Ethiopian Begins Direct Flight to Tokyo
Ethiopian Airlines announced that it has started direct flight to Tokyo's Narita International Airport, effective today, February 15, 2022.
Ethiopian Begins In-flight WiFi Service on Its A350 Fleet
Ethiopian Airlines introduces an inflight WiFi connectivity service for its passengers on the A350 fleet. The service makes use of the latest broadband satellite technology (Ka-band), Ethiopian stated in a press release.
Ethiopian Bethlehem Tilahun Named Social Entrepreneur of the Year at World Economic Forum
Ethiopian Entrepreneur Bethlehem Tilahun, founder and Chief Executive of Sole Rebels footwear was selected by The 
Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship for the Social Entrepreneur of The Year Award at the 2012 World Economic Forum on Africa. The World Economic Forum is taking place in Addis Ababa from the 9th of May to the 11th.
The panel for the award included Quincy Jones, American music icon and Muhammad Yunus Nobel Prize Laureate and father of microfinance amongst other international luminaries.
Bethlehem is the first Ethiopian to win the award.
Ethiopian Billionaire Takes Over Ries Group
Ethiopian Billionaire Sheikh Mohammed Hussein al Amoudi took over 80% of of Near East Financial Corporation which owns the Paul Ries group. The Paul Ries group is made up of Paul Ries and Sons in Ethiopia and Savon et Ries in Djibouti. 
The Near East financial Corporation is a holding company based in Switzerland.
Business in the Paul Ries group companies in Ethiopia and Djibouti will continue as usual according to Daniel Le Roux the new Chief Executive of Near East Financial Corporation currently based in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
Ethiopian Black Market Revives
The foreign exchange black market has revived to eclipse the official exchange again. Banks are buying US dollars for 17.85 birr and selling for 18.21 birr according to official rates set by the National Bank of Ethiopia while the black market is buying a dollar for 18.5 birr.
The increase in black market foreign exchange trading rates marks a new high since the depreciation of the Ethiopian currency against the dollar two years ago,
The difference of almost 5% between the official rates and those on the black market can be expected to divert exchange transactions from official channels to more unofficial ones.
