"Ethiopia Explosion Claims 26 Lives as Conflict Escalates"

At least 26 people have been killed and 50 injured in an explosion in the town of Finote Selam, Ethiopia, amid heavy fighting between government forces and a local militia group. The cause of the explosion is unclear. The Ethiopian Human Rights Commission expressed concern over the ongoing clashes, which have resulted in civilian casualties and damage to residential areas. The government declared a state of emergency in the Amhara region after the militia resisted the disbandment of regional forces. The United Nations and several countries have called for respect for human rights and deescalation of the situation.