Tewodros Tadesse to perform in Addis

The iconic Ethiopian artist, Tewodros Tadesse, is scheduled to perform in Addis Ababa after his album release in the US.  

He has a plan to launch a double album, ‘Tilantna ena Zare’, at the end of June. In this album, Tewodros wrote and composed all the songs in addition to producing the album. All in all, the double album will have 22 songs and one part of the album will be the collection of his previous works. 
This year, Tewodros created his own record label, Yo Yo, records with his wife, Yodit Shibru.
Born and raised in Addis Ababa, the 49-year-old Tewodros was able to transcend age gaps and reach people from different age groups and is loved by varied audience.

Betty and Bimp represent Ethiopia in Big Brother Africa

Bimp Bio
Bimp is from Addis Ababa sees himself as “honest, loyal, dependable and responsible” and says his family are excited to see him on TV. If he wins the big prize, he’d like to open a club or bar in Addis Ababa and triple the money! He’d love to travel and start a TV series about his adventures. Bimp is looking forward to gaining and sharing experiences on Big Brother.
He says the best thing about Africa is the people, who he describes as “friendly, fun, welcoming and loving”.
He hopes that Africa learns something from watching him 24/7. He wants to represent his country and continent well and do them proud.
Betty Bio
Betty is a translator and teacher from Addis Ababa. She describes herself as brave, confident, committed and able to make the right decisions at the right time. She likes punctual, reasonable, and confident people, but dislikes people with “big mouths”.

Dam to Dam: Belainesh Gebre wins 3rd title

Belainesh Gebre, 25, of Flagstaff, Ariz., finished first in the women's class of the 2013 Dam to Dam 20K Race in a time of 1:08:41 on Saturday morning. / David Purdy/The Register

Every time Belainesh Gebre comes to Des Moines, she wins.

The Ethiopian from Flagstaff, Ariz., claimed her third Dam to Dam 20-kilometer title Saturday in her third try. Gebre ran the second-fastest time ever, 1 hour, 8 minutes, 41 seconds, in the race's 34-year women's history.

"This is my favorite place," the 25-year-old Gebre said. "I'm happy because it's my third time."
Gebre, who also captured the Hy-Vee Road Races Half Marathon title in April, trails only five-time champion Bonnie Sons in the 20k event. Gebre, Karen Clark and Janice Ettle all own three titles. Gebre's other crowns came in 2008 and 2009.
Daniel Kipkoech also now knows the feeling of winning on the streets of Des Moines. The Kenyan living in Colorado Springs, Colo., pulled away in the final four miles to win his Dam to Dam debut in 1:00:56. His time is the 10th fastest in Dam to Dam history.

Committee on impact of Ethiopia's Renaissance Dam to meet Morsi

The final report of a committee assessing the impact of Ethiopia's Renaissance Dam will be discussed with Egypt's president, foreign minister and irrigation minister Sunday

Egypt's President Mohamed Morsi will meet Sunday to discuss their final report the tripartite committee that has been studying the impact of Ethiopia's proposed Renaissance Dam.

The joint committee is made of Egyptian, Sudanese and Ethiopian representatives who have been studying since May 2012 the impact of the Renaissance Dam project.

Who Owns the Nile? Egypt, Sudan, and Ethiopia’s History-Changing Dam

A rendering of the Grand Renaissance Dam under construction in Ethiopia on the Blue Nile. Its completion is expected to profoundly change the allocation of water resources in Africa.

by Andrew Carlson 
Editor's Note:

Egypt and Sudan are utterly dependent on the waters of the Nile River. Over the past century both of these desert countries have built several dams and reservoirs, hoping to limit the ravages of droughts and floods which have so defined their histories. Now Ethiopia, one of eight upriver states and the source of most of the Nile waters, is building the largest dam in Africa. Located on the Blue Nile twenty five miles from the Ethiopian border with Sudan, the Grand Renaissance Dam begins a new chapter in the long, bellicose history of debate on the ownership of the Nile waters, and its effects for the entire region could be profound.
For more on the recent history of Africa, please see these articles on Politics in Senegal, the Darfur Conflict, Piracy in Somalia, Violence and Politics in Kenya, Women in Zimbabwe, and Sport in South Africa.
On water and environmental issues, readers may also want to see these Origins articles: World Water Crisis; The Changing Arctic; Climate Change and Human Population; Global Food Crisis; and Over-Fishing.

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In the fall of 2012 newspapers around the world reported on a Wikileaks document, surreptitiously acquired from Stratfor, the Texas security company, revealing Egyptian and Sudanese plans to build an airstrip for bombing a dam in the Blue Nile River Gorge in Ethiopia. The Egyptian and Sudanese governments denied the reports.

Karuturi debacle prompts Ethiopia to review land policy

File photo of a Karuturi farm in Gambella, Ethiopia. Photo: Aman Sethi

 The slow progress of Karuturi Global and similar projects has prompted the Ethiopian government to reassess its policy of leasing vast tracts of land to single investors.

In 2008, Karuturi Global made international headlines when it leased 300,000 hectares (ha) of land in southern Ethiopia with the stated aim of becoming the world’s largest food producer. Five years on, the slow progress of Karuturi and similar projects has prompted the Ethiopian government to reassess its policy of leasing vast tracts of land to single investors.

Kenenisa Bekele wins 10,000 meters at the Prefontaine Classic

By Associated Press,

EUGENE, Ore. — World record-holder Kenenisa Bekele took the lead heading into the final lap and sprinted to the finish to win the 10,000 meters at the Prefontaine Classic on Friday night.
Bekele finished in 27 minutes, 12.08 seconds, ahead of fellow Ethiopians Imane Merga and Abera Kuma.

London Olympic gold medalist Mo Farah withdrew from the race a day earlier because of a stomach bug, instead choosing to run Saturday in the 5,000 in the elite Diamond League meet at Hayward Field.
Bekele set the meet record in the 10,000 at the Prefontaine back in 2008, when he ran it in 26:25.97. He went on to win gold medals in the 10,000 and 5,000 in the Beijing Olympics that year.
“It’s a very special place,” Bekele said. “In this stadium I had the time 26:25 so I’m happy to run here again. It is a good atmosphere, many people supporting us.”