Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam nears completion at 98.9%
Berhe stated on Wednesday that the dam symbolizes national sovereignty and popular unity, emphasizing that it was constructed without any external loans or aid. This assertion directly countered recent remarks by President Donald Trump, who criticized past U.S. administrations' alleged funding of the dam, Gazette Plus reported.
He highlighted that Ethiopia has 'paved its way towards poverty eradication by building a dam on the Blue Nile.' He added that millions of Ethiopians contributed to the project financially, morally, intellectually, and diplomatically.
Berhe noted that over 23 billion Ethiopian Birrs were raised through bond purchases to finance the dam's construction, describing the project's achievement as a historic victory.
Two weeks prior, Trump publicly criticized previous US administrations for funding the Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, which he claimed 'prevents water from reaching Egypt.'
On his Truth Social platform, Trump asserted that the massive dam 'was built with stupid funding from the US' and described it as 'significantly reducing water flowing into the Nile River.'
Trump's statements angered Ethiopian officials, who, in turn, denied any US funding for the dam. Ethiopian Minister of Water and Energy, Habtamu Itefa, responded to Trump's remarks by stating that the project 'was built by the Ethiopian people.'
The post Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam nears completion at 98.9% appeared first on Egypt Independent.
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Egypt Independent
4 hours ago
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One year from the Butler assassination attempt: How it changed the 2024 race, the MAGA movement and Trump himself
CNN — A year ago today, I A year ago today, I watched as an attempted assassin opened fire on then-candidate Donald Trump. During the chaos and fear that unfolded — unlike anything I had previously experienced — I questioned not only if he was safe, but also if his ambitions of becoming president yet again would be forever impacted by the events of that day. The answer to both of those questions was yes. July 13, 2024, ultimately became the one of the most pivotal moments of Trump's entire campaign. And the days that followed changed the entirety of the general election and MAGA movement. Less than 48 hours after the assassination attempt in Butler, Pennsylvania, Trump named then-Sen. JD Vance as his vice presidential running mate. Three days after that, Trump took the stage triumphantly at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, wearing a bandage over an ear that had been hit by a bullet. 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Within days, that image and the 'fight!' slogan was printed on t-shirts, mugs, signs and more. At nearly every one of the dozens of rallies I attended following July 13, that picture and phrase were prominently displayed — on the clothing his supporters wore, the merchandise being sold and the screens that served as the backdrop for Trump's speeches. The photo is now proudly hung in both the West and East Wings of the White House. And the 'fight!' slogan continues to be displayed prominently at many of the president's private events. Divine intervention The events that unfolded in Butler had an immediate impact on the president. Trump, who had long feared that he would one day face an assassination attempt, argued in the days that followed that he believed God intervened on July 13 to save him. In public speeches, he frequently remarked that the shooter might have been successful if Trump had not turned his head at the right moment. 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5 hours ago
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