Author: BGMN

EU and Tunisia end negotiations on new aviation agreement

BGMN

The European Union (EU) has concluded a new set of negotiations with the Tunisian Government for the development of a futuristic aviation agreement. The agreement is expected to provide additional market access for airlines as well as offer improved connectivity, more choice and reduced fares for travellers. Negotiated by the European Commission as part of its Aviation Strategy for Europe, the agreement also seeks to bring another 800,000 passengers to Tunisia over a period of five years. The deal could further generate a GDP growth of 2.7% from travel and…

European Commission announces €9 billion in climate aid for partner countries

BGMN

During the One Planet Summit, the European Commission announced a series of climate-smart investments for Africa and the EU Neighbourhood countries worth €9 billion. The news is part of the EU External Investment Plan, which was adopted in September to boost climate investment in partner countries in Africa and the European Neighbourhood. These are countries which lie to the east and south of the EU, including Algeria, Morocco, Egypt, Tunisia, Azerbaijan, and Ukraine. The External Investment Plan aims to leverage a total of €44 billion of investment by 2020 through…

Libyan women seek greater role in forthcoming governance system

BGMN

Leading Libyan women concluded a two-day consultative meeting on the political changes happening now in Libya and the impact on women’s participation in the forthcoming governance system. The meeting, organized last week by the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) as part of UN efforts to promote the women’s participation in Libya’s political sector, brought together academics, previous government officials, two members from the House of Representatives and the State Council, regional and youth female representatives and women residing outside Libya. Deputy…

Key Middle East Publics See Russia, Turkey and U.S. All Playing Larger Roles in Region

BGMN

Most do not expect Syrian war to end in 2018 Majorities across five Middle Eastern and North African countries agree that Russia, Turkey and the United States are all playing more important roles in the region than they did 10 years ago, according to a spring 2017 Pew Research Center survey. While a median of 53% across the same countries also see Iran playing a more important role, fewer in the region say that Israel and Saudi Arabia have gained influence in the past 10 years. The only country the…

Britain’s shameful abandonment of Libya needs to end

BGMN

The exposure of refugees being sold as slaves in Libya raises uncomfortable questions about our national debt of conscience You could be forgiven for not being aware of the horrific reports from Libya which have gained momentum in some parts of the press this week. I emphasise the word some — within the last week, no broadsheet paper has featured on its front page the story which should be unthinkable in 2017: that West African refugees are now victim to a slave trade which has sprung up in the Libyan hinterlands,…

How sustainable is our country”s food system? Ethiopia does better than US, China and Nigeria

BGMN

Can lower-income countries develop sustainable food systems? ·         France, Japan and Germany lead the world ·         Ethiopia, coming 12th in our Food Sustainability Index, performed better than both the US and China. ·         Nigeria came 24th out of the 34 countries in the coverage, performing better than Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Brazil, India and United Arab Emirates. Food represents a common thread linking the 17 Sustainable Development Goals adopted by UN member states in 2015. The Food Sustainability Index (FSI), developed by The Economist Intelligence Unit with the Barilla Center for Food & Nutrition, is…

Stash of bullets discovered near Christmas market in Berlin not linked to terrorism – police

BGMN

A “large amount” of ammunition was discovered Sunday evening near a Christmas market in Berlin, prompting the police to sweep the area. Authorities, however, claim the discovery is not uncommon, and unlikely linked to terrorism. The ammunition, according to the publication, was discovered by a tenant of an underground car park at Spandauer Damm. The individual immediately alerted police. The munitions were allegedly found behind a stack of winter tires in a small plastic bag. There were around 200 rounds of new 7.65 caliber ammunition, according to the report. The cartridges were…

Egyptian young businessman Omar Sakr wins ‘elevator pitch’ at the Africa 2017 Forum

BGMN

Khaled Abdel Ghaffar, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, Egypt, awarded Omar Sakr, founder and CEO of Nawah-Scientific, the winning prize for the “elevator pitch” competition, which was held at Africa 2017 at Sharm-el-Sheikh, in Egypt. The prize is an entry to a training programme at Stanford Business School in California, the spiritual home of modern day entrepreneurs. The competition, as part of Young Entrepreneurs Day, offered a chance for African start-ups to gain exposure and raise their profile by pitching their business ideas to an international delegation of executives…

Corruption, Not Terrorism, Is Tunisia’s Biggest Threat

BGMN

The “democratization of corruption” is putting Tunisia’s transition at risk, affecting every level of the country’s economic, political, and security systems.  Since the 2010-2011 revolution that ousted Tunisian President Zine el Abidine Ben Ali, the European Union has shown a clear commitment to supporting the consolidation of country’s democratic transition. The EU has provided Tunisia with approximately €3.5 billion in a combination of grants and loans since 2011. After establishing a “Privileged Partnership” between the EU and Tunisia in 2012, the EU has strengthened relationships with the Tunisian government and civil…

UN envoy to Libya wants to model Libya’s crisis solution on the Tunisian one

BGMN

“I want to repeat the Tunisian solution of the crisis in the Libyan dilemma.” Said the UN envoy to Libya Ghassan Salame, who was part of the solution in Tunisia three years ago. Salame told Al-Sharq Al-Awsat Friday that he aims to have Libyan parties sign consent to the upcoming results of the elections as happened with the Tunisian parties in 2014. “I am contacting all Libyan parties even those loyal to Gaddafi’s regime because the solution in Libya is tied to the constitution, national reconciliation and elections.” He added.…