Moroccan Rabha El Haymar has been awarded US International Women of Courage Award 2024 for her successful efforts made to gain recognition of her traditional marriage to spare her daughter a life of marginalization and discrimination as an undocumented child. Ms. Rabha has navigated her country’s legal system thanks to a recourse provided by Morocco’s family code reform of 2004 initiated under the leadership of King Mohammed VI, Commander of the Faithful, for women’s empowerment and protection of their rights. These reforms have enabled women to fight all forms of discrimination, consolidate their autonomy and strengthen their participation in the political, economic, and social life of the country. Last September, King Mohammed VI launched the process of reforming the Family Code to keep pace with the changes taking place in the country and Moroccan society wherein tradition and modernity go hand in hand. The proposed amendments emerging from these broad participatory consultations will be submitted first to the King, Commander of the Faithful, before the government drafts the relevant bill and submits it to parliament for adoption.

VultureAcross Africa and Eurasia, the vulture population is in fall. Only two out of the 16 species of 'old world' vultures remain off the endangered list, while eight are classified as critically endangered, three are endangered and the remaining three are near threatened.

And I think that's going to be particularly critical in this test. Well, we've got plenty more still ahead right here on DAYBREAK, Middle East and Africa. Meanwhile, let's let's pivot to one of our top stories. That's right. And Kamel, Tony Moore is still ahead right here on DAYBREAK, Middle East and Africa.

In a recent announcement, the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (NERSA) declared the registration of 124 generation facilities during the third quarter (October to December) of the 2023/24 Financial Year. The breakdown of the registered facilities reveals a dominance of solar photovoltaic (PV) technology, with 122 facilities harnessing this renewable energy source. Additionally, two facilities incorporate Solar PV with Battery Energy Storage System (BESS), showcasing a growing interest in advanced energy storage solutions. Since the inception of the registration regime in 2018, NERSA has registered a total of 1087 generation facilities. Detailed information on the 124 new registered generation facilities is available on the NERSA website.

Egypt and Tunisia demonstrate some of the broader challenges facing North Africa in its agricultural trading relationship with the EU. Forge a North African Trade Coalition (Main actors: North African diplomatic corps,EU trade officials):Strengthen the negotiating capacity of North African countries by forming a unified platform for agricultural trade negotiations with the European Union. Promote cooperation and coordination among North African countries to develop a common strategy for addressing agricultural trade challenges. Enhance collaboration between North African regional institutions and between North Africa and the EU through joint research programs, knowledge exchange, and technical assistance to address shared challenges and promote sustainable agricultural development. Expand Public Agricultural Extension Services (Main actors: Agricultural extension departments, rural development agencies):Agricultural extension services provide farmers with the training and resources needed for sustainable agricultural practices.

Shaista AsifKARACHI: Two Pakis­tani businesswomen have been recognised by Forbes in its ‘100 Most Powerful Businesswomen 2024’ list. The two women on the list are former Unilever Pakistan CEO Shazia Syed and PureHealth co-founder Shaista Asif. Ms Syed, currently the general manager for Unilever’s operations in North Africa, Iraq, Lev­a­nt, and Arabia, had previously been recognised as one of the top executives in the Middle East in 2023. Hailing from Abbottabad, Ms Syed began her professional journey with Unilever Pakistan as a management trainee in 1989 and worked her way up the corporate ladder. It is said to be among the largest integrated healthcare networks in the UAE, covering hospitals, clinics, diagnostics, insurance, pharmacies, health-tech, procurement and more.

Umut Yüksel; Photo AprojectsAntwerp-based logistics service provider Aprojects has continued its expansion with the opening of its 17th branch office in Turkey. “The opening of our new office is another milestone for our company and at the same time a well-considered choice in our growth strategy,” said Yoeri Torfs, CEO of Aprojects. Umut Yüksel, who has already earned his stripes at DB Schenker and DSV, will take the business lead as Managing Director of Aprojects Turkey. “Our city has an extensive network of transport infrastructure. In addition to our seaport, both the airport and our road and rail network are ideal to provide even better support to Aprojects’ customers,” says Yüksel.

SEOUL, South Korea — North Korea called the ongoing South Korean-U.S. military drills a plot to invade the country, as it threatened Tuesday to take unspecified “responsible” military steps in response. A ministry statement said South Korea will make an overwhelming response if North Korea launches direct provocations against it during the drills. North Korea views its rivals’ major military drills as invasion rehearsals, though South Korean and U.S. officials have repeatedly said they have no intentions of attacking the North. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un also declared his country won’t seek reconciliation with South Korea and vowed to scrap the country’s long-running goal of peaceful unification with South Korea. Kim said North Korea would take a more aggressive military posture along the disputed sea boundary with South Korea.

Today's Gaza aid drop largest since war began, Jordan saysToday's joint operation between Egypt, France the US and Jordan to drop humanitarian aid into Gaza was the largest operation of its kind to date, according to a statement carried on the Jordanian state-run Petra news agency. Three Jordanian C-130s delivered the aid, along with three US planes, one from Egypt and another from France, the statement said. Relief supplies from the World Food Programme were among the deliveries. Jordan has conducted 28 airdrop missions and another 15 joint operations since Israel's war with Hamas began 7 October.

Tenable, the Exposure Management company, recently announced its participation at LEAP 2024, Riyadh, from March 4th to 7th, 2024. Tenable’s exposure management solutions illuminate the attack paths and misconfigurations that exist before threat actors can exploit them. “Showcasing Tenable One at LEAP 2024 is a pivotal moment for Tenable”, said Maher Jadallah, Senior Director Middle East & North Africa, Tenable. During LEAP, in addition to its Tenable One Exposure Management platform, Tenable will be showcasing:Tenable Cloud Security — multi-cloud solution that simplifies cloud complexity and, through precise contextual analysis, enables teams to efficiently identify and address accurately prioritised security gaps. Tenable OT Security — an industrial security solution that identifies assets in the OT environment, communicates risk, prioritizes action and enables IT and OT security teams to work better together.

The artwork depicts Taos Amrouche surrounded by books and music (Google Doodle)Google Doodle is celebrating Taos Amrouche, a Kabyle-Algerian-French singer and author, who was among the first Algerian women to publish a novel. Born in 1913 in Tunis, Tunisia, after her parents moved there from Algeria, today would have been Amrouche’s 111th birthday. The author attended school in Tunis before moving to France in 1935 to attend university, Google Doodle said. Another Amrouche novel, Rue des tambourines (Street of the Tabors), is autobiographical and reflects her childhood, Google Doodle said. The stories and songs helped Amrouche document and preserve parts of her oral heritage, as well as connect with both her French and Kabyle identities, Google Doodle said.

Burkina Faso judicial authorities said an attack on a village in Yatenga province left 170 people, including women and children, dead as the country reels under a surge in Jihadist activity. The attack came as the military authorities in the country warned against increased risk of attacks by extremist groups, including on urban centers. The country’s army seized power in 2022, but more than a third of Burkina Faso is controlled by insurgents. The US also urged Burkina Faso to investigate incidents involving its army intervention which reportedly cost citizens’ lives. Yet, despite military efforts to counter armed groups, attacks persist, indicative of ongoing challenges in restoring stability.

While the city has over 13,000 restaurants, its bar scene has largely been confined to Michelin fine dining, nightclubs, and boozy brunches. Look through the gallery and see the region's other top restaurants, as selected by 50 Best list group. The 50 Best has unveiled its 2024 list of the best restaurants in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). Al Muntaha, which was recognized by Star Wine List as having the best sparkling wine list in the UAE earlier this year, has 166 labels on its champagne list, including around 60 recently added grower champagnes, says Lacroix. Tina HillierAnd the culture around drinking is largely focused on dining or special occasions, with little in between, says Krister Bengtsson, founder of Star Wine List.

North Korean hackers have allegedly stolen South Korean microchip manufacturing technology secrets, prompting the National Intelligence Service (NIS) in Seoul to call for better cyber defenses. Reports say the NIS accused North Korean cybercrime groups of compromising the servers of two separate (so far unnamed) microchip manufacturers in South Korea and stealing semiconductor designs and facility photos. "We believe that North Korea might possibly be preparing to produce its own semiconductors in the face of difficulties in procuring them due to sanctions," the NIS reportedly said in a statement.

The investments will also go to developing Saudi digital skills and supporting tech start-ups.H.E. Abdullah Alswaha, the Saudi Minister of Communications and Information Technology (MCIT), announced the record value of investments on the opening day of LEAP 2024’s four-day run at Riyadh Exhibition & Convention Centre in Malham. Its ambition will be showcased on a global stage and the Kingdom will become a hub that connects three continents. A seismic event that accelerates the adoption of technology and transforms Saudi Arabia’s economy. Tahaluf will also bring iconic Informa brands to Saudi Arabia, including CPHI and Cosmoprof, serving the global pharmaceutical and beauty industries, respectively.For more information about Tahaluf, visit https://tahaluf.com