Ethiopia has confirmed 185 new coronavirus cases that bring the total number to 4848.

The new cases were identified out of 3775 lab tests conducted over the last twenty-four hours, according to the Ministry of Health. All the cases are Ethiopians their age varies from 3 to 80 years old except the one who is a foreign national.

Out of the newly infected individuals, 47 are male while the remaining 138 are female, it is indicated.

No confirmed case has been reported out of 30 post mortem laboratory tests conducted over the last day, the Ministry said.

Of the new cases, 160 are from Addis Ababa, 14 from Oromia and SNNP with an equal share, 4 from Somali and Amhara and the remaining 3 from Tigray, Gambella, and Harari regional states.

The Ministry further disclosed that 115 people have recovered from the disease taking the total number of recoveries to 1, 412.

Ethiopia has now a total of 3,359 active cases; with 38 of them are taking treatments in intensive care units. The total number of tests conducted so far stands at 223,341.

Source: FBC

Deputy Mayor of Addis Ababa, Engineer Takele Uma has inaugurated an Architectural and Urban Design center in the capital today.

The center located at Mesqel Square area in the city showcases photos and architectural designs depicting mega projects and construction of infrastructural facilities in the city, it is indicated.

The Deputy Mayor has stated so far that the Architectural and Urban Design Center is aimed to display Addis Ababa’s century long path to urbanization besides serving as a platform where think tanks seek options for better futures of the capital.

Various mega projects that change the narratives of the Addis Ababa have been popping up here and there across the metropolis, it is indicated.

“Beautifying Sheger” and River and River Side Development projects are among the mega schemes underway with outlay of Billions of Birr in Addis Ababa.

Construction of Adwa Park and Library and Mesqel Square Projects are also among the grand initiatives underway in Addis Ababa, it is indicated.

Source: FBC

Ethiopia has restated its position on its Grand Renaissance Dam through a letter to the United Nations Security Council.

The announcement came after Egypt called the UNSC for the second time to intervene in the trilateral negotiations on GERD.

In its letter to the UNSC, Ethiopia reiterated that the Grand Rennaissance Dam is not a threat to peace and security.

And, Ethiopia expressed concern over Egypt’s second request to the UNSC after breaking down the trilateral talks on the dam.

The Foreign Minister Gedu Andargachew, through his letter to the security council, reaffirmed that the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam will not cause any harm to downstream countries and pose peace and security threats.

Egypt’s steps are aimed to pose political and diplomatic pressures on Ethiopia, Gedu reiterated through the letter.

It is not fair to consider colonial-era agreements on Nile River which excluded Ethiopia as a point of negotiations, Gedu said.

Gedu noted, through a letter, that the current negotiations are based on the filling of reservoirs of the dam not water sharing issues.

Ethiopia reaffirmed its commitment to continue dialogue based on fair and reasonable use of the Nile Waters and complete the dam without causing any harm to the downstream countries.

It is up to Egypt which has been intimidating Ethiopia to claim responsibility on potential peace and security threats regarding the construction of the dam, Ethiopia briefed the United Nations Security Council.

Source: FBC

The Ethiopian Public Health Institute said nationwide tests for antibodies to the coronavirus will be conducted from June 22 to July 14, 2020.

According to a statement issued by the institute, antibody testing is aimed at monitoring infection rates and preventing the spread of the virus.

The testing will be carried out in all the regional states as well as in Addis Ababa and Dire Dawa city administrations, it added.

The institute called on the community, health professionals, and other stakeholders to contribute their share for the success of the testing campaign.

Ethiopia has conducted a total of 216, 328 laboratory tests for coronavirus since February 2020 and so far reported 4,532 confirmed cases, 1,213 recoveries, and 74 deaths.

Source: FBC

United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) along with Africa CDC and other partners will launch the Africa Communication Information Platform (ACIP) in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to a press release issued by the ECA, the mobile-based public communications platform will provide the latest public health advice for more than 600 million users across the continent.

The Platform will also furnish national and regional COVID-19 task forces with user generated survey data, actionable health, and economic insights, it added.

It is also believed to enable authorities to better analyze pandemic related problems and implement appropriate responses by improving national data and statistics.

Moreover, COVID-taskforces can use the platform to deploy health and economic resources to mitigate the impact of the pandemic.

The Africa Communication Information Platform (ACIP) will be launched at an online event on June 23 at 14:00 East Africa Time.

Source: ENA

Deputy Chairman of the Sudanese Sovereign Council, Lt. Gen. Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, returned home this afternoon after a three-day visit to Ethiopia.

His visit came in response to an official invitation from Prime Minister Dr Abiy Ahmed.

Upon arrival at Khartoum International Airport, he was received by members of the Sovereign Council and a number of other Sudanese officials.

In a press statement issued at the airport, Lt. Gen. Daglo described the visit as successful, pointing out that he discussed the issues of border, GERD and the peace process in Sudan and the South Sudan, as well as the situation in Abyei area.

He said the visit was a good opportunity to learn about the great experiences of Ethiopia in the areas of infrastructure, especially roads and railways, as well as industrial, agricultural and technical cities.

During the visit, he had also a discussion with Prime Minister Dr Abiy about a railway project linking Ethiopia with Djibouti, Port Sudan and Khartoum.

The Deputy Chairman finally urged young Sudanese businessmen to benefit from Ethiopia’s experience in the fields of trade and economy.

Source: Fana Broadcasting Corporate

Ministry of Health has announced today that the nation has relaxed some regulations put in place by the government to fight the coronavirus pandemic.

The Health Minister, Dr. Lia Tadesse has announced improvements on guidelines of the state of emergency decree declared in response to COVID-19 in several aspects.

According to the improvements, funeral ceremonies over COVID-19 deaths could be arranged by the community as per precautions set to prevent the spread of the virus.

And families of the victims can arrange funerals before post mortem results are issued from clinical laboratories. But, the number of people allowed attending funeral remains fifteen, Dr. Liya said.

The improvement privileges people who test positive for the virus to have caregivers around them in treatment centers based on their preferences.

Passengers from abroad who hold COVID 19 negative certificate are mandated to isolate themselves only to three days after they give samples and stay for 14 days at home before joining the community.

The mandatory quarantine days upon arrival from abroad are reduced from 14 days to 7 days, according to improvements of regulations.

Prime Minister Dr. Abiy Ahmed stated that critical milestones have been realized since the launch of the Doing Business Reform Agenda in implementing regulatory reforms that aim to improve the overall investment climate in Ethiopia.

The premier stressed the need to build on and sustain important reforms introduced in line with amendments of various commercial and investment legal and administrative tools.

Commercial Registration and Business Licensing Amendment Proclamation No 1150-2011, and Regulation 461 -2012, Movable Property Security Right Proclamation 1147/2011 and Directive, Value Added Tax (VAT) Amendment Proclamation 11572011, Investment Proclamation 1180-2012, Electronic Transaction Proclamation are among the reforms introduced following the launch of Doing Business Reform, Dr. Abiy outlined.

Prime Minister Dr. Abiy also listed the New York Convention on Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Arbitral Awards 1184-2012, Commercial Code (Draft enacted by Council of Ministers) and Investment Regulation (Draft tabled for Council of Minister’s considerations) as reforms introduced since the launch of Doing Business Reform Agenda in the country.

Source: FBC

Ethiopia and the World Bank signed a financing agreement amounting $ 250 million in support of supplemental financing to the second Ethiopia growth and competitiveness programmatic development policy financing.

The agreement was signed by Ahmed Shide, Ethiopia’s Minister of Finance and Carolyn Turk, World Bank Country Director for Ethiopia, Eritrea, Sudan, and South Sudan.

The tripartite negotiation between Ethiopia, Sudan and Egypt over GERD continued for the seventh day on Wednesday, 17 June 2020.

The meeting on the guidelines and rules for the first filling and annual operation of the dam was held via video-conferencing and in the presence of observers.

Ahead of the ministerial meeting, the technical and legal teams of the countries held a consultation in parallel sessions and reported the outcome of their work to the trilateral ministerial meeting.

According to a statement issued by the Ministry of Water, Irrigation and Energy of Ethiopia, the most prominent technical issues were resolved through the negotiation.

However, the full completion of the negotiation will require the resolution of legal issues, it added.

The delegation of Sudan sought to report the progress and seek guidance from the Prime Minister of Sudan, it said.

The meeting concluded with an agreement to continue the negotiation after Sudan has its consultation, the statement indicated.

Beyond ensuring the optimal operation of the GERD, the negotiation requires prudence to safeguard the permanent right of Ethiopia over the Blue Nile, the ministry said.

Similarly, the negotiation demands Egypt and Sudan to take a visionary road leading to sustainable cooperation that respects the sovereignty and mutual benefit of the countries.

The statement stated that Ethiopia reiterated its right to fill and operate the dam based on the principles enshrined under the Declaration of Principles signed in 2015.

However, Ethiopia is of the conviction that the three countries can conclude the negotiation on the guidelines and rules with an outcome that maximizes the benefit of the countries, it added.

Source: FBC