A 'sick joke': Tigrayan forces reject ceasefire in Ethiopia’s embattled region

The World
Lieutenant-General Bacha Debele is show standing at a podium with his hand raised in soft focus with a guard in military fatigues is shown in focus and holding a large rifle.

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Tigray conflict
The government of Ethiopia has said it could re-enter the Tigray region, just days after pulling out its troops and declaring a unilateral ceasefire. The Tigray People’s Liberation Front’s, which has made territorial gains in the embattled region, has rejected the ceasefire, calling it a “sick joke,” and has vowed to chase down Ethiopian and Eritrean troops that joined forces in the nearly eight-month war. The Tigray forces' spokesman, Getachew Reda, said that there will be no negotiations until communications, transportation and other services destroyed by the war are restored.

Canada heat wave
Dozens of people have died in western Canada amid a scorching heat wave that has set record high temperatures. While the deaths are still under investigation, authorities believe that the heat is a contributing factor in dozens of sudden deaths of mostly senior citizens. Canada broke its own record for a third straight day on Tuesday — reaching 121.3 F in Lytton, British Columbia. A dome of static high-pressure hot air stretching from California to the Arctic territories has created the heat wave over western parts of Canada and the US.

North Korea COVID-19
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un admonished top officials at a specially-convened Politburo meeting for failures in COVID-19 prevention tactics that have caused a “great crisis” in the country. In the remarks, reported by state news agency KCNA, Kim added that they "caused a grave incident that has caused a great risk to people and the nation's safety." The rare comments could signal an outbreak in North Korea, a country that has claimed to have had no infections of the  novel coronavirus.

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In case you missed it

Listen: Afghans pick up arms against the Taliban

Afghan militiamen join Afghan defense and security forces during a gathering in Kabul, Afghanistan, Wednesday, June 23, 2021. 

Afghan militiamen join Afghan defense and security forces during a gathering in Kabul, Afghanistan, June 23, 2021.

Credit:

Rahmat Gul/AP

Taliban fighters have taken over several districts since the US announced its unconditional troop withdrawal. To counter the insurgents, some Afghans are taking up arms. And, Ethiopia declared a unilateral ceasefire in the Tigray region on Monday, putting an end to nearly eight months of fighting that pushed hundreds of thousands into starvation. Also, Guam's surplus of vaccines — and hotel vacancies — has inspired "Guam AirVnV."

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