Since the outbreak of conflict in October 2023, at least 201 journalists and media workers have been killed in Gaza, the West Bank, Israel, and Lebanon, marking the deadliest period for journalists since the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) began recording data in 1992. This staggering toll includes 199 journalists killed by Israeli forces, with 193 of those victims being Palestinians in Gaza and six Lebanese journalists in Lebanon. Additionally, two Israeli journalists have been killed by Hamas. Alongside the fatalities, 152 journalists have been reported injured, two remain missing, and 92 have been arrested amid widespread assaults, threats, censorship, cyberattacks, and attacks on journalists’ families. Human rights groups contend that Israel’s actions amount to genocide against Palestinians in Gaza, and CPJ warns that targeting journalists is a deliberate strategy to silence independent reporting and obscure the realities on the ground. CPJ calls on the international community to urgently intervene to stop unlawful attacks on journalists, ensure independent media access to Gaza without fear of censorship or violence, and hold accountable those responsible for these atrocities

In a step that brings Ethiopia and Djibouti even closer together, SantimPay Financial Solutions, one of Ethiopia’s leading fintech operators, and Meras Djibouti, a fast-growing financial services provider, have signed a landmark partnership agreement today at the Ayla International Hotel.

The event was graced by distinguished guests including the Minister of Finance, Minister of Innovation, Startup Commissioner, Minister of Defense of Djibouti, and a representative from the World Bank — a reflection of the importance of this collaboration for the region.

This partnership is designed to make financial services more accessible across borders, focusing on digital payments, remittances, and merchant solutions that help both individuals and businesses thrive. Speaking at the signing, Tensaye Desalegn, CEO of SantimPay, shared “Our vision has always been to make payments simple, secure, and reliable. Partnering with Meras Djibouti allows us to bring that vision to life in a way that directly impacts people — from small shop owners to families relying on remittances. Djibouti is central to regional trade and mobility, and together, we are building financial bridges that empower communities.”

The African Development Bank Group and the Ethiopian Capital Market Authority (ECMA) have signed a grant agreement for $400,000 for the set up of a public disclosure platform and rollout of new financial products including exchange traded funds and green bonds at the Ethiopian Securities Exchange

The grant, which will support the Ethiopia Capital Market Development Support Project, is being provided by the Capital Markets Development Trust Fund (CMDTF). The initiative builds on previous African Development Bank Group support including creation in 2021 of Ethiopia’s capital market legal framework in 2021. 

The planned public disclosure platform will facilitate timely and accurate dissemination of company information to investors, shareholders, and other market participants, thereby enhancing decision-making and fair price discovery in the market.

Under the product  development component, new and diversified product offerings will be introduced, including Exchange Traded Funds, a type of investment fund that can be bought and sold on stock exchanges, sukuks (sharia-compliant financial instruments) and green bonds

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has high expectations for the 42^ndAssembly of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) (Montreal, 23 September-3 October 2025). ICAO has accepted 14 working papers authored by IATA covering a wide range of topics for the Assembly’s consideration.

“IATA will be participating in the ICAO Assembly with safety, sustainability and efficiency at the top of our priority list. It is critical that we secure stronger support for SAF production and CORSIA as key enablers of aviation’s commitment to achieve net zero emissions by 2050. Equally, we need agreement to follow the principles and provisions of the Chicago Convention to avoid patchworks of debilitating tax measures and passenger rights regulations. And we must shore-up safety with timely accident reports, mitigations for GNSS interference and preservation of critical radio-frequency spectrum,” said Willie Walsh, IATA’s Director General. Global standards, many of which are developed by governments through ICAO, are crucial for safe, efficient and increasingly sustainable aviation operations worldwide. These standards are developed with the expertise and input of airline operators worldwide working with ICAO Member States at ICAO. The ICAO Assembly is a once-every-three-year opportunity for states to align on ICAO’s work program as it addresses aviation’s most pressing issues