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Austria, Not France, Is the Model for Europe’s Crackdown on Islamists. As tragic as it was, the terrorist attack in Vienna on Nov. 2 was not a major surprise for Europe’s counterterrorism experts.

-Mac

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As tragic as it was, the terrorist attack in Vienna on Nov. 2 was not a major surprise for Europe's counterterrorism experts. The events in Vienna and, a week earlier, in the French city of Nice have only brought back onto the radar of the general public a phenomenon that the European counterterrorism community knows well: The threat has never disappeared.

The terrorist threat is certainly less acute than it was in the years 2014-2017, when, spurred by the sirens of the Islamic State, European jihadis struck the continent regularly and sometimes with devastating attacks. But the European jihadi scene has certainly not evaporated.

The threat is multifaceted: There are lone wolves as well as small cells of self-radicalized sympathizers and jihadis who come from outside Europe to strike. (The Vienna attacker was a mix of the two dynamics, as he came from a transnational milieu of Islamic State sympathizers but acted alone when he carried out the attack.)

In the case of Vienna, an additional frustrating dynamic seen time and again throughout Europe over the years also seems to be at play. The perpetrator had recently been convicted in Austria of trying to join the Islamic State, served only part of a short sentence, and was released early. His early release and obviously loose post-release monitoring will unquestionably be scrutinized in the weeks to come (and have already led to the head of Austrian intelligence stepping down). But they are symptomatic of the difficulties European authorities experience in keeping tabs on radicalized and potentially dangerous individuals due to both the large number of suspects and the many legal and bureaucratic challenges that constrain them.

It is also not overly surprising that Austria has been hit. Beyond the cliché images of a placid Alpine country with a capital that regularly ranks first in the world's quality of life rankings, in recent years Austria has faced high levels of jihadi radicalization. Tellingly, the number of foreign fighters who left Austria to join the Islamic State (as many as 300) is one of the highest per capita in Europe. It is home to a large and sophisticated jihadi scene, historically created by Arab militants who have found refuge in Austria since the 1980s. A prominent product of this scene was Mohamed Mahmoud, the son of an Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood refugee in Vienna who started some of the first online jihadi platforms in German before joining the Islamic State in Syria and dying in a U.S. airstrike.

Over time, reflecting Austrian migratory flows, militants from the Balkans and Chechnya have come to dominate the country's jihadi scene. In Graz, Austria's gateway to Eastern Europe, and in other Austrian cities, a Salafi scene dominated by Bosnians, Kosovars, Albanians, and Macedonians has worried authorities for years and has produced a high number of radicalized individuals.

The flow between Austria and the Balkans is constant and involves militants, radical preachers, extremist literature, funds, and weapons; there are also frequently ties to Albanian organized crime networks. Equally concerning is the problem of radicalization of some segments of the Chechen diaspora, with ample connections to both organized crime and mixed martial arts gyms (a passion shared by the Chechen youth who beheaded the French teacher Samuel Paty in October).

Austrian counterterrorism policy, despite some notable successes, has historically been quite toothless in facing this relatively large and sophisticated threat. Problems include limited staff resources, legal difficulties in deporting foreign militants and dissolving extremist organizations, and, as the case of the Vienna attacker showed, very short sentences for convicted terrorist group members.

That is not to say that the current Austrian government, led by Chancellor Sebastian Kurz, has not been aware of the problem of radicalization and, more broadly, Islamism. To the contrary, over the last few years Kurz and his party have made confronting Islamism, in both its violent and nonviolent manifestations-which they see as strictly interlinked-one of their policy priorities.

In many ways, Kurz was a precursor to French President Emmanuel Macron. Kurz has been proclaiming for years what the French president has been attracting attention for saying about "Islamist separatism" in recent months. From the general vision of Islamism as a mortal threat to the democratic life, integration, and the social cohesion of the country, down to specific concerns about foreign funding of domestic Islamist networks and the influence of Islamists in the education system, Macron and Kurz sing from the same hymn sheet. The difference is that Kurz, having been in power longer, has already enacted some tangible measures.

In 2015, for example, Austria passed important revisions to the Islamgesetz, the 1912 law that regulates the relationship between the Austrian state and the Muslim community. The text, drafted largely by the Ministry for Europe, Integration, and Foreign Affairs, over which Kurz presided at the time, reorganized the criteria for the appointment of imams and forbade foreign funding of Islamic institutions. Under Kurz's leadership, Austria introduced a law banning the symbols of the Muslim Brotherhood, began procedures to shut down several extremist mosques and expel various imams, and created a permanent Observatory on Political Islam.

It is against this backdrop that, in the wee hours of Monday morning, Austrian security services conducted a large-scale operation against more than 70 individuals and several organizations allegedly linked to the Muslim Brotherhood in the country. In this operation, which is not connected to the Vienna attack, Austrian authorities are going after the bulk of the Islamist infrastructure in the country, alleging a series of wrongdoings that range from financial irregularities to terrorism support.

Austrian authorities, like Macron, are clear in distinguishing between jihadism and political Islam, which they see as two problematic but distinct phenomena. But, at the same time, the proposition that the latter, with its polarizing and victimhood-focused narrative, creates a fertile environment for the former is increasingly accepted by policymakers and practitioners in both countries.

The attack in Vienna shocked Austrians, who have not become accustomed to brutal terrorist attacks like the French sadly have. But it is likely that the events in Vienna and France will only strengthen the resolve of both countries' leaders to challenge all forms of Islamism-irrespective of the backlash that this inevitably triggers. Yet this is the biggest obstacle both Kurz and Macron face moving forward. Their aggressive posture has received widespread and cross-party support in their countries, and other European leaders are increasingly looking at them with interest. But, predictably, they have also attracted criticism.

Some objections, coming from known Islamist actors and supporters, can be fairly easily dismissed. But there are broader and more justified concerns that ordinary Muslims, in Austria as in France, might perceive the words of Kurz and Macron as being not against jihadism and Islamism, as the two leaders insist they are, but, rather, against Islam and their Muslim identity.

The goal of undermining extremists-whether violent or not-can only be achieved if the silent majority of Muslims support the effort and do not see themselves as targets.

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Austria, Not France, Is the Model for Europe's Crackdown on Islamists

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As tragic as it was, the terrorist attack in Vienna on Nov. 2 was not a major surprise for Europe's counterterrorism experts. The events in Vienna and, a week earlier, in the French city of Nice have only brought back onto the radar of the general public a phenomenon that the European counterterrorism community knows well: The threat has never disappeared.

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Covid-19 Has accelerated the pace of energy transitions

Throughout the world, countries are shifting towards more energy efficiency. Covid greatly impacted the oil markets and showed how fragile it was. Now countries are beginning to shift towards new renewable energy which is an exciting new change throughout the world.

-Zach

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purred on by the Covid-19 global pandemic, the world is finally galvanising its commitment to move towards a green and sustainable future by this mid-century, and the global energy transition is the cornerstone of this new world. This transition to renewable energy will continue to rapidly gain momentum throughout the coming decade, led by policy shifts towards green incentives as developed economies begin to "build back better".

The dramatic global oil demand slump, triggered by economic lock-down across the world and a result of the downgrading of long-term global oil demand outlook; estimated to never again exceed 2019 levels; has left African economies under significant increased economic and fiscal distress, especially those reliant on Oil and Gas.

In this shifting world, however, there is an opportunity for Africa to take advantage of the global energy transition and the new global markets taking shape. The energy transition provides an opportunity for Africa to diversify their economies, address energy poverty, create new employment sectors and benefit from the investment incentives out of the developed world.

These are some of the highlights from the tenth edition of PwC Africa's Oil & Gas Review 2020 titled 'Energising a new tomorrow'. This review continues to build on annual insights into the African oil and gas sector but expands the focus to include the unprecedented disruption caused by the Covid-19 global pandemic as well as the biggest global theme for this decade - the renewable energy transition.

James Mackay, PwC Director: Energy Strategy and Infrastructure, says:

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"The Covid-19 pandemic has played havoc in global economies and energy markets, with oil being shown to be particularly vulnerable. In response, the developed world has accelerated the renewable energy transition through greening policy, economic stimulus and investment.

"It is ironic that after decades of climate change denialism, it has taken a global pandemic to tip the scales in favour of our environment and greening our economies. 'Net Zero' and the energy transition are significantly transforming the energy and utilities sector, with 2020 seeing the five supermajors in oil and gas having written down reserves by US$ 87 billion, rapidly diversifying portfolios towards renewables and redefining their business strategies. An example of this is BP setting out its strategy to achieve 'net zero' by 2050".

The Covid-19 market disruption has provided insight into the future energy system, permanently changed our behaviour and given us a new perspective on the value of a clean and sustainable environment.

This disruption and change are taking place against the backdrop of increasingly fragile African economies under fiscal pressure from both the immediate Covid-19 responses required as well as depressed markets and specifically declines in oil and gas production and exports.

The development and early adoption of clear, regionally aligned country strategies and policy dialogue aimed at capitalising on the global energy transition and harnessing the attractive wind and solar array across Africa may be an attractive and sustainable outcome for Africa.

Africa's oil and gas inventories - 2019/2020

A number of challenges arose in 2019 for the oil and gas sector. The ongoing rise in shale production, a slowing global economy and talk of a potential global recession, the prospect of a deepening trade war, structural oversupply of LNG production and concerns over security of supply with increased attacks on oil production sites.

Oil production in Africa saw a slight increase of 0.5% from 2019 amounting to 8.3 mmbbl/d. This accounts for 8.82% of global production. However, in 2020, production saw a decline of 10% relative to the previous year driven by the Covid-19 demand slowdown for exports. Africa's proven oil reserves have remained static at 125.7 Bbo from end 2019 to 2020. 41% of these reserves are located offshore while 59% are onshore.

Africa's proven gas reserves have also remained at 527 tcf between 2019 and 2020 - 34% of these reserves are situated offshore. Production saw a slight increase of 0.36% from 2018 to 238 bcm in 2019. But production declined by 9% in 2020 due to Covid-19.

Due to a decreased demand during Covid-19 and prolonged low oil prices, global M&A activity saw a steep decline in 2020 with an 88% decline by value and 40% decline by number when compared to 2019.

Due to the oil price crash between 2014 and 2016, Africa has seen a significant decline in capital expenditure (CapEx) on production, totalling 43% for the period 2014 to 2018. Africa's oil and gas sector saw a positive recovery in 2019. There has, however, been a significant reduction in capex spend, with key projects being deferred by one to three years in the past few months.

The impact of Covid-19 on Africa's oil and gas sector

Notwithstanding the various headwinds faced by the African oil and gas sector in recent years, the industry had been on a path to a moderate recovery in the decade ahead. Africa's oil producers have been hit hard by a major drop in export revenues, dampened economic activity, severely impacted fiscal reserves and overall lower growth prospects, all in the face of Covid-19.

With global peak oil demand behind us, Covid-19 has accelerated the global energy transition by as much as five years. While developed countries are moving quickly to accelerate the energy transition to stimulate their respective economies, developing countries, particularly those in Africa can't afford to, and largely lack the supporting infrastructure and domestic market skills to follow this trend.

The role of energy policies in the changing energy sector

While being the biggest global disruptor this decade, global evidence suggests that the energy transition does in fact create significant positive economic impact and other opportunities. Africa can benefit tremendously from the technology initiatives and learning curves largely paid for by the developed world.

Despite most African countries having 'greening' policies in place, implementation is largely lacking, domestic market momentum is low, and countries can't afford the level of investment or incentives being implemented by the developed world.

It is notable that some countries have taken steps to implement some form of basic energy transition policies, plans or strategies. Kenya, Algeria, Egypt, Morocco and South Africa have been the most proactive with progressive and clear policies, yet all remain short of their initial renewable energy installation targets.

Countries such as Angola, Algeria, Gabon, Egypt and Uganda have updated hydrocarbon legislation, regulations and decrees over the last three years in respect of local content, government revenue, transparency, fiscal measures and other reforms. However, these haven't always been aligned to an overall national energy strategy that includes energy transition. Many oil and gas exporting countries, specifically Nigeria and Angola, focus heavily on policy associated with taxation and regulation of the oil and gas sectors, which has detracted from progressing renewable energy policy.

Overall, the majority of the oil and gas exporting countries do not have adequate energy transition policies in place and are still largely focusing on hydrocarbons for domestic power as well as continued exports.

The adoption of renewable energy in Africa

Andries Rossouw, Energy Utilities and Resources Leader for PwC Africa says:

"Accelerated adoption of renewable energy could be the economic game changer for many African countries. Renewable energy industries have been shown to have positive and inclusive economic impact. This provides opportunities for African economies to diversify through, among others, leveraging their natural assets, including wind and solar arrays, but also new-age minerals."

Considerable progress has been made in some African countries around policy and planning environments. The biggest challenge, however, remains the need to exponentially increase the scale and speed of execution, but this calls into question the affordability of renewable energy in African markets as well as governments' weakening fiscal capabilities.

Mackay concludes:

"Perhaps a more 'just transition' would be a deeper investment stimulus and focused support for energy transition in Africa by the developed world. This would help to accelerate positive global climate response as well as support inclusive, sustainable Africa economic growth and thus create a win-win for all global citizens."

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Covid-19 has accelerated the pace of energy transitions - PwC Africa Oil & Gas Review | African Mining Market

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purred on by the Covid-19 global pandemic, the world is finally galvanising its commitment to move towards a green and sustainable future by this mid-century, and the global energy transition is the cornerstone of this new world.

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November 11th is Veterans Day. This day is dedicated to honoring military veterans that have fought for our country. If you or someone you know has family who served in the military, thank them for keeping us safe, and ask them about their time spent in the military, you might get some interesting stories.

-Justin

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Ping Pong Champion!

On November 10th, Chen Meng from China secured her title as the champion at the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) Women's World Cup after an 8 month hiatus due to Covid-19.

-Bizzy

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WEIHAI, Shandong: World number one Chen Meng beat Chinese compatriot Sun Yingsha 11-13 11-6 11-9 11-6 11-8 to win her maiden International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) Women's World Cup title in Weihai on Tuesday (Nov 10) as international table tennis returned from an eight-month hiatus due to COVID-19.

Chen's victory at the bio-secure Weihai Nanhai Olympic Centre made her the first winner of the ITTF's #RESTART series and also took her tally of senior singles titles to 19.

"Last month, I also won a title in the same venue and now this World Cup is a high point for me," the 26-year-old Chen said, referring to her China National Championships win.

"This will help my confidence going into the next tournament and I hope that at the ITTF Finals in Zhengzhou I can continue my good form and win another title."

Japan's Mima Ito took the bronze medal after beating Han Ying of Germany in straight games.

Weihai will host a men's World Cup tournament between Nov 13 and 15 with 21 players, including reigning world and Olympic champion Ma Long and top-ranked Fan Zhendong set to compete.

The third and final event of the #RESTART series will be the ITTF Finals between Nov 19 and 22 in Zhengzhou.

The women's and men's World Cup events were originally set to take place in Bangkok, Thailand and then Duesseldorf, Germany before the ITTF moved them to China.

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Table tennis: China's Chen claims maiden World Cup title as action resumes

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(Updated: ) Share this content WEIHAI, Shandong: World number one Chen Meng beat Chinese compatriot Sun Yingsha 11-13 11-6 11-9 11-6 11-8 to win her maiden International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) Women's World Cup title in Weihai on Tuesday (Nov 10) as international table tennis returned from an eight-month hiatus due to COVID-19.

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Before Covid-19 hit full force, Iceland was a hot travel destination. Tourists love to bathe in the blue lagoon, the country's famous geothermic heated pool. Other exciting activities include watching the northern lights, visiting the capitol city Reykjavik, and going whale watching. The city has delicious authentic Icelandic cuisine, lots of live music, and beautiful street art. If you ever have the chance to visit Iceland, you won't be disappointed.

-Precious

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Iceland is a beautiful country to visit and one of the most unique when it comes to the most epic places to see! And, although a first-time visit to Iceland is an exciting prospect, there's a heap of planning, logistics and bookings to be made to ensure a nice smooth trip. This is exactly why I wanted to share some of the best things to do on a first trip to Iceland.

Honestly, the whole country is as diverse as you can imagine, with the most incredible hikes, quaint towns, dramatic landscapes and glaciers all within one beautiful country.

Now, as it's your first visit, you'll probably be thinking about starting in the south-west of the island? This is where nearly all international flights arrive and depart, so it's a good starting point for your adventure.

Now, most of these are within a 5-hour drive from Iceland's international airport, Keflavik and easily reached by main arterial roads. This all makes it that bit easier when seeing the bigger picture of how much driving is involved.

Take a little look at some of the best things to do on a first trip to Iceland.

1.) Bathe in the Blue Lagoon

Iceland has known the world over for its famous geothermal heated pools, with the Blue Lagoon being one of it's most pristine!

Head across to the Blue Lagoon (around 10 minutes drive from the airport) and spend a good few hours relaxing in these piping hot pools. Now, the lagoon can get busy, so book your tickets in advance and make sure to visit at less busy times. Usually, first thing in the morning is a little quieter.

Also, If you arrive in winter, you can actually head to the Blue Lagoon and watch the sunrise, a magical experience that is well worth doing!

2.) Spot the northern lights

No visit to Iceland is complete without (at least looking for) the Northern Lights.

If you've rented a car, it's best to head out of the towns and head for some of the darker rural areas. We drove about 30-minutes out of Reykjavik to see them clearly in the dark and within the national park itself.

The months around March and September are the brightest for the northern lights but you can be lucky and see them at any time of the night.

When the lights are really strong, you'll be able to watch them prance overhead regardless of the (small amounts of) light pollution from the towns. Always keep your eyes peeled for those dancing swirls.

Now, you can go out on a pre-arranged tour but we always love just going out in the car and parking up in the national park. This way, you can stay as long, or as little, as you like.

There is an abundance of whales that call the shores of Iceland home. Head onto one of the whale watching tours that depart from Reykjavik and try your luck at spotting some of these majestic animals in the wild.

Taking roughly 3-4 hours, it's the perfect way to see whales in their natural habitat. Just be aware, sometimes the tours can overrun a little, so have a buffer for any future plans just in case.
Read more: Our whale watching trip in Iceland
4.) Eat typical Icelandic cuisine

Traditional Icelandic cuisine is little unknown outside of Iceland but that doesn't mean it's not yummy!

Head to one of the delicious restaurants in Reykjavik and try some local dishes like; Harðfiskur which consists of dried fish is a firm favourite!

If you're feeling a little more adventurous, chow down on Svið a baked sheep head. Now, I can't say I've tried the latter, but you know what, as they say, 'when in Rome' you might want to give it a try?
Read more: Best restaurants in Iceland
5.) Bake Hot Spring Rye Bread in the earth

There are few places where the heat of geothermal activity can actually bake bread in the ground.

Iceland is one of these places! Head over to the Fontana Hot Springs, or even at some hotels and restaurants, where they will help you prep, make and (the best bit) eat the baked rye bread.

Work up an appetite and spread with lashings of butter.
Read more: How we baked bread at Fontana
6.) Watch the sunset at Go To Vik & Dyrhólaey

One of the best places to watch the sunset is Vik and Dyrhólaey.

Head here to see the sun slowly descend over the horizon, all whilst standing on the iconic black beach that Iceland has become so famous for...

...It really is a beautiful place.
Read more: Epic things to do when you visit Iceland
7.) Drive the Golden Circle

One of the main 'routes' visitors to Iceland take, the Golden Circle encompasses quite a few incredible sites you'll not want to miss.

Including the iconic Strokkur Geyser (that erupts every few minutes) and Gullfoss, that looks stunning in both winter and summer.

The golden circle can take about 4-5 hours to complete but I'd always give a little extra to relax and enjoy this stunning route. It really is one of the best things to do on a first trip to Iceland.
Read more: Dramatic natural spots to see in Iceland
8.) Visit the capital city, Reykjavik

The capital city of Iceland,Reykjavik is one place you'll likely spend an evening or two. Head here on weekends when the bars are filled with live music, friendly local's and an amazing atmosphere.

In the days, explore the city itself, visit the Hallgrímskirkja Cathedral or head over to the Harpa concert hall which is home to the national opera and symphony.
Read more: What to pack for Iceland
9.) See the roaring Skógafoss

Skógafoss is approximately 2 hours east of the airport, with it being one of Iceland's most popular waterfalls to visit.

Entry is free to Skógafoss and if you arrive early in the morning, or late afternoon, you'll notice the crowds dissipate, leaving the waterfall just for you. It's lovely.
Read more: Best restaurants in Iceland
10.) Explore the Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon

The glacier lake of Jökulsárlón is probably the furthest east you'll travel out of all these places (it's about 5.5 hours from Keflavik airport) but well worth seeing if you've made it as far as Vik.

Head over to Jökulsárlón and see the incredible landscape that surrounds this region. It really is an impressive sight (just don't fall whilst taking a selfie, as Yaya did).

Oh, and if you fancy it, pop out onto the lagoon via the boat trips that happen here.
Read more: Best hikes in Iceland
11.) Go troll spotting on horseback

Horseback riding is a beautiful experience in Iceland, especially with the friendly Icelandic horses that are so full of character.

Head out onto the tundra and keep your eyes peeled for Icelandic trolls! Legend has it that they live in the little grassy humps you'll spot all over the country.
Read more: Best towns to visit in Iceland
12.) Walk-behind a waterfall at Seljalandsfoss

Seljalandsfoss waterfall is approximately a 10-minute drive from Skógafoss, so it's well worth doing these at the same time.

One of the best things about Seljalandsfoss is that you can actually walk behind the falls themselves, which is incredible to do!

When conditions get really dicey, the path behind the waterfall is closed off; so don't be too disappointed. After all, it's for your own safety.
Read more: Best things to do in Iceland
22 Very Best Things To Do In Iceland

Puppy Defender. Foodie. Chocolate Fiend and Custard Lover. Dip, Cover or Wrap anything in sugar and I'm Yours!

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12 Best Things To Do On A First Trip To Iceland - Hand Luggage Only - Travel, Food & Photography Blog

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Iceland is a beautiful country to visit and one of the most unique when it comes to the most epic places to see! And, although a first-time visit to - 12 Best Things To Do On A First Trip To Iceland - Travel, Travel Advice - Europe, Iceland - Travel, Food and Home Inspiration Blog with door-to-door Travel Planner!

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Jerusalema is a popular song by Master KG. He is a South African musician and record producer.

-Bauer

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Master KG - Jerusalema  [Feat. Nomcebo] (Official Music Video)

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Amok is a Cambodian dish. It is typically served during Bon Om Touk, otherwise known as the Water and Moon Festival, which is a three-day Cambodian festival celebrated annually to mark the reversal of the flow of the Tonle Sap River.

-Ms. Stef

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Make Amok, Fish Curry Steamed In Banana Leaves