VOA and DW block confirmed

...In recent days, the reports from listeners and monitors confirmed that all five short-wave frequencies used by VOA are being jammed. Broadcasts by the other major western broadcaster in Amharic, Germany's Deutsche Welle, have also been blocked.

VOA Amharic, Oromo Shows Jammed; Ethiopia Denies Responsibility (VOA) November 26, 2007

Thanksgiving tragedy, again

Can it get any worse? Last Thanksgiving, tragedy struck in Oakland when two Eritrean brothers massacred their in-laws. This Thanksgiving weekend, a local Ethiopian in South L.A., Mulushewa Tebedge, brutally murdered his father and sister, dismembered their bodies and dumped them off Freeways in Fresno and Santa Barbara County. Besmam! Such gruesome acts are incomprehensible, even in an emotionally charged habesha culture. While authorities investigate the motive behind this brutal crime, the local community may already have the answer. It seems Mulushewa has long suffered from schizophrenia, making this story all the more tragic. Our hearts and prayers go to this family.

An Ethiopian immigrant has been charged with capital murder in the stabbing deaths of his father and sister, whose bodies were found near freeways in Fresno and Santa Barbara counties.

LA man charged with killing father, sister; bodies found dumped (Associated Press) November 26, 2007
News Video (KABC-TV)

Paving away old Addis

The Chinese shun the limelight in Ethiopia's capital, but traces of them are rarely far away.

...It is on the city's roads - potholed, dusty and permanently under construction - where the Chinese influence is most pronounced.

China in Africa: Developing ties (BBC) November 27, 2007

In pictures: China's African road gangs

Great Ethiopia (Millennium) Run

Ethiopian runners Tsegaye Kebede and Wude Ayalew were impressive winners of the men’s and women’s race at the 2007 TOYOTA Great Ethiopian Run, the seventh edition of the annual 10Km international race, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Convincing victories for Kebede, Ayalew at Great Ethiopian Run (IAAF) November 25, 2007

General staff tightens screw on officers

Indian Ocean Newsletter N° 1226 21/11/2007
The number of officers from the Ethiopian armed forces imprisoned in the military camp at Tatek has grown considerably these last few weeks. The latest to join them is General Alemeshet Degfe’s former secretary, the Oromo officer Major Teshome. Degfe is the former head of the air force who had been relieved of his functions last year at the same time as Generals Kumera Assefa and Asamenew Tsgie. Teshome has been imprisoned because he is accused of sympathising with General Degfe.

Several Ethiopian officers whom Addis Ababa government considers potential dissidents have been imprisoned in other military camps throughout the country: Adigrat, Chifra, Tolai, Bahr Dar and Titta.

Mean streets of Addis

In Ethiopia, an estimated 150,000 children live on the streets. The story of Genet, now living in a safehouse in Addis Ababa, is similar to those of many such children, especially girls.

Genet's story: A life on the streets (BBC) November 20, 2007

CNN: Haile Gebrselassie Revealed

Follow one of the all-time greatest distance runners as he attempts to register his 25th world record. VIDEO

How did the diminutive Ethiopian rise to become one of the greatest athletes of all time? FULL STORY

Part one: At home in Ethiopia. The running man talks family, business and charity. VIDEO

Part two: The world-record breaker discusses how he began running and his illustrious career. VIDEO

Part three: Following Gebrselassie as he attempts to break the marathon world record in Berlin. VIDEO

Happiness again for Kenenisa

Ethiopian track heavyweight Kenenisa Bekele on Saturday married 22-year-old Dannawit Gebregziabher, an up-and-coming actress in Ethiopia's fledgling film industry.

Bekele finds happiness again after tragedy (AFP) November 17, 2007

Ethiopia's new coastline in Persian Gulf

Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie have bought a man-made island in the shape of Ethiopia that is part of an ambitious luxury development off the coast of Dubai, a newspaper reported Wednesday.

The Hollywood couple intend to use the reclaimed piece of land to showcase environmental issues and encourage people to live a greener life, the Emirates Today newspaper said.

Brad and Angelina buy Dubai island: report (AFP) November 13, 2007

The World: Video tour & slideshow

Record Birr to U.S. dollar exchange

The Birr to U.S. dollar exchange rate is on track to reach 10:1, but don't expect any bargains on your next trip.

...Economists say the US dollars is up in the Ethiopian market due to the rising inflation in the country, which independent economists say has reached 22 percent but the government insists is only 12 percent.

Ethiopia : Exchange rate for US dollars hits highest mark (Journal Chretien) November 12, 2007