More than 50 civilians were killed in attacks in Ethiopia in November, denounced the Ethiopian Human Rights Commission (EHRC) on Wednesday, two weeks after negotiations between the government and the Oromo Liberation Army (OLA) ended without agreement. According to the EHRC, a statutorily independent public institution, OLF fighters killed 17 people and burned villages in Benishangul-Gumuz, northwest Ethiopia. The EHRC also claimed that a further 30 people were killed in the Arsi zone of Oromia in a series of attacks by unidentified assailants, the victims including several members of the same family. "The assailants killed the victims by lining them up after taking them out of their homes, while others were killed inside their homes," EHRC said in its report. "Nine members of the Lutheran church in the diocese of Hamo-Tokuma", in the Oromia region, "were killed by as yet unidentified assailants on November 25", EHRC also claimed.

He highlighted the extensive development partnership between USAID and Ethiopia, noting significant progress in living conditions over the past two decades. However, these gains were marred by the devastating two-year conflict in northern Ethiopia, resulting in widespread suffering and displacement. USAID has been actively supporting COHA implementation, leading to improved conditions in northern Ethiopia. Civil society and human rights played a pivotal role in the Ethiopian context, and USAID supports local organizations that advocate for human rights and justice. The agency also collaborates with international human rights monitors to address human rights violations, particularly in northern Ethiopia.

More than 50 civilians were killed in attacks in Ethiopia last month, a human rights body said Wednesday, barely two weeks after talks between the government and a rebel group from the country's most populous region ended without agreement. The Ethiopian Human Rights Commission — an independent, state-affiliated body — said that fighters from the Oromo Liberation Army, or OLA, killed 17 people and burned down villages in Benishangul-Gumuz, which borders the Oromia region. The human rights commission said another 30 people were killed in Oromia's Arsi zone in a string of attacks by unidentified assailants, with the victims including multiple members of the same family. "It's now known that the attackers killed the victims by lining them up after taking them out of their home, while some others were killed inside their home," the human rights commission said in its report. "In addition, nine members of the Hamo-Tokuma diocese of Lutheran church located in ... Qellem Wollega zone, Oromia region were killed by as of yet unidentified attackers on November 25," it said.

It added that the deal showed its “determination to attract private investments in the energy sector and increase the share of renewable energy in Ethiopia’s power mix”.

borkenaEthiopia’s Defense Force announced on Tuesday that FM Berhanu Jula, the Defense Chief of Staff, has arrived in Tanzania for a working visit. The purpose of the visit, as stated in the Defense Force’s social media update, is to discuss the relationship and cooperation between the defense forces of the two sisterly countries, aiming to bolster their “strategic partnership.”During the visit, the Defense Chief acknowledged Tanzania’s contributions to international and regional affairs, along with their cooperation concerning the utilization of the Nile River. In November of this year, Abiy Ahmed’s government engaged in a second round of negotiations with the radical ethnic Oromo Nationalist group, self-identified as the ‘Oromo Liberation Army,’ in Tanzania. These talks, reportedly influenced by the United States, included the transportation of Jal Mero, the militant leader, from the jungles of Wollega where his forces predominantly operate. The Ethiopian Defense Force has been undertaking a military operation – rather a full-fledged war – in the Amhara region for over six months under the pretext of ‘disarming Fano forces.’ The defense force has been implicated in widespread and severe human rights violations in the region, including extrajudicial executions and rape.

“I began my artistic career as a dancer, then stage actor, then actress for cinema and TV. My job does not allow me to really get my creative parts, really start the script. But this way worked really, really well. The film also stars dancer Hajjiba Fahmy, who is known for her extensive work with US superstar Beyonce. We gave him the script, he worked on the script, and we didn’t know what he was going to do with the choreography.

Cop27 President Sameh Shoukry, left, hands over the gavel to Cop28 President Dr Sultan Al Jaber at the UN climate conference's opening ceremony. AFPUAE-UN-CLIMATE-COP28 Cop27 President Sameh Shoukry, left, hands over the gavel to Cop28 President Dr Sultan Al Jaber at the UN climate conference's opening ceremony. ReutersU.N.'s COP28 climate summit in Dubai World leaders on day two of Cop28 in Dubai. ReutersPresident Sheikh Mohamed and UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres hold a meeting at the Cop28 summit in Dubai. The Cop will explore ways to provide relief to those affected by climate change and aim to build consensus on priority actions for the health system’s response to climate change, paired with financing.

Sue (Labaki) is a psychotherapist living in Switzerland who returns to Egypt after 20 years to mend fences with her dying mother, Fairouz (Ardant). For his first movie, script development took seven years, and it became an ambitious project with a stellar cast. As mother and daughter unearth the past, Sue learns about Fairouz’s love life and better understands the complexities of their relationship. It symbolizes the freedom that she didn’t have.”Aside from examining a contentious mother-daughter relationship, Ruggli has also included the presence of aunts in the film, making it even more relatable to Arab audiences. “There’s this love-hate relationship with aunts – sometimes they even replace the mother’s role.

Zela Aviation announces that it strategically agrees with the Ethiopian Airlines to promote ACMI (aircraft, crew, maintenance, and insurance) and Charter Availability of a 737-8 MAX unit during the Athens (ATH) Layover. Zela Aviation and Ethiopian Airlines will work closely to capitalize on the available market by using the airline’s plane layover. Founded in 1945, Ethiopian Airlines is member of the Star Alliance, the world’s largest global airline alliance. Zela Aviation has and remains to provide a range of services for its clients located in Europe, Asia, Africa, North and South America. Its leading position, track records throughout the years, and complemented by its very well – trained staff, make Zela Aviation a solid and reliable partner worldwide.

On Tuesday, emergency officials issued an update on the two wildfires in McDowell County which started last week and are still burning. Crews on Tuesday are focused on monitoring and treating any hotspots close to containment lines, and falling dead trees near lines. On Monday, hand crews built containment lines in the last area that was unlined, on the east side of the fire. Crews on Tuesday are focused on improving containment lines and monitoring to ensure those lines hold. Both fires are being managed under unified command between the U.S. Forest Service and the N.C. Forest Service.

"I was all over social media. The volunteers were among the first to notice the trend of TikTok videos harassing people and their doxxing - the leaking of private information online. Faris Cuchi Gezahegn, who uses "they" and "them" as personal pronouns and co-founded House of Guramayle, says Arnold's experience of being outed on social media is something many queer Africans can relate to. The activist has compiled 110 now-deleted TikTok videos, including the ones that outed Arnold. In August, both Senegal and Somalia took the decision to ban the social media app.

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — A special election to pick a successor to George Santos, the New York Republican who was expelled from the U.S. House last week, will be held on Feb. 13, Gov. Candidates in the special election will be picked by party leaders, not voters. Like Suozzi, Sapraicone launched his campaign before Santos was expelled and has already begun to fundraise, with his campaign coffers including $300,000 of his own money, he said. In the latest sign of Republican strength on Long Island, the GOP won several local elections on the island last month, including races in the now-vacant district. Santos was expelled from the House last week following a scandal-plagued tenure in Congress and a looming criminal trial.

Ethiopia's exports to Europe have grown at an annual rate of six percent over recent years under the European Union's 'Everything But Arms' (EBA) agreement, according to the EU Ambassador to Ethiopia. The achievement was highlighted at a forum organized by the EU Chamber in Ethiopia, where two policy briefs on forex disbursement and customs administration were announced to enhance Ethiopia's business climate. The EU Ambassador emphasized Ethiopia's significant role in the European market and efficient use of the EBA, offering zero percent customs duties and no quantitative restrictions. The country's exports under the EBA have grown at an average of six percent annually, reaching approximately Birr 140 billion over the last five years, with a remarkable 47 percent increase last year. The EU Chamber also launched an Investors' Guide to Ethiopia's business environment, providing essential details for potential investors, and announced upcoming policy briefs on taxation and access to land.

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Ltd. (NNPC Ltd) has matched its words with action in the war against crude oil theft with the arrests of 16 suspects from 163 incidents in one week in the Niger Delta. In an X post on Tuesday detailing the summary of activities from November 25 – December 1, in the fight against crude oil theft, the oil firm said 69 illegal refineries have been uncovered. Persecond News reports that during the period under review, a total of 163 incidents were recorded in the region. Nigeria’s crude oil output rose to an all-time high of 1.35 million barrels per day in September, as it’s pumped its highest volume of crude oil so far since this year. Data from the commission indicated that in September, Nigeria’s crude oil production (excluding condensates) was precisely 1,346,562 barrels per day, which was a 165,429bpd increase when compared to the 1,181,133bpd produced in August this year.

Jemal Beker Abdula, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the FDRE to Pakistan and H.E. Captain (retd) Anwarul Haq, Chairman Capital Development Authority (CDA) and Chief Commissioner Islamabad. Both sides discussed matters of mutual interest including knowledge exchange between the administrations of both the countries’ capital cities—Addis Ababa and Islamabad. Ambassador Jemal Beker Abdula briefed the CDA chairman about the overwhelming response received by the Green Legacy Initiative of H.E. The ambassador also appreciated the services rendered by the CDA in beautifying Capital city Islamabad.