ADDIS ABABA: Two local officials in Ethiopia’s northern Amhara state have been killed after the central government let expire a state of emergency that was declared for the conflict-wracked region last year, authorities said.
The heads of the Efrata Gidim and Kewet woreda, or districts, were killed by “extremist entities” on June 2 and 5, local officials said in separate statements.
The phrase is used by the government to refer to the Fano self-defense militia that took up arms against forces they had formerly supported in the Ahmara region a year ago.
Ethiopia’s government has not officially ended the state of emergency declared in August 2023 and extended by parliament in February.
But to remain in place the government needed to seek parliament’s approval by June 4, something it has not done.
Contacted by AFP, the office of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed did not respond immediately to a request for comment.
The Ethiopian Human Rights Commission (EHRC), an independent state-affiliated body, called for the “restoration of ordinary law enforcement, including the release of those imprisoned during the implementation of the state of emergency,” in a statement dated June 5.
The government has failed so far to end the Fano insurgency in Amhara, home to around 23 million people — the second-largest of the roughly 80 ethno-linguistic groups in the country of 120 million people, Africa’s second most populous.
An influx of refugees from war-torn Sudan and also Eritrea have also stoked tensions in the region.
Last month, the United Nations said around 1,000 refugees had fled a UN-run camp in Amhara after reports of armed robbery, shootings and alleged abductions.
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Ethiopia reports two Amhara officials killed as state of emergency ends
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Ethiopia reports two Amhara officials killed as state of emergency ends
- Ethiopia’s government has not officially ended the state of emergency declared in August 2023 and extended by parliament in February
Modi to meet Putin, attend India-Russia summit after 2-year gap
- Talks on discharge of Indian nationals from Russian army expected during the trip
- Visit to change perceptions that there is a ‘drift’ in India-Russia ties, expert says
NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will meet Russia’s President Vladimir Putin next week, India’s Foreign Ministry said on Friday, amid Western efforts to isolate Moscow on the world stage over its invasion of Ukraine.
Modi will be in the Russian capital on July 8-9 for the 22nd edition of the annual India-Russia summit that has been hosted alternately by the two countries since 2000.
The last meeting was held in 2021, when Putin visited Delhi, and the next was due in Moscow in 2022. It did not take place following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February that year.
“The 22nd annual summit between India and Russia would provide an opportunity to the two leaders to review the whole range of bilateral issues, including defense, trade linkages, investment ties, energy cooperation, S&T (science and technology),” Foreign Secretary Vinay Mohan Kwatra told reporters in Delhi.
Talks on the release of Indian nationals serving in the Russian army are also expected during the prime minister’s trip in the wake of reports that they have been sent to fight in the Ukraine war.
“The issue of early discharge of Indian nationals who have been misled into the service in the Russian army is also expected to figure in the discussions,” Kwarta said.
The last time Modi and Putin met in person was on the sidelines of the 2022 Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit in Uzbekistan. Modi skipped the SCO’s summit this week, so the meeting with the Russian president will be his first since the beginning of his third term in office.
It will also be his first bilateral visit since winning the general election last month.
“The annual summit between the two leaders is the highest mechanism to steer and drive cooperation between our two countries,” Kwarta said.
“They would also share perspectives on regional and global developments of mutual interest … (and) assess the status of bilateral engagements, groupings such as BRICS, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, G20, East Asia summit and the UN.”
New Delhi’s ties with Moscow span over seven decades. India has abstained from publicly criticizing Russia over the Ukraine war and did not join the slew of international sanctions slapped on it, despite pressure from Western countries, especially the US.
Russia is also India’s biggest crude oil supplier and the main source of its military hardware.
“Russia is a great power … It is a member of the Security Council with the veto and we in India remember that the veto has been exercised in our favor several times in the past,” said Nandan Unnikrishnan, who leads the Eurasia program at the Observer Research Foundation in New Delhi.
“Russia is the largest country in the world. It has a (large) number of natural resources, and we are an economy that is growing, and we will soon require much larger amounts of natural resources, so for a variety of reasons, Russia is important … and it plays an important role in maintaining multipolarity in Asia.”
On the other hand, India’s partnership with the West has been growing for the last 20 years, and it is a member of the Quad. The four-state strategic security dialogue, comprising also the US, Japan and Australia, was established to counter the increased regional economic and military influence of China — India’s rival, with whom relations have been tense since the 2020 deadly clashes on their 3,500-km Himalayan border.
Both Russia and the US are strategic partners for India and clearly siding with one of them could cost it the relationship with the other.
While Modi has not met Putin for the past two years, Unnikrishnan said a perception was emerging that there was a “drift” in India’s ties with Russia amid Western efforts to isolate Moscow on the world stage.
“Our relationship with the US has been growing rapidly, becoming closer and closer … It was giving rise to all kinds of speculation that distance from Russia is growing. I think the PM felt that now it’s time to remove such a perception,” he told Arab News.
“India has multiple partners, and it will not have a relationship based on dictation by any third party. It will maintain relationships depending on the national interest.”
Saudi crown prince, world leaders react to Labour’s sweeping victory in UK election
- Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman congratulated PM Keir Starmer
LONDON: Keir Starmer will be Britain’s next prime minister after his center-left Labour Party won a huge majority in a parliamentary election, defeating Rishi Sunak’s Conservatives and ending their 14 years of often tumultuous rule.
Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman congratulated Starmer on his appointment as prime minister on Friday, Saudi Press Agency reported.
Below are other world leaders’ reactions:
GERMAN CHANCELLOR OLAF SCHOLZ IN STATEMENT:
“I am delighted about the election victory of the leader of our sister party in the UK. I know Keir Starmer personally, we have often met and talked. He will be a very good, very successful prime minister... I also have the impression that we won’t have much trouble developing relations between Europe and the UK and between Germany and the UK.”
ITALIAN PRIME MINISTER GIORGIA MELONI ON X:
“My congratulations to Keir Starmer on his election success. Relations between Italy and the United Kingdom are excellent and I’m sure we’ll continue to cultivate a relationship of strong and reliable cooperation between our great nations...
“I thank my friend Rishi Sunak for these years of intense cooperation and sincere friendship...”
NATO SECRETARY-GENERAL JENS STOLTENBERG TO REPORTERS:
“I will congratulate Keir Starmer on his election. I look forward to welcoming him and meeting him at the NATO summit in Washington next week. I have met Keir Starmer here at the NATO headquarters and I know that he is a strong supporter of NATO, of the transatlantic alliance and also committed to ensuring that United Kingdom continues to be a strong and very committed NATO ally.”
INDIAN PRIME MINISTER NARENDRA MODI ON X:
“Heartiest congratulations and best wishes to @Keir_Starmer on the remarkable victory in the general elections. I look forward to our positive and constructive collaboration to further strengthen the India-UK Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in all areas, fostering mutual growth and prosperity.”
“Thank you @RishiSunak for your admirable leadership of the UK, and your active contribution to deepen the ties between India and the UK during your term in office.”
IRISH PRIME MINISTER SIMON HARRIS AT PRESS CONFERENCE:
“The relationship between an Irish Taoiseach (prime minister) and a British prime minister is vital... It is time for a great reset. This morning from Dublin, I want to send a message to London that I will match Keir Starmer’s commitment and energy to our peace process and to our future potential in so many areas.”
UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT VOLODYMYR ZELENSKIY ON X:
“Congratulations to @Keir_Starmer and @UKLabour on their convincing election victory. Ukraine and the United Kingdom have been and will continue to be reliable allies through thick and thin. We will continue to defend and advance our common values of life, freedom, and a rules-based international order...
“I am grateful to my good friend @RishiSunak for the UK government’s steadfast support under his leadership. Challenger tanks, Storm Shadow missiles, F-16 training for our pilots, and the first bilateral security cooperation agreement are just a few of our shared achievements that Ukraine will never forget.”
FRENCH PRESIDENT EMMANUEL MACRON ON X:
“Congratulations Sir @Keir_Starmer on your victory. Pleased with our first discussion. We will continue the work begun with the UK for our bilateral cooperation, for peace and security in Europe, for the climate and for AI.”
AUSTRALIAN PRIME MINISTER ANTHONY ALBANESE TO REPORTERS:
“We have a strong relationship between our two countries, but in Sir Keir Starmer and Angela Rayner and so many others who I am very familiar with in the British Labour Party, I look forward very much to working with them. They have very similar views to us on a range of issues. I’m sure we’ll work closely on AUKUS, where we worked very closely as well with the former government.”
CANADIAN PRIME MINISTER JUSTIN TRUDEAU ON X:
“Congratulations, @Keir_Starmer, on a historic UK election victory. Lots of work ahead to build a more progressive, fair future for people on both sides of the Atlantic. Let’s get to it, my friend.”
* With Reuters
Ukraine receives third Patriot air defense system from Germany
- Moscow renewed its aerial assaults on Ukraine’s national power grid in the spring
- The Ukrainian defense ministry said on X the system had already been delivered and thanked Germany
KYIV: Ukraine said on Friday it had taken receipt of its third German-supplied Patriot air defense system following months of pleas for equipment to protect its civilians and infrastructure from Russian air strikes.
Moscow renewed its aerial assaults on Ukraine’s national power grid in the spring, causing sweeping blackouts. President Volodymyr Zelensky said earlier this year his country needed at least seven additional Patriot systems to protect itself.
The Ukrainian defense ministry said on X the system had already been delivered and thanked Germany for “unwavering support.”
“It will help improve the protection of civilians and infrastructure. The Ukrainian crew has successfully completed appropriate training in Germany,” German Ambassador to Ukraine Martin Jaeger said on X.
Kyiv has indicated it hopes for progress on the matter of air defense supplies at a NATO summit in Washington next week. A senior US State Department official has said Kyiv is expected to get “good news” at the summit.
Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 and regularly uses its arsenal of missiles and drones to conduct long-range strikes.
Two killed in Ukrainian strike on Donetsk region, Russian-backed official says
- An additional fifteen people were wounded
- US-supplied HIMARS rockets and drones had been used in the attack
MOSCOW: Two people were killed by Ukrainian army shelling of the Russian-controlled town of Volnovakha in Donetsk, eastern Ukraine, Denis Pushilin, the Russian-installed regional head, said on Friday.
An additional fifteen people, including a teenage girl and two employees of Russia’s Emergencies Ministry, were wounded, Pushilin said.
He said US-supplied HIMARS rockets and drones had been used in the attack, which damaged seven residential buildings in multiple settlements.
Video and pictures published by Russian army news outlet Zvezda showed a woman covered in blood lying on the ground next to a car, as well as a bus and several buildings with their windows shattered.
Reuters could not independently verify that had happened and there was no immediate comment from Ukraine.
Pope to preside over interfaith meeting in Indonesian mosque during longest, most challenging trip
- The Vatican released the itinerary for Francis’ Sept. 2-13 trip to Indonesia, East Timor, Papua New Guinea and Singapore
ROME: Pope Francis will preside over an interfaith meeting in a mosque in the world’s largest predominantly Muslim country during a four-nation Asian visit in September that will be the longest and most complicated foreign trip of his pontificate.
The Vatican on Friday released the itinerary for Francis’ Sept. 2-13 trip to Indonesia, East Timor, Papua New Guinea and Singapore. The packed schedule makes clear that the 87-year-old pontiff, who has battled health problems and is increasingly reliant on a wheelchair, has no plans to slow down.
After a day of rest upon arrival in Jakarta on Sept. 3, Francis launches into a typically rigorous round of protocol visits to the four countries’ heads of state and government, speeches to diplomats and meetings with clergy and public Masses in each location. In Jakarta, he’ll preside over an interfaith meeting at the capital’s Istiqlal Mosque.
Sprinkled in the mix are encounters with young people, poor and disabled people, elderly people and Francis’ regular meetings with his Jesuit confreres.
The trip was originally planned for 2020 but was called off because of the COVID-19 pandemic. At 11 full days, it’s the longest of Francis’ 11-year papacy, outpacing by a few days some of his long trips to the Americas and recalling some of the strenuous, globe-hopping trips of St. John Paul II.
It will bring the Argentine Jesuit to the world’s most populous predominantly Muslim nation, Indonesia, as well as the former Portuguese colony of East Timor, where the Catholic Church wields enormous influence.
In East Timor, however, Francis may also have to reckon with the legacy of independence hero Bishop Carlos Ximenes Belo. The Nobel Peace Prize winner was sanctioned by the Vatican in 2020 for having sexually abused young Timorese boys and is currently believed to be living in Portugal.
Francis had to cancel his last planned foreign visit -– a quick trip to Dubai last year to participate in the UN climate conference -– because of a recurring case of bronchitis. He has seemed in relatively good form in recent months, including during day trips to Italian cities and visits to Roman parishes.
But in recent years, as his mobility has been limited by bad knee ligaments, he has generally stuck closer to home and kept his trips relatively short.
After he returns to Rome in mid-September, he has a four-day visit to Belgium before the end of the month, the only other foreign trip that has been confirmed for the year.
