TPLF central committee members Tewolde Gebretsadkan, Tesfalem Yehdego, Atsbeha Alemayehu Major Berihu Tsige and Samson Zegeye have been released late night today.
Today’s trial for those who have been detained for months
Tewolde Gebre-Tsadqan, Tesfalem Yehdego, Atsbeha Alemayehu, Major General Berihu Tsige and Simon Zegeye have been released on 10,000 birr bail, according to family members and lawyers.

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The Oromia Education Bureau announced that it is preparing to teach the Geda system in the curriculum for the 2013 academic year.

According to Dr. Tola Beriso, the head of the bureau, his office will teach Geda system in primary schools in the region (1-8) starting from the new Ethiopian year.

He said the bureau plans to provide education in all schools, but has decided to start primary schools in terms of preparation and supply of learning materials.

According to German radio, the new generation will be able to solve the social, economic and political problems facing the Geda system, citing the regional government’s communication bureau.

On the other hand, Zelalem Mulatu, head of the Addis Ababa Education Bureau, told Sheger FM 102.1 that preparations have been completed to provide Geda system education in Addis Ababa.

According to the official, the curriculum has been completed and a book has been prepared.

He said the book preparation will be completed in 2 and 3 weeks.

He told the radio station that the education will be provided at seven Afan Oromo schools in Addis Ababa.

Habesha weekly tikus mereja by Hilina.S

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The court closed Lidetu Ayalew’s file and ordered him to apply for bail

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The Bishoftu werda City Court closed the case by rejecting an extension of time for the investigating police to prosecute Lidetu.
Police said he had completed an investigation on lidetu ayalew’s file and asked the court for an additional 14 days to file charges, but the court rejected the police request.
The court ruled that the police investigation was closed and ordered Lidetu Ayalew to file another bail application.
Lidetu Ayalew, who appeared in Bishoftu werda District Court for the fourth time, said: “The court must take into account my health condition. I was not treated in the distance, and at the same time, 50 inmates use the same toilet, which is dangerous to my health. ‘
“The police investigation so far has not yielded any new results, the alleged accomplices have not been arrested and my witnesses have not been produced,” he said.
Police said their investigations so far included text messages in their possession as well as the results of the transitional government documents in their possession.
The court ruled that “your case has been investigated and that your application under Article 59: 1 and 2 of the Code of Criminal Procedure is invalid.
However, Lidetu Ayalew, who was represented by two lawyers today, said he could file a bail application in a closed case rather than a closed one, according to the FBC.

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Today, thousands of women marched on the streets of aweday protesting the mass killings of oromos by the ruling government in the town of Hararge, Oromia. This is probably the only protest by women in Ethiopia. women protesters demanding justice for all the recent brutal killings of oromo by sercurity forces . Women protesters chanted ” abiy must go” during the rally. More than a dozen women have been arrested in connection with today’s violence.

Habesha weekly tikus mereja by Hilina.S

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Lionel Messi failed to get tested for coronavirus

Barcelona’s Argentina soccer star Lionel Messi has been ruled out of the club’s Coronavirus test.
The team regularly conducts Covid-19 tests before practice, but Messi is not available.
World Cup star Messi has been at loggerheads with Barcelona over whether to leave the club on Tuesday.
Sport news

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Alternative decision was made to help the homeless residents who are registered for 20/80 and 40/60 to organize and build a condominium.
Addis Ababa: August 30, 2012 (FBC) The Addis Ababa City Administration Cabinet has proposed alternative solutions for homeless residents who are registered for 20/80 and 40/60 housing.
Addis Ababa City Administration Cabinet held its 30th regular meeting today.
The conference discussed various agendas and focused on solving the housing and transportation problems in the city.
To address the issues, the cabinet discussed various options and passed a resolution.
Accordingly, in order to alleviate the housing problem, the city administration has proposed alternative solutions for the residents who have registered for 20/80 and 40/60 to build a condominium so that they can organize and build a condominium.
In order to alleviate the transportation problem in the city, it has been decided to purchase 400 buses in a special way and 125 buses that have stopped working due to malfunction will be repaired and used from the first days of the new year.
According to information obtained from the Press Secretariat of the Mayor’s Office, the Addis Ababa City Housing Development Bureau will provide further details regarding the association’s housing development guide and related issues.

Via FBC

Habesha weekly tikus mereja by Hilina .S

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Journalist Fikru Woldu has passed away!

Journalist Fikru Woldu has died of a sudden illness, according to awollo Media.

Journalist Fikru Woldu suddenly fell ill and was rushed to Ayder Hospital for treatment at the Black Lion Specialized Hospital on Tuesday.

Journalist Fikru Woldu is said to have died of leukemia and has been receiving medical treatment for days.

Journalist Fikru Woldu has been working for the DW until his death. He has previously worked for Fana Radio and Fana Television in Addis Ababa for many years.

Journalist Fikru Woldu was married and the father of a son.

Habesha weekly tikus mereja by Hilina.s

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Ethiopia To Enact A Startup Act

A proclamation named as “ Start-up Businesses Proclamation” by the Ministry of Innovation and Technology together with the Job Creation Commission and other players is on draft.

Startup Act, as it is usually called, has been legislated before by Tunisia and Senegal in Africa aiming to provide customized support for startups and incentivize entrepreneurship. It is also reported Rwanda is in the process of putting place one.

Italy was the first countryto introduce a startup act globally. Tunisia, the pioneer to introduce startup act in the continent has seen a growth in its startup ecosystem after.

The Ethiopian draft Startup Act ( Start-up Businesses Proclamation ) , Shega was able to access before it’s officially released, introduces various interventions that are specifically targeted to solve the major issues startups and ecosystem players have been facing.

The draft proclamation, after a likely consultation from the public, is expected to be tabled to the Cabinet and then to House of Peoples’ Representatives.

Some ecosystem players have been reporting being counseled in the process of drafting and a consultative meeting with support organization has also been held back February. However, a request to feedback from a wider ecosystem and public is yet to happen if it is part of the plan.

What is New?

The draft proclamation establishes a National Startup Council that will have 7 -9 members and will be chaired by the Minister of Innovation and Technology. The goal of the council is ” To foster economic growth by creating an eco-system which is conducive to the development of innovation and technology, and the creation of new jobs “

The council will be overlooking and supporting the ecosystem, the technical advisory group the will be set up, and various initiatives the startup act introduces.

A technical advisory board that reports to the council will be filled by members from both public and private stakeholders. This board will have the power to receive applications for ” Start-up Business Label” and “Innovative Business Label”, manage the application process, decide who to give these labels, take away the labels, and also ” recommend to the Council on the utilization of the Fund “.

The details operation for the technical advisory board is going to be defined through directives that will be issued by the Ministry.

A ” Startup and Innovation Unit ” will also be set up under the Ministry of Innovation and Technology which creates an organizational structure inside the ministry that will specifically push the growth of the startup ecosystem in Ethiopia.

The other main thing that the draft proclamation introduces is an Innovation fund that aims to finance startups and Innovative business in Ethiopia.

The Innovation Fund that will be lead by MinT and supervised by the council will be used for Start-up scholarship, replacement of workers on Start-up leave, fees that apply for the registration of intellectual property, costs for administrative support, Incentives for eco-system builder and provision of guarantees.

The proclamation expects the innovation fund to be filled from the government budget, loans, and external donations.

Who are startups and Innovative Businesses ?

If one is to get the benefit and incentives designed by the proclamation, they need to get either a startup label or an Innovative business label.

According to the proclamation, a startup label can be provided if the business product, process, or service is ” incrementally innovative, or shall disrupt existing production, service or market structure “.

It also assesses the growth potential and scalability of the business model while it demands at least 25% of the capital to be owned by the entrepreneur. 

Finally the organization ” shall be either a micro, small or medium enterprise; and ” The legal existence of the organization shall not exceed five years ” to be labeled as a startup.

For Innovative Bussiness Label, all requirements about the Innovativeness, growth potential, minimum capital that should be held by the entrepreneur applies her as well.

In addition, the Innovative Business is expected to meet the maximum number of employees and the minimum annual turnover ( according to directives that will follow) and it should be a business that is at least 5 years old.

Startups can also apply for a pre-registration certificate that will allow them to operate legally before getting a commercial registration through the normal business registration process.

A pre-registered startup will be allowed not to collect any government levies such as turnover tax, value-added tax, and income tax. This pre-registration period stays for a maximum of two years only.

Incentives for Startups, Investors, and Ecosystem Builders

The Start-up Businesses Proclamation introduces various incentives for various players in the startup ecosystem.

The first incentive for Startups who received the label accordingly is the  ” Startup leave ” which allows an entrepreneur to maintain it’s employment relationship while he is away building its startup for a specific period of time.

The proclamation also introduces a startup scholarship and support on intellectual property rights registration from Innovative fund. Administrative support including legal support during registration, accounting, human resources management, and other supports are included too.

Start-ups and innovative businesses will be given the right to open ForEx account and will be provided a card to finance online services needed for the business.

Startups will also have tax-related Incentives and access to legal sandboxes while the proclamation provides direction for the government to come up with a mechanism to subcontract startups when foreign firms bid public projects in Ethiopia and incentivize those contractors who sub-contract startups.

Eco-system builders like Incubators that support startups will be allowed to access funding opportunities and tax breaks too.

Investors who works with startups that received a startup label will be eligible for “Tax break on capital gain, Carry forward loss for angel-investors, Facilitation of expatriation of capital gain for foreign investors, Allowing debt investment, Allowing selling a share below the price of acquisition.” 

In addition, Start-ups with minor foreign shareholders will be recognized as local companies, and also the proclamation suggests that the Ethiopian Investment Commission together with Investment Board may look at the minimum Investment amount allowed for foreign Investors to invest in Ethiopia in relation to startups.

The proclamation points out that ” National Bank of Ethiopia shall by directive govern the development of angel investment, venture capitals and private equity funds” as well. 

All in all the proclamation appears to try to address the major areas of concern startups and ecosystem players have been raising.

However, the implementation and impact will depend on the subsequent directives that will be published by the Ministry of Innovation and Technology, Ministry of Revenue, Ministry of Trade, and  National Bank which govern the specific details as well as the alignment on understanding and delivery by this government bodies.

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Disclaimer: The proclamation is on draft. While the general initiatives might not change, any of the details and specific could be changed when it’s officially released and later approved by the Cabinet and HPR.

Picture Credit: Startup Weekend Addis – IceAddis

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Famous Black Panther actor Chadwick Bosman has died of cancer.
Chadwick Bosman, an American actor who starred in the Black Panther movie, has died at the age of 43, according to Reuters.
Bosman, who has been receiving treatment for colon cancer for the past four years, is thought to have died at his home in Los Angeles tonight.
Bosman starred in East Africa and starred in the world-famous Black Panther and won many awards.

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29 August, 2020