Two decades ago, Ethiopia was a Cold War battlefield. On the ideological map of the world, it was Soviet territory, a land of famine, dictatorship, and civil war. But, with the overthrow of Mengistu Haile Mariam’s Marxist-Leninist dictatorship in 1991, Ethiopia began to transform itself. Today, it ranks among the five fastest-growing economies in the world, and is a bastion of regional stability.

That stability matters, because the Horn of Africa is becoming a security headache once again. If the region is to be stabilized, Ethiopia will need to play a key role in this. Indeed, it should be considered an indispensable strategic partner for those in the international community who want to prevent the entirety of East Africa from slipping into chaos.

Besides the never-ending anarchy of neighboring Somalia, the regional challenges facing Ethiopia and its long-serving prime minister, Meles Zenawi, are daunting. The country remains on a war footing with Eritrea over the disputed border village of Badme. The peace deal between the government and the former rebel Sudan People’s Liberation Movement is unraveling fast in neighboring Sudan, where a scheduled referendum in the South in January 2011 on secession and independence – part of the 2005 peace deal – may provoke a return to all-out war.

Dr. Fana Mariam Mulu-Moore, a doctoral graduate of the Alabama A&M University Department (AAMU) of Physics, has been awarded the Pro Quest/UMI Distinguished Dissertation award from the Council of Historically Black Graduate Schools at a recent event in Savannah, Georgia.

Nominated by AAMU’s Department of Physics, Mulu-Moore’s dissertation was entitled: “Determining the Temperature Structure of Solar Coronal Loops Using Their Temporal Evolution.”

The award was presented with a $1,500 honorarium.

“This is an excellent recognition for Mulu-Moore, her advisor (Dr. Amy Winebarger), the Department of Physics and AAMU,” said Dr. Matthew Edwards, dean of the School of Arts and Sciences, which houses the Physics Department.

Dr. Doris R. Robinson-Gardner, CHBGS president and dean of the Division of Graduate Studies at Jackson State University (Miss.), and Dr. Marlene Coles, partner relations manager for ProQuest/UMI Dissertation Publishing, also praised Mulu Moore’s dissertation as an extraordinary piece of academic work and a significant accomplishment.

CLEVELAND, OHIO (Chronicle Online) — A Cleveland resident was found guilty Tuesday of 12 counts each of aggravated robbery and kidnapping for his role in the April 17, 2009, robbery of a Solon poker game.

Solomon Berhane, 31, a native of Ethiopia, was the only one of seven people who were accused in the robbery who went to trial.

The others, Andres Arzola, 19, of Lorain; Jose Arzola-Torres, 20, of Lorain; Dominic Berlingeri, 24, of Lorain; Randall Barnes, 25, of Euclid; Wayne Bunkin, 31, of Novelty; and William Masters, 38, of Pine Bluff, Arizona, all have pleaded guilty to various charges in connection with the robbery, according to a news release from Ryan Miday, spokesman for Cuyahoga County Prosecutor Bill Mason.

All seven held up a private game at Allied Lighting in 2009, getting away with $50,000 in cash and around $25,000 in property.

Addis Ababa, March 31, 2010 (Addis Ababa) - President Girma Woldegiorgis here on Wednesday held talks with Foreign Minister of Somaliland, Abdillahi Mohamed Duale.

President Girma on the occasion said the existing relations between Ethiopia and Somaliland should further be strengthened. The President said the two countries should further enhance cooperation in the efforts to prevent terrorism. Girma also wished Somaliland to hold successful elections.

The minister on his part said Somaliland is undertaking activities to hold elections. He said Somaliland is keen to further strengthen existing good relations with Ethiopia. The minister said in particular Ethiopia and Somaliland should strengthen cooperation to fight against terrorism.

Ethiopia has not given recognition to Somaliland’s independence. Duale was appointed foreign minister of Somaliland on August 5th, 2006.

Solaris and Ethiopian Company engaged in solar technologies started assembling electric cars. The Company said it is attracted by Ethiopians’ massive Hydro electric power development.

Solaris is engaged in solar technology for over 15 years, in Feb 2010 the company started to assemble electric cars in Ethiopia with 20M Birr start up capital. The Car doesn’t use any fuel or oil which does not have smoke; it only has 10 rechargeable batteries.

“You just charge and go, there is no any kind of carbon emission or engine, It is absolutely a clean car” said the General manger or Solaris.

The Company imports its body part from Asian countries including China, Hong Kong Korea and Singapore. The car travels at a speed of up to 80Km per hours. Currently the car is sold 185 Thousand Birr.

The Development Bank of Ethiopia (DBE) has announced the foreclosure of another flower farm.Site Agro Plc has been closed because of a failure to pay back a DBE loan.

According to the notice posted in the Amharic state-owned daily, Addis Zemen, the estimated value of Site Agro Plc was 3.7 million birr. The farm is located in West Showa Zone, Ajere Woreda, around Addis Alem town, on an area of 13.13 hectares, which is cultivated with various types of flower.
Previously the state-owned bank foreclosed five other flower farms due to failures to keep up with payments. Three of them are in the process of being transferred to other owners by negotiation because an auction did not attract buyers.

Although too late for Site Agro Plc and the others, recently steps have been taken to try and ease the situation for the troubled flower firms. The government suggested a rescheduling of land lease and loan terms and an agreement has recently been reached.

MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA (WPLF) — A suspect was arrested Saturday in connection with the stabbings of two women in South Beach.

Leigh-Ann Martinez, 21, was having a girls' night out with Belkin Gutierrez, 20, and three other friends. The women finished dinner at TGI Friday's at Fifth and Ocean just after 9 p.m. and headed for their car.

Martinez said a man followed them for five blocks until they reached First Street, where he attacked them.

An arrest report identified the man as 24-year-old Kidane Mengesha. The report said Mengesha grabbed Martinez and hit her in the face. Investigators said Martinez hit Mengesha back, and a fight broke out. Gutierrez tried to help her friend by hitting Mengesha, who then pulled out a knife, according to the arrest report.

Police said Mengesha stabbed Gutierrez five times, in the head, torso and arm, and stabbed Martinez once in the leg. According to the report, two men intervened, hitting Mengesha, and he ran away.

WASHINGTON DC — Season 7 winner of AMERICAN IDOL, David Cook arrived in Ethiopia as a guest of the United Nations Foundation to learn about the challenges adolescent girls face in many parts of the world. While in Ethiopia, Cook will visit the United Nations’ Biruh Tesfa (Bright Future) Project to see firsthand how the UN Foundation is supporting the work of the UN to educate and empower girls. Footage of Cook’s trip to Ethiopia will be featured during IDOL GIVES BACK, the Emmy-winning television event and musical celebration developed by AMERICAN IDOL creator Simon Fuller, on Wednesday, April 21 (8:00-10:00 PM ET live/PT tape-delayed) on FOX.

“Once again, we are proud to join with the IDOL GIVES BACK Foundation, FOX, and AMERICAN IDOL to help raise awareness about the work of the United Nations,” said Kathy Calvin, CEO of the United Nations Foundation. “One of our top priorities is to advocate for women and girls around the world. Too many girls growing up in developing countries are not able to attend school or have access to healthcare services. The UN needs our support to advance the well-being of women and girls around the globe. Supporting girls around the world is one of the smartest ways to help build a better future for us all.”

During the trip, David Cook, an American singer-songwriter from Blue Springs, Missouri, will meet with youth mentors and students in the Mercato slum area of Addis Ababa and Bahir Dar, to learn how large numbers of girls are traveling to ‘Biruh Tesfa’ everyday to gain an education and break the cycle of poverty.

Unity for Democracy and Justice (UDJ) said that it is alarmed and concerned about the medical state of its party leader Birtukan Mideksa who is in prison. It called for the examination of Birtukan by an independent medical team.

In a statement released yesterday, UDJ said that it was seriously concerned about the health of its leader after learning of her continuing decline from her mother, who is the only person allowed to visit her inside prison aside from her daughter.

UDJ said that the government was transgressing Article 21 of the constitution by refusing Birtukan visitation right from her private doctor, relatives and spiritual counselor in a manner that is unheard of before.

In its statement, UDJ said Birtukan’s health is deteriorating and asked the government to allow an independent medical team to examine her in the presence of the Red Cross and the result be made public.

Addis Ababa, March 30, 2010 (Addis Ababa) - The Somali President Sheik Sharif Sheik Ahmed arrived late Tuesday at Addis Ababa.

Up on his arrival at Addis Ababa Bole International Airport the president warmly welcomed by Culture and Tourism Minister Ambassador Mohammed Dirir.

The president said he will discuss with the Ethiopia government officials on the current situation in Somalia.

He said currently peace and stability is prevailing in Somalia.

He urged the Ethiopian government to continue its support to maintain the prevailing peace and stability in his country.

Ethiopian Airlines officials are closely following a report that a captured terrorism suspect has told of a bomb aboard a plane that crashed off the coast of Lebanon in January. Investigators have not determined the cause more than two months after the crash.

A report on a U.S. Internet Web site says British intelligence agents have reopened their investigation into the mysterious crash of an Ethiopian Airlines jet January 25. The Boeing 737 plunged into the Mediterranean Sea minutes after takeoff from Beirut airport, killing all 90 people aboard.

News reports initially quoted witnesses as saying the plane had broken up in the air and fallen into the sea in a ball of flames. But Lebanese officials immediately ruled out terrorism, and suggested pilot error was to blame.

The "G2 Bulletin" Web site, which calls itself an independent online intelligence newsletter reports an operative of the group al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula told interrogators the aircraft was destroyed by a suicide bomber trained in Yemen.

The operative is said to be among more than 100 terrorism suspects recently arrested in Saudi Arabia. He is reported to have told his captors the Beirut bomber trained in the same camp as Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, who tried to set off a bomb in his underwear on a plane landing in Detroit on Christmas Day.

ADDIS ABABA (Reuters) - The Italian firm building Africa's biggest hydropower dam in Ethiopia on Tuesday denied allegations that the dam would deprive 200,000 self-sufficient people of a living and make them dependent on aid.

The ethnic rights group Survival International said last week that the dam would disrupt fishing and farming and displace more than 200,000 people, among them the Kwegu and Hamar tribes.

"The project will not cause drought: the dam will not block the flow of water to the river indefinitely, but merely redistribute it during the course of the year," Salini Costruttori said in a statement.

"Activities connected to the local fishing trade will not be destroyed. Agriculture will be able to benefit from a constant supply of water through the year."

The Gibe 111 dam, costing 1.4 billion euros and expected to generate 1,800 megawatts, is one of five Ethiopia is building in a drive to beat power shortages and export electricity. It will almost double current Ethiopian capacity of just under 2,000 MW.

March 30 (Bloomberg) -- The European Union will send a team of observers to monitor Ethiopia’s May 23 national elections, amid complaints by opposition parties that the vote won’t be free and fair, a European lawmaker said.

Ana Maria Gomes, a Portuguese member of the European Parliament who led the EU’s monitoring mission to Ethiopia during elections in 2005, said Andris Piebalgs, the European Commissioner for Development, announced the decision to African and European parliamentarians meeting in Tenerife yesterday.

Gomes warned that the EU mission risked becoming a “farce” when Birtukan Mideksa, one of the country’s main opposition leaders, is in jail under a life sentence.
“There are no conditions for genuine democratic elections,” in Ethiopia, Gomes said in a phone interview from Tenerife. “I have many fears that this can be instrumentalized to legitimize the ruling party staying in power.”

Security forces loyal to Prime Minister Meles Zenawi killed 193 people in the aftermath of the disputed 2005 election, while thousands more were jailed, including Birtukan and other opposition leaders. Birtukan was released under a 2007 pardon agreement, before being jailed again in 2008 after saying she signed the pardon as part of a political deal.

Addis Ababa, March 30, 2010 (Addis Ababa) - Ethiopia and Egypt signed here Tuesday cooperation agreements and Memorandum of Understanding in various sectors at the conclusion of the third Ethio-Egyptian Joint Ministerial meeting. The meeting was concluded by issuing 15 points communiqué.

The two governments reaffirmed that they would work closely to further enhance the existing relations.

Speaking on the occasion Foreign Affairs Minister Seyoum Mesfin said the two countries signed cooperation agreements in the areas of agriculture, trade, health, transit live animals and beef meat, economic development,information science,technology, education, air service, media and communications among others.

He said economic relations of the two countries have gained momentum and the joint commission encourages efforts of the two countries.Seyuom said the trade volume exchange of the two countries has been growing by 20 percent.He said the ever increased trade partnership projects with Egyptian investors is significantly boosting the economic relations of the two sisterly nations.

Addis Ababa, March 30, 2010 (Addis Ababa) - The Ethiopian airline has conducted the first Bombardier Q400 Next Generation aircraft flight test here Tuesday.

The Ethiopian said three Bombardier Q400 Next Generation aircrafts of the eight it order for Canadian plane maker Bombardier Inc. will arrive in next month. It was noted that the remaining aircrafts will arrive until Oct. 2010.Domestic Operations Director of Ethiopian Abebe Angessa said Bombardier Q400 would enable Ethiopian to deliver effective service to domestic flight customers.

Bombardier Q400 aircraft, which has a capacity to carry 78 passengers, fast, fuel effective and reliable aircraft.Abebe said Bombardier Q400 aircrafts will replace Fokker aircrafts and to expand its services to neighboring countries. Ethiopian flight manager Beza Assefa on her part said Bombardier Q400 aircrafts are serving around the world with relatively less maintenance cost.