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

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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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The politics of Ireland’s enduring support for Palestinians

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TV show turns parents’ anxiety over college exams in China into entertainment

The new TV show, “A Little Dilemma,” follows two families in their different approaches to their children’s education, giving real families in China something to relate to and reflect upon. The results of the Gaokao, China’s high-pressure college entrance exam, were released last week, with a record number of students sitting for the test this year. The show attempts to turn parents’ anxiety about the exams into entertainment.

Bright spot

Authorities have recovered paintings by Pablo Picasso and Piet Mondrian that were stolen from the National Gallery in Athens, Greece, nearly a decade ago. They were found in a gorge after a builder admitted to stealing them in an overnight raid. But then in an unfortunate twist, Picasso’s “Head of a Woman” painting slipped to the floor while being displayed at a news conference!

In case you missed it

Listen: Afghans pick up arms against the Taliban

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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