Posts tagged ethiopia

Ethiopia’s high economic growth can be linked to the country’s use of new technologies. The country recently introduced Africa’s first smart parking system. This parking system is cheaper and more efficient. 90 cars can be parked in a space which previously parked 9 cars. Certainly a project other countries and cities can emulate.

African migrants and refugees travelling to Libya are being frequently abducted, tortured, sexually exploited and made to engage in forced labour. The people smugglers and criminal gangs are using social media to broadcast the abuse and violence they inflict on African migrants in their captivity and to demand ransoms (ranging from US$ 8,000-10,000) from their families back home, the UN says.

Ethiopia has surpassed Kenya to become east Africa’s top economic giant. According to data from the International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) Ethiopia’s annual economic output, (Gross Domestic Product – GDP), hit $72.52 billion (Sh7.4 trillion) last year from $64.68 billion in 2015 and is expected to touch $78.3 billion this year. Ethiopia opened a Sh3 billion gap against former leader Kenya to make it east Africa’s top economic giant. Ethiopia’s growth has been attributed to public-led spending on infrastructure and a robust domestic demand.

Health delegates from 185 countries on this week gathered in Geneva and elected Ethiopian Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus as the first Director-General from Africa to head the United Nations specialised agency. In the election Ghebreyesus defeated Dr. David Nabarro of Britain and Dr. Sania Nishtar, a Pakistani cardiologist in a two round ballot.

Today Africans across the continent celebrate Mother’s Day. Google used its doodle to pay tribute to mothers. The animated doodle shows the story of a cactus mom through various stages of motherhood. The doodle honours mothers across the world and celebrates the sacrifices mothers make for their children. Happy Mother’s Day to all the moms in the world, and we thank you for all the sacrifices, and love.

Media protection, resourcing and independence are vital wherever peace is in jeopardy.

Domestic workers from Africa in the Gulf States have often been victims of abuse, racism, exploitation, and mistreatment at the hands of their employers. A horrific video, which emerged last week showing an Ethiopian woman crying for help then falling from the seventh floor of a building while her employer films the ordeal without offering help has caused an uproar.

Kenya has banned the use of plastic bags for commercial and household packing, becoming the latest African country to outlaw the plastic-bag carriers. The ban is expected to play a key role in helping to protect the environment. Kenya now joins Rwanda, Cameroon, Guinea-Bissau, Mali, Tanzania, Uganda, Ethiopia, Mauritania and Malawi, countries that have issued similar bans.

Dozens of people are still missing after a massive garbage landslide, which has killed about 115 people in the Ethiopia’s capital, Addis Ababa. Close to 150 people were working at the site at the time the landslide occurred.

The east African region is facing a humanitarian crisis. Citizens from various countries face hunger and starvation due to the ongoing drought, and there are concerns that the situation could deteriorate if humanitarian assistance to avert the crisis delays. The United Nations estimates that close to 17 million people are facing hunger in nine countries. The countries include hard-hit by the crisis include Somalia, South Sudan, Ethiopia and Kenya. Urgent assistance is required to avert this crisis and various humanitarian organisations including World Vision are raising funds to provide desperately and urgent life-saving supplies to the most vulnerable children, including water, food and basic medical supplies.