Tuesday, November 05, 2024

Thousands Block Tel Aviv Highway in Protest Against Gallant Dismissal

By Al Mayadeen English

5 Nov 2024 23:41

The crowd is estimated to exceed 2,000 settlers, well above the Israeli Occupation Forces' (IOF) restrictions on public gatherings in "Tel Aviv".

In a massive, spontaneous demonstration sparked by the ouster of Israeli Security Minister Yoav Gallant by PM Benjamin Netanyahu, thousands of protesters blocked "Tel Aviv's" Ayalon Highway, "Israel's" primary traffic route, bringing traffic to a standstill in both directions.

The protest erupted late Tuesday night, with demonstrators starting bonfires and constructing makeshift barricades from uprooted road signs and abandoned construction materials.

The swift and unplanned nature of the protest left police with limited resources on-site, as they were unable to block the highway entrances with trucks, a common tactic for the regular Saturday night protests.

The crowd is estimated to exceed 2,000 people, well above the Israeli Occupation Forces' (IOF) restrictions on public gatherings in "Tel Aviv".

Gallant: Disagreement mainly due to draft law

Following his sacking, Gallant made a statement, wherein he revealed that contrary to Netanyahu's claims, his dismissal mainly had to do with his stance on the ultra-Orthodox draft law Netanyahu is attempting to pass.

He further criticized Netanyahu's approach to the war saying “We have lost hundreds of fighters and soldiers in this battle and are carrying the burden of thousands of injured and disabled, with the war still ongoing.”

Gallant warned of significant challenges ahead, saying, “The coming years will bring great difficulties; the wars are not over, and the sounds of battle have not faded.”

He also addressed the issue of captives in Gaza, expressing that their return is possible, even if it requires concessions, some of which could be difficult to accept.

Crows chanting against 'traitor' Netanyahu

According to Israeli reports, the Ayalon Highway is now flooded with flags of the occupation, alongside images of Gaza captives.

Standing around bonfires, crowds chanted, "He's a traitor!" and "How much more blood will be spilled until the accused [of corruption] leaves?" referring to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Protesters were also heard repeating the mantra of the 2023 mass demonstrations against judicial reforms, "Democracy or revolution!"

Meanwhile, former Israeli PM Ehud Olmert called for civil unrest following Netanyahu's move, and opposition leader Yair Lapid called for mass demonstrations.

Security breach

Netanyahu claimed on Tuesday that his dismissal of Gallant  was due to a breach of trust amid the ongoing war on Gaza, according to his office.

In a statement, Netanyahu noted that substantial strategic disagreements had surfaced between him and Gallant recently. Last month, Israeli media reported that Netanyahu was seeking to dismiss Gallant, citing his "obstruction of expanding the attack on Lebanon."

Netanyahu stressed that full trust is "critical" between a PM and a security minister during a war, adding that "Unfortunately, this trust has eroded, and attempts to bridge the gaps have failed."

He asserted that the disagreements were not only made public in an "unacceptable manner," but also reached "Israel's" opponents, who had "derived great benefit" from the matter. 

He went on to say that the majority of government and security cabinet members felt the same way.

Cuba and Iran to Expand Cooperation Ties

Diaz-Canel received Dr. Seyed Sattar Hashemi, Minister of Communication and Information Technology of the Islamic Republic of Iran

Author: Yaima Puig Meneses | informacion@granmai.cu

November 5, 2024 11:11:33

In the context of the inauguration of the Havana International Fair, the First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party and President of the Republic, Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez, met with Dr. Seyed Sattar Hashemi, Minister of Communication and Information Technology of the Islamic Republic of Iran.

The Head of State told him about his visit to the Iranian ExpoCuba stand, "very well represented by a group of important businessmen," in whom he observed, he said, "a great willingness to work together with Cuba."

"We are very interested in developing joint businesses of mutual benefit, that there is a presence of Iranian companies with their products in the Cuban domestic market," he said.

He expressed the willingness to carry out joint productions that take advantage of the installed capacities that are not being used in Cuba, as well as to expand cooperation in the biotechnological and biopharmaceutical industry, and pointed out the potential for exchange "in the field of telecommunications."

He thanked the presence of Iranian businessmen in such difficult circumstances for the Island; and also the historic support in the fight against the economic blockade of the U.S. Government.

"Thank you very much for the time you have dedicated to us," replied the visiting Minister, who assured Díaz-Canel that he was the bearer of a warm greeting from Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian "for you and for all the people of Cuba."

Regarding his stay, he affirmed that he felt like "in our own home, talking with our own brothers."

A Meeting in Defense of National Culture and Identity

Writers and artists ratified their support to the Revolution, a just and emancipating cause

Author: Yeilén Delgado Calvo | nacionales@granma.cu

November 4, 2024 07:11:46

Marta Bonet will lead Uneac for the next five years. Photo: Juvenal Balán

"On behalf of all writers and artists, I repeat: we are here and we will be here," said Marta Bonet, president of the Union of Writers and Artists of Cuba (Uneac), before Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez, First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba and President of the Republic, after listening to the words that the president addressed to the delegates to the 10th Congress of the organization, in its plenary session.

What Bonet said sums up the spirit of the meeting, which raised the analysis of both trade union concerns and the role of Cuban culture in defense of the identity and the homeland, and against cultural colonization.

In addition to the socialization of the agreements of each of the associations that make up the Union, after their work in commissions, which will serve as a platform for the work of the organization in the next five years, a deep exchange was generated.

The President's speech was followed by the closing of the conclave, which began with the announcement of six new honorary members of Uneac: Alfredo Sosabravo, Abel Prieto, Eduardo Torres Cuevas, Aurora Bosch, Frank Fernández and Carmen Solar.

The presidents of the provincial committees and associations were also presented: Dazra Novak (Writers); Mabel Sulay Castillo (Music); Marilyn Garvey (Performing Arts); Lourdes de los Santos (Cinema, Radio and Television) and Harold López Muñoz (Plastic Arts).

The Secretariat will be led by Marta Bonet as president; Magda Resik, first vice-president; vice-presidents Yuris Nórido, Eduardo Sosa and Lesbia Vent Dumois; and secretaries Alberto Marrero and Kike Quiñones.

The organization paid special tribute to Army General Raúl Castro Ruz, leader of the Cuban Revolution, to whom a small-format sculpture by sculptor José Villa Soberón was sent, with the dedication: "To you, dear Raúl, who has always been a comrade in the defense of national culture, the grateful commitment of the Union where we will continue to defend the will of Fidel, who conceived the creative act as the shield and sword of the nation."

Díaz-Canel was presented with the woodcut Honrar honra (To respect, honor), by Lesbia Vent Dumois: "Dear President: Here accompanying you in the defense of our beloved Homeland, the Union of Fidel, Raúl and Guillen; the Uneac where you have confessed to feel one more among us in the dissatisfaction and the always passionate commitment to art and literature."

The final words of the Congress were in charge of the head of Culture, Alpidio Alonso, who said that this was a meeting in defense of national culture and identity.

The writers and artists were accompanied by members of the Political Bureau, Roberto Morales Ojeda, secretary of Organization of the Central Committee, and Ulises Guilarte de Nacimiento, secretary general of the Central Workers' Union of Cuba; Ana María Mari Machado, vice president of the National Assembly of People's Power and the Council of State; and Miguel Barnet, honorary president of the organization, among other authorities of the country.

The World with Cuba, Once Again at the UN

The draft resolution Necessity of ending the economic, commercial and financial blockade imposed by the U.S. against Cuba will be voted today by the United Nations General Assembly

Author: Elson Concepción Pérez | internet@granma.cu

October 30, 2024 11:10:09

The economic blockade imposed by the United States on Cuba prevents the island from trading with neighboring countries, forcing it to resort to more distant markets, which considerably affects its performance. Photo: Ricardo López Hevia

The draft resolution Necessity of ending the economic, commercial and financial blockade imposed by the U.S. against Cuba will be voted today by the United Nations General Assembly.

The international community will surely witness the almost unanimous condemnation of this silent genocide by an empire that intends to subdue those who inhabit the island.

The immoral blockade and the incorporation in the spurious list of State sponsors of terrorism have caused losses for Cuba, only between March 2023 and February 2024, of more than 5 billion dollars.

On the previous day, 31 nations pronounced themselves in favor of the lifting of this unjust policy. Mexico's representative to the UN, Héctor Vasconcelos, said that it is time to open a new chapter and allow Cuba to participate fully in the global community, "without the restrictions imposed by this unjust and inhuman blockade".

Today the world will witness how, once again, little or nothing matters to the government in power in the White House, what is decided in the General Assembly, since it could and still can use its prerogatives to, at least, suspend the 243 measures that its predecessor, Donald Trump, adopted a few days before leaving the presidential premises, and, above all, to abolish the cynical action of including Cuba among the countries that sponsor terrorism.

The international community has its say, and someday it will have to be taken into account.

The Strength of the Party Lies in Its Militants

Díaz-Canel reiterated the importance of the role of the Party and the need for its nuclei to function well, "that we have grassroots organizations everywhere, and that these grassroots organizations have a militancy that is really an example, a strong militancy. If there are no militants, there are no grassroots organizations with which to deploy the work of the Party, to ensure politically the economic and social processes"

Author: Jorge Enrique Jerez Belisario | internet@granma.cu

November 1, 2024 10:11:50

The role of the grassroots organizations and the suitability of the general secretary, as well as of the cadres to lead the processes; the ideological incidence and the demand of the Party in the transformation of the problems of the center, the community and the territories, were some of the topics that were discussed, this Thursday, in the Extraordinary Plenary Session of the Provincial Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba in Camagüey.

The meeting, chaired by the First Secretary of the Central Committee and President of the Republic, Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez, and also attended by the member of the Political Bureau and Secretary of Organization, Roberto Morales Ojeda, reviewed the indications and the state of fulfillment of the agreements emanating from the six visits to the Camagüey municipalities, carried out by the highest political leadership of the country.

Everything is decided in the nucleus, that is why Díaz-Canel indicated to pay special attention to linking the cadres with the meetings of the nuclei, an action that he described as a priority. Morales Ojeda added that this is the first step towards strengthening the internal life of the organization. "The Party, as the governing body of society, has to influence the Young Communist Youth Union and the mass organizations; and to achieve this, prepared cadres are needed."

Regarding food production, it was reported that during the exercise of control of the livestock mass, more than 13,000 violations were detected, of which 95% have already been solved.

Among the most important economic items in Camagüey, with shipping responsibilities for other regions of the country, is the delivery of milk and meat to the industry, which are at 71% and 59%, respectively. Reversing this situation, the Plenary debated, depends on a good contracting process in 2025, which must be carried out case by case, peasant by peasant.

The President of the Republic also learned about the preparations of the Carlos Manuel de Céspedes sugar mill, the only one that, so far, will manufacture sugar in Camagüey, where 16 hours are being worked, and in the next few days will reach 24 hours, to conclude the repair of the mill and start the harvest on time.

He inquired about the sowing of several crops in the sugar sector, and learned how science is applied to improve the final quality of sugar, as well as in the optimization of water, other energy carriers and the delivery of energy to the National Electric System.

For his part, the Governor of Camagüey, Jorge Sutil Sarabia, presented the actions to control the Budget. He also explained the actions that have led the province to reduce the budget deficit by more than 600 million pesos, and the fight against tax evasion.

Federico Hernández Hernández, first secretary of the Party in the territory, highlighted the level of understanding and the desire of Agramontinos to contribute in the difficult conditions Cuba is going through.

At the end of the Plenary Session, the Cuban President emphasized how difficult these days are, with a deficit of fuels for distributed generation and breaks in thermal generation, the siege of the U.S. blockade on the country's sources of income and access to fuels.

In this sense, he advanced that the next Council of Ministers will approve a government program to solve the current energy situation. He pointed out the potential of renewable energies and the country's effort to acquire that technology, which will make it possible to reach in two years the clean generation goals that were proposed for 2030. Camagüey is responsible, in this first stage, for setting up two solar parks, out of a total of seven.

Díaz-Canel reiterated the importance of the role of the Party and the need for its nuclei to function well, "that we have grassroots organizations in all places, and that these grassroots organizations have a militancy that is really an example, a strong militancy. If there are no militants, there are no grassroots organizations with which to deploy the work of the Party, to politically ensure the economic and social processes".

Venezuela’s Future Will Never Depend on What the U.S. Decides: President Maduro

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, Nov. 4, 2024. Photo: teleSUR

November 5, 2024 Hour: 8:39 am

The Bolivarian nation is building an economy not based on oil and invulnerable to U.S. sanctions.

On Monday, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro stated that the destiny and future of Venezuela will never depend on decisions made in the United States.

“We will continue with our work. Our destiny and future will never depend on what is decided in the North,” he said, referring to the 2024 U.S. presidential election.

In this context, the Bolivarian leader emphasized that his nation would not be swayed by the failed policies of Venezuelan oligarchies, regardless of whether Donald Trump or Kamala Harris is elected.

“Some think that by turning Venezuela into a colony, the country will prosper. And what about Puerto Rico? Let me ask: can you name a single country that has been intervened by the United States and is better off? Examples like Afghanistan and Libya are clear. Simply put, the fate of our people and of the Global South depends on our own hands, our work, and our effort,” Maduro highlighted.

Regarding the recent development of the Venezuelan economy, Maduro noted that tax authorities have managed to triple tax revenue over the past year thanks to the growth of the real economy.

“There is still much to do. We need to strengthen the system to prevent tax evasion,” he said, stressing that tax revenues are used to improve healthcare, education, housing construction, and social protection.

“Our focus is on the growth of a productive economy integrated with the world, an economy not based on oil and invulnerable to U.S. criminal sanctions. This is how we will face any circumstances that come our way from here on,” Maduro explained.

Bolivia’s Evo Morales Tells AP He’ll Press on with a Hunger Strike Until His Rival Accepts Dialogue

By JUAN KARITA and ISABEL DEBRE

8:14 PM EST, November 3, 2024

LAUCA Ñ, Bolivia (AP) — Bolivia’s transformative and divisive former President Evo Morales said Sunday that he would press on with a hunger strike until the government of his protégé-turned-rival agreed to a political dialogue. His act of dissent aims to defuse street protests that have paralyzed the nation in recent weeks over what Morales’ supporters condemn as his political persecution.

Morales, a larger-than-life figure still towering over Bolivian politics five years after his fraught ouster, spoke on his third day without food from the misty tropics of Chapare, Bolivia’s rural coca-growing region that serves as his stronghold.

“My fight is to improve the situation in the country and to start a dialogue without conditions on two fronts, one economic and one political,” Morales told The Associated Press from the office of the coca growers’ federation that he long has led.

The ex-president said he began his hunger strike Friday in hopes of “international organizations or friendly governments” facilitating talks with his political nemesis, President Luis Arce.

Tensions have surged over the past three weeks since pro-Morales supporters set up crippling roadblocks aimed at rebuking Arce — Morales’ former economy minister with whom he’s now vying to lead Bolivia’s governing socialist party into next year’s elections.

Protesters have choked off major highways in defiance of an attempt by Arce’s government to revive a 2016 statutory rape case against Morales, an ethnic Aymara who was the first member of an Indigenous community to become the president of Latin America’s only Indigenous-majority nation.

Morales has denied any wrongdoing. “My crime is being Indigenous,” he said on Sunday.

The AP reached Morales after an arduous 11-hour journey by car, motorcycle and foot over hills and through the highlands, circumventing road blockades, crisscrossing routes littered with debris and toppled trees and squeaking through over a dozen security checkpoints, in some cases manned by profiteers.

Roadblocks are a common protest tactic in Bolivia, where the mountainous terrain means a few strategically positioned checkpoints can can isolate major cities and bring the whole nation to a halt.

That’s exactly what happened earlier this month, marooning hundreds of thousands of residents in the highlands, raising fears of food and gasoline shortages and hiking up the prices of basic goods in major cities, including La Paz, the capital.

“I see people rising up even more,” said Eusebio Urbano, a farmer protesting in support of Morales at one of the road blockades Sunday. “I don’t know what this government thinks. ... They don’t try to solve anything. We have to keep pushing until it leaves.”

Under public pressure to quell the unrest, Arce’s government sent some 3,000 police officers armed with tear gas and backed by helicopters to break up the blockades by force.

Eduardo Del Castillo, a senior Cabinet minister, said security forces had arrested dozens of protesters in clearing the main road linking Cochabamba, Bolivia’s third-biggest city, with La Paz. Authorities transferred over 50 of the demonstrators to pre-trial detention in the capital on charges related to violating public order, he said.

“What happened was very inhumane,” Morales said of the crackdown, adding that his refusal to eat was also aimed at pressuring authorities to release the 66 detainees. “These are humble people who were presented as terrorists.”

It was the latest turn in Bolivia’s long-running political crisis, which escalated last week when gunmen ambushed Morales’ convoy in what the former president claimed was a government-led assassination attempt. Officials in Arce’s government denied this, alleging that police opened fire because Morales’ van had barreled through a security checkpoint.

“They’ve been using any tactic they can, politically, legally, morally and now, physically, to end my life,” Morales said.

From there, protests in defense of Morales only intensified. On Friday, Arce’s government accused his demonstrators of occupying military barracks in Chapare, a flashpoint for conflict since the U.S.-backed war on drugs in the 1990s. Authorities said that Morales’ more radical loyalists seized weapons and held some 200 soldiers hostage Friday.

Morales and his supporters rejected reports of a violent hostage situation, with the leader’s Kausachun Coca radio station airing footage that showed protesting union members and soldiers negotiating calmly while munching on coca leaves.

“Please, it’s no a take-over of military barracks,” Morales said. “They are holding vigils until their economic and political demands are met.”

Del Castillo, the minister, said Sunday that the government is, in principle, open to negotiating a resolution to the political crisis with Morales. But he said authorities didn’t trust Morales’ motives.

“Morales doesn’t care about the country, he cares about himself,” Del Castillo said. “He’s looking for new confrontations.”

The crisis stems from a bitter rift at the highest rungs of Bolivia’s long-dominant Movement Toward Socialism party, which deepened last month when authorities announced their intention to arrest Morales on charges that he fathered a daughter with a 15-year-old girl in 2016 when he was 56 years old and president.

Morales and his supporters have decried the case as a political witch hunt aimed at blocking his candidacy in the 2025 election.

Arce insists that the current constitution — which permits just two consecutive terms — forbids Morales, who held power from 2006-2019, from running next year, anyway. It was Morales’ quest for a fourth term that led to his ouster, which he and his supporters view as a coup.

“It is a betrayal of the people, of the party activists, of the revolution,” Morales said of Arce’s efforts to undercut him.

In neighboring Argentina, the government of far-right President Javier Milei on Saturday announced it had lodged a complaint accusing Morales of child abuse committed during the former president’s monthslong political exile in Argentina, from 2019 to 2020.

At that time, Morales’ contested re-election sparked mass protests that prompted him to resign under pressure from the military and flee to Mexico before seeking asylum in Argentina.

Now, years later, the charismatic populist — who continues to evince intense support from the Indigenous population — has seized upon growing public discontent with his chosen successor.

“It’s not that I, Evo, want to be president. The people have asked me to return,” Morales said. “During my administration there was stability. When there is economic and political stability, there is happiness.”

Many in the country have soured on Arce over the collapse of Bolivia’s once-prosperous economy built on cheap dollars and fuel. They look back fondly on the tenure of Morales, credited with lifting millions out of poverty and drastically narrowing Bolivia’s wealth divide during the nation’s natural gas boom.

“Now with more experience, we are ready to save Bolivia,” Morales said. Aware that the economic model that led to Bolivia’s remarkable growth had quite literally run out of gas, Morales said he would reverse the nation’s economic downturn by having Bolivia join BRICS, a group of emerging economies seeking to counter Western dominance of the world order, and collaborating more closely with China.

The former president, now 65, isn’t sure how long his hunger strike will last. But he said he’s prepared for the deprivation.

“I do a lot of sports,” Morales said. “Today I woke up at 4 a.m. and did 1,015 sit-ups.”

___

DeBre reported from Buenos Aires, Argentina. Associated Press journalist Carlos Guerrero in Lauca Ñ, Bolivia, contributed to this report.

Nigeria Releases 29 Children Who Potentially Faced Death Penalty for Alleged Involvement in Protests

By DYEPKAZAH SHIBAYAN

1:24 PM EST, November 5, 2024

ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) — Nigerian authorities released Tuesday 29 children who have been detained for over two months and potentially faced the death penalty for their alleged participation in protests against the country’s record cost-of-living crisis following growing calls for their release.

The children, aged 14 to 17, looked excited and full of life as they waved to cameras after their release at a court in the capital, Abuja, where they stood trial. It was a stark contrast to when they were first brought to the court looking malnourished and dressed shabbily, with some collapsing out of exhaustion.

They were among more than 70 people facing charges of destruction of property, mutiny and treason, which carries the death penalty, after the August protests that shook the country and culminated in security operatives killing some demonstrators and arresting hundreds.

Ado Abdullahi, whose two sons were among the detained minors, said they never participated in the protests in their home state, Kano, and were running errands when they were arrested and taken to Abuja.

“The police just came and took them,” Abdullahi told The Associated Press as he waited for them to get home after their release.

Another parent Ikililu Sani said his son, Habibu, was at the time retrieving his motorcycle from a repair shop when he was arrested.

There had been no news of the children’s detention until their arraignment, sparking outrage and renewing concerns over deteriorating human rights in Africa’s most populous country.

Under rising pressure from activists, Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu ordered their release on Monday and ordered an investigation of law enforcement agents involved in the arrest and prosecution of the children.

The police earlier defended their actions, but said Monday night it started an investigation into allegations the minors were mistreated while in custody.

Lawyers and activists urged the Nigerian government to see to the welfare of the children and provide them with educational support. The children’s release is only “the first step in the right direction,” said Marshal Abubakar, one of their counsels.

Monday, November 04, 2024

Tales of Terror from Jabaliya

Husam Maarouf 

The Electronic Intifada 

4 November 2024

People carrying belongings, children and bags of rice are displaced from Jabaliya

Israel’s assault on northern Gaza has forced tens of thousands from their homes, here on 25 October.  Mahmoud Issa

Doomsday.

That is how residents are describing the situation in Jabaliya and northern Gaza as Israel’s offensive there nears its second month.

Israel has ordered every resident to head south, but has also erected checkpoints preventing people from moving.

Out of an estimated 400,000 people in the north when the assault started in early October, over 100,000 are understood to remain.

Israel has all but cut off humanitarian aid to the territory in an apparent attempt to starve people out.

It has bombed with abandon, killing some 1,200 over the past four weeks, including over a hundred in a single strike on a house for displaced people in Beit Lahiya on 30 October, as well as 150 in a series of strikes on 10 buildings in Jabaliya on 24 October.

“You cannot imagine what’s happening in Jabaliya,” said Nadia al-Kafarna, 69. “The sky is black with smoke, and the ground is scorched.”

Nadia spoke to The Electronic Intifada over the phone, despite an unstable network. The Israeli military had forced her out of her shelter in the Jabaliya refugee camp on 17 October, but she is still in Gaza City in the north.

“Nothing has been spared from destruction. The sounds of explosions are strange, different from before, terrifying and bone-shaking, as if they would tear you apart,” a deeply upset Nadia said.

“Inside me, everything is shattered and broken from the horror of what I saw. Even now, my heart is clenched and I am gripped by fear.”

Doomsday, she said. “I have witnessed doomsday horrors.”

Relentless aggression

Nadia said soldiers showed “no mercy … There are decomposing bodies of women and children throughout the camp, in homes and on the streets.”

The Israeli military has spared no one. Mahmoud Basal, of Gaza’s civil defense, said all operations in the northern region had to be halted following attacks by Israeli forces, causing at least three injuries, while several personnel have been detained.

There is barely any water or food in the camp. The UN says Israel obstructed 83 percent of humanitarian aid from entering the north in September. The people of Jabaliya are painfully hungry, many resorting to tying stones to their stomachs to dull the hunger pangs – a practice rooted in Prophetic tradition.

The camp’s residents are also thirsty, with only limited drinking water entering the camp, causing Save the Children International’s Rachel Cummings to describe the situation as “absolutely catastrophic.”

“People are being constantly bombarded with aerial attacks, and of course, we know that the food and the water are not sufficient. The convoys of food and water are being denied into the north … It is absolutely catastrophic,” Cummings said.

Nadia called the bombing relentless.

“The bombing never stopped, day and night, with no mercy or humanity. We recited prayers constantly, feeling death closer than ever with each terrifying explosion,” she told The Electronic Intifada.

“Our days are long, with my family and me battling hunger, thirst and fear. We make do with pieces of bread we baked inside the house, on an open fire. Bread and zaatar were our only sustenance for more than two weeks.”

Apocalypse

Nadia painted an apocalyptic picture of the situation in Jabaliya: faces pale for lack of sleep, children with names written on their arms for identification purposes, and constant fear.

Forced to leave their home, Nadia recounted how her family – her three sons, their wives and children, names on arms – were given ten minutes to comply with a military order to evacuate.

“I heard collective trembling and parents murmuring prayers for protection from God as we left. I gazed at my children and grandchildren’s features, thinking it might be the last time I’d see their faces.”

And, as others have reported, leaving Jabaliya brought its own horrors.

“At the entrance of our alley, tanks were amassed, and a large number of soldiers. The scene resembled a slaughterhouse – men were gathered, stripped to their underwear, their hands tied behind their backs, and then blindfolded. Nearby was a deep pit where the mothers were held without their children, while the children cried and screamed from a third area.”

There was a fourth area, she added.

“There was a fourth pile – a heap of bodies piled at the entrance of my neighbors’ house, more than fifty near-naked corpses executed earlier. I wish I hadn’t seen this.”

A soldier called to Nadia over a loudspeaker.

“He ordered me to move south and threatened to kill me if I didn’t move fast. When I ventured to ask him about the children and my daughter and daughters-in-law, he allowed me to take them with me. But all the men were left behind, their fate unknown, in the hands of killers.”

A miracle

M.D., 57, declined to reveal his name out of fear of reprisals. He believes he and his 15-year-old son survived the soldiers and drones that swarmed Jabaliya Camp “only by a miracle.”

“When I learned that Israeli forces were advancing on our neighborhood, my son and I took indirect paths through the camp to reach a safer area in northern Gaza. Just as we thought we were safe, we saw that soldiers blocked the end of the road we had taken. We retreated slightly, and took shelter in a house with a broken door.”

Inside, he told The Electronic Intifada, he saw four bodies.

“Two men and one woman, executed by gunshot, and an elderly woman left to starve to death in a room. She seemed bedridden, in poor health, left alone to fight death. We spent an entire night trapped among the dead, unable to sleep and unable to leave. The soldiers sat outside the door, laughing and playing, as if they were at a picnic.”

They seized a moment when there was a shift change by the soldiers.

“We managed to escape across the road and headed toward Gaza City. I couldn’t believe we had survived! I felt as if I had been granted a new life.”

Nevertheless, said M.D., the experience has scarred him. Reflecting on his survival, he said, the worst part was not spending a night “among the dead” nor the death and destruction he had seen.

“I couldn’t provide my son with any sense of safety. I stroked his head, whispering, ‘We’ll be okay.’ But he witnessed death and terrifying torment. He has not spoken for days now and is in a state of severe distress.”

Most residents of Jabaliya have refused to leave. They see their departure as unreasonable, and say that they are rooted to their land.

S.K., 49, who also declined to share his name, is one of the ones who have refused to leave. His home, he said, is surrounded.

“Israeli soldiers are only hundreds of meters away. They, who kill women, children, and the elderly in cold blood, who bring down concrete and steel onto innocent people’s heads. These occupation soldiers show no compassion whatsoever. They are the dragon of evil of our time.”

There be dragons

S.K. is adamant about staying in his home.

“There is no justification for forcibly removing me from my home. The camp is not a battlefield. I will not leave my home and the land of my ancestors. I remain here like a tree whose roots grow deeper every day. I can only be uprooted by death.”

But his steadfastness comes at a cost, as the Israeli military seeks to starve people out.

“I feel dizzy much of the time,” S.K. told The Electronic Intifada. “My vision blurs from lack of food. All we eat is bread and zaatar. Whenever I think of my children enduring this deprivation and danger, I cry. How is it acceptable that a child be subjected to such brutality?”

He said people in Jabaliya are sleep-deprived and terrorized by the Israeli military.

“Believe me when I say that since the extermination of this camp began, we haven’t slept. There is constant bombing, and shells rain down with an unbearable roar that fills us with dread. Imagine a pricking sensation over your entire body simultaneously. That’s the fear we live with.”

Drones hover constantly in the skies above the camp, he said, moving between houses, descending and rising, targeting anything that moves. Countless bodies lie discarded. Animals, too – donkeys, cats and horses – have been left for days, their carcasses decomposing.

“We fear stepping outside, looking out our windows or turning on lights at night. Everything is a target here, with drones picking us off. Just meters from my house, there’s a body. I cannot go out to bury it, and many people have been left to bleed to death in the camp’s streets and homes.”

It is a measure of how pronounced the lesson of the 1948 Nakba is among the people of Jabaliya that so many are determined to stay despite the slaughter to avoid the fate of their parents or grandparents, who were forced from their homes and lands, never to be allowed to return.

“I will not leave my house under any circumstances, despite my intense fear,” S.K. told The Electronic Intifada. “It feels like Judgment Day. We are not safe; we are threatened with death, even though we are not fighting. We are dying here, with no one coming to rescue us.”

Husam Maarouf is a journalist and writer from Gaza.

From Gaza to South Africa – The Mavrix Honor Legacy of Refaat Alareer

November 3, 2024

By Palestine Chronicle Staff  

To listen to this music just click on the following link: (126) If I Must Die by The Mavrix - Official Music Video - YouTube

Formed in 1984 by Ayub Mayet and Jeremy Karodia, The Mavrix began composing music of resistance against apartheid in South Africa. 

The South African band, The Mavrix, recently announced on Sunday the release of their new song, If I Must Die, with music composed by Jeremy Karodia and lyrics by Palestinian poets Mohammed Moussa and Refaat Alareer.

Formed in 1984 by Ayub Mayet and Jeremy Karodia, The Mavrix began composing music of resistance against apartheid in South Africa. 

The band has since provided a platform for young artists, continuing their legacy of solidarity and advocacy through music. 

For this song, Mahtaab Hayat – a young lecturer, singer, and activist – was invited to feature as the lead vocalist, lending her voice to this powerful tribute.

Alareer, a professor, poet, intellectual, and father, was assassinated by Israeli forces on December 6, 2023. 

Just a month prior, he had written If I Must Die, a poignant poem and personal letter to his young daughter, Shymaa. 

“The two were separated by displacement when Israel began their atrocities,” The Mavrix shared in a statement. The tragedy intensified in April 2024, when Shymaa, along with her newborn son and husband, was also killed by Israeli forces.

Mohammed Moussa, co-writer of the song and founder of the Gaza Poets Society, is known for his surrealist poetry, which reflects the collective resilience of Palestinians under siege. His work highlights the isolation felt when global solidarity is lacking, further intensifying Palestinian suffering.

Years after their fight against apartheid, The Mavrix continue to use music to confront injustices worldwide, staying true to their roots in resistance and unwavering support for the oppressed.

UK’s Top Diplomat Says Slavery Reparations ‘Not About Cash’

By Al Mayadeen English

4 Nov 2024 22:42

A spokesperson for Starmer formerly revealed last month the UK will neither be apologizing for slavery nor paying reparations. 

Foreign Secretary David Lammy announced that the UK plans to address the legacy of the transatlantic slave trade by strengthening trade ties with African nations.

This week, Lammy is visiting Nigeria and South Africa as part of London's efforts to engage with the continent, coming just days after 56 Commonwealth states signed a declaration advocating for a "conversation" on reparations for slavery.

Describing the transatlantic slave trade as "horrific and horrendous," Lammy acknowledged the lasting "scars" it has left when speaking on Monday in Lagos, Nigeria, a former hub of the slave trade.

"I am the descendant of enslaved people, so I recognize that," Lammy stated.

Lammy's parents are Guyanese immigrants in the UK. British officials had transported numerous African and Indian slaves, as well as indentured laborers, into the old South American mainland colony.

The foreign secretary told BBC that reparations are "not about the transfer of cash," particularly given the UK's current cost-of-living issue. Instead, he claimed that emerging countries may gain from the transfer of British scientific and technological knowledge.

Starmer was responding to allegations that a consortium of Caribbean countries planned to seek £200 billion ($261 billion) in compensation for the agony and suffering caused by the transatlantic slave trade.

While the British Prime Minister insisted that reparations would not be discussed at last week's Commonwealth meeting in Samoa, 56 member states signed a statement declaring slavery a "crime against humanity" and calling for "discussions on reparatory justice with regard to the transatlantic trade in enslaved Africans and chattel enslavement."

Speaking to AFP, Sascha Auerbach, director of the Institute for the Study of Slavery at Nottingham University, said few factions of British society are open to the idea of reparations, but the majority remains in strong opposition.

A recent summit in Samoa saw 56 members of the Commonwealth declaring that the "time has come" to discuss the legacy of the transatlantic slave trade, marking a significant moment that could lead to future reparations. The nations urged Britain and other former colonial powers to apologize for slavery and the harms of colonization, as well as initiate discussions on compensation. 

However, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, a human rights lawyer, rejected both requests, claiming he wants to look forward rather than revisit the past and have "very long endless discussions about reparations." 

Robert Jenrick, a candidate for the new Tory leadership, has stated that criticizing the British Empire is unpatriotic, noting that "territories colonized by our empire were not advanced democracies."

"Many had been cruel, slave-trading powers. Some had never been independent. The British empire broke the long chain of violent tyranny as we came to introduce -- gradually and imperfectly -- Christian values," he added. 

Although Britain has acknowledged its historical role in slavery with expressions of remorse, it has hesitated to consider financial reparations due to the potentially high costs.

A 2023 report by United Nations judge Patrick Robinson estimated that the UK might owe over £18 trillion (or 21 trillion euros) for its involvement in slavery across 14 countries, factoring in unpaid wages, the trauma inflicted, and damages owed to descendants. Thus far, Commonwealth nations have not proposed their own reparations figures.

However, it does seem that the nations do not want monetary compensation as much as accountability and recognition. Critics in the UK argue that a public apology could lead to legal action against the country, although the Dutch government and king issued an apology for slavery last year but have not faced any lawsuits so far.

The British royal family has yet to issue a formal apology. However, during a visit to Kenya last year, King Charles III expressed his "greatest sorrow and deepest regret" for the "abhorrent and unjustifiable acts of violence" inflicted on Kenyans during colonial rule. 

Nigeria’s President Orders the Release of 29 Children Facing Death Penalty Over Protests

FILE - People run away from tear gas during a protest on the street in Kano, Nigeria, Aug. 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Sani Maikatanga, File)

By DYEPKAZAH SHIBAYAN

3:59 PM EST, November 4, 2024

ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) — Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu on Monday ordered the immediate release of 29 children facing the death penalty after being arraigned for allegedly participating in protests against the country’s worst cost-of-living crisis in a generation.

Under growing pressure from activists, Tinubu also directed an investigation of the law enforcement agents involved in the arrest and prosecution of the minors, Nigeria’s Information Minister Mohammed Idris told reporters in the capital, Abuja. They are not expected to be released until Tuesday through a court order.

The children, detained since August, were among more than 70 people arraigned on Friday on charges of treason, destruction of property and mutiny after the August protests that shook the country and culminated in security operatives killing some demonstrators and arresting hundreds.

Aged 14 to 17, four of the minors collapsed due to exhaustion when they were brought to the court last week. Most others looked malnourished and lost as they pressed against one other in the dock, the rest sitting on the floor.

There had been no news of their detention until their arraignment, which sparked outrage and renewed concerns about deteriorating human rights in Africa’s most populous country.

Nigeria’s independence anniversary is marked by protests and frustration over economic hardshi

A local court imposed stringent conditions and granted the children a bail of 10 million naira ($5,900) each, which none of them was able to meet.

It is still not clear if the children participated in the protests staged by Nigerians as they faced worsening hardship caused by the government’s economic policies that were aimed at reducing costs and stabilizing the ailing economy.

They were detained unlawfully and put through “horrifying experiences,” according to Amnesty International’s Nigeria office, one of several rights groups that demanded the children’s release.

The children’s arrest “highlights significant flaws in our criminal justice system, particularly the child justice system, indicating systemic issues that fail to protect minors’ rights,” said Funke Adeoye, founder of Hope Behind Bars Africa, a nonprofit that has been fighting for their release. 

Ethiopia Aims to Lead Africa’s Science, Technology Frontier by 2037

November 3, 2024

ADDIS ABABA – Ethiopia is positioning itself as a competitive and preferred hub for Science, Technology, and Innovation Policy (STIP) development, with the Ministry of Innovation and Technology (MinT) outlining ambitious goals to become a model of prosperity in Africa by 2037.

MinT State Minister Bayisa Bedada(PhD) highlighted that by advancing technological innovation, enhancing research capacity, and supporting sustainable development, Ethiopia aims to establish itself as a global player and a self-sufficient center for science and technology within Africa.

Bayisa emphasized the importance of close collaboration among government, academia, industry, civil society, and development partners to ensure transformative growth that is inclusive and fosters a culture of creativity to drive Ethiopia’s development journey.

According to the state minister, this policy will serve as a strategic framework to foster innovation-driven, knowledge-based economic growth, positioning Ethiopia as a beacon of prosperity for the continent.

Professor Chux Daniels, an STIP strategy expert from the University of Pretoria, told the Ethiopian Press Agency (EPA) that investment in science and technology is key to accelerating economic growth and addressing complex social and environmental challenges.

“Science plays a pivotal role in essential sectors such as agriculture, healthcare, and other leading industries in today’s global business ecosystems,” Prof. Daniels explained. “It is crucial for tackling issues like unemployment and underdevelopment.”

He emphasized the need to create an enabling environment for science, technology, and innovation (STI), which would promote job creation, wealth generation, and economic growth. Prof. Daniels further advocated for the strengthening of science education to improve global competitiveness through enhanced capacity building and partnerships with universities.

“While many African countries have STI policies, they often lack effective implementation strategies,” Prof. Daniels added. “Ethiopia’s commitment to an actionable strategy for demand-driven manpower and next-generation industries represents a significant milestone.”

The expert also noted the importance of fostering regional and international partnerships and strengthening institutional linkages to benefit from a robust STI culture. Developing an organizational structure to support STI will also be essential in nurturing indigenous knowledge and sustaining Ethiopia’s innovation ecosystem and economic growth for years to come.

BY ASHENAFI ANIMUT

The Ethiopian Herald November 3/2024

Ethiopia’s Trade Soars as Djibouti Port Drives Import Growth

November 3, 2024

ESLE reports strong revenue boost

ADDIS ABABA – Djibouti Port remains Ethiopia’s primary seaport for import and export trade, according to the Ethiopian Shipping and Logistics Enterprise (ESLE).

Despite utilizing multiple seaports for its trade activities, Ethiopia heavily relies on Djibouti for the bulk of its shipping needs.

In the past three months, Ethiopia imported over 1,857,000 tons of goods through Djibouti, both containerized and non-containerized. ESLE Corporate Communication Department Head, Demsew Benti, told the Ethiopian Press Agency (EPA) that 60,107 tons of fertilizer were also transported through Kenya’s Lamu Port, with 13,246 tons reaching Moyale, enhancing the nation’s total imports to 870,444 tons.

In the first quarter of the current fiscal year, ESLE handled 669,400 tons of dry bulk cargo, with 26,300 tons shipped outside containers and 402,100 tons in containers. The enterprise provided extensive services in shipping, transit, port, and terminal operations, moving 860,387 tons of goods using both owned and rented vessels.

Revenue for this period reached 21.2 billion Birr, with an expenditure of 18.79 billion Birr, resulting in a pre-tax profit of 2.41 billion Birr. Compared to the same period last year, revenue surged by 62.4%, expenditures rose by 69%, and profit increased by 24.4%.

BY TSEGAYE TILAHUN

The Ethiopian Herald November 3/2024

Ethiopia’s Position to Secure Access in Red Sea is Unshakable!

November 1, 2024

Appearing before lawmakers yesterday, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed once again declared Ethiopia’s unshakable position to secure access to the Red Sea peacefully and diplomatically.

“Our stand towards having sea outlet in the Red Sea is unshakable,” Abiy told the parliament while addressing regional and diplomacy affairs.

The prime minister also described his country’s desire for direct and peaceful access to the Red Sea as rooted not only in economic pragmatism but also in its historical ties to the coastline.

The Premier also vowed to pursue strong diplomacy to maintain peace and stability in the region. “Ethiopia will not shy and falter to express its clear interest in accessing the Red Sea. And, Ethiopia does not initiate any war and go to conflict with no country.”

“There are accusations that Ethiopia is violating Somalia’s sovereignty. Our demand is about fostering shared development. No country can plunder Ethiopia’s resources forcefully. We are not mercenaries and we will not serve as agents of other entities, Abiy told the lawmakers. We have big and enough manpower, bravery and all the means to repel any external forces.”

True to the prime minister’s words, Ethiopia has been unflattering in maintaining a peaceful path to resolve any disagreement and ensure stability in the region.

Ethiopia’s diplomatic approach in the Horn of Africa has been centered on fostering cooperation, stability, and sustainable resource management among its neighbors.

The country’s unwavering ambition to secure access to the Red Sea highlights its strategic aspirations and the need for regional cooperation in the Horn of Africa. Following the Memorandum of Understanding signed with Somaliland, Ethiopia has consistently advocated for a peaceful and cooperative approach to gaining Red Sea access, emphasizing that such an arrangement would be mutually beneficial to neighboring countries,

As the premier indicated, Ethiopia has been a good neighbor to Somalia paying even the ultimate price for the latter’s peace and stability. This position continues to this very day. Ethiopia has supported stabilization efforts, focusing on security cooperation to counter threats from al-Shabaab and other groups that destabilize the region. Although relations are complex, Ethiopia has maintained an active diplomatic presence in Somalia, seeking stability along its borders.

This approach aligns with Ethiopia’s broader policy of regional integration and collective security. Rather than forceful acquisition or confrontation, Ethiopia has advocated for multilateral discussions and frameworks that respect the sovereignty of all involved nations, recognizing that prosperity in the Horn of Africa hinges on collaboration rather than conflict. This stance reflects a mature perspective, prioritizing long-term stability over short-term geopolitical gains.

Ethiopia’s commitment to dialogue and regional cooperation reflects its understanding that peace and development are mutually reinforcing. Despite ongoing challenges, Ethiopia’s diplomatic efforts illustrate a broader goal of regional integration, with the belief that cooperation on issues like energy, trade, and water can promote long-term stability in both the Nile Basin and the Horn of Africa.

This peaceful pursuit of Red Sea access illustrates the country’s dedication to development and regional harmony. By seeking a collaborative solution, Ethiopia not only reaffirms its sovereignty but also positions itself as a leader in advocating for sustainable and cooperative solutions in Africa. It is a vision that deserves the support and engagement of regional neighbors and global partners alike.

THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD FRIDAY 1 NOVEMBER 2024

Brightening the Future of Digital Economy in Africa

October 31, 2024

Alibaba Global Initiative (AGI) has signed an agreement with Digital Transformation Ethiopia Association (DTEA) for the establishment of a training center here in Addis Ababa. The agreement can be considered a big deal for both Ethiopia and Alibaba too as it has a potential to put a significant influence in the rapidly growing economy of the country and the parallel retail trade sector which is driven by the large scale demand for consumer items and online trade.

During the last few years Ethiopia has embarked up on a 10 year economic development plan that aims to speed up the socio-economic development of the country through, among others utilizing the opportunities availed by modern technology.

Digital economy is a vital aspect of the country’s development plan. Accordingly the country has built and launched internet and telecom infrastructure which is increasing its penetration and coverage across the nation. Furthermore it is undertaking legal and economic reforms that allow the growth of the economy via the digital economic activity. Among such measures is the allowing of E-commerce in the country.

E-commerce is one of the advanced platforms that facilitate the trading of goods and services without the need for customers to waste their time and effort to travel to the market. It can also help create more jobs to the African youth.

Considering the large number of the country’s population as well as the rapid rate of urbanization, it can be assumed that the country has an untouched potential demand for online business or E-commerce. Various actors in the private sector in Ethiopia have also ventured the trading of goods via E-commerce platforms. Still more companies and individuals have to come and join the business as the industry is in its adventitious level.

Yet, as the industry needs due support of expertise, experience, technology and finance, it is good to have the experience of giants in the industry like Alibaba. Hence, the training centers opening and the subsequent operation of Alibaba is a tremendous opportunity for those who opt to engage in the industry and benefit themselves, their people as well as the nation.

The government has also done a lot of work to fulfill the necessary precondition for smooth operation of the digital economy in general as well as the E-commerce in particular. Among such measures is the enabling of digital payment system in the country. Almost all banks and financial institutions support mobile banking, internet banking, mobile money and digital payment systems.

Many people are also becoming on board on digital payment systems as they are learning the benefits of the digital payment and transaction system. The country is also implementing swift intervention to build up the talents of its youth in digital economy. This includes the initiative to produce 5 million coders nationwide in the coming few years. This will contribute a huge number of trained human resources for the digital economy including the thriving E-commerce industry.

It is also gone encouraging steps forward in terms of introducing and applying artificial intelligence in sectors that need the technology. Hence, Ethiopia is the right place for running such a large international training center that aims to advance excellence in E-commerce. It can also learn a lot from the immense experiences of the globally renowned E-commerce giant Alibaba and put itself as one of the best centers of excellence in the field.

The coming of AGI in Africa in general must also be celebrated as it can play a big role in setting light for a fruitful development of E-commerce in the continent. Ethiopia is already a hub of trade, transport and tourism in the African continent. Opening of AGI’s first training center for Africa here in Addis Ababa will pay off duly as it is situated among many continental institutions that have been reaping success over the years. Many other E-commerce and related giants should also join Alibaba and all other continental and global companies who have invested and succeeded here in the hub of Africa.

THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD THURSDAY 31 OCTOBER 2024

Ethiopia Bureau Emphasizes Role of Tourism to Resolve Conflicts

November 2, 2024

ADDIS ABABA – Apart from securing economic benefits, utilizing the indispensable role of tourism requires to foster mutual understanding among citizens, particularly in light of ongoing conflicts, Addis Ababa Culture, Arts, and Tourism Bureau suggested.

Bureau Head Hirut Kassaw (PhD) stated that the tourism sector serves as a bridge in enabling communities unknown each other to connect and embrace diversity. “Tourism not only represents our identity but also enhances communication among different communities, fostering tolerance and understanding,” she said.

It’s particularly relevant as the city is celebrating Tourism Week, which is designed to preserve historical sites and cultural heritage while promoting peace and solidarity among the public.

Key landmarks such as the Addis Ababa Museum, Adwa Victory Memorial, and Unity and Friendship Park are transforming the city into not just a tourist destination but a sanctuary for reflection hubs of tourists.

She highlighted the significance of these sites, urging for their renovation and the incorporation of modern technological tools to bolster tourism development.

On his part, Moges Balcha, the head of the Addis Ababa branch of the Prosperity Party stated that the ongoing infrastructural advancements in Addis, including the development of transport corridors, are expected to elevate the city’s status on the international stage and enhance its appeal for conference tourism.

However, he cautioned that infrastructure alone is insufficient for tourism growth. “While infrastructure plays a crucial role in beautifying the city and mitigating climate impacts, it must be complemented by high-quality hotels and efficient transport services,” he stressed.

This year’s theme, “Tourism for Peace: Peace for Tourism,” underscores the bureau’s commitment to leveraging tourism as a means to cultivate harmony and stability.

Deputy Head of Bureau stated the upcoming events during Tourism Week will showcase the rich cultural tapestry of Addis Ababa and its potential as a peaceful gathering place for both locals and international visitors. Through these initiatives, the bureau aims to highlight the interconnectedness of tourism and peace, advocating for a future where both can thrive together.

Besides, the Bureau is dedicated to harnessing the power of tourism to build bridges among communities, promote cultural heritage, and enhance the city’s attractiveness as a peaceful destination.

BY FIKADU BELAY

THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD SATURDAY 2 NOVEMBER 2024

A Journey Towards Finding Inner Call

October 31, 2024

Her journey started with the field of journalism. She leads her life trying to respond to her inner deep thoughts and voices. Her interest in literature brought her to the habits of writing on exercise books and reading which finally led her to publish her own book while she made herself busy engaging in business.

She goes by the name Yordanos Guash. She is the owner of four companies. ‘Quruh Advertising and Events’ was the first company that she commenced her first steps in to business. She was only 17 when she started the business. ‘Quruh’ means beautiful in Somali language. She also advertised and organized events for different companies and individuals.

‘ESB Secret’ is her second company, where she sells beauty and cosmetics products. Yordanos has opened branches in different parts of the nation. The business-minded woman did not stop from securing other businesses, she then opened a restaurant named ‘Melayek African Grills’ that serves West African foods and promotes their culture and values.

Yordanos was born and raised in Addis Ababa, around an area customarily known as ‘Autobus Tera’ and lived in middle- income generating families. She went through different paths that contributed to the courage and strength she built today.

The loss of her father was a life changing situation not only for her but for the entire family as the father was the only breadwinner. Fortunately, they survived the situation by renting their house to people who fled from Somali State at that moment.

Living in a compound surrounded by the Somali people opened her eyes to so many situations. Yordanos was able to grasp their language quickly while she gradually learned how to make incense, perfume and soap that is skin friendly. More importantly, she learnt a lifetime lesson of being an independent woman from the independent Somali women who supported themselves with their own businesses.

She was brought up with a strict family to the point where she found it hard to manage the freedom she got when she joined Addis Ababa University. With the aim of achieving her childhood dream, she joined the Ethiopian Languages and Literature Department. During her stay at the University, she developed an interest of becoming a journalist.

“I had to hide myself behind literatures and movies as I was dissatisfied with the political intensity and chaos while I grew up. I believe that pushed me to develop an interest for art.”

Recalling the other factors that contributed to her relation with literature, she said her grandparents used to make her read newspapers to grasp information about the political situation at the moment. However, her grandparents did not let Yordanos simply read the newspaper but they used to pay her for reading. That would make reading her first paid job.

Growing up, her driver father gave them a good life until he passed away in a terrible car accident. During the accident, not only they lost their father; but the entire saving that her father took to Assab, Eritrea to buy a vehicle.

The family then faced different forms of difficulty, from losing the breadwinner to their entire saving, from the money her father lent to friends to close relatives. They had gone through tough times to survive which made her question herself and her surroundings.

“While I was struggling to get out of hard situations, I have listened to comments like ‘you can’t do this’, ‘you are unable to accomplish this’, and other negative comments, which tried to make me lose my self-confidence.”

However, the confidence she built while living with Somalis helped her to engage in business at a young age by selling a few things behind her mother’s back. She rented a small room and continued her business in the university by organizing events and collaborating with organizations. She was able to organize poetic nights and hosted events for different companies.

One of her best experiences was the collaboration with the American Embassy where she took the role of distributing a magazine that focused on fighting terrorism across the nation along with over 230 students she hired to carry out the task.

After her graduation, Yordanos joined national television; hired as an anchor. However, once she started a production on women, she failed to continue as the stories behind the women she interviewed disturbed her. Right after she resigned from national television, she published her first book entitled ‘Lebuse T’ela’ that she tried to pinpoint her philosophical view towards life in general.

When she found the scholarship to the United States of America and stayed there for two years, she was given the opportunity to live there permanently. However, she rejected the chance and moved back to her home country.

Instead of accepting the call from the USA, she decided to go to Ghana with an innovative mindset. While talking about her experience in Ghana, she said that she gained great knowledge and business skills. Meanwhile, she continued and expanded the beauty and cosmetics business that she learned about during her childhood by exporting materials from Ethiopia. She also took additional courses to support her business.

After returning to her hometown, joining the business was not easy. She said the system was not convenient, especially for those who are new to starting a business as it obliges them to pay taxes right away without settling into the business.

It was after such a tiring journey that she was able to begin ESB Secret Beauty and cosmetics products. As a married woman with two children, she believed that the business would be led by her children in the future.

Her business journey, as to her, was difficult due to the system. One of such challenges was the loan system that compels startups to bring collateral. Married women, especially, find it hard to meet such criteria as they get married straight from their families without being able to experience the business world. Thus, she suggested the critical importance of devising a system that encourages women to engage in business.

Using her social media accounts, Yordanos advocates about different issues that majorly develop the perception of citizens towards core issues. She also aspires to return to her former career, which is journalism.

BY BETELHEM BEDLU

THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD THURSDAY 31 OCTOBER 2024

Ethiopia Empowering Women Through Maximizing Job Opportunities

November 3, 2024

With an effort made to detach women from the cycle of poverty and make them reliant economically, various works are being done by various development partners and stakeholders, concurrent to the activities carried out by the government. As a result, it was possible to capacitate women with the needed knowledge and skills and engage them in income-generating activities.

However, due to the scope and depth of the problem, there are still gaps in terms of solving the problem in a sustainable way and making them stand on their own two feet. To this end, various governmental and nongovernmental organizations are exerting utmost effort to accelerate women’s empowerment and improve their livelihood through devising different mechanisms.

Recently, a project dubbed ‘Visit Lalibela’ and aimed at empowering women through technical support in essential sectors was introduced by the Center for Accelerated Women’s Economic Empowerment (CAWEE) in partnership with the German Development Cooperation (GIZ).

As it was stated, the project would be implemented in sectors such as tourism and agriculture to build the capacity of young females in Lalibela Town and empower them economically by creating job opportunities.

The initiative provides marketable skills and market linkage support, focusing on four key sectors: hand-weaving, pottery, female tour guiding, and beeswax extraction. As part of the project activity, an assessment of the current honey potential in Lalibela was conducted by Apinec TVET Training Center, where a workshop was organized to validate the findings.

Accordingly, “Visit Lalibela,” a validation workshop entitled “Assessment of the Existing Honey Potential in Lalibela: Identifying Honey and Beeswax Products,” was held here in Addis Ababa by CAWEE in the presence of stakeholders, pertinent bodies, and partners from GIZ, the Ministry of Agriculture, CAWEE Men Goodwill Ambassadors, and government representatives from Lalibela and Bahir Dar town, among others.

Speaking on the occasion, CAWEE Founder and Executive Director Nigest Haile (PhD) said that the initiative focuses on equipping women with skills in high-demand areas, including hand-weaving, pottery, beeswax extraction, and tour guiding.

She emphasized that the project’s role is to complement governmental efforts and revitalize the tourism industry while economically empowering local women there in Ethiopia.

The workshop’s significance lies in facilitating the promotion of traditional Ethiopian hand-woven outfits and pottery produced by women. It also aspires to create market connections and validate research on honey production in Lalibela, aiming to involve more women in beeswax-related products like candles and beauty creams.

Out of 100 marginalized young women selected by the Lalibela City Administration, 15 have received training in hand weaving, 15 in pottery, and 20 in tour guiding, allowing them to begin their careers in these sectors, according to Nigest (PhD).

In addition to activities in Ethiopia, CAWEE has established an office in Kenya, Nairobi, and it is in the process of launching satellite offices in Lomé, Togo; Kinshasa, DRC; and Accra, Ghana, to maximize the potential of African women that promote products created by Ethiopian women.

The Head of the Heritage Conservation and Tourism Development Division at the Lalibela Culture and Tourism Office, Mandefro Tadesse, stated on his part the practical significance of the initiative in terms of supporting the tourism sector in the area and enabling the local community to generate income.

According to him, the trained women in tour guiding and traditional craft businesses have already begun their ventures in Lalibela Town.

The Chairman of the Association of Tour Guides in Lalibela Town, Estalu Kelemu, also highlighted the importance of women’s participation in the tourism sector.

Estalu said that the sector is noting its potential benefits for both the local economy and the broader socio-economic landscape of the country.

CAWEE has been operational in Ethiopia since 2004 and celebrated its 20th anniversary this year.

BY MUSSA MUHAMMED

The Ethiopian Herald November 3/2024

Ethiopia Bans Imports of Gas-powered Private Vehicles, But the Switch to Electric is a Bumpy Ride

By SAMUEL GETACHEW

12:04 AM EST, November 3, 2024

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia (AP) — As the price of fuel soared in Ethiopia earlier this year, Awgachew Seleshi decided to buy an electric car. That aligned with the government’s new efforts to phase out gas-powered vehicles. But months later, he’s questioning whether it was the right decision.

He faces a range of issues, from the erratic supply of electricity in Addis Ababa, the capital, to the scarcity of spare parts.

“Charging my car has been a challenge,” the civil servant said. “Spare parts that are imported from China are expensive, few mechanics are able to fix such cars and the resale value of such cars is poor.”

Seleshi’s troubles point to wider challenges for Ethiopia. In January, the East African country became the first in the world to ban the importation of non-electric private vehicles.

The decision eased pressure on authorities who spend scarce foreign currency to subsidize the cost of fuel, but it also reflected growing enthusiasm for electric vehicles as the world demands more green technologies to reduce climate-changing emissions.

Earlier this month, Ethiopia’s government raised the price of fuel by up to 8% as part of a plan to gradually end all fuel subsidies in Africa’s second-most populous country.

Authorities have claimed some success in enforcing the ban on non-electric vehicles entering Ethiopia, and more than 100,000 electric cars are now being imported into the country each month.

The official target is to increase the monthly import figure to 500,000 by 2030. By that time, a big new dam Ethiopia has built on the Nile River is expected to be producing power at full capacity.

Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, in a televised address earlier this year, said the Grand Renaissance Dam will start generating more than 5,000 megawatts of electric power within a year. Authorities say such capacity would support the transition to electric vehicles.

For now, many in Addis Ababa, a city of more than 5 million people, are doubtful the country can achieve its ambitious goals for electric vehicles without further needed infrastructure and services.

The few garage owners who can fix broken electric cars say they are overwhelmed, while customers say they are being overcharged amid an apparent lack of competition.

“There are two or three garages that can fix new energy vehicles in Ethiopia and many consumers lack awareness on how to take care of such vehicles,” said Yonas Tadelle, a mechanic in Addis Ababa. “As mechanics, we also lack the tools, the spare parts and the know-how to fix such cars.”

Many EVs are now parked in garages and parking lots awaiting parts expected to come from China.

Ethiopia’s minister in charge of transport, Bareo Hassen Bareo, has said he believes the country can be a model nation with a green economy legacy, with the prioritization of electric vehicles a key component.

The government will invest in public charging stations, he told The Associated Press, and there are plans to create a plant manufacturing EV batteries locally to reduce reliance on imports.

Private efforts have included a collaboration, which has since fizzled, between Olympian Haile Gebreselassie and South Korean carmaker Hyundai to make electric vehicles in Ethiopia. That effort is believed to have collapsed over the sourcing of materials.

Samson Berhane, an economist based in Addis Ababa, said the sudden flood of electric vehicles into the local market despite poor infrastructure is making it difficult for customers to adapt comfortably. Some EVs sell for about $20,000.

“Very few people are willing to take the risk of buying electric cars due to the lack of infrastructure, shortage of mechanics specialized in EV maintenance and the flooding of the market with Chinese brands that have questionable details and long-term visibility,” Berhane said.

But he said he believes that Ethiopia is more than able to provide electricity to the expected 500,000 EV’s there within the next decade while fulfilling its industrial ambitions.

Some Ethiopians are already giving up on electric vehicles, and the secondhand trade in gasoline-powered vehicles continues. There are at least 1.2 million vehicles across Ethiopia, and only a small fraction are electric ones.

Businessman Yared Alemayehu bought a Chinese-made electric vehicle that he had hoped to use for a taxi service. He knew the car had a mechanical defect, but he believed it could be fixed. A mechanic disagreed.

In the end, he sold the car at a loss and bought a Toyota Corolla — a car made in 2007 that he felt was more reliable — for the equivalent of $20,000, a sum that included the hefty taxes imposed on gasoline vehicles. Taxes can be higher than the cost of importing the vehicle.

“In addition to having to charge my old electric car, it frequently broke, and the garage was overcharging, and the lineup at the garage was overwhelming us,” he said.

Taxi driver Dereje Hailu, who had high hopes for his Chinese-made E-Star electric vehicle when he purchased it earlier this year, said his expectations had been dashed.

“With such a car, I fear I might be stuck if I go far from Addis Ababa where there are no charging stations,” he said.

Sunday, November 03, 2024

Palestinian Resistance Takes Control of Israeli Drones in Gaza Skies

By Al Mayadeen English

On the 394th day of the Al-Aqsa Flood battle, the Palestinian Resistance continues its targeted operations against the Israeli occupation forces invading the Gaza Strip.

The Palestinian Resistance in the Gaza Strip is actively engaging Israeli occupation forces, executing high-end operations against Israeli drones.

The al-Quds Brigades, the military wing of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad Movement, released footage showing its fighters taking control of Israeli drones used for intelligence tasks in the skies of Gaza.

Additionally, the al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades announced that they shot down an Israeli drone while it was carrying out intelligence operations in the eastern Gaza Strip.

Furthermore, the al-Qassam Brigades announced the targeting of an Israeli military site along the Netzarim axis using a Zouari one-way drone.

Meanwhile, Al Mayadeen's correspondent in Gaza reported that "the Resistance is engaged in confrontations with the occupation forces in the western areas of Rafah, southern Gaza."

Al-Qassam takes responsibility for northern Gaza lethal IED ambush

Following a series of lethal improvised explosive devices (IEDs) ambushes in the northern Gaza Strip town of Jabalia, al-Qassam Brigades has taken responsibility for executing another of these ambushes. 

IEDs planted in buildings and other areas in the northern Gaza Strip continue to cut into the Israeli military's renewed aggression on Jabalia, with the most recent case killing two Israeli soldiers and injuring another. 

In a related development, an Israeli soldier was killed early Saturday morning in the northern Gaza Strip in a grenade explosion, the Israeli military reported. Simultaneously, the Military Police have reportedly initiated an investigation into the incident, which appears to be unrelated to ongoing combat. While the Israeli army has not released the soldier's identity, local authorities have identified him as Shneur Zalman Cohen from the occupied West Bank settlement of Yitzhar.

In a related context, the Israeli military command announced, on Saturday, that two soldiers, serving under the 162nd Armored Division's 84th Givati Infantry Brigade, were killed in the northern Gaza Strip. Israeli broadcaster Channel 14 reported that an IED planted in a building eliminated the two soldiers. 

Mokonyane to Give Briefing on Outcomes of ANC's Discussions on Its International Relations Policies

The ANC said the objective of the retreat was to reflect and analyse the ANC’s international relations policy.

The ANC's first Deputy Secretary-General Nomvula Mokonyane. Picture: @MYANC/X

CAPE TOWN - The African National Congress (ANC) International Relations (IR) retreat wraps up on Sunday after discussing the party’s international relations policies.

Deputy Secretary-General Nomvula Mokonyane will brief the media on Sunday morning to reflect on the retreat in Kempton Park.

The retreat was also addressed by former President Thabo Mbeki, who gave a presentation titled International relations in the transition period, focusing on the evolution of South Africa's foreign policy.

The ANC said the objective of the retreat was to reflect and analyse the ANC’s international relations policy, "with the aim of refocusing, transforming and to empower" its international relations work.

Day one of the ANC's retreat was held under the theme of "a reflection on the ANC's commitment to progressive internationalism in a changing global environment".

The retreat was addressed by among others, former President Thabo Mbeki who provided an in-depth presentation to party members.

In other regional news, the ANC also congratulated newly-elected Botswana President Duma Boko.

The party said the ANC looked forward to continued solidarity with Botswana for a "peaceful and prosperous continent".