Ambasel Pulse of the Ethiopian Blogosphere

MSNBC Photo: NY Daily News

By Chuck Todd Political Director NBC News Thurs., Aug. 28, 2008

DENVER - “One for the history books” is a phrase that’s thrown around all too easily these days.

But Wednesday night and Thursday night will certainly be one for those aforementioned books.

The question is: Will these nights simply be a page in the history of America or the start of a completely new chapter?

Barack Obama’s official nomination as the Democratic Party’s standardbearer was a very poignant moment for millions of Americans.

As the first non-white major party nominee, Obama is carrying a big load on his shoulders. He’s holding the hopes and dreams of a lot of folks who thought the presidency was only reserved for white men.

So it’s worth taking a step back and realizing the historical significance of Wednesday night.

As my late boss, Tim Russert, pondered back when Obama secured presumptive nominee status in June — imagine what it will be like to teach American government or history in inner-city high schools this fall.

Already, Obama has secured himself a page in the history book of America. But he has a long way to go if he wants his own chapter. Read More.

Historic Night: Democrats Unite Around Obama USA TODAY

Photo: Jaladah Aslam, center, and Mitchell Artis, right, both of Ohio, hear Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton call for Democrats to nominate Barack Obama. By Pat Shannahan for USA TODAY

By Martha T. Moore

August 27th, 2008

DENVER — It was a scripted scenario, the outcome never in doubt. But when history arrived on the floor of the Democratic National Convention on Wednesday afternoon, it came with the full force of emotion.

After an especially long primary season, after private wrangling and public battle, the Democratic Party became the first major ... Tags: Uncategorized | Read on

The world's oldest running film festival opened Wednesday in the Italian coastal city of Venice with a screening of the Coen brothers film 'Burn After Reading.'

The latest quirky film by the Academy Award winning brothers features Brad Pitt and George Clooney, as well as Academy Award winning actors Frances McDormand and Tilda Swinton.

While the Coen brothers film in not in the competition, 21 other films are in the running for the coveted Golden Lion top prize at the 65th Venice Film Festival.

Among this year's offerings will be French director Barbet Schroeder's 'The Beast in the Shadow,' a thriller set in Japan, and Ethiopian director Haile Gerima's 'Teza' about an Ethiopian ex-patriot who returns to his native village at age 60.

Filmmakers from around the world, including from Algeria, Brazil, China, Iran, Spain and Portugal have submitted their works for the competition.

This year's festival is dedicated to Egyptian filmmaker Youssef Chahine who died last month at the age of 82. His film Chaos was shown at last year's festival.

Source: VOA News

While Somalia's president and prime minister have been negotiating about how to work together, the opposition has been mobilising.

On Friday, fighters took over the key southern port city of Kismayo, after a week of fierce fighting with local clans who had control of the city.

Al Jazeera gained exclusive access to Kismayo. Rosie Garthwaite has our report.

ZURICH, SWITZERLAND — Kenenisa Bekele was philosophical about the lack of publicity given to his own brilliant Olympic double compared to the exploits of Usain Bolt.

Bekele 5,000 metres and 10,000 metres victories in the Bird Nest's stadium in Beijing, both in Olympic record times, saw him become the first athlete to achieve the feat since fellow Ethiopian Miruts Yifter 28 years ago in Moscow.

But Bekele, despite his delight at winning the 5,000m title for the first time and retaining his 10,000m crown, insisted today Bolt fully deserved all of the accolades that made him the Games' track and field golden boy.

Talking about Bolt's 100m and 200m successes, both in world record times, Bekele said: "Ours were different races and we can't be compared.

"(But) he's very strong and he really ran special races in Beijing. To break two world records that is very special. (They) were very tough to make, but he did it."

Bolt, not surprisingly, is grabbing the headlines again before tomorrow night's AF Golden League meeting in Zurich, where over 100m he will meet six of the opponents he thrashed in Beijing when roaring to the world's quickest time ever of 9.69seconds.

Whether the 22-year-old Jamaican can, for the third occasion this year, lower the record even further cannot be ruled out despite his strenuous Olympic schedule, where he was also in Jamaica's world record-breaking 4×100m relay team.

"It was a long trip to get here, but I'm not tired at all," said Bolt. "I've done a little training since I got here.

"I'm trying to get the blood pumping again in preparation for Friday evening."

Bekele revealed chasing his four-year-old 5,000m world record does not figure in his plans because of tiredness.

After arriving back home early yesterday morning, he and other Ethiopian medallists celebrated with their fans - more than a million ... Tags: Uncategorized | Read on

EDITOR'S NOTE: This seems to be a drama orchestrated by Amare Aregawi's own party, Woyanne. The company, Dashen Brewery, that sued Amare is owned by the ruling party, Woyanne. Even the car that transported him to Gondar is not a police car. He was taken bay a car owned by the company that sued him. But if any thing, this incident exposes how repressive the new press law is. Any individual or company can cause the arrest of a newspaper editor.

AFP — Ethiopian authorities Woyanne released a newspaper editor detained last week after it reported on a labour dispute at a local brewery, a media watchdog says.

Amare Aregawi was held for five days in a prison 750 kilometres north of Addis Ababa, Paris-based Reporters Without Borders (RSF) said in a statement.

He was released yesterday on bail of 300-birr (around 31-dollars).

RSF urged Ethiopian government to "amend the newly-adopted media law in order to eliminate prison sentences for press offences."

Aregawi’s private Amharic language weekly Reporter published an article last month citing two former employees of the brewery as saying they were wrongfully dismissed.

The brewery company had sued the paper for libel.

Ethiopia was only removed from RSF’s blacklist of media offenders in May, having been labelled "an enemy of the internet" along with Zimbabwe.

Jailed Ethiopian editor released

Ethiopian authorities released a newspaper editor detained last week after it reported on a labour dispute at a local brewery, a media watchdog says.

Amare Aregawi was held for five days in a prison 750 kilometres north of Addis Ababa, Paris-based Reporters Without Borders (RSF) said in a statement.

He was released yesterday on bail of 300-birr (around 31-dollars).

RSF urged Ethiopian government to "amend the newly-adopted media law in order to eliminate prison sentences for press offences."

Aregawi’s private Amharic language weekly Reporter published an article last month citing two former employees of the brewery as saying they were wrongfully dismissed.

The brewery company had sued the paper for libel.

Ethiopia was only removed from RSF’s blacklist of media offenders in May, having been labelled "an enemy of the internet" along with Zimbabwe.

Related Links Amare Aregawi, Reporter's Editor, Arrested Draft law threatens to criminalise Ethiopian civil society IPI Concerned About Ethiopian Government's Continued Failure to Grant Publishing Licenses to Journalists Ethiopian police threaten paper over opposition party coverage Ethiopian judge detains editor over pop singer case IFJ Calls for End to Media Repression in Ethiopia New Ethiopian media law draws criticism Press Freedom Still Under Attack in Ethiopia Special Section Press and The Media in Ethiopia