Author: KahawaTungu Reporter

A US military attack on a ship allegedly carrying drugs from Venezuela left two survivors who have reportedly been captured by US forces and are being held aboard a Navy ship. The attack, which took place on Thursday, is at least the sixth US strike on Venezuelan ships in recent weeks. It was the first time that survivors have been reported. President Donald Trump confirmed the attack on Friday, calling the vessel a “drug-carrying submarine”. Trump has ramped up threats against Venezuela’s leadership over claims that the country is sending drugs to the US. Venezuela President Nicolás Maduro has accused…

US President Donald Trump has commuted the sentence of George Santos, a former Republican congressman serving seven years in prison for fraud and identify theft, ordering his immediate release. In a post on social media, Trump said Santos “has been horribly mistreated”, adding: “Therefore, I just signed a Commutation, releasing George Santos from prison, IMMEDIATELY. Good luck George, have a great life!” The former lawmaker was only the sixth in US history to be expelled from Congress, after a damning ethics report in 2023. Santos, who admitted to stealing the identities of 11 people – including family members, is currently…

A community clinic just north of Johannesburg has become the frontline of a battle in South Africa over whether foreigners can access public health facilities. What started as a small local action in one area in 2022 has spread, with activists from the avowedly anti-migrant group, Operation Dudula, picketing some hospitals and clinics in Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal provinces. They check identity cards and stop anyone who is not South African from entering. “Dudula” means to remove something by force in the Zulu language. Despite some arrests, the authorities seem unable to prevent the pickets. The site of their latest campaign…

Prince Andrew is giving up his titles, including the Duke of York, he has announced in a personal statement. He has been under increasing pressure over his links with sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, with calls for Buckingham Palace to take action against him. That now seems to have resulted in the prince deciding to voluntarily hand back his titles and to give up membership of the Order of the Garter, the oldest and most senior order of chivalry in Britain. In his statement he said he continued to “vigorously deny the accusations against me”. “In discussion with the King, and…

Senate Republicans’ plan to reignite the government funding process was torpedoed by Senate Democrats, who blocked a bill that would pay the troops as the federal government entered Day 16 of the shutdown. The annual defense appropriations bill was blocked largely along party lines on Friday, with only a handful of Senate Democrats joining Republicans to advance the measure. While President Donald Trump made a temporary move to ensure that military service members were paid, that funding won’t last forever. The only Senate Democrats to cross the aisle were Sens. John Fetterman, D-Pa., Catherine Cortez Masto, D-Nev., and Jeanne Shaheen,…

John Bolton, Donald Trump’s former national security adviser, has arrived at a federal court to surrender to authorities on charges of mishandling classified information. The 18 charges stem from allegations he shared or retained sensitive materials, including some characterised as top secret. Bolton served during Trump’s first administration but parted with the White House contentiously, and has become one of the president’s most vocal public critics. The indictment makes Bolton, 76, the third of the US president’s political opponents to face charges in recent weeks. Bolton has said he would defend his “lawful conduct”. On Friday, Bolton did not respond…

Apple has won the rights to broadcast Formula 1 in the United States for the next five years in deal said to be worth about $750m (£558m) in total. The agreement, which starts in 2026 and for which insiders say Apple is paying approximately $150m (£111.6m) a year, will make F1 available to all Apple TV subscribers in America as part of their standard monthly fee. It is the first time Apple have ventured into sports broadcasting in this manner. It provides coverage of US Major League Soccer but that is for an additional charge over and above Apple TV’s…

A US governor took home $1.4m (£1m) in a gambling windfall last year, a copy of his recent tax filing shows. JB Pritzker is reported to have won the sum while playing blackjack at a casino in Las Vegas while on holiday with his wife and friends. The two-term Democrat already has a net worth of $3.9bn (£2.9bn), according to Forbes, and is an heir to the Hyatt Hotel fortune. A campaign spokesperson told CBS, the BBC’s partner in the US, that Pritzker planned to donate the money to charity but did not respond when asked why he had not…

Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga’s bodyguard Maurice Ogeta paid an emotional tribute to his long-term boss, citing years of friendship and camaraderie. In his written tribute shared during the State Funeral service, Maurice recalled the nearly 18 years of service as Raila’s personal aide where the bond grew to a personal level. He recollected the ‘near-son relationship’ that developed during Raila’s political tenure. Ogeta also delved into Raila’s historical contributions, drawing parallels with South Africa’s first president, the late Nelson Mandela. “I confess I know no other human being on the African continent came close to you as the First…

President William Ruto led thousands of mourners for a national memorial service for former Prime Minister Raila Odinga at Nyayo National Stadium in Nairobi on Friday. The President, accompanied by First Lady Mama Rachel Ruto, led Kenyans in marking the second day of public events to honour Odinga’s legacy ahead of his funeral on Sunday. “I am truly and eternally grateful that our paths crossed, and that we shared this journey together,” the President said in his remarks. “We have been both collaborators and competitors, friends and rivals, but always patriotic Kenyans, united by a dream greater than ourselves, a…

Col Michael Randrianirina has been sworn in as the new president of Madagascar days after a military takeover on the Indian Ocean nation. He swapped his fatigues for a suit to succeed ousted President Andry Rajoelina, who fled the country and was later impeached following weeks of youth-led protests demanding greater accountability from his government. The ceremony took place at the Constitutional Court in the capital, Antananarivo, where a large crowd gathered to watch – including those who spearheaded the protests. “Today marks a historic turning-point for our country,” the AFP news agency quotes the new president as saying as…

Thousands of mourners who gathered at Nyayo Stadium were visibly moved and energized by a powerful sermon delivered by Prof. David Kodia, the Bishop of the Anglican Diocese of Bondo, during the State Funeral Service of former Prime Minister Raila Odinga. In his address, the Bishop strongly criticized leaders who exploit their positions for personal gain instead of serving the nation, saying such behavior went against Raila’s lifelong mission for Kenya’s freedom and justice. “When we’re proclaiming the Word, we should not be fearful. Word proclaimed must have the power to transform, to make us renewed in our strength in…

A police officer’s body was found hanging on a tree after a suicide mission Kambi Ya Moto, Rongai, Nakuru County. The body of constable Nelson Gatiari in full uniform was discovered hanging on a tree within Administration Police camp in Kambi Ya Moto long after the death. The body was discovered hanging on Friday October 17, 2025 at about 6.30 am. The motive of the incident was not immediately known. The body was moved to the mortuary pending autopsy, police said. Suicide is emerging as one of the leading causes of death in the service. On September 10, 2025, the…

Tens of security personnel were deployed to ensure safety at the planned State Funeral for former Prime Minister Raila Odinga on Friday at the Nyayo Stadium, Nairobi. Officials said up to 10,000 personnel had been mobilized and deployed at various places in and outside the stadium. They include personnel from police’s General Service Unit and other special forces to ensure only those who arrive by 8 am are allowed into the stadium for purposes of order. Those who came late were turned away and told to wait until 3 pm when another viewing will be allowed. The body was on…

At least two people were shot and killed as police moved to take charge of the public viewing of the body of late Prime Minister Raila Odinga at Kasarani International Stadium, Nairobi. The victims were shot in a confrontation caused after a group tried to force their way into the VIP section of the stadium where mortifications were preparing the body for viewing. Police said at least one more was injured in the chaos. The police had to disperse the group to be able to organize the viewing. This is after it became difficult to organize the exercise for smooth…