The EBRD will provide a sovereign guaranteed senior loan of up to €45 million to Societe Tunisienne de l’Electricity et du Gaz (STEG) to finance a 200km 600MW High-Voltage Direct Current submarine transmission cable connecting Tunisia and Italy. ELMED will be operated and jointly owned by STEG and the Italian transmission system operator Terna S.p.A. The submarine transmission cable project will contribute to the grid stability and dispatching optimisation required for better renewable energy integration and climate strategy delivery in the two markets, both of which have ambitious renewable energy objectives. A detailed gap analysis of the supplementary documentation, especially on the Italian side of the proposed submarine cable infrastructure, by an independent consultant, is being finalised. Of interestMorocco-UK subsea cables energy project secures early development fundingSubmarine transmission cable project assessment still ongoingNo project company has been established for the submarine cable construction and/or operation.

Morocco’s economy is expected to grow by 2.4% in 2023, and by 3.6% in 2024, according to the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Concerning the inflation rate, which stood at 6.6% in 2022, it should decline to 6.3% in 2023, then to 3.5% in 2024, underlined the financial institution. A decline is however expected in 2024, with this rate expected to fall to 11.7%. Overall, global growth is expected to slow to 3% in 2023, then 2.9% in 2024 (compared to 3.5% in 2022). A rebound is, however, expected in 2024 for the region, which will achieve a 3.4% growth.

African nations have been divided over which side to support in the conflict between Israel and Hamas, but African leaders have still unanimously called on warring parties to halt deadly confrontations that erupted on 7 October when the Palestinian militant group launched a surprise assault. Indeed, Africa as a whole has also been divided over the Israel-Palestine issue. Hence, while Sudan, Djibouti and South Africa have been clear about their support for the Palestinians, Zambia, Kenya and Ghana quite explicitly condemned Hamas and expressed their support for Israel. “Kenya strongly maintains that there exists no justification whatsoever for terrorism which constitutes a serious threat to international peace and security,” President William Ruto said in a statement. Expressing solidarity with Israel, he said the two countries remained “united to fight terrorism in all its forms”.

Historically, threat researchers have tracked North Korea's threat activities as being carried out by individual groups — Lazarus Group and Kimsuky among them. A More Organized State-Sponsored StructureCOVID-19 marked a significant change in how North Korean threat groups operate, with an unprecedented level of coordination and information-sharing directly driven by the closure of borders during that time. "While it remains uncertain whether this collaboration was intentional or driven by necessity, there is no sign of a decrease in such activities," Barnhart says. Mandiant researchers compiled a comprehensive structure of the current North Korean APT landscape to help defenders understand what they're currently up against. In general, all threat groups lead back to Kim Jong Un, and all activity is either to provide funding or intelligence for the regime — or both.

Andre Esterhuizen of South Africa runs with the ball while under pressure from Pita Ahki of Tonga during the Rugby World Cup France 2023 match between South Africa and Tonga at Stade Velodrome on October 1, 2023 in Marseille, France. The Pool stages of RWC 2023 ended with a bang, instead of the usual whimper. Portugal won their first-ever World Cup match with a splendid display against Fiji, which should galvanise World Rugby (WR) into creating a credible competition for Tier 2 nations. With the knockout stages upon us, WR will double down on traditional rivalries and conveniently forget the sometimes-dazzling rugby produced by Tonga, Uruguay, Samoa and Portugal. But the Pumas finished third the last time the World Cup came to France and should never be written off.

from DION HENRICK in Cape TownWestern Cape BureauCAPE TOWN, (CAJ News) – ERICSSON has pledged to provide world-class learning and career development opportunities to young talent in Africa and the Middle East. This is through the Gen-E Graduate Programme, which it has launched. The technology company said the programme provides well-structured development alongside world-class information and communication technology (ICT) industry experts to promote the potential of youth in the field. Sena Erten, Vice President and Head of People at Ericsson Middle East and Africa, said since the onset of the graduate programmes across the regions, they had witnessed hundreds of graduates soar into various roles across different countries, all while making significant strides in their careers. “The GEN-E Graduate Programme is a comprehensive personal and technical development journey that positions graduates alongside industry experts in contributing to revolutionary technologies that are shaping our tomorrow,” she said.

Lawyers for former Mauritanian President Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz have withdrawn from his trial for alleged illicit enrichment, denouncing the court's violation of their client's rights, two of them said on Tuesday. Mr. Clédor Ly and his colleague Mr. Taleb Khyar Ould Mohamed Moloud affirmed that the court refused to process the requests of Mr. Aziz's defense and to call witnesses on his behalf. Mr. Aziz "suffered unequal treatment" until his detention, said Me Clédor Ly, who counted 356 violations of his client's rights. The Court appointed two lawyers to defend Mr. Aziz, but the latter "systematically refuses to collaborate with them", reported Me Mohamed Moloud, stressing that the collective which withdrew remained the legitimate defender of Mr. Aziz. The trial will resume on October 23, time for the court-appointed lawyers to review the file, the court explained.

Profile Knight FrankKnight Frank has strengthened is senior team in Egypt and MENA with the hire of Mohamed Nabil. Operating out of Knight Frank’s Cairo office, Mohamed Nabil brings over 23 years of experience in the region’s real estate market to the firm. He joins from JLL, where he spent more than a decade, and arrives shortly after Knight Frank entered the Egyptian market. “I am incredibly thrilled about the opportunity to join Knight Frank. Knight Frank’s renowned name and outstanding corporate culture resonate deeply with my professional aspirations.”James Lewis, Managing Director of Knight Frank in MENA, said: “Nabil's caring and driven leadership, combined with Knight Frank’s global reputation will position us well in this market segment.

This move marks a significant milestone in the company’s journey to revolutionise the AI industry in the Middle East. The establishment of a sales office in Dubai marks a milestone in DaveAI’s journey, demonstrating the company’s unwavering commitment to fostering innovation and growth. The Dubai office will serve as a hub for DaveAI’s Middle East operations and provide local support to its rapidly growing customer base. The company is gearing up for a prominent presence at two of the Middle East’s most prestigious technology events: GITEX Technology Week and the North Star Global Event, both scheduled to take place in Dubai from October 15th to 20th. North Star Global Event is a premier B2B event that connects global buyers and suppliers from various industries such as IT, telecom, electronics, security, and more.

New Zealand’s election campaign is ending with little fanfare. Yet the vote on Oct. 14 is poised to deliver significant change, whatever the outcome. The last time the country went to the polls, in 2020, then-Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern’s successful initial response to the COVID-19 pandemic saw her Labour Party rewarded with an absolute majority—an unprecedented result under the proportional representation system used since 1996. Fast-forward three years and Ardern’s battle against COVID-19 is all but a memory.

Sanari Capital, a women-led and majority Black- and women-owned South African private equity firm, has raised ZAR1.25 billion (US$65 million) in the second close of its growth fund, which aims to fuel employment opportunities and foster economic growth across Africa. Sanari Capital invests between ZAR50 million (US$2.6 million) and ZAR250 million (US$13 million) in well-established businesses at an inflection point, driven by technology, innovation, thematic or sectoral growth drivers, and new markets. The Sanari 3S Growth Fund, which has just achieved a second close at US$65 million, is targeting a final close of up to $100 million. The PIC manages capital for the Government Employees Pension Fund (GEPF), which is the largest pension fund in Africa. The capital invested by the fund qualifies as 100 per cent black ownership in underlying portfolio companies, offering benefits over and above the firm’s growth capital and value-adding support.

Key findings and insights from the report include:Smart Speakers in North America: Smart speakers in connected home solutions in North America are projected to reach $39.1 billion by 2028. This suggests strong growth and adoption of voice-controlled smart speakers in the region. Edge Computing in South America: Edge computing support for connected homes in South America is expected to reach $387.3 million by 2028. Evolution of Smart, Connected Homes: The concept of the smart, connected home is evolving, with greater intelligence, connectivity, and control. Integration of AI: AI technologies are playing a significant role in the connected home market.

A water sprinkler in action near the India Gate on a hot summer day in Delhi. Researchers modelled global temperature increases ranging between 1.5 and 4 degrees Celsius to identify areas of the planet where warming could lead to heat and humidity levels that exceed human limits. Results indicated that warming of the planet beyond 1.5 degrees above preindustrial levels will be increasingly devastating for human health across the planet. Advertisement As climate change pushes temperatures higher around the world, billions of people could be pushed beyond these limits. In 2015, 196 nations signed the Paris Agreement which aims to limit worldwide temperature increases to 1.5 degrees above pre-industrial levels.

Talks between Saudi Arabia and Houthi insurgents who seized power in Yemen nine years ago are proceeding, albeit at a deliberate pace. Back-channel talks began in April 2022, when the UN mediated a two-month ceasefire between the parties, which they renewed twice. But as the talks have dragged on, it has become equally apparent that major differences separate the sides. Hopes surged in early April, when the Saudi ambassador to Yemen, Mohammed al-Jaber, visited Sanaa, where the Houthis hold sway. In their official statements, most of the Yemeni factions opposed to the Houthis back the Saudi-Houthi talks.

Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema, the General and new leader of Gabon, undertook his fourth international trip with a visit Monday October 9 to Chad where he met President Mahamat Idriss Deby Itno. The Gabonese leader came to power on August 30, after deposing Omar Bongo Ali Odimba. The visit came in the wake of Chad’s support for the power takeover. The Chad visit is the fourth by Nguema since taking power. He travelled to Equatorial, Congo Brazzaville, and Central African Republic where he met the leaders of these countries in a bid to end Gabon’s isolation following the coup.