Fourth COVID-19 Wave Simmers Down

Aug 6 , 2022


Concerns over a potential fourth wave of the COVID-19 pandemic ease as the number of positive cases has dropped in recent weeks. Health officials had raised the alarm in the early days of last June as positive and mortality rates began to spike. Despite the respite observed in recent weeks, the authorities caution the public to stay vigilant and adhere to social distancing practices and wear face coverings. The pandemic hit its peak in the closing days of 2021, with close to 5,200 positive cases recorded on December 28 alone. Close to 493,000 cases have been registered since early 2020, and 7,569 people had lost their lives to the virus as of last week. Health professionals have thus far administered over 52 million doses of various COVID-19 vaccines to the public.


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Parliament Reviews Bill Allowing Foreign Property Ownership

A draft proclamation that would allow foreigners to own or occupy immovable property in Ethiopia has been submitted to parliament by the Council of Ministers. Designed to attract foreign investment, the draft law plans to ensure that Ethiopian citizens retain their right to land ownership and use. According to a statement from the Prime Minister's Office, the draft was among six agenda items discussed and approved during the Council's regular session held on May 2, 2025. The proclamation is e...


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Speeding in the Spotlight as New Safety Drive Begins

The Road Safety and Insurance Fund Service has stated that drivers are responsible for 68 percent of traffic accidents in Ethiopia, with the remainder mainly caused by pedestrians and road conditions. On this topic, the service launched a one-month mass media campaign on last week focused on raising awareness about speeding, the leading cause of traffic accidents. The campaign, under the motto "Slow Down, Speeding Ruins Lives," plans to shed light on the dangers of speeding. Yohannes Lemma, E...


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Askari Metals Secures Five Gold Licenses in Untapped Adola Belt

Askari Metals has acquired 100pc of Rift Valley Metals, gaining five gold exploration licences covering 460sqkm in Ethiopia's Adola Greenstone Belt, part of the southern Arabian-Nubian Shield, a mineral-rich but underexplored region. "The exploration areas—Sakaro, Sakaro West, Lega Dembi South, Megado, and Wayu Boda—lie near Ethiopia's top gold mines, including Lega Dembi and Sakaro, which have produced over three million ounces of gold. The area is known for orogenic gold systems hosted...