Africa

Ethiopia’s military has gained “full control” of the capital of the defiant Tigray region, the army announced Saturday, and the prime minister said the taking of Mekele marked the “completion” of an offensive that started nearly four weeks ago.

The three week-long conflict started following an attack by rebels on a military base.

Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed again ruled out dialogue with the leaders of the defiant Tigray region Friday but said he was willing to speak to representatives "operating legally” there during his meeting with three African Union special envoys trying to end the deadly conflict between federal troops and the region's forces.

Ethiopia's prime minister said Thursday the army has been ordered to move on the embattled Tigray regional capital after his 72-hour ultimatum ended for Tigray leaders to surrender, and he warned the city's half-million residents to stay indoors and disarm.

Ethiopia’s prime minister is rejecting growing international consensus for dialogue and a halt to deadly fighting in the Tigray region as “unwelcome,” saying his country will handle the conflict on its own as a 72-hour surrender ultimatum runs out on Wednesday.

President-elect Joe Biden on Monday tapped Jacob Sullivan to be America's next national security adviser, but it remains to be seen if the former top Hillary Clinton adviser, who championed the ill-fated unraveling of Libya almost a decade ago, will take heed of those lessons learned.

Congo has announced the end to its 11th Ebola outbreak, this case in the western Equateur Province.

The religious persecution of Christians in Nigeria is teetering on genocide, religious leaders and foreign policy analysts caution in a desperate bid for the international community to take urgent action.

The only known white giraffe in the world has been fitted with a GPS tracking device to help protect it from poachers as it grazes in Kenya. But despite its singular status, the lonely male doesn’t have a name.