The latest round of peace talks between Ethiopia’s federal government and a militant group waging a long-running conflict in the country's Oromia region have broken up in Tanzania without an agreement, both sides said Tuesday. The Oromo Liberation Army says it is fighting for greater determination for the Oromo, Ethiopia’s largest ethnic group, who have long claimed being marginalized. The insurgency stretches back to the 1970s but has escalated in recent years, killing thousands and rendering lawless vast swathes of Oromia, Ethiopia’s largest region. ETHIOPIAN GOVERNMENT BEGINS PEACE TALKS WITH VIOLENT REBEL GROUPA previous round of talks between the OLA and Ethiopian officials in Tanzania earlier this year also failed. In addition to the conflict in Oromia, the government faces a rebellion by militia fighters in the Amhara region that started in July.

"The comment I always hear is, if this is plant-based food is, then we can definitely go vegan." CROWN HEIGHTS, Brooklyn -- Welcome to Ras Plant-Based, which offers Ethiopian-inspired cuisine with a vegan twist at restaurants in Brooklyn and Pier 57 in Manhattan. The comment I always hear is, 'If this is plant-based food is, then we can definitely go vegan.' That's the greatest compliment I could ever get," said Romeo Regalli of Ras Plant Based. At Ras Plant-Based, they make theirs with oyster mushrooms.

Somalia’s Cabinet Ministers have approved a draft civil registration and vital statistics (CRVS) legislation, a major step forward in the country’s quest to modernize its citizen identification system after many years of political turmoil. The approval of the CRVS bills by the Somali Cabinet happened just days after a delegation from the country made the trip to neighbouring Ethiopia to tap into its digital ID experience. In a message posted to its Telegram channel, the National ID Program of Ethiopia (NIDP) said it had a “knowledge-sharing” discussion last week with some officials of Somalia’s National Identification and Registration Authority. Earlier in May, a study had proposed strategies through which the Somali government could implement an effective digital ID ecosystem given the country’s precarious socio-political environment. Article TopicsAfrica | biometrics | civil registration | CRVS | digital ID | legislation | Somalia

ADDIS ABABA (Reuters) – A second round of peace talks between Ethiopia’s government and a rebel group aimed at ending a decades-old conflict in the country’s largest region Oromiya has ended without a deal, a senior Ethiopian official said on Tuesday. The negotiations in Tanzania between the government and the Oromo Liberation Army (OLA) followed talks in April and May that also failed to produce an agreement. The OLA is an outlawed splinter group of a formerly banned opposition party that returned from exile in 2018. Its grievances are rooted in the alleged marginalisation and neglect of people in Oromiya, which surrounds the capital Addis Ababa. The government struck a peace deal in November last year to end the conflict in Tigray after tens of thousands were killed and millions displaced.

LONDON (Reuters) - Somalia has one year to expel the al Qaeda-linked al Shabaab militant group from the country, President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud said on Tuesday, with the deadline for remaining African Union peacekeepers to leave looming next December. Al Qaeda-linked Al Shabaab has been waging a brutal insurgency against the Somali government since 2006 in a bid to establish its own rule based on a strict interpretation of Islamic Sharia law. The focus was on eliminating "the residual" al Shabaab, he said. Mohamud's recent drive against al Shabaab began in August last year, with the military rallying behind clan-based militias in central Somalia. The most recent phase is meant to push into southern Somalia, the traditional stronghold of al Shabaab.

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia (AP) — The latest round of peace talks between Ethiopia’s federal government and a militant group waging a long-running conflict in the country’s Oromia region have broken up in Tanzania without an agreement, both sides said Tuesday. The Oromo Liberation Army says it is fighting for greater determination for the Oromo, Ethiopia’s largest ethnic group, who have long claimed being marginalized. The insurgency stretches back to the 1970s but has escalated in recent years, killing thousands and rendering lawless vast swathes of Oromia, Ethiopia’s largest region. A previous round of talks between the OLA and Ethiopian officials in Tanzania earlier this year also failed. In addition to the conflict in Oromia, the government faces a rebellion by militia fighters in the Amhara region that started in July.

Milei the MaverickMilei gained attention as a media commentator, becoming ubiquitous in Argentinian television, and soon became known for his aggressive and foul-mouthed rhetoric. Kirchnerists represented the inefficiency of a big state development model to which Milei proposes to take his chainsaw. Effectively he is promising to tear apart the existing fabric of Argentine society and replace it with a free market based on liberal values. Warning SignsThis leaves Argentine society in a dark moment. Milei’s party, Freedom Advances, has only seven seats out of 72 in the Senate and 37 out of 257 in the lower Chamber of Deputies.

The Oct. 31 assaults took place during an AfDB visit by the country manager to Ethiopia’s finance ministry. Another text suggested the bank would be “endorsing state-sponsored thuggery” if the AfDB did not take strong action. Know MoreThe AfDB is Africa’s leading development finance institution, and its staffers are typically accorded with diplomatic immunity like other DFIs. Samuel’s viewThe incident is a major embarrassment to Ethiopia’s reputation as Africa’s diplomatic capital and headquarters of the African Union. “I think the bank is being cautious to not be overly dramatic.”NotableThe African Development Bank (AfDB) is expected to launch its first hybrid capital note, valued between $500 million and $1 billion, before the end of the month if market conditions are right.

SalamAir, Oman's rapidly growing airline, has announced a major expansion into the Indian market with the launch of operations to five key destinations: Hyderabad, Calicut, Jaipur, Trivandrum, and Lucknow. This significant move is set to enhance the connectivity between Oman and India, offering travelers more convenient and diverse travel options. This strategic expansion has been facilitated by the supportive efforts of the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) of the Sultanate of Oman and a close collaboration with Oman Air. "The support from the Oman Civil Aviation Authority and our partnership with Oman Air have been instrumental in this achievement. It's a move that is expected to not only benefit travelers but also contribute significantly to the economic ties between Oman and India.

Minor Hotels, a leading international hotel owner, operator and investor, has reported record-high third-quarter profit of THB 1.7 billion, on the back of strong leisure and business demand in Europe and continued recovery in Thailand. The growth reflected operational revival across all of Minor’s business models, robust global travel demand and successful sales and pricing strategy. The rise in international arrivals to Thailand, combined with Minor Hotels’ strategy to penetrate further into non-traditional feeder markets, drove average occupancy and room rates. “Minor Hotels has continued its strong post-COVID momentum to achieve its highest-ever third quarter core net profits. This is a trend we expect will continue, as Minor Hotels stands to benefit from the strengthening global tourism industry, strong forward bookings, and increased travel activities,” said Dillip Rajakarier, CEO of Minor Hotels and Group CEO of Minor International.

One of the most recent customers of Embraer’s E2 jet family would be facing a serious financial crisis, SKS Airways, from Malaysia. According to local media, the small regional airline has suspended its flights with DHC-6 Twin Otter turboprops and its website has stopped accepting reservations. Another worrying sign at the company was the premature departure of SKS CEO, Dzuleira Abu Bakar, shortly after taking office. SKS Airways intends to establish a hub at Subang Airport, in the central area of the Malaysian capital, Kuala Kumpur, taking advantage of the good passenger capacity and range of the E195-E2. According to the Business Times, neither SKS nor Embraer wanted to comment on the matter.

Harlem culinary celebrities, who regularly serve up large portions of love for Harlem, are excited to participate in the International Taste of Harlem (ITOH) and celebrate the world-famous neighborhood’s global array of restaurants, eateries, and bakeries. “As a Jewish kid who grew up on W. 117th Street, I’m proud of my family being Harlemites. In addition to running the family-owned restaurant, Woods manages the establishment’s catering hall and the Sylvia Food Products line. The Harlem restaurant was founded in 1962 by his mother, South Carolina-born Sylvia Woods, who earned the “Queen of Soul Food” moniker. Red Rooster Harlem was a dream come true, said Ethiopian-born Samuelsson, who co-founded the popular establishment that’s a proud ITOH restaurant.

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia (CelebrityAccess) — Label giant Universal Music Group announced it has struck a new licensing deal with Ethiopian music streaming and entertainment company Sewasew Multimedia, marking its first-ever agreement in the Ethiopian market. The deal will significantly expand the music available to Sewasew’s streaming library, while extending the reach of Ethiopian artists with international audiences, the two companies said. “We are excited to partner with Sewasew Multimedia to bring UMG’s music to the Ethiopian market,” said Ulrik Cahn EVP Africa, Middle East and Asia. “UMG has a long and successful presence in Africa, and given Ethiopia’s rich and vibrant music culture, we are excited to work with Sewasew Multimedia to help grow the Ethiopian music industry to its full potential.”“We are thrilled to partner with UMG, the world leader in music-based entertainment to bring their extensive catalogue of music to the Ethiopian market. This partnership is a testament to Ethiopia’s growing importance in the global music industry, and we are confident that it will be a success for both companies,” added Abraham F., Managing Director, Sewasew Multimedia.

A planning document for Ethiopia’s Fayda ID digital identity supplied to the World Bank reveals that the program has been granted US$350 in funding to supplement its public investment. Details are contained in a Labor Management Procedures (LMP) document by the Ethiopia’s National ID Program (NIDP). The LMP document is intended to establish rules for the relationship between the digital identity project and the people who work for it, including mechanisms for reporting and resolving grievances. Fayda costs and staffFive components of the country’s Digital ID for Inclusion and Services program are identified in the report. Article TopicsAfrica | biometrics | digital ID | Ethiopia | Ethiopia National ID Program (NIDP) | Fayda | funding | national ID | World Bank

A La Brava is the first Latina superhero team in comic history. NEW YORK, NEW YORK -- Kayden Phoenix is a writer and director who created the comic series A La Brava, a graphic novel that introduces the first Latina superhero team in comic-book history. "We've had comics since 1939, and we haven't had a 'Latina team'," Phoenix said. "If you go 'A La Brava,' you have two boxers who are going all out until somebody falls. In addition to A La Brava, Phoenix created a series of Latina Princesses who will come together in her upcoming book to form the Majestics.