The Shire Endaslassie branch of the Commercial Bank of Ethiopia reported the purchase of 13.4 quintals of gold from legal gold dealers over the past three months. The bank’s branch manager, Mr. Tekie Gidey, revealed that the purchases were made from traditional gold producers during July, August, and September. The National Bank of Ethiopia recently raised the price of gold by 15%, which contributed to the substantial gold purchases in the last quarter. Mr. Gidey highlighted that while the bank had previously purchased 303.2 kilograms of gold during the 2023/24 fiscal year, this fiscal year’s first quarter alone saw purchases jump to 1.3 metric tons. As a regional gold-buying center on behalf of the National Bank of Ethiopia, the Shire Endaslassie branch continues to facilitate gold purchases.

By Africa Defense ForumA string of clashes in Ethiopia’s Amhara region between government forces and an ethnic militia are sparking fears of a widening war. During the same month, the ethnic Amhara militia known as the Fano briefly captured Gondar, a culturally important city that dates to the medieval era. During the 2020 to 2022 war in the Tigray region, Fano militia fought alongside federal government forces and reclaimed a disputed area known as Western Tigray. The United Nations is considering suspending its relief operations to the Amhara region after five aid workers were killed, 10 injured and 11 kidnapped in the first half of 2024, Reuters reported. Observers are also fearful that the Amhara conflict has the potential to destabilize the entire country.

Ethiopian Airlines, Africa’s No 1 carrier has said it will soon introduce its newest state-of-the-art Airbus A350-1000 aircraft that offers unmatched comfort, luxury, and technological advancements to its Lagos fleet. This is just as it marked its 78th anniversary at the 20th Akwaaba African Travel Market in Lagos. The airline’s Sales Manager, Mrs. Adetola Alabi, disclosed this while presenting a paper titled: ‘Ethiopian Airlines, Past, Present and Future Innovations for Continued Leadership in Aviation’. On the legacy of resilience and innovation, the sales manager stated that Ethiopian Airlines has been steadfast in Nigeria since the country’s independence in 1960. She noted that despite challenging times, including the Nigerian Civil War the airline has remained committed to serving the Nigerian market.

The World Bank has said that African countries with double-digit inflation and weakened domestic currencies such as Nigeria, Angola and Sierra Leone, will maintain a high interest rate for a long period and may even increase it. The bank stated this in its latest Africa’s Pulse report focusing on how the inflation outlook varied across countries on the continent. At the last Monetary Policy Committee of the Central Bank of Nigeria, the benchmark interest rate was hiked by 50 basis points to 27.25 per cent in a bid to rein in inflation. Already, the Bretton Woods organisation has disclosed that the naira was among the worst-performing currencies in Sub-Saharan Africa in 2024. The World Bank further highlighted that demand for dollars, driven by financial institutions, non-financial end-users, and money managers, had exacerbated the pressure on the naira.

According to the Israeli military, Sinwar met his end at the hands of a routine patrol on Wednesday. Drone footage released by the military showed Sinwar covered in dust sitting in an armchair staring down a drone as the device entered the house devastated by strikes. The grainy footage showed Sinwar alone with one hand severely injured and his head covered in a traditional scarf, throwing a stick at the approaching drone during his final moments. Unverified images circulating online showed Israeli soldiers circled around the mangled corpse of a man resembling Sinwar who appeared to have suffered a severe head wound. Experts say it the group may bid its time before acknowledging his death, while his body remains with the Israeli military.

Somalia Greenlights Egyptian Troops Deployment, Signaling Shift from Ethiopian MilitaryMOGADISHU, Somalia - In what could be a strategic move to replace Ethiopian troops in the upcoming AU Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM), the government of Somalia has okayed the deployment of Egyptian forces in the country After the August security deal. Somalia has opposed the inclusion of Ethiopia in the new mission, citing alleged violations of its territorial integrity and sovereignty. In a bid to establish a military presence in Somalia, Egypt has dispatched weapons, military advisors, and Commando units as advance teams despite objections by Troops Contributing Countries led by Uganda. Although Somalia maintains it has the power to determine the composition of mission teams, Ethiopia says such actions are subject to African Union determination. But the presence of Egyptian commandos along with Somali National Army officers has been sighted in critical supply routes manned by Ethiopian troops, signaling an irreversible decision by Somalia to replace them, particularly in Southwest and Jubaland, sources said.

October 17, (THEWILL) – The Honourable Minister of Tourism has announced that Nigeria will return to the prestigious World Travel Market (WTM) in London in 2024, marking the country’s first official participation in over a decade. In a meeting held on Wednesday, the Minister met with key tourism stakeholders to finalise plans for Nigeria’s involvement in the global event. “I am grateful to NANTA for their past efforts, but it is crucial that we consolidate our resources and expertise as a nation to showcase Nigeria’s tourism potential effectively,” said the Minister. The 2024 World Travel Market, one of the largest tourism exhibitions globally, presents a prime opportunity for Nigeria to showcase its diverse attractions, foster new partnerships, and attract foreign investment in the tourism sector. The event is seen as a critical step toward boosting Nigeria’s tourism industry, which has been identified as a key driver for economic growth and diversification.

Clashes between Ethiopian federal forces and militias in the country's north-west are placing fleeing Sudanese refugees at "grave risk", Human Rights Watch (HRW) warned on Thursday. A government state of emergency in Amhara, home to some 23 million people, expired in June but the unrest has continued, with a large contingent of federal forces deployed in September. "Sudanese refugees in Ethiopia have been targets of abuses for more than a year from various armed actors," HRW's deputy Africa director Laetitia Bader said. "These refugees have fled horrific abuses back home and urgently need protection, not further threats to their lives." Escalating Amhara clashes prompted the closure of Awlala and Kumer camps in July, it added.

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El Sisi, right, meets Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi at the Presidential Palace in Cairo on Thursday. APEgyptian President Abdel Fattah El Sisi, right, meets Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi at the Presidential Palace in Cairo on Thursday.

Live updates: Follow the latest on Israel-GazaAt least 22 people were killed on Thursday in an Israeli strike on a school housing displaced families in Jabalia camp in northern Gaza that has been under siege for about two weeks. The strike hit the Abu Hussein school, run by the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, in the camp. Footage on social media showed flames spreading from tent to tent as the injured were carried out on carts. “Most of the injured in the school attack are in critical condition, and the bodies … arrived in pieces,” Fares Afaneh, head of the ambulance services in northern Gaza, said. Israel has cut off the northern strip from the rest of Gaza with no food, water, medication, or aid entering since October 1.

Israel's army says it is 'checking' whether Hamas chief Yahya Sinwar was killed during a military operation in the Gaza Strip. AFPIsrael's army says it is 'checking' whether Hamas chief Yahya Sinwar was killed during a military operation in the Gaza Strip.

The programs are open to people from a range of educational backgrounds, with the minimum requirement being a high school-level education. Qiddiya has signed MoUs with top global and local entertainment and hospitality training partners and is engaging additional partners to support the next phase of its training programs. Qiddiya has also inaugurated an online platform providing comprehensive information about all available training programs. Qiddiya anticipates creating 325,000 jobs in Qiddiya City and an additional 22,000 jobs across the Kingdom in Saudi Entertainment Ventures. More information on the newly launched training programs can be found at the official website: https://qiddiya.com/training-programs/.

Fall feels abound in this week’s Food News, including a mead festival, Halloween tea and the autumnal edition of Richmond Restaurant Week. (Richmond magazine)New ScoopsNorth Side ice cream shop Ruby Scoops is ready to reintroduce itself in a big way. (Richmond magazine)NYT Cooking came to Richmond on Tuesday to celebrate the release of “Easy Weeknight Dinners,” and we caught up with its editor-in-chief ahead of the visit. From Oct. 21-27, pop by participating restaurants for a three-course prix fixe dinner with proceeds benefiting Feed More. Farmers David and Barbara Hunsaker of Village Garden are back for year four of Chile Chill Out from Oct. 28-Nov. 21.

- African military delegates hailed military professionalism and capabilities of Ethiopia. The delegates made the remark yesterday while visiting the Ethiopian Air Force (ETAF) headquarters and Bishoftu Automotive Manufacturing Industry. Ethiopia has shared notable reform lessons in military diplomacy and security sector achieved over the last six years, the Ethiopian Defense Minister said, expressing commitments towards common engagements. During the course of the visit, Ethiopian Defense Minister Ayisha Mohammed (Eng.) During the visit, the delegates visited air force bases, heavy maintenance center and flying school.

“Lebanon is a sovereign country and the territory of south of Lebanon is part of Lebanon,” Mr El Khoury said. It collapsed after Israel’s chaotic withdrawal in 2000, with thousands of SLA members fleeing across the border into Israel. To some Lebanese, the SLA protected Lebanon from Hezbollah and the PLO, which set up bases in the south after it was ejected from Jordan in 1970. Hezbollah has been able to build up large weapons supplies in south Lebanon that Israel says it is now intent on destroying. This week Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said his country would “continue to strike Hezbollah without mercy everywhere in Lebanon – including Beirut”.