiqué. And in case there was any doubt about whether the statement represented the position of the Indian government, Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyan Jaishankar promptly reposted the message to his followers. On Sunday, the day after the attacks started, with terrorist gunmen still inside Israel, the Chinese Foreign Ministry did not condemn Hamas.

Asians and sub-Saharan Africans especially likely to acquire HIV in first year of arrivalA study of foreign-born gay and bisexual men living with HIV in France has concluded that 62% of them acquired HIV after moving to the country. Men from north Africa and Asia were more likely than men from elsewhere in the world to acquire HIV in France, and men from South America less likely. The GANYMEDE study looked at 1159 gay and bisexual men with HIV who attended 14 care centres in the Paris region. The researchers estimated that 62% of study participants had acquired HIV after arriving in France. Similarly, for Asian men, 16% acquired HIV in their first year compared with 6% in any of the following nine years.

The 2023 edition of AOW: Investing in African Energy was marked by several key announcements, statements and deals that are set to shape projects and market trends over the coming year. AOW provided a platform for enriched cooperation between African nations, especially when it comes to cross-border energy trade and regional investments. At AOW 2023, details were shared on ongoing drilling programmes in Zimbabwe and Mauritania, two exploration frontiers that could deliver tremendous results over coming weeks. Loyal to its key mission of promoting E&P deals across Africa, AOW 2023 also provided a platform to promote attractive open blocks and licensing rounds in Africa. AOW: Investing in African Energy returns to Cape Town on 7-11 October 2024.

A telecommunications company and a Nigerian startup have partnered to introduce solar freezers in 12 African countries. The freezers will be first marketed in the Democratic Republic of Congo and thereafter in the 11 other countries. Koolboks offers refrigerators and freezers equipped with solar panels and batteries ensuring up to three days of total autonomy. Smart tech to hook up solar freezers in homesOrange Energies allows households not otherwise connected to the electricity grid to acquire solar energy solutions on a pay-as-you-go basis. “With this partnership, we will be able to offer this luxury in many countries and regions simultaneously.”

In recent months, Nepal has experienced a series of episodes that hint at organized efforts to increase the salience of religion in the country’s officially secular politics. During his visit, Shastri reportedly challenged Nepal’s secular status. This emergence of Hindu nationalism coupled with attacks on Nepal’s secularist credentials as enshrined in the country’s Constitution should not be seen as discrete incidents. Rather, they must be analyzed in the context of Nepal’s domestic politics, while taking into account the export of Hindu-nationalist politics from India. The stakes are urgent, as the health of Nepal’s young democracy would suffer should Hindu nationalism make significant inroads there.

Many areas in the Middle East and North Africa are hugely popular with holidaymakers, especially Brits seeking some winter sun. explains your rights if you decide to cancel an upcoming trip and what travel insurance can help with before your holiday and during your stay. Find out more: travel insurance explainedDoes travel insurance cover war? How to find the best travel insurance policyAs always, the first step is to shop around for the best deal. Price comparison sites allow you to view multiple travel insurance quotes at a glance and also include policies for high-risk countries.

World Bank president Ajay Banga has big ambitions, including measuring the bank’s performance based on outputs, rather than inputs. But ceasing fossil fuel financing doesn’t appear to be on the agenda for now.

The theft of 2,000 gems at the British Museum began 20 to 25 years ago, according to George Osborne, the chairman of the trustees. Following the theft, it has now been determined that that the museum has 2,400,000 uncatalogued or partially catalogued objects which need to be properly documented. Altogether the museum holds eight million objects, but of these two million do not realistically require cataloguing, including one million stone tool fragments from North Africa. Mark Jones, the new interim museum director, also gave evidence to the Commons committee. He said that the 2,000 uncatalogued objects stolen were "really known only to one person, and that person decided to take advantage of that”.

The African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) has signed a seven-year term loan agreement to fund the construction of a gas processing facility in Nigeria. The agreement with Nigeria’s Alphaden Energy & Oilfield Limited is for the construction of a 20 million standard cubic feet per day plant in Bayelsa State. It will have the capacity to produce 405 million tons per day of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) and 294 barrels per day of crude condensates. It is poised to reduce gas flaring and generate value from Nigeria’s natural gas resources. Africa’s natural gas sector set for growth – IEA reportFor Afreximbank, the transaction furthers its commitments to Africa’s energy transition.

ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates--(BUSINESS WIRE)--UFC®, part of TKO Group Holdings (NYSE: TKO), and The Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) – today announced the continuation of their existing partnership which sees the world’s premier mixed martial arts organisation bring one numbered event featuring a championship bout to the Emirate every year. UFC has a longstanding relationship with Abu Dhabi, with 18 events having been held in the region since 2010. That partnership was deepened further as Abu Dhabi hosted three separate series of Fight Island events during the Covid-19 pandemic. About the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi:The Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) drives the sustainable growth of Abu Dhabi’s culture and tourism sectors, fuels economic progress and helps achieve Abu Dhabi’s wider global ambitions. For more information about DCT Abu Dhabi and the destination, please visit tcaabudhabi.ae and visitabudhabi.aeFor Abu Dhabi Calendar, please visit inabudhabi.ae

The terrorist attack carried out by Hamas on 7 October reignited the trauma of the November 2015 Paris attacks for many in French society. With its large Jewish and Muslim communities, and a fraught colonial past in the Middle East and North Africa, France is being torn apart by the events in Gaza and Israel. While the war in Ukraine generated a rare consensus within the French population and political class, the war in Gaza may expose the strong divides that underpin it. And, just three months after the violent riots that followed the killing of a young French Muslim by police, French authorities fear another outburst of violence may be imminent. Over a hundred anti-Semitic acts were reported in the five days following the Hamas attack.

Deglet Nour remains the leading Tunisian date with 328 thousand tons this season." Tunisian dates are in demand all over the world, especially in Europe, North Africa, Gulf countries, Indonesia and Malaysia. "There will be the first choice branch, called Arjoun, which we strongly recommend to sources of good quality dates. Then there's an intermediate quality, called Standard, and finally Ravier dates, for those who prefer dry dates. Tunisian date prices remain very competitive on the international market."

Abu Dhabi has a proven track record of hosting major global sports and adrenaline-driven competitions and events. The emirate’s transformation into a global centre for sport is fully supported by Abu Dhabi Government entities in cooperation with private sector partners. About the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi:The Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) drives the sustainable growth of Abu Dhabi’s culture and tourism sectors, fuels economic progress and helps achieve Abu Dhabi’s wider global ambitions. We work to enhance Abu Dhabi’s status as a place of authenticity, innovation, and unparalleled experiences, represented by its living traditions of hospitality, pioneering initiatives and creative thought. For more information about DCT Abu Dhabi and the destination, please visit tcaabudhabi.ae and visitabudhabi.aeFor Abu Dhabi Calendar, please visit inabudhabi.ae