| National News

Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed said if Ethiopians courageously stand together to confront and resist the efforts being carried out by western diplomacy and media to forcefully twist the hands of Ethiopia, the terrorist TPLF would be dismantled once and for all.

The Premier in his statement issued today stated that western diplomacy and media have continued efforts to echoing the voices of the terrorist group.

Noting that Ethiopia in its history had gone through several challenges and predicaments, however, the premier added that its courageous people had not sat and waited, instead of paid their lives to confront the challenges to dishonorably defeat the enemies of their country.

With these heroic sacrifices of its gallant children, Ethiopia’s enemies had fallen while the nation has been able to confidently stand in the face of this world, PM Abiy stated.

He recalled that a number of nations in the world had experienced similar conspiracies that created the threats of disintegration at one time or another.

Countries like Yugoslavia, Syria, Somalia, and Libya had fallen with these conspiracies; the PM said.

However, he added that “Germany, Japan, Korea, and Vietnam are some of the pioneering nations that successfully thwarted the crises they had gone through by confronting them with strong unity.

Currently, these nations are among the key models for their economic might, modern political system, technological capabilities, and civilized social values, he stated.

The premier said these countries had been tested by the dreadful and most challenging predicaments, however, surpassed them and become prosperous now by using the challenges as a springboard.

He also indicated that there are a lot of other countries in the world that had encountered similar situations like the ones that we have now been facing.

There are no challenges and predicaments that Ethiopia had gone through in its history, he said adding that the nation was able to reverse and overcome the challenges wisely with unity.

Whatever huge are the threats coming from the outside world or challenges that arise from inside the country, when there is a strong unity among the people of Ethiopia, the challenges had never been beyond their capabilities. The terrorist TPLF is now making its last effort and has been lamenting for help losing hope, he said.

“The enemies of Ethiopia have been waging war on two fronts. In war front and diplomatic front. Hence, all of you who are concerned about the survival of Ethiopia have to join to confront the two fronts by refraining from conspiracy analysis and unnecessary fear,” the PM urged.

Diplomacy and foreign relations are political games guided by the principle of ‘give and take’ he said, adding “there is no doubt that our country will benefit the most from the right line of diplomacy. On contrary, diplomatic relations conducted by endangering the national interest and sovereignty of our country might bring temporary relief but its long-term negative consequences are significant.”

“The government is doing its part to prevent this. It will continue to do so,” PM Abiy underscored.

According to him, the traditional diplomatic relations is not the major way to create influence, for instance, the western world uses the international media outlets to pressurize nations that they are interested by conducting enormous campaign.

“When we began to resist their pressures, they will launch destructive information campaign to tarnish our image for they are immensely capable in this regard. They have a wide range of media tools and advanced power to misrepresent the people of the world,” Prime Minister noted.

He stressed the need to work together and harmony to counter the media and diplomatic pressure on Ethiopia, he said, adding “We must take advantage of all the opportunities we have to defend the campaign open up on us.”

Furthermore, he stressed that it is necessary to resist and defend the news that harms the country on social and mainstream media, at home and abroad, individually and collectively.

August 16, 2021

| National News

Corona virus death toll doubles in Ethiopia According to the Minister of Health, Dr. Leah Tadesse, the number of patients admitted to medical facilities has increased by 2.5 percent.

The average weekly mortality rate has risen from 13 to 36, and the number of seriously ill people has risen sharply. According to the minister, the spread of the virus is on the rise, but the number of people who wear masks is declining.
In Addis Ababa, only 59 percent of the population outside of Addis Ababa uses mouth and nose masks, she said.
Dr. Leah called on the public to be aware of the seriousness of the virus and learn from other countries.
On the other hand, as of March 4, 2013, 2,254,270 people have been vaccinated against corona. More than 300,000 people have been vaccinated in the second round, she said.
She said the vaccine will be given to people over the age of 35 who have not been vaccinated against corona in Addis Ababa and other regions and city administrations.
In addition, people outside of Addis Ababa over the age of 18 with comorbidities, as well as those who are at risk of contracting the virus due to their work, will also be vaccinated.

August 16, 2021

| National News

Deputy Chief of the Southern Nations, Nationalities and People's Region (SNNPR), Ristu Yirda, has said that foreign powers are trying to establish a weak and decentralized government.

He was speaking at a forum on Butajira in the Southern Nations, Nationalities and People's Region (SNNPR). He said the regional government strongly condemns the terrorist group's atrocities against civilians.
"We are aware that this force is the enemy of the whole of Ethiopia," he said.
The security forces of the region have not only thwarted the plots of the terrorist group to destabilize the region, but are also on the front lines of national duty.

August 16, 2021

| National News

The Prime Minister's Office said that food aid for the displaced people has started moving to the area due to the crisis caused by the terrorist attack in Kaligoma, Afar Region.

300,000 people have been displaced by the TPLF's crackdown on innocents in Afar and Amhara.
The government is currently waging a campaign against a terrorist group in the Tigray region, according to the office's press secretary, Bilene Seyoum.
According to ENA, the government called on the public to remain vigilant in their communities and that the defense has other emergency calls.
She recalled that 277 aid trucks have arrived in Tigray so far.
The head of the press secretary said the international community is inclined to listen to the TPLF's false propaganda.

August 16, 2021

| National News

Ambassador Jamal Beker held talks with the Minister of Industry, Trade and Tourism of Bahrain.

During the meeting, Ambassador Jamal spoke on investment opportunities, legal and operational opportunities in Ethiopia, particularly in the fields of agriculture, manufacturing, agro-processing, innovation and technology, tourism and services.

They also discussed the supply of agricultural, animal and animal products and agro-processing products to the Bahraini market.
He also suggested that the Minister visit Ethiopia.

For his part, Zeid Al-Zeyin said the two countries will provide the necessary support to strengthen investment, trade and tourism ties and enable Ethiopian agricultural and manufacturing products to enter the Bahrain market.

According to information obtained from the Spokesperson's Office of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Minister accepted the invitation to visit Ethiopia before the end of the current fiscal year.

August 16, 2021

| National News