Algeria Shows Interest in China’s Expertise in Building Warships

Algerian Army chief Gen. Said Chanegriha visits the Naval Base in Shanghai. (Algerian Defense Ministry)
Algerian Army chief Gen. Said Chanegriha visits the Naval Base in Shanghai. (Algerian Defense Ministry)
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Algeria Shows Interest in China’s Expertise in Building Warships

Algerian Army chief Gen. Said Chanegriha visits the Naval Base in Shanghai. (Algerian Defense Ministry)
Algerian Army chief Gen. Said Chanegriha visits the Naval Base in Shanghai. (Algerian Defense Ministry)

Algerian Army chief Gen. Said Chanegriha showed interest in purchasing special equipment from the Chinese Navy a few days after he expressed the desire of the Algerian Air Force to benefit from Beijing’s expertise in drone manufacturing.

During his official visit to China that started a week ago, Chanegriha toured the Naval Base in Shanghai, where he was briefed on its tasks and the vessels and naval equipment, the Algerian Defense Ministry said in a statement on Sunday.

He also toured the frigate Chan Ju docked at the same base and was briefed on Chinese naval technology used in building warships.

On Friday, he visited the Chinese company (CSTC), a subsidiary of the group (CSSC), which specializes in the manufacturing of vessels, especially military warships.

Chanegriha arrived in Shanghai on Thursday where he held a meeting with Brigadier General Shu Shi Jin, Political Commissioner of the Chinese People's Liberation Army in Shanghai. According to the Ministry statement, they discussed bilateral military cooperation between their armies.

Chanegriha visited the Beijing headquarters of CATIC AFIC Global, a company specialized in the manufacturing of aircraft and aeronautical equipment.

The Defense Ministry said he was shown a presentation on the company’s products, including aircraft designed for search and rescue and firefighting, as well as helicopters and reconnaissance planes.

Chanegriha and his accompanying delegation held extensive discussions with company officials, delving into potential areas of bilateral cooperation in military industries.

The Algerian General also visited ELINC, a subsidiary of the CEC group, focused on the production of technologies, electronic systems, and cyber defense.

Earlier last week, Chanegriha visited the 72nd Unit of the Chinese Air Forces and the Falcon Brigade headquarters of the Special Military Police, where he and his accompanying delegation followed a military series of demonstration and exercises that highlight the combat skills and readiness of the Chinese forces in the face of any type of potential threat.



World Bank Looking to Free up Emergency Funds for Lebanon, Managing Director Says

 A plume of smoke billows following an Israeli air strike on the village of Khiam in southern Lebanon near the border with Israel on October 7, 2024. (AFP)
A plume of smoke billows following an Israeli air strike on the village of Khiam in southern Lebanon near the border with Israel on October 7, 2024. (AFP)
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World Bank Looking to Free up Emergency Funds for Lebanon, Managing Director Says

 A plume of smoke billows following an Israeli air strike on the village of Khiam in southern Lebanon near the border with Israel on October 7, 2024. (AFP)
A plume of smoke billows following an Israeli air strike on the village of Khiam in southern Lebanon near the border with Israel on October 7, 2024. (AFP)

The World Bank is looking to free up emergency funds for Lebanon, potentially including up to $100 million through the use of special clauses in existing loan deals, its managing director of operations told Reuters.

The Washington-based development lender currently has $1.65 billion in loans to the country including a $250 million loan approved this week to help connect dispersed renewable energy projects in the country.

Amid fighting across southern Lebanon, the bank was currently discussing ways in which it could help support the economy, including through the use of so-called Contingent Emergency Response Component (CERCs) clauses.

"We can use our existing portfolio and free up some money for really critical, short-term liquidity needs," Anna Bjerde said.

CERCs are present in around 600 of the bank's existing projects, globally, and allow it to redirect funds that have yet to be disbursed, if requested to by a government, for example after a health or natural disaster, or during conflict.

Lebanon has yet to make such a request, Bjerde said.

After a year of exchanges of fire between Hezbollah and Israel mostly limited to the frontier region, the conflict has significantly escalated in Lebanon.

Hezbollah fired rockets at Israel's third largest city Haifa on Monday, while Israeli forces looked poised to expand ground raids into south Lebanon on the first anniversary of the Gaza war, which has spread conflict across the Middle East.

Lebanon's government could choose to use an existing social protection program that was put in place during the COVID-19 pandemic that allows for financial support to be sent to individuals, Bjerde said.

"It has the benefit of being totally digital so you can reach people, plus it can be verified a bit... so we will also probably use that to top up the social safety net for those that are particularly affected."

Up to 1 million people have been internally displaced in the country, she added: "So it's important we focus on that".

Lebanon's finance ministry and economy ministry did not immediately respond when asked for comment.