First Independent Mena Newspaper
US House lawmakers have blocked a $450 million emergency aid the Obama administration was planning to give to the new government of President Mohammed Morsi, facing unprecedented economic crisis, with an estimated budget deficit of $12 billion. Republican Rep. Kay Granger of Texas, chairwoman of the Appropriations subcommittee on foreign operations, says “I am not […]
The current international environment has been significantly shaped by three defining events: the eurozone crisis, the ‘Arab Spring’ accompanied by the rise of political Islam in North Africa and the Middle East, and the continuing rise of China’s global influence. A closer look at these three seemingly disconnected events reveals that they are in fact […]
There was no breakthrough in the East China Sea island dispute between China and Japan on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York. Foreign ministers Koichiro Gemba and Yang Jiechi were reported to have had a “severe” exchange. This is bad news for business in the region as the row with China […]
Leading international law firm, Clifford Chance, has officially opened its office in Casablanca on Thursday, giving the firm’s strong Africa practice its first permanent on the ground presence in the continent. The new office will act as a hub for clients across North and Sub-Saharan Africa and will build on the firm’s extensive existing business […]
Militants of Al Qaeda branch in North Africa were involved in the deadly attack that targeted America’s consulate in Libya, says U.S. intelligence agencies in their preliminary assessment of the assault that left four American diplomats dead, including U.S. Ambassador Christopher Stevens. The report confirms the link and participation of the operatives of Al Qaeda […]
The OiLibya Rally of Morocco to kick off on October 14 is becoming the biggest cross-country rally after Dakar with a number of participants that shatter all records, say the organizers. “With more than 250 competitors registered, the 2012 edition of the OiLibya Rally of Morocco overtake all previous participation’s records and becomes the biggest […]
Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas has asked UN to grant Palestinians the status of “non-member observer state”, stressing that a “Palestinian state must be realized” One year after his bid for full membership of the United Nations failed because of a lack of support in the Security Council, Mr. Abbas returned to the UN General Assembly. […]
The uprising in Syria has led the European Union (EU) to employ an instrument it rarely uses in the Mediterranean: sanctions. Since May 2011, the EU has deployed its sanctions toolbox in support of the anti-regime uprising in Syria. The objective of the EU is to increase pressure on the Assad regime to end repression, […]
Tunisia Amen bank, the 2nd largest private bank in the North African country, has received backing from the International Finance Corporation, a member of the World Bank, to boost the company’s efforts to improve governance and modernize management practices. The IFC backing comes at a time when Tunisian banks are implementing new central bank regulations […]
Mauritania financial authorities, bankers and businessmen seems to have joined forces in the fight against money laundering, financial crimes, tax evasion and terrorism financing. At a meeting held lately in Nouakchott, experts from of the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) showed mauritanian finance inspectors how to foil money-laundering operations, the various methods of […]