July 4, 2013 | Morning Headlines.

Main Story

5 killed, 14 others wounded in Galkacyo skirmishes

03 Jul- Source: Radio Bar-kulan/Radio Shabelle- 108 words

According to medical staff, at least 5 people have been killed, 14 others wounded in skirmishes that sparked in northern of Galkacyo, the capital Mudug in central Somalia. Reports say that Puntland security forces confronted protests against President Abdirahman Farole’s ruling party of Horseed. The dead and wounded include civilians and armed militias. Mohamud Yusuf Ali Gagab, who is among politicians against multi-party system in Puntland has accused the ruling party led by president Abdirahman Sheikh Mohamud Mohamud Farole of being behind the skirmishes. These incidents occur as president Farole return to administration capital Garowe from tour to various countries including Kenya, some Arab countries and Australia.

Key Headlines

5 killed 14 others wounded in Galkacyo skirmishes (Radio Bar-kulan)
Somaliland: Hargeisa Regional Court Sentences Two Journalists (Somaliland Informer)
Britain bans herbal drug khat (Star (Kenya)
Qat ban divides opinion among UK’s Somali community (Guardian )
President Farole commends Puntland elections AMISOM role in Kismayo (Garowe Online)
Moves to stamp out polio outbreak in Somalia and the horn of Africa (SOS)

SOMALI MEDIA

5 killed, 14 others wounded in Galkacyo skirmishes

03 Jul- Source: Radio Bar-kulan/Radio Shabelle- 108 words

President Farole commends Puntland elections, AMISOM role in Kismayo

03 Jul- Source: Garowe Online/ Universal TV- 855 words

The president of Somalia’s Puntland government Dr. Abdirahman Mohamed Farole returned to the Puntland capital of Garowe on Wednesday, after a month-long trip to Kenya, Australia, and the United Arab Emirates. President Farole’s delegation, including Interior Minister Gen. Abdullahi Ahmed Jama Ilkajir, returned to Garowe and were received at the airport by Vice President Abdisamad Ali Shire, Deputy Parliament Speaker Salad Hared, Cabinet ministers and parliamentarians, civil society, and the public. Addressing the media at Puntland State House in Garowe, President Farole expressed his joy in returning home to Puntland and thanked the people who welcomed his delegation at Garowe airport.

Somaliland: Hargeisa Regional Court Sentences Two Journalists

03 Jul- Source: Somaliland Informer- 250 words

Hargeisa Regional Court convicted the editor and the manager of Hubaal newspaper. The judge pronounced his verdict today, 3rd July 2013. He sentenced to Hussein Hassan Abdillahi, the editor, 2 years of imprisonment and fine while Mohamed Ahmed Jama, the manager, was sentenced to 1 year of imprisonment and fine. The Court judgment came after preliminary suspension of the newspaper followed by trial. The lawyer of the defendants told HRC that they are considering appealing to the higher court. But, the lawyer accused the Court that it has been manipulated by the government.

REGIONAL MEDIA

Britain bans herbal drug khat

03 Jul- Source: Capital News/Star (Kenya)- 326 words

British Home Secretary Theresa May on Wednesday announced a ban on the herbal stimulant khat, going against the advice of her own experts who said such a move was disproportionate.
Khat is to be classified as a Class C drug alongside ketamine and benzodiazepines, supply and production of which is punishable by up to 14 years in jail. It is predominantly used by immigrants from East Africa, where its consumption is widespread. In Europe it is primarily used in social occasions by immigrants from Somalia, Ethiopia, Yemen and Kenya, although the ACMD suggested its use was declining in Britain.

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA

Moves to stamp out polio outbreak in Somalia and the horn of Africa

03 Jul- Source: SOS- 378 words

As the worldwide community continues the battle to eradicate polio, the former prime minister of Canada calls for all remaining obstacles to be tackled with energy and commitment. Paul Martin, the former prime minister of Canada, has said that the worldwide campaign to eradicate polio is “at a critical juncture”. His remarks were made in a recent Guardian article following the G8 summit, where the topic of global health was low on the agenda. Mr Martin survived polio as a child (as did his father), so he describes the issue as one which is “close to my heart”.

Qat ban divides opinion among UK’s Somali community

03 Jul- Source: Guardian 1003 words

The delivery trucks arrive with heavy loads and jostle for room on the grit and mud as men stand around or sit on forklifts, some chatting, some smoking, until the time comes to unload the boxes and stack them in rough rows in the warehouse. The early morning lorries brought familiar foods to this depot in Southall, west London. There are aubergines, okra, and beans from Ghana. Other containers held herbs, or more exotic items, labelled jackfruit and breadfruit. But later a more controversial haul arrives: a load of qat that has just cleared customs at nearby Heathrow airport. Thousands of boxes of the green, stringy plant are brought here each week for distribution across the UK. The plant goes to small retailers who sell it from vegetable shops, or to “marfashes”, the places where mostly men, and many Somali, meet to chew and enjoy its mildly intoxicating effects.

SOCIAL MEDIA

CULTURE / OPINION / EDITORIAL / ANALYSIS / BLOGS/ DISCUSSION BOARDS
“Despite the hardline al Shabaab group no longer controlling the Somali capital and imposing its own version of Sharia law, many women still wear the face veil. The only place their faces are visible is on their Facebook profiles. Even then, they’re a step ahead in concealing their real identity thanks to photo-editing software.”

Facebook courting, Mogadishu-style

03 July- Source: Voices of Africa Blog-922 Words

A tall figure in a black hijab and face veil strides confidently towards 20-year-old Ahmed Noor’s computer terminal. Only her dark brown eyes and eyelashes, thick with mascara, are visible. On reaching Noor, she lifts her hijab to reveal manicured nails and gold rings on her fingers. In her hand she’s holding a folded white piece of paper. With a wink she passes it Noor and walks off into the busy street outside. Noor unfolds the paper. There’s a Facebook profile link and an email address written on it. It’s now up to him to take the next step. This is post civil-war courting, Mogadishu style.