August 27, 2013 | Morning Headlines.

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Collective efforts essential for progress as Somalia faces critical moment – UN envoy

26 Aug- Source: UN News Centre- 523 words

The top United Nations envoy in Somalia today stressed that collective and coordinated efforts from the Government as well as regional and international organizations are needed to achieve progress in the east African country. “Progress is being made in Somalia, but the goals are reversible if we do not maintain and increase our collective efforts,” the Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Somalia, Nicholas Kay said at the 392nd meeting of the African Union Peace and Security Council in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. “To fail to do this would have serious consequence in and beyond Somalia. Let us not run that risk.”

Key Headlines

Speaker Jawari sets date for the resuming of parliament session (Radio Dalsan)
Somali president meets US envoy for Somalia (Radio Mogadishu/SNTV)
Puntland leader goes out on trip to Kenya (Garowe Online)
Delegates led by the deputy president of Galmudug arrives in Mogadishu
(Radio Mustaqbal)
Polio shots a must for Somali Kenyan Hajis (Arab News)
Chinese vice premier meets Somali counterpart (Xinhua)

SOMALI MEDIA

Speaker Jawari sets date for the resuming of parliament session

26 Aug- Source: Radio Dalsan- 99 words

The speaker of Somalia Federal Parliament Mohamed Osman Jawari has announced that the third session of the Federal Parliament of Somalia will commence on September 10th. “With the consultations of the permanent committees of the Federal Parliament of Somalia we have chosen to open the third session of the parliament on September 10th, changing the previous date of September 2nd”, a statement from the speaker’s office said. The speaker’s statement also noted that some of the legislators were still working as they are currently paying visits in their constituencies.

Somali president meets US envoy for Somalia

26 Aug- Source: Radio Bar-kulan/Radio Mogadishu/SNTV- 114 words

Somali president Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has met the newly appointed US ambassador for Somalia James P. McAnulty in Mogadishu’s presidential palace, according to the president’s spokesman Eng. Yirisow Speaking to Bar-Kulan, spokesman of the Somali president Abdirahman Omar Osman (Yarisow) stated that the Somali president and US ambassador discussed a wide range of issues including the bilateral relations between the two countries. During the meeting, President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud briefed the envoy about the ongoing talks in Addis Ababa between the Somali Federal government and the Jubbaland administration, the government’s ambitions of hosting national conference in Mogadishu,and the country’s security situation. Ambassador McAnulty also stated that this government will fully support the government of Somalia.

Puntland leader goes out on trip to Kenya

26 Aug- Source: Garowe Online- 184 words

A delegation led by the President of Somalia’s Puntland Government Abdirahman Mohamed Farole went out on a trip to the Kenyan capital of Nairobi on Monday, Garowe Online reports. President Farole’s delegation including Interior Minister Gen. Abdullahi Ahmed Jama Ilkajir, Health Minister Dr. Ali Abdullahi Warsame, Security Minister Gen. Khalif Isse Mudan and Presidential officials flew from Garowe International Airport. Speaking to the media shortly before jetting off to Nairobi, President Farole noted that his delegation will attend an EU-organized conference on Somalia which is due to take place in Nairobi in the coming days.

Delegates led by the deputy president of Galmudug arrives in Mogadishu

26 Aug- Source: Radio Mustaqbal- 130 words
Delegates led by the deputy president of Gal-Mudug regional authority H.E Abdisamad Nor Guleid arrived in Mogadishu on Monday. The deputy president said they delegates will have a meeting with humanitarian agencies in Mogadishu. The meeting will be about completing deals for Galmudug and Humanitarian organizations in Mogadishu. The arrival of the delegates in Mogadishu follows a visit by members of the federal government in Galkacyo to have talks with Galmudug regional authorities about the new deal. Galmudug and federal government also discussed in Galkacyo a meeting that will take place on September 16th in Brussels.

Hiiraan regional administration begin to mediate between rival clan militias

26 Aug- Source: Radio Dalsan- 121 words

Hiiraan regional administration of Somalia’s federal government said it has begun to mediate between two rival clan militias battling in the region. More than 10 people were killed in the past three days after two rival clan militias battling for land fought in Deef area near Beledweyn town, the region’s capital. The regional administration said they have won the fight to remove the rival militias battling in the area and that they were preparing direct talks between the two sides. The situation in the area is reportedly calm after a mediation committee from Beledweyn regional administration reached the area where the two rival clan militias batted three days ago.

REGIONAL MEDIA

Polio shots a must for Somali, Kenyan Hajis

26 Aug- Source: Arab News- 306 words

The Ministry of Health has made it mandatory for all Haj pilgrims coming from Somalia and Kenya to produce polio vaccination certificates upon arrival in the Kingdom following the outbreak of an epidemic in the two countries. A ministry official told Arab News on Sunday that the decision was taken after monitoring the polio outbreak situation in the two countries.

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA

Collective efforts essential for progress as Somalia faces critical moment – UN envoy

26 Aug- Source: UN News Centre- 523 words

Chinese vice premier meets Somali counterpart

26 Aug- Source: Xinhua-145 words

Chinese Vice Premier Wang Yang met with Somali Deputy PrimeMinister and Foreign Minister Fowsia Yusuf Haji Adan here on Monday. During the meeting, Wang hailed the traditional friendship between the two countries andreaffirmed China’s support for Somalia’s peace process. China stands ready to increase high-level interactions, resume and expand practicalcooperation in various areas with Somalia, and help the African country to achieve lastingpeace and stability, Wang said.

Militants clash with Somali troops, Kenyan forces in multiple battles

26 Aug- Source: UPI- 109 words

Al-Shabaab insurgents battled Somali government troop and Kenyan forces in separate battles in southern Somalia, officials said. In a clash early Monday, al-Shabaab militants attacked a government base at Qura’s Jome in the Bakool region of southwestern Somalia, the Shabelle Media Network reported. Al-Shabaab gained control of the town near the Ethiopian border after several hours of fighting. Insurgents attacked Kenyan troops and members of the paramilitary Raskamboni group Sunday night at the airport in Kismayo. A few minutes later, al-Shabaab attacked another military base at Kismayo University. No casualty figures from any of the clashes have been released.

SOCIAL MEDIA

CULTURE / OPINION / EDITORIAL / ANALYSIS / BLOGS/ DISCUSSION BOARDS
“It is understandable for women interested in marriage to seek out men with the financial means to fulfil their wishes and provide for a family, said Anab Yasin, 25, a Hamar Weyne district resident who studied management and business at SIMAD University.”

Returning diaspora men transform Mogadishu wedding industry

23 Aug- Source: Sabahi Online- 665 words

Somali men from the diaspora are spending big money on bridal dowries and other wedding costs as they take advantage of safer conditions in Mogadishu to get married.

These grooms-to-be are shelling out tens of thousands of dollars to tie the knot. Some are paying thousands of dollars for wedding parties at newly constructed 24-hour service hotels.

Faisal Omar, 35, spent 15 years in England as a taxi driver, but returned to Mogadishu in July and spent $20,000 on his wedding on August 5th.

“I am happy I was able to get married in my country while it is peaceful, regardless of the amount of money I spent,” he told Sabahi. “On my wedding night, I felt as though the ceremony took place in London because I was completely satisfied with the hotel it took place in and how the guests took part in my joyous wedding.”