Swarm of locusts surface in Somali State

A swarm of locusts has surfaced in two woredas of Somali State, according to the Animals, Crops and Natural Resources Bureau.
Crops Development and Protection Department Head with the Bureau, Dr. Hassen Abdullahi, told WIC that the swarm which entered the state via Somaliland attacked Aysha and Awbere woredas.
The head said the swarm has caused damage on pasturelands and added that the bureau, in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, is spraying pesticides to prevent further damage on crops and also undertaking surveillance.
He further expressed fear that the swarm may enter the hinterland if the wind changes direction.
The head recalled that the spraying of over 1,800 liters of pesticides on more than 2,000 hectares of pastureland last mid May and June had reduced the damage that might have been inflicted. (WIC)

U.S. Embassy Announces 2009 Diversity Visa Lottery

The U.S. Department of State began accepting applications for the 2009 Diversity Immigrant Visa Program on October 3, 2007. Applications will be accepted until December 2, 2007.
Applications for the 2009 Diversity Immigration Visa Program (DV Program) must be submitted via the Internet. Paper entries will not be accepted. The U.S. Department of State has established a website for the submission of electronic Diversity Visa entries, at www.dvlottery.state.gov. All entries must be made at this site. Applicants are encouraged to apply early in order to avoid any delays that may occur in the final days of the registration period. No entries will be accepted the deadline.
Complete details can be found at www.dvlottery.state.gov. Applicants are advised to read all the rules carefully before entering. Errors made in the application automatically disqualify the individual from being issued a visa. Applicants should carefully review the qualifications for a Diversity Visa. Individuals who do not clearly qualify for a Diversity Visa based on their education and/or work experience, or who will not be able to present clear evidence of such qualifications at their interview, should not apply. Applicants whose names are drawn will be required to pay an application fee when they appear for their visa interview. This application fee is not refundable.(U.S Embassy press release)

German company licensed to engage in castor oil production with 250mln birr capital

The German Petro Palm PLC has been licensed with 250 million birr capital to engage in castor oil production in Rayitu Woreda of Bale Zone.
Zonal Investment Office Head, Idris Hassen, told WIC that the investor is making preparations to cultivate castor oil on the 50,000 hectares it secured.
Upon going operational, the project would create 12,000 casual and permanent jobs, according to the head.
Meanwhile, five investors with 6.6 million birr registered capital this budget year have entered production phase, he further stated.
The investors have embarked upon agriculture, cattle fattening and other investment sectors in Goro and Gasera woredas of the state, it was learnt.
The investors have reportedly created more than 300 casual and permanent jobs. (WIC)

Car accident injures renowned philantropist

Founder and chairperson of Menschen fur Menschen (MFM) Dr. Karl-Heinz Bom was injured in a car accident on Wednesday in Alemaya Woreda of East Hararge Zone in Oromia State, the woreda police said.
Traffic accident investigator with the woreda police, Sergeant Gashaw Ayenew told ENA that the accident occurred in a locality known as “Gendekeshim”.
MFM Ethiopia Office Head Berhanu Niussie was also injured by the accident.
The accident occurred while a vehicle heading to Harar from Addis Ababa collided with the vehicle of the injured which was coming from the opposite direction.
The injured were sent to Addis Ababa for further treatment after receiving first aid treatment at a local hospital in Harar Town.
Police have been searching for the driver of the vehicle, which caused the accident.
Bom received an honorary citizenship and a doctorate degree due to his outstanding commitment in fighting poverty and speed up development in Ethiopia.
Dr. Karl-Heinz Bom has been constructing hospitals, health stations and other projects in various regions. Some of the hospitals include the ‘Mettu’ Karl Hospital, the ‘Lemlem’ hospital in Maichew and ‘Enat’ hospital in Merhabete Alem Town. (ENA)

New East African railway network in the offing: Xinhua

A vast network of additional railway lines within East Africa and others linking the region to neighboring Ethiopia, southern Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is in the offing, Xinhua reported.
Magaga Alot, the spokesperson for the East African Community (EAC) Secretariat was quoted by the Daily Monitor on Wednesday saying that the additional railway sections were approved by the recent EAC Council of Ministers meeting for consideration by the consultants.
The consultants have been commissioned by the EAC Secretariat to study the possibility of constructing 15 new lines under the EAC Railways Development Master Plan.
Under the master plan, Uganda would have four new lines connecting to southern Sudan, DRC and Tanzania. Burundi and Rwanda, which joined the regional bloc on July 1, have been urged to provide relevant information to the Master Plan Study consultants to speed up the work.
Already, the Tanzanian and Rwandan governments have confirmed that a railway line would be built to link the Isaka Inland Port in Shinyanga region and the Rwandese capital, Kigali. The proposed line was included in the master plan.
Tanzania would be the main beneficiary of the new railway lines should the ambitious project materialize. Besides the Isaka-Kigali line, eight other new railway lines have been proposed within the country, linking Tanzania with other states.
According to Alot, Kenya would have two railway branches connecting it to its closest Horn of Africa neighbors, Ethiopia and Sudan. One of the proposed railway lines will connect Garissa town with the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa, while another will be constructed from Lamu to Juba in south Sudan via Garissa. (ENA)

MIDROC launches coal production activities to cut country’s heavy fuel oil consumption by half

MIDROC Ethiopia has reportedly launched coal production activities with 200 million birr to cut by half the heavy fuel oil consumption of the country.
Executive Director of Major Investment Projects Office with Derba MIDROC, Haile Assegide, told WIC that production would be carried out in Jimma Zone of Oromia State.
The joint venture with East Africa Company will reduce the heavy fuel oil import that costs the country huge amount of foreign currency, he said.
Recruitment of foreign consultants and clearing of roads have been finalized, the Executive Director said, adding that 20 deep wells would be dug to extract the coal. (WIC)