The London Court of International Arbitration (LCIA) has recruited four new staff members, including two African lawyers who have joined its secretariat as junior counsel. An international arbitration practitioner in the broader Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region under a number of institutional rules such as the Cairo Regional Centre for International Commercial Arbitration, ICC International Court of Arbitration and the Dubai International Arbitration Centre, Hosny has also acted on arbitration-related litigation and proceedings before the Egyptian courts, and has previously represented construction, telecommunications, and oil and gas sector players. In a post on its web site announcing the news, LCIA director-general Kevin Nash stated: “Institutions are built by people. According to the [Queen Mary, University of London and White & Case] Survey 2025, the LCIA rules are the second most preferred set of rules across the Caribbean and Latin America, the Middle East, and Africa. That level of user confidence matters, and [the new arrivals] know these regions very well.”The 25-strong LCIA secretariat now features 14 international arbitration lawyers who speak 15 languages, drawn from 12 jurisdictions.

" " The world is a more colorful place thanks to the vast array of languages spoken. ivosar / ShutterstockIf you are searching for the most-spoken languages in the world, you are really asking how people communicate across culture, history, and geography. Linguists usually rank world languages by the total number of speakers, which combines native speakers and second-language speakers. This approach reflects how a widely spoken language functions in international business, education, diplomacy, and daily life.

MBAK Energy Solutions IncSEOUL and SHENZHEN, China and WILMINGTON, N.C., Jan. 20, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- MBAK Energy Solutions, Inc. (OTC:MBAK) is pleased to welcome Tony W. Tsai as Chief Strategist and Business Development Officer and Al Vaks as Business Development Manager for the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). Tony Tsai is a seasoned leader and organizational builder across a range of enterprises. An entrepreneur at heart, he shows a "founder's mindset" in venture development, balancing resilience and adaptability with quality outcomes and stakeholder satisfaction. MBAK Energy Solutions, Inc. is engaged in the development, manufacturing, and commercialization of non-fossil fuel energy products. The statements reflect the Company's current views with respect to future events that involve risks and uncertainties.

Is Your Payroll System Holding Back Your Global Hiring? When your payroll system can’t handle these nuances, the result is usually the same: a messy collection of spreadsheets, local vendors, and disconnected payroll tools. According to Forrester’s Is Global Payroll Truly Global? For media queries please contact:Victoria Lindsayvictoria@innocomm.co.zaAbout Deel Local Payroll:Deel Local Payroll, powered by PaySpace, revolutionises payroll management. Since 2024, Deel Local Payroll has been part of Deel, operating as an independent subsidiary, serving its customers through the PaySpace platform.

Türkiye’s gateway to international agriculture opens its doors for the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) and global partnershipsWith the theme “Türkiye’s largest agriculture fair and the gateway to global mechanization”, Konya Agriculture 2026 | 22nd Konya Agriculture, Agricultural Mechanization and Field Technologies Fair will take place from April 7–11, 2026, at the Konya Chamber of Commerce – Tüyap Konya International Fair Center. Known for its unmatched role in agricultural mechanization and innovation, the fair invites decision-makers, buyers, and stakeholders from the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region to engage in strategic dialogue and new business development. MENA: A pivotal market for agricultural machineryThe most prestigious gathering of the Turkish agricultural sector is organized by Tüyap Exhibitions Group in collaboration with the Turkish Agricultural Machinery and Equipment Manufacturers Association (TARMAKBİR) in the city of Konya, Türkiye’s agricultural production hub. Türkiye’s agricultural sector has increasingly served as a dynamic link between global technology and regional demand. This comprehensive showcase highlights the advanced industrial capabilities of Türkiye’s agricultural sector and its alignment with MENA’s modernization goals.

Ethiopian Airlines Confirms the Order of Nine Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner AirplanesAddis Ababa, 20 January 2026Ethiopian Airlines Group, Africa’s leading carrier, has confirmed purchase of nine Boeing 787-9 aircraft, with deliveries planned between 2031 and 2033. The 787 and 737 MAX purchase was finalized in December 2025 and boosts Ethiopian Airlines’ order book by 20 fuel-efficient Boeing airplanes. Ethiopian Airlines Group CEO Mr. Mesfin Tasew said: “We are pleased to confirm the order for nine Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft to further expand our existing fleet. Together, we look forward to shaping the future of air travel with advanced, efficient and comfortable airplanes to serve their passengers.”The order with Boeing brings Ethiopian Airlines’ total number of Boeing 787-9 aircraft on order to 20 aircraft. Furthermore, including the previously ordered Boeing 737 MAX aircraft, Ethiopian Airlines has significant firm orders as well as options and purchase rights for Boeing 737 MAX and Boeing 777X aircraft.

Morocco’s farming sector faces an acute labor shortage that industry leaders now characterize as more pressing than water scarcity, threatening harvests across multiple crops despite favorable rainfall boosting production. Agricultural employers struggle recruiting workers, particularly for seasonal employment essential to manual operations including harvesting, thinning, and crop maintenance. “Rural areas are emptying of employment. We cannot find workers,” Benali notes, citing olive operations formerly employing 120-140 harvest workers now managing with only twenty. Proposed solutions include improved labor redistribution between regions, though surplus labor areas are increasingly rare.

International media attention, which had once treated Sub-Saharan Africa as one of the next great frontiers of venture capital, started to thin and then drift elsewhere. The devil’s advocateAt the end of the day, it’s worth asking whether startups actually need the media attention. In the early 2020s, increased international media focus on African startups did more than generate headlines. And in a market where international media attention is increasingly selective, chasing coverage indiscriminately can waste resources and dilute strategic focus. The question at the heart of this piece—can African startups win back international media attention—has an answer: yes.

Raleigh City Council on Monday approved a zoning request that clears the way for giant towers at North Hills. Instead of the plan for towers around the existing Midtown core, Helfant says taller buildings in the center would fit better with the surrounding neighborhood. "That's what you see in North Hills East. "I think the public was dealt a very serious blow by the city," Helfant said at that time. "As businesses continue to develop and North Hills continues to grow ... traffic will continue to get worse."

DW takes a look at key votes scheduled across Africa in 2026 and what's at stake. Presidential elections are scheduled for April 12. April & October: Cape Verde — democratic role modelIn April, parliamentary elections are expected to be held in Cape Verde, followed by presidential elections in October 2026. December: The Gambia — presidential contestThe Gambia is due to hold its presidential elections on December 5, with incumbent President Adama Barrow seeking a third term. Somaliland — elections amid changing statusThe autonomous region of Somaliland is also due to hold parliamentary and municipal elections in 2026.

Kim condemns ‘incompetent’ party members for delays in government projects in advance of key ruling party meeting. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has fired a senior official tasked with economic policy and condemned “incompetent” party members, according to state media, in a rare public rebuke of officials in the secretive state. The North Korean leader fired Yang “on the spot”, KCNA said, adding that Kim considered the vice premier as “unfit to be entrusted with heavy duties”. The public admonition of officials, which Yonhap described as “rare”, appeared aimed at tightening discipline among officials in advance of the Party Congress. The North Korean leader is “using public accountability as a shock tactic to warn party officials”, Yang told the AFP news agency.

KNOT Technologies, an Egypt- and UK-based AI-native ticketing and access control platform, has raised $1 million in a pre-Seed funding round. InvestorsThe round was led by A15, an early-stage venture capital firm headquartered in Cairo, Egypt. KNOT Technologies Use of FundsThe funding will support product development, international expansion, and deeper integrations across the live events ecosystem. About KNOT TechnologiesFounded in 2025 by Ahmed Abdalla and Hussein ElBendak, KNOT Technologies is an AI-native ticketing and access control platform designed to combat fraud, enhance demand visibility, and minimize revenue leakage into unregulated resale markets. Funding DetailsCompany: KNOT TechnologiesRaised: $1.0MRound: Pre-SeedFunding Date: January 2026Lead Investor: A15Additional Investors:Company Website: https://www.knottech.ai/Software Category: AI-native ticketing and access controlSource: https://www.wamda.com/2026/01/knot-technologies-raises-1-million-pre-seed-led-a15

A solar radiation storm, ranked at a level four out of five on a severity scale, was tracked by SWPC. The center designated the event as “the largest solar radiation storm in over 20 years.”A solar radiation storm marks the release of intense, rapidly-moving charged particles toward Earth and can impact space launches, aviation and satellite operations. The last time severe solar radiation storm levels were observed was in October 2003, according to SWPC. During the May 2024 geomagnetic storm, tractor company John Deere reported that some customers reliant on GPS for precision farming experienced a disruption. A geomagnetic storm caused an auroral display over western Germany Monday evening.

The European competition is back for FC Barcelona, who travel to Czechia to play Slavia Prague at the Fortuna Arena to fulfil the matchday seven fixture. The match kicks off at 9.00pm CET on Wednesday 21 January and this page will help you work out what time that will be where you are in the world. This page also lists the broadcasters that hold the rights to UCL games in different countries and regions. In the vast majority of countries, there is no change from last year, but there are a few difference. Please bear in mind that FC Barcelona has no direct control over television distribution rights, and you should check your local news and TV listings to confirm that they are televising this particular game.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un (top, C) at the Ryongsong Machine Complex in South Hamgyong Province, North Korea on January 19, 2026. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has fired his vice premier and railed against "incompetent" officials in a rare and very public broadside against apparatchiks at the opening of a critical factory, state media said Tuesday. "Put simply, it was like hitching a cart to a goat – an accidental mistake in our cadre appointment process," the North Korean leader explained. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un blamed the factory opening delay on "irresponsible, rude and incompetent economic guidance officials", KCNA reported. The North Korean leader is "using public accountability as a shock tactic to warn party officials", he said.