US Special Representative to Iran Brian Hook

Morocco’s trade deficit narrows on lower energy imports

Morocco’s trade deficit shrank 6.5% as the country’s energy imports dropped 20%, Morocco’s foreign exchange office said. Energy imports stood at 69 billion dirhams, offsetting a drop in phosphates and fertilizers exports by 40% to 40.8 billion dirhams, due to lower prices. State-owned phosphates and fertilizers producer said a few days ago its sales were […]

Google Wallet launches in SA amid booming digital payments usage in Africa

Alphabet Inc launched its Google Wallet in South Africa on Tuesday (23 August), after rival Apple Inc introduced its Apple Pay mobile payment system in the country last year — a sign that the tech giants try to gain a foothold in the continent’s rapidly growing digital payments space. The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the […]

Libya: Dialogue reaches final stages amid deep uncertainty

Libya peace talks to lead to a unified government are drawing towards the end-of-August deadline suggested by UNMIL Chief Bernardino Leon while deep divisions among the rival factions still persist. With the United Nations-supported political dialogue process in Libya nearing its last stages, “time is running out” for leaders on all sides and at all […]