Latest news with #NorthAfrican
Morocco World
7 hours ago
- Politics
- Morocco World
Morocco Calls for Shared Security Cooperation in Moscow
Rabat — Morocco is positioning itself as one of the international top leaders in security. Top Moroccan security officials traveled to Moscow this week to represent the North African country at a major international security conference. Abdellatif Hammouchi, Director General of National Security and Territorial Surveillance (DGSN), attended the 13th International Meeting of Senior Officials for Security and Intelligence Issues from May 27-29. Morocco calls for shared security cooperation During the forum, Hammouchi urged countries to work together to address growing strategic risks and threats, pointing out that neutralizing these dangers starts with creating a shared security structure that cannot be divided. 'National security and intelligence services must contribute through close cooperation and coordination with their counterparts in various countries around the world,' he said. The Moroccan official stressed that fair and equal cooperation between countries determines whether any shared security structure succeeds in facing strategic threats and challenges in today's world. 'In an open world characterized by constant movement of people across national borders and marked by criminal entities and virtual criminal infrastructure networks, we must create shared security fronts capable of containing and keeping pace with international preparations for security threats,' Hammouchi noted. He added that early warning duties and shared responsibilities require countries to exchange information about all detected or potential security threats. He said nations must share this information securely and immediately to achieve collective security based on win-win principles. Bilateral security meetings On the sidelines of the international forum, Hammouchi held intensive bilateral meetings and discussions with heads and members of various security and intelligence agencies from friendly countries. These included meetings with Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB). The bilateral talks focused on examining issues of mutual interest and ways to strengthen cooperation in facing emerging risks and threats. Morocco's international security role During the forum, Hammouchi delivered detailed remarks about Morocco's security vision and shared concrete data about international threats. He emphasized that Morocco understands well that neutralizing growing strategic risks and threats requires adopting a shared strategic security structure. International Criminal Networks Target Morocco Hammouchi outlined striking statistics that reveal the international connections of strategic threats, noting that Moroccan security services arrested 62 foreigners from 25 different countries during 2024 and the first three months of 2025. According to the security official, these individuals tried to infiltrate through border crossings while fleeing international arrest warrants issued by competent authorities in countries across four continents, namely Europe, Asia, Africa, and America. 'The basic observation is that all these arrested foreigners were involved in serious threats and crimes,' Hammouchi explained. The arrested individuals' crimes included connections to armed criminal groups, premeditated murder in the context of settling accounts, cybercrime, sexual assault on children, money laundering, and illegal drug trafficking. Hammouchi noted that most of these internationally wanted individuals benefited from networks that forged identity documents and travel papers. This facilitated their movement and travel across national borders between countries, highlighting the organized nature of international crime. This visit reflects Morocco's distinguished position and active role in international security cooperation. It also demonstrates the credibility that Moroccan security services enjoy with their international partners as a key player in joint efforts to maintain international security and stability. The participation reflects Morocco's commitment to multilateral security cooperation and its recognition as a reliable partner in addressing global security challenges. Sergei Shoigu, Secretary of Russia's Security Council, chaired the forum sessions, with the attendance of the country's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. The forum provides a platform for general sessions and specialized workshops covering various global security issues. Participants discussed the growing threats of terrorism, including new regional strongholds and emerging terrorist organization centers. They also addressed growing risks from cybercrime and cyberattacks targeting critical infrastructure in different countries. Tags: DGSNDGSTHammouchiInternational SecurityMorocco
Yahoo
11 hours ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Climate change could be fueling cancer deaths in women
Higher temperatures spurred by climate change could be increasing women's risk of cancer, a new study says. Increasing heat in the Middle East and North Africa has made breast, ovarian, uterine and cervical cancers more common and more deadly, researchers reported Monday in the journal Frontiers in Public Health. For each additional degree Celsius, cases and deaths of female cancers increased, researchers found. "As temperatures rise, cancer mortality among women also rises -- particularly for ovarian and breast cancers," lead investigator Wafa Abu El Kheir-Mataria said in a news release. She's a global health governance and health equity researcher at the American University in Cairo. Increased cancer in these countries could serve as a bellwether for what might happen in nations like the United States with currently cooler climes, researchers said. "Although the increases per degree of temperature rise are modest, their cumulative public health impact is substantial," Mataria added. For the study, researchers tracked cancers occurring in 17 Middle Eastern and North African countries, including Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Oman, Qatar, Saudia Arabia, Syria, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates and the Palestinian territories. These countries are already experiencing striking temperature increases tied to climate change, researchers noted. "Women are physiologically more vulnerable to climate-related health risks, particularly during pregnancy," senior researcher Sungsoo Chun said in a news release. He's associate chair of the Institute of Global Health and Human Ecology at the American University in Cairo. Researchers compared each nation's temperatures to its cancer statistics between 1998 and 2019, and found that rising heat was associated with more cancer cases and deaths. Cancers increased by 173 to 280 cases per 100,000 people for every additional degree Celsius, results show. Ovarian cancers cases rose the most, and breast cancers the least. Likewise, cancer deaths rose by 171 to 332 deaths per 100,000 for each degree of temperature rise, with the greatest increase in ovarian cancer and the smallest in cervical cancer. Six countries experienced the brunt of this increase in cases and deaths -- Qatar, Bahrain, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Syria. Although hotter temps are a probable risk factor, the heat might also increase other cancer risk factors like air pollution, researchers said. "Temperature rise likely acts through multiple pathways," Chun said. "It increases exposure to known carcinogens, disrupts healthcare delivery, and may even influence biological processes at the cellular level. Together, these mechanisms could elevate cancer risk over time." However, researchers noted that the study can't draw a direct cause-and-effect link between climate change and cancers. More research is needed to better understand how higher temperatures might influence cancer risk. In the meantime, researchers said public health officials should consider climate-related risks in their planning. "Strengthening cancer screening programs, building climate-resilient health systems, and reducing exposure to environmental carcinogens are key steps," Chun said. "Without addressing these underlying vulnerabilities, the cancer burden linked to climate change will continue to grow." More information The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has more about how climate change can impact human health. Copyright © 2025 HealthDay. All rights reserved.
UPI
12 hours ago
- Health
- UPI
Climate change could be fueling cancer deaths in women
Higher temperatures spurred by climate change could be increasing women's risk of cancer, a new study says. Photo by Adobe Stock/HealthDay News Higher temperatures spurred by climate change could be increasing women's risk of cancer, a new study says. Increasing heat in the Middle East and North Africa has made breast, ovarian, uterine and cervical cancers more common and more deadly, researchers reported Monday in the journal Frontiers in Public Health. For each additional degree Celsius, cases and deaths of female cancers increased, researchers found. "As temperatures rise, cancer mortality among women also rises -- particularly for ovarian and breast cancers," lead investigator Wafa Abu El Kheir-Mataria said in a news release. She's a global health governance and health equity researcher at the American University in Cairo. Increased cancer in these countries could serve as a bellwether for what might happen in nations like the United States with currently cooler climes, researchers said. "Although the increases per degree of temperature rise are modest, their cumulative public health impact is substantial," Mataria added. For the study, researchers tracked cancers occurring in 17 Middle Eastern and North African countries, including Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Oman, Qatar, Saudia Arabia, Syria, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates and the Palestinian territories. These countries are already experiencing striking temperature increases tied to climate change, researchers noted. "Women are physiologically more vulnerable to climate-related health risks, particularly during pregnancy," senior researcher Sungsoo Chun said in a news release. He's associate chair of the Institute of Global Health and Human Ecology at the American University in Cairo. Researchers compared each nation's temperatures to its cancer statistics between 1998 and 2019, and found that rising heat was associated with more cancer cases and deaths. Cancers increased by 173 to 280 cases per 100,000 people for every additional degree Celsius, results show. Ovarian cancers cases rose the most, and breast cancers the least. Likewise, cancer deaths rose by 171 to 332 deaths per 100,000 for each degree of temperature rise, with the greatest increase in ovarian cancer and the smallest in cervical cancer. Six countries experienced the brunt of this increase in cases and deaths -- Qatar, Bahrain, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Syria. Although hotter temps are a probable risk factor, the heat might also increase other cancer risk factors like air pollution, researchers said. "Temperature rise likely acts through multiple pathways," Chun said. "It increases exposure to known carcinogens, disrupts healthcare delivery, and may even influence biological processes at the cellular level. Together, these mechanisms could elevate cancer risk over time." However, researchers noted that the study can't draw a direct cause-and-effect link between climate change and cancers. More research is needed to better understand how higher temperatures might influence cancer risk. In the meantime, researchers said public health officials should consider climate-related risks in their planning. "Strengthening cancer screening programs, building climate-resilient health systems, and reducing exposure to environmental carcinogens are key steps," Chun said. "Without addressing these underlying vulnerabilities, the cancer burden linked to climate change will continue to grow." More information The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has more about how climate change can impact human health. Copyright © 2025 HealthDay. All rights reserved.
Miami Herald
13 hours ago
- Politics
- Miami Herald
Russia's ‘General Armageddon' Seen in Algeria Years After Failed Mutiny: UK
A Russian military officer once key to Vladimir Putin's full-scale invasion of Ukraine who had not been seen in public in an official capacity for nearly two years, has been spotted in Algeria, according to U.K. intelligence officials. In a post on social media, U.K. intelligence reported Sergei Surovikin attended a military parade in the North African country. Surovikin, whose reputation for acting brutally earned him the nickname of "General Armageddon" had largely disappeared from public view following a failed June 2023 mutiny and march on Moscow by Wagner mercenary group leader Yevgeny Prigozhin, with whom he was closely associated. Newsweek has contacted the Russian defense ministry for comment. Reports of Surovikin's arrest following the failed mutiny were never confirmed by Russian authorities but his appearance in Algeria raises questions about his current role in the military and Moscow's footprint in Africa. In its update on Tuesday, the U.K.'s Ministry of Defence said that a "notably thinner" Surovikin appeared in Russian embassy photographs at a Victory Day event in Algeria on May 9. This was probably his first public appearance in an official role since 2023 and he is likely in the North African country as head of military specialists at the Russian embassy there, U.K. defense officials said. Surovikin is a former commander of Russian forces in Ukraine and served as commander-in-chief of the Russian Aerospace Forces. He had been linked to Prigozhin, who had been a vehement critic of Moscow's conduct in the war in Ukraine. Prigozhin led his Wagner group of mercenaries in a mutiny which saw them stop short of Moscow in a move denounced as "treason" by Putin. U.K. intelligence said Tuesday Russian authorities were probably suspicious of Surovikin's association with Wagner dating back to Moscow's intervention in the Syrian civil war in 2017. After Prigozhin died in a plane crash for which the Kremlin has denied responsibility, there were unconfirmed reports that Surovikin had been arrested and detained. Russian social media users had reported in September 2023 that Surovikin had been appointed to a new post of some kind in Algeria, although nothing had been officially confirmed. That month, investigative journalist Christo Grozev posted images from Wagner-linked social media channels of Surovikin meeting with local officials in Algeria saying that he had "kind of been rehabilitated." U.K. Defense Ministry: "Sergey Surovikin, former commander of the Russian group of forces in Ukraine, is reportedly carrying out a role as 'head of a group of Russian military specialists' at the Russian embassy in Algeria." Speculation over Surovikin's fate grew after references to him were removed from the Russian defense ministry's website but a more public presence in Algeria may raise questions over whether he will take on a more prominent role in Russia's military. Related Articles Russian State TV Network Mocks Donald Trump's Attack on PutinUkraine Sounds Warning Over Russian Troops Massing at Front LineZelensky Makes Trump, Putin ProposalThe Sanctions Era Is Quietly Ending. The West Isn't Ready | Opinion 2025 NEWSWEEK DIGITAL LLC.
Morocco World
14 hours ago
- Business
- Morocco World
Spanish Royal Institute: 2030 World Cup Amplifies Morocco's Soft Power Strategy
Doha – Morocco's co-hosting of the 2030 FIFA World Cup represents the culmination of decades of persistent effort as the North African country will share hosting duties with Spain and Portugal. This achievement comes after five previous unsuccessful bids over 30 years. The Spanish Elcano Royal Institute for International and Strategic Studies published an analysis on May 26, examining Morocco's strategic approach to what will be one of the world's most-watched sporting events. Antonio Navarro Amuedo, author of the report titled 'World Cup 2030: The Deployment of Moroccan Soft Power on the Field,' dissects how Morocco views the tournament as a strategic soft power opportunity that serves multiple objectives beyond sports. It aims to enhance Morocco's international image, strengthen economic development through infrastructure projects, and 'reinforce the monarchy's political stature'—although the reality is that it is already anchored in centuries-old legitimacy since the founding of the Alaouite dynasty. The report positions the World Cup within Morocco's broader foreign policy strategy, which includes diversifying international alliances and reaffirming its sovereignty over the southern provinces in the Western Sahara. By 2024, Morocco's direct investment in Africa reached a notable $38 billion, in a clear indication of the country's expanding economic footprint and growing influence across the continent. The Maghreb country has maintained its traditional Western orientation while building new relationships with countries like Russia, Turkey, and China, adapting to an increasingly multipolar world order. Its renewed focus on African engagement—marked by its return to the African Union in 2017 after a 32-year absence—has brought substantial diplomatic leverage in confronting Algeria, which backs the separatist Polisario Front in the artificial dispute over the Western Sahara. A long-term vision bears fruit The Spanish Royal Institute's analysis pinpoints Morocco's persistent pursuit of hosting rights through bids for the 1994, 1998, 2006, 2010, and 2026 tournaments, persistence that has finally paid off. The 2030 tournament carries special significance as the World Cup's centennial celebration and represents a source of national pride for Moroccans. Navarro Amuedo notes widespread public enthusiasm for the tournament within Morocco, which contrasts with the 'more discrete reception' in co-hosts Spain and Portugal. The tournament will mark several historic firsts as it will be the first transcontinental World Cup spanning Europe and Africa, delivering 'a powerful message of cooperation between the two shores of a Mediterranean transformed in recent years into the world's deadliest migration route,' the report states. Morocco's successful national team performance at Qatar 2022, reaching the semifinals as the first African or Arab team to achieve this feat, significantly elevated national pride. The North African country now aims to translate sporting success into organizational excellence, with authorities recognizing that successfully hosting the tournament can project an image of a 'modern, tolerant and emerging country' to a global audience. Ambitious infrastructure development underway Six Moroccan cities—Tangier, Rabat, Fez, Casablanca, Marrakech, and Agadir—will host World Cup matches. The government has allocated $5.1 billion for World Cup preparations, of which $1.2 billion is earmarked specifically for infrastructure investments. The crown jewel of Morocco's World Cup preparations is the planned Hassan II Grand Stadium in Casablanca, which aims to become the world's largest stadium with a capacity of 115,000 spectators. Moroccan authorities hope this impressive venue will host the tournament's final match, which would be the culmination of their World Cup ambitions. The report details Morocco's comprehensive infrastructure program that extends beyond stadiums to include major upgrades for airports in Casablanca, Agadir, Fez, Marrakech, and Tangier. These improvements target a combined capacity of 35 million passengers by 2029, with the government committing over $2.6 billion to these airport expansions while also planning important investments in road networks and urban infrastructure. Navarro Amuedo acknowledges potential domestic challenges associated with these investments. The concentration of development in urban areas, particularly along the privileged Tangier-Rabat-Casablanca-Marrakech axis, could exacerbate regional disparities and fuel social tensions. Additionally, the report cautions about possible corruption risks associated with major construction projects in a country that 'still registers high levels of opacity,' though it stops short of questioning the broader institutional trajectory or recent reforms undertaken by Morocco. Strengthening international relations The joint World Cup bid reinforces Morocco's improving relationships with its Iberian neighbors, particularly Spain, with whom relations have strengthened significantly since 2022, when Spain endorsed Morocco's Autonomy Plan for Western Sahara. This endorsement marked the resolution of a year-long bilateral crisis and the beginning of what both governments describe as an 'extraordinary' new phase in relations. Commercial ties between Spain and Morocco reached record levels in 2024, with Spain upholding its position as Morocco's top trading partner since 2013. Cooperation on sensitive issues such as migration control and counter-terrorism has intensified, resulting in reduced irregular migration to Spain and successful joint operations against terrorist cells planning attacks in both countries. The Spanish Royal Institute analysis frames the 2030 World Cup as Morocco's international coming-of-age moment, comparing its potential impact to Spain's transformative year of 1992, when Barcelona hosted the Olympics and Seville held the World Expo. 'The success in preparing and holding the championship is a collective aspiration shared by Moroccan authorities and society,' writes Navarro Amuedo. The report concludes that the tournament will showcase 'emerging Morocco of the 21st century' while advancing the country's broader diplomatic objectives, particularly in garnering international support for its position on Western Sahara. For Morocco, the ultimate goal is to capitalize on the global appeal of the most prestigious sporting event to solidify its status as a stable, capable regional power bridging Europe and Africa.
