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Mar 16 , 2025 . By YITBAREK GETACHEW

Trapped Between Sunlight, Soaring Costs, Farmers Struggle to Ditch Diesel

Fenta Atele gazes at the shrinking shores of Lake Abaya, in Southern Regional State, worry etched on his face. Until recently, the lake's plentiful water allowed him and his fellow farmers to irrigate their thriving crops of bananas, onions, vegetables, wheat, and fruits. Today, however, he is wrest...

Feb 9 , 2025 . By KALKIDAN NEGASH

Publishing Industry Contends with Soaring Costs, Shifts Digital

Walelgn Ayele, an aspiring young author, faced a harsh reality when he attempted to publish his first book. Printing 1,000 copies of a 450-page book would cost nearly half a million Birr. He quickly realised that paper size and weight were just the beginning of a complex and costly process. "To publish a book nowadays, you either have to be a government official or extremely rich," he said. "It's impossible at these prices." The publishing industry is struggling with soaring paper costs, compounded by a 15pc value-added tax (VAT) on paper and printing services. Import duties on sheet pap...

Feb 2 , 2025 . By YITBAREK GETACHEW

City Embraces Yoga, Meditation for Wellness

Rihan Demsew, engaged in the import and export trade in Addis Abeba, sought a solution to her work-related stress and long hours, which led her to join a meditation and yoga centre. Rihan also lives with Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA), which presented her with numerous physical difficulties. Before beginning her training, Rihan struggled with everyday tasks such as bending to wear shoes, completing hand-related tasks, and climbing stairs, and she also experienced sleep issues. She knew that managing her condition involved medication, physical therapy, and lifestyle changes. After five months of...

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. The cafe has become a meeting point for him and his children, who come from various parts of the city, Piassa, Torhailoch, and Hayahulet, three times a week. This tradition revolves around the city's new corridor developments. "We'll go straight from Mexico to Sar Bet, chatting along the way, an...

Feature

Jan 19 , 2025

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...

Jan 19 , 2025

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...

Jan 12 , 2025

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 Zafre...

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 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...

Columns

Commentaries | Mar 30, 2025

Media Council's Edging to Accreditation a Deceitful Drift

When the private satellite channel, Ethiopian Broadcasting Service (EBS), aired an emotion...

Editorial | Mar 30 , 2025

Trapped Between Sunlight, Soaring Costs, Farmers Struggle to Ditch Diesel

Fenta Atele gazes at the shrinking shores of Lake Abaya, in Southern Regional State, worry...

Featured | Mar 16 , 2025 . By YITBAREK GETACHEW

CHASED FOR A LIVING

At dusk, Haile Garment Square in the southern outskirts of Addis Abeba transforms from a q...

Agenda | Mar 30 , 2025 . By YITBAREK GETACHEW

Barley Supply Chains Sway Under Regional Strains

The brewing industry faces a storm, with barley shortages leading to a substantial spike i...

Fortune News | Mar 30 , 2025

Trapped Between Sunlight, Soaring Costs, Farmers Struggle to Ditch Diesel

Publishing Industry Contends with Soaring Costs, Shifts Digital

City Embraces Yoga, Meditation for Wellness

New Roads Stimulate Post-Dusk Energy, Revamp Evening Scenes