Egypt Roundup: Arrests, Gold pricing, deforestation
Trade
The US is launching its annual review of African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), a trade scheme aimed at countering Chinese influence in Africa. According to Theafricareport, the future of AGOA balances trade incentives with global policy considerations.
Gold pricing
The National Bank of Ethiopia has announced changes to gold pricing, with increases ranging from 60 to 72 percent for different supply amounts. This marks a significant increase from the previous fiscal year's rates, Borkena reports.
Arrests
Sudanese authorities in Gederaf state have arrested six Ethiopian women suspected of serving as snipers for the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). The women had been operating within the RSF for over a year, leveraging their sniping expertise gained in Ethiopia. They were intercepted while attempting to flee to Ethiopia through the Amhara region. The Sudan Tribune reports that these arrests support claims by the Sudanese military that foreign nationals are being recruited as mercenaries.
Ethiopian Airlines wins award
Ethiopian Airlines won the "Best Entertainment Award in Africa" and "Best Wi-Fi Award in Africa" at the 2024 APEX Passenger Choice Awards, recognizing its commitment to providing the best passenger experiences. This adds to their other recent awards, including "The Best Airline Award in Africa" at SKYTRAX 2023 and 'Sustainable Cargo Airline of the Year -Africa' at the 2023 Freight Week Sustainability Awards. APA News reports that Ethiopian Airlines operates a network of over 150 domestic and international passenger and cargo destinations across five continents.
Deforestation
Ethiopia is taking steps to combat deforestation and climate change through various programs and initiatives. Deforestation has decreased by more than 59 per cent in some areas, and the country has also launched a solar pump irrigation program. The government is aiming to spread knowledge on climate-smart agriculture to tackle these environmental challenges, TV Brics reports.
