Day: May 9, 2023

Posted on

Deputy PM & FM Calls on Addis Ababa City Administration to Intensify Dev’t Projects

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Demeke Mekonnen urged Addis Ababa city administration to strengthen development projects that would improve the livelihood of the inhabitants and sustain its historical legacy in the world diplomatic center.

A panel discussion organized by the Ethiopian News Agency jointly with the Ethiopian Diaspora Service and Ovid Investment Group was held today under the theme: “Addis Ababa is in A New Diplomatic Height.”

The event has brought together government officials, city mayors, senior diplomats, historians, media managers, and other stakeholders.

In his keynote address to the panel discussion and on behalf of Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Demeke Mekonnen, Ambassador Eshet Tilahun said that successive generations of Addis Ababa city leaders have made a wise diplomatic struggle to make the capital the center of diplomacy of Africa and the world.

Their leadership role alongside leaders of the country was imperative in order to bring continental and international organizations in Addis Ababa like the African Union (AU) and UN Economic Commission to Africa (UNECA), he pointed out.

Furthermore, Addis Ababa has also named several venues and squares in the capital with African countries and achieved other significant improvements for the image of the city.

Eshet also lauded the ongoing development initiatives in the capital adding that a number of works have been carried out on people-oriented development projects to make Addis Ababa a home for all citizens.

“A number of works have been carried out focusing on people-oriented developments to make Addis Ababa a home for all citizens. Many development works have been made and are being done in the capital to make it more attractive, without leaving its base and fame as it is the third diplomatic capital of the world.”

Sheger Park, Unity Park, Etoto Park, and other mega projects that have recently been completed in the city will have a lot of contribution in terms of increasing our city’s efforts, he noted.

However, the city needs to implement more projects that deserve the changing world of the 21st century diplomatic outlook.

According to him, Addis Ababa still needs more development so as to strengthen conference tourism to attract massive global meetings.

Deacon Daniel Kibret, Prime Minister’s Social Affairs Advisor with the Rank of Minister said on his part that Addis Ababa as well as other cities in the country should pursue a better way by taking their potential into account.

Since Addis Ababa is the capital of all Ethiopians as well as the seat of the African and international diplomatic community, it is necessary to make it comfortable for all residents.

“For instance, once a year the African Union summit is held here. All these have an impact on the image of Addis Ababa. But it is necessary to think whether it is compatible with international standards to be a diplomatic hub. Therefore, it should be comfortable for Ethiopians who say Addis Ababa is our capital city, Africans who say Addis Ababa is our diplomatic centre, and the international community considers one of the world’s diplomatic destinations.”

Chief Executive Officer of the Ethiopian News Agency, Seife Deribe said that creating national consensus and building a national image are the primary tasks given by the proclamation to the agency.

As a result, he stated the Ethiopian News Agency is doing an effective job by providing access to news and information to the diplomatic and the international communities in various international languages.

The CEO further pledged the agency will reinforce its efforts in creating national consensus by setting up consultation forums that could enable it to achieve the national mission.

“The purpose of this panel discussion is for us to have a consultation on the idea for Addis Ababa, which is the third diplomatic city in the world, to continue strengthening its global activities in a manner that confirms its African presence and safeguards Ethiopia’s national identity”

This theme exactly fits the core mission of the Ethiopian News Agency, he indicated.

Source: Ethiopian News Agency

Posted on

Bangante: reckless riding kills two students during sports exams

Two students of Government High school (GHS) Bangante have died and one is seriously injured following an accident that occurred on Monday May 8th, 2023 at descente Lycée in Bangante in the Nde division of the West Region.

The students were all in the class of Première D according to reports.

We learn that during sports exams taking place on the school campus, the three students decided to use their free time for a ride. Eyewitnesses say the speeding bike carrying all three students, lost control and hit an electric poll during their ride as a result of recklessness and over-speeding.

“They were three of them on the bike and were joking while accelerating it. That is how they went and hit the poll there. The two who were in front hit their heads on the poll and passed away on the spot while the one who was behind survived,” a witness testified.

“As I was riding pass, I saw three bodies lying on the ground, and the passenger I had on my bike decided that we should carry the one who was injured,” a bike rider explained.

The bodies were taken to the Bangante district hospital mortuary while the injured whose condition was critical, was evacuated to the Bafoussam Regional Hospital for medical attention.

As a result of this accident, youths of the Sagnam neighborhood where the tragic incident occurred, decided to take immediate actions against overloading and over speeding which they say are the main causes of accidents on the road.

“We have decided to spot out stubborn bike riders who overload and who ride on high speed, especially those who overtake at wrong moments. A bike should have two persons and not more,” declared a youth.

Informed of the situation, elements of Bangangte Police Station descended to the site to open investigations. This incident comes in just days after another fatal accident occurred in Bangwa along the national number 4 road. The accident was the result of a collision between a bike and an inter-urban transport vehicle that led to two deaths.

Source: Cameroon News Agency

Posted on

Vincent Aboubakar’s brilliance with Besiktas compensating Al-Nassr exit?

Vincent Aboubakar returned to Besiktas in January from Al-Nassr, and has so far been one of the Turkish side’s most impactful players.

With 13 matches played since his arrival, the 31-year-old has scored 10 goals with one assist. He netted a brace on Saturday as Besiktas defeated Antalyaspor 3-1.

Aboubakar parted ways with Al-Nassr in the Saudi Pro League to provide space for Christiano Ronaldo, who was arriving from Manchester United.

“When Christiano arrived, coach Rudi Garcia called me into his office. He told me that normally an international player has to leave…I told him that I already wanted to leave before and honestly, as Christiano was coming, my playing time would be reduced” the Garoua native said before leaving.

His contract was mutually terminated in compliance with Saudi football laws, which restrict clubs from registering more than 8 foreign players.

Christiano Ronaldo who has faced criticism on several occasions for average performance at the club, has scored 12 goals in 13 matches.

Vincent Aboubakar scored 12 in 34 matches between 2021 and 2023 with the Saudi club.

His return to Besiktas in January, constituted a third stint with the team. The 2017 AFCON winner earlier played with the Black and Whites from 2016 to 2017 (on loan from FC Porto) and 2020 to 2021.

Besiktas are currently third on the classification table after 32 days of play.

Source: Cameroon News Agency

Posted on

Effective governance crucial for economic development: Itope

Erongo Governor Neville Andre Itope has emphasised the importance of effective governance as a critical component for socio-economic development and social cohesion.

The governor highlighted the need for robust, accountable and transparent institutions; delivering quality services; protecting people’s freedoms and effectively combating corruption to build an inclusive society, for effective governance.

Itope was speaking in Swakopmund on Monday during the first of many town hall meetings scheduled for all seven constituencies in the region.

“The government’s commitment to effective governance is embedded within the Namibian Constitution, Vision 2030, the National Development Plans (NDPs), Harambee Prosperity Plan II and other policy documents. Government is conscious that more should be done and remains committed to implementing and unleashing the full potential of our national policies and development programmes to achieve the desired outcome of an effective governance architecture that translates into improved livelihoods for all Namibians,” he stressed.

Accordingly, the town hall meetings are being conducted with the main purpose of giving feedback to the community on Central Government, Regional and Local Government activities and to listen to communities on how offices, ministries and agencies can improve service delivery in the region.

The governor added that suggestion boxes will also be set up in all constituency offices in the region, where citizens can air their views on issues affecting them.

“I will open these suggestions on a monthly basis and share them with the relevant institutions for quick responses. Gone are the days that our communities have to wait for services and responses from Government institutions and relevant leadership. We need to respond swiftly and prudently,” he said.

The topics to be discussed at the town hall meetings include housing delivery, sanitation, health, infrastructure development, roads, health, schools, water and electricity.

Source: The Namibian Press Agency

Posted on

African Union (AU), Sudan’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan, chairman of Sudan’s Sovereign Council and commander-in-chief of the Sudanese Army, said today that the Sudanese government is open to any initiative that may help relieve the suffering of the Sudanese people.

Al-Burhan made the remarks today during phone conversations with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Azali Assoumani, president of the Union of the Comoros and chair of the African Union (AU), Sudan’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

‘Al-Burhan expressed the Sudanese government’s openness to any initiative that would help relieve the Sudanese people of the atrocities committed by the rebel Rapid Support Forces (RSF),’ it said.

According to the statement, Assoumani underlined the importance of maintaining stability in Sudan and supporting the ongoing talks in the Saudi city of Jeddah to stop the fighting and facilitate the delivery of humanitarian aid.

Assoumani was quoted as saying that he would send a special envoy to Jeddah to help reach an agreement to end the conflict and restore stability in Sudan.

Source: The Namibian Press Agency

Posted on

Otjozondjupa Regional Council and WFP sign MoU on food security

The Otjozondjupa Regional Council and the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) on Tuesday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on food production and security for inhabitants of the region.

The MoU was signed by Otjozondjupa Regional Council Chairperson Marlayn Mbakera and WFP Country Director Dr George Fedha.

Through the agreement, the two entities will identify suitable agricultural sites in the region, as well as the types of farming activities desired and appropriate for the identified places.

Otjozondjupa Governor James Uerikua, who was present at the signing ceremony, suggested that the identification process consider the areas with strong underground water sources as irrigation activities will play a major role in the success of the programme.

“We have places in the region where fertile vast tracts of land are found, including plenty of underground water in the Otavi, Kombat, Grootfontein, Okakarara and Omatako constituencies,” said Uerikua.

He further said the agreement should also allow for consultations with the inhabitants, as well as for physical land assessment by agricultural experts.

Fedha said the deal between the regional council and WFP would want to venture into gardening and poultry projects on a large scale.

On the amount of money to be invested, Fedha said it will depend on the types of farming to be identified, as well as the sizes and distance of that location.

Mbakera on her part said the regional council is prepared to donate land and the labour force to be solicited from the general public.

The MoU will run for a period of five years.

Source: The Namibian Press Agency

Posted on

Otjozondjupa education directorate receives mobile lab

Otjikoto B2Gold Mine on Tuesday handed over a vehicle equipped with a variety of physical science equipment only found in modern laboratories, to the Otjozondjupa Region Directorate of Education.

Handing over the donation at Otjiwarongo, the mine’s Assistant General Manager, Dama Fotolela said a similar facility with all physical science equipment also exists at the mine site.

“Therefore, this donation we have made today is called the Little Shop of Physics (LSOP), and it has in it all the modern physics equipment, tools and instruments,” he said.

Amongst others the vehicle is fitted with generators able to produce current in closed circuit and static electricity. There are also tesla coils able to convert energy, and slinky sound transmitters, able to convert energy into waves, explained Fotolela.

The vehicle is further fitted with different thermometers and lights, and Fotolela said the idea is to expose the physical science learners in the region to the instruments which are mostly only seen in textbooks, and also to afford them the opportunity to touch and conduct practicals on the equipment.

Fotolela said fitting a vehicle with these physics instruments is ideal for Otjozondjupa with schools scattered far from each other.

It was acquired at N.dollars 1.5 million including fitting of the equipment.

Otjozondjupa Regional Education Director, Josephine Mutenda was represented at the event, and she said physical science remains a challenging subject in all the schools here.

“Therefore, we are thankful that this little shop of physics from B2Gold will now come in and assist our learners to do practicals and learn by using the instruments,” she said.

Mutenda further urged B2Gold to assist by donating instruments in subjects of Chemistry and Mathematics, which are also still a challenge to so many learners in the region.

Several physical science teachers and heads of departments from different schools attended the event.

Source: The Namibian Press Agency