LOOKING GLASS


LOOKING GLASS

A public phone around the Gofa Mebrat Hail area evokes memories of a bygone era when access to a global network was not a mere dip into one’s pockets. Telecommunication was introduced in 1894, with network interruptions during Italy's invasion. Ethiopia re-organised the Telephone, Telegraph and Postal services in 1941 and formed the Imperial Board of Telecommunications (IBTE) in 1952. Ethio telecom which has been divorced from the communications authority since 2010 currently has more than 74 million mobile subscribers.

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In-Picture

FUEL-FREE TAXI

Around CMC, two men haul heavy sacks atop their heads and shoulders, choosing the grueling burden over costly transport fares. The spike in fuel prices has pushed vehicle costs beyond reach, turning a simple journey into a heavy load carried step by step. Their weary figures tell a story of stubborn resilience, bearing weight not just in sacks but in the relentless climb of daily expenses, proving how far people will go to keep moving forward, no matter the cost. ...


In-Picture

BUS BLUES

As the daily grind winds down, a tide of workers and street hustlers floods toward Legehar transport terminal, each hoping to beat the odds and make it home in time for dinner, small talk, and a few hours of rest before the cycle restarts. But dreams of a smooth ride stall fast. With bus shortages and terminal reforms jamming the system, mothers, fathers, and young adults are left stranded on the curb, staring down the asphalt like it owes them an explanation. The wait drags on, turning the end...


In-Picture

Harvesting Finance

From left: Agriculture Minister Girma Amente (PhD), Finance Minister Ahmed Shide, and National Bank Governor Mamo Mihretu during the second Ethiopia Finance Forum on July 22, 2025, at Commercial Bank of Ethiopia's HQ located around Ras Abebe Aregay St. Officials unpacked the National Agri-Finance Implementation Roadmap (NAFIR), a push to widen credit access for inputs like irrigation, livestock, and mechanisation. Despite making up 32pc of GDP and 64pc of employment, agriculture secured just 8pc...