Unveiling Jordan’s baptism site’s significance, the insightful interview with Rustom Mkhjian highlights interfaith harmony and future collaborations in religious tourism. Religious and pilgrimage tourism is estimated to move more than 300 million faithful tourists, to pilgrimage travel, to visiting religious sites, to engaging in religious significance events and celebrations. Unveiling Jordan’s Baptism Site’s significance, this insightful interview with Rustom Mkhjian, among other aspects, highlights interfaith harmony and future collaborations in religious tourism. Mr. Mkhjian, explains that the Baptism Site Commission is an independent Board of Trustees appointed by H.M. King Abdullah II bin Al-Hussein of Jordan, and H.R.H. This collaboration is expected to be further enhanced at the special event at the Baptism Site, in January 2024, celebrating the Silver Jubilee of His Majesty’s reign and the Epiphany at the Baptism Site, expecting a large international congregation.

Ethiopia officially entered default territory nn Tuesday, becoming Africa's third nation to do so within a span of three years. The failure to make a $33 million "coupon" payment on its sole international government bond underscores the country's severe financial challenges exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic and a recently concluded two-year civil war in November 2022. The payment, originally due on December 11, had a technical grace period extending until Tuesday, thanks to a 14-day clause in the $1 billion bond agreement. Subsequently, credit ratings agency S&P Global downgraded the bond to "Default" on December 15, based on the assumption that the coupon payment would not be fulfilled. The default places Ethiopia in a challenging economic position, requiring strategic measures to address its financial instability and navigate the complexities of debt restructuring.

Brilliant or BS is the latest Black-owned game to hit the shelves of Target stores nationwide. Founded by Kimelia and Nick the husband and wife duo that also created the game One and Done. The 4-6-player party game combines classic trivia with a little bit of bluffing and social deduction for hilarious results. Visit the website to shop all of their products. https://brilliantorbs.com/ email: info@brilliantorbs.com

Along with the launch of the FITUR 4all section, the first awards will be announced at FITUR to recognise efforts in the development of inclusive tourism. Its vocation is to give visibility, thank and encourage commitment in moving towards inclusive tourism. The FITUR 4all Awards will be presented in four categories:National Destination, International Destination, Inclusive Tourism Company and Inclusive Organisation or Institution. Finally, recognition will be awarded to the Inclusive Organisation or Institutionthat has successfully promoted initiatives that embrace collaboration, awareness-raising and implementation of inclusive policies. The winners will receive a diploma and a trophy, which will be awarded at the Fitur 4all Awards ceremony at FITUR 2024 at IFEMA MADRID.

Ethiopia has undergone recurring foreign currency devaluations in the past few years. Amid continuous meetings with institutions like the IMF, there have been concerns that the National Bank of Ethiopia might further devalue the Ethiopian Birr. In the last Ethiopian fiscal year, Ethiopia raised $24 billion in foreign currency from various sources. Mamo Mihretu, Governor of the National Bank of Ethiopia, dismisses the prospect of a currency rate adjustment, stating that there won’t be one at this point. Subscribe to YouTube channel To share information or for submission, send e-mail to info@borkena.com

But the Black Star Polo team are not the only flyers to have problems with the company, with officials from the country saying “other Ghanaians faced unnecessary discrimination and delays by the Ethiopian Airlines”. Mr Sefa-Boakye explained due to issues with Africa’s biggest airline, Ethiopian Airlines, the seven other players to missed out on the December tournament. The Black Star Polo team are not the only flyers to have problems with the company. Two weeks before the competition, Ethiopian airlines asked the coach to pay a surcharge of up to $1,500 (worth £1178.53) per player. The Brazilian Embassy in Ghana responded to the Black Star Polo plight and mentions multiple cases when “other Ghanaians faced unnecessary discrimination and delays by the Ethiopian Airlines” in an aide-memoir.

POLICE in Victoria Falls are investigating a case of possible human trafficking after 13 Ethiopians were arrested at a house in the city where they were hiding after illegally entering the country. The 13 East Africans allegedly entered the country through an undersigned entry point from Zambia. The illegal immigrants, all men, range between late 20s to early 40s in age. It is not the first time as police have in the past swooped on some illegal immigrants who use undesignated entry points and some have appeared in court and sent back to their respective countries. However, sources closer to the goings-on said the illegal immigrants are expected to appear in court for illegally entering the country through evasion.

Under the light of the lone star, a diverse group of new coffee faces was illuminated. Some shops offered close connections to coffee producers in Ethiopia, Nicaragua and Yemen; a Germany-born chain took its first steps into the U.S.; and, in Houston, a man from Korea created a coffee-focused portal to Italy, to name just a few. Continuing our 2023 Year in Review, here’s a look back at 10 of the worldly and colorful new Southwestern cafes that opened this year. Coffees are brewed in traditional methods for Yemeni drink recipes… read moreSoonkack Kook, who initially moved to the United States from Korea for college 20 years ago, spent the past 14 months renovating a 1,900-square-foot space inside Un Caffè’s 90-year-old building. The result is a modern roastery and retail bar awash in shades of red, green and white, reflecting Kook’s reverence for the birthplace of espresso, Italy… read moreLemma Coffee Founder Daniel Baum described the newest location, the former XO Coffee shop in downtown Plano, as a “dream coffee shop” for its interior core and its prominent place among other neighborhood businesses.

Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window)Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)2023 was an exciting year for specialty coffee on the West Coast, with no shortage of intrepid new cafe designs and global coffee connections made on hyper-local levels. While many of the coffee shops highlighted below are newcomers to the coffee world, several represent bold moves from longstanding coffee institutions, signaling vitality and optimism in the post-pandemic retail landscape. In Hawaii, Big Island Coffee Roasters, a 2022 Roast Magazine Roaster of the Year finalist, opened its first flagship roastery cafe. Continuing or 2023 Year in Review, here are 10 of the biggest coffee shop openings in the U.S. West Coast and Pacific states. Within this space, guests can sip coffees from ceramics used in traditional Jebena ceremonies that Avole imports from Ethiopia… read more

The Russian warship Novocherkassk of the Russian Black Sea Fleet is pictured in front of the port city Sevastopol, Russia on July 27, 2019.

Coffee connoisseurs have long held the belief that adding a little water to the beans before grinding them could make a difference. A new study by researchers at the University of Oregon seems to confirm exactly why. “When you grind coffee, it goes everywhere,” said study coauthor Christopher Hendon, an associate professor of computational materials chemistry at the University of Oregon. When using a cafetiere, French press or AeroPress, nothing much changes because, given the coarser grind required with these, “all of the water is already touching all of the coffee,” Hendon said. “I found that the amount of water needed for the purported benefits varied wildly from grinder to grinder,” he added.

Addis Ababa, December 26/2023(ENA)-Prime Minister Abiy said efforts being made in increasing irrigated horticulture production are showing remarkable results as evidenced through papaya productivity endeavours. The government of Ethiopia has been carrying out numerous agricultural development activities in line with its ten year perspective plan. Increasing the productivity of horticulture is one of the endeavors being underway across the country. Prime Minister Abiy pointed out on his face-book today that efforts being made in increasing irrigated horticulture production are showing remarkable results as evidenced through papaya productivity endeavours. “Our ten year perspective plan for agricultural development seeks to expand horticulture development, which includes fruits, among other key focus areas for the sector,” he added.

Cape Town International Airport, South AfricaThis is a premier international hub with modern infrastructure and a commitment to eco-friendly practices. King Shaka International Airport, South AfricaLocated in Durban, it stands as a beacon of excellence among Africa's best international airports. Johannesburg International Airport, South AfricaServing as the primary hub for domestic and international travel in South Africa. Addis Ababa International Airport, EthiopiaFormerly Haile Selassie I International Airport, it's the main hub for Ethiopian Airlines. Bloemfontein International Airport, South AfricaFormerly Bloemfontein International Airport, now Bram Fischer International Airport.

Ethiopia became Africa’s third default in as many years on Tuesday after it failed to make a 33-million-dollar “coupon” payment on its only international government bond. Africa’s second most populous country announced earlier this month that it intended to formally go into default, having been under severe financial strain in the wake of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and a two-year civil war that ended in November 2022. It had been supposed to make the payment on Dec. 11, but technically had up until Tuesday to provide the money due to a 14-day ‘grace period’ clause written into the 1 billion dollars bond. On Dec. 8, the government said parallel negotiations it had been having with pension funds and other private sector creditors that hold its bond had broken down. Credit ratings agency S&P Global then downgraded the bond, to “Default” on Dec. 15 on the assumption that the coupon payment would not be made.

LONDON (Reuters) – Ethiopia became Africa’s third default in as many years on Tuesday after it failed to make a $33 million “coupon” payment on its only international government bond. Africa’s second most populous country announced earlier this month that it intended to formally go into default, having been under severe financial strain in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic and a two-year civil war that ended in November 2022. It had been supposed to make the payment on Dec. 11, but technically had up until Tuesday to provide the money due to a 14-day ‘grace period’ clause written into the $1 billion bond. Credit ratings agency S&P Global then downgraded the bond, to “Default” on Dec. 15 on the assumption that the coupon payment would not be made. (Reporting by Rachel Savage and Karin Strohecker, Additional Reporting by Dawit Endeshaw in Addis Ababa, Editing by Marc Jones and Aurora Ellis)