Records show that on February 9, 2024, $692,265 was purchased with over N1.041 billion “for Mr President’s trip to Ethiopia”. In a related development, between February 24 and March 15, 2024, the Presidency recorded N650 million for “presidential honorarium and transportation”. This means that in 21 days, the Presidential honorarium cost the country N650 million. An honorarium is a payment made as a gesture of appreciation for services rendered, where no fee is legally or customarily expected. SaharaReporters earlier noted how the administration of Tinubu spent N473 million on the First Lady Oluremi Tinubu’s to Mozambique, United Kingdom and Ethiopia.

Scientists say this summer could be the world's hottest on record, even as the warming effect of El Nino fades out to be replaced with the cooling La Nina. Selwin Hart, UN special adviser on climate change, has warned that the recent spate of heatwaves is a sign of things to come. The latest El Nino, which began in June 2023, peaked among the five strongest such events on record, according to the World Meteorological Organisation. In May, the EU's Copernicus climate change service said El Nino continued to weaken “towards neutral conditions”. And in the context of a warming planet due to human-caused climate change, scientists say that the cooling effect may be minuscule.

The Association for Human Rights in Ethiopia (AHRE) has acknowledged the recent release of poet Belay Bekele Weya, as well as journalists Belay Manaye, Tewodros Tsegaye, and Bekalu Alamirew, who had been imprisoned for several months under the state of emergency declared in the Amhara regional state. While AHRE welcomed the release of these individuals, the organization expressed deep concern over the ongoing use of arbitrary arrests and the violation of fundamental human rights by the Ethiopian government. Despite these releases, AHRE stated that numerous other journalists, human rights defenders, artists, and politicians remain arbitrarily detained. In the press statement, AHRE urged the government to uphold and respect the fundamental rights of all citizens, including the freedoms of expression and the press, as well as other basic human rights. The organization called on the government to ensure justice and fair trials for all those unjustly imprisoned, not limited to just journalists and human rights defenders, but encompassing all individuals detained under dubious circumstances.

Ethiopian Airlines Group, Africa’s largest airline group, is pleased to announce that it has been crowned as the winner of the ‘Best Entertainment in Africa’ and ‘Best Wi-Fi in Africa’ awards for yet another year at the APEX Passenger Choice Awards 2024. Ethiopian Airlines has collaborated with multiple service providers to cater to the diverse demographics and passenger tastes. Congratulating on the milestone, Mesfin Tasew, Group Chief Executive Officer, said, “Elevating passenger experience is a top priority at Ethiopian Airlines. Offering a range of entertainment options, Ethiopian has always strived to create a more enjoyable and immersive inflight experience enabling passengers to relax during long flights. As we will continue to enhance the passenger experience and set new standards in the industry, I express my gratitude to our dedicated team for making this achievement possible.”

The African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS), a peacekeeping force, is committed to withdrawing by Dec. 31, when a smaller new force is expected to replace it. However, in a letter last month to the acting chair of the African Union Peace and Security Council the government asked to delay until September the withdrawal of half the 4,000 troops due to leave by the end of June…The government had previously recommended, in a joint assessment with the AU in March, reviewed by Reuters, that the overall withdrawal timeline be adjusted “based on the actual readiness and capabilities” of Somali forces. The joint assessment, which was mandated by the U.N. Security Council, warned that a “hasty drawdown of ATMIS personnel will contribute to a security vacuum”…The Peace and Security Council is due to meet on Somalia later on Thursday to discuss the drawdown and follow up mission.

Many of these forests protect some of the country’s last standing forests, brimming in biodiversity and a tranquil sense of harmony on Earth. Part of these unique traditions are the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church Forests, often referred to as simply as the church forests, and found mostly in the highlands of Ethiopia. These church forests were considered holy grounds, and access to them was restricted to religious ceremonies and activities. For Aba Gebresilase, protecting the church forest is a spiritual duty inherited from his forefathers. In the buffer area of the forest, where farmlands meet the church forest, signs of this encroachment are already visible.

Part of the accepted narrative about the war in the Gaza Strip is the Palestinians there are enduring abject hunger. In May, the head of the U.N. World Food Program claimed that there was a “full-blown famine” in northern Gaza. Reports in The New York Times and The Washington Post in recent months have routinely noted that Palestinians are starving. Indeed, the notion there was a genuine shortage of food in Gaza motivated President Joe Biden to order the U.S. Armed Forces to construct a floating pier and anchor it alongside the Gazan shoreline to facilitate the flow of vital supplies to those in need. On the strength of these allegations, the International Criminal Court has requested warrants for the arrest of both Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, largely because of the claim that they are committing war crimes by deliberately starving the Palestinians.

A logo for the Waaqeffannaa Religion Followers Organization, a registered religious institution (Photo: Waaqeffannaa Religion Followers Organization/Facebook)Addis Abeba – Police in Babile district of the East Hararghe zone in the Oromia region detained more than 80 Waaqeffannaa believers in a raid during the East Hararghe Zone Waaqeffannaa believers mid-year assembly held on Friday, June 21, 2024, in Babile town. “The 54 were detained in a military camp for days before they were transferred to the Babile district police station, where the 25 committee members have been held. Taji Mohamed, head of the East Hararghe Waaqeffannaa congregation, local religious leaders Raji Bedada and Abdeta Bogale, and Zewude Girma (PhD), a Waaqeffannaa religious teacher, are among those detained, based on Lemma’s account. Inspector Taju Mohammed of Babile district police did not respond to Addis Standard’s inquiry about the matter. Attempts to get a comment from other local officials in Babile district and East Hararghe zone have been unsuccessful.

Reaffirming its dedication to supporting MSMEs, Alibaba.com said it has been rolling out artificial intelligence (AI) tools for global suppliers, which have so far attracted adoption by around 30,000 businesses on its platform. "As we promote wider adoption of our AI tools amongst MSMEs, we also hope to expand our global supplier base to cover 100,000 suppliers in the next three years. On Alibaba.com alone, approximately 30,000 MSMEs globally are using the platform's AI tools. Alibaba.com connects more global MSMEs now than ever before, serving more than 48 million buyers and more than 200,000 suppliers on its platform worldwide. About the Survey:In May 2024, Alibaba.com conducted a survey of 500 businesses on Alibaba.com across the globe.

Ethiopian Coffee and Tea Authority (ECTA) announced that spice exports generated USD 7.5 million from 8,400 tons sold over the past 11 months. ECTA’s Director General Adugna Debela highlighted Ethiopia's diverse spice production, over 50 varieties with 16 currently exported to 39 countries. The Authority is working to improve spice production and marketing to further boost foreign exchange earnings. Meanwhile, the country exported 252,000 tons of coffee over the past 11 months, generating USD 1.28 billion. Panel discussions will delve into industry issues, highlighting Ethiopia's potential to maximize foreign exchange earnings through its strong coffee production capacity.

The UAE and the UN's refugee agency on Wednesday finalised a $20 million aid package to deliver crucial humanitarian support in Sudan and neighbouring countries. About 17.7 million people in Sudan and 7.1 million in South Sudan face acute food insecurity as a result of war in Sudan. In this initiative, the UAE has committed $25 million: $20 million for Sudan and $5 million for South Sudan. A second agreement, to support the Sudan Humanitarian Fund, will bolster aid supplies given to families and communities caught up in the civil war. The Sudan Humanitarian Fund contribution, meanwhile, will assist with access to funds to address humanitarian needs and emergencies – including aid supplies and medical equipment.

from ADANE BIKILA in Addis Ababa, EthiopiaEthiopia BureauADDIS ABABA, (CAJ News) – THE Ethiopian health sector has borne the brunt of conflict that escalated over the past year between regional forces and the national army. The Safeguarding Health in Conflict Coalition identified 14 incidents of violence against or obstruction of health care in Ethiopia in 2023. On at least one occasion in Oromia in November, the Ethiopian National Defense Force (ENDF) carried out two drone strikes in Delanta Woreda district. Safeguarding Health in Conflict Coalition reports that ENDF regularly deployed armed drones against opposition forces, killing hundreds of civilians and destroying vital infrastructure, including hospitals. She said tragically, reporting barriers made it likely that the situation in Ethiopia was worse than they were aware of.

Chinese commercial vehicle giant Foton Motor is setting its sights on Ethiopia's growing economy. The company announced plans to introduce more commercial trucks and electric vehicles (EVs) to the country, further solidifying its presence in the African market. Foton recently delivered 100 heavy trucks to the Ethiopian East Africa Holding Company. "Ethiopia's thriving economy requires reliable commercial vehicles," stated Foton Motor Chairperson Chang Rui. The company also expressed plans for local vehicle production, offering a comprehensive range of commercial vehicles to enhance transport efficiency and bolster regional economic development.

The statement reads :“The Office of the Prime Minister advises the public to be cautious of fake content that is currently circulating online pertaining to an MOU with Somaliland. We urge everyone to remain vigilant against such fake content that misuses our official logo.”Ethiopia and Somaliland signed a memorandum of understanding on January 1, 2024. If finalized and signed, Ethiopia will get 20 kilometers of coastal land on a 50-year lease from Somaliland which Ethiopia intends to use for military bases and commercial activity. This week, his government accused Ethiopia of crossing its border after Ethiopian troops entered Somalia from Hiran region Chasing Al Shabab fighters. __Join our Telegram Channel : t.me/borkenaLike borkena on FacebookAdd your business to Ethiopian Business Listing / Ethiopian Business DirectoryJoin the conversation.

Rudy Rochman is a prominent advocate for Israel and the Jewish people, with over 500,000 followers across social media. He is also working on a documentary titled We were never lost – focusing on Jewish communities that believe they are the ‘lost tribes’ of Israel in Africa and Asia. In the framing of the Jewish story in this way, modern Israel is a realisation of a struggle for decolonisation. He notes that Jews are called “Jews” today following the Roman exile from Judea, but that before the Roman exile, Israelite tribes were expelled by the Assyrian Empire, and those tribes were spread throughout the world. For Rochman the film is not only about education, it is also part of a vision in which these scattered tribes return to Israel, which he believes could be the key to resolving the conflict with the Palestinians.