During my interactions with European individuals, I have encountered individuals who meticulously plan activities nearly a year in advance. “Let me check my agenda” is a phrase commonly heard from them when discussing any form of planning. Fearful of rapidly changing circumstances, individuals either refrain from making major decisions altogether or hastily make ill-advised choices. Volatile situations breed resentment among the population and serve as catalysts for chaos and riots, eroding trust in the process. Therefore, when making decisions that impact a large segment of the population, thorough and meticulous planning should be prioritized.

Kenyan runner, Bernard Sang has emerged as the winner of the 2024 Access Bank Lagos City Marathon. Gatekeepers News reports that the 32-year-old defeated about 80 others in the 9th edition of the race on Saturday after clocking a time of 02:16:49 to win the 42km race and clinch the $50,000 prize money. The Kenyans won the marathon in 2016, 2017, 2020 and 2021. Similarly, 25-year-old Ethiopian, Kebene Chala, was the first woman to cross the finish line. The 42km race, which was scheduled between 5 a.m. and 2 p.m. began at the National Stadium in Surulere and ended at the Eko Atlantic City in Victoria Island.

A Kenyan marathoner, Bernard Sang, on Saturday won the Access Bank 2024 Lagos City Marathon. In the 9th running of the event on Saturday morning, Sang defeated over eighty other top marathoners to win the 42-km race. He took home the $50,000 grand prize, reports Persecondnews. Sang, who took part in 2023 as well, came in third. The male and female race winners advanced to the marathon competition at the Paris Olympics in 2024.

Ethiopian Enterprise Development announced significant achievements in the past six months of the fiscal year, including the establishment of 1,493 small and medium industries, securing USD 17 million in exports, and generating 74,000 jobs. These accomplishments exceeded initial targets, with the enterprise providing a loan of Birr 3.4 billion, surpassing the planned 2.9 billion Birr. Industries, particularly in sectors like garments, leather products, and agro-processing, showed promising export potential. Efforts were made to enhance production capacity, financial capabilities, and industrial linkages, alongside initiatives to promote immediate production in medium-level enterprises. Source: The Ethiopian Herald

February 10, (THEWILL) – Kenyan long-distance runner, Bernard Sang, emerged victorious at the 2024 Access Bank Lagos City Marathon held this Saturday. The 42km race, now in its 9th edition, saw Sang beat around 80 other elite marathoners to claim the $50,000 top prize. This was Sang’s second Lagos Marathon, having finished third in 2023. The women’s race was won by 25-year-old Kebene Chala from Ethiopia, who also qualified to represent her country in the marathon at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Muazu won a cash prize of ₦1 million.

In a statement issued on Friday, the council is demanding Abiy Ahmed’s government to withdraw from the Samoa agreement which was signed on November 15, 2023 in Samoa. The Council said that the agreement has been studied by experts and that it has been investigating it. “Examination of the agreement indicates that it contains points and issues that contradict our religious laws and teachings,” the council said. Another problem is that the agreement, which the council understands to be a trade and economic partnership for twenty years, is a binding one. As well, the agreement, according to the council, makes Ethiopia part of other regional and continental agreements that Ethiopia did not sign.

Molly Phee, Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs (Photo: State Department)Addis Abeba – Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Molly Phee is scheduled to undertake a diplomatic mission to Addis Abeba, Ethiopia, from 12 to 17 February, 2024. According to the State Department, the Assistant Secretary will be accompanied by distinguished government officials, among them Ambassador Mike Hammer, who serves as the Special Envoy for the Horn of Africa. The main objective of their visit is to attend the African Union (AU) Summit and participate in high-level discussions with AU officials, heads of state, and ministers who will be present at the summit. Scheduled to take place in Addis Abeba from 14 to 18 February, 2024, the AU Summit anticipates the participation of over 34 African leaders, including presidents, prime ministers, and other influential figures. While in Addis Abeba, Assistant Secretary Phee will additionally engage in bilateral discussions with officials from the Government of Ethiopia to address significant regional and bilateral issues, according to the State Department.

The gathering, conducted towards the end of the week, was designed to unveil the National Action Plan to development partners actively involved in the coffee sector. “This extension would allow Ethiopia adequate preparation and assurances for Ethiopian coffee buyers in the EU until the country aligns with the EUDR compliance measures,” she stated. While acknowledging the efforts towards formulating the National Action Plan for EUDR compliance measures, Krivanek emphasized the EU’s willingness to assist Ethiopia in overcoming potential challenges during the implementation of the regulation. The National Action Plan, presented during the recent high-level meeting, identifies opportunities and threats posed by the EUDR to Ethiopia’s coffee sector. The plan was prepared by the Ethiopian Coffee and Tea Authority in collaboration with the Ministries of Finance and Agriculture.

The Ethiopian Capital Market Authority has made an announcement regarding the initiation of licensing procedures, starting from Monday, February 12, 2024. Currently, their focus is on formulating guidelines for licensing and regulation of capital market service providers. A significant development is the Authority's decision to grant licenses to investment banks for the first time in Ethiopia. Dr. Brooke Taye emphasized the Authority's dedication to robust regulatory practices, governance, and investor protection, which are crucial for the growth and stability of the capital market sector in Ethiopia. The Ethiopian Capital Market Authority serves as the regulatory body responsible for overseeing and promoting the development of the country's capital market.

While waiting in line to check in for my El Al flight from Miami to Tel Aviv, I struck up a conversation with a young woman who was clearly returning home with her children and mother from a trip to Walt Disney World. I say “clearly” because between two women and four children were seven lar…

LUBBOCK, Texas — A Texas Tech graduate, Nawal Ahmed, is bringing a taste of home to the palates of Lubbockites through hearty Ethiopian cuisine she makes from scratch. The food is a little different, Ahmed warned, but can cater to everyone’s dietary needs. “I was a little apprehensive at first because its a little different,” said Ahmed, explaining that some people are skeptical about different food, and people with trypophobia are afraid of Injera. But then customers started calling me asking where the food was.”So Ahmed began selling again and hasn’t stopped, determined to reach her goals. It invites people over to this new food that is Black and African.”Ahmed is studying for her MCAT and plans to be in Lubbock long-term, combining her passion for food and medicine.

A special election in the suburbs of New York to replace disgraced former Rep. George Santos could offer clues about the mindset of suburban voters everywhere as 2024 election contests ramp up across the country. The Tuesday contest for the House seat held by Santos until his recent expulsion is shaping up to be a bellwether in the fight for control of Congress, as candidates test political messages their parties hope will appeal to suburban voters in the fall. Tuesday's special election gives both parties an opportunity to assess strategies for November's general election, when New York is expected to be a battleground in the fight for control of the House, where Republicans now hold a thin majority. “This is a big concern for my district,” Pilip said. He had a comfortable victory in his last race in the district in 2020, defeating Santos, then a relatively unknown Republican.

Creating integrated digital health care systems that lead to better health outcomes is complicated. Technology is one piece of the puzzle, along with making quality data accessible to health workers, administrators, and policy makers at all levels of the health system. Since 2017, JSI has partnered with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to support the Ethiopian Ministry of Health (MOH) and regional health bureaus (RHBs) improve the collection, management, and use of health information across the health system through the Data Use Partnership (DUP). Collaborating with various sector actors, the project helped to advance the country’s digital health efforts that increased the generation and enhanced use of high-quality data for informed decision-making. In January 2024, amidst the evolving landscape of the country’s health information system (HIS) and dynamic changes in digital health technologies, the second phase of the project, DUP 2.0, began.

Democrats believe they finally have an opening with voters to neutralize their vulnerabilities on immigration now that Republicans have torpedoed a bipartisan asylum and border security measure. She says she’s concerned about the border but she opposes the bipartisan solution that would actually close the border,” Suozzi said just 10 seconds into his opening statement during the News12 New York debate. Suozzi has gone on offense on border security after facing a barrage of attacks on the issue. “The bottom line is the Democratic brand is not strong on that issue,” Suozzi said in a phone interview Thursday. “When we talk about border security, [Suozzi] absolutely caused the problem,” she added, without citing specific votes but arguing that his alignment with Biden makes him culpable.

The event, which took place Tuesday, also marked the resumption of celebrations after a hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, according to Ethiopian Airlines, the event organizer. Mesfin Tassew, chief executive officer (CEO) of Ethiopian Airlines, emphasized the airline's commitment to becoming the most Chinese-friendly airline in Africa. As part of its ambition to provide a Chinese-friendly travel experience, Ethiopian Airlines offers Chinese-centered passenger services, including a dedicated counter for Chinese travelers at the airport. "I would like to thank Ethiopian Airlines for providing the best quality services to its customers, including our Chinese passengers. Shen further acknowledged Ethiopian Airlines for its role in connecting China and the wider African continent.