Ethiopia

U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson flew to Ethiopia at the start of his first diplomatic trip to Africa on March 7, seeking to bolster security alliances on a continent increasingly turning to China for aid and trade.

The Ethiopian Foreign Ministry on Dec. 1 stated that it recalled an embassy employee in Ankara who was reportedly drunk and threatened police officers that he would “start a war” between Ethiopia and Turkey after getting involved in a traffic accident, state-run Anadolu Agency has reported.

An official from the Ethiopian Embassy in Ankara, who was reportedly drunk, threatened police officers he would “start a war” between Ethiopia and Turkey after he was involved in two traffic accidents on Nov. 26.

A rescue ship with hundreds of migrant children from more than 15 countries arrived in Italy, the BBC reported.

Aquarius, run by non-governmental organizations SOS Mediterranee and Doctors Without Borders, arrived with a total of 606 people aboard, including 241 children rescued Tuesday and Wednesday. Nearly 180 of the children were unaccompanied, non-governmental organizations said.

Ethiopia's parliament on Aug. 4 lifted a nationwide state of emergency decreed last year after Africa's second most-populous country was rocked by months of protests.

Turkish construction giant Yapı Merkezi hopes a $3 billion modern railway-line project it is building in Ethiopia and Tanzania will showcase its skills and make it a "trusted development partner" in Africa. 

At a hotel in Addis Ababa well-known for hosting jazz greats, thousands of fans lined up on a Saturday night to headbang along with what is still a rarity in Ethiopia's diverse music scene - a rock band.

Ethiopia and Turkey signed five cooperation agreements in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa on Dec. 28, setting out mechanisms to facilitate more trade between the two countries.        

Turkish Economy Minister Nihat Zeybekci and heads of Ethiopian agencies signed the agreements.        

Turkey has entered the top 10 countries with the most items on the UNESCO Intangible Heritage List, with the addition of traditional flatbread during the 11th official meeting. 

During the meeting in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa, one national and two multi-national files were presented on behalf of Turkey. 

Ethiopia began three days of mourning Oct. 3 for 52 people killed in a stampede after police clashed with protesters at a religious festival, the latest bloody episode in a wave of anger against the authoritarian government.