United Nations:  The UN is pleading with Ethiopia's government to free an unprecedented number of jailed UN officials and contract aid drivers, according to a UN spokesman.

"We continue to aggressively work with the administration to attempt to reverse this situation," UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres' Chief Spokesman Stephane Dujarric said. "We would like to see our coworkers liberated as soon as possible. We want all contractors engaged by the United Nations and foreign non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to be released as soon as possible." According to him, at least nine UN staff workers and more than 70 truck drivers were still being held as of Thursday.

"In my recent experience, it is unparalleled in terms of the numbers that we are seeing," Dujarric said at a routine news briefing when asked about the number of detainees in relation to prior detentions of UN personnel anywhere in the globe. According to reports, the UN and NGOs hired the truck drivers to bring humanitarian aid into Ethiopia's northernmost Tigray province, which has been the scene of a year-long revolt that has since spread to the neighbouring regions of Afar and Amhara.

Lebanon launches USD 25-MN fund to aid with recovery of MSEs damaged in Beirut bombings

New Zealand ‘s Conway ruled out of the World Cup final and India's T20I series

New Zealand PM calls for equitable, sustainable post-Covid recovery