Niger braced Friday for a weekend of planned anti-French rallies as tensions mount between the country’s new military rulers and its traditional ally. A coalition of civil society groups opposed to the presence of French forces in Niger has called a three-day sit-in, starting Friday. French military spokesman Colonel Pierre Gaudilliere Thursday warned that “the French military forces are ready to respond to any upturn in tension that could harm French diplomatic and military premises in Niger”. Return to democracyThe deadline in another thorny issue between France and Niger could also run out this weekend. The military rulers so far have not responded to the suggestions, having previously spoken of a three-year handback period.

France on Friday confirmed one of its citizens had been killed and another was jailed, a day after media reports said two tourists were shot dead by coastguards when they strayed across Algeria’s maritime border with Morocco. Moroccan media reported Thursday that two French-Moroccans had been killed after straying across the border into Algerian waters on jet skis, near the popular Moroccan beach resort of Saida. The foreign ministry in Paris reported only one death without providing the circumstances or location, while saying another of its citizens was “jailed in Algeria” in “an incident involving several of our nationals”. Paris did not release the identity of the person it said had been killed. Mohamed Kissi said that he had been recovered by the Moroccan navy and brought back to Saida.

As Sudan seems entirely engulfed in war, we need to rethink our mediation strategy. When it comes to crisis resolution in Africa, sub-regional organisations face credibility and legitimacy problems that limit their options. In reality, these Sudan mediation efforts suffer from a lack of leadership. Rethinking the mediation frameworkSuccessful mediation in Sudan requires, above all, a new framework aimed at avoiding parallel initiatives and, most importantly, appointing a universally accepted and credible special envoy around whom international efforts can focus. African diplomacy should not be caught in the trap of thinking that only Africans should handle African problems.

Insights Driving the MarketThe meticulously compiled report titled "The Cryopreservation Bags and Freezing Bags Market: Distribution by Type of Analyte Stored and Key Geographical Regions" provides a panoramic vista into the impending landscape of cryopreservation bags and freezing bags. : The rapid ascent of advanced therapeutic medicinal products (ATMPs), distinguished by their reliance on genes, cells, and tissues, is projected to act as a catalyst for the cryopreservation bags and freezing bags market. : The projected CAGR of 8% for the cryopreservation bags and freezing bags market underscores its impressive growth trajectory. These entities have made significant strides in the realm of cryopreservation bags and freezing bags, thereby shaping the market landscape. The cryopreservation bags and freezing bags market stands as a testament to innovation, poised to redefine the future of biological storage.

A section of Yonge Street was shut down in North York this morning following a gas leak in the area. According to police, a gas leak was reported on Yonge Street, just south of Cummer Avenue near Finch Avenue, shortly after 9:30 a.m.Toronto Fire told CP24 that a contractor working in the area severed a high-pressure gas line. Both the northbound and southbound lanes of Yonge Street were shut down as crews tried to resolve the situation. One nearby building was evacuated as a precaution but Toronto Fire said occupants are now allowed to return. All lanes reopened shortly before 11 a.m.

Russian oil product deliveries to North Africa hit all-time highs earlier this year as volumes traditionally destined for Europe were forced into other regions. Much of the focus has been on the surge in Russian volumes into Asian markets, but North Africa has also emerged as an important near-home market for Moscow. Most of the new influx of oil into North Africa is of middle distillates, which have displaced fuel oil as the primary Russian import. An average of 220,000 b/d of Russian oil volumes arrived into the region so far this year, according to data intelligence firm Kpler. This is more than double 2022’s 91,000 b/d average which in itself marked an annual record, with pre-covid levels having topped out at 61,000 b/d.

The new BRICS, or what might be called BRICS+, will soon be comprised of nations with nearly five times the population and more than 20 percent greater economic output than the G7 grouping of wealthy industrialized nations. Some see the expanded BRICS as a “new alliance” that will soon “overtake” Western-led institutions such as the G7 and NATO. Others lampooned the announcement, seeing BRICS as a “fake” institution lacking a clear vision or coherence. Last year's summit was significant for how it contrasted with the G7 meeting, which was held almost simultaneously. Indeed, BRICS and its message seems to carry a certain appeal, as apparently as many as 40 nations wish to join the bloc.

However, just as there isn’t only one type of production cloud, there isn’t just one cloud protection scenario. Robust Data Protection StrategyThe hybrid cloud provides a host of benefits, including optimal flexibility, improved scalability and control, greater support for a remote workforce, cost control, and enhanced backup capabilities. It is, however, important to note that data protection in the cloud remains the responsibility of the organization (the data owner) and not the cloud service provider, meaning that a robust data protection strategy that follows the shared responsibility model is needed for data kept in the cloud. A Winning Solution to Bolster Data Defense ArsenalsThe hybrid cloud model allows organizations to bolster their data defense arsenals if the 3-2-1-1-0 golden backup rule is applied. Lastly, zero relates to no errors or failures in the recovery phase through testing, ensuring that all backup data is thoroughly verified.

Singapore companies’ investments in the African continent cumulatively reached US$23.7 billion as at 2021. As testament to the robust interest to participate in Africa’s growth opportunities, five agreements were inked today at the 7th edition of the Africa Singapore Business Forum (ASBF) 2023 organised by Enterprise Singapore (EnterpriseSG). The Treaty will promote greater investment flows between Singapore and Kenya by protecting the interests of both Singapore and Kenyan investors. In addition, there will be 12 country investment panels covering East Africa, West Africa, Southern Africa and North Africa. Singapore brand owners and manufacturing services companies are keen to partner Africa to address demand in food manufacturing, agro-processing, pharmaceuticals and automotives.

PARIS (AP) — There’s a good chance — two very good chances, actually — that the 2023 Rugby World Cup will be the year of the North. We will need it.”Notably, Ireland and France have mental Rugby World Cup hurdles to clear. That means two of them at most will get past the quarterfinals, giving this Rugby World Cup a big headline day halfway through. Chile will make its tournament debut, giving the Rugby World Cup three teams from soccer-mad Latin America for the first time — the Chileans, Argentina and Uruguay. It’s a step forward for growing a sport that is heading to a new market, the United States, for the 2031 World Cup.

The U.S. administration has underscored its strong support for the principled stand taken by ECOWAS in defense of democracy and constitutional order in Niger. They also discussed the important role that democracy and development play in contributing to stability and security in the Sahel. Algeria has repeatedly said it was against military intervention as ECOWAS says it has chosen an undisclosed “D-Day” for a possible military intervention to restore Niger’s democratically elected president following the coup. Abdel-Fatau Musah, the Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace & Security of the ECOWAS bloc, said that military forces are “ready to go anytime the order is given” for military intervention in Niger. Last week, ECOWAS ordered the “activation” of a regional standby force to prepare itself to enter Niger, which was taken over by a military junta on July 26.

Interestingly both countries have experienced different approaches to this lead. Nigeria’s fashion industry has a long and rich history, dating back to pre-colonial times when different ethnic groups developed their distinctive clothing styles using local fabrics and embellishments. Although the industry was not very large or profitable in the early ’60s, it caught on shortly after, when the industry experienced a surge of creativity and innovation. Conversely, Egypt’s fashion industry embraces a technical edge. Despite occasional setbacks, Egypt has maintained a position ahead of much of Africa, even ranking well in industrial achievements.

The Ayurveda Co plans retail expansion throughout MENA region, 50 Indian store openings ByIsabelle Crossley PublishedSep 1, 2023Ayurvedic personal care and beauty brand The Ayurveda Co plans to expand its brick-and-mortar retail presence in the Middle East and North Africa region. The business also plans to open 50 exclusive brand outlets in India during the current financial year. Natural beauty products by The Ayurveda Co - The Ayurveda Co- FacebookThe Ayurveda Co sees a significant growth opportunity in the MENA region after recently entering Dubai, Indian Retailer Bureau reported. The business also expects to see non-metro locations in India drive growth and will concentrate on Tier 2 and 3 cities for its domestic store openings in the 2014 financial year. The business expects to reach breakeven by March 2024 and is eyeing profitability in the 2025 financial year.

The IMF-WB annual meeting is expected to bring together 14,000 delegates in Marrakech, as the world seeks to bridge the fragmentations induced by a changing world order. “We did a paper on how the continental free trade agreement can benefit Africa if these trade and non-trade barriers are eliminated and the results are phenomenal: trade within Africa can increase by 53%, trade between Africa and the rest of the world by 15%, and real income per capita could grow by 10%,” the IMF chief said. She also elaborated on why Africa needs to increase the use of digital money. “We need physical connectivity. We need every African business, every African institution connected to the internet and that requires coordinated action by governments,” she said.

Azentio Software is excited to announce the appointment of Sanjay Singh as its new Chief Executive Officer. Commitment to Innovation and Expertise“I am truly honored to take on the role of CEO at Azentio,” expressed Sanjay Singh, the newly appointed CEO. In the realm of industry players, Azentio shines through its extensive customer reach, market-leading products, and exceptional talent. Before Datto, Sanjay spent 18 years at Akamai, pivotal in global go-to-market functions and overseeing diverse initiatives. Sanjay will assume the CEO role with immediate effect.