Government Shutdown Threat Prompts Obama, GOP To Scramble To Strike Budget Deal

Government Shutdown Threat Prompts Obama, GOP To Scramble To Strike Budget Deal

WASHINGTON -- A deadline looming, the Congress' top Democrat accused Republicans on Friday of risking a government shutdown because they want to make it harder "for women to get cancer screenings."

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid unleashed his attack as his main antagonist in long-running negotiations, Speaker John Boehner, said spending cuts -- not social issues-- were blocking agreement to prevent a shutdown at midnight.

"Most of the policy issues have been dealt with and the big fight is about spending," Boehner said Friday afternoon.

The maneuvering unfolded as President Barack Obama canceled a trip to Indianapolis and spoke in separate phone calls with Reid and Boehner.

"Discussions between the leaders and the White House aimed at reaching a budget agreement are continuing," White House press secretary Jay Carney said in a written statement.

"I assure you, these are not unresolvable issues," added Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky.

Obama, Reid and Boehner met at the White House on Thursday evening for the third time in two days, and their aides struggled without success to reach agreement in middle-of-the-night talks in the Capitol.

For a nation eager to trim to federal spending but also weary of Washington bickering, the spending showdown had real implications.

A closure would mean the furloughs of hundreds of thousands of workers and the services they provide, from processing many tax refunds to approving business loans. Medical research would be disrupted, national parks would close and most travel visa and passport services would stop, among many others.

DEA Agent Accidently shoots himself in the foot

United States Dedicates New Embassy Compound in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

United States Dedicates New Embassy Compound in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

In an important symbol of America’s commitment to an enduring friendship with Ethiopia, as well as our bilateral relationships with the Government of Ethiopia and the African Union, Deputy Secretary of State James B. Steinberg dedicated the new U.S. Embassy facility in Ethiopia today. Ethiopian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Hailemariam Desalegn and African Union Deputy Chairman Erastus Mwencha attended the ribbon cutting ceremony, as well as Deputy Director of the Bureau of Overseas Buildings Operations, Lydia Muniz; U.S. Ambassador to Ethiopia, Donald E. Booth; and U.S. Ambassador to the African Union, Michael E. Battle.

The dedication of the New Embassy Compound (NEC) in Addis Ababa marks the 77th diplomatic facility to be completed by the Bureau of Overseas Buildings Operations (OBO) since the 1999 enactment of the Secure Embassy Construction and Counterterrorism Act. In the last twelve years, OBO has moved more than 22,000 people into safer facilities. OBO has built 30 new facilities in Africa and has an additional seven projects in design or construction on the continent.

The New Embassy Compound, located just below Entoto Mountain and overlooking Addis Ababa, was designed to maintain much of the plant and wildlife that has existed on the site for many years. The building design integrates green building techniques and was one of the first Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED®) registered facilities in Ethiopia.

The multi-building complex provides more than approximately 1,000 U.S. embassy direct hire and locally employed staff, including the U.S. Mission to the African Union, with more than 19,000 square meters of working space.

B.L. Harbert International of Birmingham, Alabama, under a design/build contract, constructed the NEC; the architectural firm of Page Southerland Page of Arlington, Virginia designed the facility. The total approximate cost of the project, which generated jobs in both the United States and Ethiopia, is $157 million. The new facility was completed in August 2010, with, at times, more than 1,200 workers involved in the construction.

For further information, please contact Christine Foushee at FousheeCT@state.gov

So today I am headed to the dentist with Kim. I do not like the dentist and I would much rather stay and work but at least I get to be with Kim

Dinner salutes Dr. Hodes' work with Ethiopian kids

http://www.denverpost.com/lifestyles/ci_17121147

By Joanne Davidson
The Denver Post

It was a real gamble, in this economy, to add one more event to Denver's already crowded fundraising scene, especially one where the least expensive ticket was $250 and the money would go to a medical mission half a world away.

RestaurateurNoel Cunninghamis used to taking chances, though, and in his heart he felt that his friends and customers would come through, opening their hearts and pocketbooks to hit the $500,000 goal he and co-chairsElaine Gantz BermanandJennifer Kraftset for the inaugural Dinner of Unconditional Love.

The event would honor Dr.Rick Hodes,and the money raised would support his work at the Mother Teresa Mission in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. For the past 20 years, Hodes, medical director for the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee, has treated Ethiopian children with congenital and rheumatic heart disease, spine disease and cancer — youngsters who otherwise most likely would have died.

Hodes, who was at the dinner with two of the five Ethiopian children he has adopted, was saluted by the JDC's executive vice president,Steve Schwager; Marilyn Berger,whose book, "This Is a Soul," describes his work in one of the world's poorest countries; and Regis University PresidentMichael Sheeran,who conferred an honorary doctorate of humanitarian medicine degree on him.

RabbiSteven Fosterrecently spent two days with Hodes in Ethiopia, an experience he said vividly illustrated the Jewish mystical concept that at all times there are 36 "righteous souls" in the world and were it not for them the world would come to an end. "Nobody knows who they are, but I believe — no, I know — that two of them are right here in this room tonight: Dr. Rick Hodes and Noel Cunningham. Their dedication is unbelievable."

Find out who was at the dinner, and learn more about the contributions that Hodes, Noel and Tammy Cunningham and the JDC have made in Ethiopiaby logging onto my Seen First blog:blogs.denverpost.com/davidson.

Solomon Gobaw, left, Danny Ameha, Dejene Hodes and, in front, Mesfin Hodes

Joanne Davidson: 303-809-1314 orjdavidson@denverpost.com; also,blogs.denverpost.com/davidson and GetItWrite on Twitter

Ann Wilcox, left, Barbara Hughesand Faye Ganley wear some of the handcrafted scarves that were sold at the dinner.

Read more:Dinner salutes Dr. Hodes' work with Ethiopian kids - The Denver Posthttp://www.denverpost.com/lifestyles/ci_17121147#ixzz1BOiviKIy
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AfricaNews - Is WHO’s estimate on Ethiopia correct? - The AfricaNews articles of Addis Man

AfricaNews - Is WHO’s estimate on Ethiopia correct? - The AfricaNews articles of Addis Man

Ethiopia has undertaken a nationwide population based TB prevalence survey that aims at determining the true epidemiology of Tuberculosis in Ethiopia.

According to the Ethiopian Ministry of Health, the case detection rate of TB remained unacceptably low and steady about 34% and WHO’s annual estimates for Ethiopia, erratically jumped from 152 to 168 per 100,000 populations in 2008 only. This made the Ministry question the correctness and reliability of the estimates by the WHO. Eventually deciding to conduct a nationwide population based TB prevalence survey.

The Ministry considers its TB program to be a great achievement in its health sector and is determined to prove World Health Organization’s estimate to be inaccurate. The Ministry hopes to adjust the incidence, prevalence and other targets based on the findings.

The survey covers a total of 85 clusters (kebels), which is believed to represent rural/agrarian, pastoralist and urban communities have been randomly selected for the survey. It includes interviews, physical examination of cervical lymphadenitis, chest x-ray and collection of sputum samples from pulmonary TB suspects, covering about 47,000 participants in the country.

All identified cases during the survey, will receive proper treatment, free of charge, according to the national protocol. More than 60 professionals from different disciplines make up the Survey Team. Global Fund and other partner organizations in country will provide financial as well as technical support towards the completion of the nationwide survey.

The survey enables to know the status of the country towards of the MDG particularly in TB too. The survey has been started since September 2010 and ends June 2011.

Varnero to construct National Insurance Company of Ethiopia headquarters

By Binyam Tamene

Tuesday, 04 January 2011 00:00

Varnero Construction Plc has beaten major construction companies in the country to build a 12-floor-long headquarters of the National Insurance Company of Ethiopia (NICE) in the heart of Addis Ababa. Construction companies including Midroc, Teklebrhan Ambaye, DMC, Akir were competing to construct the headquarters, which will be built adjacent to Tewodros Square on Churchill Road. Nevertheless, NICE has given the go ahead to Varnero Construction last week to construct its headquarters which is expected to commence within one-and-half months and be completed in two years. NICE claims they have already secured the land from the Addis Ababa Administration over ten years ago. The company dismisses the report that it is constructing the building following the AA Administration’s warning for anyone with land in their possession for too long to construct soon or else give it back. The reason for the delay is mainly due to a court wrangle with the previous administration that claims the land belongs to Local Development Plan, not for other purposes. “We are now given the license to construct, with the current city management giving us the green light,” said Tewodros Bogale, Deputy Manager of NICE. “With the design of the building already completed, we expected the company to start construction in the next one or two months,” said Tewodros. The design of the building includes three basement floors, a ground floor on the top with twelve floors for office and commercial activities. Out of the total 17,130 square meter of  floor area, 15,407 square meters will be available for rent. The construction could cost NICE an estimated 141 million birr with the first phase of erecting a construction structure expected to cost 80 million birr. But, the general manager said the finishing cost could rise up to 60 million, “which will take the total to more than 141 million”. The company said it’s now negotiating  to put various financial institutions for financial arrangements to cover the cost but refused to mention the type of arrangement they are dealing with. However, the insurance company also said, though the building venture has proven to be a lucrative business, the cost of initial investment could accommodate more shareholders, which should encourage other investors to join the company by buying shares. http://nazret.com/blog/index.php/2011/01/04/varnero-to-construct-national-insurance-company-of-ethiopia-headquarters