United States Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) sanctioned three commanders of Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces (RSF) today. “The United States calls on the RSF to commit to a humanitarian ceasefire immediately. Gedo and Tijani were filmed at an abandoned SAF base in El-Fasher following its capture by the RSF, reads the Treasury statement. As a result of today’s action, all property and interests in property of the designated or blocked persons in the US or in the possession or control of US persons are blocked and must be reported to OFAC. In addition, any entities that are owned, directly or indirectly, individually or in the aggregate, 50 percent or more by one or more blocked persons are also blocked.

By CISAADDIS ABABA, FEBRUARY 19, 2026 (CISA) – Against the backdrop of regional tensions, displacement, and economic hardship, Cardinal Berhaneyesus Souraphiel has urged Ethiopians to silence “chaos, false news, gossip, and earthly judgment” and instead cultivate consciences attentive to the voice of God. Addressing Catholics at home and in the diaspora, as well as “all people of goodwill,” Cardinal Berhaneyesus described Lent as a time of grace marked by prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. “In listening, there is peace; in listening, there is rest; in listening, there is understanding; in listening, love flourishes,” he said, adding that within such love, Christ is present. He stressed that fasting without acts of charity and solidarity with those suffering from conflict and displacement would be incomplete. Cardinal Berhaneyesus encouraged the faithful to embrace what he termed “true fasting” refraining from harmful speech, avoiding gossip, practicing works of mercy, and deepening participation in the sacraments, particularly the Eucharist.

A woman drives donkeys to transport water in a drought-stricken area of Ethiopia in 2022 (OSV News/Michael Tewelde, World Food Program handout via Reuters)Catholic leaders across Eastern Africa are urging prayers and action this Lent for millions facing a deepening drought crisis. Church officials say 20 million to 25 million people in Kenya, Ethiopia and Somalia need humanitarian aid as failed rains, intensified by La Niña and other climate factors, devastate the region. Livestock have died, wells are drying up and herding communities are on the move, raising fears of conflict. “It is a very, very dire situation,” said Bishop Kariuki, adding that even the wells and boreholes were drying up. FULL STORYAs drought strikes hard, Church leaders in Eastern Africa call for Lenten prayers (By Fredrick Nzwili, OSV News)

ETPresident Trump said he solved eight wars at the first meeting of the Board of Peace on Feb. 19. The eight wars figure also includes two disputes from Trump's first term and one where the U.S. is not given unanimous creidt. President Donald Trump parroted his eight solved wars at the first meeting of the Board of Peace on Feb. 19. The Peace Board members and representatives from several other countries met at the newly named Donald J. Trump Institute of Peace in Washington, D.C. Trump has often mentioned a list of wars he has solved as he touts his peace record.

We’ll leave the Divine Taste of Africa for another review and spend some time in the cuisine of Ethiopia and Somalia. As much as I enjoy that feeling of community that sharing injera offers me, a highlight at Hooyo’s is the goat and rice ($19). For those familiar with the dish, Hooyo’s version is a pleasant surprise. Hooyo's Kitchen has a sparsely decorated interior, but that keeps the focus on the food rather than the decor. Wait staff anticipates needs and accommodates reasonable special requests.

ATR’s net orders reached 50 aircraft in 2025, bringing the company’s backlog to over 160 units. The airframer reported a gross order intake of 60 aircraft in 2025, from nine customers across nine countries, including double-digit commitments from Air Algérie and UNI Air – 16 and 19 ATR 72-600s respectively. Overall, ATR generated $1.2 billion in revenues in 2025. READ: Protect, not penalise regional operators, ATR boss urges EU policymakers“We do not measure the success of a transition year like 2025 on one number”, said Nathalie Tarnaud Laude, ATR’s Chief Executive Officer. “We are determined to raise our delivery rate; and that is why we have worked on concrete steps to address the issues that limited our output.

SubscribeVietnam Airlines has announced that it has confirmed its plans to acquire 50 Boeing 737 MAX 8. Vietnam Airlines confirms order for 50 Boeing 737 MAX 8On 17 February, Vietnamese carrier Vietnam Airlines confirmed a longstanding order for 50 Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft. The 737 MAX order actually dates back to 2023The history of this latest Vietnam Airlines order dates back to 2023, when the then-US president Joe Biden made a trade visit to Vietnam. Photo: Thiago Trevisan / stock.adobe.comAs demand for air travel in Asia continues to soar, so has the popularity of the Boeing 737 MAX family. In March 2025, Malaysia Airlines ordered 18 737 MAX 8s and 12 737 MAX 10 jets from Boeing, with options for 30 more.

Ethiopian Airlines has announced plans to inaugurate three new domestic airports and commence passenger services to Negele Borena, Gore Metu, and Debre Markos by mid-April 2026, further expanding its national footprint. With the addition of the new routes, Ethiopian’s domestic network will grow to 26 destinations, strengthening air connectivity and improving access to key regional centers. Presenting the six-month report, Group CEO Mesfin Tassew disclosed that Ethiopian generated USD 4.4 billion in revenue, marking a 14 percent increase compared to the same period last year. However, the CEO acknowledged constraints in expanding domestic operations due to aircraft availability. He explained that the Q400 turboprop aircraft, widely used for domestic routes, are no longer in production, limiting the airline’s ability to grow domestically.

Türkiye says Greece-Chevron activity off Crete 'unlawful'ANKARATürkiye said on Feb. 19 it opposed Greece’s hydrocarbon exploration activities south of Crete carried out by a consortium led by U.S. oil major Chevron, calling them "unilateral" steps that violate international law and harm good neighbourly relations. “We oppose this unlawful activity, which is being attempted in violation of the 2019 Memorandum of Understanding on Maritime Jurisdiction between Libya and our country,” Turkish Defense Ministry officials were quoted as saying during a weekly press briefing. “We continue to provide the necessary support to the Libyan authorities to take action against these unilateral and unlawful activities by Greece,” the ministry said. The 2019 maritime deal between Türkiye and Libya defined boundaries in the Mediterranean but was rejected by Greece, which said the deal ignored the presence of the Greek island of Crete between the coastlines of the two countries. NATO allies Türkiye and Greece have long been at odds over maritime boundaries and energy rights in the Aegean Sea, a region believed to hold significant hydrocarbon resources and carrying implications for airspace and military activity.

Dedicated to transforming the coffee industry, CUP (Coffee Uplifts People) strategically supports equality and diversity. Originating in Brooklyn, CUP has opened a new location in East Harlem at the Africa Center. Co-founders Tony Forte and Angela Yee at CUP’s (Coffee Uplifts People) new location, Africa Center in East Harlem, NYC. (Coffee Uplifts People) CUP’s Jamaican beef, chicken, and veggie patties. In addition to coffee, CUP serves Caribbean traditional staples such as homemade sorrel, Jamaican beef, chicken, and veggie patties.

SubscribeA Delta Air Lines flight was forced to return to Houston shortly after take-off on 18 February 2026 when an unruly passenger moved toward the cockpit. Delta flight returns to Hobby Airport after unruly passenger attempts to breach the cockpitAs CNN reported, the incident occurred on Delta flight 2557, operating a Boeing 717 with 85 passengers and five crew members on board. The pilot declared an emergency shortly after take-off from Houston’s Hobby Airport, reporting an attempted cockpit breach to air traffic control. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Reauthorization Act of 2018 required airlines to install secondary cockpit barriers to protect the cockpit when the cockpit door must be opened during flight. Southwest Airlines operated its first flight with secondary cockpit barriers installed on a Boeing 737 MAX 8 in August of last year, in compliance with the original requirement.

In response to the technical disruptions currently affecting the issuance of ETA (Electronic Travel Authorization) approval notices, Sri Lanka’s Department of Immigration and Emigration (DIE) has issued a statement providing clarification. After verification, the ETA will be issued on site by Sri Lankan authorities. Without a properly submitted application, boarding and entry into Sri Lanka could be denied…How to retrieve your “ETA reference notice”Given the current situation, many travelers are not receiving the approval email for their ETA application. At this time, this page serves as official proof that the ETA application for Sri Lanka has been properly submitted. They must apply for a short-term visa through a Sri Lankan sponsor and submit their request directly to the headquarters of the Sri Lanka DIE.

How Carvana plans to sell 3 million vehicles annually by 2030 to 2035Carvana's leadership said expanding ADESA reconditioning sites and building new facilities will help the retailer reach its goal of selling 3 million vehicles annually by 2030 to 2035.

HARGEISA (Somaliguardian) – Somaliland authorities on Wednesday denounced remarks by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan during his visit to Ethiopia a day earlier, describing them as “unacceptable interference” intended to discourage relations between Somaliland and its regional partners. In a statement, the Somaliland Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that foreign policy decisions in the Horn of Africa must be shaped by the region’s own governments and peoples. It cautioned that external rivalries should not be projected onto the region in ways that risk eroding stability and undermining cooperation. Somaliland called on Türkiye to refrain from adopting positions that inflame regional tensions and to adhere to the principles of mutual respect, noninterference and sovereign decision-making. It said its outreach to regional and international partners – and its pursuit of international recognition – remain peaceful, lawful and firmly rooted in the democratic aspirations of its people.

The general headquarters of the Committee of Security and Intelligence Services in Africa (CISSA) in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa, hosted a seminar bringing together the continent’s directors of security agencies and heads of intelligence services, to discuss the financing of terrorism and transnational organized crime. According to the official website of the African Centre for the Constructive Resolution of Disputes (ACCORD), the seminar held on Tuesday, under the theme “Financing terrorism and transnational organized crime in Africa,” was attended by around 80 delegates, led by Jackson Victor Hamata, executive secretary of CISSA, alongside experts and representatives from member states. The seminar discussions focused on developing mechanisms to cut off sources of terrorist financing, enhancing intelligence sharing, and raising the level of operational coordination to combat transnational organized crime, amid the accelerating challenges posed by the global geopolitical shift to the continent’s security and stability. The seminar was held in Addis Ababa during the 39th ordinary session of the African Union Heads of State and Government Summit in February, reflecting coordinated African efforts to address critical issues such as peace, security, and development. It also underscores the growing role of CISSA in enhancing cooperation among member states, safeguarding continental stability, and confronting cross-border threats.