In a remarkable display of resilience and global leadership, Ethiopian Airlines, Africa’s leading carrier, has been awarded the prestigious Global Recognition and Appreciation Award at the First International Post-COVID Conference held in Toronto.

This accolade acknowledges Ethiopian Airlines’ pivotal role in distributing emergency gear throughout Africa during the COVID-19 pandemic, ensuring the timely delivery of essential medical supplies and saving countless lives.

The conference, jointly organized by Livelihood Development International Initiatives (LDII), Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), and other partners, aimed to build a unified frontier for responding to future global pandemics.

Expressing his gratitude, Ethiopian Airlines Group CEO, Mesfin Tasew, stated, “We are honored to receive this prestigious recognition for our significant contribution worldwide during the COVID-19 pandemic. This recognition is a testament to the commitment, dedication, and hard work of our team members, the airline community, and the stakeholders who worked tirelessly with us to keep our operations running smoothly during those difficult times. This award gives us the courage to stay committed to serving our customers and communities, even in the face of unprecedented challenges.”

At least one person was killed in renewed anti-government protests across Kenya on Tuesday, a Reuters reporter said, as police clashed with demonstrators demanding that President William Ruto step down. Youth-led nationwide protests that broke out a month ago against proposed tax hikes have continued even after Ruto withdrew the legislation and fired almost all of his cabinet. Activists say they want Ruto to resign and are calling for systemic changes to clean up corruption and address poor governance. … In Kitengela, a town on the southern outskirts of the capital Nairobi, police fired repeatedly in the direction of hundreds of protesters, some of whom were throwing rocks, Reuters TV footage showed. The protesters also burned tyres, waved Kenyan flags and chanted “Ruto must go!” … Tuesday’s protests appeared to be some of the biggest since Ruto withdrew the tax increases on June 26. The Nation newspaper reported demonstrations in at least 23 of Kenya’s 47 counties. (The East African)

A United Nations study has estimated it will cost up to $600 million for a fleet of 100 lorries to clear the rubble left by Israel’s devastating campaign in the Gaza Strip, before a full reconstruction of the area can fully begin.

The UN Environment Programme believes 137,297 buildings had been damaged in Gaza, more than half of the total, while up to 1,235 acres of landfill sites could be needed to accommodate the waste, depending on what could be recycled.

The project to completely rebuild infrastructure will cost upwards of $40 billion. (Press Release)

At least five people were killed when militiamen ambushed a convoy in central Somalia and seized heavy weapons, the local government and residents said on Tuesday, seven months after a decades-long arms embargo was lifted. The convoy was travelling on Monday with a security escort near the town of Abudwaq when militiamen from a local clan attacked and overpowered security forces, four residents told Reuters. They said the arms, which included machine guns, anti-aircraft weapons and rocket-propelled grenades, originated in neighbouring Ethiopia. … Rashid Abdi, an analyst with the Sahan Research think-tank, called the incident “the single most serious incident of arms proliferation in central Somalia” and said some of the weapons would likely be bought by al Shabaab, an al Qaeda affiliate. (The East African)