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Nov 23 , 2024 . By Bereket Balcha

A Verdant Oasis in a Concrete Jungle

I found myself savouring the first leisurely moments of my vacation. Sitting at John Graham's corner in the Olympiakos Greek Club, the world slowed down for a while. With good dinner and a tangy crispness of cold Sprite infused with a slice of lemon, I began to enjoy the indulgent calm which is a ra...

Nov 16 , 2024 . By Bereket Balcha

The Parallel Universe of Comics

In a world where knowledge grows at an unprecedented pace, imagination remains the limitless frontier pushing humanity forward. While knowledge informs us, imagination is what propels us toward innovation, creative expression, and new realms of possibility. Albert Einstein famously remarked, “Imagination is more important than knowledge. For knowledge is limited, whereas imagination embraces the entire world.” From ancient myths to modern-day cinema, imagination has given rise to captivating narratives that entertain coupled with insights into humanity's deepest questions. Comic art, in...


Nov 9 , 2024 . By Bereket Balcha

Addis Abeba Stays Under the Weather

Each year around this time, Addis Abeba's dry chill settles in, catching me and many others off-guard. I find myself closing windows tightly in the morning to seal in warmth. My once-routine walks are cut short as I hustle indoors, eager to escape the cold. The car seats, frigid and unwelcoming, seem to hold onto the night's chill, making my drive feel like a journey through a winter's fog. Turning on the water taps sends icy jolts to my hands, and taking a shower with cold water is not just a wake-up call; it feels like a dare. However, cold morning showers have been my ritual for years...


Nov 2 , 2024 . By Bereket Balcha

Cold November with Long Shadows of Conflict

The stakes of the upcoming U.S. election extend far beyond America's borders, rippling across continents already destabilised by growing conflicts. As the world watches, America's polarising campaign season—accusations, ideological clashes and an assassination attempt on Donald Trump—has laid bare deep societal fractures in a country that once championed democracy and unity. The outcome in November will resonate through conflict zones, shaping strategies and alliances in the Middle East, Europe, and Africa, underscoring the interconnectedness of today's geopolitical space. This year's U...

View From Arada

Oct 26 , 2024

Prospectus Puzzle in a New Frontier

When I received an SMS notifying me about Ethio telecom's 10pc share offering, I was genuinely intrigued. The public sale of shares from a major state-owned enterprise, which dominates the telecom sec...

Oct 20 , 2024

Preserving Roots During Globalisation

“The key to our people's survival does not lie in weapons or wealth but in culture.” This quote, which resonated with me while watching a documentary, captures the essence of how societies endure...

Oct 12 , 2024

The Day Earth Moved Beneath Us

I was lying in bed one day feeling like I was on a gently rocking boat, though no reason for the movement was visible. I had been in a relaxed pose for some time and wondered what could have caused t...

Oct 5 , 2024

Addis Abeba's Cultural Kaleidoscope Redefines Its Emerging Identity

I recently picked up a takeaway chicken Mendi meal from a Syrian restaurant on the outskirts of Addis Ababa, near the Jakros neighbourhood. The owner, a seasoned chef of Arabic cuisine, greeted me...

Pollution Amidst Greening Moves

My brother and I visited the Bole Arabsa neighborhood after a funeral, where my brother noted the significantly better air quality compared to downtown Addis. He described the fresh air as "food for t...

Sep 21 , 2024

The Merkato Multiverse

The sight of a porter carrying over 10 mattresses over head while zigzagging through the commotion of pedestrians and vehicles of all types epitomises what Merkato is all about. Africa's largest open...

Sep 14 , 2024

Confronting the Ghosts of Conflict, Trauma

I found myself deeply engrossed in an interview on local media. The guest was Seble Hailu (PhD), a psychologist known for her efforts in addressing trauma. The host set a sombre tone from the outset...

Sep 8 , 2024

A Kaleidoscopic Year of Tradition, Transformation

The New Year air is supposed to be filled with a sense of renewal and continuity—a blend of the familiar and the evolving. This annual cycle, while a marker of time's passage, also serves as a momen...

Sep 1 , 2024

Location Trumps Innovation, Apparently!

Legend has it that James Bruce, a Scottish traveller and writer on a mission to find the source of the Nile River, once expressed his disdain for locals eating raw meat at the imperial palace in Gonde...

Aug 25 , 2024

Post-Olympic Bitter-Sweet Taste

The love affair between the people of Ethiopia and Olympic games dates back to Abebe Bikila's historic barefoot marathon win in Rome over half a century ago. Since then, generations of athletes have r...

Aug 10 , 2024

The Fast Lane of Addis Abeba’s Life

Addis Abeba's streets are a mix of commerce and survival, where vendors and beggars are amidst the chaotic traffic in pursuit of a living. At every stoplight, the streets transform into an open-air...

Aug 3 , 2024

Hidden Costs of Constant Decision Making

It seemed only a matter of time before Joe Biden caved in to step aside from the November 2024 presidential race. The pressure had mounted with publicly raging discourses. On a personal level, I belie...

Jul 27 , 2024

The Virtual Pursuit of Happiness

A close friend introduced me to an application called "Hamster Kombat," which at first seemed like any other online game. With simple graphics reminiscent of classic games like Sonic X or Super Mario...

Jul 20 , 2024

Extinguish Hate Before it Devours

A 20-year-old man, fresh out of high school, crawled over a rooftop with a rifle, planning to commit the unthinkable. With his life ahead of him, he made the dreadful choice to take a life. This acti...

Jul 13 , 2024

A Note Rekindles Faith in Decency

One day, I found a handwritten note in Amharic on my car. The note began with a greeting and explained that the writer had accidentally bumped into my car in our residential parking area. He found no...

Jul 7 , 2024

The Perils of Unverified Information

News of a draft proclamation shared during a casual coffee chat surprised our friend group. According to one of us, the proposed law seemed to impact everyone's economic interests, sparking a heated d...


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The fiscal puzzle deepens as the Council of Ministers approved a supplementary budget of ...

Editorial | Nov 23 , 2024

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Waktole Abdulahi, a long-time resident of Norway, was relieved when he was able to secure...

Featured | Nov 16 , 2024 . By KALKIDAN NEGASH

Mercato's Taxing Transformation Tests Tax Authorities

Business owners in Mercato, the largest open market, were left stunned by a sudden gridloc...

Agenda | Nov 24 , 2024 . By AKSAH ITALO

TAXING TIMES AT MERCATO

Business owners in Mercato were reeling from a crackdown on tax compliance that has disrup...

Fortune News | Nov 24 , 2024

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