Month: November 2014
- Africa
A trillion dollar industryInternational tourism up by five per cent in just six months
International tourist arrivals grew by 4.6% in the first half of 2014, according to the latest United Nations World Tourism Organization’s (UNWTO) World Tourism Barometer released in Sep. 2014. “Destinations worldwide received some 517 million international tourists between January and June 2014, 22 million more than in the same period of 2013,” UN¬WTO said. IN 2013, the total export earnings…
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The missing ingredients The hotel industry in Ethiopia
Elias A. Kebede The modern history of what is now known as the “Ethiopian hospitality industry” dates back to more than 100 years with the opening in 1895 of Taitu Hotel, the first hotel in Addis Abeba (previ¬ously Finfinee) by Empress Taitu. Located in the heart of the old city – Piassa, the hotel still bears the same name, and…
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Five U.S.-Ethiopian Universities Partnerships to Receive U.S. Embassy Seed Money Grants
To mark the conclusion of International Education Week, the Embassy of the United States of America today announced the results of a small grant competition to provide seed money for innovative partnerships between U.S. and Ethiopian universities. Five grants of $15,000 each will be awarded to new research, academic exchange and curriculum development partnerships between: 1. Jimma and Mettu Universities/…
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New report reveals Africa’s gambling revenues moderate amidst faltering economic climate
Gross gambling and casino revenues showed subdued growth in 2013 in the wake of a faltering economy. Gross gambling increased only 4.3%. The slowdown in gross gambling revenue was centered on casinos, the largest category at 76% of the market or R16.5 billion. Some casino operators in certain regions believe the slowdown in 2013 was due in part to growing…
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Africa’s Latest False Choice
By Mahamoud Ali Youssouf Djibouti – With the rise of Asian economies and their desire to play a greater role on the world stage, it has been suggested that Africa should choose between keeping its partnerships with the West and embracing new alliances with the East. This is the same false choice that African countries were told that they had…
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Philosopher kings versus philosopher presidents
By Robert Skidelsky London– When I recently met Irish President Michael Higgins – sharing a platform for a speech in which he connected his newly launched “ethics initiative” to a book I co-wrote with my son, How Much is Enough? Money and the Good Life – I was struck by his devotion to thought. Indeed, engaging with ideas is…
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UNHCR starts relocation of 15,000 stranded South Sudanese refugees in Ethiopia
Matar Way Station, Ethiopia, – The UN refugee agency has begun relocating nearly 15,000 South Sudanese refugees who had been stranded for a few months at a way station in western Ethiopia after the refugee camp where they were due to live was flooded. A first group of 125 refugees left Matar Way Station on Monday and headed along…
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U.S. Ambassador to Ethiopia announces establishment of new visa class for maritime professionals
Bahir Dar – In remarks today to government officials, faculty and students at the Ethiopian Maritime Training Institute (EMTI) in Bahir Dar, U.S. Ambassador to Ethiopia Patricia M. Haslach announced the establishment of a new visa class for Ethiopians – the C1/D visa. This new crewmember transit visa will facilitate travel to and from the U.S. for shipping vessel crewmembers.…
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Call for governments to re-dedicate to women’s & girls’ rights
Addis Abeba- Women’s rights organizations meeting in Addis Abeba, Ethiopia from 14-16 November have called on African governments to re-dedicate themselves to upholding national, regional and international laws and policies that advance women’s rights and gender equality on universal human rights standards already agreed upon and protect them from social moral and cultural arguments and positions. Civil Society Organizations were…
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EU announces new funding of €29 million for anti-Ebola aid
Addis Abeba – The European Union is continuing to scale up its response to the Ebola epidemic as its Coordinator for the emergency, Commissioner Christos Stylianides together with Vytenis Andriukaitis, Commissioner for Health, return from a four-day mission to the affected countries. New funding of €29 million will be made available by the European Commission. Accordingly the EU allocated €17…
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