Tuesday 28 October , 2024  {HMC}.  Chinese President Xi Jinping asked U.S. President Joe Biden last year to change the language the United States uses when discussing its position on Taiwanese independence, according to two U.S. officials familiar with the private conversation.

During last November’s Biden-Xi meeting near San Francisco, Xi and his aides asked Biden and his team to tweak the language in U.S. official statements.

China wanted the U.S. to say “we oppose Taiwan independence,” rather than the current version, which is that the United States “does not support” independence for Taiwan, said the people, who requested anonymity to speak about private diplomatic exchanges they participated in or were briefed on.

Xi’s aides have repeatedly followed up and made the requests in the months since, according to two U.S. officials and another person familiar with the exchanges.

The U.S. has declined to make the change.

The White House responded to a request for comment with a statement that repeated the line that Washington does not support Taiwan independence. “The Biden-Harris administration has been consistent on our long-standing One China policy,” the statement read.

China’s foreign ministry said: “You should ask this question to the U.S. government. China’s position on the Taiwan issue is clear and consistent.”

Taiwan’s foreign ministry declined comment.

The defeated Republic of China government fled to Taiwan in 1949 after losing a civil war with Mao Zedong’s communists.

The Republic of China remains Taiwan’s formal name and the government says it has no plans to change that given they are already a sovereign, independent state and Beijing has no right to claim Taiwan as its own.

Sensitive issue

For several years, Chinese diplomats have pushed the United States to make changes to how it refers to Taiwan’s status, which remains the most sensitive area in U.S.-China relations. The unusually direct and renewed push at the leader level has not been reported previously.

The United States severed official relations with the government in Taipei in 1979 but is bound by law to provide democratically governed Taiwan with the means to defend itself. China claims Taiwan as its own territory and has never renounced the use of force to bring the island under its control.

It was not clear why Xi chose to raise the issue with Biden, but he has made opposition to Taiwan independence a focus of his time in office and China’s military has significantly ramped up its activities around the island in recent years.

The Biden administration regards the proposed language change as a non-starter.

Taiwan was briefed on the recent overtures at a high level by Washington, said one of the sources.

Leaders in Beijing “would love it if Joe Biden said very different things about Taiwan than he says, no doubt,” said one senior Biden administration official, adding that Biden would stick with the standard U.S. formulation for talking about Taiwan independence.

During his time in office, Biden has upset the Chinese government with comments that appeared to suggest the United States would defend the island if it were attacked, a deviation from a long-held U.S. position of “strategic ambiguity.”

Change would reverberate

A change by the U.S. to say that it opposes Taiwanese independence would reverberate through the trade-rich Asia Pacific and with U.S. partners, competitors and adversaries alike.

Officials from two governments in the region told Reuters they would interpret any such change in wording as a change in U.S. policy toward less support for Taipei’s defense and diplomatic aspirations at a time when Beijing has ramped up military pressure.

China has over the past five years staged almost daily military activities around Taiwan. Earlier this month, Beijing held a day of war games using what Taiwan said was a record 153 military aircraft as part of drills simulating blockading ports and assaulting maritime and ground targets.

Any switch in language could also be seen signaling a shift in U.S. policy from supporting the resolution of Taiwan’s future through peaceful talks to one suggesting the United States stands against Taiwanese aspirations regardless of the circumstances at play.

Opinion polls in Taiwan show most people support maintaining the status quo, neither seeking to join with China nor establishing a new state.

In 2022, the State Department changed its website on Taiwan, removing wording both on not supporting Taiwan independence and on acknowledging Beijing’s position that Taiwan is part of China, which angered the Chinese. It later restored the language on not supporting independence for the island.

The two leaders are expected to speak again before Biden’s term in office ends in January, talks that may come by phone or on the sidelines of next month’s G20 summit in Brazil or APEC summit in Peru. APEC is one of few international forums where both Taiwan and China take part.

The Democratic president will hand over the tense Taiwan issue to his successor, Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris or Republican former President Donald Trump, following the Nov. 5 election.

Source Voa News 

Tuesday 28 October , 2024  {HMC}.  The Green Climate Fund (GCF) has approved funding for two transformative projects valued at $134 million, to support adaptation and enhance the climate resilience of vulnerable agricultural communities in Somalia and Iraq.

These initiatives, spearheaded by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), will empower millions of farmers and pastoralists to adapt to the escalating impacts of climate change, including droughts, floods, and water scarcity.

“FAO is very proud to have been selected by Somalia and Iraq to support them in their first single-country climate change investments. These two projects exemplify FAO’s commitment to climate action through transforming their agriculture, especially by building resilient and sustainable agricultural systems in vulnerable and fragile contexts,” said Kaveh Zahedi, Director of the FAO Office of Climate Change, Biodiversity and Environment, welcoming the news.

“By empowering vulnerable communities with the knowledge, tools, and technologies needed to adapt, we are investing in agrifood solutions that bring food security, support livelihoods, and help countries confront climate change.”

The new announcements were made during the fortieth meeting of the GCF Board held in Songdo, Incheon, Republic of Korea from 21–24 October.

Ugbaad: Building a climate-resilient agricultural sector in Somalia

Somalia faces a complex web of challenges, including poverty and conflict. These challenges are exacerbated by climate change, especially the increasingly frequent extreme weather events like droughts and floods which threaten the country’s already fragile food security.

To address this, FAO and the Somali government launched “Ugbaad” (meaning “hope” in Somali), a seven-year, $95 million project focused on building climate resilience in the agricultural sector. This landmark initiative marks the largest GCF climate investment led by FAO.

“Climate change is a matter of survival for Somalia,” said Khadija Mohamed Al-Makhzoumi, Minister of Environment and Climate Change. “The Climate Resilient Agriculture project, backed by the Green Climate Fund, will help over two million people restore our land, improve food security, and build resilience against the severe climate impacts we face today.”

Ugbaad aims to enhance the resilience of Somalia’s rural communities and ecosystems by promoting sustainable land management practices, improving access to water, introducing climate-resilient agricultural techniques and developing value chains.

The project will restore over 50,000 hectares of degraded land, train 86,000 farmers and pastoralists in climate-smart agriculture, and rehabilitate vital infrastructure like irrigation canals and rural roads.

By strengthening value chains for key agricultural products and improving access to climate information services, Ugbaad will empower communities to better cope with climate shocks and enhance their livelihoods.

With a focus on food security, the project will directly benefit 1.2 million people, with an additional 973,000 indirectly benefiting. By improving access to water and promoting sustainable farming practices, Ugbaad aims to increase food production and reduce reliance on food imports and aid.

The project also recognizes the importance of gender equality and women’s empowerment, with women comprising 50 percent of the beneficiaries.

Beyond its immediate impact on climate resilient agricultural practices, Ugbaad is designed to foster long-term sustainability and peacebuilding in Somalia.

By strengthening governance structures, improving climate information systems, and promoting community participation, the project will contribute to a more stable and resilient society.

The knowledge and experience gained through Ugbaad can also serve as a valuable model for other fragile countries facing similar climate challenges.

Bringing water and life to Iraq’s drylands

In Iraq, where rising temperatures and water shortages challenge political rebuilding efforts, the FAO-led “Strengthening Climate Resilience of Vulnerable Agriculture Livelihoods in Iraq’s Rural Communities” (SRVALI) project has received a $29.25 million grant from the GCF, with a total project value of $38.95 million. This six-year initiative focuses on water-use efficiency, climate-resilient agriculture, and empowering women as community change agents.

SRVALI addresses climate-related water and food security issues in Karbala, Muthanna, and Najaf—regions vulnerable due to arid climates and reliance on agriculture. The project includes climate-adaptive infrastructure like improved irrigation, solar panels on farms, and training in resilient farming practices. It will bring over 121,000 hectares under climate-resilient management, benefiting 2 million people, half of them women, and creating jobs for internally displaced persons.

Beyond direct benefits, the project promotes sustainable development by working with Iraqi ministries and universities to integrate climate-resilient practices into agricultural policy, scaling adaptation efforts across Iraq and the region.

Tuesday 28 October , 2024  {HMC}.  Somali Minister of Foreign Affairs Ahmed Maalam Faqi met with Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Investment, Eng. Khaled bin Abdul Aziz Al-Falah will be in Riyadh on Monday to discuss investment and trade between Somalia and Saudi Arabia.

The two ministers discussed potential areas for trade and economic cooperation across several sectors of mutual interest, highlighting opportunities in Somalia’s resource-rich economy.

Both sides emphasized the importance of consolidating trade and investment ties and increasing the volume of trade exchange between the two nations.

Minister Faqi also held talks with Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan to discuss bilateral relations and topics of mutual interest.

Mogadishu and Riyash ministers reviewed ongoing efforts to strengthen cooperation in various fields and explored ways to enhance the longstanding ties between the two sister countries.

Source Hiiraan Online

Tuesday 28 October , 2024  {HMC}.   Kenya has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the United States Department of Labour to enhance labour standards and promote the welfare of workers.

The agreement, formalized on Monday morning by Cabinet Secretary for Labour and Social Protection, Alfred Mutua, underscores a shared commitment to improving labour conditions, protecting workers’ rights, and fostering inclusive economic development in both nations.

Leading the U.S. delegation, Deputy Undersecretary for the Bureau of International Labor Affairs, Thea Mei Lee, highlighted the critical role of workers’ rights as the foundation of a healthy democracy.

The MoU outlines key cooperation areas, including occupational safety, health standards, prevention of child and forced labour, workers’ compensation systems, and social protection frameworks.

Mutua emphasized Kenya’s commitment to adopting best practices from the U.S., especially in managing labour relations and ensuring workplace health. “Our goal with this agreement is to make occupational health and safety a top priority, creating a safer, healthier environment for all Kenyan workers,” he said.

He further noted that the MoU aligns with Kenya’s efforts to strengthen social protections, boost productivity, and promote decent work standards.

Among the issues addressed in the MoU are systems to enhance workers’ compensation and unemployment insurance—vital for sustainable economic development.

“Empowered workers are productive workers,” Mutua added, underscoring the government’s focus on workforce empowerment.

Thea Mei Lee praised Kenya’s proactive stance on labour standards and emphasized how fair labour practices reinforce democratic values. Both countries committed to upholding internationally recognized labour rights and supporting each other’s efforts toward equitable, sustainable labour standards.
Also attending the signing was Shadrack Mwadime, Kenya’s Principal Secretary for the State Department of Labour.

Source Hiiraan Online

Tuesday 29 Oct, 2024 {HMC} Police in Mozambique killed at least 11 people and injured more than 50 others in violence after a disputed presidential election this month, Human Rights Watch (HRW) said Tuesday.

Protests have rocked the southern African nation since Daniel Chapo, candidate of the ruling Frelimo party that has held power since 1975, was announced winner of the October 9 election.

Hundreds of opposition supporters took to the streets last week, leading to clashes with riot police.

“Mozambique security forces killed at least 11 people,” HRW said in a statement, adding that “over 50 people suffered serious gunshot wounds” on October 24 and 25.

Eight police were also reportedly injured, the rights group said.

HRW said it interviewed 22 people, including victims, witnesses, physicians, journalists, government officials and civil society groups.

“Many, including children as young as one year old, inhaled tear gas that the police fired indiscriminately into residential areas,” the rights group said.

HRW said it had been told by one doctor that he treated dozens of injured people and one victim had “a bullet in his spine.”

“Mozambican authorities should promptly and impartially investigate alleged misuse of force and hold those responsible accountable,” said Allan Ngari, Africa advocacy director at HRW.

A local NGO, the Centre for Democracy and Human Rights (CDD), also counted at least 11 people killed in the violence, including six in Nampula province.

More than 450 people were arrested, including 370 in Maputo, CDD said in a statement on Sunday, adding that at least 85 had since been released.

Police have not commented on the reports by CDD and HRW but previously said that 20 people had been injured in the protests.

Police also told AFP that one person had been killed in Nampula while another died in Niassa, without giving further details.

Mozambique’s electoral commission said Chapo won the presidential election with 71 percent of votes, while the main opposition candidate Venancio Mondlane, backed by the small Podemos party, received 20 percent.

On Monday, Podemos filed a lawsuit demanding a recount of votes.

Election observers noted serious flaws before, during and after the vote.

European Union election observers were among those who noted “irregularities during counting and unjustified alteration of election results at polling station and district level.”

SOURCE VOA

Tuesday 29 Oct, 2024 {HMC} Qatar Charity (QC) has implemented hundreds of economic empowerment projects for about 150 neediest families in various regions of Somalia, a statement said Monday.

The income-generating projects provided to the beneficiaries include livestock (cows and sheep), three-wheeled transport carts, small retail shops, sewing machines for women, in addition to support in agriculture and handicrafts. Abd al-Fattah Adam Moalim, director of QC’s Office in Somalia, explained that these projects significantly contribute to maintaining the cohesion of the Somali community and protecting families from falling into unemployment and poverty.

Several beneficiaries expressed their gratitude for the support they received from QC, noting that these projects represented a lifeline for them and a starting point for improving their living conditions.

Hodan Abdi Khalif, a beneficiary of the livestock project in Kismayo, said: “I lost all my livestock during the last drought, and was struggling to support my family. Thanks to Qatar Charity’s support, I received several sheep that will enable me to resume my work in livestock farming, and now I have great hope for improving my family’s situation.”

Mohamed Abdi Hassan, said: “It was difficult for me to secure a stable income earlier. Now, thanks to the grocery store that Qatar Charity helped me open, I look forward to supporting my family and providing for their basic needs.” During 2023, QC implemented around 560 projects in the economic empowerment sector in Somalia, benefiting nearly 3,350 individuals, the statement added.

SOURCE