keith has performed at a subway station for many sheltering there to escape russian bombings. o ukraine's 2nd largest city has been under heavy fire for weeks. the concert marks what would have been the start of his annual music festival. even though she would, amid the darkness surrounding us, now it's extremely important to show that there are eternal values and future in our country, that our country is melodious, beautiful, chris, intellectual, and will overcome all these difficulties. ah, this is al jazeera and these are the top stories ukraine's at western city of the viv has been hit by russian missiles. officials say the strikes have significantly damaged city infrastructure. the viv is just 70 kilometers from the polish border and a major hub for fling ukrainians. u. s. president joe biden says russia's warn ukraine

has been a strategic failure. speaking in poland biden drew criticism from moscow. after stating that russian president vladimir putin cannot remain in power. your men's luthey rebels say there suspending miss sullen drone strikes on saudi arabia for 3 days. at least 8 people were killed off. the airstrikes hit a power plant, a fuel supply station, and the state run social insurance office. and so now your vehicle in new hardy, we unilaterally announce the suspension of missile. and john strikes and all military actions towards the kingdom of saudi arabia, by land. but see, and here for a period of 3 days that we affirm our readiness to turn this declaration into a final law firm. and permanent commitment. if the king of saudi arabia announces and commits itself to ending the siege and stopping its errors on the territory of

the republic of yemen once and for all, the spike in violence drew thousands to the streets of san are protesting against the conflict. more than a 150000 people have been killed since fighting began in 2014, including more than 14 and a half 1000 civilians. a group of afghan women and girls have marched in kabul to demand the right to go to school. government closed all girls, secondary schools, early this week, hours after they had opened the 1st time more than 7 months or since returning to power in august, the taliban has undone some of the progress made by women in the past 2 decades. palestinians in the occupied west bank have been voting in local elections, is the 2nd phase of the municipal ballot after 1st round in december. those are the headlines. news continues here in al jazeera, after inside story. you know, you can watch out to see were english streaming live on like you to channels plus

thousands of our programs. award winning documentary debt supports subscribe to. you dot com. forward slash al jazeera english who's thing africa's digital transformation. a partnership between the african union and the european union is now in place to foster this transformation. what is europe serious about helping africa and how much is politics involved? this is insightful. ah, hello, welcome to the program and has them speaker. the european union is africa's largest trading partner, according to u. n. data, but africa's trade with china is growing fast. the

e u and the african union have established a new partnership to boost the continent digital transformation. beijing is already ahead on that. about 50 percent of africa's 3 g networks and 70 percent of its 4 g networks are run by chinese companies, but the african continent still off as many opportunities. so can your opinions remain africa partner of choice? let's take a quick look at the new european african 2030 joint vision has just been announced . well, the european union aims to scale up investments, support innovation, and promote digital rights. leaders from both continents have announced a $170000000000.00 africa europe investment package. and they want to increase africans use of the internet from 33 percent to at least 60 percent. to help close the digital divide between the u and africa. e u, an african leaders met in brussels last month. trade security and the pandemic were

on the agenda throughout the summit. 6 african countries were selected to establish their own m r n, a vaccine production site. off the african leaders complained of inequality in distribution. the china has already spent billions on africa through its belt and road initiative and it's become the continents biggest lender. ah, let's bring in, i guess. now talk more about this from pretoria. we joined the bi lorenzo fuel monte. he is a professor of political economy at the university of pretoria and a former minister of education and research in italy. giblin ibrahim joined us from a buddha. he is a political scientist and senior fellow at the center for democracy and development in nigeria. and from johannesburg were joined by david manya. he is the director of the university of johannesburg center for africa,

china studies and international relations and foreign policy expert. good to have you all with us gentlemen. david money, if i can start with you, is this something that could be good for africa? or indeed africa requires a massive injections of foreign investment, particularly in this digital space. given the fact that only 33 percent of africa is wired to the internet. and for, for development to take place, i think that these more that is required. china is doing great. united states is pouring investments and use coming as a late comer. however, what matters is exactly what will you provide are tangibly living out all their interests and ideological approach to this. this is business and i. e has to take africa, is hebron abraham? what's your take on this?

can this partnership work? i think good possibility of its work is very high for the simple reason that europe always added dominant relationship with africa without substantial con, petition. today, there been a substantial competition from china and they know they have to improve their performance. their tissue is serious. they have to change their ways so that they can get is solid footprint on the ongoing development a continent. so i think the context of time gives me confidence. the europe in particular, will take this much more seriously to stand on leg has been with us, learns if you're a monte, what's in this for europe?

well, i think this, this relationship could be literally a reward nowadays to data economy. the flow of data is dominated by 2 polls north america, and east asia. and i think both europe and africa need to become as autonomy as, as possible in the generation of data and the use of data and the digital economy can be mutually rewarding. but i agree with my colleagues, we need to see what are this time europe is serious about taking africa as a business part or a business partner rather than as a development age target. this is, this is real economy. it's the teachers are becoming progress and i think, you know, it's, it's, it was long overdue. well, let's talk more about that points on the difference between you know, investment and development age. well, what's your, what's your view on that, david? money, what's, what's been the problem with europe's relationship in the past that could be improved upon this time? i think the problem was, we'll start with the language. if you look at this agreement and the amendment

which europe is approaching that graham, and this is a question of trying to compete with china that has been reset and talking about a shed. this is the language of africa in china that, that trying to be also useful to mistake. but i think we need to move from that. previously. it has been a must. and the colonial colonies, in terms of relation where the hedge a monic, europe will just set the terms of the relationship. i think this time around if it is, this is truly fed and number of questions as to the point, to what extent will they cut the previously colonial tendencies into the digital field that comes with a lot of challenges. we're going to keep the data what the european union

respect africa, data of entity. at the moment, europe is a setting, it's on data, dealing with bar china. it's not that america particular united states. and equally, we should also see the need for you to respect the african continent, the question of prize, it's not a question or bringing data all to new technology and african continent, how much will it be? will it be support on the african content? so all of the above need to be taken into consideration. well, you mentioned earlier when you call the colonial tendency, could you expand a little bit and what you mean by that? are you talking about a, a type of condescension? indeed, this is the of for condescending language, africa perceived as, as tony blair previously, but it is conscience the needs i

and i'm looking at the content and helping and providing resources for poor africa. but this is a quite different africa we're talking about. it is the large population, 1200000 people and the bulk of this population young population. and therefore, the continent remains the future market that has to be respected. and therefore, it's not just question of wiring this continent using european software that the norms and value at this software is not neutral. it comes with the 2nd norms, cultural values that comes along with it. and therefore, i think they used the need of a truly friendship in which pop you rock in an african culture operate tend to be unable to have what potential does this partnership have for job creation in

africa, particularly when it's very large young population. as david money, i was saying, cindy, put tension for job creation is extremely high. just her, my police just say that for guys, the young population, it is a very active population. it's a population does already, family beer with digital methods and technologies and therefore available to play. it began rule in that field. clearly for africa, the potential of breaking the digital divide is extremely important for its future. and it could look for many of the development it's, it's, i mean, development objectives. it has said for several by 10 and how smart achieved.

so it could be extremely important whether the conditions for it to be a major player and just be ition has to be something that is based on a business agreement between african governments and foreign development partners. there want to play a role, i think specifically with issues to get that and get out of the earlier development paradigm in which the west dictates was good for africa. unless sick to impose it, i have it's not accepted. they move on. i think for me, the owners is really on african governments and people to define what their key objectives this digital era and colon personas to join specifically on what they want them to come in to join. i

think they're already good science in africa user. so many list there has been, for example, enormous and has to use a lot of the dynamics and that parts of africa in west africa is not been as high. oh, lou old that digital technologies have is shown considerable capacity to develop. i'm producer jobs. i went to tax or in missouri, our world us. yes. i've had a huge successes in jewelry to support an investment revenues from abroad. and it's some, these sorts of startups by africans themselves. the europe has to now ride to be part of that investment clarity. there will clear the potential for the multiplication of jobs in the dish telephony lorenz of hero monte. you think that's

the reason why europe hasn't even been able to make inroads in africa in the past because of this. and, you know, dick tutorial attitude, if you like, as, as, as g, b, japan was talking about their, of, of kind of preaching to them of the on good governance and democracy and so on. because that's what china doesn't do. well, i think that is being part of the problem, but you know, like, i think it goes without saying that you can ask different trade approaches and i think and not against the idea of having trade with, with x, you know, like, but the problem with europe is that the ethic requirements of all have often been a unilateral one way, right? we expect african partners to be having a certain way, never check what the european companies were doing in africa. so he was perceived as very hypocritical, especially after centuries and centuries of explanation. of the african content and continued exploitation of the african natural resources and so on,

so forth. i think this is anya bates and the digital economy is the economy of the present and the future. as we have mentioned, africa is made incredible inroads into using digital infrastructure, digital tools, and to power different types of economic development, east africa, digital currencies, where i'm sitting in south africa. digital money is virtually dominant. some very, very few payments in south africa made in cash, but these days. so it's so there's an incredible amount of opportunities for africa to lead to a new development phase through digital infrastructure. but the question is, if europe is really, if we sat, is really keen to do so on a bilateral, and a same time on an equal footing, whether it's going to be trying to use it's leverage to exploit african consumers. this is not what we want. what we need is to support african people to develop

their own and prices to be able to use the internet and the digital connections to create new jobs, new economic opportunities everywhere. so for instance, internet neutrality is really important. as we have already mentioned, you know the internet if it's not neutral, it's controlled by certain parameters by certain rules and you can actually favor one sort of you question of expensive side. and that what we need is also clarity around ib till actual property was gonna own that digital content and to what is going to happen to. so again, in africa is it, at this stage, a net importer of technology, african governments pay royalties to european and north american companies to use software which is often imposed on african governments, african public institutions, african universities by these agreements. so we need to be able to use this partnership to develop african software to strengthen the african technological platforms to be able to, to do so in a very open and free way. so if that is,

if this is what's gonna happen, i think it's going to be a great opportunity for both players. let's not forget the fact that even europe, as behind china and north america in terms of data economy. so europe has looked again out of having a true and equal partnership with africa because it's going to be advantageous the european companies as well. so i think it's a great opportunity, but we need to separate our ties. wouldn't past david money. what is it that i a year of can offer that investors like china and russia are not offering at the moment what it, what is it, what is it they can bring this difference? they could bring one thing for sure that at the moment they haven't made any inroads, it really depends if they could come up with a cheaper technology that africa is not interested in the issue of

competition expense. the united states is coming with the issue of ensuring that the dominant in pushing china out of the market use, divide it over the issues, some european countries i neutral and trying to find their own space. and therefore, it really depends how they come in and what is it that, that going to offer, i think price is the key issue. and more importantly, to extend in terms of the giant tick non tech companies from europe. will they behave? i think 20, you know, such with, with the behavior of facebook and others will pay less techs on the african continent. therefore, there's a question of tax. are they going to contribute to the development of the african continent? they security, there's a huge security dimension to technology, to what extent that they're going to at least in securing the continent as it moved

to regional integration and ensure that it is dining in line with africa agenda 26 to 3. so those are some of the key issues. to what extent are they bringing africans to operate freely without really posing views, is what you been able to have it. did you agree with that? that they could do more, that there is a potential here for, for europe to, to, to offer more beneficial partnership with africa in the digital arena. i think so, as you are aware, the europe has just walked out an agreement itself to reduce the dominance of american high tech companies in that only needs. and it's a moment in which europe is itself engaged in is struggle to build their own companies, their capacities and the rule they are going to play in the digital economy. just

as africa is also very much in back fest this news in this contest that imagines and become in importance. africa has a possibility of working in a collaborative man. i was a euro, so there will do some of those fives together. and in so doing, i think it's extremely important for africa to know that it's not it's rule to join the fives of the america in china to china. because what we need is a, an error. and we are multiple actors which creates opportunities for others to be placed in that system itself. so i don't, i do think this is an important moment a,

historically you can't have situations as you have in the contemporary world. we have $45.00 american high tech companies come through the data flow of much of the world. and i think the ongoing struggle is an important one in upon opening up a release for other players to come in. and i think in this context, africa, so as to work with europe as a partner, to engage in this battle together in increasing the multiplicity of active and from clears in the digital economy. lorenzo, what's your take on that are? so you nodding in agreement to some of that i realize i agree very much, you know, the fact that some of the digital economy is a great opportunity for diversification by the present. it's highly dominated by a few players. and again, what brings europe into this? for africa?

it brings apart, heard that has a lot of expertise, has a good experience in terms of technology transfer. again, what africans need a lot is to be able to create a, an environment which makes businesses thrive, that it's able to develop at home technologies and not be dependent on technology is built and developed elsewhere. so that means strengthening partnerships between universities and the industries and so on, so forth. and this is something that europeans have a lot of experience and at the same time, and i think this is quite crucial. your can be a market or african technology. as i said earlier, my african banking systems are way more developed than the european backend systems when it comes to digital economy. so opening up digital partnerships may very well give african banks the opportunities to expand into european markets, african apps, african tools that are still quite common. i mean, you know, previously we were referring to east africa, the case of unpaid digital money already developed when years ago it's become an extraordinary invention. something like this is unheard of. so we could have

a situation in which african technology developed by african people with african firms can actually expand into the european economy. this is very hard to do in china, legal requirements, the chinese protect their own. i don't care about free trade and it's obviously very, very competitive and us, while europe is a much more free, tal ground and still in open and turn the territory to some of these creations again. so there is, or i think the at the added value of this partnership is the fact that the 2 players, how prevalent to game is a, b, b, the others are the income, the others are the dominant players. these 2 guys, europe and africa can join forces to become a david money. we talked a lot about a lot up to now about what, what needs to happen and what hasn't happened before. but are there any examples you can point to of successful partnerships between countries? in, in africa and europe, or anywhere else outside of africa that could provide

a template for, you know, model for what the best project is that could work out for everyone. the, the biggest challenge we have is that is that there's no skills on the african continent mosque, but of the continent, the low skill, human resource in this area. i think what could be done more success is to ensure that the works with the african union and ensure that the things stablish mental dentist sentence at the regional for most african countries that small and able to really build a data center. and therefore, if they could build this data centers that the region on that it will be quite important and ensure that with this new technology, data resides in content. it should not be where europe is protecting phone

data and content. and at the same time, move on the african continent to mine data and put it to new york in style. so i think those are key issues. the other areas corporation would insure the issue such as e commerce, it's done in a fair way in terms of transportation. a lot of the fact remains around those and therefore, i think they could be a find the best way that both europe in union as well as the african continent, benefits out of e commerce is not one, find it. so those are key issues. ok, a lot of challenges where you need to be done. i'm going to get what's probably going to be last what you're in the less than a minute that we have a job in the abraham. how do you see all of this playing out then? this she works for collaboration would be on the rest,

lose the internet. in most of upper as you know, and cables connect africa to the internet that will europe. and the africa speeds tend to be extremely slow on for a whole lot of complex reasons. i think that's really one area collaboration with you to help in developing infrastructure to really capture the digital device. well, good to talk to all 3 of you. unfortunately, we're out of time, we're going to have to leave it there. thanks very much lorenzo monte cheaper in abraham and david money, thanks so much for being on his i story and thank you. as always for watching, you can see the program again any time just go to our website, i g 0 dot com and for further discussion, go to our facebook page. that's facebook dot com, forward slash ha. inside story. you can also join the conversation on twitter. i'll

handle there is as a j inside story for me has i'm sick and the whole team here, bye for now. nazareth the home of jesus christ has long drawn pilgrims and visitors from around the world. hundreds of years. it's old city rang to the sounds of shopkeepers and crops. people. this entry though sounds of dwindled, a handful of businesses struggling on. but hearing that splashes of color show signs of a fight back. resigns obese dunny decided to renovate an old warehouse and to work and live in the old city with a mission. it, me and another person opens the work that he was talking organically and open by some young palestinian is really designers, and entrepreneurs have been moving in, inspired by earlier artists to let them all at once. there were 450 businesses

operating in the old city. now there are just 50. the old cities always be in the heart of nazareth. now a growing group of residence wants to get it beating again. it will come back because the city still have very much power across europe. immigration is high on the agenda and in hungary it's presented as a pressing issue. we didn't have immigrants at all 0 aggression, but this is the one political topic. anybody and everybody is discussing the far right is preparing for battle. and their opponents are anyone who is different. prejudice am friday and hungry. on al jazeera. from the al jazeera london broadcast center to people in court for conversation is very intuitive, close to corporate, at local scales, unprompted uninterrupted west. individualism is about learning. go freight with

people outside our group and see them not as members of groups as such. but as individuals part, taylor will store and declare way, jaime cooperating outside of our media family is a major part of our human success story studio. be unscripted on algebra. ah, i'm carry johnston. indo the top stories on al jazeera targeting ukraine, sol, russian war planes of the centuries old city of the live known for its cultural heritage. until now the western city has largely escaped serious fighting. but it's a major hub for ukrainians, fleeing across the border into poland. just 70 kilometers away. saying was robbie reports the evening quiet in the west of ukraine, broken by the sound of russian missiles hitting their target.