Jailed Ethiopian journalist Eskinder Nega honoured (BBC)

“I accept this award on behalf of Eskinder Nega at a time when freedom of expression and press freedom are at the lowest in Ethiopia,” Ms Serkalem said on Tuesday night in a ceremony in New York. “If Eskinder were standing here, he’d accept this award, not just as a personal honour, but on behalf of all Ethiopian journalists who toil under withering conditions today: Those who went into exile over the years… those in prison with whom he now resides,” she said. Mr Eskinder has been in Maekelawi prison in the capital, Addis Ababa, since his arrest in September last year.  Read more…

Ethiopia, Shashemene is the birth place of King Solomon and Queen Sheba , claim Rastefreians

Kabena, who moved from the Dominican Republic two decades ago, runs a natural health clinic on the grounds of a Rasta church but said authorities are encroaching on the fields where he grows food and medicinal herbs. Rastafarians say it was the "divinity" of the land that drew them to Ethiopia, which is mentioned in the Bible more than 30 times and is believed to be the birthplace of King Solomon and the Queen of Sheba. "This is the promised land, this is where God is born," said Ab. Yet the Rastas' vague status makes it difficult to set up business and access services open to nationals. "I'm in Africa and I'm illegal in regards to status. I don't feel illegal because I'm returning home,  but when you're talking about the letter of the law, yes, in fact, it's reality," said Carol Rocke, 56, who runs a Caribbean restaurant. When she was "ordained by God" to come to Ethiopia from Trinidad six years ago, she applied for a business licence but was only allowed to operate as a foreign investor, limiting her business to the region around Shashemene.  Read more…

BBC apologizes to Bob Geldof over band aid money report

The BBC had made "a terrible, terrible mistake, they've damaged 24 years of work, and they’ve damaged the public perception of giving aid to relieve starving people around the world". Said Bob Geldof. He questioned why it had taken seven months since a complaint by the Band Aid Trust for the BBC to make an apology. Director of global news, Peter Horrocks said BBC accepted that an unfair impression had been created by the production of Assignment "including, for instance, the use of Band Aid music". "What we should have specifically said was there was no specific evidence and we're apologising today to the Band Aid Trust and we're also apologising personally to Bob Geldof." Read more

BBC apologises to Bob Geldof for Band Aid slur

The BBC had made "a terrible, terrible mistake, they've damaged 24 years of work, and they’ve damaged the public perception of giving aid to relieve starving people around the world". Said Bob Geldof. He questioned why it had taken seven months since a complaint by the Band Aid Trust for the BBC to make an apology. Director of global news, Peter Horrocks said BBC accepted that an unfair impression had been created by the production of Assignment "including, for instance, the use of Band Aid music". "What we should have specifically said was there was no specific evidence and we're apologising today to the Band Aid Trust and we're also apologising personally to Bob Geldof." Read more…