Russia-Ukraine war: ‘Millions’ could die globally from wheat shortage, Egypt warns  Middle East Eye

“russia ukraine” – Google News

Somalia’s new president is starting his four-year term facing familiar top issues such as the country’s political divide and rising attacks by al-Qaida-linked insurgent group al-Shabab.

As he settles into office, President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud faces a politically divided nation, high public expectations and the specter of al-Shabab, which has remained a potent threat since it emerged in 2007. 

Fawzia Yusuf, a former deputy prime minister who ran for president in the just concluded elections, said the new president has the uphill task of constituting a competent government given the many competing interests. 

“Since our system is currently based on tribal 4.5, people are expecting him to choose people from different tribes,” she said. “So, one of the challenges is putting together a very strong Cabinet, which are technocrats which are not based on tribal but on meritocracy.” 

The distribution of power in Somalia is on a clan-based system locally known as the 4.5 system, where majority clans are allocated majority seats in parliament while the smaller clans, grouped together, get the remainder. 

In the coming days, the president is expected to name a new prime minister who will need parliamentary approval before proceeding to name a Cabinet.

Besides tackling the political question, Mohamud must contend with the security threats posed by militant group al-Shabab. 

According to Abdurahman Sheikh Azhari, the director of the Mogadishu-based Center for Analysis and Strategic Studies, the new president, like his predecessor, doesn’t have much leeway in dealing with al-Shabab.

“Of course, al-Shabab’s fighting, and attacks will continue as long as they are able or capable of carrying out attacks,” he said. Azhari added he thinks the opportunities for the president are slim because al-Shabab is a terrorist organization, an international organization, and a regional organization, and this means they will not surrender easily.

Azhari argued that despite the lack of incentive from al-Shabab to negotiate due to its successful attacks in recent months, dialogue is still a possible option.

“I think the government, with the help of international and regional partners, can negotiate indirectly with sections of the al-Shabab leadership who may want to surrender or oppose the organization,” he said.

Yusuf, too, shares a similar view that the new president may need to consider taking a different approach by opening lines of communication with the militant group.

“Another challenge, as I said, is the security,” he said. “The security is a major problem. Al-Shabab is a major problem, and their demand is to get rid of the foreign forces, in other words, the ATMIS or troops coming from the contributing countries. So, dealing with them is not an easy matter. Never in the world has a rebellion or terrorist groups won, but they still weaken any administration. So, I think the best thing he can do is to start negotiating with them and deal with the hard-core groups.”

By ATMIS, Yusuf was referring to the U.N.-authorized African Union Transition Mission in Somalia. Its mandate includes reducing the threat posed by al-Shabab and conducting a phased handover of security responsibilities to Somalia. ATMIS is expected to end its mission in 2024.

Having had the backing of most opposition candidates during the May 15 vote, Mohamud now has to avoid a fallout while ensuring he puts in place a competent team to deliver his election promises.

Analysts say the new leader could take advantage of the planned return of U.S. forces to the country to bolster the war against al-Shabab and strengthen the national army. For now, the country is waiting to see who Mohamud will pick as prime minister.

Harun Maruf and Hussein Hassan Dhaqane contributed to this report.

Voice of America

A photo taken by Iranian state media is said to show the body of Col. Sayad Khodayee of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards Corps inside the car where he was shot dead outsided his Tehran home on Sunday.

NYT > World > Europe

Mobile Satellite Services Market demand and future scope with Russia-Ukraine Crisis Impact Analysis –Ericsson, Globalstar, Inmarsat Holdings, Iridium Communications, Orbcomm, Echostar Corporation, Intelsat General Corporation, Singtel, VirSat, Telstra Co  The Daily Vale

“russia analysis” – Google News

Achondrogenesis Market demand and future scope with Russia-Ukraine Crisis Impact Analysis –Cook, Thermo Fisher Scientific, CooperSurgical, Illumina, Siemens, FUJIFILM Holdings, Koninklijke, Philips, Stryker, Toshiba Corporation, Invivoscribe, Abbott Mol  The Daily Vale

“russia analysis” – Google News

Literature Review Software Market demand and future scope with Russia-Ukraine Crisis Impact Analysis –Synthesis Research Inc, VERBI GmbH, QSR International Pty Ltd, Digital Scholarship (Zotero), Evernote, Leanote, EssayPro – The Daily Vale  The Daily Vale

“russia analysis” – Google News

Arthroscopy Market demand and future scope with Russia-Ukraine Crisis Impact Analysis –Smith & Nephew plc., Arthrex Inc., ConMed Corporation, DePuy Synthes – The Daily Vale  The Daily Vale

“russia analysis” – Google News

News

A sea of Ukrainian flags marks the graves of the fallen at Kharkiv’s cemetery N°18.

The cemetery, at Bezliudivka, on the outskirts of Ukraine’s second city, has had a military section for several years.

It has been burying Ukrainian soldiers since the Russian invasion three months ago. And on Saturday, more soldiers were laid to rest beside their comrades.

Two coffins placed on trestles belonged to Sergiy Profotilov, born in 1976, and Igor Malenkov, born in 1985. Both were killed at Vilkhivka, to the east of Kharkiv.

The official date of their deaths marked on their graves was May 11. But that was probably when their bodies were recovered from the village, the scene of fierce fighting before its liberation over a month ago.

“They were found with five other bodies that we couldn’t identify,” said one soldier, who spoke on condition he is not identified.

“We suspect they were executed,” he added. “They were killed by bullets to the back of the head.”

Only half a dozen soldiers and the brother of one of the dead were present for the ceremony, which lasted about an hour.

The military chaplain recited the prayers and sprinkled incense on the coffins under the grey sky, against a background of Russian and Ukrainian artillery fire just a few kilometers away.

The mourners laid red carnations on the graves. Then, after a brief exchange of greetings and embraces, they went their separate ways.

The brother walked alone down a line of dozens of graves, the death certificate in his hand.

Two pickup trucks arrived carrying soldiers from Ukraine’s foreign legion. About a dozen of them have come to pay a final homage to one of their comrades, a Dutch soldier killed by artillery fire.

It was forbidden to film the ceremony or to identify the fallen fighter.

Here, there was no religious ceremony, but a brief speech in English given by an officer. One soldier, with a British flag on his vest, gave a military salute. Another touched the cross before leaving.

At a fifth ceremony, the family of 47-year-old Olexandr Gaponchev was mourning his death at Tsyrkuny, north of Kharkiv. Many of those present in tears. 

And a few minutes later, the fifth funeral of the day started.

The mother of the fallen soldier wept inconsolably over her son’s coffin, held up by members of her family, as rain began to fall.

Then as the coffin was lowered into the ground, each mourner threw a fistful of earth into the grave before the cemetery workers filled it in and planted a wooden cross with the name of the dead soldiers.

Behind that grave, a line of Ukrainian flags flapped in the wind, one for each grave.

Voice of America

The Kremlin-controlled Black Sea resort of Crimea is buzzing this summer vacation season with military aircraft, not tourists, as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine enters its fourth month.

Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty