Only One Out of Six Enterprises Attract Bidders in Privatisation Bid

By Fasika Tadesse
Bidders swarm warehouse offer with highest bidden providing 10.1m Br
Only a warehouse, which was under a court injunction order, attracts bidders out of the six public enterprises offered for sale by the Privatisation & Public Enterprises Supervising Agency (PPESA), in its latest round tender.
The tender was announced on May 14, 2014, and remained open until 15 minutes before a financial opening was held on Tuesday, July 22, 2014. The tender involved seven companies, five of which have previously failed to attract any buyers. Bilito Siraro Farm and the warehouse of the Ethiopia Fibre Products Enterprise are up for sale for the first time.
During the financial opening, five bidders provide offers only for the warehouse of the Ethiopia Fibre Products Enterprise. No one made offers for Bahir Dar Textile S.C., Kombolcha Textile S.C., Agricultural Mechanisation Service Enterprise, Transport Construction Design S.C. and Bilito Siraro Farm.
The financial opening for the Ethiopian Mineral Development S.C is extended till July 6, 2014, following the request from the bidders, stating they could not finalise the preparation of the proposal, according to Berhane Gebremedihen, chairperson of the Evaluation Committee at PPESA.
The highest bid for the warehouse came from G Seven Trading & Industry Plc, who acquired the Ethiopia Fibre Products Enterprise in 2008 from the Agency. G Seven was established in May 2005 with an initial registered capital of 7.2 million Br. It has bought Meher Fibre Products Factory in July 2006 from PPESA. It produces jute sacks, twine and ropes from natural fibre.
G Seven come up with 10.1 million Br offer, followed by Ture Plc, who came up with 8.8 million Br. The third offer was 7.158 million Br from Ambalay Raiey Trading Plc. Dukem Textile Factory extended a very closer amount with Ambaly, by proposing 7.155 million Br. The least offer of 5.5 million Br came from Adabo Midroc Trading Plc.
The bidders, which are all local companies, came up with Certified Payment Order (CPO) or Bid Bond of 96,569 Br, along with technical proposals. Four of them proposed a payment of 30pc in advance and the remaining 70pc five days before the handover, while Ture Plc offered to pay 30pc in advance and 70pc in a year time.
The warehouse, located around Saris, occupies 650.3sqm. It lies on a plot of 2,550sqm, which also has office buildings sitting on 266sqm. In addition, it has two metal containers that cover 37sqm. The warehouse was not part of the transfer when G Seven acquired Ethiopian Fibre Products in 2008.
Hawassa Textiles was using the warehouse, when it was a public enterprise, and still use the warehouse even after it was sold to Dukem Textiles in 2011 for 37 million Br. Hawassa has utilised the warehouse for a total of 20 years. Dukem went to court in mid-May 2012, when it learned that the PPESA had floated a tender to sell the warehouse in April 2012.
Following the tender, the financial opening was meant to be held on May 21, 2012 and the warehouse got a single offer from the buyer of the Enterprise, G Seven. But the bid was not opened because of a law suit that Hawassa Textiles filed against the Agency.
"After the court reviewed the case, it ruled in the favour of the Agency earlier this year, so we offered the warehouse for sale again this year," said Wondafrashe Assefa, corporate communications head with the Agency to Fortune.
Both G Seven and Dukem Textiles participated in this round to acquire the warehouse.
The evaluation committee intends to conduct a technical evaluation in a few weeks time and the Agency's final decision on the warehouse will be announced in a month's time after the Board of the Agency gives approval, according to Wondafrash.
According to Wondafrash, the agency will float another tender for those enterprises that do not mange to attract any bidder.
Previously, the PPESA used to transfer enterprises through three different approaches. One was through lease, where a private sector company would have full use of the enterprise for a limited time by paying rent. Bahir Dar Textile Factory, one of the enterprises slated to be fully transferred to private investors this year, but with no bids, was previously leased to a Chinese company. This type of transfer, however, was abandoned two years ago, as the Agency deemed that private companies were not taking proper care of enterprises that they leased.
The Agency has so far privatised 370 units and able to collect 14 billion Br from the privatised enterprises since its establishment back in 1994. During the last fiscal year, the Agency has managed to privatise only five enterprises out of the planned 20 enterprises.
The Agency attempted to discover, through a questionnaire, why so few offers were being made, and the responses pointed towards the high prices, a source in the Agency said. It did not respond to that concern, however, claiming that it based its indicative prices on the market and did not think they were too high.
But during this year's six month performance report,Beyene Gebremeskel, director general of PPESA, cited poor promotion and a lack of interest from investors to engage in the manufacturing sector as reasons and he noticed the Agency will try to reach to the masses through more aggressive promotions.
Published on [ Vol 15 ,No 743]

ማሪያም ኢብራሒም አሜሪካ ገባች/Meriam Ibrahim, Sudanese Woman Sentenced to Die, Arrives in U.S.

Meriam Ibrahim, Sudanese Woman Sentenced to Die, Arrives in U.S.

Meriam Ibrahim, the Sudanese mom who was sentenced to death for refusing to renounce her Christian faith, arrived Thursday in the U.S. after an international campaign to save her. Ibrahim, 27, landed at the Manchester, New Hampshire, airport shortly after 8 p.m. ET, with her husband, Daniel Wani, and their children, Martin and Maya, on a flight from Rome, where they'd taken refuge for the past week after a month of diplomatic negotiations won her release.

Ibrahim doesn't speak English, but with tears streaming down his face, Wani, a U.S. citizen from southern Sudan, said how happy he was that he and his family were on safe ground. Members of Sudanese Evangelical Covenant Church in Manchester, which has one of the largest expatriate south Sudanese communities in the U.S., were also on hand after having spent more than a month preparing for their arrival.

The family transferred planes in Philadelphia, where Mayor Michael Nutter gave her a small reproduction of the Liberty Bell, saying, "Meriam Ibrahim is a world freedom fighter," according to The Associated Press. While in Rome, Ibrahim — who gave birth to Maya while she was in a Sudanese prison — was blessed by Pope Francis, who praised her "courageous witness to faith."

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የኡጋንዳ አረቄ መርዝ ነው። ማስከር ብቻ ሳይሆን አይን አጥፎቶ ይገላል

የኡጋንዳ አረቄ መርዝ ነው። ማስከር ብቻ ሳይሆን አይን አጥፎቶ ይገላል

Ethiopian Airlines addresses Ebola Outbreak in Some Parts of West Africa

PRESS RELEASE

The safety and well-being of its customers and staff always come first for Ethiopian. Though Ebola has not been declared an epidemic and no travel ban has been issued, Ethiopian has taken the lead in taking extraordinary precautions in connection with the outbreak of the disease in some parts of West Africa.
It should be known that Ebola is transmitted through the contact of body fluids of an ailing person. During the incubation phase (1-21 days) the person infected with the virus is well enough to travel and cannot transmit the disease. When the symptoms do come after the incubation phase, the infected person is too weak to travel and becomes bedridden.
Even though the chances of being infected on-board are close to nil, Ethiopian has already implemented the following extraordinary measures to ensure to the maximum extent the safety of its customers and staff:

• Frontline staff of Ethiopian both on-ground at airports and on-board have and are being continuously given information on the disease, its mode of transmission and how keep safe;
• More specifically, staff have been sensitized and trained so that they avoid coming into contact with bodily fluids while doing their work;
• Stringent and specific surveillance is being carried out regarding all flights from West Africa at Addis Ababa airport.
• Ethiopian is continuously monitoring updates from the World Health Organization and other international and national bodies on the disease, its spread and recommended safety measures.

Ethiopian will continue to closely monitor the situation and implement recommended measures with a view to ensure at all times the safety of its customers and staff.
About Ethiopian
Ethiopian Airlines (Ethiopian) is the fastest growing Airline in Africa. In its operations in the past close to seven decades, Ethiopian has become one of the continent’s leading carriers, unrivalled in efficiency and operational success.
Ethiopian commands the lion share of the pan-African passenger and cargo network operating the youngest and most modern fleet to more than 82 international destinations across five continents.
Ethiopian fleet includes ultra-modern and environmentally friendly aircraft such as the Boeing 787, Boeing 777-300ER, Boeing 777-200LR, Boeing 777-200LR Freighter and Bombardier Q-400 with double cabin. In fact, Ethiopian is the first airline in Africa to own and operate these aircraft.
Ethiopian is currently implementing a 15-year strategic plan called Vision 2025 that will see it become the leading aviation group in Africa with seven business centers: Ethiopian Domestic and Regional Airline; Ethiopian International Passenger Airline; Ethiopian Cargo; Ethiopian MRO; Ethiopian Aviation Academy; Ethiopian In-flight Catering Services; and Ethiopian Ground Service. Ethiopian is a multi-award winning airline registering an average growth of 25% in the past seven years.
For more information about this press release, please contact:
Manager PR & Publications
Ethiopian Airlines
Tel: (251-1) 517-84-07
Follow us on:
Facebook: www.facebook.com/ethiopianairlines
Twitter: www.twitter.com/flyethiopian
Youtube: www.youtube.com/flyethiopian

የ3 ሚሊዮኑ ጫማ Top 10 Most Expensive Shoes in the World

Top 10 Most Expensive Shoes in the World
MEN	WOMEN
Air Jordan Silver Shoe Price: $60,000 Diamond studded sneakers Price: $50,000 Men’s dress shoes from the house of Testoni Price - $38,000 Nike Air Zoom Kobe 1 Price: $30,000 Gold running shoes Price: $24,000 Louis Vuitton men shoe Price: $10,000	10. Stuart Weitzman Diamond Dream Stilettos Price tag: $ 500,000 9. Original Ruby Slippers from “The Wizard of Oz” Price tag: $612000 8. Stuart Weitzman’s “Retro Rose” Pumps Price tag: $1,000,000 7. Stuart Weitzman’s “Marilyn Monroe” Shoes 6. Stuart Weitzman “Platinum Guild” Stilettos Price tag: $1,090,000 5. Stuart Weitzman’s “Ruby Slippers” Price tag: $1,600,000 4. Stuart Weitzman’s “Tanzanite Heels” Price tag: $2,000,000 . Stuart Weitzman’s “Cinderella Slippers” Price tag: $2,000,000 . Stuart Weitzman’s “Rita Hayworth” Heels Price tag: $3,000,000 1. House of Harry Winston’s “Ruby Slippers” Price tag: $3,000,000The fascination of footwear designers with “The Wizard of Oz” continues over decades. Celebrated jewellery designer Harry Winston’s son Robert in 1989 wished to commemorate the fiftieth anniversary of the classic movie in his own ostentatious fashion with a recreation of the hallowed “Ruby Slippers”. A painstaking two months was spent in carefully crafting a pair of shoes that out of four thousand and six hundred rubies and fifty carats of diamonds. After about sixty days, the opulent heels, glittering in all their glory, were unveiled at the House of Harry Winston, accompanied by a price tag of no less than three million- the most expensive shoes in the world!

www.yebbo.com

Ahmed Legas Released two new Amharic videos

Enjoy the Ahmed Lagas two new Amharic Video releases 

South African Got Talent. 11 years old poet

4 Ethiopian track team members missing from international meet in Eugene

By Wendy Owen | wowen@oregonian.com
Four members of an Ethiopian track team were reported missing Saturday morning in Eugene where they competed in the IAAF World Junior Championships.
“The individuals left campus ahead of the rest of the team,” said Julie Brown, University of Oregon spokeswoman.
The Ethiopian region is under intense political upheaval, and athletes seeking asylum from unstable areas have historically used athletic tournaments to leave their country. Asked whether that was the case for the Ethiopians, Brown said she did not know why they left and could not confirm they were seeking asylum.
Brown said detectives are looking for the four but are not concerned for their safety. Rather, they want to make direct contact to confirm they are OK.
“At this point we don’t have reason to believe that these individuals are in harm’s way,” she said.
The University of Oregon Police Department is leading a missing persons investigation with assistance from theEugene Police Department, and Brown said law enforcement agencies statewide have been notified.
Portland FBI Spokeswoman Beth Anne Steele said the agency was aware of the situation and was acting in a supporting role, without clarifying.
It is the first time the University of Oregon has hosted the IAAF World Junior Championships, which includes with athletes from 170 countries, Brown said.
The missing runners include a 17-year-old boy and three women believed to be between ages 18 to 20.
Ethiopians at the track meet declined, throughout the team doctor, to speak to a reporter from The Oregonian.
If the four are seeking asylum, the process is a long one that starts with an application available online, said attorney Anna Ciesielski of the Oregon Immigration Group.
“They’re likely to be here lawfully depending on their visa (for the track competition),” Ciesielski said.
After they apply for asylum, they will continue to be in the United States legally until their case is resolved.
“It’s definitely months in the making,” Cielsielski said.
Those seeking asylum must be fingerprinted and go through a criminal background check before the Office of Asylum in San Francisco sends a representative to Portland to interview them, she said.
If a person is denied, they can present their case in federal immigration court for a second assessment.
Asylum seekers are more common on the East Coast than in Oregon, Cielsielski said.
“It’s really hard to get to the U.S., and you can’t file for asylum outside the country,” she said.
As for their chances to be granted asylum, Cielsielski said it’s difficult for people from many countries, but Ethiopians and Somalis “have a pretty decent chance.

አዲስ አበባ ዩኒቨርስቲ ለአቶ ቢል ጌት የክብር ዲግሪ ሽለመው። Bill Gates receives Honorary Degree from Ethiopia

Bill Gates receives Honorary Degree from Ethiopia 

Ethiopia's Addis Ababa University on Thursday conferred Microsoft founder, Bill Gates with an honorary degree in recognition for his role to humanity.

"It is a special honour to receive an honorary degree from Addis Ababa University," Gates said, after receiving the degree from the university.

"This is one of the leading institutions of higher learning in Africa – a continent whose future has been a central interest of my career ever since my wife and I began our foundation nearly 15 years ago."
His speech at Addis Ababa University marks 20 years since he first set foot on Africa, which inspired the establishment of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
Addressing students at the university, Gates said: "Africa is now in an incredible position to shape its own destiny for the better, for one very simple and powerful reason: the countries of Africa are learning from each other".
He acknowledged the development gains made through foreign governments, international aid, and non-profit organisations, such as his organisation towards developing the continent.
"The real fuel for development will be the resources of African nations themselves - whether that's in the form of government funding, private-sector investment, or just plain human creativity at all levels of society," Gates continued.
"This is where the idea of 'African countries learning from each other' becomes so important. If you want to spend your national budgets as effectively as possible, there is now a clear path for doing exactly that - and Africans themselves are defining that path, for others to follow if they choose."
Gates, the world's richest man, also heaped praise on Liberia, Malawi, and Tanzania, for the great progress made in reducing child mortality rates, but acknowledged that there is still a long way to go before Africa reaches its full potential.
"There is no path to lasting growth within Africa that is not widespread growth. It's not possible. If Africa seeks prosperity, it must provide for the health and nutrition of all - including the poorest," he said.
After stepping down as Microsoft chairman, Gates has directed his focus to his foundation's efforts to tackle health issues in Africa.
In recent efforts to eradicate polio, he secured $335 million in pledges from six fellow billionaires – including $100 million each from Mexico's Carlos Slim and former New York City Mayor Mike Bloomberg.
He has also been credited for getting other wealthy personalities involved with philanthropy.
According to Forbes, Gates and Warren Buffett have so far convinced more than 100 of the super-rich to sign on to the Giving Pledge, a promise to donate at least half their net worth to charity.

No survivors of Air Algerie plane crash in Mali, French president says

French troops who discovered the wreckage of the Air Algerie flight that disappeared over the African nation of Mali reported Friday that the plane appeared to have disintegrated and there were no survivors.
Photographs of the crash scene at Gossi near the Malian border with Burkina Faso showed small pieces of the aircraft scattered over a relatively small area of African desert.
The final death toll for Flight 5017, which plunged from the sky less than 50 minutes after taking off early Thursday from Ouagadougou, the capital of Burkina Faso, stood at 118. The victims included the plane's six Spanish crew members.
Humanitarian workers, tourists and European expatriates were among those who died. Fifty-four of the passengers were French, including 10 people from the same family, and French President Francois Hollande described it as a tragedy for the “whole French nation … and others.”
“There are, sadly, no survivors,” he told journalists Friday morning. “Our thoughts are with the victims, their families and friends. We stand by their side.”

French television station France 2 aired video of the crash scene from above that showed a blackened crater in the sand. Debris suggested the plane hit the ground at a high speed and shattered.
Witnesses said there were “no seats, no luggage, no trace of human beings,” describing the plane as “pulverized.”
Among the dead were three generations of the Reynaud family from the Rhone Alpes region of France. Michel Reynaud, his former wife, their two sons and two daughters-in-law as well as four grandchildren were returning from Burkina Faso after attending a family wedding.

An Air Algerie flight carrying 116 people from Burkina Faso to Algeria's capital disappeared from radar early Thursday over Mali, officials said. France's foreign minister said no wreckage had been found but the plane "probably crashed." (July 24)

“It's a tragedy, it was the holiday of a lifetime for them,” a grieving friend told the French newspaper Le Dauphine Libere.
Soon after a French military drone identified the crash site at Gossi early Friday morning, French soldier, in Mali to fight Islamic militants, secured the area with the help of Malian troops.

ዘመናዊ ልመና በኢንተርኔት/Modern Begging

ዘመናዊ ልመና በኢንተርኔት
ኢቤይ  ከሚባለው ድረ ገጽ ላይ ኮምፒተር ልገዛ ብዬ ሃምሳ ዶላር ($50) የሚለውን ዋጋ ሳይ ሰፍ ብዬ ጫን ጫን አድርጌ  መግለጫውን ሳነበው ለካን ግለሰቡ/ቧ ኮምተር ለመሸጥ ሳይሆን ለልመና ነበር የመጣው/ችው። ለሁሉም ልመናውን እናንተው አንብቡት::

" I am currently a Communications Major in college. I am trying to buy an IMac and with bills and tuition I simply cannot afford to drop couple thousand on an IMac. Honestly I saw other people trying this method so I said why not. It would be a great help. This is donation only I am not selling an IMac I am asking for a handout. Send me an amount you can give and I will accept. I do not expect you to buy it out right for me although it would be greatly appreciated that is why there is a make and offer option. Thank you in advance for your time and reading this description." 

Source  

Ethiopia begins wine production (Deutsche Welle )

Ethiopia begins wine production

In 2007 the late Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi met the French wine magnate Pierre Castel, and a plan was hatched - to start producing high-quality wine in Ethiopia. The vineyard they envisaged now sits beside a lake, south of the capital Addis Ababa, and it’s just started shipping its first vintage - much of it bound for the Ethiopian diaspora. 

Latest Travel News To Israel (Jluy 2014)

Latest Travel News To Israel

USA TODAY: THE "TOURISTS ARE STAYING" IN ISRAEL

An article published on July 16, 2014 in USA Today reports that "tourists are staying" in Israel despite the current situation in the region. The Jewish Agency for Israel, which currently has 4,200 American Jews age 18 to 30 participating in its short- and long-term programs, reported that none of its groups had canceled visits because of the conflict. North America was the number one source of tourism to Israel in 2013 with approximately 623,000 of 3.5 million arrivals.

BEIT GUVRIN-MARESHA CAVES NAMED ISRAEL'S 8TH UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE SITE

The Beit Guvrin-Maresha caves were recently named a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the eighth site in Israel to be included in the prestigious list. Located in the Judean Valley, Beit Guvrin-Maresha features a system of more than 500 caves located across a three-square-mile area outside of Jerusalem, which UNESCO describes as "a microcosm of the Land of Caves," and as a "city under a city," characterized by a selection of manmade caves excavated from a thick layer of soft chalk. Artifacts excavated at Beit Guvrin-Maresha date back to the Iron Age to the Crusader period, and include oil presses, stables, underground cisterns and channels, baths, tomb complexes and places of worship.

ISRAEL'S ALL-NEW TOP94 EXTREME SPORTS CENTER AND PARK EILAT

Top94, a new, state-of-the-art, extreme sports center, recently opened in Eilat, Israel's southern resort city on the Red Sea. Top94 offers a wide range of activities for travelers and locals alike, including archery and paintball courses, a 1,400-foot go-kart track, bicycling tours on mountain bikes or tandem bikes, a 650-foot omega zip line route, Israel's longest, and a 65-foot-high rappelling course. www.top94.co.il

FEMALE POP MUSIC SUPERSTARS TO PERFORM IN ISRAEL THIS SUMMER

Israel will host its first-ever performance by Lana Del Ray this summer at Tel Aviv's Nokia Theater, August 20. In addition, pop superstar Lady Gaga will perform in Tel Aviv as part of her "artRAVE: The ARTPOP Ball" tour at Hayarkon Park, September 13. The performances follow concerts by The Rolling Stones and Justin Timberlake in Israel this summer.

JERUSALEM AND TEL AVIV VOTED BEST CITIES IN THE MIDDLE EAST BY READERS OF TRAVEL + LEISURE MAGAZINE

The readers of Travel + Leisure magazine recently voted Jerusalem Best City in the Middle East and Africa as part of its 19th annual World's Best Awards. Tel Aviv scored #3, after Cape Town (#2).

LOW-COST AIRLINES TO LAUNCH NEW FLIGHTS FROM EUROPE TO ISRAEL

Hungarian airline Wizz Air now offers new direct weekly service from Sophia, Bulgaria to Tel Aviv's Ben Gurion International Airport, on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. In addition, the low-cost airline EasyJet will launch new weekly service from Hamburg, Germany to Tel Aviv, beginning in November 2014.

TRIPADVISOR LISTS JERUSALEM AMONG "WORLD'S TOP 10 DESTINATIONS ON THE RISE" 2014

Jerusalem was recently named to a list of the "World's Top 10 Destinations on the Rise" 2014 by leading travel website TripAdvisor. TripAdvisor notes that Jerusalem is home to a "profound cultural and historical significance" and eludes to the fact that religious pilgrims have been traveling to Jerusalem for centuries."

NEW GUINNESS WORLD RECORD FOR LARGEST SHABBAT DINNER SET IN TEL AVIV

A total of 2,226 residents of Tel Aviv gathered at the Tel Aviv Port last month for a massive Shabbat dinner, setting a new Guinness World Record for "Largest Shabbat Dinner Ever Served." The event took more than a year to prepare and consisted of 800 bottles of wine, 2,000 loaves of challah bread, 74 bottles of vodka, 1,800 pieces of chicken, 1,000 pieces of beef and 250 vegetarian options.

AMERICAN ACTRESS AND SINGER VANESSA WILLIAMS TOURS ISRAEL

American actress and singer Vanessa Williams arrived in Israel last week for the first time ever. Her visit included an extensive tour of historical, natural and contemporary sites throughout the country, from the Sea of Galilee, Haifa and Safed, the birthplace of Kabbalah, in the north to Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. The visit follows recent Israel vacation tours by leading American actors Michael Douglas and Blair Underwood.

ISRAEL LAUNCHES NEW INITIATIVES SIMPLIFYING TRAVEL FROM JERUSALEM TO TEL AVIV'S BEACHES

Israel has announced the launch of the all-new Beach Bus, simplifying travel for visitors in Jerusalem looking to experience Tel Aviv's renowned Mediterranean beaches. The Beach Bus departs every Friday at 10:00am and 10:05am from the Katamon and Rehavia districts of Jerusalem and stops at the Dolphinarium in Tel Aviv. The Beach Bus also offers return transport from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem at 3:30pm.

JERUSALEM SEASON OF CULTURE SUMMER 2014 LINEUP FEATURES CITYWIDE ART, DANCE AND MUSIC FESTIVALS

Jerusalem is offering a diverse collection of contemporary art, dance, music and cultural events this summer as part of its annual Calendar of Culture 2014, including: Under the Mountain: Festival of New Public Art (July 25-31), combining cutting-edge performance art, life and politics; Frontline (August 10-14), a collaboration with Tel Aviv's TEDER pop-up radio bar and Jerusalem's Radio Raash Hour, including a week of broadcasts, performances by local indie rock bands and DJs at the Hansen compound in Jerusalem; and 3,876-Between Knife and Fork (August 20 - September 7), a fascinating culinary arts project featuring two top Israeli chefs, Kamel Hashlamon and Assaf Granit, during which travelers will take part in a fascinating culinary experience based on the food, the peoples and the trends that have passed through Jerusalem for thousands of years, located atop a quirky building on Mount Zion. www.jerusalemseason.com/en

DESIGN MUSEUM HOLON UNVEILS NEW EXHIBITION FEATURING THE WORKS OF LEGENDARY JAPANESE DESIGNER ISSEY MIYAKE

The Design Museum Holon has recently unveiled GATHERING. Featuring Issey Miyake 132 5., a new exhibition showcasing the works of legendary Japanese designer Issey Miyake curated by internationally renowned trend-forecaster and curator Li Edelkoort, on display now through October 25, 2014. The exhibition includes several design pieces created by more than 50 top Israeli artists using three-dimensional craftsmanship, which reinvigorates design, lending body and beauty to archetypical chairs or giving form and volume to lighting structures, on display in its upper gallery, as well as select pieces from Issey Miyake's 132 5. collection in its lower gallery. www.dmh.org.il

ISRAEL MUSEUM IN JERUSALEM UNVEILS NEW "BIG BAMBU" PROJECT

Jerusalem's Israel Museum recently unveiled Big Bambu, a new exhibition created by American artists Mike and Doug Starn, on display now through October 1, 2014. Big Bambu is a 55-foot-high, massive wooden structure comprised of 10,000 bamboo poles and 260,000 feet of climbing rope, which was designed with no architectural blueprint. Big Bambu was built over a seven-week period and allows participants to enter a bamboo forest, climb upward through its mazes and view Jerusalem from above the Israel Museum's Billy Rose Art Garden. www.english.imjnet.org.il

NEW HOTELS TO OPEN IN SEASIDE CITY OF JAFFA THROUGH 2016

The seaside city of Jaffa will soon see the opening of three new high-end boutique properties, including the Market House Hotel, adjacent to the Jaffa Flea Market, slated to open this year, as well as the highly anticipated W Jaffa and Orchid Hotel, slated to open in 2016.