Ethiopia

Turkey has begun hosting the ninth annual meeting of the Internet Governance Forum, a United Nations-mandated organization, despite a number of recent controversies regarding the country's Internet freedom record.

Speaking at the event Sept. 2, Minister of Transport, Maritime and Communication Lütfi Elvan focused mainly on the issues of “cybercrimes.”

More than 90 international leaders and politicians are expected to attend Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s presidential handover ceremony.  

At least 15 countries will be represented at the highest level at the event, however, the United States will send its Ankara Embassy’s chargé d’affairs, a rather low level participant compared to other countries.

Libyan rescuers have recovered the bodies of around 170 people after a boat carrying illegal migrants from sub-Saharan Africa sank at sea last week, a coast guard official said Aug. 25.

"We freed about 100 bodies trapped in the hold of the 16-metre (50-foot) wooden boat which foundered not far from the coast," Abdellatif Mohammed Ibrahim told AFP.

Okra is the hidden gem of Anatolian cuisine. Consumed both fresh and dried, it has deep roots in Ottoman culinary culture, marking the trade route from Africa to Asia Minor. It is believed to have originated from Ethiopia and Eastern Sudan and was cultivated along the Nile by the 12th century. Okra is called bamya in Turkish, coming from the Arabic word for the plant.

Health and agriculture development are key if African countries are to overcome poverty and grow, US software billionaire Bill Gates said Thursday, as he received an honourary degree in Ethiopia.
      

Kenya's Talam and Aiyabei win at Belgrade marathon

BELGRADE -- Kenya's Bernard Kipkorir Talam is the winner of the 27th Belgrade Marathon, which saw participation of over 20,000 runners in the Serbian capital on Sunday.

Talam finished the race in 2:14:35, followed by compatriot Paul Kimeli Samoei, who finished in 2:15:50.

An irrigation system running renewable energy developed by a Bulgarian company sparked interest from Qatar, Nigeria and Ethiopia.

A prototype of the system has already been installed and is functioning in the southeastern village of Polyana, Yambol district, where the technology services a farm of 50 decares, according to reports of Capital daily.

BELGRADE - This year's 27th Belgrade Marathon will be held on April 27 and at the same time it will serve as the Balkan marathon championship and Serbian half-marathon championship, the organisers announced.

Bulgaria has the eighth cheapest local beer in the world, shows a survey of the Global Post website, based on data of UN Office of Drugs and Crime. 

A half-liter bottle of locally produced beer in Bulgaria costs USD 0.77. It is the cheapest in Vietnam – USD 0.59 and most expensive in Iran – USD 7.24. In the Czech republic, known for its quality lager, a bottle costs USD 0.70.