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Mauritania

The latest news, analysis and opinion on Mauritania. In-depth analysis, industry insights and expert opinion.

Capital

Nouakchott

Head of State

President Mohamed Ould Ghazouani

Head of Government

Prime Minister Mokhtar Ould Djay

The sun rises by the Eiffel Tower in Paris on Tuesday. Photo: AFP

France

France shuts schools, top of Eiffel Tower, as heatwave grips Europe

The extreme heat increased the risk of field fires as farmers in France, the EU’s largest grain producer, begin harvesting this year’s crop.

1 Jul 2025 - 6:51PM

Spain

Rescuers search for missing migrants after boat sinks off Canary Islands, 9 dead

29 Sep 2024 - 9:36PM

Explainer | What’s on the agenda at the 2024 G7 summit in Italy?

12 Jun 2024 - 2:14PM

South Korea

Seoul, Africa agree to ‘set an example’ on supply chains, mineral ties

South Korea said it would increase development aid for Africa to US$10 billion over the next six years as it looks to tap the continent’s rich mineral resources and potential as a vast export market.

4 Jun 2024 - 7:00PM

South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol delivers a speech at the 2024 Korea-Africa Summit in Seoul on Tuesday. EPA-EFE/Presidential Office/Handout

European Union

EU signs off on ‘more effective’ asylum rules, ahead of Europe-wide elections

EU government ministers approved 10 legislative parts of The New Pact on Migration and Asylum. It lays out rules for the 27 member countries to handle people trying to enter without authorisation.

14 May 2024 - 7:47PMvideocam

Russia

Analysis | Moscow attack: more than 1 Isis branch involved, Russia in its ‘crosshairs’

Isis-C is the “main perpetrator” and received “some help” from Isis-K with the latter present in Moscow before the attack, analysts say.

23 Mar 2024 - 9:34PMvideocam

European Union

European Union to bolster Egypt ties with billions of euros in funding

The agreement is designed to boost cooperation in areas including trade and security, while delivering funding over the next three years to support Egypt’s economy.

17 Mar 2024 - 9:40PM

An Egyptian couple walks next to advertising credit investment certificates by a branch of Al Baraka Bank on walls of a new monorail line in Cairo, Egypt, on March 7. Photo: Reuters

Malaysia

Malaysia to amend citizenship law, give equal rights to foreign-born children

The amendment will allow foreign-born children to Malaysian mothers and their non-Malaysian spouse to automatically get citizenship, ending years of struggle for many.

14 Mar 2024 - 3:25PM

Asian cinema

Review | Black Tea: film about African life in China massively disappoints

Debuting at Berlin 2024, Black Tea, the first film about Africans in China made by an African filmmaker, exhibits a tone-deaf understanding of what the diaspora’s experience is like in the country.

22 Feb 2024 - 5:30AMvideocam

Saudi Arabia

Sharp-shooting Olympian al-Attiyah takes aim at sixth Dakar Rally title

Motorsport marathon starts in Saudi Arabia on Friday, with 425 cars, bikes, quads and trucks racing the 4,900 miles to Yanbu.

4 Jan 2024 - 3:21PM

Nasser Al-Attiyah chats to the press during final preparations ahead of the Dakar Rally. Photo: EPA-EFE

China-Africa relations

China grants tariff-free access to 6 African countries in bid to rebalance trade

Angola, Gambia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Madagascar, Mali and Mauritania will not pay duties on 98 per cent of taxable products under Beijing’s latest measure to buy more agricultural goods from the continent.

8 Dec 2023 - 4:37PMvideocam

Construction crew members work at the Sonangol Luanda Refinery in Angola in October 2020. The country is Africa’s second-largest oil producer, and much of its petroleum is exported to China. Photo: AFP

Belt and Road Initiative

Exclusive | Belt and road charity work easier without government, says Hong Kong’s CY Leung

Former chief executive reveals foundation he chairs ‘overwhelmed’ by city students wanting to volunteer for public health work in belt and road countries.

4 Dec 2023 - 4:03PM

Hong Kong politics

Mainland help key to providing 7,300 free cataract operations: Hong Kong charity

Operations provided to needy recipients in five belt and road countries, says former city leader Leung Chun-ying, who started GX Foundation.

22 Nov 2023 - 11:45PM

China-Africa relations

‘Complete EV package’: China sets sights on new electric vehicle hub

Chinese companies are flocking to Morocco as it positions itself at the heart of the electric vehicle revolution.

11 Nov 2023 - 5:43PMvideocam

A Science and Technology City coming up just outside Tangier, Morocco, is expected to host companies from around the world, with Chinese electric vehicle manufacturers clamouring for a spot. Photo: Corbis

China-EU relations

Global Gateway: EU checking how China-linked firm got on its business board

Potentially embarrassing revelation for Brussels reported by Post comes amid bloc’s push to de-risk its fraught relationship with Beijing.

26 Oct 2023 - 2:45AMvideocam

Eric Mamer, spokesman for the European Commission, led by Ursula von der Leyen, has said the matter would be investigated. Photo: EPA-EFE

China-EU relations

Exclusive | EU’s counter to China’s belt and road has Beijing-linked firms on its board

EU has launched Global Gateway as a belt-and-road alternative, but project’s advisers include EDP of Portugal, whose largest shareholder is China Three Gorges, a state-owned enterprise

25 Oct 2023 - 9:29AM

Hong Kong economy

Letters | Hong Kong residents, with depleted wallets, are too tired to enjoy nightlife

Readers discuss the government’s ‘Night Vibes’ campaign, the city’s record of philanthropy, and university orientation camps.

25 Sep 2023 - 11:30AM

China-Middle East relations

China-Arab states expo wraps up with US$23.4 billion worth of deals

The event involved representatives from more than 60 countries and hundreds of Chinese and foreign companies.

24 Sep 2023 - 6:28PM

A guest talks with exhibitors at the Saudi booth during the expo. Photo: Xinhua

Belt and Road Initiative

Chinese NGO fixes eyes while helping state-owned companies build ties overseas

Hong Kong-based GX Foundation sends medical teams to perform cataract surgery in developing countries from Djibouti to Laos, while China’s SOEs provide support for patients.

19 Aug 2023 - 2:37PMvideocam

China-Middle East relations

China pushes ‘party-to-party’ diplomacy as it seeks bigger role in Middle East

Party-to-party diplomacy in Middle East can help China export its governance system and gain support on sensitive matters, observers say.

14 Aug 2023 - 10:31AMvideocam

Explainers: Politics

Explainer | Not just Trump: these leaders also got into legal trouble

There is a long history of leaders prosecuted before, during and after holding power with representation across continents.

7 Aug 2023 - 12:52PM

Donald Trump has has racked up more legal problems than all of his 43 predecessors combined. Photo: AP

China-Africa relations

In Niger, China’s path to stability may diverge from Western priorities

After July’s military coup in the West African country, observers are watching to see who Beijing works with to help restore stability in the region.

6 Aug 2023 - 8:00PMvideocam

After the coup in Niger, observers say Beijing may want to take a back seat and focus on immediate matters, such as evacuating nationals and protecting Chinese investments. Photo: EPA-EFE

Africa

Explainer | Niger coup: what would West African bloc’s threat to use force look like?

West African nations have threatened to use force to reinstate Niger’s president, while neighbouring Mali and Burkina Faso – also ruled by military juntas – said they would come to Niger’s defence.

2 Aug 2023 - 12:36PM

Belt and Road Initiative

Xi Jinping promotes belt and road to leaders of Indonesia, Guyana and Georgia

The global infrastructure strategy is Chinese president’s main talking point during meetings with Joko Widodo, Irfaan Ali and Irakli Garibashvili on sidelines of World University Games in Chengdu.

28 Jul 2023 - 9:07PMvideocam

China-Asean relations

Xi set to welcome world leaders to China for delayed World University Games

Indonesian President Joko Widodo will be one of the most high-profile visitors attending the event in Chengdu.

28 Jul 2023 - 3:16PM

Chengdu is hosting the games two years later than initially planned. Photo: Xinhua

Italy

Italy’s PM Meloni seeks cooperation to curb flows of migrants to Europe

Italy hosted Mediterranean leaders in Rome at a conference aimed at extending an EU-backed deal with Tunisia to curb the arrival of migrants on European shores.

24 Jul 2023 - 8:40AM

Africa

Mali faces spectre of anarchy after demanding UN’s departure

Mali’s unexpected demand for the departure of UN peacekeepers has raised fears the West African country could slide deeper into chaos amid an Islamist insurgency.

19 Jun 2023 - 12:30PM

North Korea

Modern slavery most widespread in North Korea, Eritrea, report finds

About 50 million people worldwide are trapped in modern slavery – 10 million more than 5 years ago.

24 May 2023 - 5:29PM

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Mauritania

France shuts schools, top of Eiffel Tower, as heatwave grips Europe

The extreme heat increased the risk of field fires as farmers in France, the EU’s largest grain producer, begin harvesting this year’s crop.

Rescuers search for missing migrants after boat sinks off Canary Islands, 9 dead

.css-sioo19{color:#c79a00;}Explainer | What’s on the agenda at the 2024 G7 summit in Italy?

Seoul, Africa agree to ‘set an example’ on supply chains, mineral ties

South Korea said it would increase development aid for Africa to US$10 billion over the next six years as it looks to tap the continent’s rich mineral resources and potential as a vast export market.

EU signs off on ‘more effective’ asylum rules, ahead of Europe-wide elections

EU government ministers approved 10 legislative parts of The New Pact on Migration and Asylum. It lays out rules for the 27 member countries to handle people trying to enter without authorisation.

Analysis | Moscow attack: more than 1 Isis branch involved, Russia in its ‘crosshairs’

Isis-C is the “main perpetrator” and received “some help” from Isis-K with the latter present in Moscow before the attack, analysts say.

European Union to bolster Egypt ties with billions of euros in funding

The agreement is designed to boost cooperation in areas including trade and security, while delivering funding over the next three years to support Egypt’s economy.

Malaysia to amend citizenship law, give equal rights to foreign-born children

The amendment will allow foreign-born children to Malaysian mothers and their non-Malaysian spouse to automatically get citizenship, ending years of struggle for many.

Review | Black Tea: film about African life in China massively disappoints

Debuting at Berlin 2024, Black Tea, the first film about Africans in China made by an African filmmaker, exhibits a tone-deaf understanding of what the diaspora’s experience is like in the country.

Sharp-shooting Olympian al-Attiyah takes aim at sixth Dakar Rally title

Motorsport marathon starts in Saudi Arabia on Friday, with 425 cars, bikes, quads and trucks racing the 4,900 miles to Yanbu.

China grants tariff-free access to 6 African countries in bid to rebalance trade

Angola, Gambia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Madagascar, Mali and Mauritania will not pay duties on 98 per cent of taxable products under Beijing’s latest measure to buy more agricultural goods from the continent.

Exclusive | Belt and road charity work easier without government, says Hong Kong’s CY Leung

Former chief executive reveals foundation he chairs ‘overwhelmed’ by city students wanting to volunteer for public health work in belt and road countries.

Mainland help key to providing 7,300 free cataract operations: Hong Kong charity

Operations provided to needy recipients in five belt and road countries, says former city leader Leung Chun-ying, who started GX Foundation.

‘Complete EV package’: China sets sights on new electric vehicle hub

Chinese companies are flocking to Morocco as it positions itself at the heart of the electric vehicle revolution.

Global Gateway: EU checking how China-linked firm got on its business board

Potentially embarrassing revelation for Brussels reported by Post comes amid bloc’s push to de-risk its fraught relationship with Beijing.

Exclusive | EU’s counter to China’s belt and road has Beijing-linked firms on its board

EU has launched Global Gateway as a belt-and-road alternative, but project’s advisers include EDP of Portugal, whose largest shareholder is China Three Gorges, a state-owned enterprise

Letters | Hong Kong residents, with depleted wallets, are too tired to enjoy nightlife

Readers discuss the government’s ‘Night Vibes’ campaign, the city’s record of philanthropy, and university orientation camps.

China-Arab states expo wraps up with US$23.4 billion worth of deals

The event involved representatives from more than 60 countries and hundreds of Chinese and foreign companies.

Chinese NGO fixes eyes while helping state-owned companies build ties overseas

Hong Kong-based GX Foundation sends medical teams to perform cataract surgery in developing countries from Djibouti to Laos, while China’s SOEs provide support for patients.

China pushes ‘party-to-party’ diplomacy as it seeks bigger role in Middle East

Party-to-party diplomacy in Middle East can help China export its governance system and gain support on sensitive matters, observers say.

Explainer | Not just Trump: these leaders also got into legal trouble

There is a long history of leaders prosecuted before, during and after holding power with representation across continents.

In Niger, China’s path to stability may diverge from Western priorities

After July’s military coup in the West African country, observers are watching to see who Beijing works with to help restore stability in the region.

Explainer | Niger coup: what would West African bloc’s threat to use force look like?

West African nations have threatened to use force to reinstate Niger’s president, while neighbouring Mali and Burkina Faso – also ruled by military juntas – said they would come to Niger’s defence.

Xi Jinping promotes belt and road to leaders of Indonesia, Guyana and Georgia

The global infrastructure strategy is Chinese president’s main talking point during meetings with Joko Widodo, Irfaan Ali and Irakli Garibashvili on sidelines of World University Games in Chengdu.

Xi set to welcome world leaders to China for delayed World University Games

Indonesian President Joko Widodo will be one of the most high-profile visitors attending the event in Chengdu.

Italy’s PM Meloni seeks cooperation to curb flows of migrants to Europe

Italy hosted Mediterranean leaders in Rome at a conference aimed at extending an EU-backed deal with Tunisia to curb the arrival of migrants on European shores.

Mali faces spectre of anarchy after demanding UN’s departure

Mali’s unexpected demand for the departure of UN peacekeepers has raised fears the West African country could slide deeper into chaos amid an Islamist insurgency.

Modern slavery most widespread in North Korea, Eritrea, report finds

About 50 million people worldwide are trapped in modern slavery – 10 million more than 5 years ago.

Explainer | What’s on the agenda at the 2024 G7 summit in Italy?