Month: November 2016
- Africa
Somali Parliamentary Elections: Of the progresses and pitfalls
Mohamed Shire for Addis Standard In the past weeks or months, Somali political discourse was dominated by the 2016 parliamentary elections and whether the country will be able to pull this off at all. Large segments of the society and some key stakeholders were sceptical of the election taking place, insinuating that the incumbent was pushing for a favourable extension,…
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News: Ethiopia charges 38 over prison fire, charge contradicts earlier government account
Addis Abeba, November 24/2016 – Ethiopian prosecutors have charged at least 38 inmates for “causing fire and beating 23 prisoners and making them burn” at Qilinto prison, a maximum security prison located in the southern outskirt of the capital Addis Abeba. A fire at the Qilinto prison on September 3, 2016 has caused the death of disputed numbers of inmates…
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Girma Yifrashewa: A classical pianist giant meets his match
Tesfalem Waldyes The five-star Sheraton Addis Hotel, known for hosting high-level events, usually reserves its biggest ballroom, named after Ethiopia’s rock-hewn churches of Lalibela, for big gatherings. The ballroom has a capacity of accommodating more than 1,000 people on occasions such as cocktail receptions. The organizers of Girma Yifrashewa’s piano concert, held on 16 June 2016, have therefore picked no…
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Opinion – Beyond the timeless ‘Ethiopia Lezelalem Tinur’
Zecharias Zelalem, Special to Addis Standard An eternal slogan unapologetically shouted out loud with defiance and determination at rallies as much as it is mumbled at quiet prayers under one’s breath is a term Ethiopia Lezelalem Tinur, loosely translated as “long live Ethiopia.” It is a statement that seemingly foretells Ethiopians’ love to their motherland whilst simultaneously reminding the divine…
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News – Ethiopia and Morocco to Build a Mega Fertilizer Production Plant
Addis Abeba Nov. 21/2016 – A project to build a mega fertilizer production facility has been launched by Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn and King Mohammed VI of Morocco on November 19. An agreement for the building of the plant was signed by Morocco’s state-owned phosphate mining company OCP-SA and the Ethiopian Ministry of Public Enterprises at King Mohammed VI visit.…
Click Here to read more. - Addis Abeba Integrated Master Plan
News – Ethiopia court sentences university students to various terms in jail
Addis Abeba Nov. 18/2016 – The Federal High court 19th criminal bench has yesterday sentenced three of the five university students, who were arrested in April-May 2014 during the first #OromoProtests, to various terms in jail. Six university students from various universities located in Oromia regional state were among the hundreds of students arrested during the April-May 2014 Oromo students…
Click Here to read more. - US Election 2016
US Election – America gets its strongman
Trump loyalists said the media focused on interpreting Mr. Trumps’ toxic rhetoric too literally rather than taking him seriously. Despite polling data that indicated a Clinton victory, voters agreed and seem to have taken Mr. Trump seriously and not literally. America now has its’ strongman and the world is anxiously waiting to see if Mr. Trump will be presidential or…
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News: Bekele Gerba et al –Federal court overrules prosecutor’s request for closed witness hearing
Addis Abeba Nov. 16/ 2016 – In a rare and unexpected decision, the federal high court 18th criminal bench has today overruled prosecutors’ request for closed hearing of witnesses in the case involving senior opposition party members Bekele Gerba and Dejene Fita Geleta, first secretary general and secretary general of the opposition Oromo Federalist Congress (OFC). Accordingly, the court has…
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European tourists attacked in famous tourist destination in Ethiopia, driver killed
The attack which targeted ten tourists from Slovakia and Czech Republic is likely a result of armed robbery Addis Abeba Nov. 16, 2016 – Ten European tourists who were traveling through a famous tourist destination in southwestern Ethiopia were attacked last week on Monday, November 07. The attack has left one of the four local drivers dead and one…
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