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tldr: Hawassa police are suddenly seizing many motorcycles over license and helmet issues, prompting resident complaints about arbitrary actions and police officers lacking licenses themselves.

"Since this morning, many motorcycles have been seized. Only police and traffic officers are moving around on motorcycles; but most of them also don't have driver's licenses" - Residents. Residents of Hawassa city told Tikvah Ethiopia that the city's police and transport department have been harassing, stopping, and seizing a large number of motorcycles since this morning, suddenly citing issues related to driver's licenses and helmets. One resident who said "My motorcycle was suddenly taken by the police" explained, "Without providing information or awareness, they suddenly harassed us, stopped motorcycles, and told drivers 'You haven't met the requirements for a driver's license and helmet, leave your motorcycle and go.'" Two other city residents said, "The harassment seems like something else is happening; many motorcycles have been seized, and when we ask for a solution, we haven't received a proper response other than 'Go to the office and talk to them.'" They also stated that they observed many health professionals, teachers, and individuals with urgent work being harassed on the road. On the other hand, other residents interviewed by Tikvah Ethiopia voiced their complaints, saying, "People like us who have one driver's license were not previously prohibited from driving automobiles and motorcycles, but today we were told 'Bring only a motorcycle license' and our motorcycles were taken." The complainants added, "The motorcycles moving around the city today belong to the police and traffic officers," and "Most police and even leadership do not have motorcycle driver's licenses." Tikvah Ethiopia, having toured Hawassa city, observed that the number of motorcycles on the city's main roads has significantly decreased compared to usual. An attempt to get clarification on the matter from the Hawassa City Administration Transport and Road Development Department was unsuccessful for now; we will follow up and provide their response. Tikvah Ethiopia Hawassa August 12, 2018 E.C. @tikvahethiopia Original Post: https://t.me/tikvahethiopia/107502

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tldr: Ethiopia's National Dialogue Commission is reportedly not following its own decision-making guidelines, specifically regarding voting on proposals. Participants and observers claim proposals are being passed as 'agreed' or 'with differences' without actual votes to avoid deadlock. The Chief Commissioner maintains the commission only provides recommendations, not decisions.

#NationalDialogue🇪🇹According to the decision-making guideline of the Consultation Commission, a proposal that receives 75% approval will be adopted; a proposal that does not receive 75% will be reviewed by an adapting committee and, if it receives 70% of the votes, it will pass for decision; a proposal that receives less than 40% will be rejected.It is understood from the Commission's guideline that a proposal is made to receive 70% when two extreme recommendations are reflected by the consultants and no agreement is reached, creating a consultation "deadlock," in which case representatives are consulted and one proposal is made to pass for decision through voting.It is recalled that Chief Commissioner Mesfin Araya (Prof.) stated that "330" regional representatives were selected to aid decision-making when 16 "strategic" groups of 250 people were about to present their recommendations to eight "working groups" of 500 people (two weeks ago).Has the decision-making guideline been implemented so far?A consultant and an observer of the consultation told Tikvah Ethiopia that the ideas deliberated by the 500-person "working group" should have gone through a voting process before moving to the 120-member group, but this was not implemented.A participant in the government structure and form agenda told us, "The 500-person group was called the 'decision group.' Decision-making is clearly stated in the manual."They recalled, "Initially, 30 proposal drafters selected from two 250 'strategic groups' were supposed to 'provide decision recommendations; then, if those ideas received 75 percent, they would pass; if they didn't receive 75 percent of the votes, there's a provision for an adapting task force to present a revised recommendation, and if that idea received 70 percent of the votes, it would be considered an agreement.'"However, the consultant stated, "We have asked about issues said to have been agreed upon but have not received a response," and that proposals categorized as "majority" and "minority" or rejected were not decided by "voting."They further explained, "Issues on which we did not agree, and where no agreement was reached, were reported as 'agreed upon.'"They stated that when they asked, "What is your measure for reaching an agreement?" they received no answer, and that "opportunities were given to people expected to speak; after they gave their answers, while the consultants were complaining, we were told, 'We have closed this program.'"Another participant in the nation-building agenda explained that the opportunity given to consultants showed partiality, and that proposals were rushed through by saying "we have agreed; applaud" even when people wanted to give input.Tikvah Ethiopia observed consultants during a tea break explaining that "deadlock" was not created because instead of taking proposals to a vote, they passed all ideas to the next round of consultation, categorizing them as "agreed" or "with differences."A minute-taker also stated that voting was skipped, and even when two alternative proposals (e.g., for government structure, "parliamentary" or "presidential") and other agenda items were presented, they were recorded "with their differences."Explaining why voting was not implemented, they said, "They don't seem to have wanted to create a deadlock." This was done to avoid creating winners and losers in the consultation and simply present the proposals to relevant institutions.A commissioner, explaining their view on the matter, stated that the commission's rol... Original Post: https://t.me/tikvahethiopia/107500

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tldr: Three US states, including Alabama for the murder of a 5-year-old, carried out death sentences on the same day, marking a rare occurrence since 2010.

#USA ⏳In the USA, a criminal who sexually assaulted and killed a 5-year-old child was executed by lethal injection.In the US state of Alabama, a 42-year-old man named Jeremy Tremaine Williams, who was convicted of sexually assaulting and killing a 5-year-old girl named Kamari Holland, was executed last week.After Kamari disappeared from her home in Columbus, Georgia, in 2021, the investigation expanded to Phenix City, Alabama. When police searched Williams' residence, the child's belongings were found; ultimately, her body was discovered in the building's basement.According to the investigation, the child was tied up and sexually assaulted before being killed; she ultimately died by strangulation. It was also stated during the trial that videos showing the assault were found on Williams' phone.Williams was sentenced to death in 2024, and by admitting guilt and choosing to waive appeal processes, an expedited execution was carried out. Thus, he was executed by lethal injection last Thursday.According to the Alabama Attorney General's Office, Williams had also confessed to sexually assaulting other children previously.On the same Thursday that Williams' execution took place, two other death sentences were carried out in the states of Oklahoma and Tennessee.In Oklahoma, 70-year-old Carlos Cuesta-Rodriguez was executed for killing his wife, Olympia Fisher, in 2003. He had been imprisoned for over 20 years before his execution.In Tennessee, 66-year-old Anthony Darrell Hines was executed for killing Catherine Jane Jenkinson, a 54-year-old motel worker, in 1985. His death sentence was carried out nearly 40 years after the crime. He had been in prison for the past 40 years.In the US, three death sentences were carried out in Oklahoma, Tennessee, and Alabama on the same day. This marks the first time in many years that three US states have carried out death sentences on a single day.The last time three US states carried out death sentences on the same day was January 7, 2010. The 2026 event is a repeat after 16 years.The three executions were decided independently by the states and were not coordinated to occur simultaneously.Tikvah Ethiopia obtained this information from Los Angeles Magazine.Tikvah EthiopiaAugust 11, 2018 E.C.@tikvahethiopia Original Post: https://t.me/tikvahethiopia/107496

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tldr: Ethiopia's National Dialogue consultation conference concluded with agreement on most issues, according to Deputy Commissioner Hirut Gebresilassie. Recommendations from eight working groups will be refined by a 120-member team, then reviewed by the 8 groups, and finally approved by 4,000 participants on Wednesday, aiming for national understanding and peace.

#NationalDialogue🇪🇹"... The consultation conference has concluded, agreeing on most issues. We are truly very happy. We anticipate it will bring the understanding and peace we desire." - Deputy Commissioner Hirut GebresilassieThe commission announced that input has been collected from the recommendations presented for the eight agendas and that it will be approved by 4,000 participants on Wednesday.The commission announced this evening that a 120-member team, composed of 15 selected individuals from each of the eight working groups of 500 people, has been working to present "uniform" recommendations by listening to the agenda recommendations raised by all working groups.It also stated that representatives from each working group prepared a "uniform document" by eliminating repetitions and organizing uncoordinated ideas from their respective group's agenda recommendations, and presented it to the 500-member working group this afternoon.It announced that the 8 working groups, to whom the organized agendas were presented, have returned them to the organizing teams with added ideas and comments for the final document to be prepared. The statement also indicated that the teams refining the collected recommendations will incorporate the given ideas before tomorrow afternoon and resubmit them to their respective working groups for approval in the afternoon.In related news, Deputy Commissioner Hirut Gebresilassie of the Consultation Commission stated in a press release today, "The refined and adjusted recommendations will be returned to all eight groups." She added that all 8 groups will provide input on the recommendations presented to them, and they will be approved on Wednesday.She stated that all eight groups gathered this afternoon to provide input on the work done by the 120-member team, adding, "The collected input will be worked on tomorrow, and on Wednesday, 4,000 participants will approve it."It is recalled that the recommendations prepared by the 8 working groups, each comprising 500 people, were presented to the 120-member recommendation drafting team. As the Commissioner stated, "The 8 groups will not only review the recommendations they themselves prepared but also understand and familiarize themselves with the work done by all 8 groups, including the other seven groups."Each of the eight groups has been deliberating on one agenda item, and the Commissioner said, "They will provide input on the recommendations made by the other groups in which they did not participate; the input will be collected, and the final document will be prepared."The Commissioner stated, "The Ethiopian participants in all 8 groups are representative of Ethiopia. All stakeholders are present in all 8 groups. All Ethiopian districts are present in all eight groups. They are similar."In related news, Hirut stated that "the compiled recommendations are issues on which the conference has agreed," and she also noted in her statement today that "national consultations held anywhere in the world are not expected to agree 100 percent on all issues."She added, "The pleasing thing is that the national consultation conference held in our country has concluded, agreeing on most issues. Therefore, we are truly very happy. We anticipate it will bring the understanding and peace we desire."Tikvah EthiopiaAddis AbabaNehase 11, 2018 E.C.@tikvahethiopia Original Post: https://t.me/tikvahethiopia/107490

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tldr: Thirty US states are suing Meta for addictive social media practices harming teenagers, seeking major platform changes and a $1 trillion fine. Meta denies the allegations, but the lawsuit could significantly reshape social media design and regulation.

#SocialMediaA lawsuit that could change the operations of Instagram and FacebookMeta, which manages Instagram and Facebook, is facing a lawsuit from 30 US states alleging it used practices that expose teenagers to danger and social media addiction, and the case will be heard in court.If the lawsuit is proven, significant changes could be made to features on Instagram and Facebook such as 'likes', infinite scroll, autoplay, and frequent notifications.What does the lawsuit say?The 30 US states accuse Meta of failing to protect the safety of teenagers by using practices that encourage them to spend long hours on its social media platforms and repeatedly return to the apps.Specifically, it is argued that social media practices encourage users to stay on the app by immediately showing them similar or other engaging content after they view one piece of content.'Like'One of the main points of the lawsuit is 'likes'. It is said that especially for teenagers, comparing the number of 'likes' they receive with others can lead to their self-worth being tied to social media feedback.This can exacerbate feelings of loneliness, isolation, distorted body image, and other negative emotions.Studies show that counting 'likes' can lead teenagers to depression and create feelings of being ignored.The lawsuit against Meta indicates that 'likes' lead to 'social comparison' and diminish people's self-worth.One teenager mentioned in the lawsuit stated that she was preoccupied with counting the 'likes' she received by opening many YouTube and Instagram accounts, and her self-perception became tied to 'likes'. As a result, she entered depression at just 10 years old.Features requested to be changedThe US states have asked the court to order Meta to make strict changes to its practices regarding teenage usage. Among the mentioned changes are:Strengthening a system that allows families to control the accounts teenagers use;Limiting the continuous infinite scroll mechanism;Not providing another dopamine-stimulating piece of information immediately after one piece of information;Stopping filters that can alter people's appearance;Making the 'like' count invisible;Stopping autoplay that makes videos play automatically;Restricting users from opening multiple accounts;Stopping disappearing posts like Instagram 'Stories';Reducing practices that make teenagers return to the apps through frequent notifications;Restricting teenagers from using certain filters that editorially change others' appearance.What did Meta say?Meta has not accepted the lawsuit. The company stated its long-term commitment to supporting teenagers and announced that it would challenge the allegations made in court with evidence.Why is the case significant?This lawsuit could go beyond typical monetary penalty cases. The US states have requested that Meta be fined up to 1 trillion dollars.More importantly, if Meta is ordered to change its operations as requested, Instagram and Facebook could become significantly different from the applications we know today.In particular, 'likes' have been a fundamental feature of Facebook for ages. If it is decided that this, along with user engagement-enhancing features like infinite scroll, autoplay, and notifications, should be restricted for teenagers, this could have a broad impact on social media design and technology companies.Previous decisionSeparately from this lawsuit, in another court proceeding in New Mexico, Meta was ordered to pay 942 million dollars.In that decision, for users under 18 years old:'Likes' to be stopped,Teenagers not to send or receive nude images,Changes were decided that prohibit notifications from b... Original Post: https://t.me/tikvahethiopia/107488

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tldr: Lieutenant General Tigabu Yilma has been appointed Chief Commissioner of the Amhara Regional Police Main Department by President Ato Arega Kebede. This follows Commissioner General Zelalem Mengiste (Dr.) being named Deputy Commissioner of the Ethiopian Federal Police, returning to the federal force after serving in the Amhara region.

#AmharaPolice Lieutenant General Tigabu Yilma has been appointed as the Chief Commissioner of the Amhara Regional Police Main Department. Amhara Regional President Ato Arega Kebede appointed Lieutenant General Tigabu Yilma as the Chief Commissioner of the Amhara Regional Police Main Department. On the other hand, it has been announced that Commissioner General Zelalem Mengiste (Dr.), who served as the Chief Commissioner of the Amhara Regional Police Main Department, has been appointed as Deputy Commissioner of the Ethiopian Federal Police. Commissioner General Zelalem Mengiste (Dr.) had moved from the Ethiopian Federal Police to the Amhara Regional Police in March of last year and has now returned to the Ethiopian Federal Police with a new appointment. Tikvah Ethiopia, Nehase 11, 2018 E.C. @tikvahethiopia Original Post: https://t.me/tikvahethiopia/107486

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tldr: Dire Dawa authorities sealed shops in Taiwan Market due to VAT disputes and unpaid taxes; traders claim their income is below the VAT threshold, urging reopening. The city revenue office insists on VAT compliance and debt payment, stating only 30 shops remain sealed.

"We have many families dependent on our work; listen to us!" - Taiwan Market Traders Dire Dawa City Administration Revenue Authority: "30 shops are sealed; we want the traders to pay their 2018 E.C. debt and return to work." Traders engaged in retail clothing business at Dire Dawa city's historic 'Taiwan' market told Tikvah Ethiopia that the city's revenue office sealed their shops starting June 26, 2018 E.C., rendering them jobless, stating "if you don't enter VAT collectively." The traders, who said "about 120 shops are sealed," mentioned that various government offices they approached with their grievances denied them a response. They requested through Tikvah Ethiopia that the federal and city administrations give attention to the matter, open their sealed shops, and allow them to return to work paying legal taxes commensurate with their income. What did the traders say in detail? "The city's revenue office sealed our shops saying 'all of you must enter VAT'. The proclamation for entering VAT states that a trader's annual income must be at least above 2 million Birr. According to the study the office claims to have conducted, our income is below 1.5 million. When we ask why our shops are sealed, they tell us 'your income has exceeded two million, so all of you must enter VAT collectively'. We are paying taxes according to our earnings, and we should not be asked to pay taxes that unfairly bankrupt us and put us out of business. Even though we asked them to stop sealing our shops illegally, saying 'if you don't enter VAT by force,' we have been going to various offices for months but couldn't find a single body that could give us a solution. According to the new tax proclamation No. 1395/2017, those with business activities up to 2 million Birr should pay 9%, but despite having our information, they are displacing us from our work and sealing our shops, saying 'we won't listen to you unless all of you enter VAT collectively'. Entering VAT is beyond our capacity; we do retail. Moreover, we don't get offsetting receipts, so how do we offset? Secondly, how can it be done collectively? One shop's capital is small, another's is large; how can it be collective? When we asked them to look into it, they told us to identify and provide them with traders whom we think can enter VAT. We told them, 'You have the documents, based on that, include the traders you think can enter VAT, but we won't choose and provide them. Because we cannot know in any way.' Their response was 'you will enter, you will enter'. We ask that the relevant city and federal institutions give attention to this serious issue, provide us with a fair response, open our sealed shops, and allow us to return to our work. Let us do our work; let us pay appropriate and legal taxes commensurate with our income. Listen to us, we have many families dependent on our work," they said. One trader, who wished to remain anonymous, asked, "I personally don't have the capacity to enter VAT, and even if my goods are inspected, it won't work. I am a breadwinner for 7 family members, and stopping work for over a month is difficult. Both my workplace and residence are rented. My current situation is very difficult. I have reached a point where I cannot buy bread for my children. We have family members whose medication should not be interrupted, so the government should know that we traders are hungry and life is hard for us, and provide a solution." What did the City Revenue Authority respond? Tikvah Ethiopia spoke to Dr. Abduselam Mohammed, Director General of the Dire Dawa City Administration Revenue Authority, about the issue. "The claim tha... Original Post: https://t.me/tikvahethiopia/107484

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tldr: Addis Ababa reports a surge in electricity infrastructure theft, with authorities urging public vigilance and reporting via 9101.

An increase in electricity infrastructure theft crimes has been reported in Addis Ababa. The Addis Ababa Electric Service Administration Authority stated that theft crimes are frequently being committed on electricity infrastructure installed at high cost in the city. Specifically, it indicated that the theft is spreading in areas such as Bole Bulbula Cargo back, CMC, Haile Garment–Hachalu Road, Megenagna 24, Bole Rwanda Bridge, Kasanche Semahegn Bridge, and from Gulele to 6 Kilo corridor development areas. Among the properties taken in the theft are cables, meters, breakers, and other electricity infrastructure equipment. The Authority called on the community and city administration institutions to jointly protect the electricity infrastructure. It requested that if anyone sees electricity theft or related issues, they should report it by calling the free phone number 9101. Tikvah Ethiopia August 10, 2018 E.C. @tikvahethiopia Original Post: https://t.me/tikvahethiopia/107482

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tldr: Ethiopia's National Dialogue recommends disbanding regional special forces, amending 13 constitutional issues, and establishing new bodies for constitutional interpretation and multinational unity, despite some regional opposition.

#NationalDialogue🇪🇹It was stated that there are regions that have not disbanded "special forces," and recommendations were made for the "disbandment of special forces" in Ethiopia and for the establishment of two new institutions.Somali, Afar, and some other regions argued that "special forces should not be disbanded."The working group, organized with 500 people, after deliberating on agenda recommendations presented to it by the strategic group of 250 people, passed on the following recommendations to the next stage of discussion:- New institutions to be established,- 13 issues in the constitution to be amended,- Ideas for "special forces to be disbanded" were presented, according to the compiler of the ideas and another consultant who spoke to Tikvah Ethiopia.This was stated under the agenda item titled "Institution Building, Rule of Law, and Human Rights."1. Regional Special Forces StructureAlthough an order was given years ago for "special forces to be disbanded," it was stated that the structure has still not been disbanded in various regions, and a proposal was made by consultants for the structure to be disbanded in Ethiopia.Conversely, the call for disbandment sparked debate among consultants.One of the compilers of this agenda within the "working group" of 500 people stated, "The way in which it was said 'special forces should be disbanded at the national level' and then disbanded was problematic and was taken as a cause for current problems; there are regions that have not disbanded special forces," indicating that there are consultants who proposed the disbandment of the structure.Consultants representing Somali, Afar, and other regions, however, proposed, "Special forces should not be disbanded"; "It was the special forces that repelled Al-Shabaab attacks; therefore, the structure should not be disbanded."After deliberation on the matter, "the majority agreed that (special forces) must be disbanded because the capacity of the regions is challenging the federal government," and signed off on it, the compiler told Tikvah Ethiopia.2. Constitutional Amendment and Structure of the House of FederationThe same idea compiler stated that about 13 issues in the constitution that require amendment, and issues related to the House of Federation that need legal amendment, have been identified.In connection with this, proposals were made for a system where people choose representatives from their respective ethnic groups whom they say "represent us" and present them to the House of Federation, and that "those recruited by regional councils should not be members of the House of Federation."Conversely, it was indicated that arguments were raised such as, "Regional council representatives are the ones who become members of the House of Federation. Otherwise, one million people must have one representative."However, it was stated that the issue passed to the next stage of discussion with the general agreement that "there should be a representative from each ethnic group."3. Newly Proposed InstitutionsThe compiler told Tikvah Ethiopia that it was recommended and agreed upon for two institutions to be established.One is for an institution called "Constitutional Interpretation" to be established; it was stated that it should be established independently and be accountable to the House of Federation.He explained that under the current system, the House of Federation interprets constitutional matters, and a proposal was made for "a new institution to be established to interpret constitutional matters" from now on.According to the compiler, the "Commission for Multinational Unity" is the other new institution proposed for establis... Original Post: https://t.me/tikvahethiopia/107481

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tldr: A study reveals Europe generates 11.20 Euros in economic output for every 1 Euro of raw coffee imported from producers like Ethiopia, profiting greatly from processing.

☕️ 1 Euro becomes 11.20 Euro: Europe's huge profit from coffee without added value! A study titled "Economic Impact of Coffee in Europe" has revealed that 34 percent of Ethiopia's total coffee exports go to the European market. This study, which explored the coffee economy, was conducted by "European Economic Research Limited," an institution located in the United Kingdom (England). The document covered a wide region including EU member countries, as well as England, Norway, and Switzerland. According to the study, in 2024, European countries imported $523.6 million worth of coffee from Ethiopia. While this accounts for only 3.4 percent of Europe's total coffee import revenue, it represents 11.8 percent of Ethiopia's total foreign merchandise sales and is a primary source of foreign currency for Ethiopia. The study shows that although Europe itself does not produce coffee, it generated over half a trillion Euros in economic output and 251.5 billion Euros in Gross Value Added (GVA) from the coffee sector in 2025. In 2025 alone, 2.9 million tons of coffee worth 18.7 billion Euros were imported into Europe, with over 97 percent of this being unroasted and unprocessed green coffee sent by producing countries. The document indicates that coffee roasting and processing operations are carried out in European regions closer to the consumer society, rather than in the countries where the product originates. Producing countries like Ethiopia primarily export unroasted and un-value-added green coffee, while Europeans, after importing the coffee, gain significant profit for themselves by storing, roasting, decaffeinating, producing instant (soluble) coffee, and utilizing it in various retail sales, hotel, and tourism (hospitality) sectors. The full concept of the study's Economic Multiplier shows that for every 1 Euro worth of green coffee product a producing country exports to the European market, after the coffee enters Europe, it goes through a chain of processing, packaging, retail sales, and serving in cafes, creating 11.20 Euros in direct European economic output. We state that this information was taken from Reporter newspaper. @tikvahethiopia Original Post: https://t.me/tikvahethiopia/107479

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tldr: A severe multi-vehicle accident in Sidama killed three people, injured four, and damaged eleven vehicles. Police urged caution due to nighttime, rain, and speed.

3 people lost their lives in a vehicle accident in Sidama. The regional police announced that 3 people lost their lives, 4 people were injured, and 11 vehicles were damaged in a severe traffic accident that occurred yesterday evening around 8 PM in the Galamo area of Wara Kebele, Dale Woreda, Central Sidama Zone, Sidama Region. Chief Inspector Melese Bunura, Head of the Road Safety and Traffic Control Department of the Regional Police General Department, told Tikvah Ethiopia that the accident occurred when a Dolphin vehicle with license plate number Code 2-03698 Sida, carrying passengers from Hawassa to Aleta Wondo, collided with an FSR vehicle with license plate number Code 3-50656, traveling from Aleta Wondo to Hawassa. In the initial collision, one person immediately lost their life, and other vehicles traveling behind stopped at the accident scene. Passengers also got out of their vehicles to observe the situation. At this time, a Sinotruk vehicle with license plate number Eth Code 3A-41656, traveling from Hawassa to Aleta Wondo, arrived at the accident scene and caused damage to the vehicles that were lined up and stopped there before passing. Subsequently, the Sinotruk fell onto another small public transport vehicle, resulting in 2 people losing their lives on the spot, 2 people sustaining serious injuries, and 2 people sustaining minor injuries. In total, 3 people lost their lives, 4 people were injured, and 11 vehicles sustained significant damage in this accident. Chief Inspector Melese stated that the accident occurred at night, the rainy conditions at the time, and the Sinotruk traveling at high speed exacerbated the danger of the accident. He indicated that considering these circumstances, the accident could have been even worse. Therefore, he urged drivers to exercise extreme caution, especially during the rainy season, reduce vehicle speed, and avoid night travel as much as possible. Tikvah Ethiopia Hawassa August 10, 2018 E.C. @tikvahethiopia Original Post: https://t.me/tikvahethiopia/107477

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tldr: Premier College graduated 92 online master's students in Business Administration, Project Management, and Leadership. Despite challenges like internet outages, students succeeded, and the college plans to expand its master's and PhD programs.

Premier College graduated 92 master's students who studied online. Premier College graduated 92 master's students who were trained online in three fields of study for which it received full accreditation from the FDRE Education and Training Authority. Of the graduates, 31 received their master's degrees in Business Administration, 48 in Project Management, and 13 in Leadership. The college president, Dr. Ahmed Fentaw, stated at the graduation that the students overcame many challenges by balancing work, family responsibilities, and education to achieve this result. He specifically mentioned that since most students were working and studying from various parts of the country, internet interruptions and power outages were challenges. However, he noted that the college enabled students to follow recorded audio and video lessons from instructors on the system at their convenient time. The trophy-winning graduate, Tesfatsion Gebre Yohannes, for his part, said, "Achieving this result requires commitment; balancing work and education, and fulfilling family and children's responsibilities was a challenge." He became the college's trophy winner by achieving a 4.0 GPA and 11 A+ grades. The college also stated that it is working to open master's programs in General Public Health and Data Science in the future, and is preparing to launch a PhD program in collaboration with renowned foreign universities. Premier College @tikvahethiopia Original Post: https://t.me/tikvahethiopia/107472

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tldr: Premier College graduated 92 master's students who completed their degrees online in Business Administration, Project Management, and Leadership. Students overcame challenges like internet issues, with the college providing recorded lessons. The institution also announced plans to introduce new master's and PhD programs.

Premier College graduated 92 master's students who were taught online. Premier College graduated 92 master's students who were trained online in three fields of study for which it received full accreditation from the FDRE Education and Training Authority. Among the graduates, 31 received their master's degrees in Business Administration, 48 in Project Management, and 13 in Leadership. The college president, Dr. Ahmed Fentaw, stated at the graduation that the students overcame many challenges by balancing work, family responsibilities, and education to achieve this result. He specifically mentioned that since most students study while working and follow classes from various parts of the country, internet interruptions and power outages were challenges. However, he pointed out that the college enabled students to follow recorded audio and video lessons from instructors on the system at their convenient time. The trophy-winning graduate, Tesfatsion Gebre Yohannes, for his part, said, "Achieving this result requires commitment; balancing work and education, and fulfilling family and children's responsibilities was a challenge." He became the college's trophy winner by achieving a 4.0 GPA and 11 A+ grades in his studies. The college also stated that it is working to open master's programs in General Public Health and Data Science in the future, and is preparing to launch a PhD program in collaboration with renowned foreign universities. Premier College Original Post: https://t.me/tikvahethiopia/107470

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tldr: The Tigray Regional Education Bureau launched a new curriculum for the 2019 E.C. academic year, delaying Amharic language instruction to seventh grade and introducing ethics education. The bureau stated the previous 16-year-old curriculum was inadequate, and while UNICEF approved $550,000 for the new curriculum, only $200,000 has been released by the federal government.

The Tigray Regional Education Bureau announced the launch of a new curriculum. In the new curriculum, Amharic language education, which previously started in the third grade, has been delayed to the seventh grade. Additionally, the bureau stated that ethics education, which was not in the previous curriculum, has been included in the new curriculum. Information from the Tigray Education Bureau, seen by Tikvah Ethiopia, stated that "the curriculum implemented in the region has been in use for 16 years" and "the curriculum has not adequately contributed to achieving the region's vision." The bureau announced that it is crucial to adapt the education system to the times and to design a curriculum that fits the modern world transformed by artificial intelligence (AI). The bureau stated that the new curriculum was prepared by 14 university scholars and experts. It also announced that, in addition to local experiences, the curriculum includes ethics education from Asia, and experiences related to equality and accountability from Scandinavia, North, and Western Europe. The bureau stated that "although UNICEF approved 550,000 dollars to develop the new curriculum, only 200,000 dollars has been used for the work so far because the federal government has not fully released the budget." The Education Bureau announced that the 2019 E.C. academic year's teaching and learning process will be conducted under the new curriculum. Tikvah Ethiopia August 9, 2018 E.C. @tikvahethiopia Original Post: https://t.me/tikvahethiopia/107465

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tldr: Two farmers were shot dead on their farm in Ethiopia's Kore Zone, an area with a decade-long history of similar attacks. The government confirmed the killings and pledged to establish lasting peace.

Two farmers working on their farm in Kore Zone were shot dead.In the border area between Kore Kebele, Gorka Woreda, Kore Zone in the South Ethiopia Region, and Suro Barguda Woreda, West Guji Zone in the Oromia Region, two farmers who were carrying out agricultural work on their farm were shot dead.Local residents told Tikvah Ethiopia that the farmers lost their lives in a gunfire attack while they were working on their farm. The residents stated that they heard loud gunshots and later received information about the farmers' killing.The residents added that it was difficult to retrieve the bodies after the farmers were shot and killed.According to the residents, farmers in the area have been attacked while working on their fields before, and this problem has continued for the past 10 years, causing the local residents to live in great fear.A senior zone official, who requested anonymity, told Tikvah Ethiopia, "It is common for farmers to be killed in their fields repeatedly for the past 10 years, with their entry and exit routes blocked. It is tragic that this attack occurred even while national consultations are underway; it shows how deeply rooted the problem is." He further explained, "The problem has continued for many years, and it is a suffering for which the government has not provided a lasting solution."Tikvah Ethiopia's attempt to obtain additional information from the zone's security and political leaders was unsuccessful at the time.On the other hand, the Kore Zone Government Communication Affairs Department issued a statement confirming the killing of two innocent farmers by forces it described as "anti-peace."The department stated that it would work in coordination with neighboring zones, the regional government, and relevant security bodies to establish lasting and reliable peace in the area. It also announced that efforts to ensure the safety of residents would be strengthened.The department additionally called on the public not to be alarmed by the incident, to actively guard the area, and to continue their normal daily activities.Tikvah EthiopiaHawassaAugust 9, 2018 E.C.@tikvahethiopia Original Post: https://t.me/tikvahethiopia/107463

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tldr: Tikvah Ethiopia interviewed Mr. Birhanu Kassa from Ethiopian Airlines Aviation University about student recruitment, programs offered, human resource development, and intake capacity. The full interview is available via a YouTube link.

Ethiopian Airlines Aviation University: • Student recruitment and registration process • Works it is undertaking to develop the human resources needed in the sector. • Types of programs the university is offering • Regarding the Aviation University's student intake capacity and related issues, Tikvah Ethiopia had a discussion with Mr. Birhanu Kassa, Manager of the University's Sales and Sales Service Center. Listen to the full interview: https://youtu.be/yPI1frQwzt0?si=EXnMCuFi_ZvxA_ky Original Post: https://t.me/tikvahethiopia/107461

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tldr: A 19-year-old secured a $4.1 million scholarship. An interview detailing how he achieved this is available through Tikvah Ethiopia.

How did the 19-year-old teenager win a $4.1 million scholarship? He had a stay with Tikvah Ethiopia; follow 👇 https://youtu.be/fJszX23u_-A?si=geN2Jps6HY6gMcnp Original Post: https://t.me/tikvahethiopia/107460

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tldr: The Amhara Regional Supreme Court suspended VAT registration for lawyers following a petition, but other tax obligations remain. The Federal Lawyers' Association advocates for a temporary return to the old tax system.

Based on the petition submitted by legal professionals, the Amhara Regional Supreme Court suspended the Value Added Tax (VAT) registration that had been imposed on lawyers. The Amhara National Regional Government's Revenues Bureau announced that the Regional Supreme Court issued a suspension order in response to the petition submitted by legal professionals (lawyers) concerning Value Added Tax (VAT) registration. In an explanation sent by the Bureau to zonal and city administration revenue offices, it stated that legal professionals engaged in advocacy work had submitted a petition to the Regional Supreme Court for a review of directive number 1104/2018 issued by the Ministry of Finance, which required them to register for Value Added Tax. The Amhara Regional Supreme Court, having reviewed the submitted petition, ordered that the directive requiring lawyers to register for Value Added Tax (VAT) should not be applicable to lawyers and should remain suspended until a final decision is made on the matter. Consequently, the Bureau confirmed that there are cases suspended in various court records. However, the Bureau emphasized that the suspension of VAT registration does not exempt lawyers from other tax obligations, stating that any legal professional (lawyer) remains obligated to pay their business income tax according to the regional income tax proclamation number 301/2018. It stated that professionals, as "Category B" taxpayers, have an obligation to keep accounting records or declare their taxes on time according to the recognized income declaration form. The Bureau clarified that this court suspension applies only to the matter related to VAT registration, and it issued a reminder that lawyers who do not declare their business income tax with accounting records should have their business income determined by a third party or by estimation, and declared as taxpayers, starting from August 1, 2018 E.C. or November 1, 2019 E.C. It also announced that administrative penalties stipulated in the proclamation would be applicable to taxpayers who are required to keep accounting records but fail to fulfill their obligations. On the other hand, the Federal Lawyers' Association, in an explanation to its members regarding its ongoing work on lawyers' tax payment status, mentioned that it is holding continuous discussions with relevant bodies on the matter. The Association stated that it believes the new system, which requires lawyers to keep accounting records by being excluded from "Category B" taxpayer status, is inappropriate in principle and that it is continuously raising this issue with government bodies, advocating for it to be rectified through legal amendment. For this reason, Tikvah Ethiopia noted from the Association's explanation that the Association requested a temporary arrangement allowing lawyers to pay their taxes based on a proportional income percentage deduction calculation, as per the old system, until the directive is issued. Tikvah Ethiopia, August 8, 2018 E.C. @tikvahethiopia Original Post: https://t.me/tikvahethiopia/107459

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tldr: The Ethiopian National Dialogue Commission announced its process is entering a critical stage, urging the public and media to rely solely on verified information and warning against spreading misinformation.

#NationalDialogue🇪🇹 The National Dialogue Commission has issued a message to the media and the public. The National Dialogue Commission announced that one month has passed since the Ethiopian National Dialogue began, and the process is now moving to a critical stage. The commission stated that the participants' respect, listening, and discussion on common issues over the past month have been satisfactory and promising. It also explained that disagreements occurring during the dialogue are part of the process. What did the commission say about the media? The commission warned that especially as the dialogue process enters a critical phase, distorted, unverified, and inaccurate information might be spread by individuals, groups, and some media professionals. According to the commission, such misinformation can not only create fear and suspicion about the dialogue but also confuse the public and complicate the process. Therefore, the commission urged the public to only follow official information released by the commission and verified information disseminated by media outlets present at the dialogue venue. The commission gave a strict warning to media institutions, journalists, and influential individuals. Regarding the dialogue process: - Spreading information that is incomplete, - unverified, - or not officially disclosed from the venue can create undue confusion and bewilderment among the public, so the commission urged them to refrain from such activities. It specifically requested caution to prevent public confusion by presenting speculative information on the internal processes, discussions, or unfinished agendas of the dialogue. The commission stated that it is monitoring media institutions and professionals who commit professional and ethical violations. It announced that it is working to ensure accountability by informing relevant bodies when such actions are observed. The commission emphasized that this monitoring and action will continue to be strengthened in the future. Finally, the commission asked the entire public to refrain from following and sharing unverified information and to follow the dialogue process with verified information. Tikvah Ethiopia August 8, 2018 E.C. @tikvahethiopia Original Post: https://t.me/tikvahethiopia/107457

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