Far from the din of Washington, Ivanka Trump toured businesses run by women in Ethiopia on Sunday while promoting a White House global economic program for women.
President Donald Trump's daughter and senior adviser visited a coffee shop and textile company in Addis Ababa. It was her first stop in Africa on a four-day trip to Ethiopia and Ivory Coast on behalf of a White House project intended to boost 50 million women in developing countries by 2025. Aiming to offer assistance and learn about the struggles of women in business, she took part in a traditional coffee ceremony, visited with weavers and announced new financial support for businesses.
"Investing in women is smart development policy and it's smart business," Trump said, sitting in Dumerso Coffee, a dimly lighted space with a woven ceiling, tile floor and colorful paintings. Alongside were women who work in the industry.
This is her first visit to Africa since her father launched the Women's Global Development and Prosperity Initiative. It's a program she hopes will outlast an administration known for "America First" isolationism.
Ivanka Trump arrived in Ethiopia early Sunday, flying commercial. At the textile and craft manufacturer Muya, she was greeted by dancers and chatted with women seated at colorful looms. She said she was pleased to begin in the country with Africa's second-highest population. "Ethiopia's success is Africa's success," she said.
England's baby-name guessing game
Prince Harry and Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, may be keeping plans about the upcoming birth of their baby under wraps, but that hasn't stopped their British subjects from trying to guess the gender and the name of their first child. If Britain's bookmakers are to be believed, it's definitely a girl — and Diana may well be one of her many names. The William Hill agency closed the betting on the baby's gender a few days ago after an "avalanche" of bets poured in from people convinced the royal couple are having a girl. So far, Diana is topping the bookmakers' list as a front-running name — William Hill has put the odds at 4/1. Victoria, Alice, Grace and Elizabeth are close behind, while Albert, Arthur and James are popular guesses for a boy.
comic dies on stage: British stand-up comedian Ian Cognito, 60, has died on stage during a gig. Medics were called to a club in Bicester, in southern England, on Thursday night. Show organizer Andrew Bird said that when Cognito sat down and fell silent, "everyone in the crowd, me included, thought he was joking." Cognito, whose real name was Paul Barbieri, never achieved wide fame but was highly respected among fellow comedians.
Associated Press
