January 11, 2023

*) Tigray rebel forces start turning over heavy weapons to Ethiopia military Tigray rebel forces, who fought a two-year war against Ethiopia's federal government, have begun handing over heavy weaponry to the national army as part of an African Union-led peace process. Handover in the town of Agulae was overseen by a monitoring team comprising members of the two sides and a regional body, the Intergovernmental Authority on Development. At the ceremony, a Tigray rebel forces' representative said the start of the disarmament would play a major role in restoring peace. *) Ukraine's Soledar town falls to Wagner group — Russian media The head of Russia's mercenary group Wagner said his forces had taken control of the eastern Ukrainian mining town of Soledar but that fighting continued, Russian news agencies reported. Ukraine had said earlier that its forces were still holding out despite a Russian onslaught. The Wagner head said in a statement that its units took control of the entire territory of Soledar and that a cauldron has been formed in the centre of the city. *) Azerbaijan demands France apologise over 'slander' during war with Armenia Azerbaijan has demanded an apology from France over "slander" during the 2020 Karabakh war with Armenia. President Ilham Aliyev said, "During the conflict, France openly accused us, slandered us. I demanded an apology from them. They slandered us without even any evidence," Underlining that while there could be several reasons for France's anti-Azerbaijan stance, Aliyev said that France wanted Karabakh to remain at the centre of an unresolved and "frozen" conflict. *) Türkiye to host Russian, Ukrainian rights commissioners Russian and Ukrainian commissioners for human rights will hold a meeting in Türkiye on January 12-14, a Russian official said. Tatyana Moskalkova, Russia's commissioner for human rights, told reporters in Moscow that she will visit Türkiye for a forum. She said scores of experts from many nations will attend the forum, adding that they are p