Kegna Beverages celebrated the grand launch of its bottled product at an exclusive media event held on June 7 in Addis Ababa. The evening was a vibrant blend of cultural heritage, corporate vision, and immersive storytelling, designed to leave a lasting impact on attendees.

The event kicked off at 6:00 PM, welcoming media guests with flowers, branded giveaways, and refreshments. Guests had the opportunity to meet Kegna’s executive team before the official program began at 6:45 PM, guided by a charismatic Master of Ceremonies.

A traditional Aba Geda blessing ceremony opened the evening, followed by keynote speeches from Kegna’s CEO, COO, and the Chairman of the Board, alongside a special address by the Oromia Regional President. These speeches framed the brand’s commitment to quality and innovation.

World Blood Donor Day (WBDD), observed each year on 14 June, serves to raise awareness of the need for safe blood and blood products and to thank voluntary, unpaid blood donors for their lifesaving gifts of blood. 

A blood service that gives patients access to safe blood and blood products in sufficient quantity is a key component of an effective health system. This year’s banner, Give blood, give hope – together we save lives, underscores the lifesaving impact of blood transfusion and how, by donating regularly, we can all play a part in building a healthier, more compassionate world. 

In low-income countries, women of childbearing age and children under 5 are among the most frequent recipients of blood. Blood transfusions provide lifesaving support for women experiencing bleeding related to pregnancy and childbirth and for children suffering from severe anaemia due to malaria or malnutrition. 

The United States Ambassador to Ethiopia Ervin Massinga travelled to Jimma, in the Oromia region from May 29-30, to meet with local communities on key development initiatives.  The U.S. Embassy continues to work with Ethiopian communities in all regions to promote inclusive economic development, improve health outcomes, and increase the quality of education.  Through technical assistance, capacity building, and direct support to local institutions, the U.S. is helping drive sustainable progress across sectors that matter most to everyday Ethiopians.  

During his visit, Ambassador Massinga met with local leadership across various sectors, including with university leaders and health officials, providing an opportunity to discuss the progress of U.S. government-supported programs and the positive impact of U.S.-Ethiopian cooperation. 

The Ambassador spoke with providers and beneficiaries from Jimma University Medical Center and with malaria specialists at the Jimma Public Health Emergency Operations Center highlighting the importance of education, health, and agriculture in driving Ethiopia’s development—areas where the United States continues to provide support through university partnerships, health system strengthening, and programs like PEPFAR and the President’s Malaria Initiative. 

“Migration is not a problem to solve, but an opportunity to seize,” says Walter Kasempa, AU/IOM Migration Ambassador.

As the most mobile and fastest-growing demographic on the continent, youth are both drivers and beneficiaries of migration. Whether searching for opportunity, escaping conflict, or building cross-border networks, young people are shaping the present and future of African migration.

They are also at the forefront of innovation leveraging technology, advocacy, and entrepreneurship to create new pathways for social and economic inclusion. Seen through this lens, migration is not a crisis to manage, but a lever for growth and renewal.

Yet many remain undocumented, which limits their access to formal systems and sidelines them from participating fully in society. Without legal identity, they remain invisible to institutions and vulnerable to exclusion. Ensuring young Africans are counted, protected by effective policies, and equipped to participate in migration governance is not just about inclusion. It is a strategic investment in the continent’s future.

In a video message recorded on the sidelines of a regional workshop on legal identity and migration organized by the Economic Commission for Africa in Harare, Zimbabwe, Walter Kasempa, AU/IOM Migration Ambassador, called on young Africans to take an active role in shaping systems that affect their mobility and inclusion.