Ethiopia says new railway to Djibouti to start in early 2016

By Aaron Maasho

ADDIS ABABA Jan 28 (Reuters) - Ethiopia expects to open a new railway line linking the capital Addis Ababa with the Red Sea state of Djibouti in early 2016, a project at the centre of plans to create new manufacturing industries, the head of the state railways said.
The 700-km (450-mile)line is being built at a cost of $4 billion by China Railway Engineering Corporation (CREC) and China Civil Engineering Construction (CCECC). Ethiopia is seeking to have 5,000 km of new lines working across the country by 2020.
"By October 2015, a considerable portion of the Addis Ababa-Djibouti project will be finished," Getachew Betru, chief executive of the Ethiopian Railways Corporation, told Reuters, adding trains would run soon after. "We will start early 2016."
In addition to the Djibouti line, two others are being built across the country which are among a range of big infrastructure investments that also include new roads and dams to produce hydro-electric power.

የአሜሪካዊቷ ቀዳማዊት እመቤት ሚሼል ኦባማ ፀጉሯን ሳት ሸፈን የሳውዲውን ንጉስ እጅ ጨበጠች። ጎበዝ ብያታለሁ። ምን ሊያመጣ?

(CNN)President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama made a quick stop in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday to pay respects to the late King Abdullah, and to hold meetings with the new leader, King Salman bin Abdulaziz. But one aspect of the encounter stood out to reporters covering the receiving line at the palace: the first lady shook hands with the king.

Islamic law generally forbids men from touching women to whom they are not related. However, that rule is often times overlooked when official diplomatic delegations visit the kingdom.

The White House notes that representatives of the United States, including former Secretaries of State Hillary Clinton and Madeleine Albright, along with German Chancellor Angela Merkel have all visited the Saudi king, and have all shaken hands with members of the Saudi royal family.

READ: Is Obama-Modi 'bromance' a turning point?

Islamic experts also point to another central theme of Islam: hospitality. When one is a guest in someone's home, they are treated as family.

Obama also did not cover her head, eschewing strict religious and cultural customs in Saudi Arabia, where women wear a full-body garment called an abaya and cover their heads with a hijab or the more conservative niqab, which has only a slit for the eyes.

Obama's predecessor Laura Bush also did not cover her head during her 2007 solo visit to Saudi Arabia and neither did Hillary Clinton during a 2010 trip to the kingdom as Secretary of State. Another former secretary of state, Condoleeza Rice, also did not cover her head as she joined the U.S. delegation in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday.

But the U.S. State Department advises other American women visiting the country that they could face problems if they don't cover their heads.

"Women who choose not to conform to this dress code face a risk of confrontation by Mutawwa (religious police) and possible detention/arrest," the State Department says on its website. "While most incidents have resulted only in inconvenience or embarrassment, the potential exists for an individual to be arrested, physically harmed, or deported."

Additionally, female tourists who don't abide by the dress code or sidestep other religious laws -- like walking in public unaccompanied or mingling with men who aren't relatives -- risk being harassed, pursued or assaulted by Saudi citizens, the State Department warns.




Pool reporters traveling with the President on Air Force One, also pointed out that in the receiving line at the airport in Saudi Arabia - a more open setting than the palace -- Michelle Obama stood next to but slightly behind the President, and held a small black clutch purse in front of her with both hands.

Reporters say they noticed that Mrs. Obama waited for a gesture to be made to her by the men who walked by, and if the man initiated a handshake, she smiled and shook their hand. If not, both she and the man politely smiled and nodded heads.

Perceived problems of etiquette have come up before with the first lady. In 2009 during her first meeting with Queen Elizabeth in Britain, she drew headlines when she hugged the monarch. British tabloids picked up on the embrace, and some noted that etiquette wasn't followed, because people aren't supposed to touch the queen. However, other outlets quickly noted that the queen returned the hug.

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President Obama has had his fair share of criticism as well. Critics took issue when he bowed in front of Saudi King Abdullah at a G20 meeting in 2009, and again for bowing to the Japanese Emperor Akihito. Although, aides at the time told CNN on condition of anonymity that, "It wasn't a bow. He grasped his hand with two hands, and he's taller than King Abdullah."

Former Vice President Dick Cheney was one of Obama's most vocal critics and said an American leader should never bow to anyone. However, a State Department spokesperson at the time told CNN that, "It's a natural response of the President the first time he meets the Japanese head of state, to show a sign of respect."

Obama defends Saudi relationship: 'Sometimes we have to balance'

CNN's Jeremy Diamond contributed to this report.

Experts Decide Ethiopia Has Best Coffee (VOA)

An international group of coffee experts has rated Ethiopia’s coffee as the best in the world. Coffee is a top export for the country. But at home, it is a source of national pride. Ethiopians feel good about their coffee, and enjoying a drink with friends is a longstanding tradition.
International coffee experts travel the world to find the best tasting cup of coffee. They keep returning to Ethiopia. Some people say the climate produces quality beans. Morton Wennersgarrd is a coffee importer.
“You have different ancient varieties referred to as Ethiopian heirdom. They are grown in places with perfect soil, perfect altitude, and micro climates that are really suitable for coffee processing, such as drying and things like that.”

Russian icon museum showcases Ethiopian art

CLINTON – The items on display in the Museum of Russian Icons have become legendary, part of the largest collection in North America.

Other cultures, however, have icons in their traditions, and through April 18, icons from the African nation of Ethiopia will be featured in an exhibit called "The Vibrant Art and Storied History of Ethiopian Icons."

The exhibit features 60 icons and artifacts, most borrowed from a private collection in Europe. At least one featured icon may remain behind, as museum founder Gordon Lankton eyed it as a possible addition to the museum's collection.

The icons are very different from the Russian styles.

Influences from Europe and the Middle East combined with Ethiopian culture create a different look, exhibit curator Marc Loerke said.

The general themes are largely the same. But Ethiopian icons add in more stories, such as that of King Solomon and the Queen of Sheba, whose son, Menilik, played a role in Ethiopia adopting Judaism. Later, Christianity took hold as monks arrived and missions were established.

The Ark of the Covenant is reputed to be in Ethiopia, brought back by Menilik from Jerusalem after a visit to his father, and protected by monks in Ethiopia since.

"It was very important for them that the Ark was brought back to Ethiopia," Loerke said.




On display are numerous icons, manuscripts featuring colorful illustrations and crosses, including metal and carved examples.

"Ethiopian culture is one of the oldest Christian cultures in Africa," Loerke said, with churches dating back to the 11th and 12th centuries.

The icons are part of the history of Ethiopia, he said, but feature "things you won't see in other Orthodox lands like Russia."

He pointed out one large example copied from a 9th-century woodcut Jesuits brought from Rome. It was copied as a standard image, complete with an error showing four fingers on one hand. The example on display was painted in the 18th century.

Ethiopians developed their own style, Loerke said, including preferred colors and showing people in profile. The images show the influence of Coptic and Byzantine icons brought back from pilgrimages to Jerusalem.

Despite the nation's people being dark-skinned, light-skinned portrayals dominate the works; over time, that was explained as white being the color of purity.

The images, from icons to manuscripts, feature bold figures and bright colors, some reminiscent of typical African style.

And a patron of an icon might be found in the work itself, usually lying down in the image.

Manuscripts and magic scrolls (prayer scrolls) feature an early Ethiopian language, Ge'ez, according to Laura Garrity-Arquitt of the museum. The language, once the official language of the Kingdom of Aksum, is now used primarily for liturgical purposes.

Ethiopian icons, which developed in the 16th century, were found in monasteries, churches and the homes of the wealthy.

Illuminated manuscripts and magic scrolls, however, brought the images into nearly every Christian household. Examples include manuscripts and carved images to be carried, often in boxes hung from the neck.

The exhibit runs through April 18 at the museum, 203 Union St., Clinton. The museum is open Tuesday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Thursday until 7 p.m. and Saturdays 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Admission is $10 for adults, $7 for seniors and $5 for children.

Is Teddy Afro's Restaurant and Fine Wine inspired by his Tam Tararam Album or it is his and his wife's initial ?

 

Is Teddy Afro's Restaurant and Fine Wine inspired by  his Tam Tararam Album or it is his and his wife's initial ? 

የዙው (zoo) ነብር ፎቶ ሊያነሳው የቀረበውን ልጅ አንገቱን ቆረጠው

The white tiger at delhi zoo attacked and killed a student, studying in 12th class.
The incident happened like this way, the boy jumped into the tiger's cage thinking the tiger is not their or far away. But as he jumped, the tiger instantly stood infront of him. The boy was in fear very much and the public standing outside the cage started throwing pebbles at the tiger. This irritated the tiger and he attacked the boy & carried him away from their by holding his neck.
The neck tore off & the boy was died.

Can Ethiopia’s Resource Wealth Contribute to its Growth and Transformation?

ADDIS ABABA, January 26, 2015 – Ethiopia has averaged a 10.7% economic growth rate over the last 10 years, more than double the annual average of countries in Sub-Saharan Africa, which was around 5.2%. However, despite having a huge potential to contribute to Ethiopia’s economy, the development of oil, gas, and mineral resources are not among the key drivers of the country’s growth.
Although the country has geological potential for the discovery of new, sizeable oil, gas and mineral deposits, most of its extractive industry is still in its infancy stage. Currently, there is one large-scale gold mine in operation, while a growing number of large mining projects are under development and exploration for oil and natural gas is intensifying after significant discoveries in neighboring countries. Ethiopia also has an extensive and unique artisanal mining sector; the government estimates there are around 1 million miners, making it an important source of job creation, and an important source of foreign currency.

In 2012, the Ethiopian mining sector accounted for 19% of the country’s exports revenues- mainly from artisanally mined gold- while in comparison, coffee, Ethiopia’s largest export commodity, generated 26% in export revenues.

World Bank Group Washington, DC, 2014
Strategic Assessment of the Ethiopian Mineral Sector

The report notes that resource wealth can potentially have a positive impact on the social and economic development of Ethiopia if the industry is developed and managed in a sustainable and transparent manner, following international good practices.
So what can Ethiopia do to ensure that its resource wealth contributes to sustainable development? The report highlights the following recommendations:

• Obtain good-quality geo-data and put in place an effective data management system: To to manage and plan for the industry, the government needs to know what is actually in the ground. Effective acquisition, maintenance and dissemination of geo-data can help to attract investment and can help governments to make informed decisions and negotiate more effectively. Currently, only 74% of Ethiopia is mapped at a low-quality scale.
• Put in place an effective management system and a governance framework: This will ensure that the benefits are distributed as fair and widely as possible, and social and environmental risks are minimized:Ethiopia was admitted as a candidate country to the Global Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) in  March 2014,one step towards that goal.
• Diversification of Ethiopia’s economy and facilitation of economic linkages to avoid heavy dependency on the resource wealth: The linkages that are being created between the potash and agricultural industries in the Afar Region is just one example of potential economic partnerships; supporting the production of potash fertilizers in order to increase small holder farmer’s crop production.
• Balance short-term and long-term development priorities, and reinvest the resource wealth into productive investments including high-quality health and education

Past experiences of other resource-rich countries provide a roadmap that can inform Ethiopia’s decision-making as the government start to put institutions, policies and laws in place to ensure that resource wealth contributes to sustainable development.
Developing the untapped potential of the extractive industry is not without its challenges, which include the possibility of increased corruption and the need to manage the potentially significant social and environmental impacts. Recognizing this, the WBG, along with other development partners, have joined together to support Ethiopia’s efforts to develop the industry in a clear and viable way.
 “As highlighted in the study, if well managed and well supported, the Ethiopian mineral sector has the potential to make a difference in the economic development of Ethiopia and to contribute to the poverty reduction agenda,” said Christian Moller, WBG lead economist. “This will require a strong public sector. As the World Bank Group, we are committed to contribute to this process.”



In October 2014, the WBG and the Ministry of Mines jointly organized the 2014 Ethiopia Extractive Industries Forum, one of the major recent initiatives. It was organized with support from other key partners such as the UNDP, the Australian Government, Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development (Canada), UK Department for International Development (DFID), and the African Minerals Development Center (AMDC). The event, the first of its kind, was held to help raise awareness about opportunities and challenges in the extractive industry, as well as to share good practices for its sustainable management. It included a broad-based representation of stakeholders with about 120 participants from industry, government, development partners, and civil society.
 The forum also provided the opportunity to discuss the findings of the “Strategic Assessment of the Ethiopian Mineral Sector” study, which was jointly published by the Ministry of Mines and other development partners. The report represents the first comprehensive assessment of the Ethiopian mining industry, examining the primary opportunities and challenges for growth and transformation in mining, while also providing an initial analysis of policy options for Ethiopian decision makers.
“In today’s global village the Ethiopian government by itself cannot overcome the challenges facing the mining sector,” said His Excellency Ato Tolosa Shagi, Minister of the Ministry of Mines, in his opening speech during the forum. “Therefore, we would like to underpin our co-operation with development partners and best performing countries in the areas of building up the indigenous expertise with more emphasis in regulating the mineral and oil and gas resources to properly administer contracts as we are dealing with nonrenewable natural resources.”
The WBG is providing technical assistance to the Ethiopian government to support them in translating the recommendations of the report to build a competitive, predictable, and responsible strategy, legislative and institutional framework for the Oil, Natural Gas and Mining industry. This will allow the Ethiopian government to conclude better deals for the extraction on their oil and mineral resources in a way that maximizes the benefits to the country, reducing the risk of costly or politically difficult remediation at later stages. It is supported by the Extractive Industries Technical Advisory Facility (EI-TAF), a demand driven multi-donor trust fund. The EI-TAF will be launched in the beginning of 2015 and will help to structure extractive industry development projects and related policies.