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Jan 19 , 2025 . By YITBAREK GETACHEW

New Roads Stimulate Post-Dusk Energy, Revamp Evening Scenes

Melese Gizaw, a former soldier from the Derg regime, finds himself drawn to cafes since leaving military service. He enjoys listening to music of Mohamoud Ahmed, a sound that accompanies his reflections on the past and present. Nowadays, he frequents a cafe, a popular spot for couples and others...

Jan 19 , 2025 . By AKSAH ITALO

TikTok Powers Business, Impairs Safety

Layne Lemma, a 31-year-old woodworker, initially crafted the Kirar, the traditional string instrument, for a private company. His career took an unexpected turn when he discovered TikTok two years ago, a platform where he could showcase his creative wood art to a global audience with a single click. Despite facing initial obstacles and backlash for posting videos that were not the typical memes that users were used to seeing, Layne persisted. He recalls receiving hate speech. "People have not been very welcoming," he said. Starting with a modest following of 1,000, Layne gradually gained...


Jan 19 , 2025 . By KALKIDAN NEGASH

Addis Abeba's Hidden Traps Threaten Public Safety

Sewnet Abel's experience in September last year highlights the hidden dangers of Addis Abeba's streets. On his way home from work near Megenagna, the 33-year-old hotel worker fell into an open manhole. What should have been a festive Ethiopian New Year turned into weeks of pain. Initially seeking help from traditional healers, he eventually required medical treatment at a government hospital. With his hand in a cast for a week, Sewnet now counts manholes on every road, walking with extra caution. Across the city, pedestrians, especially the elderly and vulnerable, face severe injuries or...


Jan 12 , 2025 . By BEZAWIT HULUAGER

Paper Bag Industry Thrives, Plastic Ban Looms

Bethelhem Dejene has noticed a growing demand for paper bags. After completing a contracted project, she decided to continue producing paper bags with the same team. As the founder and CEO of Zafree Papers Plc, a company producing tree-free paper pulp from agricultural waste, Bethelhem plans to begin paper bag production this month. The company also plans to establish a factory with an investment of five million dollars. The paper bag market is booming, driven by a draft Solid Waste Management Proclamation that bans the import, production, usage, and sale of single-use plastic bags. This...

Feature

Jan 5 , 2025

Turning Pages, Breaking Barrier

Ten entrepreneurs reveal the ups and downs of building businesses. From turning coffee waste into oil products to digitizing traditional equb, they share how personal experiences, local problems, and...

Jan 5 , 2025

SOMICK'S LENS

Sewmehon Yismaw, known affectionately as "Somick," is a filmmaker who describes his life as a mystery he would personally direct. He speaks proudly of his childhood, recounting how his gift for storyt...

Jan 4 , 2025

Christmas Rush Drives Exhibition Boom, Economic Uncertainty Looms

Bazaars and exhibitions are springing up across Addis Abeba, tapping into the festive Christmas shopping season. The Addis Abeba Exhibition Centre is hosting a large Christmas event organised by Robus...

Jan 4 , 2025

Lalibela Struggles to Recover from Pandemic, Conflict Fallout

Lalibela town draws thousands of Ethiopians each year to celebrate Christmas (Genna). Tourism expert Netsanet Teressa, a regular visitor for work, notes that many now prefer flying over driving, citin...

Jan 4 , 2025

Demolition Boosts Cargo Profit, Disarrays Communities

The streets of Abo Mazoria around Mekanisa, once bustling with people, now lie in silence. It is now filled with debris and dust. On the morning of December 26, 2024, the area seemed almost unrecognis...

Dec 15 , 2024

E-bikes' Flat Tyre Seeks Authorities' Goodwill

For Netey Tesfaye, an electric bike offered a chance at a decent living, delivering goods across the bustling city. He used to earn between 350 Br and 450 Br a day, until September when his journey wa...

Nov 16 , 2024

Independent Forex Bureaus Offer Valued Choice

Waktole Abdulahi, a long-time resident of Norway, was relieved when he was able to secure 260 dollars at one of Addis Abeba's newly opened independent forex bureaus. For his travels and securing a yel...

Oct 27 , 2024

Fire Engulfs Mercato, Exposes City's Safety Flaws

A former teacher, Tesfaye, has lost two out of his three shops during a fire breakout last week. His sister was managing one of the shops while their family's livelihood depended on it. He had seen th...

Oct 6 , 2024

Beyond Borders Ethiopians' Journey to Healing

Nine months ago, Worku Hailu found himself in India, thousands of kilometres from home, undergoing a kidney transplant. After learning that the procedure wasn't available in Ethiopia, he had to take m...

Sep 29 , 2024

EV Market Shifting Terrain

Getachew Dinku, a university professor, was surprised by the significant increase in import taxes and duties when he recently imported an electric vehicle. The devaluation of the Birr and new VAT regu...

Sep 9 , 2024

A Year of Musical Riches

The music scene has been particularly vibrant this year, with a diverse range of albums coming out one after the other. From chart-topping hits to critically acclaimed projects, the musicians are leve...

Sep 8 , 2024

Liquidity Squeeze, Faltering Remittances Cast Shadow Over Reform Ambitions

The start of the new year has injected a sense of optimism into the banking industry, driven by expectations of increased remittance inflows and the promise of reforms liberalising the foreign exchang...

Sep 8 , 2024

Podcasts Unleash Voices Taking Aim at Traditional Media Stranglehold

In a media space overwhelmed by polished interviews and scripted stories, Dejaf, a YouTube podcast created by Dawit Tesfaye, presents an engaging and refreshing alternative to its listeners. The show...

Sep 8 , 2024

Blueprints for Lasting Change

As the clock strikes midnight on new year's eve, many feel a surge of optimism, ready to turn the page on old habits and commit to new goals. It is a tradition rooted in the belief that the new year o...

Jun 22 , 2024

Blooming Against the Odds

Horticultural spaces unfold a few kilometres away from the capital into eastern Shoa, Oromia Regional State. Agroecology, with its long sunny days, plays a pivotal role in the flower industry, providi...

May 3 , 2024

MASTERING LIFE - MORE THAN LUCK

The feel-good life coaching industry would have people believe that success is not only about showing up in the swirling whirl of modern life, where essentials like health, shelter, and education twir...


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Monetary Policy Walks a Tightrope Battling Inflation While Stifling Growth

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Breaking Stereotypes, Redefining Masculinity for a Just Society

My Opinion | Jan 25,2025

In Green Energy Gridlock, Markets Alone Can't Power the Transition

Sunday with Eden | Jan 25,2025

Wash Hands, Save Lives

Agenda | Jan 25,2025

New Traffic Rules Add Financial Strain on Addis Abeba Drivers

Editorial | Jan 25,2025

Birr in Tumble, Reform Rhetoric Meets Bitter Economic Realities


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Birr in Tumble, Reform Rhetoric Meets Bitter Economic Realities

Grand ambitions have long driven Ethiopia's successive leaders, but they remain weighed do...

Editorial | Jan 25 , 2025

New Roads Stimulate Post-Dusk Energy, Revamp Evening Scenes

Melese Gizaw, a former soldier from the Derg regime, finds himself drawn to cafes since le...

Featured | Jan 19 , 2025 . By YITBAREK GETACHEW

New Traffic Rules Add Financial Strain on Addis Abeba Drivers

Binyam Tesfaye, a 31-year-old father of two, is struggling under the weight of Addis Abeba...

Agenda | Jan 25 , 2025 . By ROBERA GETACHEW

MOTORISTS HIT BRAKES ON TOUGHER FINES

Many motorists face new and stricter traffic regulations introduced by the Council of Mini...

Fortune News | Jan 25 , 2025 . By ROBERA GETACHEW