Ethiopia's Grand Dam Well on its Way to Completion

The nation has marked five years since construction of the Grand Rennaisance Dam began, while funds continue to be raised by a lottery and issuing of bonds.

Source: http://allafrica.com/view/group/main/main/id/00043337.html

Somalia: Dubai Opens Door for Ethiopia in Somaliland

The Dubai-based company has signed an agreement with the Government of Somaliland, a self-declared breakaway republic of Somalia, to co-invest 442 million dollars in the Port, to manage it under concession for 30 years. The deal was made early last week in Hargessa, the capital of Somaliland, between its Foreign Minister, Saad Sli Shire (PhD), and Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem, chief executive of DP World, one of the world's largest port operators

Read more..  http://allafrica.com/stories/201605181180.html

Ethiopian American irked at auction of Haile Selassie watch.

Ethiopian-Americans in Denver and other U.S. cities are demanding that a Swiss wristwatch owned by the late Emperor Haile Selassie be returned to his royal descendants.

They have been working with Selassie's grandson to persuade the auction house Christie's to halt a sale. This week, Christie's officials agreed to withdraw the watch, which is valued between $520,000 and $1 million.

http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_29094338/ethiopian-americans-irked-at-auction-haile-selassie-watch

Ethiopian women voting peacefully.

Turkey leadership visit Ethiopia

http://www.theafricareport.com/East-Horn-Africa/turkey-keen-to-increase-trade-volume-with-ethiopia.html

Turkey says it is keen to increase its current trade volumes with Ethiopia to reach a half a billion dollar mark from the present $400 million.

Since 2003, the volume of trade between Ethiopia and Turkey has grown seven fold, while the number of active Turkish companies in the country grew from one to 38.

Addis Abeba ranked 3rd most likley global powwer in 20 years

Jakarta and Manila, two of Asia’s most chaotic, congested cities, are likely to get a lot better in the next two decades, according to a new ranking by A.T. Kearney.The U.S.-based consulting firm placed Indonesia’s capital at the top of a list of 34 cities in low and middle income countries most likely to become a global leader in everything from business activity to workforce health and security. The Philippine capital grabbed second place, followed by Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa

read more... http://blogs.wsj.com/searealtime/2014/04/16/jakarta-manila-pegged-as-global-leaders/

Teff, Ethiopia’s nutritious grain

Although teff has been a staple of traditional Ethiopian cooking for thousands of years, this gluten-free grain is quickly climbing to super-grain status in our country. (Watch out, quinoa.)Teff is a gluten-free whole grain that, despite its size (about the size of a poppy seed), is mineral-rich and high in protein. In fact, the Whole Grains Council estimates that Ethiopians get about two-thirds of their dietary protein from teff. And long-distance runners from Ethiopia have credited their energy and health to the grain.One serving of dry teff (a quarter-cup) offers 7 grams of protein, 4 grams of dietary fiber, 25 percent of your daily recommended magnesium, 20 percent of your daily iron and 10 percent of your daily calcium, Vitamin B6 and zinc.

Read more-- http://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/wellness/teff-ethiopias-nutritious-grain/2014/04/08/0954563e-b9ab-11e3-9a05-c739f29ccb08_story.html

Ethiopia names 1st female deputy PM

Ethiopia names 1st female deputy PM Source: Reporter Aster Mamo, executive committee member of the Oromo People's Democratic Organization (OPDO), one of the four member parties of the ruling party Ethiopian Peoples' Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF), has been appointed by Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn to be the next Civil Service Minister and Good Governance and Reform Cluster Coordinator with the rank of Deputy Prime Minister. While presenting her before parliament, Hailemariam said, "It gives me great pleasure to nominate the first woman for the position of deputy PM." Aster was appointed on Tuesday and was sworn in before the House of Peoples' Representatives. This makes her the first woman to be appointed to serve with the rank of deputy PM. Prior to her appointment she was serving as advisor to the PM and Chief Government Whip. Apart from her latest appointment, Aster was recently elected to be the deputy chairwoman of OPDO. Astet replaces Muktar Kedir, who was recently elected to be the chairman of OPDO and president of Oromia Refional State after the passing of Alemayehu Atomsa.

Ethiopia's teff grain set to be world's next 'super-food'

DEBRE ZEYT - Under a searing midday sun, a herd of cattle circles atop a pile of golden teff, thrashing the wheat-like grain, a method that has been practised by Ethiopian farmers for centuries.The crop, mostly grown in the Horn of Africa, is a key part of the country's heritage and a crucial food staple, but is also gaining increased interest abroad among health afficionados seeking a nutritious, gluten-free alternative to wheat."Ethiopians are proud of the crop because it is almost our identity," said Solomon Chanyalew, director of the Debre Zeyt Agricultural Research Centre, a teff research hub."But these days, teff is getting global attention," he said.Relatively unknown outside of Ethiopia -- for now -- the cereal is predicted to replace quinoa as the latest global "super-food".But a ban on exports to control price hikes at home has left farmers tied to local consumers, limiting their contribution to growing markets abroad. Read more at http://www.newvision.co.ug/news/653121-ethiopia-s-teff-grain-set-to-be-world-s-next-super-food.html

Israel offers to mediate Ethiopia-Egypt dam row

Friday, March 07, 2014 ADDIS ABABA – Israeli Agriculture Minister Yair Shamir has voiced Israel`s readiness to assist Egypt and Ethiopia reach agreement over the latter`s construction of a multibillion-dollar hydroelectric dam on the Nile River.According to Ethiopia`s state-run news agency, Shamir made the remarks at a Thursday meeting in Addis Ababa with Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailemariam Dessalegn.The agency did not specify how Israel intends to assist both countries in ironing out their differences over the dam.Relations between Ethiopia and Egypt soured last year over construction of Ethiopia`s Grand Renaissance Dam on the upper reaches of the Nile – Egypt`s main source of water.The controversial project raised alarm bells in Egypt, the Arab world`s most populous country, which fears a reduction of its traditional share of Nile water.Water distribution among Nile Basin states has long been based on a colonial-era agreement granting Egypt and Sudan the lion`s share of the river`s water.Addis Ababa insists the new dam will benefit downstream states Sudan and Egypt, both of which will be invited to purchase electricity thus generated.-Welcomed-Ethiopia`s Foreign Ministry, for one, welcomed Israel`s offer."Any country like Israel may raise such idea and Ethiopia appreciates this," Jemal Beker, director of Middle East affairs at the ministry, told Anadolu Agency.He said Ethiopia was ready to negotiate a "win-win solution" with Egypt based on the framework of a tripartite dialogue initiative that also includes Sudan and an international panel of experts."There`s a technical negotiation underway," Beker said. "It has no political nature.""Egypt withdrew from the tripartite negotiation," said the diplomat. "But Ethiopia believes Egypt will be back and negotiations will continue."The state news agency quoted the dam`s chief engineer, Simegnew Bekele, as saying that a full one third of the project had been completed.Bekele added that the project`s total workforce would be raised from 7500 to 13,000 in the months ahead.

Source: Ethiopian News Agency/Turkishpress.com

Taste of Ethiopia

Rochester, New York – Feb 12th, 2014 Berbere-spiced lentils have lately become this carnivore’s first thought when venturing out for a bite, and credit for that should go to Rochester’s recent wave of excellent and affordable Ethiopian spots. The latest is Taste of Ethiopia (155 State St., 503-4056, tasteofethiopiarochester.com), which offers a typical American restaurant experience alongside a more traditional — and way more colorful — Ethiopian one that involves communal dining out of a tall lidded basket. Cuisine from Taste of Ethiopia (Image credit: PHOTO BY MARK CHAMBERLIN)

Released South Sudan Detainees In Ethiopia for Peace Talks

NAIROBI — Seven former political detainees from South Sudan arrived in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa on Wednesday to join talks aimed at resolving the crisis in the world's newest nation, a spokesman for anti-government negotiators told VOA. Yahanis Musa Pouk said by phone that the team of seven former detainees arrived in Addis Ababa from Nairobi Wednesday evening. Opposition negotiators had threatened to boycott the second round of talks unless several demands were met, including that the former detainees, who were released to the custody of the Kenyan president in late January, be allowed to travel to Ethiopia to take part in the negotiations. The opposition withdrew its boycott threat after Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) mediators assured them that the seven would be allowed to attend the talks.

Israel, Canada firms to jointly develop potash mine in Ethiopia

Feb 13,2014 JERUSALEM, Feb. 13 (Xinhua) -- Israel Chemicals (ICL), the world's sixth largest potash producer, announced Thursday it will partner with Allana Potash of Canada to develop a potash mine in Ethiopia. The so-called Danakhil potash project is located in the Dallol region of Ethiopia's northeast Afar province. "The Danakhil mine will provide potash for Ethiopia and Africa, and, combined with ICL's agronomic fertilization know-how, will enable local farmers to increase agricultural output and food for the region," said Stefan Borgas, president and CEO of ICL.

Ethiopia, EU launch joint project to promote nation’s culture

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia- It has been said and it is still being said that Ethiopia is a country of unique characteristics of her own. Her uniqueness is of course related to the peculiar culture, tradition, language and both tangible and intangible heritages which belong to th

e world as well. Though it is a cradle of human kind and land of remarkable natural and cultural heritage, the country has not benefited from these resources. Accordingly, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism (MoCT) has been taking a wide range of actions to raise the number of domestic and foreign tourist flow to the country. The flow of domestic tourism, despite its improvement over time, needs to be given due attention. In general, the Ministry is convinced that developing the tourism sector is a direct indication of supporting the development of the nation.

WHAT LED TO THE TPLF REBELLION: THE RISE OF WEYANE UPRISING ─ PART TWO

By Professor Kinfe Abraham President, Ethiopian International Institute for Peace and Development (EIIPD) and President, HADAD One of the unfortunate outcomes of the policy of alienation of nations and nationalities was the Weyane revolt that took place in Tigray immediately after the return of the Emperor from exile. The Weyane uprising was ignited by many factors. These included the general insecurity which prevailed in the post-liberation years which was aided by a large quantity of arms left by the Italians, which stimulated brigandage. Prof. Kinfe Abraham Factors Which Promoted the Weyane II (TPLF) Rebellion The brigandage was promoted into a nationalist rebellion because of the usual actions of centerist domination which were aimed to cow down the region. The most obvious symptoms of the officially sanctioned arbitrariness were the high incidence of inefficiency and corruption, and the callousness and rapacity of the Territorial Army. To the above may be added the ill-advised policy of the imperial government, which unleashed a cruel campaign of retribution against the Raya Azebo and lowland Afars in the same way as in the 1920s. Another factor was that the government had underestimated the disgruntlement of the nobility of Tigray, a section of which it had rudely and crudely alienated.

WHAT LED TO THE TPLF REBELLION: THE RISE OF WEYANE UPRISING I ─ PART ONE

By Professor Kinfe Abraham President, Ethiopian International Institute for Peace and Development (EIIPD) and President, HADAD It was in the Tigray country that, during the first seven centuries AD, the kingdom of Aksum reached heights of civilisation never again attained in Ethiopian history. Because of the antiquity of their region and the glory of their past, the Tigreans are to some extent the cultural aristocrats of Ethiopia. Donald Levine The Northern region of Ethiopia comprising Eritrea and Tigray has always been both the soft belly and the front line of Ethiopian defence. Attacks that have undermined the sovereignty of Ethiopia in the past, from the times of Yohannes and Menelik to Haile Selassie, have mainly come from the north. Even now the strongest of the national movements are in the north.

Rough Guides Names Top 10 Countries To Visit In 2014 and Ethiopia Wins

Ethiopia has been named as Rough Guides’ number one country to visit in 2014, beating the likes of Madagascar, Brazil and Turkey. EXCERPT FROM RCI VENTURES JAN 05, 2014 12:00 PM Ethiopia has been named as Rough Guides’ number one country to visit in 2014, beating the likes of Madagascar, Brazil and Turkey. The world-renowned travel guide range said: “This culturally rich East African nation has always been an enticing destination, and though it remains poor, independent travel around the country is becoming easier thanks to a boom in small hotels and restaurants. From Skift: Rough Guides’ top 10 countries to visit in 2014 are: 1. Ethiopia 2. Madagaskar 3. Brazil 4. Turkey 5. Georgia 6. Rwanda 7. Japan 8. Bulgaria 9. Macedonia 10. The Philippines Rough Guides’ top 10 cities to visit in 2014 are: 1. Rio de Janeiro 2. Sarajevo 3. Liverpool 4. Umea (Sweden) 5. Lviv (Ukraine) 6. Marseille 7. Almaty (Kazakhstan) 8. Rotterdam 9. Glasgow 10. Portland READ THE COMPLETE STORY http://www.rciventures.com/ethiopia-named-rough-guides-number-one-for-2014/

South Sudan peace talks begin in Ethiopia

In Ethiopia, peace talks between the South Sudanese government and rebels loyal to former vice president, Riek Machar, aimed at ending violence in the country have finally started. Officials said on Monday that the peace talks, brokered by the East African regional bloc, Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), had officially started, after days of struggling to agree on a ceasefire. "They have begun," Ethiopian government spokesman, Getachew Reda, said on Monday. The announcement comes shortly after both sides said the talks had stalled over a disagreement on the agenda. Earlier, an Ethiopian official speaking on the condition of anonymity had also said that more procedural groundwork was needed before talks could be held between the two sides. Meanwhile, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said Beijing was also trying to help the two sides reach an agreement, adding, "China is a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, so we are paying close attention to the evolving situation in South Sudan. We have been making mediation efforts." Talks are currently being held between South Sudanese President Salva Kiir and his Sudanese counterpart Omar al-Bashir, in the South Sudanese capital, Juba. Bashir has called for an immediate end to the ongoing violence in South Sudan. Clashes continue between government forces and rebels over the oil-producing Unity and Upper Nile states as well as Jonglei state. The recent fighting between troops loyal to Kiir and Machar erupted around Juba on December 15, 2013, after the former accused the latter of attempting to stage a military coup. SZH/SS

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia (AP) — Rebels in South Sudan are forcibly recruiting civilians to march on the capital, the military said, even as representatives of the warring factions gathered in neighboring Ethiopia on Thursday for the start of peace talks. The fighting underscored the challenge facing African mediators as they try to nudge two rivals —President Salva Kiir and ousted Vice President Riek Machar —toward the negotiating table after more than two weeks of bloody violence in the world’s newest country.

US-based North Holdings to build cement factory in Ethiopia

December 28, 2013 Addis Ababa, Ethiopia - An Ethio-American company based in the US, North Holdings Investment Inc., is to build a new cement factory with an outlay of USD 800 million in the Amhara Regional State near Dejen town. North Holdings Investment Inc president, Temesgen M. Bitew, told The Reporter that his company is planning to build the factory in east Gojam, Dejen wereda, Menda

locality. Temesgen said with two production lines the factory will have the capacity to produce 8.4 million tons of cement The idea of building the cement factory was conceived in 2006. According to Temesgen, the feasibility study was completed. The company is to hire a Danish contractor called FLS that would build the factory, supply and install the machineries.