Podcasts about mekelle

After two years of conflict in Ethiopia's Tigray Region, the 2022 Cessation of Hostilities Agreement (CoHA) finally put a stop to the fighting between the federal government and the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF). Both sides agreed to work together to find lasting solutions, including the restoration of constitutional order in Tigray.Two years on, some say the Ethiopian government is downplaying the seriousness of the current situation in the country - while aid agencies warn of significant food shortages and humanitarian needs. BBC Africa Daily's Alan Kasujja speaks to BBC correspondent Kalkidan Yibeltal who was recently in Mekelle, the capital of Tigray, for 6 days.

Presque deux ans après la fin de la guerre, le Tigré, dans le nord de l'Éthiopie, est toujours face à d'immenses défis. Le conflit avait opposé les Tigréens au pouvoir central éthiopien, allié de l'Érythrée voisine et d'autres régions comme la région Amhara. La guerre de 2020 à 2022 pourrait avoir fait 600 000 morts selon l'Union africaine. Des milliers d'entreprises et infrastructures ont été pillées, saccagées ou encore détruites. Malgré l'accord de paix, une très grande partie n'ont pas pu reprendre leurs activités. De notre envoyé spécial de retour de Hawzen,Jemal Abdelkadir jette avec dépit des morceaux de dalles brisées dans le sinistre hangar de Semayata Dimansional Stones. L'entreprise produisait du granit et employait 600 personnes. Presque trois ans plus tard, le site n'est toujours qu'un tas de gravats : « Les Érythréens ont emporté tout ce qu'ils pouvaient sur des camions. Ils ont dynamité une soixantaine de machines. Leur slogan, c'était : "Faire revenir le Tigré 100 ans en arrière". Aujourd'hui, je dirige une entreprise morte ou un musée. Mais nous allons relancer le site. Ils n'ont pas détruit nos esprits. »L'entreprise négocie avec une banque pour un prêt de 8 millions afin de relancer l'activité. Un vrai défi, d'autant que les taux d'intérêt sont passés de 9 à 13%.À écouter aussiÉthiopie : les agriculteurs du Tigré peinent à se remettre de la guerreÀ 50 kilomètres vers l'ouest, le collège technique Hawzen accueillait avant le conflit 280 étudiants. Certains cours ont pu reprendre, mais pour seulement 80 d'entre eux. Teklu Gebreyesus, chef des ressources humaines : « Les Érythréens ont tout volé. Nous avons repris les activités sans machine comme la comptabilité. Nous essayons de rattraper le retard en étudiant durant le week-end et les vacances. Mais les élèves ont des problèmes de dépression, ils n'ont plus d'espoir, c'est vraiment triste. »À lire aussiÉthiopie: deux ans après la guerre civile, le Tigré a faim [3/5]Hawzen est aussi connue pour Gheralta Lodge, haut lieu du tourisme de luxe, face aux montagnes où avait séjourné l'ancien président américain George Walker Bush. Mais le site n'est plus que l'ombre de lui-même, explique Zeray Gebregiorgis, l'un des gardiens : « Les Érythréens utilisaient le lodge comme un camp et un hôpital. Ils n'ont rien laissé. Nous avons essayé de nettoyer, d'amener des meubles. Mais les rénovations coûtent 2 millions d'euros. Ça prendra du temps. Mais nous y arriverons. »Soudain, une famille d'Américains de la diaspora passe le portail. Aujourd'hui jeune femme, Naomie Assefa était venue ici durant son enfance. Voir le lodge dans cet état lui brise le cœur : « C'est fou de voir à quel point il a été détruit. Cet endroit était plein de joie et de vie. Tout cela a disparu. »Horrifié par la guerre, son père, Getachu, s'est alors lancé dans un pari fou. Investir 10 millions d'euros pour construire un parc d'attraction et un hôtel 5 étoiles à Mekelle, la capitale : « Les gens sont traumatisés. Je devais faire quelque chose d'important. Le projet apportera des emplois, des touristes. Ça aidera ces gens à guérir. »Ouverture prévue, début 2025. Getachu Assefa espère que la population pourra s'amuser et oublier, ne serait-ce qu'un temps, les horreurs du passé.À lire aussiÉthiopie : rétablissement progressif à Kukufto après l'accord de paix dans le Tigré

After the huge gas explosion and fire that engulfed buildings and cars, killing at least six people and injuring scores of others, we hear from Nairobi County Governor Sakaja Johnson, on what action is being taken to investigate officials accused of being "incompetent and corrupt". Ethiopia is on the brink of famine triggered by war and drought warns a UK government minister. We hear more from the BBC's diplomatic correspondent who has been visiting Ayder hospital in Mekelle, the capital of Ethiopia's Tigray region. And history making at the Grammys, as South African singer Tyla picks up the first ever award for best African performance.

Presented by Irena TaranyukA stalled front line and diplomatic challenges - we look at the pressures on Ukraine with Vitaliy Shevchenko, Russia editor at BBC Monitoring. And Daria Taradai of BBC Ukrainian tells us about the return to Kyiv of hundreds of ancient Scythian treasures from Crimea, which were on loan to a European museum when Russia annexed Crimea in 2014. Their arrival in Kyiv follows almost 10 years of legal battles with Russia.Pilgrimage to Aksum Thousands of pilgrims recently made their way to Aksum in Ethiopia, for a religious holiday taking place for the first time since the end of the civil war in the northern region of Tigray. Aksum is a holy site for Ethiopian Orthodox Christians who say it is home to the Ark of the Covenant. BBC Tigrinya's Girmay Gebru, who's based in the regional capital Mekelle, travelled to Aksum to talk to local people and visitors.HIV and sterilisation: a legal victory in Kenya After a nine-year legal battle, four Kenyan women living with HIV have shared their stories with BBC Africa, of how they were sterilised without informed consent. They have now received compensation, and the recognition that the procedures they went through at a public hospital were carried out because of their HIV status. Health correspondent Dorcas Wangira tells us about meeting them, and the legal significance of this ruling. Lost and found: Indonesia's rare echidna Pristine forests, crystal clear water, and an ancient species of animal that was believed to be extinct - BBC Indonesian's Famega Syavira travelled to northeastern Papua to report on the rediscovery of Attenborough's long-beaked echidna. Previously, the only evidence of this rare species of the egg-laying mammal was a dead specimen in a Dutch museum, collected 60 years ago. (Photo: A copy of the Scythian Pectoral exhibited in the Treasury of the National Museum of History of Ukraine. Credit: Pavlo Bahmut/Getty Images)

Selam Tesfaye was born in 1993 in Mekelle, Ethiopia. Her family then moved to Harar where she spent her childhood period. Due to unresolved domestic conflict between her family, her parents divorced and her mother died shortly. Selam has an older sister. She has an aunt that raised her while her father came out as alcoholic at her teenage years. In an interview with The New Humanitarian, Selam told that she had been molestered by her father when she was 13. One day he injected anesthetic drug in her glass containing water. Selam was inauspicious of her father act and drank it, which seduced to lead her bed. Her father stalked to her bedroom and raped her in semi-consciousness state. Afterward Selam decided to reveal the rape to her aunt though she afraid to confidentially tell her in spite of her taciturn venture. Distraught Selam, then returned the home back before she saw another rape with her sister; which later proclaimed herself as HIV positive. At that time she was confused and revealed to her aunt; who secluded her socially; living as an isolated person and decided to appear in television program about the incident, without her aunt consultant, also gaining media attention. Selam has long relationship with Amanuel Tesfaye; both engaged and married in 2018. They have one child. #ethiopia #habesha #ethiopianmusic

In this episode, i have the pleasure of speaking to Mekelle a stalking survivor.We explore the topic of stalking, a crime that affects many men and women worldwide. Mekelle and I delve into different aspects of stalking, including our personal stories. This episode will also examine the psychology of stalkers, including warning signs, motivations, and behaviours.I pray you will gain a deeper understanding of the impact of stalking on victims' lives and the importance of understanding the warning signs and prevention measures to protect oneself or someone they know from being a victim of stalking.Join us as we explore this critical and often misunderstood topic.IG- https://www.instagram.com/speaking__arrangements/

Ethiopian Airlines has resumed commercial flights to the capital of the war-hit Tigray region, Mekelle, for the first time in nearly two years. We hear from excited passengers in Addis Ababa, just before they boarded the flight. And five-times Grammy award winner Angelique Kidjo is our guest editor. The singer-songwriter from Benin, talks to us about her music, the causes that concern her and the people she champions.

Angola: UNITA em Cabinda prepara-se para as eleições autárquicas em 2023. Fotógrafo italiano Uliano Lucas recorda a luta de libertação na Guiné-Bissau. Uma delegação governamental etíope chega a Mekelle, dois anos depois do início do conflito com os rebeldes de Tigray.

After two years of being cut off and lives devastated by the civil war in Tigray, an Ethiopian Government delegation arrives in Mekelle, the capital of the region. Also, tragedy has rocked Boksburg community in South Africa after a tanker explosion. Plus, thousands displaced and living in Kayaruchinya camp in the east of the DRC  return home to Kibumba after the M23 rebel withdrawal. And the Ganda Boys bring the warmth of Uganda as they share their folk music with the world. Those stories and more in this podcast with Bola Mosuro.

Two weeks after a peace deal was signed, the Red Cross says humanitarian aid is finally reaching Ethiopia's Tigray region, but a doctor in the regional capital, Mekelle, says essential medicines are still lacking. More Kenyan soldiers have been deployed to the Democratic Republic of Congo, as part of a regional force to fight rebel forces in the east. And Uganda's national symbol, the crested crane, is facing extinction. We hear from local people who are fighting as ‘custodians' to save the birds.

However, the humanitarian situation in Tigray remains catastrophic. As I have said before, the siege of 6 million people by Ethiopian and Eritrean forces is the worst humanitarian crisis in the world.Since the beginning of the siege, food, medicine and other basic services have been weaponised.It has now been more than two months since the last humanitarian aid reached Tigray.But even before that, the aid reaching Tigray was a trickle – nowhere near enough to meet the needs.Large numbers of displaced people are now arriving in, or moving towards, the regional capital Mekelle.Most UN agencies and NGOs have now left towns in the region's northeast because of security concerns.Some health partners have shut down because they cannot access the funds, fuel and other supplies they need to serve the community.

People in Tigray in northern Ethiopia say their food and medical stocks have dwindled to almost nothing as Ethiopian and Eritrean troops maintain their offensive. Small amounts of the staple grain are being sold at three times last year's price. We will speak to a doctor there about the situation. Also in the programme: A man who fled military conscription in Russia - by bike; and we'll find out how mariachi music is being used in Mexico to help people with Alzheimer's. (Photo shows a man injured in an air strike receiving treatment at the Ayder Referral Hospital, in Mekelle, the capital of Tigray region. Credit: Reuters)

Today's HeadlinesDrone strikes kill 10 civilians in Tigray capitalMike's story: from Christian to Muslim to discipleEconomists warn of recession in Europe

Tume ya Kimataifa ya wataalamu wa Haki za binadamu nchini Ethiopia imekasirishwa na kuzuka upya kwa uhasama kati ya serikali ya Ethiopia na chama cha Tigray People's Liberation Front tangu wiki iliyopita na kuzitaka pande zote mbili kurudi kwenye meza ya mazungumzo kwani wanaoteseka ni raia. Tupate taarifa zaidi kutoka kwa Leah Mushi. (Taarifa ya Leah Mushi) Taarifa iliyotolewa leo na wataalamu hao wa Haki za binadamu kutoka Geneva Uswisi imesema mapigano hayo yanazidisha ugumu wa maisha kwa raia katika eneo hilo la Togray na kuna hatari kubwa ya kuongezeka.  “Tuna wasiwasi hasa kuhusu ripoti za vifo vya raia katika uwanja wa michezo huko Mekelle katika eneo la Tigray, na madai ya kuwalenga raia katika mashambulizi mapya huko Kobo katika eneo la Amhara.”  Wataalamu hao wametoa wito kwa wahusika kusitisha mapigano mara moja na kurejea mchakato wa mazungumzo ambao kila mmoja ameukubali.  “Tunazihimiza zaidi pande zote mbili kuchukua mara moja hatua zote zinazohitajika ili kuruhusu Umoja wa Mataifa na mashirika mengine kutekeleza usambazaji wa misaada ya kibinadamu huko Tigray.  Wamehitimisha taarifa yao kwa kusema haki za binadamu, afya, na ustawi wa raia lazima ziwe kipaumbele cha juu kwa pande zote.  

Medical staff in northern Ethiopia say air strikes on the capital of the Tigray region have killed four people. The chief clinical director at Mekelle's main hospital (Kibrom Gebreslassie) said two of the victims were children who'd been in a playground. Tigrayan rebels have accused government forces of carrying out the attacks. Addis Ababa hasn't responded to the accusation but has warned people in the area to stay from facilities used by rebels. We will hear from a doctor who treated the wounded Also in the programme: Why the Iran nuclear deal has more supporters in Israel than you might imagine; and the US Department of Justice has released court papers - known as an affidavit - that convinced a judge to authorise a search of Donald Trump's estate in Mar-a-Lago, Florida. (Photo: Air strike hits Mekelle, Tigray region. Credit: Reuters)

As satellite images suggest Russia's burning off large amounts of gas normally destined for the EU, we'll hear from a European energy minister. So what can governments do as they are caught between squeezed national budgets and millions who can't pay their bills? Also in the programme: Fighting between Ethiopian government forces and Tigrayan rebels appears to have intensified, with reports of air strikes hitting the city of Mekelle; and the world's most powerful telescope gives new insights into planets beyond our solar system. (Photo shows a colourised version of a satellite image capturing infrared radiation from the burning of gas at the Portovaya plant. Credit: European Union, Copernicus Sentinel-2/Reuters)

The UN World Food Programme says Tigrayan forces in northern Ethiopia have looted a million litres of fuel from its warehouses in Tigray's capital, Mekelle, that was meant to be used to deliver aid. The UN and the US have urged Ethiopian troops and the Tigrayan forces to restore a humanitarian truce. UN chief António Guterres says he was shocked by the resurgence in fighting, while the US expressed concern that renewed clashes could jeopardise progress made over the past five months. The chair of the African Union Commission, Moussa Faki Mahamat, also called for the immediate cessation of hostilities and urged the warring sides to resume talks.

Ethiopia has accused a team of Western diplomats of appeasing Tigrayan forces during a recent trip to Mekelle, the capital of the embattled northern region. The prime minister's security adviser and a member of a negotiating team set up by Addis Ababa Redwan Hussien, however, says that the diplomats failed to press unequivocal commitment for peace talks during their travel. The envoys called for the resumption of basic services in Tigray, including banking, electricity and telecommunications. Mr Redwan says the government's position is that enabling conditions should be created and the talks should begin ahead of restoration efforts.

Black Motherhood Through the Lens Dr. Komal Bajaj is an innovator and healthcare leader based in New York City, catalyzing quality and safety transformation across all facets of healthcare delivery. Dr. Bajaj is the Chief Quality Officer of NYC Health + Hospitals/Jacobi/NCB. She is also Clinical Director for NYC Health + Hospitals Simulation Center, which delivers more than 12,000 interprofessional participant encounters throughout its 9 simulation centers annually. She co-chairs the health system's Monitoring & Evaluation Subcommittee for its Equity & Access Council. Dr. Bajaj is a Professor of Obstetrics & Gynecology at Albert Einstein College of Medicine. She was recently appointed to the AHRQ National Advisory Committee, a 20-member board that advises the Secretary of Health and Human Services and AHRQ Director on priorities for a national health service research agenda.  Ade Osinubi is a documentary filmmaker, photographer, and an Emergency Medicine Resident Physician at the University of Pennsylvania. She is a recent graduate from the Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University. Ade's work focuses on sharing the stories of minority populations that often go untold. At the age of 16, Ade traveled to Mekelle, Ethiopia to co-produce her first documentary.  Since then, Ade has produced films educating the public about various health topics ranging from the COVID-19 vaccine to postpartum pelvic floor conditions. Starting from her first year of medical school, she independently filmed and produced Black Motherhood through the Lens, a documentary about four Black women's experiences in navigating infertility, childbirth, and postpartum mood disorders. Black Motherhood through the Lens has been accepted to 7 film festivals including the American Public Health Association Film Festival and it received the “2021 Best Short Collective Award” at the Rhode Island Black Film festival. Her work on the documentary was also recently recognized in Forbes Magazine amongst other places. In addition to filmmaking, Ade has published articles for the Washington Post and Glamour Magazine on topics related to health equity. She was recently named a National Minority Quality Forum 2022 40 under 40 Leader in Health and is a member of the Alpha Omega Alpha and Gold Humanism Honor Societies. In the future, Ade hopes to pursue a career in health journalism, using her passion for photography and film to elevate the voices of communities of color.

Adeiyewunmi (Ade) Osinubi is a documentary filmmaker, photographer, and a fourth year medical student in Providence, Rhode Island. Her work focuses on sharing the stories of minority populations that often go untold. Her latest is Black Motherhood Through the Lens (check out the trailer), where she explores the lives of 4 black women and their experience through various phases of pregnancy (pre, during and post). In this episode, Ade sharest the following topics through the stories of black mothers: Miscarriage Lack of access to infertility care Fears about childbirth Postpartum depression Did you know? As shared by Ade, black women face a multitude of disparities from conception to postpartum and this became even more clear during the pandemic. These disparities are not due to biological differences but they are attributed to systemic bias and inequalities. According to the NIH, maternal mortality has increased during the first year of the pandemic and Black women made up 30% of maternal deaths.  ​ Black women are 2x more likely to experience infertility and postpartum mood disorders and statistically less likely to receive care for these conditions.  “Some people don't feel comfortable opening up about postpartum because they are worried their child will be taken from them, which has historically happened to black families .” - Ade Osinubi Follow Ade on Twitter and Instagram Resources: Website: www.blackmotherhoodfilm.com Trailer: https://vimeo.com/486605249 Forbes Feature: https://www.forbes.com/sites/brittanychambers/2022/02/21/one-medical-student-and-filmmakers-journey-producing-a-film-addressing-black-maternal-health-disparities/ Washington Post Piece: https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2022/02/26/black-mothers-postpartum/ Glamour Magazine Piece: https://www.glamour.com/story/where-are-all-the-black-women-at-the-fertility-clinic If you liked this episode and you're feeling generous, don't forget to leave a review on iTunes or Spotify! And be sure to: Follow Fempower Health on Instagram for updates and tips. Tell 2-3 of your friends about this episode!   **The information shared by Fempower Health is not medical advice but for information purposes to enable you to have more effective conversations with your doctor. Always talk to your doctor before making health-related decisions. Additionally, the views expressed by the Fempower Health podcast guests are their own and their appearance on the program does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent.** **Contains affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on my links** About Ade Osinubi Adeiyewunmi (Ade) Osinubi is a documentary filmmaker, photographer, and a fourth year medical student in Providence, Rhode Island. Her work focuses on sharing the stories of minority populations that often go untold. At the age of 16, Ade traveled to Mekelle, Ethiopia to co-produce her first documentary. Since then, Ade has produced films educating the public about various health topics in an accessible way. She has written for the Washington Post and Glamour Magazine on topics related to health equity. Her work on the film was also recently recognized in Forbes amongst other places. In the future, Ade hopes to pursue a career in health journalism, using her passion for photography and film to elevate the voices of communities of color.

African nations are facing soaring fuel prices and disruption to the supply of basic commodities, which are being blamed on the Ukraine war. But what lessons on resilience and independence have governments learnt from the experience of the Covid pandemic? Plus, as the head of the World Health Organization again warns of a major humanitarian crisis in Ethiopia's Tigray region, we get a personal account from a local aid worker of what life is like in the capital, Mekelle. And the director of a new Afro-futuristic animated film, inspired by East African cultures, hopes it will encourage greater interest in science fiction.

Cursed as a worthless scavenger and cast as villainous cowardly sidekicks in Disney's The Lion King, the spotted hyena is one of the world's most misunderstood of all predators. It may scavenge at night on a giant rubbish tip on the outskirts of Mekelle in Ethiopia, but it earns it's top predator status when it takes down its prey in Kenya's Masai Mara National Reserve. Adam Hart and guests polish up the spotted hyena's tarnished reputation. Professor Kay Holekamp, a behavioural ecologist at Michigan State University, and Chinmay Sonawane, a biologist at Stanford University in California Picture: Spotted Hyena puppies and adult male with each other in Masat Mara, Credit: Manoj Shah/Getty Images Producer: Beth Eastwood Presenter: Professor Adam Hart

The shipment, which included essential drugs, arrived in the capital Mekelle

shutterstock Hyenas aren't the most popular animals. Sometimes they kill people's livestock. They are also thought of as scavengers, with some unappealing eating behaviour. Then there's their cackling “laugh” and their physical looks, less graceful in some eyes than other large predators like lions or leopards. But there's a more positive side to these often misunderstood creatures. In Mekelle, a town in northern Ethiopia, research has exposed and quantified the economic and health benefits that spotted hyenas bring to the community. Every year, they consume over 200 tons of waste in and around Mekelle. The research also ran some disease transmission models. It found that by eating discarded carcasses, the hyenas are reducing the potential spread of diseases like anthrax and bovine tuberculosis. That's a service to people and other animals, and saves some disease treatment and control costs. In today's episode of Pasha, biology student Chinmay Sonawane and wildlife conservation researcher Neil Carter take us through their findings on the benefits that spotted hyenas provide to the people of Mekelle. Photo “Spotted hyena (Crocuta crocuta), also known as the laughing hyena.” Photo by Vladimir Wrangel found on Shutterstock. Music: “Happy African Village” by John Bartmann, found on FreeMusicArchive.org licensed under CC0 1. “Ambient guitar X1 - Loop mode” by frankum, found on Freesound licensed under Attribution License.

*) First case of Omicron found in US The United States has identified its first known Covid case caused by the Omicron variant. The infected person, who had mild and improving symptoms, returned to the United States from South Africa on November 22. He tested positive seven days later. The person is in self-quarantine and all of the patient's close contacts have tested negative, according to top US infectious disease official Dr Anthony Fauci. *) Ethiopian army recaptures several towns near capital from Tigrayan rebels Ethiopia has claimed it recaptured several towns after Tigrayan rebels took control of them last week as part of their advance towards the capital Addis Ababa. Government spokesperson Legesse Tulu said forces recaptured towns on the Shewa front, including Shewa Robit, Mezezo, Molale, Rasa and its surroundings. Meanwhile, the United Nations has announced its aid trucks have started to arrive in Tigray's capital Mekelle after more than six weeks. Flights between Mekelle and Addis Ababa have also resumed. *) World Bank reportedly okays unfreezing $280M to aid Afghanistan The World Bank's board has endorsed transferring $280 million from a frozen trust fund to two aid agencies to help Afghanistan cope with a brewing humanitarian crisis. This is according to Reuters news agency, which cited two sources familiar with the matter. The World Bank said that the 31 donors to the Afghanistan Reconstruction Trust Fund must approve the transfer before the funds could flow to the World Food Programme and UNICEF. The donors are expected to meet on Friday. *) EU to tighten asylum rules at Belarus border The European Union has proposed curtailing some rights of refugees at its borders with Belarus. Under the proposal by the EU Commission, refugees would be permitted to claim asylum only at designated locations, such as border crossings, and could be kept for up to 16 weeks at the border. ​​The new proposals are part of the latest EU attempt to deal with what it describes as a crisis manufactured by Belarus. ​​And finally… *) WTA suspends all tournaments in China over Peng concerns The Women's Tennis Association has announced the immediate suspension of all tournaments in China due to concerns about the well-being of former doubles world number one Peng Shuai. Peng's whereabouts became a matter of international concern following a nearly three-week absence after she said that a top Chinese official had sexually assaulted her. The WTA's decision was applauded by many leading figures in the tennis world but could cost the organisation hundreds of millions of dollars. And that's your daily news brief from TRT World. For more, head to trtworld.com

Ethiopia is in the middle of a civil war. In November 2020, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2019, ordered what seemed like a limited military operation in Ethiopia's northern Tigray region. It was expected to be a quick, low-key war. But the rebel Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF), an ethno-nationalist paramilitary group-cum-political party, managed to turn the tables on federal forces. It has now taken two key cities on the highway to the national capital, and is threatening to capture the national capital, Addis Ababa. Prime Minister Ahmed has called upon all civilians to sign up for military training and join the fight against the Tigrayan rebels. In the meantime, hundreds of civilians have died, thousands injured, and there is a food and communications blockade against the Tigray region, including its capital Mekelle, which is home to half a million people. There have also been reports of massacres and rapes by security forces. What exactly triggered this conflict? How did a Nobel Peace prize-winning Prime Minister end up leading his country into war? With neither side keen on talks just yet, what is the likely roadmap to a lasting peace? We look for answers in this episode. Guest: Stanly Johny, The Hindu's International Affairs Editor Host: G. Sampath, Social Affairs Editor, The Hindu

Bob Schlehuber, co-host of Political Misfits on Radio Sputnik, and freelance photojournalist Jemal Countess update us on the situation in Ethiopia, where the government has declared a state of emergency as the TPLF captures towns near the capital Addis Ababa. We talk about their experiences speaking to people on the ground at the capital and neighboring regions and how the narrative presented by Western media does not reflect the reality in the country.Wyatt Reed, correspondent for Radio Sputnik, joins us to talk about the upcoming presidential election in Nicaragua, how Facebook and then Twitter suspended some 1,300 accounts connected to Sandinista figures and Sandinista sympathizers, the RENACER Act that will place more sanctions on Nicaragua, and what polls can tell us about how the election will go on November 7.Max Wilbert, organizer, writer, and wilderness guide, and author of the book "Bright Green Lies: How the Environmental Movement Lost Its Way and What We Can Do About It," joins us to give us an update on resistance actions at Thacker Pass, where environmental and indigenous organizers are protesting a lithium mining project.Jim Kavanagh, editor of The Polemicist, talks to us about news that one of the main sources for the infamous Steele dossier, Igor Danchenko, has been arrested and indicted for lying to the FBI as part of the investigation into Trump and Russia, and how the Russia-gate conspiracy theory keeps unraveling.Monica Cruz, host and reporter with BreakThrough News, talks to us about workers at John Deere voting down the latest offer from management, the fight in New York by taxi drivers over exploitation and overpriced cab medallions, and Bill DeBlasio running for governor. John Kiriakou, co-host of The Backstory on Radio Sputnik, talks to us about the Biden administration placing sanctions on the Israeli-owned NSO Group, Facebook taking down their facial recognition software, whether the revelations from the Facebook papers played a part in this, and the Supreme Court declining to speak on whether special surveillance courts must disclose significant opinions that came after 9/11.

ጸብጻባት ዜና: * ሓይልታት ትግራይ: ኣባላት ሰራዊት ኢትዮጵያ ኢዶም ክህቡ፤ ህዝቢ ከተማታት ደሴን ኮምበልቻን ካብ ዓዱ ከይሃደመ ከተማታቱ ክሕሉ ፀዊዖም: * መንግስቲ ኢትዮጵያ: "ከተማ ሓይቅ ኣብ ኢድ ዕጡቓት ህወሓት ኣትያ" ዝብል ዜና ንዘቕረቡ ክልተ ጋዜጠኛታት ኣሲሩ ብራዕዳዊ ገበን ከሲሱዎም ተባሂሉ:* ኣብ ኤርትራ ቁጽሪ ብኮቪድ-19 ዝተለኽፉ ሰባት 6800 ከምዝበጸሐ ሚንስትሪ ጥዕና ኣፍሊጡ:

The UN says its flights to Mekelle in Ethiopia's Tigray region have been suspended after one of its planes had to abort its landing on the same morning as a military airstrike was carried out on the city.The Ethiopian government says its planes had been targeting a training centre used by Tigrayan rebels.The fact that airstrikes were being carried out in the same city on the same morning will be of great concern to the UN – as the plane had been cleared for take-off by the authorities in the capital, Addis Ababa.Seven million people are now in urgent need of assistance and the UN says malnutrition rates are rising every day.

The UN says its flights to Mekelle in Ethiopia's Tigray region have been suspended after one of its planes had to abort its landing on the same morning as a military airstrike was carried out on the city.The Ethiopian government says its planes had been targeting a training centre used by Tigrayan rebels.The fact that airstrikes were being carried out in the same city on the same morning will be of great concern to the UN – as the plane had been cleared for take-off by the authorities in the capital, Addis Ababa.Seven million people are now in urgent need of assistance and the UN says malnutrition rates are rising every day.

The UN says its flights to Mekelle in Ethiopia's Tigray region have been suspended after one of its planes had to abort its landing on the same morning as a military airstrike was carried out on the city.The Ethiopian government says its planes had been targeting a training centre used by Tigrayan rebels.The fact that airstrikes were being carried out in the same city on the same morning will be of great concern to the UN – as the plane had been cleared for take-off by the authorities in the capital, Addis Ababa.Seven million people are now in urgent need of assistance and the UN says malnutrition rates are rising every day.

Previous bombardments in the Tigray region have focused on the regional capital, Mekelle. Also: Palestinians condemn Israeli settlement plans in West Bank, and the Friends actor, James Michel Tyler, dies aged 59.

Ethiopia has carried out two air strikes on what it describes as Tigray People's Liberation Front military positions in the west and north of Tigray province - expanding the range of its aerial bombardments beyond the regional capital Mekelle. We hear from the TPLF and from the federal government. Also in the programme: US visa spat with Russia; and Colombia arrests a major drug boss. (Picture: Smoke billows from the scene of an air strike, in Mekelle, the capital of Tigray region, Ethiopia October 20, 2021. Credit: REUTERS)

Actor Alec Baldwin fatally shoots the cinematographer of his latest film. The director was also shot and injured by the actor. Police are investigating and charges have not been filed. Also on the programme, Ethiopia says its air force has carried out another strike on the regional capital of Tigray, Mekelle. And in Myanmar at least 100 anti-coup protesters have been re-arrested shortly after being let out of prison. Others who were promised release are reported never to have made it to freedom. (Picture: Actor Alec Baldwin seen outside the Santa Fe County Sheriff's office after he was interviewed by police. Credit Weber / The New Mexican)

The UN says its flights to Mekelle in Ethiopia's Tigray region have been suspended after one of its planes had to abort its landing on the same morning as a military air strike was carried out on the city. The Ethiopian government said its planes had been targeting a training centre used by Tigrayan rebels, who denied the existence of such venue. Also in the programme: Alec Baldwin says to be 'heartbroken' over fatal film set shooting, how could that happen? ; and Twitter admits bias for right-wing platforms. (Photo: Smoke billows from the scene of an air strike, in Mekelle, the capital of Tigray region, Ethiopia. Credit: Reuters.)

The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, has accused Poland of threatening the fundamental legal order of the EU. Today the European Parliament is debating threats to the rule of law in Poland, where the Constitutional Court recently rejected the primacy of EU law. Also in the programme: the Ethiopian federal government has admitted carrying out air strikes on the Tigrayan regional capital Mekelle – but is a peace process possible? And new research on the genetic bases of drug resistance in tuberculosis could be a game-changer in the fight to eliminate the disease that killed 1.4 million people last year. (Image: Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki delivers a speech during a debate on Poland's challenge to the supremacy of EU laws at the European Parliament in Strasbourg, France October 19, 2021 / Credit: Ronald Wittek/Pool via Reuters)

ክቡራት ሰማዕትና ኣብ መርበብ ሓበሬታ theconversation.com ‘How conflict has made COVID-19 a neglected epidemic in Ethiopia (ኣብ ኢትዮጵያ ጎነጽ ንኮቪድ-19 ከመይ ኢሉ ዝተረሰዐ ለበዳ ከምዝገበሮ)' ብዝብል ኣርእስቲ ሓደ ርእይቶ ብዶክተር ፍስሃ ሃይለ ተስፋይ ኣብ ዲክን ዩኒቨርሲቲ ናይ ድህረ ምረቓ ተመራማርን ዶክተር ሃይላይ ኣብርሃ ገሰሰው ኣብ ሓደ ብAustralian National Health and Medical research Council (NHMRC) ዝምወል ፕሮጀክት ዋና መርማሪን ዝሓለፈ ሰሉስ ተጻሒፉ ኔሩ። ለበዳ ኮቪድ-19 ኣብ ኢትዮጵያ ኣብ'ዚ እዋን እናበኣሰ'ዩ ዝኸይድ ዘሎ። እቲ ቀንዲ ደፋኢ ናይ'ዚ ለበዳ ‘ዓሌት ደልታ' ድዩ ኣይኮነን ገና ኣብ መጽናዕቲ ይርከብ። ስለ'ዚ ንምንታይ'ዩ ኣብ ካልኦት ሃገራት ዝለዓለ ቀዳምነትን ህጹጽነትን ተዋሂብዎ ኣብ ኢትዮጵያ ከምኡ ዘይኮነ ዝብሉን ምስኡ ዝተሓሓዙ እዋናዊ ጉዳያትን ዝተንከፈ ብዛዕባ'ዚ ጽሑፍ ክንዝቲ ምስ ሓደ ካብ'ቶም ጸሓፍቱ ዶክተር ፍስሃ ሃይለ ዘካየድናዮ ዕላል።

Last month, the war in Ethiopia's Tigray region took a stunning turn as Tigrayan forces retook the regional capital Mekelle. This week, Alan Boswell talks with Declan Walsh, Chief Africa Correspondent for The New York Times, about his reporting at the moment federal forces evacuated Mekelle and his reflections as the conflict continues to escalate and spread. Walsh offers an on-the-ground look at the Tigrayan forces, the dramatic turnaround in the conflict and how the federal government lost ground in the war. He also discusses his conversations with commanders and soldiers on both sides, while assessing prospects for bringing the conflict to a close. For more information, explore Crisis Group's analysis on our Ethiopia page. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

ጸብጻባት ዜና (22/07/2021)* ውግእ ሓይልታት ምክልኻል ትግራይ ኣንጻር ሰራዊት ኢትዮጵያን ዕጡቓት 9 ክልላት'ታ ሃገርን ይቕጽል ኣሎ ክልቲኦም ወገናት ሰራዊት ደምሲስና ይብሉ፡* መንግስቲ ክልል ኣምሓራ ብርጋዴር ጀነራል ተፈራ ማሞ ኣዛዚ ፍሉይ ሓይሊ'ቲ ክልል ገይሩ ሸይሙ፡* ምምሕዳር ኣዲስ ኣበባ ንሰራዊት ኢትዮጵያ ዝድግፍ ንሓይልታት ትግራይ ዝቃወም ሰልፊ የካይድ፡* ዩኒቨርሲቲ መቐለ ከምህሮም ዝጸንሐ ተመሃሮ ቀለቦም ከም ዝተወደአ ገሊጹ፡ መንግስቲ ፌደራል ንዘጋጥም ጸገም ሓላፍነት ክወስድ ሓቲቱ፡* ሱዳን ኣብ ጉዳይ ግድብ ህዳሴ ኢትዮጵያ ሕጂ'ውን ቀያዳይ ስምምዕ ክእሰር ከም ትሰርሕ ኣፍሊጣ፡

Two weeks ago Ethiopia held a parliamentary election billed as the first truly ‘free and fair' vote in its history – after nearly 20 years of continuous economic growth. It should have been a success story – but the election was only held in some parts of the country, as war was still raging in the Tigray region. There have been over eight months of armed conflict there as the central government moved to re-establish control; and there have been many reports of atrocities – and of hunger. Ethiopia's Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has repeatedly claimed government forces were close to victory and described the rebels as “like flour blown away by the wind”. But after a shock reversal as Tigrayan forces retook the regional capital, Mekelle. Catherine Byaruhanga wonders how much longer Mr Ahmed's confidence can hold. The South China Sea contains some of the world's most hotly-disputed waters - with particular strife between the Philippines and China over the rights to some of its reefs and atolls. These are not just useful places to park military assets - but also particularly rich spots to fish. Given the diplomatic tension between Beijing and Manila over the area, Howard Johnson decided to board a fishing vessel and see more for himself. The Dalmatian pelican is something special in the bird world – the largest pelican on earth and one of the heaviest things on wings. It's huge: just as big as the very largest swans, with a wingspan nearly as wide as an albatross's. The global range of the species is also vast – from the Mediterranean shores of Turkey, all the way across central Eurasia, as far east as China. But there are only about 5,000 breeding pairs left in the world, with around 450 of those in the delta of the River Danube. Abdujalil Abdurasulov waded out with a pair of Ukrainian conservationists trying to make the birds feel more at home. New York City – once the epicentre of the pandemic in the USA - is emerging from the nightmare of last spring. Hospital admissions are at a record low; restaurants and bars are serving again; the theatres on Broadway are due to reopen in September. But the city has lost a million jobs and many businesses – and it's still losing New Yorkers. 187,000 households packed up and left in 2020. Lucy Ash has been considering the city's longer-term future – and seeing how it hopes to lure people back. Money might still talk – or even shout – on Wall Street, but on a global level it's not as much of a physical presence as it used to be. Cash was king once, but these days debit cards or smartphone apps are often more welcome. Yet in many countries around the world, the number of banknotes in circulation is still rising. Kevin Peachey was recently given rare access to a site where millions of these notes are printed and - for one brief moment - thought he might be in for a windfall... Producer: Polly Hope

After eight months of war in Ethiopia's Tigray region, thousands of people have been killed, and a humanitarian disaster is unfolding. Ethiopian government forces alongside Amhara and Eritrean militia are accused of atrocities including mass rape and ethnic cleansing, forcing millions to migrate to neighbouring Sudan. On the other hand, the Tigrayan rebels in the north have recaptured major territory that was held by government forces, including the capital Mekelle. Though the leaders of the Tigray People's Liberation Front have agreed to a government-offered ceasefire, it is still uncertain the ceasefire will result in an end to the war and ensure a lasting peace in the region. Guests: Mastewal Taddese Terefe Lawyer, formerly with Ethiopia's Federal Attorney General's Office Hailu Kebede Head of Foreign Affairs for the Salsay Weyane Tigray party Mesenbet Assefa Assistant Professor of Law at Addis Ababa University

As thousands of Ethiopian government forces, now prisoners or war, are marched through the capital province of Tigray and with rebels claiming a major victory, what now for the conflict. We hear the latest from the region. Also on the programme, we hear how Sudanese volunteers are helping to untangle the corruption of the previous regime; and we speak to the scientists trying to get robots to clean up the UK's five million tonnes of nuclear waste. (Photo: Captured Ethiopian soldiers are paraded through the Tigrayan regional capital Mekelle on Friday; Credit: Joo Photographer)

Tigrayan forces remain in control of much of the region including the capital Mekelle after retaking control on Monday. But what do Tigrayans want now - and what is possible - after eight months of civil war? Also in the programme: how Sudanese volunteers are helping to untangle the corruption of the previous regime; and the former number three at the Vatican and a cardinal of the Catholic Church is to face trial on corruption charges. (Image: the mountains of Tigray are well known to the fighters of the TPLF / Credit: Getty Images)

Earlier this week, fighters loyal to the ousted leaders of Ethiopia's Tigray region recaptured Mekelle, the regional capital, as Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed withdrew federal forces and announced a unilateral ceasefire after eight months of brutal war. This week on Hold Your Fire!, Richard Atwood and Naz Modirzadeh talk to William Davison, senior analyst for Ethiopia, about this dramatic turnaround, its immediate fallout and what may come next. William explains how Tigrayan forces managed to consolidate control in rural areas, build up forces thanks in large part to popular support and launch attacks on Tigrayan cities and towns. They look at the balance of power in Tigray today and the likelihood of further fighting between Tigrayan forces and those of Eritrea, who were fighting alongside the Ethiopian army. They also examine prospects for a Tigrayan offensive to capture back disputed territory currently held by the Amhara, another of Ethiopia's ethnic groups. William explains how Abiy has portrayed the withdrawal of government troops and the potential implications of their retreat for his popularity in the rest of Ethiopia. They also discuss the importance of getting aid in and what international actors should focus on in the days ahead.For more information, explore Crisis Group's analysis on our Ethiopia page. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

*) Canada Day muted as country reckons with treatment of indigenous, other minorities Multiple cities have scrapped Canada Day celebrations after the discovery of hundreds of unmarked graves at former indigenous schools. Since May, more than 1,000 unmarked graves have been found at former residential Catholic church-run schools in British Columbia and Saskatchewan. The findings sparked a reckoning with the country's colonial past. *) Biden consoles Surfside families as search operation resumes US President Joe Biden and the first lady offered comfort to the families of those killed and missing in the condo collapse as they visited South Florida. Rescue-and-recovery efforts to the search for victims believed to be buried in the rubble resumed after a brief suspension over safety concerns. The 18 confirmed dead so far include two children, aged four and 10 as more than 140 others remain unaccounted for. *) Ethiopia calls on Tigray forces to adhere to ceasefire as famine looms Ethiopia's Foreign Ministry says the government-declared ceasefire with rebel Tigrayan forces is a work in progress and needs both sides' commitment to work. The statement comes after Ethiopian troops left Tigray's regional capital Mekelle on Wednesday after months of fighting. The former rulers of Ethiopia's Tigray region, the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF), said on Monday they were back in control of the regional capital. *) Trump Organisation, CFO indicted on tax fraud charges Donald Trump's company and its longtime finance chief were charged in what prosecutors called a “sweeping and audacious” tax fraud scheme. Trump himself was not charged with any wrongdoing, but prosecutors noted he signed some of the checks at the centre of the case. It is the first criminal case to come out of New York authorities' two-year investigation into the former president's business dealings. And finally ... *) Britney Spears' father remains in guardian role as case continues A Los Angeles court has confirmed a months-old decision denying Britney Spears' request to eject her father from a guardianship that gives him control of her affairs. The latest ruling is not related to Spears' impassioned plea in court last week to end what she has called an "abusive" conservatorship. Jamie Spears has largely managed his daughter's finances and personal life since her highly public breakdown more than a decade ago.

The ongoing conflict in the Tigray region in Ethiopia took a turn this week after rebels recaptured the regional capital of Mekelle from government forces. The central Ethiopian government has called a "humanitarian ceasefire" in the region, but critics say that by framing the decision as a humanitarian one the government is attempting to save face. Over the last eight months, the fighting in northern Ethiopia has killed thousands of people, displaced two million and pushed 350,000 to the brink of famine. The conflict began in November when Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, a 2019 Nobel Peace Prize recipient, ordered a military offensive against regional forces in Tigray in response to an attack on a military base housing government troops. Robert Patman is a Professor of International Relations at Otago University, and an expert on the Horn of Africa. He joins the show to discuss.

Donald Rumsfeld, who presided over systemic torture, massacres of civilians and illegal wars as defense secretary under George W. Bush, has died at 88; The Ethiopian military withdraws from Mekelle, the capital of the Tigray region, after months of fighting that killed thousands and displaced over a million people. Get Democracy Now! delivered right to your inbox. Sign up for the Daily Digest: democracynow.org/subscribe

Recorded before TPLF capturing of Mekelle and ENDF withdrawalDiscussed the election in Ethiopia plus Examining latest statement by HOA PALS and reactions http://hoapals.org/the-ongoing-war-in-tigray-ethiopia/Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/horn-of-africa-leftists/donations

Urban warfare is not a new phenomenon; cities have featured as a stage for violence since humans began building them, and images in recent years – from Aleppo, Mosul, and Sana'a to Marawi, Mogadishu, Donetsk, and Mekelle – leave little room for doubt that towns and cities will remain primary battlegrounds for future armed conflicts. We can expect belligerents to continue using traditional methods such as sieges, tunnels, booby traps, artillery, mortars and snipers and complement these with modern capabilities such as new technologies of warfare and precision. Against this evolving backdrop, we must reflect urgently and in earnest about the ways in which contemporary urban conflicts are fought and the devastating humanitarian consequences they cause to cities and their populations. In this post, Laurent Gisel, Head of the Arms and Conduct of Hostilities Unit, Pilar Gimeno, Head of the Protection of Civilians Unit, Ken Hume, Head of the Armed and Security Forces Unit, and Abby Zeith, Legal Adviser, launch a new series on urban warfare. In the coming months and years, the series will feature contributions from a diverse range of experts debating and exploring the humanitarian, legal, military and other challenges raised by urban warfare, such as the choice of means and methods of warfare during urban combat, the practices of non-State armed groups, the role of law and military lawyers, siege tactics, underground warfare, precautionary measures, human shields, and lessons learned from recent urban operations.

As long as there have been cities, wars have been staged within them. While the term ‘urban warfare' conjures more recent images of hollowed buildings and human suffering from Mosul and Mekelle, its history dates back several millennia. In this post, part of our blog series on urban warfare, ICRC's historian Daniel Palmieri takes us through the archives of war and the city.