Top news items in major Ethiopian media outlets

The following are news highlights in Ethiopia's major media outlets on Thursday.

--Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn has expressed Ethiopia's desire to further strengthen its relation with the new administration of the United States, particularly in trade and investment.

The Prime Minister made the remark while discussing with the visiting U.S. delegation led by Senator James Inhofe on Wednesday. (Ethiopian News Agency/ENA)

-- Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn has lauded Somalia's peaceful transition of power.

The Prime Minister has expressed his country's commitment to stand in solidarity with the new government of Somalia. He was present at the inaugural ceremony of the newly elected President of Somalia Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed. (Ethiopian Broadcasting Corporation/EBC)

-- South Sudanese President Salva Kiir is expected to arrive Thursday in Addis Ababa for a three-day official visit.

The president will visit Ethiopia upon the invitation from Prime Minister Hailemariam Deasalegn. (Ethiopian News Agency/ENA)

--Some 141,000 metric tonnes of food and non-food assistances are being transported to drought-hit areas, said the Strategic Emergency Food Reserve Agency of Ethiopia.

The government of Ethiopia recently announced that 5.6 million people will need food assistance this year as a result of the drought occurred in some pastoralist areas. (Fana Broadcasting Corporate/FBC) Endit