Latest news with #NorthAfrica
Al Bawaba
4 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Al Bawaba
Beloved Moroccan journalist Kaoutar Boudarraja dies at 37, emotional tribute
ALBAWABA - Moroccan media mourns Kaoutar Boudarraja passing at just 37. On Friday, June 27, social media was overwhelmed by sad news after Moroccan journalist Kaoutar Boudarraja, 37, passed away after a protracted illness. Several celebrities expressed their profound sadness for Kaoutar Boudarraja in remarks on their social media profiles. "To God we belong, and to Him we shall return," Mimi Al-Abyad wrote on Kaoutar Boudarraja Instagram account as a heartfelt farewell to her late companion. My dear buddy, may God show you His boundless mercy. Kaoutar Boudarraja Instagram profile In a post on his own Instagram story, Adel Eshbi also expressed his sorrow for the deceased, writing, "To God we belong, and to Him we shall return," in reference to her photo. I pray that God may spare you, Kaoutar. Nouamane Belaiachi responded by announcing that the song "Jillali" would now be released on Monday in remembrance of Kaoutar. On his Instagram, he posted, "My friends, may peace be upon you! Due to the passing of our buddy Kaoutar Boudarraja, the release date of the song "Jillali" has been rescheduled until Monday. We belong to God, and we will return to Him. May God show her pity and pardon her. On Kaoutar's Instagram post, Abdelfattah Al-Jerini wrote, "We belong to God, and we will return to Him. May God grant her mercy and keep everyone who has died safe. Kaoutar Boudarraja Instagram profile In her farewell, Jamila Al-Badawi also wrote, "We belong to God, and we will return to Him. May God show her kindness and give her more space. Boudraâ started her media career early on and was well-known for hosting a number of cultural and artistic shows on Moroccan networks, where her serious and serene demeanor stood out. After beginning her career on the "Star Academy Maghreb" program, the late actress gained popularity on Nessma TV with several shows, including "Nass Nessma" and "Forbidden for Men," before joining Medi 1 TV and hosting "Jari Ya Jari." Additionally, she appeared on the "Arab Presenter," which was shown on Al Hayat TV and Abu Dhabi TV. Kaoutar Boudarraja pursued an acting career in addition to her media job, making appearances in dramas like "Al-Madi La Yamoot," "Solo Domoui," "Ahlam Banat," and "Salamat Abu Al-Banat." The Moroccan fantasy movie "Atoman" (2025) also included her.
Zawya
12 hours ago
- Politics
- Zawya
Statement on recent demonstrations, incendiary rhetoric and rumors against United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL)
The United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) affirms its uncompromising respect for the right of all citizens to demonstrate peacefully and to express their views freely. Direct engagement with the Libyan people is a cornerstone of our work, and we are always prepared to meet, engage in discussions and listen to the views of the Libyan people which includes listening to the concerns of peaceful protesters. We have had protests outside our premises on a number of occasions and we receive their petitions as has been the practice with all previous demonstrations and will continue to do so. Recently on Tuesday UNSMIL met with a group of protestors at its premises to listen to their demands and concerns, and we were able to have a mutually respectful discussion. However, UNSMIL is dismayed by statements purportedly from some Libyan political figures that appear to encourage not just demonstrations but going further to actively encourage unlawful actions against UN personnel and property. UNSMIL has always welcomed constructive criticism; however, incitement campaigns and rumors being waged against the Mission could also be an indication of an effort to undermine the advancement of any progress toward the development of a political process, which is aimed at the holding of national elections and unified institutions to achieve lasting peace and stability in Libya. We remind all parties of their obligation to maintain the peaceful character of any demonstration, and refrain from actions, and to commit to resolving differences through constructive dialogue. UNSMIL also recalls the 1946 Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the United Nations and the relevant agreement concluded between the United Nations and the Libyan authorities, which guarantee the inviolability of United Nations premises. All parties are urged to respect the inviolability of United Nations premises, its personnel, and its property and assets in accordance with international law. UNSMIL remains steadfast in its commitment to supporting a Libyan-led political process for the benefit of all Libyan people and will continue to monitor all developments closely. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL).
Zawya
18 hours ago
- Business
- Zawya
Kenzz App honors top-performing sellers in First-Ever Vendors Awards Ceremony
Cairo, Egypt — Kenzz, the Egyptian mass-market e-commerce platform, has proudly celebrated the exceptional performance of its seller community through the inaugural Kenzz Vendors Awards ceremony yesterday. This milestone initiative underscores Kenzz's commitment to championing local e-commerce and delivering inclusive economic impact for businesses of all sizes, country-wide. The ceremony embodies Kenzz's core mission to bring e-commerce closer to everyday Egyptians by equipping sellers with the tools and visibility they need to grow and transform. Kenzz honored the top 10 top-performing vendors with gold coin prizes based on their commercial success during the 'ملوك اللعبة' (Kings of the Game) competition, who represented the diverse categories found on the Kenzz app. Ahmed Atef, Co-Founder and CEO of Kenzz, said: "The vendors we honor today are more than sellers on Kenzz, they are our partners and the driving force behind Egypt's e-commerce movement. With millions of users and more than 44% GMV growth in Q1 2025 in comparison to Q4 2024, Kenzz is proving that local e-commerce in Egypt can grow from the ground up through meeting real market demand with practical, measurable outcomes that push benchmarks to new heights." Mohamed Lokma, Chief Commercial Officer (CCO) of Kenzz, added: "Kenzz is built on partnerships, with commercial excellence recognized and rewarded. During the 'ملوك اللعبة' competition period, participating sellers collectively achieved a 47% increase in the sum net total revenue. These results shed light on the strength, resilience, and commercial excellence of our seller community and reflect how Kenzz is helping local businesses turn potential into real, scalable success that reaches customers everywhere in Egypt." One of the top selling winners expressed sincere appreciation for Kenzz's recognition initiative, describing it as a meaningful gesture of support for sellers. While active on several e-commerce platforms, he emphasized that Kenzz stands out as a true partner, citing its consistent appreciation and acknowledgment of its seller community. As part of this seller-focused approach, Kenzz introduced Bosla, its proprietary seller center in 2024, which played a significant role in the competition's outcomes. Designed to help vendors optimize performance and expand their product ranges by leveraging the pricing tools and inventory recommendations through data-led insights, Bosla has achieved a 100% adoption rate. Since launching its mobile app, Kenzz has surpassed 4 million downloads. This milestone reinforces Kenzz's position as a mass-market platform built to unlock gigantic economic opportunities, by putting inclusive technology, performance tools, local business growth and availability to the mass market at the heart of its model.
Zawya
19 hours ago
- Business
- Zawya
Tunisia ranks 2nd in Africa and 62nd globally in Energy Transition Index
Tunis – Tunisia has made significant progress in the global energy transition landscape, climbing 27 spots to rank 62nd worldwide out of 118 countries in the 2025 Energy Transition Index (ETI), published by the World Economic Forum (WEF). This marks a notable improvement from its 89th position in 2024, making Tunisia the second-highest ranked country in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. With an overall score of 54.6 points, Tunisia stands out for its steady advancements toward a more sustainable and secure energy system. The Energy Transition Index (ETI) provides a data-driven framework to assess how 118 countries are positioned to navigate the evolving energy landscape. It measures both system performance (security, equity and sustainability outcomes) and transition readiness (enablers of progress, including regulations and political commitment, finance and investment, education and human capital, infrastructure, and innovation), resulting in an ETI score. According to the report, Tunisia demonstrates strong preparedness to accelerate its transition to renewable energy, particularly in the structure and readiness of its energy system. The country performed well in areas such as system performance, security, sustainability, and equity, despite ongoing needs to strengthen governance and enhance innovation and investment. In the MENA region, Tunisia ranks just behind Saudi Arabia (60th with 55.0 points) and ahead of the United Arab Emirates (48th with 58.4 points). On the African continent, Nigeria leads at 61st with a score of approximately 54.8, followed by Tunisia. Other African countries trailing behind include Namibia (64th), Mauritius (69th), Morocco (70th), Egypt (74th), South Africa (79th), Kenya (88th), and Algeria (89th). Côte d'Ivoire completes the African top 10 at 90th globally. Tunisia's detailed scores are: System Performance (Security, Sustainability, Equity): 59.7 Transition Readiness (Governance, Infrastructure, Innovation, Investment): 46.9 Commenting on the ETI ranking, Director of Solar Energy at the National Agency for Energy Conservation (ANME) Nefaâ Baccari underlined that Tunisia's progress is both significant and expected, showing nearly a decade of sustained national efforts toward energy transition. He cited ongoing reforms, such as the establishment and updating of the regulatory framework and the simplification of administrative procedures. "The installed solar energy capacity in Tunisia currently stands at around 700 MW (across solar, wind, hydro, etc.) and is expected to reach 1,000 MW by the end of 2025," Baccari told TAP. He emphasized that the country is now beginning to reap the benefits of these long-term efforts, and that their impact will become increasingly visible each year. Tunisia remains committed to achieving its energy transition goals by 2035 and ultimately reaching carbon neutrality by 2050. © Tap 2022 Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
News.com.au
20 hours ago
- General
- News.com.au
Dying breed: Tunisian dog lovers push to save age-old desert hound
Nemcha, Zina and Zouina, three North African Sloughi hounds, play on the beach in Tunisia where their ancestors have long roamed desert plains, seemingly unaware of the existential threat to their dwindling breed. The Sloughis, known for their speed and slender physique, have for many centuries accompanied nomadic societies across North Africa, and have been featured in art and lore dating back at least to the Roman era. But nowadays breeders and advocates say that unregulated crossbreeding, the decline of nomadic lifestyles and habitat shifts due to urbanisation mean that they might soon disappear. Olfa Abid, who was walking Nemcha, Zina and Zouina along the coast in northern Tunisia's Ras Angela, said the age-old breed is "part of our heritage, our history". "We must protect the Sloughi," said Abid, a 49-year-old veterinarian, her arms wrapped around one of her dogs. Recent years have seen a spike in unregulated crossbreeding, mixing the local Sloughi with other hounds often brought in from abroad to boost its speed for dog races, according to Abid. National kennel club the Tunisian Canine Centre (CCT) has been working to raise awareness and safeguard the breed, including by creating a dedicated registry with a regulated breeding scheme. The organisation's director Noureddine Ben Chehida said it also seeks to have the Tunisian Sloughi "recognised according to international standards" as a unique breed, under the guidelines of the International Canine Federation, the world's main dog breed registry. Such recognition would give the local Sloughi population a place on the international stage and help preserve its lineage at home, Ben Chehida said. Also known as Arabian Greyhounds, today the CCT estimates that fewer than 200 pure-bred Sloughis remain in Tunisia. - 'Noble' hunters - With their short coats in sandy hues or grey and arched backs, the hounds' swift gait has earned them a precious spot in Tunisian folklore even as the desert life they once supported gradually vanishes. Historians debate how they first made it to this part of North Africa, but many attribute their arrival to nomadic tribes like the Mrazigs who live in the south of modern-day Tunisia. For centuries, or possibly even millennia, the Sloughis have been vital companions to desert nomads, helping them hunt and guard livestock. "Running like a Sloughi" is still a common saying in Tunisia. "It's a noble dog that was the pride of its nomadic owners," said Abid. "It's a primitive hunter with a purpose when food was scarce." She said the Sloughi has also had a more privileged standing compared to most dogs that are generally considered impure in Islamic cultures. Unlike other breeds, Sloughis have traditionally been allowed indoors and would even eat beside their owners, said Abid. - Ancestral heritage - In the southern town of Douz, on the edge of the Sahara desert, dog breeder Nabil Marzougui said the "proliferation of hybrid breeds" is putting the Sloughis' future at risk. "We inherited this dog from our forefathers," said Marzougui, calling for authorities to intervene to save the Sloughis as well as the ancestral tradition that they embody. The hounds require ample daily exercise, especially where hunting is no longer available or needed. This is why Abid said she had left the city to settle in the quiet coastal village of Ras Angela, on Africa's northernmost tip, where long stretches of sand serve as an ideal terrain for her three dogs to run around and roam free. Their seaside adventures, which Abid shares on social media, are now followed by thousands of people online. Hatem Bessrour, a 30-year-old agricultural engineer and the proud owner of a Sloughi named Cacahuete, called on fellow dog owners to register their pure-bred hounds with the national canine centre to support its breeding programme. The breed is part Tunisia's heritage, he said. "We must care for it just like we care for antiquities and archaeological sites."
