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Ban Ki-moon: Israel's treatment of Palestinians may constitute apartheid
Former UN secretary general Ban Ki-moon said Israel's treatment of Palestinians “may constitute apartheid” during a three-day visit to the region. His visit coincided with a sharp increase in deadly violence in the West Bank. Israeli settlers rampage through West Bank towns“My heart breaks for the families who lost a loved one 48 hours ago. In apartheid South Africa, a system based on white supremacy and racial segregation was in place from 1948 until 1994. It says the West Bank is disputed territory and that its fate should be determined in negotiations.
Source:Ethiopian News
June 23, 2023 14:15 UTC
WB, IMF take steps to boost crisis financing
PARIS: The World Bank will ease financing for countries hit by natural disasters, it said on Thursday, as the International Monetary Fund announced it had hit its target of making $100 billion in special drawing rights available for vulnerable nations. “It is clear that the international financial architecture has failed in its mission to provide a global safety net for developing countries,” United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres said, calling the system outdated, dysfunctional and unjust. Leaders are set to back a push for multilateral development banks like the World Bank to put more capital at risk to boost lending, according to a draft summit statement seen by Reuters. “We need a robust and predictable financial safety net,” Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed told the conference, calling for a boost to below-market financing and more grants. “African countries are facing an unprecedented funding squeeze which have aggravated the vulnerabilities,” he said.
Source:Ethiopian News
June 23, 2023 14:07 UTC
Ethiopia's Wheat Self-Sufficiency Exemplary to Africa - IGAD States Agriculture Officials
Addis Ababa — Ethiopia's success story in wheat self-sufficiency is exemplary to Africa and IGAD member states in particular can share the country's experience in wheat production and self-sufficiency, officials from IGAD countries said. Earlier in the meeting, Agriculture Minister Girma Amente told the officials that Ethiopia is ready to share its experiences of wheat production, a national initiative program that has resulted in wheat self-sufficiency, and exporting of surplus to neighboring countries. Speaking to ENA, Somalia's Agriculture and Irrigation State Minister Asad Abdirisak Mohammed said Ethiopia's self-sufficiency in wheat is an exemplary achievement and countries in the region are looking forward to getting and learning a lesson from Ethiopia. South Sudan Agriculture Production and Extension Service Director-General, Loro George Leju Lugor said on his part that Ethiopia's surplus wheat production is a big encouragement to Africa. Therefore, the success Ethiopia has registered in wheat production will definitely serve as an example to other countries like South Sudan, he stated.
Source:Ethiopian News
June 23, 2023 13:53 UTC
Ethiopia: Famine threatens Tigray after food aid suspension
Weakened by several days without food, she had gone to a hospital in Tigray, a region of Ethiopia that has been suffering from famine for over two years. And the situation is likely to get worse after the decisions in May by the UN World Food Programme (WFP) and the US government aid agency (USAID) to suspend their food aid to Tigray because of misappropriations. The authorities have denied these allegations, accusing the Tigray rebel authorities of requisitioning food aid for their war effort. Gaym Gebreselassie, his wife and two children aged six and two, are also dependent on food aid, the result of several months' unpaid wages. For the surgeon, the suspension of food aid "is a death sentence".
Source:Ethiopian News
June 23, 2023 13:24 UTC
Ethiopian utility launches tender for 20 solar minigrids
The Ethiopian Electric Utility has launched a tender for the construction of 20 solar minigrids across several parts of Ethiopia. The Ethiopian government has secured financing from the World Bank through the Access to Distributed Electricity and Lighting in Ethiopia (ADELE) program for the projects. Popular content“Bidding will be conducted through international competitive procurement using a Request for Bids (RFB) selection method as specified in the World Bank’s ‘Procurement Regulations for IPF Borrowers Procurement in Investment Projects Financing' fourth edition November 2020,” says the tender document. According to the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), Ethiopia had just 21 MW of installed PV capacity at the end of 2022. With an estimated population of around 110 million, landlocked Ethiopia has around 4.5 GW of power generation capacity at present – most of it hydropower.
Source:Ethiopian News
June 23, 2023 12:39 UTC
Egypt, Ethiopia leaders ‘shake hands’ at Paris summit
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi and Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed shook hands and exchanged smiles at the New Global Finance Pact Summit in Paris despite the ongoing crisis between the two countries regarding the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), Egyptian media reported. For over a year, the two countries have been at odds over the filling and operation of the GERD, which Cairo fears will reduce its share or Nile water. On 4 June, Al-Sisi urged Ethiopia to “compromise” in the dam crisis, which it has been building for more than a decade, amid disagreements and frozen negotiations. During his time in Paris, Al-Sisi met with President of the European Council, Charles Michel, and discussed bilateral regions and the latest developments in the region including the current crisis in Sudan as well as other issues of common interest. READ: UK arrests man suspected of organising migrant smuggling operations from Egypt
Source:Ethiopian News
June 23, 2023 12:14 UTC
Ethiopia: 481 Enterprises in Addis Ababa Transition to High and Medium Industry
The Addis Ababa City Labour Enterprise and Industry Development Bureau revealed that 481 enterprises have transitioned to high and medium industry in Addis Ababa. This was mentioned during the 12th round of the transition program of enterprises which was held yesterday. The transferred enterprises were urged to increase foreign exchange earnings by creating employment opportunities, market linkages, and producing proxy products. According to the Bureau, the city will continue to provide support to enterprises in service, trade, construction, manufacturing, and urban agriculture. So far, a total of 2,241 enterprises have been transformed into medium and high enterprises in 12 rounds.
Source:Ethiopian News
June 23, 2023 11:46 UTC
Ethiopian Airlines crowned “Best Airline in Africa”
The Ethiopian Airlines Group, the fastest-growing airline brand globally and the continent’s leading airline brand, has been crowned “The Best Airline in Africa.”The airline was awarded the title at the prestigious SKYTRAX 2023 World Airline Awards during the Paris Air Show held in Paris, France. A statement issued in Accra said the award was the sixth time in a row that Ethiopian Airlines had been recognised as the Best Airline in Africa at the SKYTRAX World Airline Awards. Mr Mesfin Tasew, Ethiopian Airlines Group CEO, said: “We are truly pleased by the top award that we received today at the admired World Airline Awards. Travellers across the world vote in the largest airline passenger satisfaction survey to determine the award winners. It is to be recalled that Ethiopian amasses a plethora of awards, including but not limited to: ‘The Best Airlines in Africa’ from SKYTRAX World Airline Awards for the last several years in a row; ‘Sustainable Cargo Airline of the Year -Africa’ at the 2023 Freight Week Sustainability Awards; ‘Outstanding Food Services by a Carrier’ at the 2023 PAX International Readership Awards; and ‘Best Overall in Africa Award’ at the 2023 APEX Passenger Choice Awards.
Source:Ethiopian News
June 23, 2023 11:13 UTC
Safaricom Ethiopia CEO Anwar Soussa to Leave the Telco Next Month
Safaricom Telecommunication Ethiopia (STEP) Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Anwar Soussa is set to leave the company next month. Anwar Soussa , Chief Executive Officer of Safaricom Telecommunications Ethiopia PLC (STEP), will be leaving the business effective 31st July 2023 once his secondment comes to an end," Ndegwa said in a statement. "As the first CEO of Safaricom Ethiopia, Anwar has overseen attainment of significant milestones in a highly dynamic environment, including onboarding the team and successfully launching commercial operations of the second telecommunications operator in Ethiopia ," Ndegwa added. "Under Anwar's leadership, Safaricom Ethiopia also secured a mobile financial services licence, paving the way for the launch of M-PESA services," he said. "I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to Anwar for his leadership and contributions to Safaricom Ethiopia."
Source:Ethiopian News
June 23, 2023 11:08 UTC
This Ethiopian startup Kubik is using recycled plastic waste to create building materials
By 2060, the quantity of plastic waste generated globally is expected to quadruple to more than 1,000 million tonnes. According to OECD , developed countries will continue to produce the most plastic waste per person, while emerging regions like Africa and Asia are predicted to have the most significant growth because of their rapid urbanization and population expansion. Kubik , an upcycling startup with operations in Kenya and Ethiopia, is one of the firms driving efforts to repurpose plastic waste and promote sustainability in Africa's developing recycling industry, which presently recovers only 4% of the continent's waste production. The startup diverts 45,000 kg of plastic waste each day from landfills by turning difficult-to-recycle plastic waste into reasonably priced building components like bricks, columns, beams, and jambs. Kubik's created components enable builders to construct walls without using cement, aggregates, or steel.
Source:Ethiopian News
June 23, 2023 11:02 UTC
The fourth filling of GERD – Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam
The fourth filling of Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) is set to begin despite opposition from neighboring Egypt, which claims the $4.2 billion structure will reduce its vital share of the river’s water. Egypt relies on the Nile for about 97 percent of its irrigation needs and insists the dam poses an “existential” threat to countries downstream. The Fourth filling of $4.2 billion Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) has been at the center of a regional dispute since Ethiopia started the project in 2011. “GERD is now approaching its fourth landfill. “The project is almost complete, despite rhetoric from some actors who want to monopolize use of the shared African river.” he added.
Source:Ethiopian News
June 23, 2023 10:09 UTC
Ethiopia launches fourth filling of a disputed dam
Ethiopia is preparing to launch the fourth filling of its mega-dam reservoir on the Blue Nile, the country’s deputy prime minister announced Thursday 22nd June, 2023, despite opposition from its downstream neighbour Egypt. The massive $4.2 billion Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) has been at the centre of a regional dispute ever since Ethiopia broke ground on the project in 2011. Egypt and at times Sudan have repeatedly asked Addis Ababa to stop filling the reservoir. ALSO READ: Uganda opposition demands troops back home after deadly attackALSO READ: Algeria blocks migrants at the border hence causing tension: UN“The GERD is now approaching its fourth filling. But neither Sudan nor Egypt, the two countries located downstream of the Ethiopian dam, are represented.
Source:Ethiopian News
June 23, 2023 10:04 UTC
IATA urges Ethiopia government to unblock Airline funds
In a bid to maintain uninterrupted air connectivity, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) has called upon the government of Ethiopia to promptly clear the $95 million in airline funds currently blocked from repatriation. Willie Walsh, Director General of IATA, emphasizes the urgent need for the Ethiopian government and Central Bank to allocate sufficient funds to the aviation industry. To maintain its growth trajectory, Ethiopia must adhere to global rules that it has previously benefited from. In line with the IATA’s concerns, Mr. Mesfin Tasew, CEO of Ethiopian Airlines Group, highlights the airline’s exceptional performance and robust recovery from the pandemic’s aftermath. Despite these achievements, Ethiopian Airlines faces challenges in repatriating its accumulated funds from various countries, with over USD 180 million currently stranded.
Source:Ethiopian News
June 23, 2023 09:58 UTC
IMF welcomes Zambia’s debt treatment agreement – New Business Ethiopia - Satenaw: Ethiopian News
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has welcomed the debt treatment agreement reached by Zambia and its official creditors under the G20 Common Framework. Managing Director of the IMF, Ms. Kristalina Georgieva has welcomed the announcement of an agreement being reached by Zambia and its official creditors under the Group of 20 Common Framework to restructure $6 billion debt of the country. “I warmly welcome Minister of Finance Situmbeko Musokotwane’s announcement that the Zambian authorities have reached an agreement with their official creditors on a debt treatment, consistent with the objectives of the IMF-supported program. This unique and innovative agreement specifies both a baseline and a contingent treatment that would be automatically triggered if the assessment of Zambia’s economic performance and policies improves,” said Ms. Kristalina Georgieva. As at end-June 2021, Zambia’s total public debt was USD equiv.
Source:Ethiopian News
June 23, 2023 08:20 UTC
Rwanda set to mobilize 300 million euro to build climate resilience – New Business Ethiopia
Major international financial institutions and partners announced a cooperative approach to facilitate public-private partnership, scale-up climate finance and crowd in private climate investment that will mobilise an additional EUR 300 million to build climate resilience in Rwanda. “The partnership we have announced today represents a transformational shift in the provision of climate finance and is a vote of confidence in Rwanda’s long-term climate action strategy. Partners have also committed to support Rwanda’s capacity development initiatives, and help attract and better manage further climate capital. To further underpin the creation of private green assets in Rwanda, Ireme Invest private stakeholders will also directly contribute EUR 130 million equivalent in own private equity. This unique collaboration between the Government of Rwanda and international partners exemplifies the power of partnerships in tackling pressing global challenges.
Source:News Business Ethiopia
June 23, 2023 06:59 UTC