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“Ethiopia lost its Red Sea access due to internal weakness, not enemy strength” - Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed (Dr.)Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed (Dr.), in his speech at today's opening of the National Dialogue Conference, stated that Ethiopia lost its Red Sea gateway, which it had owned and administered for thousands of years, not due to enemy strength but due to internal weakness and political conspiracy.The Prime Minister said, “There are countries with centuries of uninterrupted animosity that lurk and awaken when something stirs in Ethiopia,” adding that when Ethiopia's history is examined from Gundet to Gura, Adwa to Maychew, Karamara to Badme, there are forces that lurk when Ethiopia builds and wait for opportune moments to intervene when it quarrels, preventing it from achieving its aspirations.“In this divisive journey, through our laziness and their opportunism, if we leave aside ancient history, the recent occasion where we lost the Red Sea is one manifestation of this evil historical event,” he stated.Speaking specifically about the Red Sea issue, the Prime Minister said, “The main reason an unelected government, an undiscussed government, through conspiracy, made Ethiopia a geographical prisoner by losing the Red Sea, which Ethiopia had administered for a thousand years, owned, and used for itself and the region, is our internal laziness, not because there was, is, or will be a force capable of stopping Ethiopia's aspirations and interests.”Speaking about forces that intervene when the country weakens, he said, “We always give away our interests because there are vultures that were not present when we built, but hover when we squabble and fight.”“Vultures come when there's a slaughter; they are not there when building; they were not with us when we built the Renaissance Dam, they were not with us when our cities flourished, they were not with us when we started development, but when we quarrel among ourselves, they appear, without being asked where they came from, supplying bullets, supplying money, and conducting media propaganda,” he explained.The Prime Minister said, “I want the highly respected people of Ethiopia to note one thing,” adding, “No matter what issue divides us internally, no matter what issue causes us to quarrel internally, since we can discuss, deliberate, and resolve it in such a forum, each of us must strive not to be citizens who betray Ethiopia's aspirations and national interests for the benefit of other forces, and who are seen as weeds in history.”He also conveyed a strong message to foreign forces that negotiate on Ethiopia's sovereignty and national interest.“My message to the vultures hovering over Ethiopia's sky is; we are the ones who choose and buy the cattle; we are the ones who decide the owner of the basket,” he said.“Unless it's what's left over and we don't want, no vulture can take a single kilo of meat by force from any basket. We are ready to share when we want and like; but to assume that Ethiopia, which has existed and endured for thousands of years, will be distracted by current propaganda and give away its interests against its will, is a futile wish,” he explained.“I want to extend my call to you to turn your attention back, by correctly reviewing and understanding our history, so that we can work together for mutual benefit,” he concluded his message.Tikvah EthiopiaAddis AbabaJuly 8, 2018 E.C.@tikvahethiopia Original Post: https://t.me/tikvahethiopia/106916

tldr: Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed stated that Ethiopia lost its Red Sea access due to internal weakness and political conspiracy, not external strength. He urged Ethiopians to unite against internal divisions that allow foreign exploitation and warned external forces against underestimating Ethiopia's resolve to protect its national interests. #Politics @ByteTikvah

#NationalDialogue🇪🇹"If we can say 'for us' instead of 'for me', 'for Ethiopia' instead of 'for my neighborhood', this consultation will be fruitful," urged Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed (Dr.).👉 "This conference is not easily repeatable!"Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed (Dr.) stated that the political breakdown, which repeatedly starts with strong words and ends with forceful action in Ethiopian history, must be stopped once and for all.The Prime Minister, speaking at the opening ceremony of the National Dialogue Conference, stated that the National Dialogue Conference, which will involve over 4,000 participants in the coming weeks, is a historic "pen and parchment" opportunity for Ethiopia to write a new history with its own hands, and that it is a platform that is not easily repeatable and has a massive objective in Ethiopia's modern history."Some opportunities place you before the pen and parchment of history; the platform we are on today also provides an opportunity to write a history that benefits the country and will be remembered for centuries," he explained.He also stated that the time has come to replace the cycle where Ethiopian politics begins with strong words and ends with forceful action, with dialogue and discussion, and explained that by transforming challenges into good opportunities, the culture of peaceful transfer of power should be strengthened.The Prime Minister also called on the participants to deliberate for Ethiopia, for tomorrow instead of today, and for their children instead of themselves, stating that listening to the questions raised by various communities and finding solutions that allow for common benefit without harming anyone will be the foundation for the success of the consultation."If we can say 'for us' instead of 'for me', 'for Ethiopia' instead of 'for my neighborhood', this consultation will be fruitful," he reiterated.Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed (Dr.) emphasized that building a culture of peace, hope, and mutual understanding that will last for the next generation is everyone's responsibility, and stated that by resolving problems through domestic dialogue and forgiveness, Ethiopia can be protected from foreign interference.(His full speech is attached above)Tikvah EthiopiaAddis AbabaJuly 8, 2018 E.C.@tikvahethiopia Original Post: https://t.me/tikvahethiopia/106914

tldr: Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed launched Ethiopia's National Dialogue, urging over 4,000 participants to prioritize national interests, end political conflict, and build a lasting culture of peace. #Politics @ByteTikvah

Murder committed to rob a mobile phone.On Sene 28, 2018 E.C. (Ethiopian Calendar), at approximately 7:00 AM, the murder was committed in Bole Sub-city, Woreda 12, specifically in the area known as Bulbula Abo Crossing Bridge.At the time, an unidentified individual was found dead under a bridge on the road from Saris Abo to Koye, stabbed in the chest.The Addis Ababa Police Main General Department's Homicide Investigation, Surveillance, and Operation Team began working together to identify the victim and the perpetrators.In less than 48 hours after the crime was committed, the identity of the deceased was established, and the following individuals suspected of committing the crime were apprehended:Endale Tessema, Ermias Assefa, Yabsira Endale, Zakarias Lemma, Natnael Girma, Temesgen Tesfaye, Biruk Ermias, Eyob Getachew, Lamrot Aregahagn, Elshaday Dawit, and Edomias Wondwosen.During the police investigation of the apprehended suspects, it was revealed that the victim, Zeynu Fedlu, was walking on the road when his neck was grabbed and he was stabbed in the chest with a dagger, causing his death, and his Samsung phone was taken.The suspects stated during the investigation that Ermias Assefa placed the victim's body in the trunk of a Code 3-B 83677 A/A Vitz compact vehicle, while the other suspects followed in a Code 3-71724 A/A Vitz vehicle, and they then dumped the victim's body under the bridge.Police stated that the suspects voluntarily demonstrated how they committed the crime.During the expanded investigation of the suspects, police indicated that they seized: 2 daggers, 3 pistols, which were used in the commission of the crime.The family of the deceased, Zeynu Fedlu, expressed their deep sorrow over their brother's death and extended their gratitude to the police for apprehending the perpetrators in a short period.Addis Ababa Police Hamle 8, 2018 E.C.@tikvahethiopia Original Post: https://t.me/tikvahethiopia/106911

tldr: Addis Ababa police arrested 11 suspects for the murder of Zeynu Fedlu, who was stabbed and robbed of his Samsung phone. The suspects confessed, demonstrated the crime, and weapons were seized. #Crime @ByteTikvah

"This issue should not remain a one-week agenda only. ...For a license plate, 60,000 to 120,000 Birr was demanded by brokers" - Users. Recently, the Hawassa City Police announced that leaders, experts, and brokers have been arrested in connection with suspected corruption and illegal practices in the Hawassa City Road Development and Transport Department regarding the issuance of license plates and driving licenses, and the organization and deployment of taxi associations. It also indicated that this action was taken based on information received from the community. Although the police stated that the investigation is ongoing, they refrained from disclosing the names of the leaders or other suspects. On the other hand, vehicle owners who spoke to Tikvah Ethiopia about the issue stated that they were asked to pay between 60,000 and 120,000 Birr through brokers for license plate issuance, depending on the type of vehicle. According to the complainants, the pressure was particularly severe on owners of 7-seater electric Bajajs and two-wheeled motorcycles, and despite repeatedly filing complaints with the transport office, they remained without proper response or a listening body. "Traffic police tell us 'you cannot drive without a license plate'; on the other hand, license plates were not issued except through corrupt connections and bribes. We have suffered from this problem for a long time," they said. The owners added, "We are pleased that action has begun against these illegal practices and brokers," but they urged that the issue should not remain a one-week agenda and mere media talk. They also expressed their desire to see the culprits identified and punished. The Hawassa City Police Department announced that if the community wishes to provide additional information and tips regarding the Hawassa City Road Development and Transport Department's: License plate issuance; Driving license issuance; Organization and deployment of taxi associations, they can do so via the toll-free line 7614 and the regular phone number 0462201046. The police, emphasizing that the community should not hesitate to provide tips, warned that "action will be taken against any illegal entity at any level of authority." Tikvah Ethiopia, Hawassa, July 8, 2018 E.C. @tikvahethiopia Original Post: https://t.me/tikvahethiopia/106905

tldr: Hawassa City Police arrested officials and brokers for suspected corruption in issuing license plates and driving licenses, following public tips. Vehicle owners reported paying 60,000 to 120,000 Birr to brokers for license plates due to illegal practices and bribery. #Crime @ByteTikvah

US Ambassador to Ethiopia, Ervin Massinga, is in Mekelle, Tigray Region. This morning, upon his arrival at Alula Aba Nega Airport, he was welcomed by TPLF leaders. The Ambassador, who will spend one day in Mekelle, is expected to discuss regional security and peace, humanitarian assistance, and other issues. It is not forgotten that his country, the US, previously imposed a visa ban on TPLF leaders and their families. July 8, 2018 E.C. Original Post: https://t.me/tikvahethiopia/106903

tldr: US Ambassador Ervin Massinga is in Mekelle, Tigray, for a one-day visit to discuss regional security, peace, and humanitarian aid with TPLF leaders. #Politics @ByteTikvah

National Dialogue🇪🇹 The National Dialogue Conference has started at the new Convention Center. 4,000 participants from all over Ethiopia are taking part in the conference. Video: AMN Original Post: https://t.me/tikvahethiopia/106900

tldr: Ethiopia's National Dialogue Conference has begun at the new Convention Center, bringing together 4,000 participants from across the country. #Politics @ByteTikvah

Hijra Bank recorded 1.9 billion Birr in unaudited profit!Hijra Bank, which is only a few months away from completing five years of operation and provides fully interest-free banking services, announced that it recorded 1.9 billion Birr in unaudited profit and generated 158 million US dollars in foreign currency during the 2025/26 fiscal year.The bank stated that in the concluded fiscal year, it achieved unprecedented results in terms of revenue and profit, deposit collection, capital size, total assets, foreign currency supply, digital financing, customer numbers, and branch network.Hijra Bank announced at a press conference held on July 1st at Inter Luxury Hotel regarding its fiscal year performance that it has been able to maintain its leading role in the sector.Major achievements recorded by the bank in the concluded fiscal year:📌 Total Revenue: Surpassing the total cumulative revenue (2.965 billion Birr) recorded by the bank in the past four years since its establishment, this year's annual revenue reached 3.55 billion Birr, showing a 97 percent growth compared to the previous fiscal year.📌 Total Profit: Exceeding the total cumulative profit (820.7 million Birr) of the past four years by more than one billion Birr, reaching 1.9 billion Birr, the bank recorded a superior growth of 132 percent in terms of profit.📌 Bank's Total Asset Size: Increased by 115 percent in one year from 14.61 billion Birr in the previous fiscal year, reaching 31.45 billion Birr.📌 Deposits: Starting from 11.94 billion Birr at the same time in the previous fiscal year, it increased by 101 percent in one year, reaching 24 billion Birr.📌 Total Capital: Increased by 202 percent (more than double) from 2.42 billion Birr in the previous fiscal year, reaching 7.45 billion Birr.📌 Foreign Currency Generation: The bank managed to generate 158 million US dollars in the fiscal year, showing a 187.6 percent growth compared to the total foreign currency it handled in the past four years.📌 Total Financing Provided to Customers: Increased by 133 percent from 7.2 billion Birr in financing provided in the previous fiscal year, providing over 16.78 billion Birr in financing during the fiscal year; this includes▪️1.33 billion Birr (7.93 percent) through Mudarabah, and▪️341.72 million Birr (2.03 percent) through Qard al-Hasan (interest-free loan) financing services.📌 Number of Branches: The bank opened 41 new branches during the fiscal year, bringing its total number of branches to 170.📌 Digital Financing: Provided 1.5 billion Birr in Imurabaha financing without collateral to 3,871 small and medium-sized enterprises, as well as women and youth.📌 Digital Banking: The bank managed to increase its total digital banking customers to 2.24 million during the fiscal year, with a total digital banking transaction volume of 41.72 billion Birr (86% growth) and a transaction count of 261,982 (519% growth).📌 Zakat and Waqf: The bank, pioneering in the history of financial institutions in our country, fulfilled its Sharia obligation by allocating 8 million Birr for institutional Zakat and 2 million Birr for Waqf from its total profit during the fiscal year.📌 Non-profit Financial Services: As a Sharia-compliant bank, our bank, by making the principle of Maqasid al-Sharia part of its business mission, provided 341.72 million Birr (2.03 percent) of its financing portfolio as Qard al-Hasan (Benevolent Loan) for sustainable and responsible investments without any profit.📌 Haramayn Service: Hijra Bank, by preparing a special Haramayn service for pilgrims who have a great desire to perform Hajj but face financial difficulties, managed to provide 50 percent of the travel cost as an interest-free loan (Qard... Original Post: https://t.me/tikvahethiopia/106899

tldr: Hijra Bank announced a 1.9 billion Birr unaudited profit and $158 million in foreign currency for the 2025/26 fiscal year, marking significant growth across all financial indicators and services. #Business @ByteTikvah

#ForYourInformation "Traffic congestion is expected, use alternative routes" - Traffic Management Tomorrow, July 8, 2018 E.C., the National Dialogue Conference will begin in Addis Ababa. Participants of the conference from all over the country are in Addis Ababa for this conference. The Traffic Management Authority has announced that traffic congestion is expected on the routes used by conference participants when entering and exiting the Addis Ababa International Convention Center, located at United Square on the CMC line, in the morning and evening. Specifically, these routes are from Civil Service University via Sahlete Mihret and from Ethio-China line via Sahlete Mihret up to the Addis Ababa International Convention Center. Therefore, a message has been conveyed to drivers using these routes to use alternative roads starting tomorrow until the conference concludes. July 7, 2018 E.C. @tikvahethiopia Original Post: https://t.me/tikvahethiopia/106898

tldr: Addis Ababa expects traffic congestion near the International Convention Center from July 8, 2018 E.C., due to a National Dialogue Conference; drivers should use alternative routes. #Local @ByteTikvah

The National Dialogue Conference will begin tomorrow, July 8, 2018 E.C. The conference will last for 30 days (one month). Over 4,000 participants will be in Addis Ababa to attend the conference. The Chief Commissioner of the Commission, Professor Mesfin Araya, expressed great hope that the discussants will set the path for peace by avoiding emotionalism and focusing on Ethiopia. The delegates will be divided into 500 groups and will discuss selected agendas for 30 days, which is seen as a crucial phase for creating common understanding on fundamental issues. On the eve of the conference's start, the Defense March Band performed musical shows in various locations in Addis Ababa. Tikvah Ethiopia, July 7, 2018 E.C. Original Post: https://t.me/tikvahethiopia/106897

tldr: Ethiopia's National Dialogue Conference, involving over 4,000 participants, begins tomorrow, July 8, 2018 E.C., to foster peace and common understanding. #Politics @ByteTikvah

"The Lake Tana and Other Water Bodies Protection and Development Agency, which was working on the water hyacinth weed, has been dissolved" - Amhara Regional Environmental Authority. The Amhara Regional Environmental Protection Authority told Tikvah Ethiopia that the Lake Tana and Other Water Bodies Protection and Development Agency, which was established by the Amhara National Regional Government in 2004 E.C. to save Lake Tana and other natural resources in the region from pollution, weed (like water hyacinth) invasion, and the danger of extinction, has been dissolved. Ato Dilnesaw Semegnaw, a representative of the Weed Species Control Directorate at the regional Environmental Protection Authority, stated, "All tasks previously carried out under the agency have been transferred to the regional Environmental Protection Authority, and the agency has been dissolved by proclamation as part of the regional government's restructuring." He added, "The reform was made because the tasks previously under the agency can be carried out under the Environmental Protection Authority, making a separate agency unnecessary." "Many tasks remained undone until the agency was dissolved and its functions transferred to the authority, but we have achieved over 100% of the agency's plan to remove water hyacinth this year. However, it is clear that if the institution had worked for the entire year without being dissolved, it could have achieved even better results than what has been done now," he said. He also explained, "Professionals who were working under the agency have been integrated into the Environmental Protection Authority, retaining their previous positions." "Now, a new directorate called the Invasive and Alien Weed Species Control Directorate has been established. Since water hyacinth is one such invasive and alien weed species, it will be part of this. We have also been working with the community to remove other widely problematic weed species known both nationally and regionally," he stated. He added, "Another directorate called Biodiversity and Ecosystem Protection has also been established. This was established to further facilitate the tasks that were under the agency." Ato Dilnesaw, who described the security problem in the region as a major challenge, stated, "The prevention work requires not only human power but also machines. However, we could not use the machines at the camp site in Central Gondar Zone because there is human power that moves with the machines, fuel, and other types of logistics. It was not possible to use the machines at the camp. Since there were two Canadian machines that came to Bahir Dar city, water hyacinth removal work was done using them." Ato Dilnesaw pointed out that the current removal work, whether by human power or machines, cannot be a sustainable solution to preserve Lake Tana, which is registered internationally as a UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve. He indicated that a sustainable solution is needed to address the problem at its source, as the weed doubles itself within two weeks and its seeds can remain viable for up to 30 years. For this, he urged that the primary task should be to fully develop the watershed to curb the flow of floodwaters that carry topsoil containing artificial fertilizers into the lake as sediment, and to reduce the amount of food input for the water hyacinth entering the lake. Furthermore, he stated that the existing water hyacinth should be converted into compost fertilizer and other useful technologies. He conveyed a message that since this task requires a significant budget and technical expertise, including both volu... Original Post: https://t.me/tikvahethiopia/106895

tldr: The Amhara Regional Government dissolved the Lake Tana Protection Agency, transferring water hyacinth control to the Environmental Protection Authority. Officials advocate for sustainable solutions, including watershed development and converting the weed into useful products. #Environment @ByteTikvah

Due to the escalating conflict between the US and Iran, oil prices have significantly increased. In the Asian market, oil prices showed an increase, with one Brent crude oil price rising by 1.9 percent to reach 84.87 dollars per barrel. In the US market, it increased by 2 percent and is selling at 79.75 dollars per barrel. As the conflict continues to escalate, Brent crude oil prices increased by approximately 3 percent on Monday, marking the highest in four weeks. In response to the conflict, global wholesale market prices have been fluctuating in recent months. After the US and Israel launched an attack on Iran at the end of February, Tehran closed the Strait of Hormuz. The strait is a major route through which 20 percent of the world's crude oil and refined natural gas passes. Although oil prices have increased now, they are significantly lower than in April. In April, the price of one barrel of Brent crude reached 120 dollars. The information is from the BBC. July 7, 2018 E.C. @tikvahethiopia Original Post: https://t.me/tikvahethiopia/106893

tldr: Escalating conflict between the US and Iran has significantly increased oil prices, with Brent crude reaching $84.87 per barrel in Asia and $79.75 in the US, marking a four-week high. #Business @ByteTikvah

Little Steps International School🎓 Great news for parents! 🎓Little Steps International School has been successfully educating students from kindergarten to preparatory two for over 7 years using the Australian and Cambridge curricula.Now, by opening a new branch in Wosen 02, it has started accepting and educating students from daycare to 8th grade.📚 Registration for the 2019 academic year has begun!Start your children's future success today!📞 Wosen 02 Branch 0929 930180 / 0996 326464/ 0116 733258📞 Bole Michael Branch - Daycare 0977 509045/ 0948 191982📞 Bole Michael Branch (Kindergarten - 3rd Grade) 0935 945594📞 Summit 72 Branch/ 0938 11 7722✨ Little Steps International School A Big Journey Starts with A Little Steps ! Original Post: https://t.me/tikvahethiopia/106891

tldr: Little Steps International School, offering Australian and Cambridge curricula, has opened a new Wosen 02 branch for daycare to 8th grade, with 2019 academic year registration now open. #General @ByteTikvah

The Ministry of Education has prepared a new framework for teachers' educational level upgrading training during the summer. It is stated that the framework allows teachers to transition from a diploma to a first degree through summer training. In a letter dated 06/11/2018 E.C. to all universities, the Ministry recalled that the admission of teachers for summer educational level upgrading training to universities had been suspended since 2012 E.C. due to changes in the general education curriculum. However, it stated that in the future, summer training for teachers' educational level upgrading will be provided based on a training framework prepared according to the new curriculum. The Ministry announced that eight training universities have been selected to provide the summer training in 2018 E.C. The universities selected for the summer training are: 1. Kotebe University of Education 2. Bahir Dar University 3. Hawassa University 4. Mekelle University 5. Jimma University 6. Haramaya University 7. Gondar University 8. Arba Minch University. The Ministry emphasized that until the institutions and the appropriateness of the training delivery are clarified by the Ministry of Education, it will not be possible to provide summer training for teachers' educational level upgrading except at the universities listed above. The letter signed by Education Minister Birhanu Nega and sent to all universities states that teachers who started training before 2011 E.C. and have not completed it should be allowed to complete it according to the previous decision. Tikvah University, July 7, 2018 E.C. @tikvahethiopia Original Post: https://t.me/tikvahethiopia/106888

tldr: Ethiopia's Ministry of Education introduced a new framework for summer teacher training, allowing diploma holders to upgrade to a first degree. Eight universities are selected to provide this training, which was previously suspended. #Education @ByteTikvah

🛑 3.69 Billion Birr Waste; 132 Million Birr Luxury Car Purchase - Audit Report on Irrigation Projects!The Federal Auditor General's Office announced that its performance audit on the Welmel and Chelchel irrigation projects, carried out under the Ministry of Irrigation and Lowland Areas between 2018 and 2025 A.D., found 3.69 billion Birr in illegal price adjustments and additional costs, severe contract breaches, weak oversight, and significant public money waste.The audit revealed that in both projects, the contractual provision "price adjustment is not allowed" was repeatedly violated through contract amendments and undue work change orders. In some construction components, the budget increased by up to 168.64%, while consultant contracts rose by up to 276.84%.The projects' work was delayed by over 38 months due to: - Lack of pre-construction feasibility study, - Poor engineering design, - Ineffective monitoring, - Administrative decision problems, and - Capacity limitations of contractors and consultants. However, the Ministry did not impose delay penalties on the contractors as stipulated in the contract.Furthermore, the report explains that the absence of a formal system to evaluate the performance of contractors and consultants based on cost, quality, and time prevented timely correction of problems.The audit also exposed that over 132 million Birr of public money was spent on luxury vehicles not included in the contract for the Chelchel irrigation project. Among these, one 2023 model V6 vehicle cost over 49 million Birr, and two 2023 model Toyota Prado vehicles incurred 83 million Birr in expenses. The Office stated that although these vehicles were purportedly purchased for technical monitoring, they ultimately ended up in the contractor's possession.In another finding, the purchase of 7 field vehicles, costing 75 million Birr, was executed through fraudulent interim payment certificates, disguised as completed construction work. The report indicates this generated an additional 6 million Birr profit and service fee for the contractor.Additionally, the audit pointed out that both projects were implemented without environmental and social impact assessments and without obtaining the required permits from relevant institutions.The Chelchel irrigation project, located between Rayitu and Ginner woredas in the East Bale Zone, was planned to irrigate 4,145 hectares of land and benefit over 9,000 farmers. By 2025 A.D., it had incurred approximately 2.3 billion Birr in expenses, including consultant services. After its contract with the Defense Construction Enterprise was terminated in 2021/22, the project was awarded to Alemayehu Ketema Contractor.Similarly, the Welmel project, situated in Dello Menna and Harena Buluk woredas, was initiated with the aim of developing 12,040 hectares of land. Although a total of 2.9 billion Birr was allocated to Alemayehu Ketema Contractor and Oromia Construction Corporation in 2018/19, the budget significantly increased due to "unexpected design problems." The audit indicated that by 2025 A.D., the government had spent over 2.4 billion Birr for Lot One, 2.3 billion Birr for Lot Two, and 164 million Birr for consultant services, yet the project's performance remains limited.The Federal Auditor General's Office attributed the root cause of these problems to institutional governance weaknesses, stating that the Ministry's initiation of capital-intensive projects without establishing a modern irrigation policy, a comprehensive strategy, and a quality control system contributed to this situation.Fin... Original Post: https://t.me/tikvahethiopia/106887

tldr: An audit report revealed 3.69 billion Birr in illegal spending, contract breaches, and weak oversight in two Ethiopian irrigation projects, including 132 million Birr for luxury vehicles. The Federal Auditor General warned of legal action if the Ministry fails to implement corrective measures for these governance failures. #Politics @ByteTikvah

"There are landlords who increase rent by 100% at once. There are some who increase by more than 100%. This is absolute greed." - Mayor Adanech Abiebie. The study that the Addis Ababa City Administration claims to have conducted regarding the city's house rent has been criticized as "not taking into account" landlords' rights and wasting additional time and resources. This was stated at the 4th regular concluding session of the 5th year of the Addis Ababa City Council's term, where the recently announced 11.5% rent increase was among the many questions raised by council members. Council member Sisay Mengiste (Dr.) stated, "The law issued regarding landlords and tenants has gaps, and it did not come up with a balanced solution by consulting the community and considering the feelings and interests of both landlords and tenants." He cited that the presented report indicated over 500,000 landlord-tenant relationships, noting that this is at the household level, and added, "If we assume there are four people per household, that's 2 million people. Therefore, we must give this level of importance and focus on its implementation." Sisay (Dr.) stated that the law concerning landlords and tenants stipulates that rent amounts should be studied and increased annually, adding, "The increase presented this year, supposedly after a study, is for two years. Therefore, we are even denying landlords the rights granted by the proclamation." "It is necessary to consider not only the rights of tenants but also those of landlords, for their relationship to be peaceful," he said. He also asked, "Is there a system that allows a landlord to increase rent after upgrading a wooden house to a block house? Can they increase rent to compensate for renovation costs?" He stated that the study which determined the 2019 E.C. (Ethiopian Calendar) rent increase to be 11.5% was similar to the study released by the Central Statistical Agency (CSA) (annual price increase between 10% and 13%), and therefore, additional time and resources were wasted on a new study when it could have been taken from the CSA, deeming it unnecessary. However, Kidist Woldegiorgis, Head of the Addis Ababa City Housing Development and Administration Bureau, responded by saying "the study is scientific" and that the claim "it would be the same if the CSA study was used" is "not the same." She also presented the argument, "The study conducted by CSA is national; we conducted ours based on the problems within Addis Ababa city." Study criteria: - CSA study, - Housing demand and supply gap (30%) - Citizens' ability to pay (15%) - House maintenance and improvement costs (15%) - Urban population change; the bureau head explained that it was studied by considering these factors, making up 100%. What did City Mayor W/ro Adanech Abiebie say? "Additionally, we conducted a study, and coincidentally, it turned out as you (Dr. Sisay Mengiste) said. If there is a situation where rent increase is necessary, it sets the ceiling at 11.5%; it cannot exceed that." "In our city's study, we found landlords who increase rent by 100% at once. There are some who increase by more than 100%. We have seen that this is absolute greed and does not reflect the actual situation or is done for that purpose." "We have also seen similar actions taken when landlords want to evict tenants. Since the law protects the rights of both tenants and landlords and is a system that consults all parties, it is imperative to enter into the system." "To the extent we have reached, we will enforce the law by penalizing those who have not complied with it and making adjustments as stipulated in the law," she said. Tikvah Ethiopia Addis Ababa @tikvahethiopia Original Post: https://t.me/tikvahethiopia/106884

tldr: Addis Ababa's 11.5% rent increase study faces criticism for neglecting landlord rights, as Mayor Adanech Abiebie condemns excessive rent hikes and highlights the new law's balanced protections. #Politics @ByteTikvah

Addis Ababa City Manager, Wendimu Seta, stated that signs of flooding were observed in about 12 areas of Addis Ababa after June 15. He warned that flash floods could continue to occur if the community does not adjust its dry waste management and disposal. Engineer Wendimu Seta, Addis Ababa City Manager, provided an explanation to the Addis Ababa City Council during its regular session regarding the main causes of flood risk in the city and the mitigation measures being taken. Engineer Wendimu stated that flooding is one of the major hazards in the city, and efforts to solve the problem are not limited to seasonal work but are based on continuous monitoring and study. He pointed out that "the areas where flood accumulation was observed, which have been circulating on various social media pages recently, were previously identified and mitigation measures are being taken." The manager explained that the main causes of flood accumulation in the city are man-made problems. These include: improper disposal of dry waste, especially plastic water bottles and construction debris entering drainage systems; damage to flood infrastructure during private construction works; and blockage of drainage systems in neighborhoods. In his speech, he said, "After June 15, in about 12 areas, we saw not floods but signs of flooding, or accumulation of floodwater on some roads, and in most cases, the causes of these problems are considered to be dry waste management." Engineer Wendimu stated that following the onset of the rainy season, the government has launched a 90-day integrated campaign to clean over 4,000 drainage lines in the city's blocks. In addition, he explained that the dry waste disposal system is being updated, with waste being collected daily and cleared from stations in less than 4 hours. The manager stated that various strategic works are being carried out to permanently address the flood risk, noting that illegal constructions along riverbanks are a cause of the problem. To solve this, he recalled that the Addis Ababa City Administration's Riversides Development and Pollution Prevention Regulation, which prohibits any permanent construction along riverbanks, has been issued and is in effect. He also stated that a Risk Profile study has been completed in all 119 districts in collaboration with Addis Ababa University, which will help identify where water originates and how it should flow to its natural course. Engineer Wendimu also conveyed a message about the precautions that should be taken to prevent flash floods. In his message, he said, "The flash floods we are still seeing may continue to occur. We can prevent them only by updating our dry waste management system, improving our handling of construction debris, reducing damage to infrastructure, and strengthening our protection of infrastructure. Only then can we reduce our flood vulnerability." He also emphasized that city residents must properly fulfill their responsibility to clean drainage lines, protect them from damage, and prevent illegal dumping of waste. Tikvah Ethiopia, Addis Ababa, July 13, 2026 E.C. @tikvahethiopia Original Post: https://t.me/tikvahethiopia/106882

tldr: Addis Ababa City Manager reported flood signs in 12 areas, blaming poor waste management and illegal construction, while outlining mitigation efforts and urging public cooperation. #Local @ByteTikvah

"This lifting of the credit growth limit is not a policy change at all, but a change in operational method" - Eyob Tekalign (Dr.) The Monetary Policy Committee of the National Bank of Ethiopia held its 7th meeting on July 6, 2018 E.C., where recommendations were presented and decisions approved. Dr. Eyob Tekalign, Governor of the National Bank, gave a statement regarding these. In his statement, the Governor said that the recommendations approved by the Monetary Policy Committee are not five separate decisions but a unified package of policies. He further explained that the bank is currently transitioning from direct monetary policy instruments to indirect monetary policy instruments. What else did Dr. Eyob Tekalign, Governor of the National Bank of Ethiopia, say in his explanation? "The first policy recommendation presented by the committee was to completely lift the annual credit growth limit or Credit Cap. The National Bank of Ethiopia used the annual credit growth limit as a temporary measure until it fully transitioned to a monetary system that operates based on interest rates, using indirect monetary policy instruments. Currently, the central bank has achieved this goal. This lifting of the credit growth limit is not a policy change at all, but a change in operational method. The committee understood the potential pressure this lifting of the credit growth limit alone could exert on inflation, associated with an increase in credit growth. Therefore, it recognized the need to maintain the bank's tight policy stance by taking proportional measures. Consequently, it was decided that the National Bank's policy rate should increase by one percentage point from 15 percent to 16 percent, and the current 3 percent interest rate corridor should remain as it was. Therefore, the increase in the policy interest rate and the lifting of the credit growth limit should be viewed together. One instrument completing its time while another strengthens indicates that the bank is adopting a more stringent monetary policy stance than before. To provide additional protection and further strengthen it, the committee recommended, and the board approved, the implementation of a Targeted Reserve Requirement (TRR) in addition to the regular reserve requirement. This will be applied based on the National Bank of Ethiopia's regular assessment of each bank when credit growth expansion is found to have a negative impact on inflation. This will enable the central bank to take necessary action on individual banks rather than restricting the overall credit volume in the economy. The National Bank's foreign exchange commission rate was also reduced from 2.5 percent to 1.5 percent, which helps to reduce costs associated with commodity import trade and limit its impact on inflation. Furthermore, to improve foreign trade competitiveness, facilitate the foreign exchange market, and enhance price discovery, the requirement for exporters to sell foreign currency earned from commodity exports to banks was lowered from 50 percent to 30 percent. Overall, when these measures are viewed together, they reflect the consistency of the committee's decisions and demonstrate that Ethiopia's monetary policy framework has reached a stage of relying on indirect and market-based instruments. This process will continue in a disciplined manner, strengthening our commitment to reducing inflation," he said. Tikvah Ethiopia Addis Ababa July 6, 2018 E.C. @tikvahethiopia Original Post: https://t.me/tikvahethiopia/106880

tldr: Ethiopia's National Bank lifted the credit growth limit and raised its policy rate to 16%, transitioning to market-based monetary tools to control inflation. #Business @ByteTikvah

The National Bank of Ethiopia completely lifted the credit limit for banks. The foreign currency share that exporters are required to sell to banks from their foreign currency earnings has been reduced from 50 percent to 30 percent. The Monetary Policy Committee of the National Bank of Ethiopia announced that it presented and approved various policy recommendations at its 7th meeting held on July 6, 2018 E.C. The Monetary Policy Committee of the National Bank of Ethiopia announced in a press release that it has passed new and crucial policy decisions aimed at controlling inflation and bringing it down to single digits. The committee stated that it has decided to continue strengthening the tight monetary policy, taking into account the impact of the increase in international fuel prices on domestic products. It has been decided that the direct credit growth limit previously imposed on loans provided by banks will be completely lifted. Recalling that the credit limit decision was imposed on banks until the economy transitioned to an interest rate-based monetary policy system, it stated that the decision has achieved its goal. Due to the need for a strict policy measure following the lifting of the credit limit, the National Bank has decided to increase the policy interest rate by 1.0 percent, raising it from 15 percent to 16 percent. To increase export competitiveness and build confidence in the market, the foreign currency share that exporters are required to sell to banks from their foreign currency earnings has been reduced from 50 percent to 30 percent. This gives exporters the opportunity to use 70 percent of the foreign currency they earn. To reduce costs associated with importers and curb inflation, the National Bank has decided to reduce the 2.5 percent commission it charges on foreign exchange transactions to 1.5 percent. To prevent credit expansion from negatively impacting inflation, the National Bank announced that it will implement a special reserve requirement system based on banks' loan-to-deposit ratio. Tikvah Ethiopia Addis Ababa July 6, 2018 E.C. @tikvahethiopia Original Post: https://t.me/tikvahethiopia/106878

tldr: The National Bank of Ethiopia lifted bank credit limits and reduced the forex surrender requirement for exporters to 30%, while raising the policy interest rate to 16% to control inflation and boost exports. #Business @ByteTikvah

"You shall not enter!!" A luxury ship carrying homosexuals was banned from entering Turkish and Egyptian ports. Recently, a Mediterranean luxury ship named "Scarlet Lady," chartered by an American travel company called "Atlantis Events" and carrying approximately 2,000 homosexuals, was prohibited from entering Turkish and Egyptian ports. The ship was banned from docking at the Turkish ports of Kusadasi and Istanbul, with the country's authorities stating that the decision was because the purpose of the trip did not align with the country's moral and ethical values, as well as social norms and values. The company's CEO, Rich Campbell, stated that this was the first time they had encountered such an incident in the company's 36-year history. Although the ship changed its course to Alexandria, Egypt, after the Turkish ban, Egyptian authorities also blocked the ship from entering the country's territorial waters. Although Egypt did not provide an official explanation for the ban, the company expressed its surprise at the decision, recalling that it had successfully made a similar trip last year. Due to these bans, passengers' planned visits to the pyramids and historical sites in Egypt were canceled, and the ship was forced to change its route to Crete, Greece, and Kotor, Montenegro. The information was taken from 'The Guardian'. @tikvahethiopia Original Post: https://t.me/tikvahethiopia/106869

tldr: A luxury cruise ship with 2,000 LGBTQ+ passengers was denied entry to Turkish and Egyptian ports, citing moral values, and rerouted to Greece and Montenegro. This unprecedented ban led to the cancellation of passenger tours in Egypt. #World @ByteTikvah

#EthiopianAirlines"The total cost incurred is 1.4 billion Birr" - Ato Mesfin TasewDuring his speech at the inauguration of King Teklehaimanot Airport, Ato Mesfin Tasew, CEO of Ethiopian Airlines Group, recalled that the airline's flight service to Debre Markos city began more than 50 years ago.However, when the airline decommissioned its "Dash-6" aircraft, flights to the city were suspended for over 20 years, he stated.The CEO explained that the main reason for the flight suspension was that the aircraft the airline allocated for domestic flights were too large, and the runway at the time could not accommodate these aircraft.As a result, the local community's only option to travel to Addis Ababa was to cross the arduous Abay River valley and travel 300 kilometers by car.Ato Mesfin conveyed a message to the local residents, stating, "Today, you can travel to Addis Ababa or Bahir Dar in less than 1 hour, with safe and comfortable air transport; your long-standing request has been answered."He announced that a few weeks ago, when trial flights to the station began, it was estimated that only 3 flights per week would suffice, but currently, demand has significantly increased to 3 flights per day and 21 flights per week.This fact indicates the significant pent-up demand for air transport in the area, he pointed out.Regarding the project details, he announced that the airport has a runway of 2,400 meters in length and 30 meters in width, capable of regularly accommodating Q400 aircraft and, when necessary, Boeing 737 aircraft.The construction took over 4 years due to various reasons, and the total cost incurred was 1.4 billion Birr, he disclosed.He stated that the commencement of airport services would play a significant role in the economic and social development of the area by enabling investors and tourists to visit.The CEO mentioned that King Teklehaimanot Airport is the 5th domestic airport to be built and begin service in the past 8 years of transformation, and the 25th overall in Ethiopia.He also announced that two more airports, currently under construction, will soon enter service.Tikvah EthiopiaHamlé 5, 2018 E.C.@tikvahethiopia Original Post: https://t.me/tikvahethiopia/106867

tldr: Ethiopian Airlines inaugurated the 1.4 billion Birr King Teklehaimanot Airport in Debre Markos, restoring air service after 20 years and significantly boosting the local economy. #Business @ByteTikvah