ESAT News (December 9, 2016) The Israeli Health Ministry has said it would lift restrictions on accepting blood donations from residents of Ethiopian origin, according to reports by the Israeli media. The controversial policy that prevented Ethiopian-born Israelis, gay men, and older Israelis from donating blood will be abolished, the Health Ministry announced on Thursday. The decision comes 18 months ...

ESAT News (December 9, 2016) Former Ethiopian Prime Minister Tesfaye Dinka passed away on Thursday  in Virginia, United States, where he lived in exile after the fall of the military regime. The 77 year-old former diplomat served his country in a number of capacities. He also worked at the World Bank and other international institutions before his retirement. Dinka was ...

ESAT News (December 8, 2016) Investment, export and trade have shown a serious decline in the country while cost of living has risen dramatically posing a serious challenge to the country’s overall economy, a U.S. based Ethiopian economist said on Thursday. The year long protest in the country has paralysed economic activities and prices of food has skyrocketed resulting in ...

ESAT News (December 8, 2016) Patriotic Ginbot 7, a group fighting the Ethiopian government, said 46 soldiers have deserted the regime army and joined the resistance movement. The soldiers, who defected after a marathon negotiations and joined Patriotic Ginbot 7, have defected with various weapons including 9 artilleries, 6 snipers and RPGs among others, according to a source on the ...

ESAT News (December 8, 2016) Security forces have reportedly been arresting people suspected of being supporters of the now jailed leader of the Oromo Federalist Congress, Dr. Merara Gudina. Dr. Gudina was arrested last week upon his return from Europe, where he testified against the regime and spoke against the human rights violations and political repressions in his country. Sources ...

ESAT News (December 7, 2016) Patriotic Ginbot 7, an armed group fighting the Ethiopian regime from its base in Eritrea said its forces are present deep in Ethiopia and that they have intensified their attack against TPLF forces. Speaking to ESAT from Eritrea, spokesperson and head of political affairs for the group, Mengistu Woldeselassie also said PG7 fighters have taken ...

ESAT News (December 7, 2016) Sixty hectares of sugar plantation belonging to the business empire of the ruling party went up in flames in Jawi, Gojam. The cause of the fire that gutted the plantation owned by the Metals and Engineering Corporation (METEC) is under investigation, according to reliable sources. There have been speculations by locals that the fire might ...

ESAT News (December 7, 2016) The U.S. Department of State renewed its warning against traveling to Ethiopia citing the potential for civil unrest. “The State Department continues to warn U.S. citizens of the risks of travel to Ethiopia due to the potential for civil unrest related to sporadic and unpredictable anti-government protests that began in November 2015,” the Department said ...

ESAT News (December 6, 2016) At least 45 students have reportedly been arrested when they took part in an anti-government protest at Woldia University over the weekend defying the state of emergency declared by the regime. Classes remain boycotted on Tuesday as students demand for the release of their colleagues arrested by security forces on Saturday. According to a source ...