Briefly

ETHIOPIA

Parliament appoints FM as new president

The two houses of the Ethiopian parliament on Monday appointed Foreign Minister Taye Atske Selassie as the new president. The appointment followed the end of the term of current President Sahle-Work Zewde after six years of service as the country's head of state. The newly appointed president was sworn in on Monday before members of Ethiopia's House of Peoples' Representatives and House of the Federation as the new leader of Africa's second-most populous nation. With a diplomatic career spanning three decades, including his role as Ethiopia's permanent representative to the United Nations, Atske Selassie has served as the country's foreign minister since February this year until his new appointment.

BRAZIL

200 feared dead in landslide in port area

Some 200 people may have been buried after a landslide occurred on Monday in a port area of Manacapuru, Brazil's Amazonas State, according to official sources. The Military Firefighters Corps of the State of Rio de Janeiro said the land supporting part of the Terra Preta Port, located on the banks of the Amazon River, slid due to unknown reasons. Although the area was under construction, the port continued to operate as a key transportation point. It is estimated that over 200 people were loading and unloading goods at the site when the accident occurred. Initial reports confirmed that an entire family on a floating boat was buried. Additionally, debris from boats, pipes, houses, and vehicles has been found in the waters of the Amazon River.

HAITI

New leader takes over transitional council

A new leader was sworn in for Haiti's transitional presidential council on Monday. Leslie Voltaire replaces Edgard Leblanc Fils in the rotating presidency of the council, which was created this year after targeted gang attacks forced Haiti's former prime minister to resign, leaving the country without a leader. In a brief speech, Voltaire pledged transparency and noted that much work remains to be done in a country in the grip of rampant gang violence. He asked for a minute of silence for the more than 70 people killed Thursday by gang members in Pont-Sonde. The transitional presidential council is responsible for helping run the country and organizing general elections by February 2026.

Agencies - Xinhua