Everything you need to know about Ethiopia: news, reviews, in-depth analysis, opinion and more
Ethiopia: Abyssinian Country and among Africa's Oldest Civilization
Ethiopia has a proud and long history extending to the known beginnings of humankind. The classical civilisation of Ethiopia finds its mention in the Iliad and in the Odyssey. Ethiopia earlier known as Abyssinia derives its name from Habesh, an early Arabic form of the Ethiosemitic name. Ethiopia is unique among African countries because the ancient Ethiopian monarchy maintained its freedom from colonial rule with the exception of the 1936-41 Italian occupations during World War II. In 1974, a military junta overthrew the Emperor Haile Selassie and made Ethiopia a socialist state. The socialist regime was overthrown in 1991 by rebel forces. Finally the Ethiopian constitution was adopted in 1994 that cleared the way for multi party election held in 1995. A decade long border treaty with Eritrea finally came to halt in 2000 following a peace treaty between Ethiopia and Eritrea. However the peace couldn't last long and both fell into active conflict again over their long-standing border dispute.
Ethiopia Profile: Overview of Facts and Figures:
• Literacy: Male: 50.3%, Female: 35.1% (2003 est.)
Geography and Climate of Ethiopia:
Most part of Ethiopia is situated on the Horn of Africa, which is the eastern-most part of the African continent. Ethiopia is bordered by Sudan to the west, Djibouti and Eritrea to the north, Somalia to the east, and Kenya to the south. Within Ethiopia is a massive highland complex of mountains and dissected plateaus divided by the Great Rift Valley. The Great Rift Valley divides the highland of mountains and plateaus.
The geographical location gives cool, temperate and hot types of climate in Ethiopia. The normal rainy season of Ethiopia is from mid-June to mid-September. Intermittent showers from February or March precede this rainy season and the rest of the year remains dry.
Culture and Cuisine of Ethiopia:
The roots of Ethiopian culture lie in ancient Aksum, one of the greatest kingdoms of African history. During the fourth century, the Emperor of Aksum converted to Christianity. The expansion of the country has brought more Muslim groups into the population.
Injera is the staple food of Ethiopia. Ethiopian cuisine is one of the world's best kept secrets. Ethiopian food is based on spicy mix of vegetables, slow-simmered meat or grain stews, and fresh meat sautés. Essential components of Ethiopian cooking are berbere (spicy red pepper paste), niter kibbeh(a spice-infused clarified butter) and injera.
Tourist Attractions in Ethiopia:
The natural beauty of Ethiopia amazing and provides stunning vistas for the visitors. The composition of rugged mountains, miles stretched savannah, lakes and rivers provides magnificent vistas that charms the nature seekers. The Simien Mountain National Park is meant for daring adventurers who have the courage to encounter raw and wildness of nature. The lush green vegetation with wild beasts roaming is the extreme place to experience the joy of nature.
The Sof Omar Cave is one of the most spectacular and extensive underground cave system in the world. Formed by the Wabi River, as it changed its course in the distant past and carved out a new channel through limestone s. This cave has now become an important Islamic Shrine that was named after the saintly Shekh Sof Omar.
Other Tourist Sites in Ethiopia include:
Hyderabad, May 22 (IANS) Netxcell Limited, a leading telecom technology services provider, Wednesday announced its association with Funmobile, a leader in the mobile content domain in west Africa.
Addis Ababa, May 22 (IANS) Indian Vice President Hamid Ansari will visit Ethiopia to attend the 50th anniversary celebrations of the Organisation of African Unity/African Union (AU) on May 25.
Washington, May 18 (ANI): A Microsoft security expert said that computer viruses are on a rise worldwide once again after years of being less popular amongst computer attackers.
Beijing, May 17 (IANS) Chinese Vice Premier Wang Yang will pay an official visit to Zimbabwe and attend a special summit of the African Union in Ethiopia from May 21 to 25, reported Xinhua.
Addis Ababa, May 16 (IANS) Indian-owned firms in Ethiopia are making flowers the country's third-largest export earner after coffee and khat, a kind of chewable cannabis.
Addis Ababa, May 12 (IANS) More than 50 Indian companies are expected to participate in the 18th Addis Ababa International Trade Fair here August 24-September 10. Forty-four companies had participated in the last edition of the fair and India now wants an entire hall to itself for the event.
Nairobi, May 9 (IANS) A fortnight before the London Olympics men's 1500m final, Kenya's Asbel Kiprop was literally on top of the world and was the man to beat at the quadrennial global showpiece in his speciality.
Vancouver, May 6 (IANS) Kenyan runners made a clean sweep of the Vancouver Marathon as Thomas Omwenga won the men's title for the fourth time while Lucy Njeri took the women's race.
Gaborone (Bostwana), May 4 (IANS) Botswana national football team coach Stanley Tshosane has announced a provisional squad in preparation for a friendly against former African champions Egypt June 4.
Addis Ababa, April 30 (IANS) Ethiopia, with one of the highest blindness prevalence rates in the world, will soon get a major boost in medical treatment facilities with the opening of a state-of-the-art ophthalmology centre initiated by the wife of a former Indian ambassador to this East African nation.
Washington, Apr. 26 (ANI): Global attitudes regarding domestic violence have changed dramatically during the first decade of the 2000s, according to a new study.
Addis Ababa, April 24 (IANS) Kanoria African Textiles Plc, a subsidiary of India's Kanoria Chemicals & Industries, is setting up a denim fabric manufacturing plant that will be a first for Ethiopia and East Africa and will create 350 jobs, mainly for Ethiopians.
Dubai, April 24 (IANS/WAM) Bill Gates, co-chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and chairman of Microsoft Corporation, is on a visit to Dubai.
London, April 21 (IANS) Ethiopian Tsegaye Kebede overtook 2011 champion Emmanuel Mutai in the closing stages to win his second title at the London Marathon here Sunday.
Addis Ababa, April 19 (IANS) Lifan Motors, a Chinese auto company, has awarded a Lifan model 620 automobile to Sewunet Bishaw, the coach of the Ethiopian national soccer team.
Boston, April 16 (IANS) Lelisa Desisa of Ethiophia and Japanese Rita Jeptoo won the Boston Marathon in their respective categories.
The Hague, April 14 (IANS) Ethiopian Tilahun Regassa and Kenyan Jemina Jalagat won the men's and the women's titles, respectively, at the 33rd edition of the Rotterdam Marathon Sunday.
Washington, April 9 (ANI): The vocal lip-smacks that gelada monkeys use in friendly encounters have surprising similarities to human speech, a study has revealed.
New Delhi, Apr. 3 (ANI): UNICEF Canada and Teck launched a new USD five million program today under the Zinc Alliance for Child Health (ZACH) that will save over 150,000 children's lives in India.
New York, April 1 (ANI): Residents in Chile's Atacama Desert, the driest desert on Earth, are turning to giant 'fog catchers' as a possible long-term means of revitalizing the arid area.
Addis Ababa, March 28 (IANS) Two Indian companies have been awarded contracts worth over 2 billion Br (over $100 million) to build roads in Ethiopia.
Durban, March 26 (IANS) As leaders from the five BRICS nations, including Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and a host of invitees, gather here for the BRICS Summit March 26-27, Africa will be the focus at the 5th edition.
New Delhi, March 24 (IANS) Fancy bonding over a fragrant dark brew to discuss your problems and find solutions? Head for the Ethiopian Cultural Centre here where the East African nation's traditional coffee ceremony is there for the partaking.
Addis Ababa, March 23 (IANS/WAM) The United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Ethiopia have held discussions over bilateral relations and ways to strengthen them.
Addis Ababa, March 22 (IANS) Establishing a Development Bank of BRICS will enhance cooperation, Brazilian ambassador to Ethiopia Isabel Christina Heyvaert has said.
As one spends a quiet evening on a quaint beach of the White Nile, it is no giveaway that the longest river on the planet is simmering. The slugfest involves the 11 riparian states, touched by the 6,650 km of main river and tributaries, each involved in a complicated dog fight of bilateral diplomacy mixed with regional trade unionism in north and east Africa with its ripples felt as far as the Gulf.
New Delhi, March 20 (IANS) Ethiopia, one of the world's most ancient countries, is broadening its cultural footprint in India, with the opening of the first Ethiopian Cultural Centre, complete with a traditional coffee shop, in the capital.
New Delhi, March 19 (IANS) Several African countries are seeking Indian investment in tertiary healthcare and supply of affordable medicines to its population.
New Delhi, March 16 (IANS) The 9th edition of India-Africa Project Partnership conclave gets underway here Sunday, promising to be the largest such engagement with the 54 countries in the continent, with a record 630 registered delegates from overseas.
Gaborone (Botswana), March 12 (IANS) Botswana national football team "The Zebras" play Malawi at home next Tuesday in an international friendly match that forms part of their preparations for their upcoming 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifying match against Ethiopia.
New Delhi, March 10 (IANS) The 9th CII-EXIM Bank Conclave on India-Africa Project Partnership, the largest ever India-Africa business meet, begins here March 17.
Gaborone (Botswana), March 9 (IANS) Botswana's national team head coach Stanley Tshosane announced his 22-man squad for a 2014 World Cup football qualifying clash against Ethiopia later this month.
Melbourne, Mar 7 (ANI): Lara Bingle, who has been painted for the Archibald Prize, said that it was a "dream come true" for her.
Hong Kong, Feb 24 (IANS) Julius Maisei of Kenya took his first Hong Kong Marathon title here Sunday while the women's crown went to defender Misiker Demissie of Ethiopia.
London, February 21 (ANI): A new study has challenged a long-held theory that our ancestors evolved to walk on two legs to help them see farther on Africa's vast open grasslands.
London, February 18 (ANI): A children's charity has said that the lives of 95 babies could be saved every hour if mothers started breastfeeding their newborns in the hour after their birth.
Addis Ababa, Feb 14 (IANS) Ethiopia will be hosting the first international exhibition of private art collection from more than 24 countries in March at the National Museum in the capital Addis Ababa.
Mexico City, Feb 13 (IANS/EFE) Billionaires Carlos Slim and Bill Gates said they planned to use their foundations to promote research and the development of agricultural technology to increase farmers' productivity and reduce hunger among the world's poor people.
New Delhi, Feb 4 (IANS) A 30-member delegation of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) is in Hyderabad to take part in the 14th congress of the International Society for Prosthetics and Orthotics.
Abuja (Nigeria), Feb 3 (IANS) Nigeria's ruling party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has urged their national football team to win the African Cup of Nations (AFCON) as they tackle the 'Elephants' of Cote d'Ivoire Sunday in the quarterfinals in South Africa.
Washington, Feb 1 (ANI): A new analysis of the past 12 million years of vegetation change in the cradle of humanity is challenging long-held beliefs about the world in which our ancestors took shape - and, by extension, the impact it had on them.
Washington, Jan. 29 (ANI): The United States military is preparing to set up a drone base in northwest Africa.
New Delhi, Jan 28 (IANS) In a scientific breakthrough that promises improved grain yields, greater drought tolerance and disease resistance, a global research team, including Indian scientists, has completed sequencing of chickpea (black gram).
Buenos Aires, Jan. 28 (Xinhua-ANI): Argentinean President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner said on Sunday that Argentina and Iran have agreed to set up an independent truth commission to investigate the 1994 terrorist attack on a Jewish center in Buenos Aires.
Tunis, Jan. 28 (Xinhua-ANI): Tunisian President Moncef Marzouki on Sunday called for a common African anti-terrorist strategy, the official TAP press agency reported Monday.
Cairo, Jan. 27 (Xinhua-ANI): Up to 30 people were killed and over 300 others injured in clashes that erupted Saturday outside Port Said prison between security forces and family members of 21 convicts who were sentenced to death over the Port Said massacre, state TV reported.
United Nations, Jan 26 (IANS) The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) has appealed for nearly $1.4 billion to meet the immediate, life-saving needs of children in 45 countries and regions gripped by conflict, natural disasters and other complex emergencies this year.
Dubai, Jan 25 (IANS) Ethiopia's Lelisa Desisa won the 14th Standard Chartered Dubai Marathon Friday in a tight and foggy race which saw all male and female medallists coming from the East African country.
London, Jan 22 (IANS) Popular television presenter David Attenborough has said humans are threatening their own existence and that of other species by using up the world's resources.
Mumbai, Jan 20 (IANS) African men and women athletes made a clean sweep of the top slots in the 10th Standard Chartered Mumbai Marathon, besides creating new course records in the keenly contested disciplines among around 40,000 participants here Sunday.
Sydney, Jan 15 (IANS) Scientists are close to developing a shot against black fever, a fatal parasitic infection transmitted by sandflies, known as visceral leishmaniasis, the world's second biggest killer after malaria.
Panaji, Jan 13 (IANS) With iron ore exports grounded, the Minerals and Metal Trading Corp (MMTC) has begun exporting wheat to make up for the losses through Goa's leading port, an official said.
Houston, Jan 12 (IANS) A number of top runners will be among about 30,000 half-marathoners and marathoners at the Houston Marathon Sunday.
Mumbai, Jan 10 (IANS) Ethiopia's legendary long distance runner Haile Gebrselassie has been named the international event ambassador of the 10th edition of the $350,000 Mumbai Marathon to be run Jan 20.
Washington, Dec. 30 (ANI): A figure chiseled in stone that apparently stems from the era of the Prophet has been found in Yemen, and has sparked a number of questions about if there was ever a church in Mecca.
Washington, Dec. 30 (ANI): A figure chiseled in stone that apparently stems from the era of the Prophet has been found in Yemen, and has sparked a number of questions about if there was ever a church in Mecca.
Brussels, Dec. 20 (ANI): The European Union has donated its 2012 Nobel peace prize cash, plus a one million-euro top-up, to thousands of children impacted by war in Syria, Colombia, Congo and Pakistan.
Washington, Dec. 12 (ANI): More journalists than ever are languishing in prisons across the world.
Nairobi (Kenya), Dec.12 (ANI): The Sudanese government's indiscriminate aerial bombardment and shelling in Blue Nile and Southern Kordofan states has killed and injured scores of civilians since the conflict began more than a year ago, Human Rights Watch said in a report released today.
Washington, Dec 12 (IANS/RIA Novosti) The number of journalists jailed worldwide hit a record high in 2012, with 232 reporters, photographers and editors imprisoned in 27 countries at the start of this month.
London, Dec 10 (ANI): A Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist is preparing for a seven-year trek across the globe to retrace the steps taken by early man tens of thousands of years ago.
Washington, December 8 (ANI): Researchers claim to have pinpointed genetic changes that allow some Ethiopians to live and work more than a mile and a half above sea level without getting altitude sickness.
Macau, Dec 2 (IANS) Ethiopia's Heile Haja Gemeda and Ehitu Kiros Reda became the winners of Macau Galaxy Entertainment International Marathon here Sunday.
London, Nov. 28 (ANI): Al-Qaeda's network in East Africa is regrouping and rearming in northern Somalia, according to the president of the region.
Thiruvananthapuram, Nov 26 (IANS) An 11?member delegation from Ethiopia paid a visit to Kerala's premier Technopark here Monday to understand the IT industry's role in empowering women and youth in the state.
Hyderabad, Nov 25 (IANS) Ethiopian athletes made a clean sweep of Jamba Cloud Hyderabad 10?km Run Sunday, winning men's and women's overall titles. Ethiopia's Mosinet Geremew clocked his personal best time of 27.36 minutes to win the race at the People's Plaza on the banks of Hussain Sagar Lake.
Hyderabad, Nov.25 (ANI): The Jamba Cloud Hyderabad ten-kilometre-long run organized in Hyderabad on Sunday, attracted an overwhelming response from all age groups, with about 15,000 runners participating in the event.
Addis Ababa, Nov 25 (IANS/WAM) The United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Ethiopia have held talks over progress being made in signing of agreements in various fields between the two countries.
Kampala, Nov 14 (IANS) The Federation of Uganda Football Associations (FUFA) Wednesday said it plans to garner regional support to jointly host the coveted Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
New York, Nov 13 (IANS) Limited competition in elections for the UN Human Rights Council undermines membership standards set for the body by the UN General Assembly, Human Rights Watch has said.
Agra, Nov 9 (IANS) Athletes from Kenya and Ethiopia are expected to participate in an international half marathon to be held in this Taj city in February 2013 with a winners' purse of Rs.2 crore, an official said Friday. It's envisaged as an annual event.
Washington, Nov 8 (ANI): Climate change alone could lead to the extinction of wild Arabica coffee (Coffea arabica) well before the end of this century, a new study has revealed.
London, Oct 27 (IANS) Our early human ancestors spent much of their time in trees long after they fully mastered the art of walking on two legs, according to a study.
Washington, October 26 (ANI): Early human ancestors abandoned climbing behaviour much later than many researchers had previously suggested, according to a new study.
Washington, Oct.19 (Xinhua-ANI): Israeli scientist Daniel Hillel was awarded the 2012 World Food Prize here Thursday evening for conceiving and implementing a radically new mode of bringing water to crops in arid and dry land regions, known as micro-irrigation.
United Nations, Oct 15 (IANS) The Unicef, on the occasion of the fifth annual Global Handwashing Day, Monday emphasized that the very simple act of washing hands with soap can save thousands of children who needlessly die every year.
New Delhi, Oct 15 (IANS) India and Egypt will hold a Track II dialogue Tuesday as the two countries seek to redefine an old relationship following a new elected government in Cairo earlier this year.
Addis Ababa, Oct 9 (IANS/WAM) The UAE and Ethiopia Tuesday pledged to boost trade relations.
Monaco, Oct 9 (IANS/RIA Novosti) Olympic champions Usain Bolt and Mo Farah are among the Olympic track and field stars nominated Tuesday for the World Athlete of the Year award.
Wellington, Oct 9 (ANI): An immigrant driver in Las Vegas returned a lap top bag that was stuffed with 221,510 dollars in cash, after he found it in the back of his cab.
Chennai, Oct 6 (IANS) Ethiopia's central bank has chosen city-based Polaris Financial Technology's core banking solution (CBS) software.
New Delhi, Oct 4 (IANS) India, which reports more than half of the new leprosy cases in the world each year, must take steps to make the inhabitants of the 850 leprosy colonies across the country join the mainstream, experts said here Thursday.
Coonoor (Tamil Nadu), Oct 2 (IANS) Even as India remains upbeat on surging demand for its coffee beans in the global market, its planters have reasons to worry as their share in the world production slipped to seventh position in 2011-12.
New Delhi, Sep 30 (IANS) Delhi Half Marathon athletes complained about the hot and humid conditions during Sunday's race, which was traditionally held during the cooler conditions in late October or early November.
Unlikely males, Ethiopian sprinters dominates in the female category of the 5th edition of Airtel Delhi Half Marathon race by surpassing close contestant Kenyan athletes as the first two spots were sealed by Ethiopian racers while third place is cemented by Kenyan racer Helah Kiprop, who was the winner of last year's Delhi half marathon.
New Delhi, Sep 30 (ANI): Bollywood actress Bipasha Basu, who is known to be a fitness freak, on Sunday said she loved being a part of the Airtel Delhi Half Marathon, and added that it is an important event for health conscious people.
New Delhi, Sep 30 (IANS) Asian Games steeplechase gold medallist Sudha Singh and Rahul Kumar Pal took the honours at the Airtel Delhi Half Marathon elite Indian women and men's race in hot and humid conditions here Sunday.
New Delhi, Sep 30 (IANS) Kenya's Edwin Kipyego clinched the elite men's title in the Airtel Delhi Half Marathon while Ethiopia's Yimer Wude won the women's race here Sunday.
New Delhi, Sep 30 (ANI): Edwin Kipyego from Kenya and Yimer Wude from Ethiopia won the men and women's race respectively in the fifth edition of the Airtel Delhi Half Marathon in New Delhi on Sunday.
New Delhi, Sep 30 (IANS) Rahul Pal and Sudha Singh won the Airtel Delhi Half Marathon in the elite Indian men and women's category respectively here Sunday.
New Delhi, Sep 30 (IANS) Edwin Kipyego of Kenya won the Airtel Delhi Half Marathon in elite men's category here Sunday clocking 1:00.55 hours.
New Delhi, Sep 29 (IANS) Defending champions Suresh Kumar and Lalita Babbar may well be the best Indian runners at the Airtel Delhi Half Marathon elite Indian category events for men and women respectively Sunday. So could be another previous winner Kavita Raut.
New York, September 29 (ANI): A lesbian woman from Hong Kong, who recently made headlines after her father offered 65 million dollars to any man who marries his daughter, has taken to Facebook to implore her father to pull back the deal.
London, Sept 28 (ANI): Men from around the world have jumped at the 40-million-pound job opportunity offered by a Hong Kong billionaire to turn his lesbian daughter straight.
New Delhi, Sep 28 (IANS) East African runners have dominated the Airtel Delhi Half Marathon, the men winning all the seven editions in the elite category and the women in six years since its inception in 2005.
New York, Sep 27 (IANS/WAM) UAE Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan has met his counterparts from Spain, Ethiopia and Sri Lanka on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly meeting.
New Delhi, Sep 27 (IANS) Airtel Delhi Half Marathon's defending champion Lelisa Desisa Benti of Ethiopia is aiming to break the course record here Sunday in the elite men's category.
Moscow, Sep 23 (IANS/RIA Novosti) Russia was ready to sell Su-30s and other modern fighter jets to African countries, state-controlled arms exporter Rosoboronexport said.
Berlin, Sep 14 (IANS) World cross-country junior champion Geoffrey Kipsang will debut in the Berlin Marathon Sep 30.
New Delhi, Sep 13 (IANS) Despite the government's efforts to improve maternal and child health, the latest report released by UNICEF shows India had the highest number of deaths of children under five years of age in 2011.
