New Director vows to clear 300,000+ passport application backlog within a yearThe Ethiopian Immigration Service (EIS) has placed the country’s largest passport order in years – a whopping 1.5 million new documents from manufacturers in Paris. Newly-appointed director general Selamawit Dawit, who replaced scandal-plagued former officials just one month ago, vows to clear the whole backlog within the next fiscal year. Selamawit said the agency has prioritized resolving problems, starting with issuing passports to Ethiopians abroad. “The government has now provided adequate forex allocation,” Selamawit stated, declining to disclose procurement costs for the 1.5 million documents. But we are determined to resolve all issues and ensure every citizen can access passports as their right.”

The coalition of rights advocates, which includes the Ethiopian Human Rights Council and Association for Human Rights in Ethiopia among others, expressed concerns that ongoing political volatility could further destabilize parts of the country approaching the holiday period. - Advertisement -Of the many more organizations that expressed their concern, the Consortium of Ethiopian Human Rights Organizations (CEHRO), Association for Human Rights in Ethiopia (AHRE), Siiqqee Women’s Development Association, Ethiopian Media Women Association and Good Governance for Africa East Africa (GGA-EA) were among othem. In her presentation about the previous year’s human rights situation, Mesert Ali, the executive director of the Association for Human Rights in Ethiopia (AHRE), stated that her organization was gravely concerned about serious safety issues, which also makes it difficult to investigate human rights situations. “It wasn’t simple to collect and collate human rights concerns throughout the nation,” she continued, pointing out that when the government is questioned about people who are unjustly detained, including journalists, human rights campaigners, and defenders, it does provide a sufficient information or rarely respond properly. As a civic society, our task is to call upon the government and respective figures to take corrective action in situations of violations of human rights.

Addis Ababa, Sep 9 (UNI) The number of people arriving in Ethiopia due to the conflict in Sudan has reached 78,598, said the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). As of Aug. 29, as many as 78,598 crossings have been made by returnees, refugees and asylum seekers from conflict-affected Sudan to its neighboring country Ethiopia, the OCHA said in its latest update issued Friday. Of the total number of crossings, some 46 percent are Ethiopian nationals, 34 percent Sudanese nationals while the remaining 20 percent are third-country nationals. The crossings, OCHA said, started on April 21 shortly after the onset of the conflict in Sudan, mainly through the Metema and Kurmuk Ethiopia-Sudan border entry points. Sudan has been witnessing, since April 15, deadly clashes between the country's armed forces and the paramilitary forces in Khartoum and other areas.

ADDIS ABABA – The Ethiopian Investment Holdings (EIH) has partnered with Toppan Gravity to set up a securities printing business. The EIH and Toppan signed a shareholder’s agreement for the establishment of Toppan Gravity Ethiopia on Friday. Ethiopia’s giant sovereign wealth fund initiated the investment to strengthen its print manufacturing portfolio. “This venture will operate in the securities printing business ecosystem,” announces the EIH, adding it will be Toppan’s manufacturing hub for Africa and aims to be a key player in the continent and beyond. The EIH is also a key shareholder in the Ethiopian Securities Exchange (ESX) which is set for launch in 2024/25, and will likely boost the ESX with a pipeline of listings from its business portfolio.

A Seminarian has been burnt to death after bandits attacked and set ablaze a Catholic Parish House in Kamantan in Zango Kataf Local Government Area of Kaduna State. Persecondnews gathered that the attackers stormed the house on Thursday night and set it ablaze alongside a vehicle. It was also gathered that the deceased seminarian, Stephen Naman Ngofe, died from the smoke he inhaled while trying to escape from the inferno and kidnap attempt by the attackers. However, the Assistant Parish Priest, Monday Noah, and the Parish Priest, Emmanuel Okolo, who were in the building when the incident happened, were lucky to have escaped. Zangon Kataf council area, situated in Southern Kaduna, has been under relentless attacks and siege by terrorists for years.

ASKY, the Pan-African Airline, has received two Boeing 737-8 MAX aircraft, registered ET-BAQ & ET-BAR, with a capacity of 160 seats, including 16 seats in Business Class and 144 seats in Economy Class. This follows the signing of a lease for two Boeing 737-8 MAX aircraft with AerCap, the world’s largest commercial aircraft lessor, on Monday May 22, 2023. The features of the Boeing 737-8 MAX include cutting-edge technology enabling reduced fuel consumption, thus reducing the environmental footprint while maintaining optimum flight performance. These two Boeing 737-8 MAX aircraft reflect ASKY’s commitment to modernizing its fleet and offering its passengers an exceptional travel experience with the latest advances in aircraft technology. The company remains resolutely committed to raising the standards of the air transport industry in Africa.

As part of its commitment to technological advancement and strategic innovation, Ethiopost, a state owned postal service in Ethiopia for over a century inks exclusive partnership with Dodai Manufacturing PLC (“Dodai”). Through this collaboration, Ethiopost continues its legacy of”Post for everyone,”further emphasizing its intent to evolve into a technology-driven service provider and setting a new standard in sustainable delivery solutions. Ms. Hanna Arayaselassie, CEO of Ethiopost, remarked,”At Ethiopost, our century-long journey has always been about adapting and innovating. With over 2,500 employees, Ethiopost delivers items to over 120 destinations all over Ethiopia through its 750 branches. .The century old state enterprise envisions to become a continental leader in postal service & contribute to the sustainable development of Ethiopia.

First Ethiopia-Somalia Joint Ministerial Commission meeting held in MogadishuMOGADISHU, Somalia - The First Ethio-Somalia Joint Ministerial Commission (JMC) meeting was held today in Mogadishu, Somalia. The meeting was co-chaired by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Demeke Mekonnen and Somalia's Deputy Prime Minister, Salah Ahmed Jama. In his opening remarks, Demeke thanked Salah Ahmed Jama for the warm reception and hospitality extended to him and his delegation and further commended Salah Ahmed Jama for convening the 1st Session of the JMC. Deputy Prime Minister of Somalia, Salah Ahmed Jama on his part said, that this JMC is a historic moment for the two countries that can benefit the two peoples. Upon concluding the meeting, the dignitaries presided over the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding on Trade cooperation and agreed minutes of the meeting.

Ethiopian soldiers killed more than 70 civilians and looted properties in a town in the restive Amhara region, witnesses told The Guardian on Friday. The federal government of Ethiopia declared a state of emergency in the Amhara region on Aug. 4, 2023. “The federal soldiers looted our livestock and killed my uncle together with other neighbours, who were also innocent farmers. Ethnic Amhara civilians targetedThe Ethiopian Human Rights Commission (EHRC) has also cited the widespread arrest of ethnic Amhara civilians in Addis Ababa city administration. The country has been in a state of civil conflict for years, and the violence in the Amhara region is the latest flare-up.

In his view, China’s presence in the group gives some economic power, as it is one of the major investors in the South. Regarding the diversity of its members, the Cuban diplomat recalled that there are “rich countries, rich economies, and also poor economies. “G-77 plus China has been alive and united for 60 years; the group is important because it is a forum to negotiate with the United Nations. Its main objective is to support each other and prioritize its position in the United Nations,” he stressed. The main theme of the G-77 plus China Summit in Cuba will be “Current Development Challenges: Role of Science, Technology and Innovation.”jg/iff/jha/nmr

Addis Ababa — :- Honoring and respecting our patriot forefathers and mothers for handing over to us an independent country, we need to observe the sacrifices they paid, Ethiopian Defense Force State Minister Martha Luiji said. The history of Ethiopian patriots shows that Ethiopian people do not hesitate to give their lives to protect the sovereignty of the nation, Martha noted. According to her, security institutions of the country are manifestations of national unity and cementing Ethiopia by paying sacrifice together with the people. A generation has paid in blood to protect the sovereignty, statehood, and bring a better system, he added. Ethiopian Patriots Association President, Lij Daniel Jote Mesfin noted that Ethiopia remained independent thanks to the priceless sacrifice our forefathers paid.

Colgate Live Music Collective hosted the third annual Fall Music Festival on Saturday, Sept. 2. Child, who helps out in coordinating Colgate Live Music Collective’s initiatives and events, explained the importance of music in his life. “Rabbit Rabbit” is the group’s first album in five years, having been in the works over the pandemic. “Rabbit Rabbit,” came out on Sept. 1, the day before the Fall Music Festival. […] So thanks for being a good audience!”Sophomore Nizak Abdou, who attended most of the festival, expressed their enjoyment of Fall Music Festival.

Stewart Chisham became a reporter for The Globe in July 2023. An independent novelist and webcomic artist, Stewart has a love for all things movies, music and cryptids. He has a bachelors in Film and Mass Communications from the University of Minnesota Mankato.

Sudanese army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan met Qatar's emir on Thursday during his third trip abroad since war broke out in April, after also visiting Egypt and South Sudan in recent days. Burhan left Doha on Thursday afternoon, the official Qatar News Agency said. Late on Wednesday, Burhan issued a decree dissolving the RSF, while the United States slapped sanctions on senior commander Abdelrahim Hamdan Daglo, the brother of the paramilitary leader. Burhan made his first foray outside army headquarters last month and has visited regional allies in recent weeks. Since leaving the capital Khartoum, he has been based in Port Sudan, an eastern city that has been spared the fighting.

Egypt's foreign minister urged leaders of the Arab League to press Ethiopia to end the unilateral filling of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) without consulting Egypt and Sudan. Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry urged Arab League leaders on Wednesday to continue to pressure Ethiopia over the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) issue. "Ethiopia’s unilateral approach to the dam has not changed," Shoukry said at the 160th session of the Arab League's Council of Arab Foreign Ministers in Cairo. He commended the Arab League's support for Egypt and Sudan and stressed the need for a solution due to the "risks and threats" the situation presents. Shoukry said in his speech that Egypt aims for a peaceful resolution that protects its Nile water rights and national security.