Spread the loveTHE Ethiopian government has announced that the country’s economy is projected to achieve a 7.9 percent growth rate for the 2023/2024 fiscal year, which began on July 8. Assefa highlighted the “impressive performance” of various economic sectors. In terms of revenue generation, Assefa reported that the Ethiopian government has collected approximately 374 billion Ethiopian birr (around US$6.5 billion) over the past nine months. Assefa expressed confidence that the projected 7.9 percent economic growth is achievable by the end of the fiscal year, attributing this to the positive outlook and progress made in key economic areas crucial for the country’s macroeconomic development. The country achieved a 7.2 percent growth rate during the previous Ethiopian fiscal year (2022/2023).

Powered by Google’s industry-leading AI and Google Cloud architecture, SabreMosaic is built for flexibility and speed through a modular and open technology structure. “Defining and building the next generation of airline retailing solutions has been a significant investment and strategic priority for Sabre, and we are well down this path,” said Kurt Ekert, President & CEO of Sabre. Aligned with IATA’s vision of an entirely Offer- and Order-based approach, SabreMosaic will help airlines transform all aspects of the retailing process. Sabre solutions empower us to extend our reach to third-party channels including travel agencies and aggregators, ensuring seamless access to our products and services. Together, we are shaping the future of travel retailing and delivering enhanced value to our passengers,” said Jiri Marek, CEO of Air Serbia.

Riyadh: MDLBEAST is building a tribe for the region’s music lovers through its initiatives such as the Soundstorm festival, the platform’s Chief Creative Officer Ahmad AlAmmary, also known as DJ Baloo, said. “Creatively, you know, every day is its own day. AlAmmary said it was MDLBEAST’s goal to become involved in all facets of the creative music industry since its launch in 2019. “From the onset, the big splash was Soundstorm, but we had every intention of launching our record labels, our music conferences, and XP Music Future,” he said. MDLBEAST highlights up-and-coming brands that are leading the underground scene of Saudi music across a variety of genres, the CCO said.

Al-Sudais launches presidency’s largest plan yet for Hajj seasonMAKKAH: The Presidency of Religious Affairs of the Grand Mosque and the Prophet’s Mosque on Thursday launched its operational plan for the 2024 Hajj season. Sheikh Dr. Abdulrahman Al-Sudais, President of Religious Affairs, described it as the largest religious operational plan yet undertaken by the presidency. Al-Sudais said the presidency’s plan this year is dedicated to promoting volunteer and humanitarian work, recognizing the Two Holy Mosques as attractive environments for such efforts. A digital axis focuses on enhancing the religious digital experience provided by the Two Holy Mosques. This includes integrating religious digital services, investing in technology and artificial intelligence, and using applications and digital media.

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Volvo Trucks is developing trucks with combustion engines that run on hydrogen. Volvo will launch trucks with combustion engines that can run on green hydrogen. The hydrogen-powered combustion engine trucks will complement Volvo’s offering of other alternatives, such as battery electric trucks, fuel cell electric trucks and trucks that run on renewable fuels, like biogas and HVO (Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil). They will be a valuable complement to our battery electric trucks, which have been on the market for several years,” says Jan Hjelmgren, Head of Product Management and Quality, Volvo Trucks. FACTS– Hydrogen-powered Volvo trucks will have an operational range comparable to many diesel trucks, depending on the type of transport​.

Commenting on what kind of policies can boost investment in African agriculture, Vanessa said: “The inclination of many governments is protectionism. Indicating that necessity is the driver, she advised African governments to make necessary regulatory reforms within a short period of time to catchup with the dynamic global trade. Global climate change is here and food and agriculture systems need to change. We need functioning trade corridors because everybody requires some level of import and some level of export to be functioning,” says Vanessa. With over two decades of working experiences in different African countries, Level 4 International provides a variety of consulting services, including marketing, strategy, operations.

FIFA has made changes to the officiating team for the 2026 World Cup qualifying match between Benin Republic and Nigeria. The encounter is scheduled for Stade Felix Houphouet-Boigny in the Ivorian capital on Monday, June 10, 2024. Ethiopian official Bamlak Tessema Weyesa, who was originally designated as the referee for the encounter scheduled to kick off at 4 p.m. has been replaced by Gabonese Pierre Ghislain Atcho. Weyesa’s compatriots, Temesgin Samuel Atango and Tigle Gizaw Belachew, have been retained as assistant referees 1 and 2, respectively. However, another Ethiopian, Tewodros Mitiku, earlier designated as the fourth official, has been replaced by Cameroonian Antoine Max Effa Essouma.

The world football governing body, FIFA, has named new officials for Super Eagles of Nigeria 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Benin Republic. At 5 p.m. on June 10, the Benin Republic will host the Super Eagles of Nigeria at the Stade Félix Houphouët-Boigny in Abidjan, Ivory Coast. The game will take place about three days after the Super Eagles take on South Africa in Uyo at 8 p.m. on June 7. These two 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers are must-win for the Super Eagles if they want to stand a chance of qualifying for the prestigious tournament. AdvertisementDue to how important the game between Nigeria and the Benin Republic is, FIFA has gained a special interest in the game by carefully selecting an officiating team for the clash.

The newest public art in Dandenong's Settlers Square foreshadows the next exhibition at Walker Street Gallery and Arts Centre. Created by Melbourne based Ethiopian-Norwegian artist Olana Janfa, Too Much Drama combines the artist's trademark wry political commentary and light-hearted humour. Olana Janfa: Too Much Drama is the 2024 iteration of HOME, Greater Dandenong Council's longstanding program of exhibitions featuring artists from a refugee and asylum seeker background. It will be exhibited at the Walker Street Gallery and Arts Centre from 2 July to 6 September with a range of public programs starting from June. The official opening event for Olana Janfa: Too Much Drama will take place on Saturday 29 June, from 6pm-10pm, commencing at Settlers Square before moving across to Walker Street Gallery and Arts Centre.

Multiple cars destroyed by fire outside Miami residential building Teri Hornstein reports four cars were destroyed and a fifth was damaged in the fire.

Raya Azebo district, located in the Tigray region (Photo: Social Media)Addis Abeba – Unidentified gunmen killed seven civilians, including a seven-year-old child, in a midnight attack on Monday in the Raya Azebo district, located in the border area between the Afar and Tigray regions. “The perpetrators killed civilian shepherds, including an 11-year-old child, while they were asleep at midnight,” stated Tezera. Following this attack, the Tigray Interim Administration issued a statement on social media confirming that the perpetrators originated from the Afar region. “The Tigray Interim Administration is closely monitoring their identities and will continue to strengthen efforts to identify and apprehend the criminals,” the statement stated. The interim administration also assured the public that they would be kept informed of any progress in the investigation.

A travel photographer was murdered this week while filming a documentary about the Mursi tribe in Ethiopia. Travel photographer Toni Espadas was killed on Monday following a “complex incident” while filming the Mursi tribe in Ethiopia for well-known documentary series Partners of the World (Socios por el Mundo) for Chilean television station Canal 13. According to Spanish newspaper Sur, two individuals opened fire on the documentary crew who worked for the MkZeta production company, including the 54-year-old photographer as they returned from filming the Mursi tribe. While the other members of the filming crew were unharmed, Espadas — who is based in Barcelona in Catalonia, Spain — was shot dead during the attack. Espadas, who worked as a travel photographer and tour guide, was known as an expert on Africa — a continent he had been visiting for over two decades.

The Government of Guyana yesterday tweaked its eligibility criteria for the student loan write-off which it is offering to past University of Guyana students. The new criterion deals with eligible candidates’ proof of residential address in Guyana. According to a notice posted on the Facebook page of Finance Minister Ashni Singh, eligible candidates will now have to present proof of residency in Guyana. This proof, it specified, can be in the form of a utility bill or registered mail, a bank statement that has been issued within the last six months (in the applicant’s name), or a driver’s licence. Further, the notice explained that in the case of those who are currently non-residents of Guyana these individuals must provide proof that they worked in the country for three years following graduation.

The BMW M Hybrid V8, a plug-in hybrid, is a track-only racing car created to compete in the international endurance racing circuit. For the commission, which marks the 20th BMW Art Car, Mehretu chose to adapt one of her most famous works: The painting “Everywhen,” which is now in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art in New York City. I kept seeing that painting kind of dripping into the car.”The first BMW Art Car was painted in 1975 by the American sculptor Alexander Calder after French racing driver Hervé Poulain brought the idea to BMW. The first woman to take on a BMW Art Car was South African artist Esther Mahlangu, who in 1991 painted a 525i sedan. Madeleine Grynsztejn, Pritzker Director at the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago and a member of that jury, described Mehretu as the “perfect artist” to take on the BMW Art Car in a statement released last June announcing her selection.