Wednesday 30 Oct, 2024 {HMC} Israel continues deadly strikes on southern Lebanon, with many women and children among the 15 people killed in the latest attacks in Sarafand and Haret Saida near Sidon city.

At least 143 Palestinian people were killed in Israeli strikes across Gaza on Tuesday, with 132 of those killed in the besieged north of the war-torn territory, medical sources told Al Jazeera.

Media in Israel report that at least 33 Israeli soldiers have been killed in fighting in southern Lebanon since the start of the month amid Israel’s ground offensive into Lebanese territory.

In Gaza, at least 43,061 people have been killed and 101,223 wounded in Israeli attacks since October 7, 2023. An estimated 1,139 people were killed in Israel during the Hamas-led attacks and more than 200 were taken captive.

In Lebanon, at least 2,787 people have been killed and 12,772 wounded in Israeli attacks since the war on Gaza began, with 77 killed in strikes across the country on Tuesday alone.

Source Al-Jazeera 

Wednesday 30 Oct, 2024 {HMC} Officials in Ukraine’s capital said Wednesday a Russian drone attack left at least nine people injured.

Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said on Telegram an 11-year-old girl was among those hurt when debris from a downed drone hit an apartment building.

Serhii Popko, head of the Kyiv City Military Administration, said air defenses destroyed Russian drones that attacked the city from multiple directions.

Russia’s Defense Ministry said Wednesday it destroyed 23 Ukrainian drones deployed in overnight attacks.

The intercepts took place over the Rostov, Kursk, Smolensk, Oryol, Bryansk and Belgorod regions, the ministry said.

Belgorod Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov said on Telegram there was damage to electrical lines, while officials in Kursk reported a fire at an administrative building.

North Korea

The Pentagon said Tuesday a “small number” of North Korean troops have deployed to Russia’s Kursk region, where they are likely to be used in combat against Ukrainian troops.

“[There are] indications that there’s already a small number that are actually in the Kursk Oblast, with a couple thousand more that are either almost there or due to arrive imminently,” Pentagon press secretary Major General Pat Ryder told reporters.

“We remain concerned that Russia intends to use these soldiers in combat or to support combat operations against Ukrainian forces in Kursk,” he added.

On Monday, the U.S. Department of Defense said that North Korea has sent about 10,000 troops to train in Russia, more than tripling the previous estimate, and warned that those forces would likely augment Russian forces near Ukraine over the next several weeks.

The Pentagon has “no information” to corroborate reports that North Korean troops are also inside Ukraine, according to Ryder.

Asked by VOA whether Ukraine should strike back against North Korean forces, President Joe Biden replied, “If they cross into Ukraine, yes.”

Source VOA NEWS

Wednesday 30 Oct, 2024 {HMC} Somalia has declared an Ethiopian diplomat working in Mogadishu a persona non grata.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, Somalia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs accused the diplomat of engaging in “activities incompatible with his diplomatic role.”

The diplomat, Ali Mohamed Adan, who is a counselor at Ethiopia’s embassy in Mogadishu, was ordered to leave Somalia within 72 hours of receiving the notice.

Somalia did not specify the actions allegedly committed by Ali, but the statement said they “constitute a breach of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations.”

VOA’s Horn of Africa Service sought comments from the spokesperson for Ethiopia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Nebiat Getachew, but did not receive any.

Somalia and Ethiopia have been involved in a heated diplomatic dispute since Addis Ababa signed the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Somaliland, a move Somalia sees as infringement on its sovereignty. Ethiopia and Somaliland defended the MOU. If implemented, it would give Somaliland recognition from landlocked Ethiopia in return for the leasing of 20 kilometers of seafront, according to Somaliland officials.

In April, Somalia expelled Ethiopian Ambassador Muktar Mohamed Ware, alleging “internal interference” by Ethiopia. Somalia also ordered the closure of Ethiopia’s consulates in Somaliland and Puntland, though they remained open.

Last month, Somali Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre, speaking at the U.N. General Assembly, urged the international community to stand with Somalia in condemning Ethiopia’s violations.

Barre alleged that Ethiopia was attempting to “annex parts of Somalia under the guise of securing sea access.”

Taye Atske Selassie was the foreign minister at the time and rejected the Somalian prime minister’s comments, insisting that Ethiopia’s MOU with Somaliland is “based on existing political dispensation in Somalia.”

“Ethiopia’s name can never be associated with any one of the allegations,” said Taye, who has now become Ethiopia’s ceremonial president.

Source Hiiraan Online

Wednesday 30 Oct, 2024 {HMC} Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud reaffirmed his government’s commitment to dialogue with Puntland and Jubbaland state leaders to resolve ongoing political divisions.

In a 25-minute address on Tuesday night to an assembly of bicameral parliament members and regional state leaders, President Mohamud emphasized the importance of unity and cooperation as the National Consultative Council (NCC) meeting continues in Mogadishu.

“We will speak with our brothers who hold different views. If they invite us, we will go; if not, they are welcome here. Our people have a unique opportunity to realize their aspirations for unity,” he stated.

The president requested a special parliamentary session to address legislative obstacles amid the NCC meeting, which has yet to reach a consensus on national issues due to ongoing boycotts by Puntland and Jubbaland.

Mohamud praised three regional leaders who participated in the NCC discussions, which focused on strategies for liberating territories held by al-Shabab and organizing future elections.

His government is expected to seek parliamentary approval on key legislation, including the election law, laws on political organizations and parties, and the Election Commission law to pave the way for one-person, one-vote elections by 2026.

Source Hiiraan Online-