Ethiopia
Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has been sworn-in for a new five-year term as his government struggles with a civil war and faces accusations of imposing a blockade on the north of the country that the UN says has put millions of people at risk of starvation. Abiy’s Prosperity Party won 410 out of 436 seats in parliamentary elections earlier this year, though several opposition parties boycotted the vote. In his speech after he was sworn in, Abiy appeared to lash out at nations that have criticised his handling of the war. "There are those who showed us their true friendship and those who betrayed us,” he said, without specifying.
More from AP here.
Lebanon
Lebanon and the International Monetary Fund are set to resume talks in the next few days aimed at addressing the country’s dire economic crisis. The extent of Lebanon’s economic freefall is hard to exaggerate. More than two-thirds of the population are living in poverty, according to the UN. There is hardly any electricity, hospitals have run out of medicine and people have been killed in fights over fuel.
More from Al Jazeera here.
Taiwan-China
China has flown military aircraft into Taiwanese airspace for a fourth day running - this time a record 56 planes - in what is being seen as an act of intimidation. China claims Taiwan as part of its territory and has been stepping up pressure for the island to submit to its sovereignty. Taiwan says it will defend its independence.
More from Reuters here.