The U.S. Embassy and Addis Ababa University (AAU) jointly celebrated over 70 years of partnership in higher education and the 60th anniversary of the John F. Kennedy Memorial Library.   

In 1966, Senator Robert Kennedy laid the cornerstone of the John F. Kennedy Memorial Library at Addis Ababa University (AAU) in memory of President Kennedy.  Today, the Kennedy Library remains an enduring symbol of U.S.-Ethiopian friendship and serves as the academic core for AAU’s 40,000 students across 18 campuses.  To ensure the library’s long-term safety and structural integrity, the U.S. Department of State’s Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation will fund a preservation project at the Kennedy Library for urgent roof and drainage repairs in order to preserve this historic intellectual hub.  Future generations of students and scholars will be able use the Kennedy Library to access research materials, global literature, and as a collaborative academic space. 

The United States’ long legacy of cooperation with Ethiopia in higher education began under President Harry Truman’s Point Four initiative in the 1950s.  As the United States mark 250 years of American independence this year, the U.S. reaffirms its commitment to partnering with Ethiopia to advance higher education, foster academic exchange, and drive mutual progress.  

As part of ongoing efforts to strengthen social protection and promote youth employment across Africa, the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) held a series of high-level engagements with member States on the margins the African Union Commission’s Sixth Session of the Specialized Technical Committee (STC) on Social Development, Labour and Employment, held in Windhoek from 27 to 31 July.

The discussions focused on expanding cooperation in youth employment, social protection, women’s economic empowerment and poverty reduction, while identifying new opportunities for collaboration to advance inclusive development across the continent.

Key areas of focus at the STC meeting included expanding pathways from social assistance to sustainable livelihoods, extending social protection to workers in the informal economy, improving institutional coordination through integrated digital systems, and mobilizing sustainable financing for social protection programmes.

Led by Zuzana Schwidrowski, Director of ECA’s Socio-Economic Development Division, the ECA delegation also held bilateral meetings with member States to discuss areas for deeper collaboration.

The World Bank Group is supporting the expansion of Africa’s digital commerce infrastructure to help small businesses reach new markets, create jobs, and strengthen economic opportunities across the continent. Through Jumia (NYSE: JMIA), Africa’s leading e-commerce platform, the investment is expected to enable approximately 60,000 local annual active sellers to participate more fully in the digital economy, support around 1,800 direct jobs, and create income-generating opportunities for more than 100,000 independent sales agents.

As digital commerce continues to grow across Africa, reliable access to online marketplaces, logistics networks, and digital payments are becoming increasingly important for entrepreneurs and small businesses seeking to expand beyond local markets. Strengthening this infrastructure can help firms increase sales, improve productivity, and connect consumers with a wider range of affordable goods and services.

To support this effort, the International Finance Corporation (IFC), the private sector arm of the World Bank Group, is investing US$25 million in equity in Jumia Technologies AG (Jumia), Africa’s largest public e-commerce platform. The investment will support Jumia’s next phase of growth across its core African markets, strengthening its integrated marketplace and logistics network.

Emirates has introduced new measures to give customers greater flexibility and confidence when booking and managing their journeys.

From August 10, 2026, passengers traveling to Dubai can change their travel dates unlimited times without paying a change fee across eligible Economy and Business Class fares. Refund fees have also been reduced to as little as US$25 on selected fares.

Customers traveling anywhere on the Emirates network with tickets booked from April 2, 2026, receive one free date change and can hold a fare for 24 hours without charge.

The airline has also introduced Comprehensive Travel Cover, including medical expenses, emergency evacuation, trip cancellation, baggage disruption and conflict-related cover. Customers affected by disruptions will be rebooked at no additional cost, with accommodation provided where necessary.

Emirates Skywards members can benefit from reduced Tier Mile requirements, bonus Tier Miles and improved Cash+Miles rates until August 31, 2026.