Ethiopia's major foreign currency generator, coffee is under threat due to climate change induced diseases, a new study has revealed.
Coffee alone generated around half a billion dollars last year in Ethiopia, but the study said it is under threat due to a pest called Coffee Berry Borer (Hypothenemus hampei). The study conducted in Southern Nations, Nationalities and People's Regional State (SNNPRS) said high temperature in coffee growing areas has aggravated the disease by creating a conducive environment for the pest to grow quickly.

As a result, the production of coffee growers in the area of the study has decreased through time, said the study carried out by Oxfam International.

Called: "The Rain Doesn't Come on Time Anymore: Poverty, Vulnerability, and Climate Variability in Ethiopia", the study was launched at a special Earth Day celebration organised by the Climate Change Forum-Ethiopia in collaboration with other environmental organisations last Thursday.

Farmers in the study area reported that yields of coffee and other crops had fallen in the last four years and attributed this to a loss of soil fertility, drought and unusually high rainfall at the wrong time.

It was really disturbing when you find someone who is Ethiopian murdering his own 3-year-old daughter and the child's mother.

Simon 34-year-old Simon Bahta Asfeha was in the most wanted for first-degree murder list in the deaths of 27-year old Seble Tessema and their child, according to police. Tessema and Asfeha reportedly had a prior relationship, but don't appear to have been married.

This is what happened when the news broke out on April 12, 2010, and finally arrested in New York City Today.

Addis Ababa, April 30, 2010 (Addis Ababa) - Prime Minister Meles Zenawi said Ethiopia is keen to strengthen political, economic and diplomatic relations with Serbia.
The Premier said Ethiopia would like to draw experiences from Serbia in particular in the agriculture sector.

Meles made the statement here on Friday while holding talks with Serbian Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management Minister, Dr. Sasa Dragin .

He said the government will provide the necessary assistance to Serbian investors, who will invest here, according to a senior government official, who attended the discussion.

A textile factory built at a cost of 140 million USD by a Turkish Business firm known as AYKA
was inaugurated here on Friday.

Prime Minister Meles Zenawi Inaugurated the factory constructed in Alemgena area, West of Addis Ababa City.

The factory has already begun to export thread valued at 10 million US dollars.

The factory has created job opportunity to over 10,000 people.When it operates with its full capacity, the factory can export textile products worth 100 million USD annually. The factory manufactures different kinds thread, 70,000 ready made clothing and other textile products.

Addis Ababa, April 30, 2010 (Addis Ababa) - Assistant Whip, House of People's Representatives, Netsanet Asfaw called on the Family Guidance Association of Ethiopia (FGAE) to further strengthen its ongoing contribution in the efforts to expand reproductive health service and minimize maternal death.

Netsanet was speaking here on Friday at a consultative meeting of the Association and the Women's Affairs Standing Committee of the House on ways to further enhance FGAE's services through partnership with parliamentarians.

She said the government has been striving to further enhance the health sector.

Wolkitie, April 30, 2010 (Wolkite) - Various social service facilities constructed in different parts of the Gedebano-Gutazer-Wolenie Woreda, Gurage Zone of the South Ethiopia Peoples’ State, at a cost of 14 million Birr have gone operational, the woreda administration disclosed.

Chief of the woreda administration, Abdu Mohamed told ENA that the facilities included, among others, two health stations, one preparatory school, and a number of primary schools.

Addis Ababa, April 30, 2010 (Addis Ababa) - The National Electoral Board of Ethiopia announced that the beginning of transporting election logistics to different parts of the country as of Thursday.

In a news conference he gave here on Friday, Operation Planning Expert with the Board, Biruk Wondosen said the logistics are expected to reach in Southeast and Eastern Tigray Zones.

Establishing a science academy in Ethiopia has been a long and challenging process spanning the past 40 years. The Ethiopian Academy of Sciences (EAS), now the world’s youngest science academy, has launched and a celebration was held at Addis Ababa University for the landmark event on 10 April.
“EAS will foster scientific culture and innovation, and advance the knowledge of natural and social sciences, engineering, medicine, history, literature, languages, and traditional cultures of Ethiopia for the benefit of the Ethiopian society,” Roman Tewolde, coordinator of the EAS launching board, told MediaGlobal.

The original idea to establish an Ethiopian Academy of Sciences occurred during the 1970s under Emperor Haile Selassie’s rule but it was derailed by political instability. However, as Ethiopians excelled in a myriad of professional disciplines including the humanities, engineering, sciences, medicine, and agriculture over subsequent decades the need for an organization to represent them continually grew.

Voice of America announced Wednesday the start-up of a new satellite transmission of many of its Africa language broadcasts, giving the Horn of Africa broadcasts in Afan Oromo, Amharic and Tigrigna prime evening listening time on the 24-hour schedule.

Ethiopians and Eritreans with access to satellite television on Arabsat, the region`s most popular satellite, can now hear the clear and complete broadcast of daily news from our reporters on the ground, and from our international broadcasters in Washington, D.C. This audio transmission of VOA's shortwave air shows will display as VOA Africa 24 in a list of available channels.

Listeners can tune into the audio of VOA's regular live Monday-through-Friday broadcasts of Afan Oromo at 8:30 p.m., Amharic at 9 p.m. and Tigrigna at 10 p.m. and the Amharic Breakfast Show at 6 a.m. These evening broadcasts will be repeated immediately following the live broadcasts. The Breakfast Show will be repeated at 7 a.m. On weekends, you will also hear the regular broadcasts on Saturday at 9 p.m. of the Amharic broadcast of the popular Ya Musica Qana and featured panel discussions and live broadcast of Radio Magazine at 9 p.m. on Sundays.