insert_link Africa Ethiopia looks to the Singapore model to lure startups in sweeping new reforms By Seth Onyango, bird story agency Ethiopia has unveiled sweeping reforms to support a burgeoning startup industry and turn the country into a leading incubator of entrepreneurs. Notable changes include slashing a 30% capital-gains tax on the transfer and issuance of shares, according to Brook Taye, Director-General of the Ethiopian Capital Market Authority. The move, combined with an allowance for startups to retain all foreign currency […] todayApril 16, 2024 6
insert_link Africa bird TenX: African countries with the highest number of EVs By Bonface Orucho, bird story agency Despite recent headwinds, a growing shift from gasoline-powered vehicles to electric vehicles continues apace in Africa. Last year, the global sale of fully electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles rose by 31% compared to 2022, according to a 2024 report by market research firm Rho Motion. Despite the high cost of conversion and a lack of adequate enabling infrastructure such as […] todayApril 16, 2024 50
insert_link Africa Africans showcase the continent’s athletic supremacy at the World Cross-Country Championships By Stephen Granger, SPNA If you want to get a sense of the level to which African runners dominate distance running right now, look no further than the World Athletics Cross Country Championships, held this year in Belgrade, Serbia. From Kenya to South Africa, Uganda to Ethiopia, different cross-country athletes from the continent recorded remarkable performances. Formerly known as the International Cross Country Championships, the annual event […] todayApril 8, 2024 12
insert_link Africa Economic reforms propel Ethiopia to world’s third fastest growing nation brand status By Conrad Onyango, bird story agency Ongoing economic reforms that are also seeing Ethiopia opening up its traditionally closed sectors to private investment are helping to lift the country’s image, globally, according to a new report. UK-based Consultancy, Brand Finance in its Global Soft Power Index 2024 ranked Ethiopia the third fastest-growing nation brand in the world. In the ranking of the most valuable nations, Ethiopia’s brand […] todayMarch 13, 2024 19
insert_link Namibia Confirmation of VIP Guests at Presidential Memorial and Burial Services The Heads of State of the following countries will be attending this weekend's official ceremonies to mark the passing of former President Hage Geingob: Angola, Botswana, Burundi, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Tanzania, Finland, Germany, Ghana, Kenya, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Malawi, Mozambique, Qatar, Zambia, Ethiopia, Lesotho, Madagascar, Rwanda, and São Tomé and Principe. Her Royal Highness, Princess Anne, the Princess Royal, will also attend on behalf of the British Royal Family, as […] todayFebruary 23, 2024 105
insert_link Africa Ethiopia’s peace pacts with the Oromo Liberation Front have failed: here’s what was missing By Marew Abebe Salemot, Debark University Two attempts have been made over the past six years to broker peace between the Ethiopian government and the armed rebel group Oromo Liberation Front. The armed group was formed half a century ago with the goal of carving out an independent state for Oromia, the country’s largest regional state. Both attempts at brokering peace – in 2018 and again in […] todayFebruary 22, 2024 12
insert_link Africa Oromia makes up a third of Ethiopia’s landmass and is key to its fortunes: expert unpacks its significance By Bizuneh Yimenu, University of Birmingham Ethiopia’s largest and most populous region, Oromia, has been in the news following reports of a rise in kidnappings for ransom. The region is no stranger to war and strife. Its people have long fought against political marginalisation. But the region is more than just the site of conflict. We asked Bizuneh Yimenu, who’s researched the region for over a decade […] todayFebruary 19, 2024 30
insert_link Uncategorized Africa’s green energy potential lures crypto miners By Seth Onyango, bird story agency Nomadic crypto miners in search of affordable energy are eyeing Africa, with Ethiopia emerging as a prime location for blockchain mining. This pivot towards the continent is driven by its abundant renewable sources including solar, wind, and hydroelectric power. Ethiopia, with its colossal hydroelectric dam, has seen an increased inflow of bitcoin miners especially from China, who are dodging Beijing's tight […] todayFebruary 14, 2024 6
insert_link Africa Ethiopia’s first stock exchange on horizon as it begins licensing investment banks By Conrad Onyango, bird story agency Ethiopia has entered the final stage of its first stock exchange launch, as the country’s Capital Market Authority begins to on-board foreign investment banks from the second week of February. The regulator announced that it will start issuing investment bank licenses from February 12th 2024- the first time in the country’s history and after six ‘rigorous’ months of developing guidelines to […] todayFebruary 14, 2024 10