150 Palestinians killed in Israeli siege of Gaza hospital: official
GAZA, Jan. 28 (Xinhua) — As many as 150 Palestinians were killed in an Israeli siege of Nasser Medical Complex Hospital in Gaza’s second-largest city of Khan Younis, said a Palestinian medical official on Saturday.
Palestinians were forced to bury the dead in the courtyard of the hospital, said Ashraf al-Qedra, spokesperson for the Ministry of Health in Gaza. “We still have 30 unidentified dead bodies in the morgue at Nasser Medical Complex,” he said, adding “Nasser Hospital is facing a severe and dangerous shortage of blood units, and many anesthesia drugs have run out.” Al-Qedra said that generators at the hospital will be shut down within four days due to fuel shortages, adding that the water tanks were damaged and malfunctioning as a result of shrapnel and Israeli drone fires, leading to water leakage into several buildings. He emphasized that Israel “intentionally disables the capabilities of Nasser Medical Complex and Hope Hospital in Khan Younis during their siege, targeting them, and preventing ambulance movement.”
Earlier, Israel’s military denied reports claiming its attack. In a statement sent to Xinhua on Friday, the Israel Defense Forces said they were in telephone contact with the medical staff of Al-Amal and Nasser hospitals in Khan Younis to ensure their continued operation. “The IDF communicated that there is no obligation to evacuate the hospitals,” the army said, adding that troops were operating against Hamas militants in Khan Younis, the largest city in the southern Gaza Strip. The Palestinian death toll from the ongoing Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip has risen to 26,257 since Oct. 7, 2023, the Hamas-run Health Ministry said on Saturday. The Israeli army killed 174 Palestinians and wounded 310 others over the past 24 hours, the ministry said in a press statement.It added that the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict had wounded at least 64,797 Palestinians, noting that many victims were still under the rubble as ambulance and civil defense crews could not reach them.
Rwanda gears up for National Heroes’ Day
KIGALI, Jan. 28 (Xinhua) — Rwanda has commenced a series of commemorative activities ahead of National Heroes’ Day on Feb. 1, focusing on celebrating heroism, unity, and achievement, an official has said.
Nicolas Rwaka, the director of research at the Chancellery for Heroes, National Orders, and Decorations of Honour, told Xinhua about the activities planned to honor the country’s heroes in a recent interview in the Rwandan capital of Kigali. “Rwanda celebrates its National Heroes’ Day on Feb. 1 every year. In this regard, we organize various activities in collaboration with other stakeholders,” he said, adding that conferences will be organized in different institutions, complemented by poems and traditional dances on Jan. 31. At the national level, various institutions celebrate by awarding certificates and accolades to individuals who have displayed outstanding acts, recognizing their contributions, he said. Rwaka said that at the village level, on Feb. 1, celebrations will include acknowledging achievements in crop harvests, dancing, and enjoying the fruits of their labor while honoring heroes. He emphasized that the celebrations also reflect on the past, present, and future, with the 30th anniversary being a special milestone.
UK “temporarily pausing” funding for UNRWA
LONDON, Jan. 28 (Xinhua) — The United Kingdom (UK) is “temporarily pausing any future funding” for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), the British government said in a statement on Saturday.
It came after Israel accused some of the UN agency’s employees of participating in the attack launched by Hamas on southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023. Britain’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office said in the statement that the UK was “appalled” by the allegations, and the funding for the agency would be halted “whilst we review these concerning allegations.” Prior to the UK’s action, countries including the United States, Canada, and Australia have also announced temporary suspension of their new fundings for the UNRWA. Hussein Al-Sheikh, secretary-general of the Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization, on Saturday urged countries that have announced the suspension of support for the UNRWA to reconsider their decisions to avoid political and humanitarian risks.He said on the social media platform X that “especially at this time, amid the ongoing (Israel’s) aggression against the Palestinian people, we are in desperate need of support from this international organization.” The UNRWA said on Friday that it had decided to “immediately terminate the contracts” of the staff members involved and “launch an investigation.” The UNRWA, established as a subsidiary organ of the UN General Assembly in 1949, serves to support the relief and human development of Palestinian refugees and is entrusted with the mission of providing humanitarian assistance and protection to registered Palestinian refugees in the agency’s operational areas until a just and lasting solution to their plight is achieved.
Palestinians in Gaza divided over UN court’s ruling on genocide case against Israel
GAZA, Jan. 28 (Xinhua) — Palestinians in the besieged enclave of the Gaza Strip have differing opinions concerning the ruling issued by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on South Africa’s genocide case against Israel, which ordered Israel to prevent genocide acts in Gaza.
In separate interviews with Xinhua, some locals said they welcomed the ICJ’s decision, mainly because it was the first time to place Israel in the dock over “its (genocide) crimes against the Palestinians in Gaza,” while some others expressed disappointment that a ceasefire is not included in the decision. Since Oct. 7, 2023, Israel has been involved in a bloody conflict with the Gaza-ruling Hamas after the Palestinian Islamic resistance movement launched an unprecedented attack at southern Israeli towns adjacent to Gaza, killing around 1,200 people and taking more than 200 as hostages. Since then, 26,257 Palestinians, mostly women, children and the elderly, have been killed, and nearly 65,000 others wounded in Israel’s retaliatory military operations against Gaza, the Hamas-run Health Ministry updated Saturday. “It is an unprecedented number of casualties since the Arab-Israeli war in 1948… Israel has committed genocide crimes against Palestinians not only during the current war but also in all its wars without taking any accountability,” said Mohammed al-Saadani, a Gaza resident.The 35-year-old father of three expressed hope that the ICJ “would force Israel to stop its war,” calling for more global efforts to stop the Israeli attacks, “through either the UN courts’ rulings or mass protests against Israel’s genocide acts in Gaza.”
Like al-Saadani, Emad Shamali, a 45-year-old father of six in Gaza, also felt disappointed at the ICJ’s ruling. “Unfortunately, all our hopes of obtaining a UN decision to achieve a ceasefire in Gaza have dwindled,” lamented the man. He said, “I am afraid that Israel has already gotten the green light from the U.S. administration to end the Palestinian case under the pretext of creating a new Middle East region.” Hassan al-Serafi, a Rafah-based Palestinian man, adopted a different opinion as he believes the ICJ’s initial decision is the first step towards ending the Gaza conflict. The 52-year-old father of eight told Xinhua that he believes the Palestinians can defeat Israel through the international court by providing all the documents to prove Israel’s genocide acts against Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank.Furthermore, he expressed hope that the current negotiations between Hamas and Israel through mediators will result in a ceasefire agreement that would allow the Palestinians to start their new diplomatic campaign against the “Israeli crimes.”
On Friday, the ICJ in The Hague delivered a ruling on South Africa’s genocide case against Israel, ordering Israel to take all possible measures to prevent genocide acts in Gaza and demanding Israel to report on the measures regarding the order within one month.The court, however, did not order Israel to suspend its military operations in Gaza, one of the main requests submitted by South Africa, while also calling on Hamas to release all Israeli hostages. South Africa filed the lawsuit against Israel to the ICJ on Dec. 29, 2023, accusing Israel of violating the UN Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide related to Palestinians in Gaza.
African leaders call for accelerating industrialization to achieve prosperity
ACCRA, Jan. 28 (Xinhua) — African leaders attending the ongoing Africa Prosperity Dialogue in Ghana have urged the continent to propel industrialization to achieve prosperity at a faster pace.
The three-day dialogue, which kicked off Thursday in Ghana’s Eastern Region, brought together many African leaders, experts, and stakeholders to delve into road maps for the continent’s prosperity.Speaking during the dialogue, Ghanaian President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo said, “Without the capacity to industrialize, add value to our raw materials, and invest to build the social, digital, economic and physical infrastructures to connect our peoples and businesses to customers across Africa, intra-Africa trade would remain at the negligible lows that it has always been.”Akufo-Addo said Africa still needs to develop efficient transportation and logistics infrastructure, streamline trade processes, and embrace digital technologies to facilitate payments in cross-border transactions, to unlock the full potential of trade within the continent.The president added that the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) would create opportunities for businesses to expand beyond their borders, driving economic growth and creating a more integrated and interconnected continent.Akufo-Addo urged participants at the dialogue to critically examine the responsibilities and expectations of the private sector, demand the same of the public sector, and assess how both sides can work as partners to achieve “an Africa we want.”
AfCFTA Secretary-General Wamkele Mene also said the collective aspiration of a prosperous Africa can only be achieved through enhanced production, value addition, and trade within the African continent.Since the private sector is the pillar for achieving these goals, Mene said the AfCFTA Secretariat has been working to create the necessary conditions and environment for the private sector and economic operators to prosper.He said the secretariat identified sectors such as agriculture, the automotive industry, the pharmaceutical industry, transport and logistics, which would combine to create and establish a market to attract at least 130 billion U.S. dollars worth of investments into the value chain development.”It is crucial to deepen the one Africa market and prioritize products made in Africa. This approach is not just about reducing our dependence on imports from other countries; it is about actively producing and exporting goods that generate employment within Africa,” Mene stressed.Adding his voice to the calls, Joachim Chissano, former president of Mozambique, urged African governments and private sectors to build systems that would produce and add value to the products to feed Africans, and reduce hunger and poverty on the continent.The Africa Prosperity Dialogue, organized by the AfCFTA Secretariat and the African Prosperity Network, a think tank, serves as an annual platform for Africa’s leadership to engage, forge partnerships, and commit to achieving the African Union’s Agenda 2063.
Namibia launches archival app to preserve cultural heritage
WINDHOEK, Jan. 28 (Xinhua) — Namibia launched an archival application on Wednesday to improve accessibility, and preserve and promote the country’s cultural heritage through advanced technological means.
Speaking at the launch, Minister of Education, Arts, and Culture Ester Nghipondoka said through its user-friendly interface and state-of-the-art features, the application will democratize access to historical records, making Namibia’s heritage more accessible and engaging for all.”Archives are our cultural heritage and a foundation of our national identity. They reflect our shared history, diverse traditions, and the collective journey that has brought us to where we are today. As the custodians of this invaluable heritage, we must ensure the accessibility, protection, and preservation of these records for future generations,” she said.
According to Nghipondoka, the application is poised to become a dynamic educational resource that will catalyze and enhance research and academic exploration.”The Namibia Archival Application is more than just a tool; it serves as a gateway to various archival collections, which can be accessed simultaneously. It empowers researchers, historians, educators, and the public with seamless access to our archival collections,” she said. “By integrating our archives into the digital realm, we bridge the gap between tradition and technology, ensuring that our historical records are not only preserved but actively disseminated.”She added that the application stands out as a significant leap in the country’s archival capabilities. “It is not just a software innovation, but a demonstration of our dedication to utilizing technology to enhance access to our archival collections.”The initiative is a result of support from the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization and cooperation among Namibian entities.
Sierra Leonean minister urges removal of barriers to boost intra-Africa trade
ACCRA, Jan. 28 (Xinhua) — A Sierra Leonean minister has called for the removal of various barriers that hinder trade within the African continent.
Minister for Trade and Industry Ibrahim Alpha Sesay made this call on Friday during a panel discussion at the Africa Prosperity Dialogue in Ghana’s Eastern Region. “Most of the systems we apply on the continent are still not automated and not digitized, so we still have a lot of bureaucratic bottlenecks, and where there is bureaucracy, the cost of doing business increases,” the minister said. Sesay said due to these barriers, there is a long delay in the movement of transit cargo between countries, increasing the cost of doing business and making the goods uncompetitive. He, therefore, called for a rapid transformation of border and port control and tariff systems to enhance intra-Africa trade and boost the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). Sesay also urged African leaders to improve trading regulations to promote a seamless continental trade area. The three-day Africa Prosperity Dialogue, which closed on Saturday, is organized annually by the AfCFTA Secretariat and the African Prosperity Network, a think tank, to create a platform for technocrats, political and business leaders to formulate ideas that will help transform Africa into a global powerhouse.
Feature: Zero-waste store promotes environmentally sustainable practices in Namibia
WINDHOEK, Jan. 28 (Xinhua) — Zero Waste Store Namibia, in Windhoek, the southwestern African country’s capital, is transforming the shopping habits of locals to promote environmentally sustainable practices.
Brigitte Reissner opened the store in 2019 to help cut waste in the environment. Unlike ordinary retailers, the store operates under the principle of waste minimization, offering items for sale without any packaging. It also advocates the consumption of organic products. According to Reissner, customers bring their own containers and fill them with the desired quantity of products, minimizing the need for single-use packaging. The weight of the container is measured and recorded, and each product is assigned a unique code corresponding to the container filled. “The unique feature of the store is that customers take what they need, avoiding an excess of products at home and inspiring individuals to take responsibility for their environmental impact,” she said. The store also promotes reusable paper bags, which, unlike plastic ones, can be composted.
The practice supports the government’s pollution control efforts. Namibia implemented a ban on plastic carrier bags in all “Protected Areas” in 2018, followed by the introduction of a plastic bag levy in August 2019. Reissner, now in her 50s and having worked previously as a hairdresser in Windhoek for over 25 years, opened the store after witnessing the negative impact of waste on the climate and environment. To prepare for this endeavor, she conducted extensive research in neighboring South Africa, at the time witnessing a boom of zero-waste stores. She also consulted with zero-waste enthusiasts like United States-based author Bea Johnson and later completed an online course on establishing zero-waste stores. “I was also looking for something new that, coupled with my passion for environmental protection, would make a positive impact,” Reissner said. While zero-waste stores have gained popularity in various parts of the world, they are relatively new in Namibia, with only two known such stores. The other one is in the country’s coastal town of Swakopmund. “Namibia, in particular Windhoek, is the perfect location to promote sustainability, hence this store,” she said.
Over the years, the store has experienced significant growth, expanding its trade to include more than 120 high-quality spices, flour, snacks, seeds, health products, cleaning products, cosmetics, and some manufactured items. For Reissner, this approach also helps promote organic and locally sourced products. About 90 percent of the cosmetics products come from local suppliers. Customers can also order items online via the store’s website, zerowastestore.com.na, cutting its carbon footprint. The store has two employees. Emilia Khristian, who joined the shop in 2019, has witnessed the changing shopping habits of residents who have enthusiastically embraced the concept of zero-waste. “I can earn an income while emphasizing the importance of eco-friendly choices and encouraging a more conscious and responsible shopping experience… which you cannot do at other shops,” Khristian said.
The store also serves as an educational platform. Each visitor presents an opportunity to educate on the impact of packaging waste and the importance of sustainable living, Reissner said. In the meantime, despite the significant impact and growth, the store faces several challenges, including limited expansion funds and product importation hurdles. These challenges posed difficulties, especially in the first three years, but were overcome through social media marketing and online ordering platforms, diversifying the store’s product offerings.
The growing clientele in the last two years has helped profit margins improve year-on-year to sustain the store and her livelihood, Reissner said. “Transitioning from the salon to this store has been much more rewarding, income-wise, and contributing to society,” she said.
Looking ahead, Reissner hoped that her store would significantly influence business models in Namibia. “The goal is to encourage the transition of conventional trade toward adopting similar practices and to foster a greener environment, contributing to a more sustainable country,” she said. Romeo Muyunda, spokesperson for the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism, said initiatives driven toward waste management serve as catalysts for change and the adoption of sustainable practices, and align with national goals for a greener environment.
