Africa Matters

Why African nations are keen to join the expanding BRICS club

When the BRICS summit gets under way in South Africa next month, much of the international attention will be on whether Russian President Vladimir Putin, with an International Criminal Court warrant out for his arrest, will attend. But for many African countries, the summit is an opportunity for something much bigger. Various African countries, including Egypt, Ethiopia, Zimbabwe, Algeria,…

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Qatar Airways boosting cargo business in Africa through Rwanda

With the help of RwandAir and Africa Global Logistics (formerly Bolloré Africa Logistics), Qatar Airways plans to strengthen its cargo business on the continent. With the help of RwandAir and Africa Global Logistics (formerly Bolloré Africa Logistics), Qatar Airways plans to strengthen its cargo business on the continent. Cargo flights between Doha and Kigali are not very frequent. There…

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UAE court denies SA’s plea to extradite Guptas

‘The reasons provided for denying our request are inexplicable,’ the South African justice ministry said. A court in the United Arab Emirates denied South Africa’s plea to extradite Atul and Rajesh Gupta, the brothers wanted in the African nation on charges of money laundering and fraud. The arrest warrant against the Guptas has also been cancelled, Ronald Lamola, South…

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China is Uniting Middle East—That’s Bad News for U.S.

A diplomatic deal in the Middle East was notable as much for a breakthrough between Saudi Arabia and Iran as it was for the absence of American input. Story by Brendan Cole The March 10 agreement between the regional rivals to imminently reopen embassies after a seven-year hiatus was brokered in secret by China. It raised questions over whether…

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Hyatt’s transformative growth across Europe, the Middle East & Africa 

Summary Hyatt Hotels Corporation  shared that 45 percent of the properties that joined Hyatt’s system in 2022 were based in EAME markets and the region’s contribution to the Hyatt growth journey continues into 2023 through a strong pipeline with ten percent of Hyatt’s 117,000 rooms record pipeline, as of fourth quarter earnings, expected to join the portfolio in EAME…

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Millions at risk of climate displacement in Middle East

Little rainfall, aggressive heatwaves and worsening drought make the Middle East the most water-stressed region in the world, with climate change threatening to displace millions of people. Hussein Abu Saddam, head of the farmers’ syndicate in Egypt which is hosting the COP27 global climate summit in November, told AFP he is already witness to a climate-induced exodus from the…

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Panasonic announces FY22 business strategy for Middle East and Africa

Panasonic Marketing Middle East & Africa (PMMAF) restated its commitment to MEA market expansion and consumer well-being at its regional convention held in Dubai, that unveiled the brand’s new global motto -‘Live Your Best’ The new slogan embodies Panasonic’s commitment to providing solutions that make life simpler, safer, healthier, and more enjoyable for the customers, helping them to live…

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Why smartphones are key to unlocking financial inclusion in Middle East and Africa

Mobile money services are connecting millions of unbanked and underbanked populations in the region to digital financial services The railways were to Europe what the smartphone is now to the Middle East and Africa (MEA). In the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, Europe experienced an economic and social revolution enabled by the ability of manufactured goods and people to travel…

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