Thursday 12 June 2025 {HMC} – Somalia marked a significant milestone as the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, H.E. Abdisalam Abdi Ali (Dhaay), inaugurated the Somali Pavilion at the 4th China-Africa Trade and Economic Expo in Changsha, Hunan Province.

This marks the first formal participation of Somali enterprises in the Expo, offering a platform to present a diverse range of products, including natural resins like frankincense and myrrh, as well as value-added exports such as canned tuna and dried lemons.

The Somali Pavilion has attracted strong interest from Chinese investors, African delegations, and international buyers, highlighting the country’s growing trade potential and cultural richness.

The involvement of Somali entrepreneurs from across the country reflects a coordinated effort to reintroduce Somalia to global markets through trade and quality production.

Minister Abdisalam emphasized the significance of this development during the opening ceremony, stating:

“This moment is a powerful reminder of where we are headed as a country. Somali businesspeople from every region are here today, not only to display our products, but to share our journey of resilience, enterprise, and hope.”

He also acknowledged the role of the Somali Embassy in China in facilitating Somalia’s participation and supporting local businesses in entering new markets.

Somalia’s presence at the Expo aligns with its broader strategic goal of expanding trade partnerships, increasing exports, and attracting investment in key sectors including agriculture, fisheries, and traditional medicine.

The initiative forms part of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), reinforcing the country’s commitment to leveraging economic diplomacy for national development.

Thursday 12 June 2025 {HMC} An Air India passenger plane bound for London Gatwick crashed shortly after taking off in Ahmedabad on Thursday, leaving at least 204 people dead.

The flight was carrying 242 passengers and crew, including 53 British nationals, when it came down in the western Indian city.

Ahmedabad’s police chief told the BBC that 204 bodies had been recovered, while 41 people were being treated for injuries.

GS Malik earlier told news agencies there appeared to be no survivors from the crash, and that some local people would also have died given where the plane came down.

He later said one passenger survived the crash, with Indian media reporting that it was a British national.

When and where did the plane crash?

Air India flight AI171 left Ahmedabad’s Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport at 13:39 local time (08:09 GMT), Air India said.

It was scheduled to land at London Gatwick at 18:25 BST.

The plane crashed on departure from Ahmedabad – where all operations have since been suspended.

According to flight tracking website FlightRadar24, the signal from the aircraft was lost “less than a minute after take-off”.

Flight tracking data ends with the plane at an altitude of 625ft (190m).

The plane gave a mayday call to air traffic control, India’s aviation regulator said. No response was given by the aircraft after that.

It crashed into a residential area called Meghani Nagar. Police told ANI news agency that it had crashed into a doctors’ hostel.

A photograph taken after the crash shows abandoned tables and plates of food in the canteen of the hostel. At the far end of the room, people have gathered to inspect a huge hole in the wall apparently caused by the impact of the plane.

One woman at the scene told ANI that her son jumped from the second floor of the hostel, sustaining injuries, when the plane crashed there.

Verified footage taken in central Ahmedabad showed huge plumes of black smoke in the sky.

The BBC’s Roxy Gagdekar said people near the scene were running to “save as many lives as possible”.

He said emergency services were involved in a rescue operation and trying to extinguish a fire, and described seeing bodies being taken from the area.

Indian foreign ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal told a press briefing that “we have lost a lot of people”.

Ahmedabad’s police chief GS Malik told the BBC 204 people had died and 41 were injured.

It is not known if those 204 were all on the plane, or were on the ground when the plane crashed.

He initially said there appeared to be “no survivors” from the crash and “some locals” would have died given where the plane came down. Malik later said one person had survived, with that person reported to be a British national.

Who was on board?
There were 242 passengers and crew members on board, according to Air India.

Among the passengers were 53 British nationals, 169 Indian nationals, one Canadian national and seven Portuguese nationals.

The aircraft – a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner – had a total of 256 seats on board.

The British man who reportedly survived has been named as Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, who was sitting in seat 11A.

He was quoted by Indian media as saying: “Thirty seconds after take-off, there was a loud noise and then the plane crashed. It all happened so quickly.”

The MP for Leicester East, Shivani Raja, told BBC News she understood there were a “handful of Leicester residents who were on board” but stressed she was still waiting for “official reports” to confirm the news.

She said her community, which has a high population of British-Gujaratis, were “all really horrified and devastated” by the crash.

An “emergency centre has been activated” and a support team put in place for families seeking information, Air India’s chairman Natarajan Chandrasekaran said.

Gatwick Airport said a reception centre for relatives of passengers was being set up, where information would be provided, and that it was liaising closely with Air India.

It said on X: “British nationals who require consular assistance or have concerns about friends or family should call 0207 008 5000.”

The aircraft involved was a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, and the Air India crash is the first time it has come down like this.

The model was launched 14 years ago. Just six weeks ago, Boeing lauded the fact that it had reached the milestone of carrying one billion passengers.

Air India operates a fleet of more than 190 planes including 58 Boeing aircraft, according to its website.

In a statement, Boeing said: “We are in contact with Air India regarding Flight 171 and stand ready to support them. Our thoughts are with the passengers, crew, first responders and all affected.”

Did wing flaps play a role in causing crash?

Aviation experts have told the BBC the position of the plane’s wing flaps as it took off may have caused a problem for the plane.

One video verified by the BBC shows the plane descending before a large explosion occurs as it hits the ground.

“When I’m looking at this,” aviation analyst Geoffrey Thomas said, “the undercarriage is still down but the flaps have been retracted.”

Another expert, Terry Tozer, said: “It’s very hard to say from the video for sure, it doesn’t look as if the flaps are extended and that would be a perfectly obvious explanation for an aircraft not completing its take-off correctly.”

“That would point to potential human error if flaps aren’t set correctly,” said Marco Chan, a former pilot and a senior lecturer at Buckinghamshire New University, “but the resolution of the video is too low to confirm that.”

What have the airline and authorities said?

Air India confirmed on X that the flight was “involved in an accident today after take-off”.

It said it was fully co-operating with authorities investigating the crash and would provide further updates and has set up a dedicated passenger hotline to provide further information: 1800 5691 444

A spokesperson for Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport said all operations had been suspended until further notice, and they advised passengers to check with their airline before travelling to the airport.

Tata Group, which owns Air India, has said it will give 1 crore rupees – the equivalent of around £86,000 – to the families of each person killed in the crash.

The chief executive of Air India, Campbell Wilson, described his “deep sorrow” following the incident.

“This is a difficult day for all of us at Air India and our efforts now are focused entirely on the needs of our passengers, crew members, their families and loved ones,” he said in a video statement.

India’s aviation minister said he had directed “all aviation and emergency response agencies to take swift and coordinated action”.

Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjaparu added on X: “Rescue teams have been mobilised, and all efforts are being made to ensure medical aid and relief support are being rushed to the site.”

Officials have been instructed to carry out “immediate rescue and relief operations” and to make arrangements on a “war footing,” the chief minister of Gujarat said.

How have India and the UK reacted?

India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he was “stunned and saddened” by the crash.

“It is heartbreaking beyond words,” he said in a statement on X, adding he had been in touch with officials assisting those affected.

UK Prime Minster Sir Keir Starmer said the scenes emerging from Ahmedabad were “devastating”.

“I am being kept updated as the situation develops, and my thoughts are with the passengers and their families at this deeply distressing time,” he said.

Foreign Secretary David Lammy said the UK was working with local authorities in India to “urgently establish the facts” and provide support.

The King said he and Queen Camilla were “desperately shocked by the terrible events in Ahmedabad this morning” and extended his sympathy to those affected.

He said in a statement: “I would like to pay a particular tribute to the heroic efforts of the emergency services and all those providing help and support at this most heartbreaking and traumatic time.”

SOURCE BBC

Thursday 12 June 2025 {HMC} A London-bound Air India plane carrying 242 people crashes shortly after take-off in Ahmedabad, western India

The local police chief tells the BBC that 204 bodies have been recovered – it’s not known how many of those victims were on the plane, or were on the ground when the plane crashed

One passenger has survived, a local police chief says, with Indian media reporting he is British

Vishwash Kumar Ramesh – who shared a picture of his boarding pass with reporters – says: “Thirty seconds after take-off, there was a loud noise and then the plane crashed. It all happened so quickly”

The BBC has spoken to a relative of Vishwash Kumar Ramesh in Leicester – he says they are still awaiting news on another family member who was on board

There were 169 Indian nationals, 53 Britons, seven Portuguese nationals and one Canadian on the flight, Air India says

The plane crashed into accommodation used by doctors – one woman describes how her son survived by jumping from the second floor window

Thursday 12 june 2025 {HMC} A man survived the Air India crash that killed at least 200 people, a police chief has told an Indian news agency.

Ahmedabad Police Commissioner GS Malik told ANI there was one survivor who was in seat 11A on the London-bound Boeing 787-8 flight.

The flight manifest shared by authorities said the passenger in that seat was British national Vishwash Kumar Ramesh.

Indian media said they had spoken to Mr Ramesh in hospital and reported him saying: “Thirty seconds after take-off, there was a loud noise and then the plane crashed. It all happened so quickly.”

Indian media said he shared his boarding pass which showed his name and seat number.

Commissioner Malik told ANI the survivor “has been in the hospital and is under treatment”.

There were 169 Indian nationals, 53 Britons, seven Portuguese nationals and one Canadian on the Gatwick Airport-bound flight, Air India said.

The plane crashed into accommodation used by doctors less than a minute after take-off.

In a statement the King and Queen said they were “desperately shocked by the terrible events in Ahmedabad this morning”.

“Our special prayers and deepest possible sympathy are with the families and friends of all those affected by this appallingly tragic incident across so many nations, as they await news of their loved ones,” the statement added.

Meanwhile, UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy has arranged crisis teams in India and the UK.

He told the Commons: “We know that British nationals were on board and I can confirm that the FCDO (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) is working urgently with local authorities to support British nationals and their families, and has stood up a crisis team in both Delhi and in London.”

SOURCE BBC

Thursday 12 june 2025 {HMC} At least 49 people, including several schoolchildren, have been killed in the floods that have swept through South Africa’s Eastern Cape province as torrential rain and snow have hit parts of the country.

“The numbers are just escalating hour after hour. The situation is so bad on the ground,” provincial premier Oscar Mabuyane said.

Among the bodies recovered are those of four children, a driver and a conductor who were on a bus that was carried away in flood waters as it was crossing a bridge in the town of Mthatha on Tuesday morning.

Mabuyane said rescue efforts were continuing to find four more children who had been in the vehicle that has since been found on a riverbank with no-one inside.

Earlier, an official had told private TV station Newzroom Afrika that eight bodies, including that of the bus driver, had been found.

Public broadcaster SABC reported that three children were rescued alive on Tuesday, found clinging to trees.

It is now known that there were 13 people on the bus, 11 of them schoolchildren.

On Wednesday morning, Mabuyane visited the scene to witness rescue efforts, and to meet affected communities in Decoligny, a village outside Mthatha.

Hundreds of residents had been left displaced, many spending the night in makeshift shelters, he said.

Mabuyane praised those who were assisting officials in locating the missing and for alerting their neighbours when the floods began.

Officials said 58 schools in Eastern Cape had been affected across three districts: OR Tambo, Amathole and Alfred Nzo.

“For all these years that I’ve lived, I’ve never seen something like this,” Mabuyane said.

In neighbouring KwaZulu-Natal, 68 schools across nine districts have been damaged but no fatalities have been recorded.

The heavy snow, rains and gale force winds have also left nearly 500,000 homes without electricity since Tuesday – and state-owned power provider Eskom says efforts are being made to restore connections.

South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa has offered his condolences to the families of those who died as he urged citizens to “display caution, care and cooperation as the worst impacts of winter weather take effect across the country”.

The Eastern Cape – the birthplace of anti-apartheid icon Nelson Mandela – has been worst-affected by the icy conditions, along with KwaZulu-Natal province.

The bad weather has forced the closure of some major roads in the two provinces to avoid further casualties.

SOURCE BBC

Thursday 12 june 2025 {HMC} Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi hosted Angolan President Joao Manuel Goncalves Lourenco’s on a recent state visit to India.

Angolan President Joao Manuel Goncalves Lourenco’s recent state visit to India underscored a mutual desire for stronger economic ties, with India recommitting itself to deepening strategic and economic engagement with the African Union.

Lourenco’s visit – which took place between May 2 and 4 – was his first ever bilateral State Visit to India and took place 38 years after the last visit by the President of Angola to India, coming as India and Angola are celebrating the 40th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations.

Both countries have their differences – they are geographically far apart and linguistically diverse but both countries are connected by historical threads of post-colonial solidarity, economic complementarity, and growing strategic convergence.

Angola is rich in oil and minerals while India has long-standing relations with Angola’s neighbours, such as Mozambique and Namibia and the general consensus is that bilateral relations with Angola remained underdeveloped for much of the past two decades.

Bilateral trade between the two countries has been growing and reached US$ 4.192 billion during 2023/2024 with their development partnership, capacity-building cooperation and defence relationships, expanding in recent years. Both countries also support each other’s candidature at various multilateral forums, including in the United Nations.

In the meeting earlier in May, both countries agreed to expand cooperation in oil exploration, refining, and energy infrastructure development. India also expressed a keen interest in participating in Angola’s diamond sector, critical minerals exploration, and fertiliser production.

During his visit to Johannesburg in July, 2018 to attend the BRICS Summit, Lourenco met India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi and discussed ways to enhance trade and investment between the two countries and also to deepen cooperation in sectors like energy, agriculture, food processing and pharmaceuticals.

The visit saw active participation from business leaders, with targeted meetings aimed at enhancing trade, investments, and joint ventures. The Angolan delegation included key ministers who arrived in India ahead of the president to facilitate focused bilateral talks, reflecting the seriousness with which Angola approached the visit.

Another cornerstone of the visit was the deepening of defence ties. India approved a $200 million Dollar line of credit for Angola to support its defence modernisation efforts. Discussions included the supply of military equipment, joint defence production, training for Angolan military personnel, and maintenance of existing Russian platforms. Angola’s openness to Indian defence cooperation is a notable shift, signifying trust and alignment on strategic interests.

President Lourenço also signed a framework agreement for the country’s accession into the International Solar Alliance (ISA) during the visit. The agreement will see the country join the intergovernmental organisation, which seeks to increase the deployment of solar energy technologies as a means for enhancing energy access and security worldwide.

India also showcased its leadership in digital and technological domains during the visit. Offers to share expertise in digital public infrastructure, space technology, and e-governance were welcomed by the Angolan side. A youth exchange programme was proposed to strengthen people-to-people contacts and foster cultural understanding between the two nations.

The ceremonial welcome accorded to President Lourenço at Rashtrapati Bhavan and delegation-level talks with Prime Minister Modi underscored the high-level nature of this engagement. A business forum brought together investors and stakeholders from both sides, focusing on oil, gas, mining, agriculture, and infrastructure.

Importantly, Angola currently holds the rotating chair of the African Union (AU). In a significant diplomatic signal, India reinstated the tradition of inviting the AU Chair for a state visit with Angola’s position as AU Chair adding weight to its call for an early convening of the fourth India-Africa Forum Summit (IAFS-IV).

While addressing a joint press briefing with President Lourenço, Prime Minister Modi said, “India and the African Union are partners in progress and pillars of the Global South. Under Angola’s presidency, the strength of India and the African Union’s partnership will strengthen further. In the last 10 years, India has gained speed in cooperation with African nations. Trade has reached almost USD 100 billion. We’ve improved defence cooperation and maritime security. Last month, India and Africa had their first naval maritime exercise.”

Lourenço said, “Both our nations combined can help establish a significantly expanded foundation for business opportunities.”

“I have come to India, to convey a message of admiration and friendship that will hold with your country. I have also come to India with the intention of showcasing a new vision for relations between our countries.”

Modi, described the visit as “historic” and said it was not only giving new direction to India-Angola relations but also strengthening India-Africa ties.

“India stood firmly with Angola during its struggle for independence. Today, we continue to build on that foundation of friendship,” Modi said during a joint press statement.

President Lourenço’s visit to India has ushered in a new era of strategic partnership between the two countries, highlighting mutual interests. While the relationship had previously been transactional and narrow, this visit has opened doors for a multidimensional partnership built on mutual respect, strategic alignment and shared developmental goals.

* Dr Govender is an academic and a keen observer of issues related to international relations.

** The views expressed do not necessarily reflect the views of IOL or Independent Media.