Ethiopian authorities have made arrests after imposing a state of emergency on the northern regio. Ethiopian authorities have arrested people connected to "the security crisis in Amhara", the government said Saturday after imposing a state of emergency on the northern region following clashes between local fighters and federal troops. Towns under militia controlLocal fighters from Amhara's Fano militia have taken control of three towns in the region, residents told AFP. "People are indoors in their homes," he said, with Fano fighters blocking routes in and out of the city. Web security firm Cloudflare told AFP they "saw (internet) traffic in Amhara drop around 18:00 UTC (GMT) on Wednesday".

Follow us on Image Source : PTI Prime Minister Narendra Modi with President of Sri Lanka Ranil WickremesingheAid to Sri Lanka: ​India has handed over an advance aid of INR 450 million to Sri Lanka to fund its digital identity project, a significant step in its digitalisation programme being implemented through the Indian grant assistance. Sri Lankan president Ranil Wickremesinghe's office said that the fund from the Indian government was given on Friday (August 4). Sri Lanka thanks IndiaRatnayaka acknowledged the significance of the project in the economic recovery of the island nation and expressed gratitude to the Indian government for its unwavering support. The project commenced with the signing of a MoU between Sri Lanka and India in March 2022 and an Indo-Sri Lanka Joint Project Monitoring Committee (JPMC) for the Sri Lanka Unique Digital Identity Project (SL-UDI) was introduced. (With PTI inputs)ALSO READ | Sri Lankan President plans to implement 13th Amendment: How is it significant for India?

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke by phone with Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed on Friday, expressing grave concern over renewed fighting in the Amhara region, which has escalated to a state of emergency. He expressed deep concern, however, over the evolving situations in the Amhara and Oromia regions, which continue to pose challenges to regional stability and security. One of the other key topics of discussion centered around establishing a robust humanitarian aid distribution system in conflict-affected regions across Ethiopia. Addressing broader regional issues, Blinken reaffirmed full US support for a diplomatic resolution concerning the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD). Amid the escalating conflict in Amhara, the region's internet remains down as of Friday according to internet monitoring sites.

Ethiopia’s national air carrier, Ethiopian Airlines, announced Friday it has canceled flights to three destinations in the unrest-hit Amhara region. In a press statement, the airline said it has canceled planned weekend flights to the cities of Dessie, Gonder, and Lalibela in the turbulent northern Ethiopian region. The cancellation of flights to Ethiopia’s second most populous region means that the regional capital, Bahir Dar, is currently the only city in Amhara with an air link. Earlier on Friday, the Ethiopian government declared a state of emergency in the Amhara region amid ongoing clashes between the government military and local militiamen known as Fano. US expresses concerns over situation in Amhara, OromiaOn Friday, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke with Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed on advancing peace, prosperity, and stability in Ethiopia.

Ethiopia, an enchanting country situated in the Horn of Africa, beckons travelers with its captivating history, breathtaking landscapes, and rich cultural heritage. Ethiopia's history is steeped in grandeur, with evidence of early human ancestors dating back millions of years. The Amhara, Oromo, and Tigray are among the largest ethnic groups, contributing to the nation's rich cultural tapestry. Ethiopia's natural wonders are awe-inspiring and draw tourists from all corners of the globe. The ancient city of Lalibela, with its impressive rock-hewn churches, is a testament to Ethiopia's architectural brilliance and religious devotionIn conclusion, Ethiopia is a land of ancient splendor and enduring beauty.

Ethiopia wavers between chaos and compromise in Amhara regionTensions between Fano and the Ethiopian army are escalating into outright conflict. The Council of Ministers declared a state of emergency yesterday in Amhara, authorizing security forces to confront Fano members whom authorities accuse of fomenting instability. - Advertisement -Amhara politicians and activists stress that Amhara grievances fuel the fire. Calls from Tigrayan authorities for Amhara forces to withdraw from disputed land have also poured fuel on this simmering anger. But some experts warn that choosing war over peace could stoke the embers, referring to lingering tensions and grievances, sparking wider conflict across Ethiopia as armed groups retaliate.

Officials say Ethiopia’s decisive fifth working party meeting with the WTO – scheduled by March or April 2024 – marks a critical moment in the country’s struggling bid to join the global trade body. - Advertisement -Ethiopia first applied back in 2003 but has only managed four working group sessions with WTO members so far. WTO members, according to Tages Mulugeta, International and Regional Trade Integration acting lead executive at the Trade Ministry, barraged Ethiopian officials with questions. The WTO team agreed on a roadmap for the resumption of the talks, and work to start immediately, according to a social media post by Maika Oshikawa, director of Accession Division at the WTO. To date, detailed discussions on Ethiopia’s service sector offer have been put off till the next working group meeting, officials say.

The Development Bank of Ethiopia (DBE) aims to recover 11 billion birr from projects halted in Tigray and four billion birr in Gambella regions. DBE classified Tigray loans as non-performing after losing contact with investors for two years due to the northern Ethiopian conflict. Excluding Tigray loans, DBE’s NPL stand at eight billion birr or eleven percent, half owed by Gambella commercial farms that received billions in financing. We have camps, irrigation pumps, tractors, equipment and manpower at the commercial farms in Gambella,” Yohannes told The Reporter. “We have put aside provision for the Gambella loans, so that the NPL will not affect our balance sheet.”

The limitations that the constitution places on the exercise of emergency powers have to be strictly observed. The measures taken against anyone when the state of emergency is in force must be proportional and adhere to legal prescriptions. While citizens are called on to observe the state of emergency due regard should be given to obeying the law and legality above anything else. Insofar as displaying prudence while exercising emergency powers is likely to have benefits that far outweigh harms, the government is obliged to act accordingly. The heavy toll that the recent civil war in northern Ethiopia exacted should serve as an object lesson here.

Clashes in the region puts the constitution at risk, says Gov’tThe Ethiopian federal government has declared a state of emergency in the Amhara region after clashes between armed groups and government forces intensified, threatening the country’s constitutional order. Security forces have been given sweeping new powers after a state of emergency was declared this week for the restive Amhara region. The Council of Ministers issued the decree on August 4, 2023, a day after Amhara region President Yilkal Kefale (PhD) called for federal intervention. The emergency powers allow security forces to conduct searches without warrants, ban public gatherings and impose curfews – measures already being implemented in Amhara. Five parties including Ethiopian Unity Party (EUP), Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Party (EPRP), and Enat Party, called for national emergency peace-talk.

The Ethiopian government on Friday (August 4) declared a six-month state of emergency in the Amhara region following clashes between the country's military and local Fano militiamen. Fighting has been going on for several days between the military and the Fano militia. According to a report by the news agency Reuters late Friday, the six-month emergency allows the Ethiopian government to impose curfews, restrict movement, and ban public gatherings. For now, the emergency order is only for Amhara but could be imposed in other areas if needed. Meanwhile, Ethiopian Airlines cancelled flights to three of the four airports it flies to in Amhara, an airline spokesperson said.

This is particularly evident among the Muslims; Amhara Muslims have protested against the new Muslim leadership, expressing their support for the former leader from Wollo in the Amhara Region. Indeed, once these areas came under Amhara administration, Amhara forces did not cross into proper Tigray with ENDF. The latter went deep into the Amhara Region and committed war crimes, including sexual violence against more than a thousand women, killing hundreds of civilians, and destruction and embezzlement of property that Amhara region officials say have undone 30 years of development in the region. Many blamed the decision to turn the Amhara Region into a war zone as a stab in the back and even a conspiracy to weaken Amhara. The party’s claim of restructuring all regional forces into Federal forces rang hollow as it began with the Amhara Region.

According to the local Foreign Ministry, during the meeting both parties also discussed regional issues of mutual interest. Mekonnen updated Weber on efforts to consolidate the Pretoria Peace Agreement signed last November that ended the conflict between the Ethiopian government and the Tigray People’s Liberation Front. In this regard, he reaffirmed the government’s continued commitment to the full implementation of the peace agreement and urged international partners such as the European Union to provide support for the overall commitments. He recalled that Ethiopia currently hosts 70,000 refugees who fled the war and asked for support for the Government’s humanitarian efforts in this regard. He also reiterated the commitment to consolidate peace and stability in the region by playing a positive role.

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Editor’s Note: The video above shows KXAN Live’s top headlines for Aug. 4, 2023AUSTIN (KXAN) — On Friday, a Texas district judge issued an injunction blocking elements of Texas’ abortion ban for people with severe pregnancy complications. In March, the Center for Reproductive Rights sued the state on behalf of five Texas women after they said they were denied abortion access, despite having pregnancy complications that risked their lives or the life of their baby. KXAN reached out to the abortion law’s author — Sen. Bryan Hughes, R-Mineola — for comment but did not immediately hear back. Current Texas abortion lawsOnce the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade last summer, Texas was one of 13 states where abortion bans were automatically instated. Instead, plaintiffs asked the court to allow physicians to make exceptions to Texas laws and to clarify under what circumstances they can do so.