Addis Ababa, June 15, 2018 (FBC) –Ethiopia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) today signed a 3 billion US dollars loan and investment agreements, including a one billion foreign currency support.

Accordingly, the UAE will deposit 1 billion US dollars in the National Bank of Ethiopia to alleviate foreign currency shortages in a few days time to ease the foreign currency shortage in the country.
The remaining two billion is an investment agreement.
The two countries also inked a treaty to waive visa requirement for diplomats from both counties.
Prime Minister Dr Abiy Ahmed and the visiting Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed
Forces Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan witnessed the signing ceremony.
Prior to the signing ceremony Prime Minister Dr Abiy and the Crown Prince held talks on issues ranging from business, economy and people to people ties to issues of regional peace and security.
The Crown Prince arrived in Ethiopia for a two-day state visit today.
Upon arrival at the Addis Ababa Bole International Airport, he was welcomed by Prime Minister Dr Abiy Ahmed.
During his visit, the Crown Prince will also meet President Mulatu Teshome to discuss on issues of mutual interest.
He is also expected to meet Chairperson of the African Union Commission Moussa Faki Mahamat and pay a field visit.
Prime Minister Dr Abiy recently visited the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
Investors from UAE are currently engaged in various investment sectors in Ethiopia.
Ethiopia also wants to attract more investors from that country in agricultural and tourism sectors.
Posted by Amare Asrat

Addis Ababa, June 15, 2018 (FBC) - There are unconfirmed reports that Mullah Fazlullah - the commander of the Pakistan Taliban - has been killed in a US air strike in Afghanistan.

Fazlullah's men shot the schoolgirl Malala Yousafzai in Pakistan in 2012.
He was also behind the 2014 massacre in the Pakistani city of Peshawar that killed more than 130 schoolchildren.
He became head of the Pakistani Taliban in 2013 and has been operating in Afghanistan for years.
The US attack was in collaboration with Afghan forces.
The US military only confirmed it had carried out a strike aimed at a senior militant figure in the eastern Afghan province of Kunar, which is on the Pakistani border.
An Afghan Defence Ministry spokesman told the BBC that Fazlullah was targeted and killed.
The Taliban has not yet commented.

Addis Ababa, June 15, 2018 (FBC) - Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, today arrived in Addis Ababa for a two-day state visit.

Upon arrival at the Addis Ababa Bole International Airport, he was welcomed by Prime Minister Dr Abiy Ahmed.
During his visit, the Crown Prince will meet President Mulatu Teshome and Prime Minister Dr Abiy Ahmed to discuss on issues of mutual interest and other regional affairs.
He is also expected to meet Chairperson of the African Union Commission Moussa Faki Mahamat and pay a field visit.
Prime Minister Dr Abiy recently visited the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
Investors from UAE are currently engaged in various investment sectors in Ethiopia.
Ethiopia also wants to attract more investors from that country in agricultural and tourism sectors.

Addis Ababa, June 15, 2018 (FBC) - US President Donald Trump has imposed 25% tariffs on $50billion worth of Chinese goods, accusing Beijing of intellectual copyright theft.

Tariffs that affect more than 800 products worth $34 billion in annual trade are due to come into effect on 6 July.
The White House said it will take comments on another list of products valued at $16bn and impose further tariffs if China retaliates.China has already vowed to strike back, raising fears of a trade war.
The Chinese product lines that have been hit range from aircraft tyres to turbines and commercial dishwashers.
Earlier on Friday, Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang repeated earlier warnings that all trade talks between China and the US would be void if Washington imposed trade sanctions.
"Our position is still the same," he said.
"If the US takes unilateral and protectionist measures that harm Chinese interests, we will respond immediately by taking the necessary decisions to safeguard our legitimate rights and interests."
Source: BBC
Posted by Amare Asrat

Addis Ababa, June 15, 2018 (FBC) – The Federal Attorney General today pardoned more than 304 prisoners, including 289 convicted on terrorism charges.

Among the pardoned include three Kenyans, according to a statement the Attorney General sent to FBC today.
The governments of Ethiopia and Kenya recently agreed to exchange prisoners.
Ethiopia’s decision to release the Kenyans is part of the agreement and aims at strengthening ties between the two nations, the statement noted.
The Attorney General pardoned a total of 1,105 federal prisoners this fiscal year.
Translated and posted by Amare Asrat
 

Addis Ababa, June 15, 2018 (FBC) -Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Ethiopia to the United States Kassa Teklebirhan briefed heads of the US-based companies on the investment opportunities in Ethiopia.

The ambassador gave the briefing during a meeting organized by the Chicago Council on Global Affairs, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ethiopia.
During the meeting, the Ethiopian Ambassador held extensive talks with President of the Council, Ivo H. Daalder.
The Council plans to dispatch a delegation to Ethiopia next fiscal year, it added.
The ambassador also held discussion with CEO of Chicago-based solar energy company.
The company is currently conducting study on how to expand solar energy in rural areas of Ethiopia.
Similarly, Ethiopian ambassador to Turkey Ayalew Gobeze, held discussions with Ms. Nezaket Emine Atasoy, President of the Confederation of Turkish Industrialist Businesswomen and Businessmen (SANKON).
They discussed business opportunities and how SANKON can support economic growth in Ethiopia.
Translated and posted by Amare Asrat

Addis Ababa, June 15, 2018 (FBC) - Ethiopian Airlines (Ethiopian), said it has finalized preparations to launch new flight services to Barcelona, Spain as of July 01, 2018, deploying the ultra-modern B787– 800 Dreamliner.

Barcelona, the capital and largest city of Catalonia and the second most populous municipality of Spain, is also the second largest trade fair and exhibition Centre in Europe.
Ethiopian Airlines Group CEO Mr. Tewolde GebreMariam, said, “We are very happy to spread our wings to Barcelona, which will be our second destination in Spain, after Madrid, and the 13th city in our European network.
The new flight to Barcelona will provide seamless connectivity options for business people as well as tourists from Barcelona to our extensive African network of 58 destinations via our main hub in Addis Ababa.”
Ethiopian is the largest Aviation Group in Africa and SKYTRAX certified Four Star Global Airline.
Posted by Amare Asrat

Addis Ababa, June 15, 2018 (FBC) - The UN Security Council has called on all sides involved in fighting over the Yemeni city of Hudaida to keep its port open to allow the delivery of aid and other essentials.

Saudi and Emirati forces began an offensive to capture the Houthi held city three days ago, raising fears for its 600,000 strong civilian population and over the safety of its port, which is responsible for 70 percent of imports into Yemen.
During a closed-door meeting, members of the Security Council expressed their "deep concern about the risks to the humanitarian situation", Russian Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia, who holds the council presidency, said.
The council brushed aside a call by Sweden, a non-permanent member, for a freeze to the military operation to allow time for talks on a rebel withdrawal from the Red Sea port city.
Yemen's internationally recognised government earlier said negotiations had failed to force the rebels from Hudaida, and a grace period for UN-led peace efforts was over.
Source: Aljazeera
Posted by Amare Asrat