EPRDF failed Ethiopia but blames international community for "double standards" (Ethiomrdia)

The early anticipation, that EPRDF would be a harbinger of peace, justice, equality, democracy and economic salvation has been proven wrong. They have shown no sign of wanting to do this and it is increasingly becoming clear that it is finished now. As a ruling entity, it is in office but practically not in power. The system is paralysed, deeply disorganised and perhaps permanently damaged. Individual members do as they wish; pursuing their interests. Since EPRDF came to power, it failed to remain true to its promises. It has exploited our ethnic difference to divide us further and bring misery and endless conflicts. Yet unfortunately, many countries treat them as partners, especially in the fight against terrorism. Many Ethiopians found it difficult to fathom out how raping and strangling innocent girls and women in the remote Ogaden region could contribute positively to the war on terror. How can punishing, torturing, starving and killing the poverty-stricken pastoralists in the desert Ogaden weaken terror organisations? ...read more..

50,000 Ethiopians displaced by floods (AFP)

Ethiopia, home to 80 million people, is chronically hit by floods and droughts and is currently experiencing what UN and other relief organisations have described as a critical humanitarian situation...more..

Secretary Of State Clinton? Obama Should Not Sleep With Wolves (Black Star News)

Clinton developed special relationships with African dictators like Yoweri K. Museveni of Uganda and leaders of Rwanda, Paula Kagame; Ethiopia, Meles Zenawi; Eritrea, Afewerki; and Kenya, then Daniel arap Moi. Clinton then coined a bogus term, referring to these men as a "new breed of African leaders."...more..

The genius of America By Alemayehu G. Mariam (Galbeed)

Questions for Ethiopians: Can we….?Barack Obama got a resounding “Yes, we can!” from the American people to his questions. As Ethiopians we have many questions to answer: Can we produce leaders who inspire us with hope and faith in the future? Leaders who are able to put our humanity before our ethnicity, our Ethiopianity, our Africanity? Can we get leaders who can unite us as one people in an Ethiopian nation instead of keep us corralled in a nation of shredded nationalities? Can we get leaders who embrace the politics of unity and shun the politics of ethnic identity? Can we replace benighted demagogues with enlightened visionary leaders? Engage leaders with the courage of their convictions and hold accountable criminals who convict the innocents? Can we cultivate leaders who persuade by the power of their logic and substance of their arguments instead of dictators who measure their power by the diameter of the barrel of their guns and the caliber of their bullets? Can we develop leaders who speak truth to dictators living in gilded castles of lies? Can we replace brutes who rule by the law of the jungle with leaders who understand, believe in and practice the rule of law? Can we assemble leaders who respect the human rights and dignity of the least of their citizens and are committed to bringing to justice murderers and thugs who have built a memorial to their power on the gravesite of their innocent victims? I say, YES, WE CAN! Oh! Yes, we can. But first we must believe in the creed of our inner strength as a people: The unity of the Ethiopian people. The territorial integrity of the Ethiopian nation. The inalienable right of all Ethiopians to human rights and their entitlement to freedom and democracy....more..

Broken bones and body bags: horrors facing Ethiopian domestic workers(The Daily Star)

In one recent case, Mekdes Tesfaye Tefera's corpse was found with a noose around her neck. But the consulate has doubts that this was a self-inflicted death and has filed a police report.
"They always say, 'she killed herself,'" the social affairs officer said.
In the case of Zebiba Kedr, who is currently hospitalized, the consulate is working on having charges laid against the woman for whom she was working. The employers have stated that Kedr fell from the 12th floor of their building, but the head of the consular section said that when he went to see her in the hospital and asked her "Madame" had pushed her, she indicated 'yes' by blinking her eyes. read more...

G7 condemns the ongoing mass detention of Oromos Ethiopian Media Forum)

The Meles dictatorship is known for forging documents, producing fake witnesses and conjuring up spectacular crimes, such as treason and genocide against any one, even peaceful human right activists. Seen in this context, the recent mass detention of Oromos under the pretext of foiling a terror plot is a complete farce. We believe that it is an attempt by the regime to gain the sympathy of the new U.S. president...read more

የለውጥ ዝናብ መቼ ይሆን በኢትዮጵያ የሚያካፋው? (ግርማ ካሳ) (Ethiopia Zare)

ጥቂት ደቂቃዎች እንደቆየሁ ለቅሶው የደስታ ብቻ መሆኑ ቀረና የኀዘን እየሆነ መጣ። የተፍታታውና በፈገግታ የተሞላው ፊቴ መጥቆር ጀመረ። የተወለድኩባትና ማንነቴ የሆነችዋን ሀገሬ ኢትዮጵያን አሰብኩ። ድህነቷ፣ ለማኝነቷ፣ የልጆቿ በዘር መከፋፈል፣ የልጆቿ መራብ፣ የልጆቿ በዓለም ዙሪያ ሀገር እንደሌላቸው መበታተንና የልጆቿን መብት መረገጥ ወደ አዕምሮዬ ሲመጣ ውስጤ አዘነ።...more..

A Call for Ethiopians live in the Twin Cities and in greater MinnesotaAnyuak Media)

Right now, our Ogadeni and Somali brothers and sisters are being slaughtered and starved to death by the man who claims to be the leader of their own country, Meles Zenawi, and what is our response?.more..

Body of housemaid lying in UAE morgue for a month (Gulfnews)

"The cost of visa cancellation and obtaining departure permission is not more than Dh200 and must be shared by both," the official said...more..

Barack Obama has Opened Up a New Door of Opportunity and Now We Must Move Ahead! (Anuak Justice Council)

His language of acceptance, justice, unity, inclusiveness and hope was what attracted many supporters, but the road to the presidency required perseverance, sacrifice and hard work. History was made in front of our eyes and could be made in Ethiopia, but it cannot be done as long as we are divided. The antidote is the moral and spiritual transformation of our culture, one person at a time, into a people who can work together with humility and determination for a better future not only for themselves or their ethnic groups or regions, but also for other Ethiopians...more..

World reacts to Obama win (BBC)

Television news bulletins across the world have been reporting the story of Barack Obama's US presidential victory. ..read more..

Obama turns to building his administration (msnbc)

If Emanuel accepts, he would return to the White House where he served as a political and policy adviser to President Bill Clinton. Emanuel is the fourth-ranking Democrat in the House of Representatives as the Democratic Caucus Chair. ...more..

In quotes: US election reaction (BBC)

"Your victory has demonstrated that no person anywhere in the world should not dare to dream of wanting to change the world for a better place.
"We wish you strength and fortitude in the challenging days and years that lie ahead." FORMER SOUTH AFRICAN PRESIDENT NELSON MANDELA ...more..

Reactions Around The World (PHOTOS) (The Huffington post)

Source The Huffington Post

Obama Elected President as Racial Barrier Falls (NY Times)

“If there is anyone out there who still doubts that America is a place where all things are possible, who still wonders if the dream of our founders is alive in our time, who still questions the power of our democracy, tonight is your answer,” said Mr. Obama, standing before a huge wooden lectern with a row of American flags at his back, casting his eyes to a crowd that stretched far into the Chicago night....more..

President-Elect Barack Obama in Chicago (You Tube)

President-elect Barack Obama's remarks in Chicago at You tube

Obama victory sparks cheers worldwide (AP)

"With Obama, the world will see the Americans as having more sense, being more receptive to change," Khosla said on his way to work. "If Obama even remotely changes things, perceptions will change...more..

Kenyans celebrate Obama victory (China View)

"On behalf of the government and people of Kenya, and on my own behalf, I join the rest of the world in celebrating and congratulating you on your election as the 44th President of the United States of America," Kibaki said. ....more..

Europe awaits new US president in time of crisis(EU Obsever)

If Europeans had a vote, Barack Obama would beat John McCain by large margin. He enjoys greater popularity due to the fact that he represents a more evident contrast to the politics of the outgoing president, Republican George W. Bush.

Mr Bush's eight-year-long term has been marked by a unilateral decision to invade Iraq - something that his reputation has never recovered from, even though he later reached out to consult Europe on issues such as Iran....more..

Chicago gets ready for Obama(The SUN)

All these good people – and Americans ARE good and decent people – will be descending on to Chicago’s lakeshore tomorrow night to salute the man they believe can lay to rest the stumbling incompetence of the Bush era and restore pride, prosperity and confidence to the world’s most powerful nation.

Win or lose tomorrow, Barack Obama has transformed not just American politics but the way the world is run.

He is the first truly cosmopolitan leader, a product not of one place at one time but all places at all times....more...