The Central Bank of Egypt (CBE) witnessed remarkable growth in its total assets, reaching EGP 4.480trn in June 2023, up from EGP 2.986tn in June 2022, according to its latest financial statements. CBE’s balances in banks also increased to EGP 400.090bn, compared to EGP 64.100bn, while balances at IMF recorded EGP 12.266bn, compared to EGP 7.751bn. CBE has also boosted its contributions to the capital of several international financial organisations, reaching EGP 19.378bn in June 2023, compared to EGP 15.711bn in June 2022. CBE also owns stakes in the Arab African International Bank (EGP 32.608bn – 49.4% stake), and the Arab International Bank (EGP 10.176bn – 38.8% stake). CBE achieved profits from its investments in sister companies amounting to EGP 2.990bn in June 2023, compared to EGP 1.966bn in June 2022.

Casablanca is the fourth best city on the African continent to live, work, study and invest in, according to the latest Cities 2023 Index published by Brand Finance. The city, often regarded as Morocco's economic capital, scored 59.3 out of 100. The city also has a rich cultural heritage and modern urban development, which have also contributed to raising its rating. This is thanks to being South Africa's most visited city and its mix of natural beauty, cultural diversity and economic vitality. Casablanca is 76th in the list of 100, while Lagos, Nigeria, ranks fifth among African cities with 57.4 points, followed by Nairobi, Kenya, with 56.8.

Baghdad, Sep 3 (IANS) Iraq has declared a curfew in the ethnically-mixed city of Kirkuk in northern Iraq after clashes involving Kurds, Arabs and Turkmens. Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia' al-Sudani, who also leads the Iraqi armed forces, on Saturday ordered the curfew in Kirkuk province and initiated search operations in the areas that had witnessed riots, Xinhua news agency reported. The KDP is a Kurdish political party close to Kurdish leader Masoud Barzani. Saad al-Baiyati, an officer from Kirkuk provincial police, told Xinhua that the two sides clashed in front of the KDP's former headquarters, prompting the security forces to intervene to stop the riots. However, gunshots, suspected to have been fired from the Kurdish side, led to security forces responding with gunfire, resulting in the death of one Kurdish protester and the injury of another, according to al-Baiyati.

A look at what the coming week will bring -- and a list of recommended RANE articles from the week that was.

Dante Moore throws 2 TDs in first collegiate game as UCLA defeats Coastal Carolina 27-13— Dante Moore threw two touchdowns in his first collegiate game and UCLA pulled away in the second half for a 27-13 victory over Coastal Carolina.

Eritrean protesters clash with Israeli riot police in Tel Aviv, Israel, Saturday, Sept. 2, 2023. (AP Photo/Ohad Zwigenberg)Eritrean protesters clash with Israeli riot police in Tel Aviv, Israel, Saturday, Sept. 2, 2023. (AP Photo/Ohad Zwigenberg)Eritrean protesters clash with Israeli riot police in Tel Aviv, Israel, Saturday, Sept. 2, 2023. (AP Photo/Ohad Zwigenberg)Eritrean protesters clash with Israeli riot police in Tel Aviv, Israel, Saturday, Sept. 2, 2023. At some point, the promises were broken, said Chaim Bublil, a Tel Aviv police commander.

And later Saturday, Japan joined the Olympic field as the highest-ranked World Cup team from Asia — clinching that spot by holding on for an 80-71 win over Cape Verde. "This team is a beam of light, like I keep on saying," South Sudan coach Royal Ivey said. Marial Shayok scored 18, Nuni Omot — the reigning MVP of the NBA-backed Basketball Africa League — scored 17 and Wenyen Gabriel added 15 for South Sudan (3-2). South Sudan and Japan joined Australia (the Oceania automatic qualifier) and France (the host nation) as teams to have clinched spots in the 12-team Olympic men's basketball field. Keisei Tominaga put the hosts — Japan got to play its World Cup games in Okinawa — up 73-53 on a 3-pointer with 2:00 remaining in the third quarter.

Dr. Julia PetlaThe number of women participating in the US construction industry is at an all-time high of 14%, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. AvenirHoldings is an engineering consulting and project management firm, and also offers construction and facilities management, and training and development. “I wanted to make my mark.”Petla says, “Women definitely have to overcome the widely held view that construction work is better suited to men. Women in the industry have to work twice as hard to earn a seat at the table,” she reflects, adding that the men don’t make the industry one particularly welcoming to women. “Building strong networks and finding mentors in the construction industry can help women access opportunities and navigate potential challenges,” says Petla.

Atlanta-based Renewvia Energy pioneered its Africa model in remote communities where it relied on grant funding to connect solar microgrids to empower villagers. While this rural-focused model is still going strong, Renewvia has in recent months been seeing increasing uptake with corporations in urban centers. Late last year, Lagos, Nigeria-based United Bank of Africa, which boasts more than $20 billion in assets, announced a power-supply agreement with Renewvia and its on-the-ground partner, Incremental Energy Solutions Ltd. The following year, Renewvia got a $10 million investment from Nashville-based Claritas Capital to power more projects in sub-Saharan Africa. Renewvia operates some of its larger grids for the Kakuma refugee camp and the nearby Kalobeyei Integrated Settlement.

By Hendia al-Ashepy and Shefa’a QudahWith heatwaves destroying crops in Libya and Jordan, farmers and refugees are finding hope in a popular new farming technique. Like Libya, Jordan is one of 15 countries in the Middle East that are among the world’s 25 most water-stressed spots. Only 2 per cent of Libyan land gets enough rain to support traditional agriculture, making hydroponic farming an ideal alternative. Seraj BisheyaGiven its reduced need for water, hydroponic farming needs no arable lands, explains Abdallah Tawfic, Cairo-based co-founder of Urban Greens Egypt. Educating himself via YouTube videos, he then launched Senara in 2020, a company that trains refugees on hydroponic farming.

African Indigenous Vegetables (AIVs) farmers in Kenya are set to benefit two solar-powered cold storage projects being implemented by the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) Foreign Agricultural Service and North Carolina State University (NCSU). The first initiative will be a proof-of-concept project to establish the economic viability of large-scale, container-style solar-powered storage facilities. The project will offer technical guidance in the design of solar-powered cold storage facilities, the choice of location for installation, and the creation of training modules for Kenyan operators. Cold storage unitsThe project will utilize the cold storage units developed in the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service project, situated in Kenyan counties covered by the same project. This financial support will enable them to acquire and test a third solar-powered cold storage container for sweet potato storage.

If Saudi Arabia and UAE, the largest energy producers in the Middle East, join BRICS, the bloc’s upgraded economic clout might improve its chances of deploying alternative currencies. But Tanchum noted, “BRICS membership offers little new economic benefit from China that was not readily available to Iran, Egypt, Saudi Arabia or the UAE. Two of the founding members China and India are in opposite geopolitical alignment and have ongoing disputes over shared borders. “The normalization of ties with Saudi Arabia through Beijing is part of Tehran’s policy to overcome diplomatic isolation,” Neccia noted. Nevertheless, Sons feels that BRICS could strengthen the diplomatic reconciliation between Iran and Saudi Arabia in an economic direction.

The search for sunshine – once August has faded into the ether, and the summer has begun its trek to the other side of the equator – tends to involve a glance to the west or the east. The Caribbean is always fun, even if September and October can be at the mercy of hurricane season. If you can’t stomach flying quite that far, Dubai will certainly sell you a hotel suite. There are various advantages to a holiday in North Africa as Europe turns to autumn. Not only do temperatures linger in the upper 20s while France and Spain are starting to wonder where they left their winter coats, this welcome warmth does not require a journey of unpalatable length.

The Boxing Africa Qualifier for Paris 2024 takes place in the Dakar Arena from 9-15 September with 18 Olympic quota spots at stake. Since Tokyo 2020, the number of men's weight classes has been reduced by one to seven with the women's increased by one to six. In the Africa qualifier, there is just one men's quota berth available in each of the seven classes, with two quota spots up for grabs in each women's weight class in Dakar apart from there being just one in the 75kg division. This is the second qualifier for Paris after June's European Games which saw 44 boxers obtain quota places for their National Olympic Committees (NOCs). Read on for all you need to know about the Boxing Africa Qualifier, including schedule, and how to watch the action live on Olympic Channel via Olympics.com and the official Olympics app for mobile devices.

Audubon, IA (50025)TodaySome clouds this evening will give way to mainly clear skies overnight. Winds SSW at 10 to 15 mph..TonightSome clouds this evening will give way to mainly clear skies overnight. Winds SSW at 10 to 15 mph.