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Ethiopia has launched its first-ever remote sensing satellite (ETRSS1) into space this morning, Friday Dec 20.

Fitted with a high resolution camera, the 70kg multi-spectral satellite was launched from China, with its ground station located in Ethiopia at the Entoto space observatory facility.

The satellite, with a design life of two years, was carried on board a Long March 4B rocket from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center in north China’s Shanxi Province.

Government officials, including Deputy Prime Minister Demeke Mekonnen and former Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn attend the launching of the satellite from Entoto space observatory.

Speaking on the occasion, the Deputy Prime Minister stated that the launching of the satellite will lay a historic foundation to Ethiopia’s journey to prosperity.

Stating the importance of building global competitiveness in technology, Demeke said, the launching of the satellite is the first step to Ethiopia’s progress towards this goal.

According to experts, the satellite would contribute a lot in gathering beneficial information and release Ethiopia’s dependency on other countries for information.

The satellite is expected to monitor the environment and weather patterns for better agricultural planning, drought early warning, mining activities and forestry management.

Ethiopia is now the 11th African country to have launched a satellite into space.

The country also planned to launch communication satellite for telecommunications and broadcasting services in the future.

Ethiopia will launch its first Remote Sensing Satellite (ETRSS-1) on Friday December 20 from a space station in China.

Dr Getnet Feleke, a Physicist at the Kotebe Metropolitan University, told FBC that the launching of the satellite would contribute a lot in gathering beneficial information.

He further said that it will release Ethiopia’s dependency on other countries for information.

Dr Getnet, who is also a member of the Ethiopian Space Science Technology Institute, stated that Ethiopia needs to plan ahead to launch other satellites.

Yelikal Chalew, Satellite Research, Development and Operation Director at the Ethiopian Space Science Technology Institute, said Ethiopian and Chinese experts had participated in the designing of the satellite.

This, according to him, has created key capacity to manage all works by Ethiopians after the launching of the satellite. They acquired the necessary knowledge, he said.

The satellite would help distribute information to different offices after they are processed at the Entoto space observatory facility by Ethiopian experts, he added.

According to Yelikal, Ethiopia will launch additional remote sensing satellites over the coming three years.

ETRSS-1 is fitted with a high resolution camera.

President Sahle-Work Zewde has been selected as one of the World’s Most Powerful Women of 2019 by Forbes.

The President is the only African woman on the list.

President Sahle-Work Zewde is a role model not only for Ethiopian women but women all around the world.

A seasoned diplomat and veteran of the United Nations (UN), Sahle-Work became Ethiopia’s first president in October 2018.

In her first address to the parliament, she promised to be a voice for women and stressed the importance of unity.

President Sahle-Work’s appointment is a tremendously symbolic move for the country, opening the door for gender parity.

Prime Minister Dr Abiy Ahmed, the winner of the 2019 Nobel Peace Prize, was given a hero’s welcome when he returned home this morning.

Senior Government officials and residents of Addis Ababa welcomed the Premier with celebrations in honor of Ethiopia’s first Nobel Peace Prize winner.

A 21-gun salute is also fired in honor of the Prime Minister.

The Prime Minister told local journalists at Addis Ababa Bole International Airport that the the Prize has brought a great opportunity to build the country’s image.

He called on Ethiopians to seize the opportunity to build their country by listening to each other and resolving their differences.

The Prime Minister extended his gratitude to the peoples of Ethiopia and Eritrea, and President Isaias Afwerki in particular.

The Prime Minister expressed his hope that he will celebrate the Noble Peace Prize achievement with Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki soon.

Prime Minister Dr Abiy received the Nobel Peace Prize on December 10, 2019 in Oslo, Norway.

He was award the prize in recognition of his crucial role in creating peace between Eritrea and Ethiopia.

The award is also in recognition to his efforts to build democracy in Ethiopia and contribution to peace and reconciliation processes in East and North East Africa.

During the award ceremony, Berit Reiss-Andersen, Chairperson of the Norwegian Nobel Committee, said “We are awarding the Peace Prize to you as an individual because you have personally made an extraordinary difference across several arenas.”

“It is the totality of your efforts that convinced us that it is you, Mr. Prime Minister, who have made the most significant contribution to peace in the past year,” she said.

In his Nobel lecture, Prime Minister Dr Abiy thanked the Norwegian Nobel Committee “for recognizing and encouraging my contribution to a peaceful resolution of the border dispute between Ethiopia and Eritrea.”

As a result of the peace deal “families separated for over two decades are now united, diplomatic relations are fully restored, air and telecommunication services have been re-established,” he said.

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has decided to inscribe Ethiopian epiphany on its lists of intangible cultural heritage of humanity.

It becomes the 4th intangible cultural heritage of Ethiopia inscribed as world intangible heritage, next to Meskel, the Geda system and Fichee Chambalaalla.

Ethiopian epiphany is a colourful festival celebrated all over Ethiopia to commemorate the baptism of Jesus Christ by John the Baptist in the River Jordan.

The commemoration starts on the eve of the main festival on 18 January. The eve is known as Ketera, which means blocking the flow of water for the blessing of the celebrants.

On the eve of Ketera, people escort their parish church tabot (replicas of the Ark of the Covenant) to Timkete-Bahir (a pool, river or artificial reservoir), transported by a priest of the parish and accompanied by a great ceremony.

The people spend the night attending night-long prayers and hymn services, including the Eucharistic Liturgy. Hundreds of thousands participate in the actual festival on the following day – 19 January.

The celebration starts early in the morning with pre-sunrise rituals. These are followed by the sprinkling of the blessed water on the congregation, as well as other ceremonies.

At around 10 a.m., each tabot begins its procession back to its respective church, involving an even more colourful ceremony with various traditional and religious songs.

The viability of the element is ensured through its continued practice, with Orthodox clergies playing a pivotal role: they sing the praises dedicated to the rituals and hymns, carry the Ark, and preach relevant texts.