Ethiopia is first country in the world to ban petrol and diesel car imports

Alemu Sime, Minister of Transport and Logistics, said that Ethiopia’s Logistics Master Plan will involve implementing ‘Green Transport’ solutions in the country. The minister in the Ethiopian Parliament said that a decision has been made that automobiles cannot enter Ethiopia unless they are electric ones. While the new policy limits the import of internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles in Ethiopia, it does not completely resolve the problem for its people. Electric cars globally continue to be expensive and EVs still remain financially inaccessible for a significant number of Ethiopian citizens. It is not clear if the ban is permanent and if vehicles already in transit will be affected by the new policy.  Air taxi to revolutionise urban transport in DubaiIn a move that will solidify Dubai's position as a leader in urban transportation Joby Aviation said the company will manufacture and operate air taxi services in Dubai. Commercial launch is in 2026 and operational trials will commence in 2025. Joby's aircraft can carry a pilot and four passengers at a speed of up to 200 miles per hour, reducing the commute time to 10 minutes from Dubai Airport to Palm Jumeirah compared with a 45-minute journey by car. The Joby Aviation S4's vertical take-off and landing capability makes it efficient for urban environments.10K Indian construction workers will soon reach Israel in batchesIsrael is facing a severe manpower crisis in its construction sector after the conflict with Hamas, around 10,000 Indian workers are set to arrive in the country. These workers will arrive in batches of 700 to 1,000 per week, as confirmed by the Israel's Builders Association (IBA). The recent conflict with Hamas and the ban on Palestinian workers, along with the departure of other foreign workers, has led to a deep crisis in the Israeli construction industry, causing delays and disruptions in ongoing projects. In response to this crisis, Israel increased the quota of foreign manpower for the sector from 30,000 to 50,000. Indian workers exhibit a high professional standard with many having prior work experience in Gulf countries.  Hydrogen revenue surges for largest container manufacturerThe world’s biggest manufacturer of shipping containers sees a surge in revenues from its hydrogen business in a sign that the clean fuel is starting to gain commercial traction. China International Marine Containers Group Company makes electrolysers that can produce hydrogen as well as storage containers for the gas. It generated about $139 million of sales last year, which could more than double by 2025. CIMC says the technology will be vital in making green hydrogen, a variety of the fuel produced from wind and solar.Contact: China International Marine Containers Group CompanyWebsite: www.cimc.comFirst electric fire-fighting truck in the MENA regionNAFFCO has reiterated its commitment to driving operational excellence with multiple innovations.A testament to this is its electrical fire truck, which is designed to improve efficiency and optimise operations during emergencies. With a waterpump capable of delivering an impressive 2,000 litres per minute coupled with a 4,000-litre water tank and a foam tank with an extensive 500 litres capacitythis electric fire truck promises effective fire-fighting capabilities. Advanced features such as a roof monitor with a flow rate of 1,900 litres per minute improves its capabilities.Contact: NAFFCOWebsite: www.naffco.com