NAIROBI (Reuters) - Ethiopian government forces battled militiamen on Friday in the capital of the Amhara region, Bahir Dar, the regional administration and residents said, in the first fighting there since the early days of the conflict last year. Ethiopia's military has been fighting insurgents from the Fano militia since July in a conflict that left more than 200 people dead last year, according to United Nations reports. Government officials have said on several occasions in recent months that the violence in Amhara, the country's second-largest region, is under control. "These extremist groups could not resist the combined strength of the security forces, leaving behind their dead and wounded and abandoning their weapons," it said. A resident of the town of Merawi, 36 km (22 miles) from Bahir Dar, said there had been fighting there too on Friday but it had also died down.

Strong growth in IAG‘s operating profit in 2023 underpinned by robust and sustainable demand for travel, alongside continued investment in company’s transformation to drive long-term earnings growth. Marco Sansavini has been appointed CEO and Chairman of Iberia , moving from his current role as CEO of Vueling. Fernando Candela , who was appointed as interim CEO of Iberia in May 2023, will step down as CEO of Iberia. , who was appointed as interim CEO of Iberia in May 2023, will step down as CEO of Iberia. I look forward to working with the talented team at Vueling as we build the next chapter of the airline.

Addis Abeba – French journalist Antoine Galindo who was arrested in Addis Abeba on 22 February has been released from prison on Thursday ahead of his scheduled appearance before the court for the second time on Friday. The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) welcomed the news of his release, adding that Galindo subsequently left the country to return to France. “We thank all the people and organizations who worked towards Galindo’s release,” the publisher of Africa Intelligence, Quentin Botbol, told CPJ via messaging app. Galindo, a journalist working for Africa Intelligence was detained by security forces in Addis Abeba while conducting an interview with Bate Urgessa, a political officer of the Oromo Liberation Front (OLF), a legally registered opposition party. The Federal Communication Service said on Wednesday that the journalist was arrested while reporting on domestic affairs without proper accreditation.

By Nic CheesemanEvery month ‘Political Capital’ tracks which leaders’ political stock is rising, who is on the slide, and what this means for democracy and development. Focusing on the trends behind the headlines, Nic Cheeseman (@fromagehomme) highlights the political power plays and events that will shape the future of Africa. He is Professor of Democracy at University of Birmingham and Author of ‘How to Rig an Election’. Founder of www.democracyinafrica.org. Co-producer of Resistance Bureau.

Sudan conflict: 31,000 refugees have fled to Ethiopia02:02More than 1.6 million Sudanese refugees have fled their country since the war broke out in April 2023. Around 31,000 of them have found refuge in Ethiopia – where their life is often in limbo and clouded by uncertainty, as they wait for longer term visas to be approved elsewhere. FRANCE 24's Clothilde Hazard reports from the Ethiopian capital.

Addis Abeba – The European Union today pledged 16 million Euro for National Rehabilitation Commission’s (NRC) works that seek to disarm, demobilize and reintegrate an estimated 370,000 ex-combatants in eight regions in Ethiopia. The UNDP is managing the DDR program in Ethiopia as one of five windows within a wider Peace Support Program that has been rolled out in Afar, Amhara and Tigray regions with support from Germany, Japan and UNDP’s Funding Windows, among others. The Ethiopian government is “committed to cover 15% of the National Demobilization and Reintegration Program,” according to State Minister Semerta. But lack of funding to cover the initial estimated cost of more than 29.7 billion Br remain the commission’s biggest challenges. Very grateful to EU for making financial support to DDR which was signed today at z MOF.

Mar 1 - French journalist Antoine Galindo was released by Ethiopian police on Thursday after a week, his employer said. He was arrested last Thursday while on assignment in the country's capital Addis Ababa on charges of "conspiracy to create chaos". Human rights activists have repeatedly criticized Ethiopia's restrictions on press freedom, particularly in response to critical coverage of conflicts and security crises. The New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists said at least eight Ethiopian journalists have been detained since August. Foreign journalists have been expelled from Ethiopia or denied accreditations to work in recent years, but the last to be arrested before Galindo were two Swedish journalists in 2011.

Will Ferrell at Frieze LA at the Santa Monica Airport on February 29, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. As in past editions of Frieze Los Angeles, celebrities abound at this year’s fair, held at the Santa Monica Airport. Actor and comedian Will Ferrell was front and center at the fair with wife Viveca Paulin, who is a known collector and a trustee at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. Leonardo DiCaprio at Frieze LA at the Santa Monica Airport on February 29, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. Anthony Kiedis at Frieze LA at the Santa Monica Airport on February 29, 2024 in Los Angeles, California.

Toronto: Brian Mulroney, the former Canadian prime minister who struck a free trade deal with the U.S. but whose legacy was marred by revelations of improper business dealings with an arms dealer, has died. Mulroney died peacefully surrounded by family, his daughter Caroline Mulroney posted on social media platform X on Thursday. His nine-year stewardship was marked by negotiations for the Canada-United States Free Trade Agreement in 1988, which helped boost Canadian exports, and the introduction of a goods and services tax in 1991. Mulroney's ties to Reagan helped him negotiate a landmark treaty to end acid rain and the bilateral trade deal with the United States, by far Canada's biggest trading partner. "I do think that on relations with the United States, he deserves immense credit."

(Reuters) -Brian Mulroney, the former Canadian prime minister who struck a free trade deal with the U.S. but whose legacy was marred by revelations of improper business dealings with an arms dealer, has died. Mulroney died peacefully surrounded by family, his daughter Caroline Mulroney posted on social media platform X on Thursday. A corporate lawyer turned businessman, Mulroney led the center-right Progressive Conservatives to a historic win in 1984 over the Liberals of Pierre Trudeau. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Pierre's son, shared in a social media post that he was devastated by Mulroney's death. Mulroney told the inquiry there was nothing illegal about the payments, but apologized publicly for taking the money.

Nairobi — The Committee to Protect Journalists welcomed the Thursday release of French journalist Antoine Galindo, who was arrested in Ethiopia on February 22, and urged Ethiopian authorities to unconditionally release all other members of the press detained for their work. "It is great news that Antoine Galindo has been released, as his unjust detention was a stark reminder of the dangers of practicing journalism in today's Ethiopia," said CPJ Africa Program Coordinator Muthoki Mumo. "We hope that all the other Ethiopian journalists that are being detained in the country can be freed and continue to do their job." Galindo was approved for a two-week stay, according to CPJ's review of the journalist's on-arrival request form. With eight journalists behind bars, Ethiopia was the second-worst jailer of journalists in sub-Saharan Africa, according to CPJ's 2023 annual Prison Census.

Share this: TwitterFacebookWhatsAppLinkedInEmailTelegramNairobi, February 29, 2024—The Committee to Protect Journalists welcomed the Thursday release of French journalist Antoine Galindo, who was arrested in Ethiopia on February 22, and urged Ethiopian authorities to unconditionally release all other members of the press detained for their work. “It is great news that Antoine Galindo has been released, as his unjust detention was a stark reminder of the dangers of practicing journalism in today’s Ethiopia,” said CPJ Africa Program Coordinator Muthoki Mumo. Galindo was approved for a two-week stay, according to CPJ’s review of the journalist’s on-arrival request form. With eight journalists behind bars, Ethiopia was the second-worst jailer of journalists in sub-Saharan Africa, according to CPJ’s 2023 annual Prison Census. These journalists, half of whom were arrested following the declaration of a state of emergency in August 2023, remain behind bars.

Former Canadian Prime Minister Brian Mulroney died at the age of 84, his daughter Caroline Mulroney said on Thursday (Feb 29). In a post on X, Caroline said, "On behalf of my mother and our family, it is with great sadness we announce the passing of my father, The Right Honourable Brian Mulroney, Canada’s 18th Prime Minister. Paying tributes to Mulroney, current Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said, "He never stopped working for Canadians, and he always sought to make this country an even better place to call home. Brian Mulroney loved Canada. He served as the prime minister from 1984 to 1993.

Ethiopian Insurance and Bahir Dar City played out a goalless draw in the Ethiopia Premier League on Thursday, while Dire Dawa City beat Hambericho Durame 1-0 in the day's other fixture at Dire Dawa's iconic stadium. Bahir Dar and Ethiopian Insurance were serious contenders last season, pushing St George all the way in a title race that went down to the wire. The two teams met on the season's opening day with Ethiopian Insurance emerging victorious 3-2 in a five-goal thriller. Dire Dawa, meanwhile, kicked off their campaign with a 2-1 win against Hambericho City. This has been a remarkable turnaround for Dire Dawa since they replaced sacked coach Asrat Abate with Shimeles Abebe.

Black History Month: The importance of Black own banks Teri Williams, President and COO of One United Bank, said Black owned banks are focused on communities that feel unwelcome at other banks.