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☆ 36 Hours in Marrakesh, Morocco
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-08 | by ( Seth Sherwood | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +4 min

Leave Jemaa el Fna — the huge, chaotic, carnivalesque marketplace seen on every postcard — to the cobra charmers, hustlers and package-tour throngs. In the early 20th century, Thami el Glaoui, the onetime ruler of Marrakesh — known as the bacha in local Arabic — was a legend. The Islamic decorative arts find dazzling expression inside the Medersa Ben Youssef, a centuries-old religious school adorned with some of the finest craftsmanship in Morocco. Follow the buttery scent of leather to a passage called Derb el Hammam in Souk Smata, the leatherworking area of the medina. Sunlight filters through the overhead slats of the stalls, illuminating belts, bags, jackets, ottomans and slippers known as babouches — a favorite Morocco souvenir (prepare to haggle).

Persons: Fna, You’ll, Bab Doukkala, Malak Nafy, It’s niched, Hassan Hajjaj, Andy Warhol, Thami el, —, Rue Fatima Zahra, Maison Reine, Naelle, Ben Youssef, el Fna Organizations: Bab, Rue Dar el, of Confluences, Rue Fatima, Franco Locations: Medina, Bab, Rue, Moroccan, Marrakesh, el Bacha, medina, ”, Algerian, artfully, Morocco, Hammam, Souk Smata

☆ US Determined to Remain Strong Security Partner for Nigeria -Blinken
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-23 | by ( Jan. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

ABUJA/WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Tuesday said the United States is determined to remain a strong security partner for Nigeria, whose military is backed by the U.S., Britain and other allies in a long war against Islamist insurgents. "The United States is determined to be and remain a strong security partner for Nigeria," Blinken told reporters. Blinken added that he discussed how it is vitally important there be a focus on ensuring civilians are protected and humanitarian considerations. The coup in Niger was one of a series of military takeovers or attempted power grabs that occurred in West and Central Africa over the past three years. So far, about $2 billion of the backlog across sectors such as manufacturing, aviation, and petroleum have been paid, CBN spokesperson Hakama Sidi Ali said in a statement.

Persons: Antony Blinken, Blinken, Bola Tinubu, Mohamed Bazoum, Hakama Sidi Ali, Chijioke Ohuocha, Felix Onuah, Daphne Psaledakis, Humeyra Pamuk, Simon Lewis, Ismail Shakil, Mark Porter, Daniel Wallis Organizations: Islamist, European Union, France, Central Bank of Nigeria Locations: ABUJA, WASHINGTON, United States, Nigeria, U.S, Britain, Niger, West, Central Africa, Abuja, Africa, Cape Verde, Ivory Coast, Angola, Jan, Africa's, Washington

The Managem Group in a statement denied the findings published in German newspaper Suddeutsche Zeitung that pointed to increased levels of arsenic in the water near its century-old cobalt mine at Bou Azzer in the central Moroccan desert. The newspaper's investigation, published last weekend, found those levels of arsenic were hazardous. At the mine itself, they found almost 19,000 micrograms of arsenic per liter in the water. Political Cartoons View All 1250 ImagesIn its statement, Managem — a subsidiary of King Mohammed VI’s Al Mada Group — said its own monitoring had yielded no evidence of health or water quality issues. The German manufacturer said in a statement this week that it had spoken about the new allegations to Managem, which denied wrongdoing.

Persons: Sidi Blal, Managem, King Mohammed VI’s Al, —, Bou Azzer Organizations: Managem, Suddeutsche Zeitung, BMW, Renault, AFP Locations: RABAT, Morocco, Bou Azzer, Moroccan, United States, China, Europe, Congo, Australia, Bou

☆ Exclusive: Poland charters tankers used for Russian oil to import Arab crude
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-31 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Many oil majors have avoided contracting tankers that have carried Russian crude because of the risk of sanctions and self-imposed restrictions. Under the price cap, western companies can ship and provide insurance for Russian oil and products provided they are sold at less than $60 per barrel. "Dead freight is one of the issues when working with Russian oil as not all companies agree to use ships involved in Urals deliveries," the trader said. Orlen said it was not involved in any Russian oil shipping and it screened all vessels it uses to ensure no Russian sanctions are violated. Russian oil has been mostly shipped to Asia following the EU embargo.

Persons: Orlen, Russia's Zarubezhneft, Sidi Kerir, Nissos Delos, Marek Strzelecki, Maha El, Barbara Lewis Organizations: MOSCOW, Group, European Union, Botafogo, TMS, Kyklades, Saudi Aramco, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Asia, Lithuania, Poland, Russian, Russia, Ukraine, Moscow, ASIA, Poland's Gdansk, Lithuania's, Russian Baltic, Baltic, Primorsk, Mundra, West India, Saudi, Sidi, Gdansk, Waikiki, Bonita, Nissos, Calida, Butinge, Russia's, Ust, India, Warsaw, Maha, Maha El Dahan, Dubai

☆ Protesters descend on French Embassy in Niger shouting 'long live Putin'
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-30 | by ( Omar Hama Saley | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

Niamey, Niger CNN —Tense and sometimes violent scenes played out in front of the French Embassy in Niger Sunday as thousands of people who support a military coup voiced anger over France’s influence in its former colony. Some protesters tore down a plaque identifying the Embassy, stomped on it and then replaced it with Russian and Nigerien flags. Shouts of “long live Putin,” “long live Russia” and “down with France” could be heard among the crowds. President Emmanuel Macron’s office said France would immediately retaliate against anyone who attacks French nationals or facilities in Niger. Niger’s military leaders may have found one potential ally: the country’s eastern neighbor, Chad.

Persons: Vladimir Putin, Mohamed Bazoum, Putin, ”, Emmanuel Macron’s, Bazoum, Stringer, Mahamat Idriss Deby Itno, ‘ We’re, I’ve, Karimou Sidi, “ Organizations: Niger CNN, Embassy, Kremlin, Russian, Nigerien, Niger, National Council for, Homeland, Reuters, West African States, Sunday, ECOWAS, European Union, ” Locations: Niamey, Niger, stomped, Nigerien, Russia, France, Reuters Niger, Republic of Niger, ”, Chad, Niger’s, Africa ’ Niger, French, Kanto, Africa, ” Kanto, St, Petersburg, Ukraine, Sahel, Burkina Faso

☆ Woman unresponsive after gunshots heard at Sierra Leone opposition HQ
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-25 | by ( Cooper Inveen | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The window of the room she was found in had a shattered hole the size of a fist, the reporter said. It is not immediately clear what happened outside the press conference or how the woman was wounded. Two witnesses caught inside the building, who were later released by security forces, told Reuters they heard gunfire and saw tear gas. The police and security forces did not respond to a request for comment. Bio and Kamara reported small-scale attacks on their supporters before the election, while the APC's recent questioning of the independence of election officials raised tensions.

Persons: Samura Kamara, Julius Maada, Sidi Yaya Tunis, Bio's, Kamara, Cooper Inveen, Edward McAllister, Philippa Fletcher, Chris Reese, Diane Craft Organizations: Reuters, Congress, APC, Thomson Locations: FREETOWN

☆ In 7 Great Cities, 7 Great Walks
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-19 | by ( Christine Chitnis | The New York Times | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +32 min

Urban Walks In 7 Great Cities, 7 Great Walks The pleasures of strolling through an urban landscape are manifest. Credit... Joann Pai for The New York Times Its organically styled bouquets feel as though they’ve been freshly picked from the garden. Credit... Joann Pai for The New York Times Image Astier de Villatte specializes in antiques and tableware. Three quarters of a mile into the walk, you’ll be standing atop the first of three mountains, the 1,100-foot-high Inwangsan. Credit... Petrina Tinslay for The New York Times Few cities are so abundant with forest-like parks, coastal walks and beaches as Sydney, which is best explored on foot.

Persons: Joann Pai, Sandra Sigman, ”, Sigman, de Mars, you’ll, Dominique, Boulangerie Laurent B, Bellechasse, Germain, Bac, Pierre Hermé, monsieur, Le, Rue de Babylone, Sèvres, Rue de l’Abbaye, de Furstemberg, Furstemberg, they’ve, Tournon —, Villatte, Queen Marie de ’, Palazzo Pitti, Fna, Imane, —, Rue Riad Zeitoun, Rue Djane Ben Chegra, Rue Laarassi, darija, Rue Sidi Boulabada, Rue Bab Ahmad, Rue Bin Lafnadek, Michael Park, it’s, Earl Grey scones, Hadid, Petrina, It’s, Strickland, Carlos Drummond de Andrade, Ian Cheibub, Ayrton Senna, touristy, Clarice Lispector, altinha, Tom Jobim, toting Tom Jobim, Osório, Rua Vinícius de Moraes Organizations: Shops, Jardin de, The New York, Rue Saint, Mars, ., The New York Times, des Invalides, Saint, Blvd . Saint, Rue de, Rue du, Rue de Rennes, de, Compagnie Française, Français, du, Palazzo, Credit, Rue Riad, des, Rue Bahia Bab, Moors, Jewish, Rue, Rue Sidi, Tachenbacht, Rue Bin, Wall ., Korean, South Korean, Milk, Nielsen, New, Opera, Milk Beach, Gibsons, Reserve, South, Heritage, Hornby, Fort, Francisco, Rua Locations: Cities, Paris, Seoul, Marrakesh, Jardin, Jardin de Luxembourg, Rue, Esplanade des Invalides, Blvd, Raspail, bac, Rue de Bac, Bac, Rue de Babylone, Seine, Astier, Français ., du Luxembourg, Italian, Florence, medina, Moroccan, Central Park, Jemaa, ., El, unburied, El Badi, Spain, Marrakesh ., darija —, Marrakesh enfolds, Morocco, Naksan Park, Gyeongbokgung, Scoff, Inwangsan, Seongbuk district, Dongdamun, Sydney, Hermitage, Bayview Hill, Vaucluse, Watsons, Queens Beach, . Credit, Bayview, Fort Denison, Sydney Harbour’s, Milk, Camp Cove . Credit, Parsley Bay, Hopetoun, Palmerston, Moreton, Camp Cove Beach, Mosman, Balgowlah, Manly, Bay, Watsons Bay, de Janeiro, Copacabana, Rio de Janeiro, Brazilian, Ipanema, Rio, Beach . Credit, Italy, Copacabana Beach . Credit, de, Leme, Fort Copacabana, Arpoador, Vero, Polis Sucos, Polis

☆ Tunisia to cut off public water supplies overnight due to drought
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-31 | by ( Tarek Amara | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

TUNIS, March 31 (Reuters) - Tunisia will cut off water supplies to citizens for seven hours a night in response to the country's worst drought on record, state water distribution company SONEDE said in a statement on Friday. The country's agriculture ministry earlier introduced a quota system for potable water and banned its use in agriculture until Sept. 30, as the country battles with a drought that is now in its fourth year. SONEDE said in a statement that the water will be cut off daily from 9 p.m until 4 a.m, with immediate effect. Tunisia recorded a drop in its dam capacity to around 1 billion cubic meters, or 30% of the maximum, senior agriculture ministry official Hamadi Habib said. The agriculture ministry has also banned the use of potable water to wash cars, water green areas and clean streets and public places.

☆ Tunisia cuts off water supply at night amid severe drought
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-28 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

TUNIS, March 28 (Reuters) - Tunisian authorities have started cutting off drinking water at night in areas of the capital and other cities, residents said, in what appears to be a bid to reduce consumption amid a severe drought. Officials of the water distribution company contacted by Reuters declined to comment. Tunisia is suffering a serious drought, prompting officials to say the ministry may begin to cut off water supply at night over the summer to reduce consumption due to the scarcity of reserves in the country. The continued lack of rain, however, appears to have prompted authorities to start doing so early in some places. Yassin Mami, a lawmaker in the new parliament, said officials from the national water company informed him that the reason for the frequent interruption of water supply in Hammamet city, was "because the country is threatened by water scarcity".

☆ Qatar leads Gulf bourses higher on hopes of Fed rate pause
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-26 | by ( Md Manzer Hussain | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

March 26 (Reuters) - Qatar's stock market closed higher on Sunday, outperforming other bourses in the Gulf region, as expectations of a pause in rate hikes by the U.S. Federal Reserve lifted investor sentiment. The Fed raised its main interest rate by a quarter point on Wednesday, but signaled it would consider a pause in light of banking system stresses. The Qatari Stock index (.QSI) climbed 1.2%, extending its rally to a third straight session. The index recorded an advance in all sectors, with the Gulf's biggest lender Qatar National Bank (QNBK.QA) rising 3.1% and Qatar Islamic Bank (QISB.QA) adding 2.7%. The index was lifted up by a 15.1% jump in Sidi Kerir (SKPC.CA) and a 7% rise in Fawry Banking (FWRY.CA).

☆ I'm an experienced female solo traveler—here are 4 tips I use to be smart about my money on the go
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-18 | by ( Kamaron Mcnair | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

Solo travel is one of my favorite perks of being single. Plus, like the everyday costs that rack up quickly for singles, solo travel can often be more expensive than going with a companion. I'm not alone: Search interest in female solo travel specifically recently hit a 10-year high, according to Google Trends. These are my top four tips for smarter saving and spending on your next solo trip. The destination itself might even be a chance for you to save money.

☆ An ex-McKinsey consultant shares 5 myths about management-consulting interviews — and what to prepare for instead
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-27 | by ( Hendrikje Rudnick | Nathan Rennolds | Business Insider Deutschland | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

An ex-McKinsey consultant listed five common myths about management-consulting interviews. Top management-consulting firms such as McKinsey & Company, Boston Consulting Group, and Bain & Company, known collectively as MBB, are notorious for their challenging interviews. Interviewers are trained to refrain from asking such things," Koné said. Instead, you'll face a series of case-study interviews where the interviewer will give you a problem from a previous project, he continued. "If you depend on specific knowledge to solve problems, you'll struggle when you have to tackle problems that take you out of your comfort zone.

"The situation is very dangerous because of years of continuous drought," said Hammadi Habib, an Agriculture Ministry official. Tunisia already has food supply problems thanks to high global prices and the government's own financial difficulties, which have reduced its capacity to buy imported food and subsidise farms at home. "It is time for the authorities to declare a state of water emergency," said Radhia Smine of the Tunisian Observatory of Water. Thousands of families will lack drinking water," she added. "If we do not take decisions in January to reduce irrigation water and ration water use now to prioritise drinking water... then for sure in August we will not have drinking water in the capital or coastal regions," said Habib, the agriculture ministry official.

☆ Number of oil tankers waiting at Bosphorus rises by five - Turkish agency
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-08 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

ISTANBUL, Dec 8 (Reuters) - The number of oil tankers waiting in the Black Sea to cross Istanbul's Bosphorus strait on the way to the Mediterranean rose by five to 16 on Thursday, a shipping agency said, amid talks between Western and Turkish officials on steps to resolve the tanker queues there. A British Treasury official has said those talks were happening after the G7 and European Union rolled out new restrictions on Dec. 5 aimed at Russian oil exports. But a separate Turkish measure in force since the start of the month has caused a logjam, requiring vessels to provide proof they have insurance covering the duration of their transit through the Bosphorus strait or when calling at Turkish ports. The Tribeca shipping agency named five new tankers longer than 200 metres waiting north of the Bosphorus strait to cross southbound towards the Mediterranean Sea, in addition to the 11 named a day earlier. At the Dardanelles strait further south, nine tankers were waiting to cross southbound, down from 12 a day earlier, the agency said.

Rising salinity in the Delta has multiple causes, experts and farmers say, including overextraction of groundwater and excessive use of fertilizers and pesticides. "With time, with the sea level higher, that line of salinity will go down into the Delta. EVAPORATIONSea water intrusion and salinity also threaten the Mekong Delta in Vietnam and the Ganges-Brahmaputra Delta in Bangladesh. "You have to do much better job in a place like the Nile Delta because the water just evaporates quickly," she said. Rice cultivation helps wash the soil, but the government has imposed restrictions on the crop in parts of the Delta to conserve scarce water.

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