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Three senior FIFA officials who will vote on the 2018 and 2022 World Cup bids took bribes in the 1990s, according to the BBC's Panorama. The alleged bribes are included in a confidential document listing 175 payments totaling about $100m (£64m). Critics of Fifa say a full investigation is required. Read more… Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Panorama: Three Fifa World Cup officials took bribes, estimated $100m
Three senior FIFA officials who will vote on the 2018 and 2022 World Cup bids took bribes in the 1990s, according to the BBC's Panorama. The alleged bribes are included in a confidential document listing 175 payments totaling about $100m (£64m). Critics of Fifa say a full investigation is required. Read more… An Interview With WikiLeaks’ Julian Assange
Julian Assange is the prophet of a coming age of involuntary transparency, the leader of an organization devoted to divulging the world’s secrets using technology unimagined a generation ago. Over the last year his information insurgency has dumped 76,000 secret Afghan war documents and another trove of 392,000 files from the Iraq war into the public domain–the largest classified military security breaches in history. Sunday, WikiLeaks made the first of 250,000 classified U.S. State Department cables public, offering an unprecedented view of how America’s top diplomats view enemies and friends alike. Read more…Monday, November 29, 2010
Lalombe : a one million deal
This served as part of the motivation for Mulatu Astatke, the creator of Ethio-jazz who composed the score, to become involved. In 2005, he wrote the score for "Broken Flowers," a Hollywood movie. “I found the project very interesting and wanted to share my experience,” he told Fortune. “I have a lot of experience in writing music for theatre plays as well as dance and mime dramas.” Read more... Friday, November 26, 2010
Ethiopia to Egypt: We've evidence against you
Ethiopia has maintained that it had evidence about Egypt's support to rebels against the Addis government in order to secure the River Nile waters. Egypt has denied the accusation.Ethiopian Prime Minister was early this week quoted by Reuters news agency as saying that Egypt could not win a war with Ethiopia, hence Cairo's strategy to support rebel groups to destabilise the neighbouring state. Mr Meles termed the alleged move unfortunate as there were efforts to ensure equitable sharing of the Nile waters.
Make public
Ethiopian Government spokesman Shimeles Kemal told the Africa Review that Addis had concrete evidence on Egyptian covert support to armed rebel groups.We will give the details at the right time, Mr Shimeles said. Intelligence sources within the Ethiopian Government also hinted that Addis was preparing to make public its evidence against Egypt. The sources claimed that Ethiopia's arch-foe Eritrea, was helping Egypt to reach the rebel groups. Source (AFRICA REVIEW)
Thursday, November 25, 2010
France Telecom takes over the management of ETC
CEO Amare Amsalu officially leaves officeFrance Telecom (FT), the French telecom company, which contested to manage the Ethiopian Telecommunication Corporation (ETC), will take over the management of the country’s sole telecom provider as of Friday, November 26. Accordingly, FT will manage, ETC (what will in months be renamed to Ethio-Telecom) for two years before assigning the job back to the Ethiopians. Subsequently, Amare Amsalu, who has been serving as the CEO of ETC for the last four years (with a total of 15 years work at the corporation), has officially left office. Source (Reporter)
EDP Chairman was surprised by the recent London incident
EDP chairman Ldetu Aylew explained his rationale, why he came to London. According to Ato lideu account he initially made a plan to discuss with leaders of World Liberal International Party Association, in which his party recently became a full member of. Ato lidetu has said he often comes to London during winter season to have discussion with party members and supporters. This year, he took a different venue and would like to discuss with all Ethiopians, even with those who opposes his party principles; by doing so he wanted to proof neither his party nor himself are not afraid to hold discussion with individuals that have diverse political views. Nevertheless he regretted to see the platform he thought for discussion was filled with hooligans and shouters who were calling and cursing names. Ato Lidetu was very surprised to see his political opponents wouldn’t make their case and defend him in a civilized manner. According to Ato Lidetu account the group who were disturbing the meeting, during the first 20 minutes were members of Ginot 7 party and some of them are associated to the official party known as UDJ. He even indicated that one of cheer leader was the younger brother of Ginbot 7 secretary , Ato Andargaachew Tsige. Click here to Watch the video. Wednesday, November 24, 2010
Voter registration is underway in Ethiopia for southern Sudan referendum
Voter registration is underway in Ethiopia for Southern Sudanese populations, the Southern Sudan Referendum Commission (SSRC) has announced. In a press release it sent to ERTA on Wednesday, SSRC said Ethiopia in one of eight countries where Out ofCountry Voting (OVC) is taking place for the 2011 Southern Sudan Referendum.It said to be able to vote in January 2011, Southern Sudanese people must register in advance. It said registration is underway in Addis Ababa city as well as in Gambella and Asossa towns of Ethiopia from 15 November to 01 December 2010. The referendum centers are open from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm Monday to Saturday and from 8:00 am to 12:30 pm Sundays. Only eligible Southern Sudanese people will be allowed to register and vote. Actual polling will take place at the same centers from 09 to 15 January 2011. Source ( NewsDire)
Sunday, November 21, 2010
400kV transmission tower took the lives of four Chinese and one Ethiopian crew
An unprecedented, yet simple technical error has claimed the lives of four Chinese and one Ethiopian crew as they were installing a 400kv transmission tower around the Blue Nile Gorge under the Beles Hydro Power Project, informed sources told The Reporter. The accident occurred some five weeks ago while the crew was atop the tower when it suddenly collapsed due to “unnoticed loose fittings”, causing instant death according to sources.The Reporter’s attempt to obtain information about the accident from the Ethiopian Electric Power Corporation (EEPCo) for the past three weeks was met with silence. All the same, representatives of Shangai Electric Company (SEC), the contractor of the Beles Hydro Power Transmission and Substation Project, have altogether denied the occurrence of the accident. Informed sources and eyewitnesses have, however, confirmed the accident. Undertaken by SEC, the 400kv transmission tower and substation project part of the Beles Hydro Power will, when fully commissioned, have an installed capacity of producing 460MW. The Chinese company, which commenced the project two years ago, has already completed installation of the substation part in Bahir Dar. If all goes according to plan, SEC will finalize the installation of the transmission tower extending some 500 km from Beles Hyro Power site to the transmission site installed in Sululta in a few months time. Accordingly, the Beles Hydro Power is expected to start power production sometime in February next year, thereby reducing the recurrent power shortage in the country, according to industry experts. Source (Reporter)Al-Bashir to attend IGAD summit on Sudan in Ethiopia
Al-Bashir is hounded by two warrants issued for his arrest by the International Criminal Court (ICC) which in March 2009 charged him with war crimes and crimes against humanity allegedly committed in the course of the eight-year conflict in Sudan’s western region of Darfur. The Sudanese leader denies the charges and denigrates them as part of a Western ploy to topple his regime. The IGAD summit was originally scheduled to be held in the Kenyan capital Nairobi on October 30 but it was later relocated to Addis Ababa to avert a potential diplomatic crisis over Al-Bashir attendance. Read more... Eastern Tobacco to plant 50 acres of tobacco in Ethiopia
The Holding Company for Chemical Industries said that Eastern Tobacco will plant tobacco in Ethiopia, reported Al-Masry Al-Youm. The move is a bid to combat the mounting problems faced by the company in getting tobacco supplies globally, a result of decreasing planted lands in addition to taxes imposed by European Union as well as lower imports of China. Eastern Tobacco will receive from the Ethiopian government 50 acres as a first phase to start planting tobacco, which should reduce importing cost. The company imports 50,000-60,000 tons of tobacco (about $ 250 million) annually. Source ( Thedailynewsegypt.com)Saturday, November 20, 2010
The city of Juba will see high influx of investment after referendum, says former military man
Binyam Yohannes, 32, general manager of F & B Commission Agent, is one of these. “I want the Southern Sudanese people to secede,” Binyam told Fortune. “I will stay in Juba during the referendum. If something goes wrong, I will contribute.” Contributing to Sudan’s fighting is nothing new to Binyam. A former soldier in the Ethiopian Defence Force (EDF), he fought with the Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA) and was even injured during a battle, he claimed. Binyam’s arrival to Juba is related with his previous military involvement. While he was in Mombassa, SPLA officials approached him to bring two Russian made military trucks to Juba. He successfully completed the job and decided to stay. At the time, Juba was like the “wild, wild West.” It did not seem worthy of the name city, let alone that of a capital. Read more of the story...Ethiopian Ezra Teshome : Winner of World Citizen , 2010
A long-time Rotarian, Ezra led groups on annual trips to administer the polio vaccine to children in Ethiopia, immunizing about 200 children per day – efforts for which he was named by TIME magazine as one of ten Global Health Heroes at their Global Health Summit. “Ezra has inspired hundreds and hundreds of Americans and Canadians to travel overseas with our Rotary groups to accomplish the ambitious goal of totally eradicating polio from the African continent,” said Ralph Munro, fellow Rotarian and former Washington Secretary of State. Read more…Friday, November 19, 2010
Ethiopia seen as a growing market for Boeing jets
Basically, we serve the whole continent and we are connecting the continent to other continents," said Girma Wake, Ethiopian Airlines CEO, in town to pick up his newest jet. Wake said while the airline is the state-owned flag carrier, it is operated as a business and has been profitable for a decade. Ethiopian Airlines has been a positive exception for much of Africa. By reputation, Africa's airline fleets have been characterized as old, inefficient and unsafe. That, however, is changing. Read more… Passenger dies on Ethiopian Airline Flight on its way to DC
BOSTON (WCVB) — A flight headed to Washington DC, was diverted to Boston on Wednesday after a 64-year-old man died on board, CNN reported. The man died on Ethiopian Air Flight 500, CNN reported. The man’s name, nationality and cause of death were not immediately available. The flight was headed to Dulles Airport in Washington, D.C., from Rome when it was diverted to Boston. The plane landed at Logan Airport at 7:15 a.m. and continued to Washington at 9 a.mWednesday, November 17, 2010
Former Foreign Minister Seyum Mesfin is heading to China
The local news paper known as Capital has reveled posts of senior diplomats who have been appointed as the country’s Ambassador extraordinary and Plenipotentiary. Accordingly, former foreign minister Seyum Mesfin is heading to China, Tekeda alemu (PhD) will be stationed at UN headquarters in New York, former State and Industry minister Girma Biru is coming to Washington DC, Kasu Ilala (PhD) is heading to Brussels replacing Berhane G/Krstisos , who recently took a post as foreign state minister. Former Minister of Culture and Tourism, Mohammed Dirir, is heading to the Egyptian capital Cairo as ambassador. Although it’s not known whether former House speaker Ambassador Teshome Toga speaks French or not, it is certain that he is heading to Paris France, to represent Ethiopia, Read more…Sunday, November 14, 2010
British yacht couples are now free after $ 1 million ransom was paid
The pirates had originally demanded a £4.2million ransom for the Chandlers, who have no children. The ransom which liberated the Chandlers will inevitably raise fears that the wrong message has gone out: kidnapping pays. Seizing rich people and selling them back to their families is big business from Iraq and Afghanistan to South American drug countries such as Colombia.But it is most rampant among pirates operating from Somalia, a failed state since 1991, where in some regions ransom money is practically the only source of income and whole towns thrive on it. Read more…Baro River puts us right into the heart of East Africa, says CEO
Karturi Global ltd. an Indian food processor, plans to exploit East Africa’s market potential by selling crops grown on land leased from Ethiopia’s government within the region, Chief Executive Officer Sai Ramakrishna Karuturi said. The company also sees “large potential” in the Ethiopian palm oil, rice and sugar market. Average annual sugar consumption in the country is 6 kilograms (13.2 pounds) per capita, compared with 30 kilograms internationally. “There are still a lot of Ethiopians who don’t know what sugar tastes like,” Karuturi said., Read more …Friday, November 12, 2010
Mobile phones to diagnose STDs
Researchers are developing chips that let mobile phones diagnose STDs Test results could be available in about 15 minutes. The technology is still in development and could be available in 10 years Researchers aim to Read mormake the tests affordable: about $3 per test, they say. Read more…Thursday, November 11, 2010
I still love running and I will always run. I am going to think about it, Says Gebrselassie
Ethiopian distance running legend Haile Gebrselassie has given a strong hint that he may change his mind about retiring from athletics. The 37-year-old dropped out of Sunday's New York City Marathon at the 16-mile mark with a knee injury then promptly announced that it would be his last competitive race. It was a decision which stunned his sport because Gebrselassie had indicated he would try to carry on to the 2012 London Olympics. He is a two-time Olympic champion over 10,000m and the current world marathon record holder. But now Gebrselassie -- who has built up a considerable fortune -- may be about to perform a U-turn. He told his Twitter blog Wednesday that it was "time to think about a lot of things." He added: "I still love running and I will always run. I am going to think about it." Gebrselassie, a four-time world 10,000m champion, has turned to the marathon in recent years, but despite his record breaking exploits has still to win a major title over the distance. He went into Sunday's race in the Big Apple as the star attraction and favorite to win, but he admitted beforehand that he had a knee problem and dropped out on the Queensboro Bridge while in the leading group.m"What a disappointing weekend, I didn't plan to come back to Ethiopia this way. I wanted to succeed in New York," he admitted in another entry to his Twitter blog. Source (CNN)Tuesday, November 9, 2010
The Two Gebre’s at New York Marathon race
When Gebrselassie, 37, started hobbling on the downhill of the Queensboro Bridge, the tendinitis in his right knee proving too excruciating for him to continue, he turned to Gebremariam, 26 , Ethiopia’s future, sitting just off the lead. “You have to move,” Gebremariam recalled Gebrselassie saying to him at that moment. “You have to reach them.” Gebreselasse then drooped out of the race and later, abruptly retired from the sport. Gebremariam, meanwhile, secured his own spot in history, catching the leaders at Mile 17. He ran effortlessly alone in the final two miles in Central Park, capturing the New York City Marathon in 2 hours 8 minutes 14 seconds. “I can’t believe it,” Gebremariam said, beaming. “I am just so happy. It’s my first marathon, and I am No. 1 here.” Read more…
Sunday, November 7, 2010
The 37 year old legend runner announced his retirement.
Ethiopian distance running legend Haile Gebrselassie has shocked the world of athletics by announcing his retirement. The 37-year-old dropped out of Sunday's New York City marathon with a knee injury then told reporters he had run his last race. "I never think about to retire. But for the first time, this is the day," he said. "Let me stop and do other work after this." Gebrselassie, a two-time Olympic 10,000 meters champion, is the world marathon record holder after setting a time of two hours three minutes 59 seconds in Berlin in 2008. He was the star attraction in New York, but pulled out in obvious pain on the Queensboro Bridge while in the leading group at 16 miles. "I don't want to complain anymore after this, which means it's better to stop here," he said.to his twitter blog that he was struggling with a knee problem, but gave no hint he would quit the sport. His compatriot Gebre Gebremariam triumphed on his marathon debut to win in two hours eight minutes and 14 seconds. The 2009 cross-country world champion pulled clear of Kenya's Emmanuel Mutai in the closing stages. Another Kenyan, Moses Kigen Kipkosgei, was third. Kenya's Edna Kiplagat claimed her first major marathon title as she took the women's race. Source ( CNN)
EU observers to release final report on Ethiopians’ elections
Chief of Mission, Thijs Berman, stated that the report would be released in Brussels, the capital of Belgium, because the Ethiopian government asked the mission not to do so in Addis Ababa. 'I will release the Final Report in Brussels, on Nov.8... The Government of Ethiopia has refused us access to Addis Ababa to present the report there,' he said in an email to journalists in the Ethiopian capital. The Mission's preliminary report in May categorized the elections as below international standards, leading to a fierce dispute between the Ethiopian government and the Mission. Many believe this has led to the over five-month delay in releasing the final report. The preliminary report stated that the pre-elections period in Ethiopia were characterized by narrow political landscape that favored the ruling Ethiopian Peoples' Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF). According to the report, the opposition didn't have access to public media while EPRDF used public media and resources for party purposes, including campaigning and soliciting members and supporters. Human Rights Watch and few western governments have also criticized the May elections they said were held in an environment of harassment and intimidation against opposition members and supporters. Following the announcement of the results by the National Electoral Board of Ethiopia that declared EPRDF winner with won over 99 percent of the seats both in the federal parliament and regional councils, various opposition parties filed complaints requesting a rerun only to be rejected by the Board and the country's Supreme Court. Ethiopia's Prime Minister then formed his new government in October with some new faces in key positions and new ministries created while some have been restructured. Source ( Ethiofact)
Sudan vote talks is underway without Bashir and Salva Kirr
Officials from both sides of Sudan and the international community began talks in the Ethiopian capital yesterday aimed at agreeing a frontier ahead of a referendum on independence for the south. “There are just 66 days to go before the referendum in southern Sudan, and nine days before the registration of the voters will begin. There is no time to waste,” Ramtane Lamamra, the African Union’s top peace and security official, said. In a planned ballot already beset by logistical problems, voters in the south are set to decide on January 9 whether to opt for secession or stay in a united Sudan. The referendum in southern Sudan and the oil-rich Abyei region straddling north and south are part of a 2005 peace deal that ended a two-decade-old civil war in Sudan which left an estimated two million dead. Plans for the referendum have been dogged by disagreements, in particular on the demarcation of the proposed border between north and south, the status of disputed Abyei, and security issues. Neither Sudan’s President Omar al-Bashir nor Salva Kiir, the southern leader, attended the meeting. Source (Sunday Nations)
Saturday, November 6, 2010
Charges dropped in DC9 nightclub death
District prosecutors dropped charges Friday against the five men who were accused of beating a man who died outside the popular DC9 nightclub last month, saying evidence did not support the case. The death of Ali Ahmed Mohammed sparked outrage in the city, with Police Chief Cathy L. Lanier calling it "savage" and accusing the men charged with the crime of "vigilante justice." Read more… BBC apologizes to Bob Geldof over band aid money report
The BBC had made "a terrible, terrible mistake, they've damaged 24 years of work, and they’ve damaged the public perception of giving aid to relieve starving people around the world". Said Bob Geldof. He questioned why it had taken seven months since a complaint by the Band Aid Trust for the BBC to make an apology. Director of global news, Peter Horrocks said BBC accepted that an unfair impression had been created by the production of Assignment "including, for instance, the use of Band Aid music". "What we should have specifically said was there was no specific evidence and we're apologising today to the Band Aid Trust and we're also apologising personally to Bob Geldof." Read more
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