Ethiopia airstrikes, Queen Elizabeth returns to Windsor, Barbados' first president
Yahoo Finance's Akiko Fujita breaks down today's top stories from around the world.
Video transcript
AKIKO FUJITA: In our worldview today, at least three people are dead in Ethiopia after the military launched air strikes in the Tigray region. The attacks ended several months of relative calm in the capital, marred by violence and a conflict that began nearly a year ago. Tigray fighters dominated the national government for roughly three decades, but they've been locked in a fight with the current administration under Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed since November of last year. Thousands of people have been killed in the infighting. The most recent attacks forced the United Nations humanitarian flight to turn back after it could not land in the capital.
Queen Elizabeth is back at Windsor Castle after she was briefly hospitalized in London, Wednesday night. Buckingham Palace said the monarch checked in for preliminary investigations, and she returned to Windsor Castle by Thursday afternoon. She has resumed some of her duties since. The 95-year-old queen canceled an earlier trip to mark the 100-year anniversary of Northern Ireland, so she can undergo some of these tests. The palace has not disclosed her health issues, but says this is not related to COVID.
And speaking of the British monarch, Barbados has elected its first president, replacing Queen Elizabeth as head of state. Sandra Mason will officially take office on November 30. That also, by the way, marks the 55th anniversary of Barbados's independence from Britain. The former British colony gained independence back in 1966, but it has maintained its ties to the UK monarchy since. A 2/3 vote of the country's House of Assembly and Senate changed all of that on Wednesday, marking a big step forward as Barbados looks to move on from its colonial past.
