Fellow Democrats urge Biden to withhold $320 million in military aid to Egypt over rights abuses
More than 20 leading U.S. and international rights groups and think tanks separately made the same appeal, arguing that the U.S. practice of holding back some aid was leading el-Sissi to make “limited, albeit insufficient ” rights improvements in Egypt. Egypt agreed instead to provide the United States with artillery rounds for transfer for Ukraine, the Post reported, citing another leaked document. Congress in recent years has made the U.S. payment of roughly $300 million of U.S. military aid contingent on Egypt’s government showing progress on rights, although the State Department can partially override that, on national security grounds. Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, PEN International and other rights groups and think tanks in the other letter Friday credited the Biden administration’s financial pressure with helping persuade Egypt to free more than 1,000 political detainees. At the same time, rights advocates say, Egypt has detained nearly 5,000 others, and renewed pretrial detentions of thousands more.
Source:Ethiopian News
July 28, 2023 17:10 UTC
News: Disturbing footage reveals peasants’ abuse by officials in Jimma Zone, Oromia; suspects detained
Scene captured from the disturbing video in which a group of peasants are subjected to humiliating abuse by officials in Jimma zone, Oromia region. He is identified by sources who spoke with Addis Standard as Awel Jihad, the district head of the ruling Prosperity Party. According to him the four peasants had previously paid their annual land taxes and and requested for receipts from local authorities. In a subsequent update, Amin Kemal, the Communication Office head of Gera District, confirmed to Addis Standard that the implicated officials are currently under detention. A recent in-depth analysis by Addis Standard has documented on record yet covered up extrajudicial killings by uniformed government forces in Oromia and other parts of the country.
Source:Ethiopian News
July 28, 2023 17:09 UTC
Man reports himself as shooter in what police call an ‘ongoing domestic incident’
(KTAL/KMSS) – Shreveport police arrested a man suspected of a shooting Thursday night. Jeffrey J Smith self-reported Alston Street shooting (Source: Shreveport Police Department)Around 9:45 p.m., SPD responded to a reported shooting in the 1900 block of Alston Street. When officers arrived, they found a 36-year-old male victim, later identified as 36-year-old James Morgan, shot multiple times in the upper body. According to SPD, while the investigation was underway, a man called dispatch and identified himself as the shooter. Police said they have determined the shooting was related to an ongoing domestic incident—the Caddo Parish Coroner will confirm the homicide victim’s identity at a later time.
Source:Ethiopian News
July 28, 2023 16:49 UTC
IrisGuard and Arifpay unlock the potential for financial inclusion for all Ethiopians
IrisGuard and Arifpay unlock the potential for financial inclusion for all EthiopiansAfrica Newsroom2023-07-28Arifpay is one of the pioneers in the Ethiopian FinTech ecosystem licensed by the National Bank of Ethiopia to operate as a Payment System Operator in Point of Sale (POS) and Payment Gateway. Founded in 2001, IrisGuard is a world leader in end-to-end iris-enabled payment systems, empowering financial inclusion for the world’s poorest and most vulnerable.
Source:Ethiopian News
July 28, 2023 16:39 UTC
Ethiopian Airlines facing 'real challenges' despite Covid success
Ethiopian Airlines switched many of its passenger planes to transport cargo during the Covid pandemic. Ethiopian Airlines successfully weathered the Covid pandemic by shifting its strategy, but Africa's only profitable carrier still faces "real challenges" in sourcing parts and staying competitive at a time of inflation, its CEO told AFP. But, he said, the pandemic's effects can still be felt in the form of "high inflation... which translates into high operating costs for us (and) high fuel price." Ethiopian Airlines is also facing other challenges, including a lawsuit filed by a rights group that claims the carrier discriminated against travellers from the war-scarred region of Tigray. Ethiopian Airlines boss Mesfin Tasew says the Covid pandemic bequeathed the airline sector with supply-chain problems and a burst of inflation.
Source:Ethiopian News
July 28, 2023 16:22 UTC
Ethiopia Airlines' CEO discusses post-pandemic competitiveness in a changing industry
Against a backdrop of steep inflation, post-pandemic competitiveness and a changing airline industry, Ethiopian Airlines is pursuing its "Vision 2035" growth strategy. Ethiopia Airlines is Africa's leading airline in terms of fleet and passengers - far ahead of EgyptAir and Kenya Airways. Like other airlines, Ethiopian Airlines is also facing a shortage of spare parts. Ethiopian Airlines will have to re-evaluate its cost structure and work hard on its cost reduction plan to remain competitive". Future growthDespite the numerous challenges, Mesfin says Ethiopian Airlines is intent on pursuing its growth strategy.
Source:Ethiopian News
July 28, 2023 14:29 UTC
Ethiopian Airlines Facing 'real Challenges' Despite Covid Success
"We carried 13.7 million passengers, which is a 57-percent growth compared to the previous year and 10 percent higher than pre-Covid. We also carried 740,000 tonnes of cargo, which is nearly double pre-Covid," he said. "The figures indicate that we have fully recovered from the impacts of Covid," said Mesfin, who was appointed to the job in March 2022. But, he said, the pandemic's effects can still be felt in the form of "high inflation... which translates into high operating costs for us (and) high fuel price." He added that he expects the problem to be resolved within three years, "but today it is a real challenge."
Source:Ethiopian News
July 28, 2023 13:11 UTC
:quality(70)/cloudfront-eu-central-1.images.arcpublishing.com/thenational/QVRE2S5YLR2YLQJEZOWIISFC6M.jpg)
Putin courts allies with free grain and weapons pledge at Africa Summit
"We have provided steady support over the decades for African countries in the face of the ongoing presence of colonialist powers," he said. He said Russia was increasing agricultural exports and would remain a reliable supplier of food, including free grain, to Africa. Mr Putin said Moscow respected African leaders' peace proposal on Ukraine and was carefully studying it. Seventeen African leaders attended the Russia-Africa summit, less than half the number who attended the previous forum in 2019. On the sidelines of the summit Mr Putin on Wednesday met Mr El Sisi, hailing their growing bilateral trade that accounts for about one third of Russia’s trade with Africa.
Source:Ethiopian News
July 28, 2023 12:06 UTC
Uzbekistan’s key rate kept at 14% with central bank wary of pressure on prices
Uzbekistan’s central bank on July 27 opted to keep its key rate unchanged at 14%, showing wariness over continuing pressure on prices. Trend indicators showed an increasing influence of the exchange rate factor on the inflation expectations of the population and business, the central bank also noted. The average annual inflation remained above the current inflation rate. By the end of the year, economic growth will amount to 5−6% if the central bank forecast proves correct. The central bank left its end-of-year inflation forecast at 8.5−9%.
Source:Ethiopian News
July 28, 2023 12:03 UTC
BREAKING: Secret Police, DSS, Questions Ex-Aviation Minister, Sirika Over 'Fraudulent' Launch Of Nigeria Air
Nigeria’s former aviation minister, Hadi Sirika, has arrived at the headquarters of the Department of State Services (DSS) for questioning, SaharaReporters can report. SaharaReporters learnt that Sirika arrived at the headquarters of the country’s secret police on Thursday in a Range Rover SUV. Sirika and some of Nigeria Air have been facing the heat over the recent 'launch' of the airline in Abuja. It noted, “The first flight was an Ethiopian Airlines aircraft. It was then acquired again by Ethiopian Airlines in 2015 and has been operating under Ethiopian Air since then."
Source:Ethiopian News
July 28, 2023 10:51 UTC
One people, OneFamily
OneFamily participants CourtesyThe OneFamily Together Organization, founded and headed by Chantal and Marc Belzberg and based in Jerusalem, has been hosting events for victims of terrorism for more than two decades. At the OneFamily Event CourtesyIt was hard to find a comfortable spot to put down a small plate in the room filled with women munching vegetables, eating sandwiches and salad, drinking coffee, hugging each other like long-lost relatives, and pushing beautiful babies in strollers. As they left, each woman received a signed copy of Sivan Rahav-Meir's latest book as a gift from OneFamily. Supper at OneFamily Event CourtesyThis wonderful day is only one of the many activities of OneFamily, which has four regional coordinators keeping in touch with bereaved families all across Israel and seeing to their needs, from tefillin for a bar mitzva to the week's food for a family. And just last week, a OneFamily retreat for terror widows and orphans took place in Tiberias and other orphans were flown to a summer camp in Toronto at no cost, accompanied by OneFamily teenage counselors.
Source:Ethiopian News
July 28, 2023 10:25 UTC
News: Amid rising death by starvation, USAID sees no definite timeline for Ethiopia food aid resumption
The Emohoy Tsega Girma Charity Organization in Aby Adi town in Tigray assisting displaced civilians who are flocking to the organization in large numbers due to the suspension of humanitarian aid. Photo: Tigray TVBy Alemitu Homa @alemituhomaWashington D.C. – Three months into the decision by the USAID and WFP to suspend food aid delivery to Ethiopia following the discovery of massive food aid diversion, a top USAID official said there is no definite time to resume the suspended aid delivery but investigations and discussions are still on going. The revelation prompted a joint US-Ethiopia statement announcing commitment to address “deeply concerning revelations of food aid diversion in Ethiopia.” In the statement both governments pledged to conduct investigations and hold perpetrators to account. Hunger related death has since been rising especially in the Tigray region, which has already been hit hard during Ethiopia’s two years atrocious war. This week, the VOA Amharic cited Tigray Region’s Disaster Risk Management Commission as saying that said in the last three months alone following the food aid delivery interruptions more than 1000 people have died of starvation.
Source:Ethiopian News
July 28, 2023 09:47 UTC
For success, planned Ethiopian capital market needs patience and smart policy
Capital PoliciesIt is in this environment that the government is seeking to establish a capital market for the government, businesses, and individuals to buy and sell securities, such as bonds, stocks, and derivatives. The National Bank of Ethiopia’s 2021 Capital Markets Proclamation proposed a ten-year implementation plan structured around four pillars: market development, capacity development, infrastructure development, and policy reviews. The law established the Ethiopian Capital Market Authority and led to the creation of the Ethiopian Securities Exchange in late 2022 under the supervision of the Ministry of Finance and guidance of FSD Africa. Risk SkillsAnother serious constraint the Ethiopian government faces in its attempt to create and maintain a capital market is the relative lack of skilled financial risk professionals. This might indeed be the case, yet, as argued above, the harmful potential of an ill-implemented capital market could increase volatility.
Source:Ethiopian News
July 28, 2023 08:57 UTC
Ethiopian Airline Weathers Covid Problems, Still Faces 'Real Challenges'
We also carried 740,000 tonnes of cargo, which is nearly double pre-Covid," he said. The airline turned to freight when passenger traffic fell, including converting some of its passenger aircraft to transport cargo. But, he said, the pandemic's effects can still be felt in the form of "high inflation... which translates into high operating costs for us (and) high fuel price." The controversies have not dented the carrier's bottom line, with Mesfin saying the airline intended to "attain certain key milestones by 2035". "Today it is twice as expensive as a jet fuel -- jet fuel today constitutes for us about 40 percent of our total cost.
Source:Ethiopian News
July 28, 2023 08:45 UTC
Vantage Capital invests €30 million in Promamec – New Business Ethiopia
Vantage Capital, Africa’s largest mezzanine fund manager, announced today that it closed a €30 million equity investment for the acquisition of a significant minority stake in Promamec, a Moroccan medical distribution business. The funds invested by Vantage Capital facilitated the exit of the private equity fund AfricInvest and will also serve to part-fund Promamec’s next phase of development. Mr. Naoufal Lahlou, CEO of Promamec, commented “We are delighted to welcome into our shareholding Vantage Capital, a leading pan-African investment firm. Since our very first discussions, Vantage Capital has demonstrated its total alignment with our vision.”Mr. Luc Albinski, Executive Chairman at Vantage Capital, added, “We are proud to have concluded our third Moroccan deal. Vantage Capital was advised by Derenia Capital who acted as buy-side advisor for the transaction, and by Clifford Chance (in Morocco) who acted as its legal counsel.
Source:News Business Ethiopia
July 28, 2023 08:44 UTC