On a hill overlooking the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa, a giant new palace is emerging, funded by the Emiratis and an ostentatious sign of the way Gulf monarchies are battling for influence in the Horn of Africa.
The Horn — that comprises Ethiopia, Somalia, Djibouti and Eritrea — is a highly strategic spot on one of the world’s busiest trade routes between the Suez Canal and the Indian Ocean and lies just across the Red Sea from the Middle East.
.fade-out-overlay {
position: absolute;
top: -80px;
left: 0;
width: 100%;
height: 60px;
z-index: 1;
background: linear-gradient(to bottom, rgba(255, 255, 255, 0), rgba(255, 255, 255, 1));
}
.paywall-container {
position: relative;
max-width: 100%;
margin: 0 auto;
padding: 25px;
border: 1px solid #e0e0e0;
border-radius: 8px;
box-shadow: 0 2px 10px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1);
background-color: #ffffff;
}
.paywall-header {
font-size: 24px;
font-weight: bold;
margin-bottom: 15px;
color: #333333;
text-align: center;
}
.price-highlight {
font-size: 20px;
font-weight: bold;
color: #d40511;
margin: 15px 0;
text-align: center;
}
.subscribe-button-green {
width: 70%;
padding: 12px;
background-color: #EE193A !important;
color: white;
border: none;
border-radius: 4px;
font-size: 23px;
font-weight: bold;
cursor: pointer;
margin-bottom: 20px;
transition: background-color 0.3s;
text-decoration: none;
text-align: center;
}
.subscribe-button-green:hover {
background-color: #b0030e;
}
.features-list {
margin: 20px 0;
padding-left: 20px;
list-style: none;
}
.features-list li {
margin-bottom: 10px;
position: relative;
padding-left: 25px;
}
.features-list li:before {
content: “✓”;
color: #d40511;
position: absolute;
left: 0;
font-weight: bold;
}
.features-list li:marker{
list-style:none;
}
.countdown {
display: flex;
gap: 15px;
justify-content: center;
margin: 20px auto;
text-align: center;
}
.countdown div {
background: #f5f5f5;
padding: 10px;
border-radius: 6px;
min-width: 60px;
}
.countdown .num {
font-size: 22px;
font-weight: bold;
color: #d40511;
}
.countdown .label {
font-size: 12px;
color: #555;
}
@media (max-width: 768px) {
.subscribe-button-green {
width: 100% !important;
box-sizing: border-box;
}
}
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`;
} else {
teaserEl.innerHTML = “”;
}
activeEl.innerHTML = “”;
paywallEl.style.display = “block”;
} else if (now >= saleStart && now <= saleEnd) {
paywallEl.style.display = “none”;
var diffToEnd = saleEnd – now;
var totalSeconds = Math.floor(diffToEnd / 1000);
var days = Math.floor(totalSeconds / (24 * 3600));
var hours = Math.floor((totalSeconds % (24 * 3600)) / 3600);
var minutes = Math.floor((totalSeconds % 3600) / 60);
var seconds = totalSeconds % 60;
activeEl.innerHTML = `
Offer ends in…
${days}Days
${String(hours).padStart(2,’0′)}Hours
${String(minutes).padStart(2,’0′)}Minutes
${String(seconds).padStart(2,’0′)}Seconds
Subscribe Now & Save
`;
} else {
teaserEl.innerHTML = “”;
activeEl.innerHTML = “”;
paywallEl.style.display = “block”;
}
}
function formatTime(ms) {
let totalSeconds = Math.floor(ms / 1000);
const days = Math.floor(totalSeconds / (3600 * 24));
totalSeconds %= 3600 * 24;
const hours = Math.floor(totalSeconds / 3600);
totalSeconds %= 3600;
const minutes = Math.floor(totalSeconds / 60);
const seconds = totalSeconds % 60;
return `${days}d ${hours}h ${minutes}m ${seconds}s`;
}
updateFlashSale();
setInterval(updateFlashSale, 1000);
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On a hill overlooking the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa, a giant new palace is emerging, funded by the Emiratis and an ostentatious sign of the way Gulf monarchies are battling for influence in the Horn of Africa.
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By AFP

