Ethiopia’s state broadcaster has said the country’s military had killed 550 Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) fighters as the conflict in the country’s northernmost state continues to deepen.

The claim has not been independently verified.

This comes as reports indicate hundreds of deaths on both sides.

On Tuesday, the head of the TPLF, Debretsion Gebremichael, accused the neighbouring Eritrean government of launching attacks on the Tigrayan state.

The accusation was denied by both the Eritrean government and the Ethiopian national army.

A spokesperson for the federal government’s emergency committee, Redwan Hussien, on Tuesday said there was still a possibility of dialogue between the government and Tigray’s authorities.

But he said “armaments purportedly seized by forces loyal to the TPLF must be destroyed, individuals in the custody of Tigrayan forces rescued and those who launched attacks face justice”.

Meanwhile Ethiopia’s federal police has said that 17 military personnel – including senior officials – accused of being part of a plot when the northern military command was allegedly attacked last week have been arrested.

The officials are said to have disrupted communications between the command and the rest of the national armed forces.

It is unclear if the suspects have responded to the accusations.

Islamabad : Pakistan on Tuesday welcomed the deal signed between Armenia, Azerbaijan and Russia to end the military conflict over the Nagorno-Karabakh region after more than a month of bloodshed.

A statement issued by the Foreign Office said Pakistan consistently supported resolution of the Nagorno-Karabagh dispute in accordance with international law and the relevant UN Security Council Resolutions.

“We welcome the recent announcement of cessation of hostilities by the relevant parties,” reads the press release. “The trilateral agreement facilitated by the Russian Federation offers a renewed opportunity for establishing peace in the South Caucasus region.”

Congratulating the government and “brotherly people” of Azerbaijain on the “liberation of their territories”, Islamabad hoped this will lead to an era of “stability and prosperity in the region and will pave way for the return of internally displaced persons to their ancestral lands.”

TEHRAN, NOV 10 (DNA) – A Foreign Policy Analyst Pir Mohammad Mollazehi said on Tuesday that Tehran and Islamabad have common concerns regarding the region ‘s problems, adding that the Zionist regime actions in the region and normalization of relations with some Arab countries have given rise to new demands by regional countries.

According to the Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh, Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif will be heading a high-profile delegation to Pakistan on Tuesday.

In an interview with IRNA on Tuesday, Pir Mohammad Mollazehi commented on the visit, noting that he is to exchange views on regional and global developments as well as bilateral relations with senior Pakistani officials during the visit.

He also touched upon the US policy to bolster the influence of the Zionist Regime in the region and Arab countries and said that the normalization of the relations between the UAE , Bahrain , Sudan , and even Saudi Arabia with the Zionist Regime that took place upon the order of the US President Donald Trump is a serious security concern both for Tehran and Islamabad which will be at the heart of consultations during discussions.

The expert on regional issues recalled Pakistan’s multi-billion dollar income from its labor force in the Persian Gulf countries and added: “On the other hand, India has close relations with the Zionist Regime and in this context, Tel Aviv’s proximity to Arab countries threatens Islamabad’s interests in these countries.”

Referring to the political tension between Iran and the UAE after normalization of relations with the Zionist Regime, Mollazehi pointed out that Pakistan could play a role in reducing US  sanctions and providing the commodities needed by Iran through border transactions .

Zarif in a Twitter message outlined details of his upcoming tour to Pakistan as “Top-level talks on bilateral and regional issues with brothers Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood qureshi, Army Chief Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa and Prime Minister Imran Khan in Pakistan.”

“Visit follows Iqbal Day, celebrating great Islamic scholar, international poet and tireless promoter of Muslim unity who ties together our two nations,” he added. = DNA

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World Travel Awards has unveiled its Indian Ocean 2020 winners to coincide with its inaugural Indian Ocean Winners Day. The global initiative to recognise and reward excellence in travel and tourism will also reveal its global title holders later this month during the Grand Final.

Winners include Maldives, which cemented its reputation as the definitive secluded sanctuary to win ‘Indian Ocean’s Leading Destination’, ‘Indian Ocean’s Leading Beach Destination’ and ‘Indian Ocean’s Leading Dive Destination’.

Meanwhile the lush forests, wild waterfalls, unique wildlife and palm-fringed beaches of Mauritius helped it lift ‘Indian Ocean’s Leading Adventure Tourism Destination’ and ‘Indian Ocean’s Leading Honeymoon Destination’.

The mystical island of Madagascar was named ‘Indian Ocean’s Leading Green Destination’, whilst Reunion Island was heralded ‘Indian Ocean’s Leading Nature Destination’.

Maldives enjoyed a strong showing in the hospitality sector. Conrad Maldives Rangali Island, home to the world’s first underwater villa, lifted the title of ‘Indian Ocean’s Leading Hotel’, while Vakkaru Maldives, with its unique take on luxury, picked up ‘Indian Ocean’s Leading Resort’, and Kurumba Maldives won ‘Indian Ocean’s Leading Family Resort’.

New arrival on the region’s luxury hospitality scene, Emerald Maldives Resort & Spa, was voted ‘Indian Ocean’s Leading New Resort’.

Hilton Seychelles Northolme Resort & Spa claimed ‘Indian Ocean’s Leading Villa Resort’ and Andilana Beach Resort, Madagascar declared ‘Indian Ocean’s Leading Beach Resort’.

In the aviation sector, Air Seychelles lifted ‘Indian Ocean’s Leading Airline’, while ‘Indian Ocean’s Leading Airport’ went to Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International Airport, Mauritius.

The results follow a year-long search for the world’s top travel, tourism and hospitality brands.

Votes were cast by travel industry professionals and the public, with the nominee gaining the most votes in a category named as the winner.

Graham Cooke, founder, World Travel Awards, said: “Our winners represent the very best of the Indian Ocean’s travel and tourism sector and my congratulations to each of them.

“They have all demonstrated remarkable resilience in a year of unprecedented challenges.”

He added: “The World Travel Awards 2020 programme received a record number of votes cast by the public.

“This shows that the appetite for travel and tourism has never been stronger and bodes well for the industry’s future as the global recovery begins.”

Other winners include Constance Hotels & Resorts (‘Indian Ocean’s Leading Hotel Brand); Cunard (‘Indian Ocean’s Leading Cruise Line’); Simply Maldives Holidays (‘Indian Ocean’s Leading Travel Agency’); The St. Regis Maldives Vommuli Resort (‘Indian Ocean’s Leading Luxury Resort’); Seychelles Travel (‘Indian Ocean’s Leading Tour Operator’); and Hey Hey Maldives (‘Indian Ocean’s Leading Luxury Tour Operator’).

More Information

For a full list of winners, head over the official website.

World Travel Awards was established in 1993 to acknowledge, reward and celebrate excellence across all sectors of the tourism industry.

Today, the World Travel Awards brand is recognised globally as the ultimate hallmark of quality, with winners setting the benchmark to which all others aspire.

Each year, World Travel Awards covers the globe with a series of regional gala ceremonies staged to recognise and celebrate individual and collective success within each key geographical region.