The Norwegian Nobel Committee has joined international voices calling on Ethiopia's prime minister to end the country's 14-month-long civil war.
They said Abiy Ahmed who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2019 has a special responsibility to see an end to the bloodshed.
Mr Abiy’s spokesperson Billene Seyoum had previously said that the Nobel Peace Prize was not a shackle for inaction when the country is threatened.
The calls from the Committee are expected to increase the pressure to find a peaceful resolution for the war.

Deliberate internet blockages across sub-Saharan Africa resulted in $1.9bn in losses last year - eight times more than in 2020.
Top10VPN says Nigeria was by far the worst-hit African country losing nearly $1.5bn, second globally to politically troubled Myanmar, which lost about $2.8bn.
Top10VPN's report came as Nigeria lifted a ban on Twitter that had lasted for seven months, though many people circumvented it by using VPNs.
Ethiopia was the second-most affected country in Africa has lost around $164m, followed by Sudan at almost $152m and Uganda at more than $109m, according to the report.

Rwanda has lifted a ban on concerts under its new coronavirus regulations.
The cabinet has resolved that concert organisers will seek permission 10 days before the event.
The concert tickets will be sold online and the recommended capacity is 50% for indoor venues and 75% for outdoor.
Those attending concerts must show proof of vaccination. Theatres and cinema halls have also been allowed to reopen with 50% capacity.

A UNICEF official disclosed that Poorer nations last month rejected more than 100 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines distributed by the global programme COVAX, mainly due to their rapid expiry date.
The big figure showed the difficulties of vaccinating the world despite growing supplies of shots, with COVAX getting closer to delivering one billion doses to a total of nearly 150 countries.
The Director of Supply Division at UN agency, UNICEF, Etleva Kadil told lawmakers at the European Parliament that more than 100 million have been rejected just in December alone adding that the main reason for rejection was the delivery of doses with a short shelf-life.

The federal government warned that it would not condone any act of abuse and mishandling of equipment and facilities provided to tackle security threats in the country.
The president expressed optimism that the Inspector-General of Police and his management team, would commit officers and men of the Nigerian Police to reciprocate the government’s efforts through judicious and effective use of the facilities for improvement of Nigerian security architecture.
Buhari tasked officers and men of the Nigeria Police Force to continue to show commitment in the discharge of their duties and to adopt a holistic internal security mechanism in the country.

The federal government has warned the reconstituted governing board of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission against being involved in corruption.
The Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr Boss Mustapha urged the members to carry out their duty with responsibility, saying the federal government would not hesitate to sanction all infractions.
The SGF also decried the effects of financial crimes on the image of the country, saying it had prevented the country from attracting foreign investments.

The Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, has called for the implementation of the various MoUs between Nigeria and Namibia, especially in the areas of culture and tourism, to ensure that they translate into economic benefits for the two countries.
He observed that the bilateral cooperation between the two nations, which dates back to 1992 on the platform of the 1st Nigeria-Namibia Joint Commission, expired without implementation, and expressed the hope that the MoUs will be revived for implementation this time around.

Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike inspected two illegal refining sites recently discovered in Ikwerre and Emohua local government areas by the council chairmen.
The Governor ordered the arrest of those sponsoring the operation of the illegal refineries in the state, some of whom are said to be prominent businessmen in the state.
Wike urged the police to go after the culprits and directed the State Attorney-General, Professor Zacchaeus Adangor to take over the files of those arrested far from the police for state prosection.
He also demanded the redeployment of a divisional police officer said to be involved in the illegal activities in Emohua local government area.

Cross-border humanitarian aid to northwest Syria has been extended de facto for six months without a new vote at the United Nations Security Council.
The 15-member body had previously issued an authorisation for six months, allowing aid into rebel-held areas through the use of the Bab al-Hawa crossing at the Turkey-Syria border until January 10, 2022.
UN chief Antonio Guterres had stressed the impossibility of replacing at this stage the cross-border mechanism for one that crossed front lines from Damascus, which President Bashar al-Assad ally and permanent Security Council member Russia favours as recognition of the Syrian government’s sovereignty over the whole country.

The United Nations says it needed nearly $5bn in aid for Afghanistan in 2022, as the global body launched its largest-ever humanitarian appeal for a single country to avert a humanitarian catastrophe.
The UN humanitarian agency says $4.4bn was needed within Afghanistan, while a further $623m was required to support the millions of Afghans sheltering beyond its borders.
UN Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator Martin Griffiths say a full-blown humanitarian catastrophe looms and don’t shut the door on the people of Afghanistan.