Monday 11,Nov 2024 {HMC} Russia and Ukraine have carried out their largest drone attacks against each other since the start of the war.

Russia’s defence ministry said it intercepted 84 Ukrainian drones over six regions, including some approaching Moscow, which forced flights to be diverted from three of the capital’s major airports.

Ukraine’s air force said Russia launched 145 drones towards every part of the country on Saturday night, with most shot down.

The barrages come amid expectations that US president-elect Donald Trump may put pressure on both sides to end the conflict.

Ukraine’s attempted strike on Moscow was also its biggest attack on the capital since the war began, and was described as “massive” by the region’s governor.

Most of the drones were downed in the Ramenskoye, Kolomna and Domodedovo districts, officials said.

In Ramenskoye, south-west of Moscow, five people were injured and four houses caught fire due to falling debris, the Russian Ministry of Defense said. It added that 34 drones had been shot down over the town.

In September, a woman was killed in a drone attack that hit Ramenskoye. In May last year, two drones were destroyed near the Kremlin in central Moscow and there were several drone attacks on the Moscow City business district.

In Ukraine, at least two people were injured after a drone hit the Odesa region. Images showed flames rising from some buildings, as well as aftermath damage.

The Ukrainian air force said 62 of Russia’s Iranian-made drones were shot down, while 67 were “lost”. A further 10 left Ukraine’s airspace heading back towards Russia, as well as neighbouring Belarus and Moldova, it added.

Further strikes were reported overnight into Monday, with Russia saying it had destroyed 13 Ukrainian drones near the regions of Kursk and Belgorod.

Meanwhile, five people were killed in Mykolaiv, southern Ukraine, following an air attack that left residential buildings on fire, according to regional governor Vitaliy Kim.

He said a 45-year-old woman had also been injured and was in hospital.

It comes as Russian troops reportedly made their largest territorial gains in October since March 2022, according to analysis of Institute for the Study of War data by the AFP news agency.

However, Sir Tony Radakin, the UK’s chief of defence staff, told the BBC’s Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg programme that Russia had suffered its worst month for casualties since the start of the war.

Russian forces suffered an average of about 1,500 dead and injured “every single day” in October, he said.

There has been intense speculation about how Trump will approach the conflict since his election win in the US.

The president-elect regularly said in his election campaign that he could end the war “in a day”, but has not offered details on how he would do that.

A former adviser to Trump, Bryan Lanza, told the BBC that the incoming administration would focus on achieving peace rather than enabling Ukraine to gain back territory from Russia.

In response, a spokesperson for Trump distanced the president-elect from the remarks, saying Mr Lanza “does not speak for him”.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov spoke via state media on Sunday of “positive” signals from the incoming US administration.

He claimed that Trump spoke during his election campaign about wanting peace and not a desire to inflict defeat on Russia.

Trump has spoken to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky since his election win, a source telling the BBC that the conversation lasted “about half an hour”.

Zelensky has previously warned against conceding land to Russia and has said that without US aid, Ukraine would lose the war.

In his regular evening address to Ukrainians on Sunday, Zelensky said “the only way to secure a lasting peace” is for strength and diplomacy to work hand in hand.

Source BBC NEWS

Monday 11,Nov 2024 {HMC} Environment, Climate Change, and Forestry Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale is in Baku, Azerbaijan, to spearhead Kenya’s representation at the 29th Conference of the Parties (COP 29), which begins today.

COP 29 has drawn world leaders, environmental experts, policymakers, and activists to tackle critical climate issues with a focus on adaptation, resilience, mitigation, and finance.

Kenya has marked climate action as a national imperative, with President William Ruto positioning sustainability as a top agenda. Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi is expected at the high-level sessions to ensure Kenya’s voice is amplified in global conversations.

Duale is expected to advocate for significant international support and equitable climate financing—factors seen as essential to implementing Kenya’s climate strategies and addressing vulnerabilities exacerbated by erratic weather patterns affecting agriculture, water supplies, and economic stability.

Kenya’s approach prioritizes adaptation as essential for building resilience among its communities and ecosystems. The Kenyan delegation’s agenda includes securing substantial funding to enhance adaptation efforts, especially as climate change continues to threaten biodiversity and livelihoods across the country. Climate finance discussions will be pivotal, with Kenya aiming to garner resources to meet its climate goals and contribute to broader global solutions.

As nations converge in Baku, Kenya’s focus on environmental stewardship and resilience underscores a commitment to making COP 29 a platform for actionable climate commitments.

Source Hiiraan Online

Monday 11,Nov 2024 {HMC} Somaliland Vice President Abdirahman Abdillahi Ismail Saylici publicly backed the opposition Waddani Party on Sunday, urging voters to support “change-seeking” groups in the upcoming November 13 election.

Saylici, who has served as vice president for over 14 years, joined Waddani’s presidential candidate, Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi Irro, at a press conference in Hargeisa, where he criticized President Muse Bihi’s administration.

“President Muse can no longer be trusted to rule the country; he has abandoned the oath he swore to the nation. The interest of Somaliland is in the reformers,” Saylici said, marking a rare public endorsement of the opposition from a sitting high-ranking official.

Saylici also endorsed Barwaqo, a political organization from the Awdal region, opposing Hilaac, which is aligned with the ruling Kulmiye Party. His support comes as Irro’s campaign gathers momentum, with prominent figures, business leaders, and other influential supporters rallying behind Waddani.

Irro welcomed the vice president’s endorsement, calling on Somalilanders to support the Waddani Party and allied groups as they aim to bring reforms to Somaliland’s government. The election is anticipated to be a pivotal moment, with high public interest and a growing desire for change from the current administration.

Political analysts note that Saylici’s endorsement may bolster Irro’s chances against the incumbent party, potentially shifting the balance of power in Somaliland’s political landscape.

SOURCE HIIRAAN ONLINE

Monday 11,Nov 2024 {HMC} Somali Council of Ministers reappointed General Odowa Yusuf Raage as the Commander of the Somali Armed Forces, replacing General Ibrahim Muhyiddin during an emergency meeting held in Mogadishu on Sunday night.

A statement from Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre’s office stated that the Council of Ministers approved the proposal of the Ministry of Defense to appoint General Odowa Yusuf Raage as the Commander of the Somali National Army to expedite the country’s defense efforts and eliminate the Khawarij groups.

General Raage, who previously served as Somali National Army (SNA) commander from 2019 to June 2023, succeeded General Ibrahim Muhyiddin, who had held the role since June.
Raage’s reappointment comes as the Somali government prepares for an intensified military campaign against al-Shabaab and for the transfer of security responsibilities from the African Union forces to Somali forces.

The new African Union mission, named the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM), is set to succeed the current AU Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) in early 2025. Egypt and Djibouti have pledged support for AUSSOM, while Ethiopian forces will be excluded, following Somalia’s decision to bar them from the mission due to recent tensions. Somali Defense Minister Abdulkadir Mohamed Nur Jama confirmed Ethiopia’s exclusion in an interview on Saturday, attributing the decision to Ethiopia’s alleged violations of Somali sovereignty.

The leadership change within the Somali Armed Forces and the upcoming AU mission transition reflects Somalia’s evolving strategy to secure its territory and push back against insurgent threats independently.

SOURCE HIIRAAN ONLINE