SOMALIA  –   Somaliland’s foreign minister has said that the international community’s refusal to recognize the republic 26 years after it declared independence means aid is taking far longer to reach people on the brink of famine.

Though Somaliland, on the Gulf of Aden, has 4.4 million inhabitants and its own currency, army and parliament, in the eyes of the world it is part of war-torn Somalia. More than 1.5 million people have been affected by the drought afflicting the state, and most of its livestock has been wiped out. In recent days, the drought has been compounded by an outbreak of cholera in the east.

Saad Ali Shire, Somaliland’s foreign minister, said: “Lack of recognition is proving a major problem. We do not receive bilateral aid. All aid goes to the third parties via the UN. The UN has very professional people, but the bureaucracy that goes with these many channels is huge, and there is a high administrative cost. If we were recognized, we could receive aid bilaterally, and attract international investors – so creating a more resilient economy that is less dependent on livestock.(The guardian)[+]

TURKEY – Turkey has summoned the US ambassador in the aftermath of last week’s brawl in Washington DC which left nine people hospitalized.

The Turkish Foreign Ministry protested to John Bass on Monday to object to the way the situation was handled by US officials. In a statement, the ministry said Turkey was protesting against the aggressive and unprofessional actions taken by US security personnel. Turkey said that the lapses of security during Erdogan’s stay were caused by the inability of US authorities to take sufficient precautions at every stage of the official program.(CNN)[+]

PHILIPSBURG, St Maarten (CMC) – Participants from over twenty countries in the Caribbean and around the world are scheduled to attend the target airlift conference to be held in St Maarten next month.The upcoming Caribbean Aviation Meetup, scheduled for June 13-15 that is being hosted by Princess Juliana International Airport will bring parties from all industry perspectives and geographical areas together.

“The Caribbean Aviation Meetup sets itself apart from any other political summit or industry association meeting that emphasises one particular theme or subject only, be it airline routing, tourism sustainability, or a business sector. These meetings often miss an important point. If one focusses on one segment but cannot bring it in perspective to other segments, it becomes a matter of, popularly”, said the organisers.(Jamaica observer)[+]

CARACAS – Doctors rallied in Venezuela yesterday in the latest street protests against the government of President Nicolas Maduro, as a young man lay in hospital after being set on fire by an angry crowd. The death toll climbed to 48 over the weekend, with hundreds injured and thousands detained, as the unrest entered its eighth week, according to authorities and rights groups.

In the latest gruesome unrest on Sunday, a man was beaten, doused in petrol and set alight during a protest in the capital Caracas, an eyewitness video and photographs showed. The crowd parted as he ran away in flames. Some reports said the man was accused of being a thief but the government alleged he was attacked for being a Maduro supporter.(Jamaica observer)[+]