http://www.voanews.com Voice of America is an international news and broadcast organization serving Central and Eastern Europe, the Caucasus, Central Asia, Russia, the Middle East and Balkan countries http://www.voanews.com/img/voa/rssLogo_VOA.gif http://www.voanews.com en-US 2012 - VOA 60 Wed, 22 May 2013 09:44:42 -0400 Pangea CMS – VOA An Ethiopian journalist has been arrested and interrogated for writing an article about the wife of late prime minister Meles Zenawi. Wednesday's arrest came as a surprise since the article was published seven months ago.   Ethiopian journalist Ferew Abebe, editor-in-chief of the weekly publication Sendek, said he was summoned Wednesday to the Federal Police Crime Investigation Department office. He was interrogated about an article he wrote and published seven months ago and was ... http://www.voanews.com/content/ethiopian-journalist-arrested-over-article-about-former-prime-minister-meles-wife/1662187.html http://www.voanews.com/content/ethiopian-journalist-arrested-over-article-about-former-prime-minister-meles-wife/1662187.html Thu, 16 May 2013 09:37:58 -0400 Africa Marthe van der Wolf http://www.voanews.com/content/ethiopian-journalist-arrested-over-article-about-former-prime-minister-meles-wife/1662187.html#relatedInfoContainer Providing Africans with affordable health care could be realized if pharmaceutical products were produced on the African continent. The continent faces many challenges before it will be able produce its own medicines. African and Chinese delegations came together this week at the Roundtable on China-Africa Health Cooperation to discuss how Africa can start producing health care products on the continent.  This could help African countries provide their citizens with a stable supply of ... http://www.voanews.com/content/challenges-ahead-for-africas-phamaceutical-industry/1658686.html http://www.voanews.com/content/challenges-ahead-for-africas-phamaceutical-industry/1658686.html Fri, 10 May 2013 13:24:30 -0400 Health Marthe van der Wolf African and Chinese delegates have come together in Botswana to exchange experiences on how to tackle health problems. Usually Africa is the one receiving advice from abroad. But African countries say they can teach other nations about health policies and how to tackle AIDS. China, which participated in the fourth International Roundtable on China-Africa Health Cooperation, is willing to listen, said Teguest Guerma, director of the African Medical Research Foundation, or ... http://www.voanews.com/content/china-africa-health-treatment/1656329.html http://www.voanews.com/content/china-africa-health-treatment/1656329.html Tue, 07 May 2013 12:48:22 -0400 Africa Marthe van der Wolf http://www.voanews.com/content/china-africa-health-treatment/1656329.html#relatedInfoContainer The family of Reeyot Alemu, this year’s winner of the World Press Freedom Prize, says her situation in an Ethiopian prison is worsening by the day.   Reeyot Alemu and Eskinder Nega are two of the best-known Ethiopian journalists imprisoned on charges of terrorism. UNESCO awarded Reeyot the 2013 World Press Freedom Prize for her exceptional courage, resistance and commitment to freedom of expression. But Reeyot's family and friends say she and her relatives are suffering.   ... http://www.voanews.com/content/family-ethiopian-winner-of-press-freedom-prize-suffering-in-prison/1653357.html http://www.voanews.com/content/family-ethiopian-winner-of-press-freedom-prize-suffering-in-prison/1653357.html Thu, 02 May 2013 13:50:36 -0400 Africa Marthe van der Wolf http://www.voanews.com/content/family-ethiopian-winner-of-press-freedom-prize-suffering-in-prison/1653357.html#relatedInfoContainer Shelter is among the many things Ethiopia’s street children long for.  But a study by the international aid group Save the Children indicates that local non-governmental organizations and community organizations rarely offer what the street children want.    Azeb Adefrsew, a researcher with Save the Children, said the limited services provided by local NGOs do not match what the kids see as their greatest needs. “The children say that their major problem was shelter.  But ... http://www.voanews.com/content/needs-of-ethiopias-street-children-not-met-aids-group-says/1652302.html http://www.voanews.com/content/needs-of-ethiopias-street-children-not-met-aids-group-says/1652302.html Wed, 01 May 2013 08:49:39 -0400 Africa Marthe van der Wolf The cultural tradition of chewing khat, a leaf that is a mild narcotic, is on the rise in Ethiopia.  The East African nation is one of the world's chief exporters of the crop, earning hundreds of millions of dollars a year.  Khat's popularity is growing as more members of the middle and upper classes are chewing the leaf.  The natural stimulant is considered to be mildly addictive and the leaf has become the country's number-two export behind coffee.   But in ... http://www.voanews.com/content/chewing-khat-gains-popularity-among-ethiopians/1651557.html http://www.voanews.com/content/chewing-khat-gains-popularity-among-ethiopians/1651557.html Tue, 30 Apr 2013 08:13:43 -0400 Africa Marthe van der Wolf http://www.voanews.com/content/chewing-khat-gains-popularity-among-ethiopians/1651557.html#relatedInfoContainer The United Nations Development Program has released its 2013 Human Development Index. Despite recent economic growth, Ethiopia is still near the bottom of the index.   Ethiopia ranks 173 out of 187 countries in the Human Development Index 2013, unveiled by the United Nations Development Program, UNDP, on Friday.  The Index is part of the Human Development Report that is presented annually and measures life expectancy, income and education in countries around the world.   ... http://www.voanews.com/content/ethiopias-human-development-improves-but-still-ranks-low/1622163.html http://www.voanews.com/content/ethiopias-human-development-improves-but-still-ranks-low/1622163.html Fri, 15 Mar 2013 10:46:29 -0400 Africa Marthe van der Wolf http://www.voanews.com/content/ethiopias-human-development-improves-but-still-ranks-low/1622163.html#relatedInfoContainer The African Union summit ended Monday night with a commitment to play a leading role in solving problems on the continent instead of waiting for other nations to lead the way.   Conflicts on the continent, economic integration and the AU's 50th anniversary dominated the two-day summit.  The general assembly of the pan-African organization concluded with initiatives and pledges to lead the way in solving problems on the continent, such as the militant takeover of northern Mali. ... http://www.voanews.com/content/in-shadow-of-mali-african-union-pledges-to-solve-own-problems/1592579.html http://www.voanews.com/content/in-shadow-of-mali-african-union-pledges-to-solve-own-problems/1592579.html Mon, 28 Jan 2013 16:57:29 -0500 Africa Marthe van der Wolf http://www.voanews.com/content/in-shadow-of-mali-african-union-pledges-to-solve-own-problems/1592579.html#relatedInfoContainer A new study says the fastest-growing sectors of Ethiopia's economy, such as telecommunications, land management and construction, are prone to corruption.  A study conducted by the World Bank and the Federal Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission was made public on Friday. At the same time, the study praises Ethiopia for its generally low levels of corruption compared to other low-income countries.   Rupert Bladon of the World Bank says fast growing sectors are more vulnerable ... http://www.voanews.com/content/ethopias-expanding-sectors-prone-to-corruption/1581965.html http://www.voanews.com/content/ethopias-expanding-sectors-prone-to-corruption/1581965.html Fri, 11 Jan 2013 10:05:09 -0500 Africa Marthe van der Wolf Thirty-four Ethiopian opposition parties have signed a petition to demand the elections next April - on the district, regional and city levels - be free and fair. Opposition parties were invited by the Election Board last week to discuss the schedule of the polls.  When the parties asked to discuss irregularities that occurred during previous elections, the meeting was adjourned.    Alessa Mengesha, chairman of the Gedeo People’s Democratic Organization opposition party, says ... http://www.voanews.com/content/ethiopian-opposition-parties-unite-to-demand-fair-elections/1542713.html http://www.voanews.com/content/ethiopian-opposition-parties-unite-to-demand-fair-elections/1542713.html Fri, 09 Nov 2012 10:22:21 -0500 Africa Marthe van der Wolf http://www.voanews.com/content/ethiopian-opposition-parties-unite-to-demand-fair-elections/1542713.html#relatedInfoContainer