US: 91 people, including 20 children, are feared killed by Oklahoma tornado

(Medeshi)- At least 91 people, including 20 children, are feared killed by a huge tornado which tore through Oklahoma City suburbs, officials in the US state say.
Worst hit was Moore, south of the city, where neighbourhoods were flattened and schools destroyed by winds of up to 200mph (320km/h).
About 120 people are being treated in hospitals.
President Barack Obama has declared a major disaster in Oklahoma.

"We will defend Somaliland," Ethiopian PM says

(Medeshi)- Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn declared bi-partisan support for Somaliland in the case of military action against the threat from neighboring Somalia and other external militants such as al Shabab.

Somaliland needs to be prepared to thwart new threats from Somalia

Photo : Somaliland army in parade on May 18, 2013

(Medeshi)- Somali president has recently said in a news conference  coinciding with Somaliland 22nd independence day that "Somalia's unity is sacred and that Somaliland should swallow the idea of secession".  This rings alarm bells specially at this time when the World has pledged hundreds of millions of dollars to Somalia and when the arms embargo is lifted . Another press release followed today in which the Minister of information of Somalia condemned the recent decision of the Somaliland government to prevent UN flights from entering the country . The Somali Information minister also  apologized to UN  in the press release about the UN flights embargo by Somaliland .

Decades more of drones

(Medeshi)- US Assistant Secretary of Defence Michael Sheehan told the Senate Armed Services Committee that there is no time limit or geographical boundary on drone strikes. M Sheehan said this during testimony on Friday, in which he said that military operations against Al-Qaeda would last beyond the present term of President Obama, due to end in January 2017, in fact “10 to 20 years.”

Somalia : Floods damaged significant riverine and rainfed cropped areas

(Medeshi)- • Despite the improvements in the current food security conditions due to good Gu rains since March, over onemillion people estimated by the Food Security and Nutrition Analysis Unit-Somalia (FSNAU), FEWS NET, and partners during January 2013 will likely still remain food insecure through September, primarily at Stressed or Crisis (IPC Phases 2 or 3) .

Portland resident escapes war-torn Somalia, earns criminal justice degree from UMPI

(Medeshi)- By Jen Lynds - PRESQUE ISLE, Maine — At college commencement ceremonies across the country, it is not unusual to hear stories about students who have overcome tremendous obstacles in order to receive their degrees. Some have fled war-torn countries, worked several jobs to pay for school or attended college in an area where they didn’t really know anyone at all.

Somali premier to seek trust vote this week

(Medeshi)- MOGADISHU: Somalia’s prime minister is expected to face a vote of confidence next week, lawmakers said on Friday, and backers of the challenge said they were frustrated with the pace of political reform.

Somaliland marks 22 years of independence

(Medeshi)- Somaliland, which is more tribally homogeneous than the rest of Somalia, has been striving for international recognition since it broke away in 991.

Ahmed Mahamoud Silany, the region’s president, told Al Jazeera on Friday that, despite Somalia's calls to be united with the region, Somaliland is determined to retain its independence.

Interview with Somaliland representative in London On Somaliland quest for indepenedence (Video)

(Medeshi)-Somalia New Deal and Somaliland Independence

MN Somali humanitarian heroes Amina Ali and Hawo Hassan sentenced for helping destitute Somalis

(Medeshi)- By Mick Kelly | fightbacknews |Minneapolis, MN – About 200 Somalis, mainly women, converged on the Federal Building here, May 16, for the sentencing hearing of two Somali humanitarian workers. Amina Ali and Hawo Hassan were convicted of ‘material support for terrorism’ in October, 2011. Judge Michael J. Davis handed down a 20-year sentence for Amina Ali and a 10-year sentence for Hawo Hassan.

Change looms for Ethiopia’s ancient salt trade (+ Photos )

(Medeshi)- Reuters - Abdu Ibrahim Mohammed was 15 years old when he began trekking with caravans of camels to collect salt in a sun-blasted desert basin of north Ethiopia that is one of the hottest places on earth.

Now 51 and retired, he has passed his camels to his son to pursue this centuries-old trade in “white gold” from the Danakil Depression, where rain almost never falls and the average temperature is 94 degrees Fahrenheit (34.4 Celsius).

Somaliland : May 18 celebrations (Video + Photos)

(Medeshi)- Following are videos and photos from the web of May 18 celebrations in Somaliland :

Somaliland hopes for World recognition (+ Video)

(Medeshi) - The Horn of Africa has been ravaged by war and famine for decades, and now one of Somalia's regions, hopes to become an independent state.

Video of Toronto mayor Rob Ford 'caught smoking crack on video' offered for sale by a group of Somali men

(Medeshi)- By William Clarke - the  Telegraph. Toronto Star reporters were contacted by a man who described himself as an organiser in the Somali community. He claimed to represent two other Somali men who had allegedly supplied crack cocaine to the mayor, and sought to facilitate the sale of the video.
The video, which has not yet been purchased, has been viewed by journalists with the Toronto Star and the news website Gawker. The owners of the video are reported to have hoped to sell it for as much as $1 million.

Ethiopia: Police officer kills 14 civilians

(Medeshi)- May 14, 2013 -ADDIS ABABA - An Ethiopian federal policeman shot dead 14 innocent people in the northern west city of Bahirdar, a regional police source told Sudan Tribune on Tuesday.

Amhara regional police commissioner, Mulgeta Worku, said the shooter randomly opened fire on Sunday evening at around 9pm local time against residents of Abay Mado vicinity and against passers by.

Somaliland will mark its 22nd anniversary on Saturday the 18th of May,2013

(Medeshi)- In anticipation of Somaliland’s Independence Day, the President of Somaliland invites Somaliland communities around the world to come together in celebration.

Warlords claim Jubaland leadership ( + View of Kismayo video)

(Medeshi)- MOGADISHU: A warlord in southern Somalia’s Jubaland has named himself “president” of the volatile self-declared region, clan leaders said on Thursday, shortly after the election of another militia commander to the post.

Somaliland : Hargeisa livestock Market after rehabilitation (Video)

(Medeshi)- Video about the opening of the new Hargeisa livestock market after its rehabilitation . the project was funded by the United Kingdom through SEED programme.

Tensions simmer in south Somali region

( Medeshi)- Mogadishu - A warlord in southern Somalia's Jubaland region has declared himself "president" of the region, leaders said on Thursday, shortly after the election of another militia commander to the post.

New book challenges leaders to embrace training

(Medeshi)- ‘Developing the Ministerial Mindset: A Global View’ urges better pre-post training for governors'.
London, United Kingdom – In their new book “Developing The Ministerial Mindset: A Global View” (published by AuthorHouse) authors Aliar Hossain and Mark T Jones tackle the always-thorny issue of governmental competence and training. They present clear strategies for improving the decision-making and effectiveness of government ministers across the globe.

Malta : Somalis jailed for three months after escaping from detention van

(Medeshi)- Two Somalis were jailed for three months each after admitting before Magistrate Claire Stafrace Zammit that they escaped from custody while being transported to Mater Hospital last Tuesday.

London : 11 year old Hani Haji Hassan dies after being hit by lorry after getting off the school bus

(Medeshi)-The father of an 11-year-old girl who died when she was hit by a lorry after getting off the school bus today spoke of his agonising decision to turn her life support machine off.

Hani Haji Hassan, who had dreamt of being a doctor, suffered severe head injuries when she stepped out into the path of a food delivery lorry in Streatham yesterday afternoon.

UN flights banned as Somalia, Somaliland battle for control of airspace

(Medeshi)- Somaliland has banned all UN flights from its airports following a spat with the Mogadishu-based federal government of Somalia.
The self-declared republic located in north-western Somalia is protesting Sunday's move by Mogadishu to assume full control of Somali's entire airspace, including that of Somaliland.

It is the first time the Somalia is taking control of its airspace following two decades of anarchy triggered by the collapse of the central government in 1991.

Jubaland region gets ex-Islamist Somali warlord as President

Madobe's powerful militia controls sea port at Kismayo

(Medeshi)- NAIROBI - Former Islamist warlord Ahmed Madobe has been elected "president" of Somalia's volatile southern Jubaland region following weeks of tense negotiations between rival factions, officials said Wednesday.

The vote in the southern port city of Kismayo was opposed by the central government in the capital Mogadishu, which is keen to stamp its authority on the lawless and war-ravaged nation, not to see further regional splits.

Somaliland FM writes to Ban Ki Moon of the UN in reaction to comments by UN Deputy Chief

(Medeshi)- Somaliland Foreign Minister  wrote the attached letter on May 15, 2013 to the United Nations Secretary general in response to comments by the UN Deputy Chief  which contained a demand for support to Somalia government to assert its authority over the region including Somaliland . The UN deputy Chief has mentioned in his comments Quote " Somaliland decided not to join the delegation( London conference 2013). They were asked by the President to join, and given all the good reasons to join but they have ambitions that go beyond autonomy, that go beyond a taking part of a federal structure." Unquote .