Monday 16,June ,2025 {HMC}  Somali-run spaza shops in Khayelitsha’s Site C township reopened Friday following a two-day shutdown in protest against escalating extortion by local gangs, which traders say has become unsustainable and life-threatening.

The closures on June 11 and 12 left thousands of residents without access to affordable food and basic goods. With many families dependent on informal stores for daily essentials, the impact was immediate.

“Even kids couldn’t buy chips,” said one resident. “We had to leave Site C just to buy bread or sugar.”

Somali traders say the extortion demands intensified earlier this year when a known gang leader, identified locally as Bhara, was released from prison and began demanding payment from shops already paying other groups. One shopkeeper reported paying R85,000 to Bhara’s group alone, before being approached by a third faction.
“When we said we’re already paying others, they said, ‘We don’t care. We want our money,’” a trader told HOL on condition of anonymity. “Those who can’t pay are targeted. Four shopkeepers were shot in the past two weeks.”

Spaza shops are small, informal convenience stores that form the backbone of township economies across South Africa. Often operated by immigrants, particularly Somalis, they offer affordable goods in underserved neighbourhoods. However, these traders have frequently been targets of xenophobic violence, looting, and extortion. Civil society groups have long called for greater protection of immigrant traders and more proactive policing in townships like Khayelitsha.

The shopkeepers said they reopened after members of the same groups approached them urging them to resume business, fearing police scrutiny following the shutdown.

“They begged us to open. They said the heat was too much and they would address our concerns,” the trader said. “But they don’t live ekasi. They stay in the suburbs and just send boys to collect money.”

Ward 87 Councillor Khayalethu Kama, whose district includes parts of Site C, said he plans to meet with Somali business owners to understand the full extent of the threats.

South African Police Service (SAPS) spokesperson Lieutenant Malcolm Pojie said reinforcements have been deployed to the area to contain gang-related activity.

“We’ve effected several related arrests—some suspects are in custody and linked to extortion cases,” Pojie said. “But we urge all victims to report such incidents.”

“We’ve effected several related arrests—some suspects are in custody and linked to extortion cases,” Pojie said. “But we urge all victims to report such incidents.”

Though reopened, Somali shopkeepers say the climate remains hostile and worry that the gangs may return with fresh demands. Some fear another shutdown may be inevitable.

“We’re just trying to survive,” one shopkeeper said. “But if it continues, we’ll have to close again—maybe for good.”

Source Hiiraan

Monday 16,June ,2025 {HMC} Iranian missiles struck Israel’s Tel Aviv and the port city of Haifa before dawn on Monday, destroying homes and fuelling concerns among world leaders at this week’s G7 meeting that the battle between the two old enemies could lead to a broader regional conflict.

At least 5 people were killed in the latest Iranian strikes, national emergency service said, bringing Israel’s death toll to at least 18 since Friday. At least 100 more were wounded in the overnight strikes, part of a wave of attacks by Tehran in retaliation for Israel’s pre-emptive strikes targeting Iran’s nuclear and ballistic missile programs.

Search and location operations were underway in Haifa where around 30 people were wounded, emergency authorities said, as dozens of first responders rushed to the strike zones. Fires were seen burning at a power plant near the port, media reported.
Video footage showed several missiles over Tel Aviv and explosions could be heard there and over Jerusalem. Several residential buildings in a densely populated neighbourhood of Tel Aviv were destroyed in a strike that blew out the windows of hotels and other nearby homes just a few hundred meters from the U.S. Embassy branch in the city. The U.S. ambassador said the building sustained minor damage, but there were no injuries to personnel.

Guydo Tetelbaun was in his apartment in Tel Aviv when the alerts came in shortly after 4 a.m. (0100 GMT).

“As usual, we went into the (shelter) that’s right across the street there. And within minutes, the door of the (shelter) blew in,” the 31-year-old chef said.

“A couple of people came in bloody, all cut up. And then when we came to the apartment, after it quietened down, we saw there wasn’t much of it… Walls are caved in, no more glass,” he added.

“It’s terrifying because it’s so unknown. This could be the beginning of a long time like this, or it could get worse, or hopefully better, but it’s the unknown that’s the scariest.”

The predawn missiles struck near Shuk HaCarmel, a popular market in Tel Aviv that typically draws large crowds of residents and tourists buying fresh fruits and vegetables, and to popular bars and restaurants. A residential street in nearby Petah Tikva and a school in ultra-Orthodox Jewish city Bnei Brak were also hit.

‘NEW METHOD’

Iran’s Revolutionary Guards said the latest attack employed a new method that caused Israel’s multi-layered defence systems to target each other.

“The initiatives and capabilities used in this operation, despite the comprehensive support of the United States and Western powers and the possession of the most up-to-date and newest defence technology, led to the successful and maximum hitting of the missiles on the targets in the occupied territories,” it said.
The Israeli military did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the strikes. Israeli officials have repeatedly said its “Iron Dome” defence system is not 100% and warned of tough days ahead.

The death toll in Iran had reached at least 224, with 90% of the casualties reported to be civilians, an Iranian health ministry spokesperson said.

Israel’s military said on Monday morning it had struck again at command centres belonging to the Revolutionary Guard and Iran’s military.

LEADERS MEET

Group of Seven leaders began gathering in the Canadian Rockies on Sunday with the Israel-Iran conflict expected to be a top priority.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said his goals for the summit include for Iran to not develop or possess nuclear weapons, ensuring Israel’s right to defend itself, avoiding escalation of the conflict and creating room for diplomacy.

“This issue will be very high on the agenda of the G7 summit,” Merz told reporters.

Before leaving for the summit on Sunday, U.S. President Donald Trump was asked what he was doing to de-escalate the situation. “I hope there’s going to be a deal. I think it’s time for a deal,” he told reporters. “Sometimes they have to fight it out.”

Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian told parliament on Monday that the country has no intention to produce nuclear weapons but it would continue to pursue its right to nuclear energy and research.

Brent crude futures were up $0.70, or 1%, to $74.94 a barrel in Asian trade on Monday having jumped as much as $4 earlier in the session. While the spike in oil prices has investors on edge, stock and currency markets were little moved in Asia.

“It’s more of an oil story than an equity story at this point,” said Jim Carroll, senior wealth adviser and portfolio manager at Ballast Rock Private Wealth. “Stocks right now seem to be hanging on.”

TRUMP VETOES PLAN TO TARGET KHAMENEI, OFFICIALS SAY

In Washington, two U.S. officials told Reuters that Trump had vetoed an Israeli plan in recent days to kill Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

When asked about the Reuters report, Netanyahu told Fox News on Sunday: “There’s so many false reports of conversations that never happened, and I’m not going to get into that.”

“We do what we need to do,” he told Fox’s “Special Report With Bret Baier.”

Israel began the assault with a surprise attack on Friday that wiped out the top echelon of Iran’s military command and damaged its nuclear sites, and says the campaign will escalate in the coming days.
Iran has vowed to “open the gates of hell” in retaliation.

TRUMP WARNS IRAN NOT TO ATTACK U.S. TARGETS

Trump has lauded Israel’s offensive while denying Iranian allegations that the U.S. has taken part and warning Tehran not to widen its retaliation to include U.S. targets.

Two U.S. officials said on Friday the U.S. military had helped shoot down Iranian missiles that were headed toward Israel.

The U.S. president has repeatedly said Iran could end the war by agreeing to tough restrictions on its nuclear program, which Iran says is for peaceful purposes but which Western countries and the IAEA nuclear watchdog say could be used to make an atomic bomb.

The latest round of nuclear negotiations between Iran and the U.S., due last Sunday, was scrapped after Tehran said it would not negotiate while under Israeli attack.

Reporting by Reuters; Writing by Howard Goller; Editing by Lincoln Feast and Saad Sayeed

Source 

Monday 16,June ,2025 {HMC} Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale has called on Garissa residents to register for the Social Health Authority (SHA) in large numbers to avoid being denied access to medical services.

Currently, only 150,468 Kenyans in Garissa have registered with SHA, translating to only 16.7 per cent of the population.

Speaking during a free medical camp event in Garissa where officials had also set SHA registration desks, Duale said that the Universal Healthcare Program is working and urged Kenyans to ignore those opposing the medical cover.

At the same time, the CS defended the SHA partial payment for hospital bills noting that sharing a larger medical cost burden should be a big deal for the patients.

“If you take a mother to deliver at the Garissa Referral Hospital or even in the private hospitals and you have registered with SHA, you will be charged zero shilling and SHA will pay Shs 30,000. If you have subscribed to SHA and you have a patient admitted in ICU, we will be paying Sh28,000 every day. SHA is also paying Sh550,000 for cancer patients per year,” Duale said.

“We have all the practical evidence to show that Universal Healthcare is working. SHA is working, 23.6 million Kenyans have registered and we are seeking to cover 100 per cent of the Kenyan population,” he added.

The CS further cautioned hospitals against lying to patients that the SHA system is not working or the allegation that the internet is down to solicit cash payment in hospitals.

“I know there are some facilities telling patients that the internet or the SHA system is down, so they ask for cash payments. Those people are lying because the internet is paid for by the government, tell them you don’t have money and let them to use or register you for SHA,” he said

During the event, Duale presided over the launch of the Health Facility Digitization program and witnessed the formal digitization of Garissa’s public health facilities under TaifaCare program aimed at expanding access to health protection.

The newly established Health Information Exchange system will make it easier for Kenyans to access their health records from anywhere in the country, capturing both patient and provider data to support continuity of care.

The Ministry of Health, in collaboration with the Garissa County government, distributed 1,011 tablets for use in public health facilities across the county under the national digitization programme.

The Tablets are preloaded with specialised health applications linked to TaifaCare platform, which will enable real-time data collection, patient referrals and treatment tracking.

On her part, the SHA CEO Dr. Mercy Mwangangi reiterated that SHA is meant to ensure that every Kenyan, regardless of their location or economic status can access health services without financial hardships.

“Our work in Garissa today reflects our commitment to an equitable health system, and we remain focused on reaching every community,” Dr. Mwangangi said.

Other leaders present in the event included Garissa governor Nathif Jama, MPs Dekow Mohamed (Township), Salah Yakub (Fafi), Sheikh Abdi (Ijara), Umulkheir Harun (nominated), Senator Abdul Haji, MoH Director General Dr. Patrick Amoth and Garissa acting county commissioner Sebastian Okiring.

Source Hiiraan online

Monday 16,June ,2025 {HMC} The Somali National Army (SNA), with support from local militia forces, killed several Al-Shabab militants and seized a significant cache of weapons during a planned military operation in the Lower Shabelle region, officials confirmed Sunday.

Speaking to the media, State Minister for Defense MP Omar Ali Abdi stated that the offensive was part of a broader national effort to dismantle Al-Shabab strongholds and disrupt the group’s operations in key regions.

“This operation targeted specific hideouts in Lower Shabelle where Al-Shabab fighters were regrouping. It is part of our ongoing campaign to eliminate terrorist elements from Somali territory,” the minister said.

The Ministry of Defense praised the Somali National Army troops and allied African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) forces. In particular, the ministry highlighted their role in the ongoing “Operation Silent Storm”, which aims to liberate regions under Al-Shabab control and restore government authority.

Heavy clashes were reported in the Sabib and Anole areas, where intense fighting has persisted since early 2025. Both locations have been focal points of repeated confrontations between government forces and Al-Shabab, as each side attempts to assert control over the strategic territory.

Source Hiiraan online

Monday 16,June ,2025 {HMC} The Somali National Army (SNA), with support from local militia forces, killed several Al-Shabab militants and seized a significant cache of weapons during a planned military operation in the Lower Shabelle region, officials confirmed Sunday.

Speaking to the media, State Minister for Defense MP Omar Ali Abdi stated that the offensive was part of a broader national effort to dismantle Al-Shabab strongholds and disrupt the group’s operations in key regions.

“This operation targeted specific hideouts in Lower Shabelle where Al-Shabab fighters were regrouping. It is part of our ongoing campaign to eliminate terrorist elements from Somali territory,” the minister said.

The Ministry of Defense praised the Somali National Army troops and allied African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) forces. In particular, the ministry highlighted their role in the ongoing “Operation Silent Storm”, which aims to liberate regions under Al-Shabab control and restore government authority.

Heavy clashes were reported in the Sabib and Anole areas, where intense fighting has persisted since early 2025. Both locations have been focal points of repeated confrontations between government forces and Al-Shabab, as each side attempts to assert control over the strategic territory.