First Independent Mena Newspaper
The number of bank cards increased in Morocco by 4.1 pc in 2021, compared to the previous year, reaching 17.9 million, says Morocco’s Central Bank in its latest report, noting that 88 pc of these cards were used for cash withdrawal. Over 5.4 million payment accounts were opened last year against 2.6 million transaction accounts […]
When Algeria halted its biggest gas pipeline with Spain in late 2021, decision-makers in Madrid knew that Algiers’ reliability as an energy supplier was called into question. In a series of self-defeating measures, Algeria has announced a technical problem in the small Medgaz pipeline, effectively halting all exports to Spain and further pushing the country […]
Ways of enhancing partnership between Moroccan and Israeli universities and research institutions were at the center of talks held Monday in Rabat, between Moroccan minister of higher education & scientific research, Abdellatif Miraoui and Israeli Minister of regional cooperation, Issawi Frej. The two ministers also discussed cooperation prospects in new technologies, digitalization and artificial intelligence […]
With the euro having recently declined to less than one US dollar, this development has a direct impact on the CFA franc, which has a fixed exchange rate parity value with the single European currency. The euro’s continued to slide toward the US dollar since 5 July has resulted in a 20-year low, according to […]
Nearly 60% of African countries remain dependent on exports of commodities despite decades-long efforts to diversify. Therefore, a shift especially to technology and financial services, among other sectors, could help them withstand economic shocks, a study recently published by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) argues. UNCTAD’s Economic Development in Africa Report […]
The rising price of basic foods is worsening South Africa’s food security crisis which could increase social instability and spark a repeat of the devastating July 2021 unrest that spiraled out of control. Meanwhile, in Uganda, people in the eastern city of Jinja have taken to the streets protesting the rapidly rising cost of living. […]
Following a visit to Egypt and the Republic of Congo, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has now (26 July) arrived in Uganda as Moscow aims at strengthening its ties with the continent. Uganda’s President Yoweri Museveni has a long history of balancing strong relations with Western allies and good ties with Moscow. Lavrov has earlier […]
Tunisia’s independent electoral commission, ISIE, Monday indicated that the turnout for the referendum held the same day on the new constitution, stood at 27.5 per cent. The body’s head Farouk Bouasker, Business News reports, also indicated that only 2,458,985 of 8,929,665 who registered for the referendum casted their votes on the territory. The turnout rate […]
Libya’s envoy to the UN, Taher El-Sonni, has blamed several unidentified international forces for plotting against elections in North African country adding that the stability of the country is not their concern. “There are certain international forces who fear the idea of elections in Libya because their results are not guaranteed, which may not serve […]
Bahrain has officially joined the integrated industrial partnership alongside Egypt, UAE, and Jordan, Egypt’s Ministry of Trade and Industry said in a statement on Thursday. The announcement came during the second higher Committee meeting of the integrated industrial partnership, in the Egyptian capital Cairo. Egyptian Minister of Trade and Industry Nevine Gamea who chaired the […]