Israel’s war on Gaza updates: Netanyahu rejects Palestinian stateNetanyahu says that Israel must ‘maintain security control over all territory west of the Jordan River’.

Foreign ministers within the 120-member bloc have adopted a resolution at the summit, calling for a ceasefire in Gaza.. Leaders of Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) countries have denounced Israel’s military campaign on the Gaza Strip and demanded an immediate ceasefire during a summit of the 120-member bloc. ‘Summit of solidarity’Riyadh Mansour, the Palestinian ambassador to the United Nations, has called the summit a “summit of solidarity”. Al Jazeera’s Catherine Soi, reporting from Kampala, said UN reforms and other issues globally including the ongoing war in Gaza are on the agenda at the summit. Speaking at the summit, Ramaphosa said the war in Gaza had demonstrated the UN’s inadequacy, particularly its Security Council, where the United States has vetoed several resolutions critical of Israel.

Pakistan and Iran’s foreign ministers emphasised ‘brotherly relations’ during a phonecall on Friday, Islamabad said. Pakistan and Iran have agreed to “de-escalate” tensions after an exchange of missile and drone attacks this week raised fears of further instability in the region, Islamabad said. Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Jalil Abbas Jilani and the foreign minister of Iran, Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, spoke via phone on Friday, Pakistan’s foreign ministry said in a statement. Pakistan recalled its ambassador from Tehran and said Iran’s envoy – on a visit home – was blocked from returning to Islamabad. United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urged the two countries to “exercise maximum restraint to avoid a further escalation of tensions”.

Bloomberg Screentime: Culture. Technology. ConvergedScreentime gathered the moguls, celebrities, and entrepreneurs defining the next phase of pop culture. They discussed and debated the future of cinema, the boom in streaming audio and video, the latest sports and gaming experiences, and the potential impact of artificial intelligence on the entertainment industry.

The work is rooted in the Ethiopian musical tradition, yet defies the confines of a single culture. Yema was born and raised in Addis Ababa. She took a significant step into the realm of performance by joining a band at the Office Bar in Sheraton Addis. After just three months of performing at the Office Bar, she crossed paths with Eyuel, who led the Ethio Quartet band performing at Ramada Hotel in Addis Ababa. Yema’s voice and style bear an undeniable resemblance to Gigi, with numerous instances that could be perceived as imitative of the renowned artist’s sound.

What’s HappeningSomalia has rejected attempts by the African Union to mediate the crisis between Ethiopia and Somalia over the Ethiopia-Somaliland ‘Memorandum of Understanding’. #Ethiopia signed an illegal MOU with the northern region (#Somaliland), in violation of #Somalia's sovereignty. No room for mediation unless Ethiopia corrects this by retracting the illegal MOU. A Memorandum of UnderstandingThe deal in question was signed between Ethiopia and the breakaway government of Somaliland on January 1st. The African Union official policy opposes border shifts to colonial borders, meaning it opposes Somaliland’s independence.

The Somali Civil Aviation Authority (SCAA) has denied entry to a DHC-8-Q400 operated by Ethiopian Airlines (ET, Addis Ababa International) on a charter flight from Addis Ababa International to Hargeisa, capital of de facto independent Somaliland. The regulator said the flight, carrying unidentified "Ethiopian VIP" passengers, had not obtained the necessary permit to enter Somali airspace. Ethiopian Airlines confirmed that the aircraft returned to Addis Ababa "because there were doubts regarding the required permissions from Somalia, even after it had already commenced its journey". The development comes amid elevated tension between Ethiopia and Somalia in the wake of Addis Ababa's breakthrough diplomatic agreement with Somaliland on January 1. The de facto state's government is also set to get an undisclosed stake in Ethiopian Airlines.

The Samoa Agreement, a new legal framework for the EU’s relations with 79 countries (48 African, 16 Caribbean, and 15 Pacific countries) and officially signed in November in Samoa, follows the Cotonou Agreement signed in 2000, which expired at the end of 2023. Thanks to the previous agreement, many countries have benefited significantly from their cooperation with the EU in various fields, including trade, investment and tourism. Tanzania, for example, has received over 2.3 billion euros (2.5 billion dollars) in aid since the previous agreement was signed. “An agreement on lesbianism” for NigeriaThe Samoa agreement is also causing a stir in Nigeria, also a member of the OACPS, where controversy is raging. Last November, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs refuted claims that Nigeria had signed the agreement.

As outlined in the report, persistent administrative disputes spanning the preceding six months emerged between the residents of Kola Shara Kebele and officials representing the adjacent Arba Minch city administration. The report denotes that inhabitants of Kola Shara Kebele established a local militia and enlisted both youth and elders to uphold tranquility and manage administrative responsibilities within the kebele. Simultaneously, leaders in administrative and security roles within the region conveyed to the commission that these informal local groups obstructed officials appointed by the Arba Minch city administration from accessing Kola Shara Kebele. On 24 August, 2023, law enforcement and security personnel from the region entered Kola Shara Kebele during heightened tensions associated with administrative matters. As an integral component of its investigation, the commission conducted interviews with victims, eyewitnesses, local leaders, and security officials directly implicated in the incident.

Ambassador Redwan Hussain briefing military attachés and representatives of international partners. “We are of course okay with one access in Djibouti for the last 30 years because the economy was so small. It is for our survival one, and for us to be able to contribute positively for the peace and security of the region. “Now if it was okay to die on land to save Somalia, why would it be a problem to get access to sea? On Thursday, Somalia’s Foreign Ministry said that “there is no space for mediation unless Ethiopia retracts its illegal MoU” with Somaliland.

Jakarta: Three Boeing 737 Max 9 planes that belong to Indonesia’s budget airline Lion Air have been allowed to resumed flying after a temporary grounding following the Alaska Airlines incident earlier this month. Transportation Ministry spokesperson Adita Irawati told reporters that following inspections, it was found that the three Boeing 737 Max 9 planes operating under Lion Air apparently had different configurations with the Alaska Airlines’ Boeing 737 Max 9 aircraft, which suffered an in-flight blowout earlier this month, reports Xinhua news agency. The mid-cabin door plugs the aircraft became dislodged following an abrupt depressurisation shortly after departure on January 5. Two airlines that operate Boeing 737 Max 9 in the US — Alaska Airlines and United Airlines — later found either loose hardware or bolts in the assembly of door plugs on their aircraft. The Boeing 737 Max has been described as “the most scrutinised transport aircraft in history” after a series of safety issues.

Ethiopia may be set for a phased devaluation of the birr to secure an IMF bailout agreement by the end of March, economists say. There's more to this story Get unlimited access to our exclusive journalism and features today. Our award-winning team of correspondents and editors report from over 54 African countries, from Cape Town to Cairo, from Abidjan to Abuja to Addis Ababa. Subscribe Now cancel anytime Already a a subscriber Sign In

IGAD underscored the significance of upholding the principles of sovereignty, unity, and territorial integrity in Somalia. IGAD underscored the imperative of achieving a peaceful and mutually beneficial resolution to the prevailing tension. In conjunction with the tensions between Ethiopia and Somalia, the summit deliberated on the conflict in Sudan. The Assembly underscored that Sudan is not the exclusive domain of the conflicting parties but belongs to the Sudanese people at large. The 42nd Extraordinary Assembly convened in the absence of three member states: Ethiopia, Sudan, and Eritrea, each offering distinct explanations for their non-participation.

Photo credit: TelegramThe Su-30K fighters come from Russia and were initially manufactured years before to meet the needs of the Indian Air Force. This intriguing story raises questions about the fate of the remaining six Su-30K fighters. The fire control system, designed in synergy with the radar system and the aircraft’s weaponry, allows pilots to accurately engage enemy targets. Finally, it’s important to note the presence of features like thrust vectoring engines and canards in the original Su-30. In an unprecedented move, Ethiopia has begun the process of acquiring Su-30K fighters.

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