Wednesday 11, June ,2025 {HMC}  Several U.S. cities braced for protests on Wednesday against President Donald Trump’s sweeping immigration raids, as parts of the country’s second largest city Los Angeles spent the night under curfew in an effort to quell five days of unrest.

The Governor of Texas, Republican Greg Abbott, said he will deploy the National Guard this week, ahead of planned protests. Protesters and police in Austin clashed on Monday.

Wednesday 11, June 2025 {HMC} Five Qatar-based Indians were killed in a road accident in central Kenya on Monday evening as the bus they were travelling in overturned during a holiday trip. Several others are seriously injured and under treatment at various hospitals in Kenya, sources said.

The deceased have been identified as Geetha Shoji Issac (58), Riya Ann (41), and her daughter Tyra Rodrigues (8), Jasna Kuttikkattuchalil (30) and Roohie Mehrin (18 months old) – all natives of various places in Kerala.

Indian embassy in Qatar confirmed in social media post that a group of 28 Indians from Qatar were involved in the road accident killing five Indian nationals and injuring several others.

The embassy also stated that they are in touch with Indian Cultural Centre and Indian Community Benevolent Forum and other community organisations to coordinate the efforts to provide necessary assistance for those affected. The embassy can be contacted on 55097295.

Geetha Shoji Isaac (58) who is from Thiruvalla in Kerala, was a long time senior teacher at HOPE Qatar Centre for Persons with Disabilities.

Sources said that some of the injured are critical and have been receiving treatment at some of the hospitals in the local town while some of them have already been moved to hospitals in Nairobi.

Gulf Times contacted the tour operator from Qatar who had arranged the trip to Kenya. However, they declined to comment.

According to various news agencies, the accident took place in central Kenya as the bus was ferrying the tourists from Nakuru County to Nyahururu Thomson Falls in Laikipia County.

According to local eye witnesses the driver lost control of the bus which veered off the road and rolled and landed in a ditch in the Gichaka area, some 41km south of Nyahururu Town.

The Indian embassy in Qatar further said that the consular team in Kenyan High Commission is on the ground and is in close touch with the local authorities to extend all the necessary assistance and support The team in Kenya can be reached at +254 734916532.

Community leaders said that all the necessary assistance and arrangements are being coordinated with authorities here in Qatar as well as in Nairobi. Since the incident took place at a far off place it has been difficult to get information on time. However, the Indian High Commission in Nairobi is extending all the possible support in the efforts to assist the affected and the their families.

Wednesday 11, June ,2025 {HMC}   Kenya has held a meeting with the government of Somalia on the sidelines of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) to deepen bilateral engagement between the two countries.

In a statement on Tuesday, June 10, 2025, Prime Cabinet Secretary and Cabinet Secretary for Foreign and Diaspora Affairs Musalia Mudavadi announced that he had convened a meeting with his Somali counterpart, Abdisalam Dhaay, in China.

He stated that the two countries agreed to fast-track Joint Cooperation Committee (JCC) meetings to finalise the signing of agreements to enhance collaboration across various sectors.

“While attending the FOCAC Ministers’ Summit, I held bilateral discussions with H.E. Abdisalam Dhaay, Somalia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs. “We agreed to expedite the convening of Joint Cooperation Committee (JCC) meetings to finalise key Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) aimed at strengthening collaboration across various sectors,” he stated.

Speaking during the meeting, Dhaay lauded the Kenyan government for its support in advancing peace and stability by deploying security personnel to Somalia.

“H.E. Ali expressed Somalia’s deep appreciation for Kenya’s steadfast support over the past 25 years, particularly in advancing peace and stability through the deployment of security personnel under the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS),” read the statement in part.

Those present during the meeting include Kenya’s Ambassador to China, Ambassador Willy Bett; Somalia’s Ambassador to China, Hodan Osman Abdi; Ambassador Jane Major, Director of Asian Affairs at Kenya’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs; and her Somali counterpart, Said Jama Mire, Director-General of Asian Affairs at Somalia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Somaliland’s Mission office
This comes after the President of the Republic of Somaliland, Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi (Irro), opened the country’s mission office in Nairobi on Thursday, May 29, 2025.

The office was opened barely two days after the Kenyan government halted the planned opening of the Somaliland Liaison Office, citing its recognition of the Federal Government of Somalia.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a directive stating that the Liaison Office could not be upgraded to a diplomatic mission, reinforcing its commitment to Somalia’s territorial integrity.

“The Ministry further notes with concern that to the extent the event of May 27, 2025, has not been approved by this Ministry, its investiture of the status of a Diplomatic Office does not enjoy the imprimatur of the Republic of Kenya and cannot be allowed to proceed,” a statement issued on Monday evening read in part.

Despite this setback, Somaliland proceeded with the launch of the mission office.

Somaliland’s Mission in Nairobi serves as the country’s representation office in Kenya, with key roles including trade and investment, consular services, political engagement, and community support.

On the sidelines, Somaliland’s president held meetings with various top officials in the country, including former Prime Minister Raila Odinga and Speaker of the National Assembly Moses Masika Wetang’ula.

Wednesday 11, June ,2025 {HMC}  North Korea stated on Tuesday that it has no interest in being included or excluded from the US list of countries banned from its domestic travel, state media reported.

While Pyongyang was not included on the list, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) published a response days after US President Donald Trump issued a travel ban on 12 countries, including Afghanistan, Myanmar, Haiti, Iran, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen.

Trump justified his move, which went into effect on Monday, by citing protection from “foreign terrorists” and security threats.

A news report in March suggested that North Korea and Russia were also among the countries considered for the travel ban, but both were omitted from the final list.

The KCNA reported that North Korea’s omission from the list may reflect the US’ “carrot” approach toward Pyongyang to open the door to resuming dialogue.

Pyongyang added that only the US could explain why North Korea was not included on the list, whether for technical or political reasons, but “one obvious fact is that we are not in the least interested in the matter of entry into the US.”

Even if the present US administration has not placed North Korea intentionally on the list of countries subject to an entry ban, Pyongyang is unconcerned and has no reason to rejoice, the KCNA reported.