Author: KahawaTungu Reporter

The nationalist candidate George Simion has won a resounding victory in the first round of the presidential election in Romania. Simion came first with 40% of the vote, and will go into the runoff on 18 May as the clear favourite. Nicusor Dan, the liberal mayor of Bucharest, and Crin Antonescu, candidate of the governing coalition, are tied in second place, with around 21% each. Six months ago, the presidential election in Romania ended in scandal and confusion. It was won by a radical outsider with mystical leanings, Calin Georgescu, but that result was annulled over allegations of campaign fraud…

The Israeli military has begun calling up tens of thousands of reservists to “intensify and expand” its operations in Gaza. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said it was “increasing the pressure” with the aim of returning hostages held in Gaza and defeating Hamas militants. Critics say the recent military offensive, after a ceasefire broke down, has failed to guarantee the release of captives, and question Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s objectives in the conflict. Under the plan, the military said it would operate in new areas and “destroy all infrastructure” above and below ground. The Israeli security cabinet is expected to…

The trial of Sean “Diddy” Combs, one of the most successful rappers and music moguls in the US, starts in New York with jury selection on Monday. The charges against him include racketeering conspiracy, sex trafficking, and transportation to engage in prostitution. If convicted, he could face life in prison. The rapper also faces dozens of civil lawsuits from individuals who accuse him of using his power to drug, assault, rape, intimidate and silence people. Mr Combs has pleaded not guilty to the criminal charges and rejected the individual lawsuits as attempts “for a quick payday”. Who is Sean ‘Diddy’…

Brazil’s Social Security Minister, Carlos Lupi, has resigned nine days after police unveiled a major corruption scandal which defrauded pensioners of $1.1bn (£829m). Federal police allege that over the past decade, the National Social Security Institute (INSS) made unauthorised deductions from payments made to millions of pensioners. The money was allegedly paid to several associations and unions, which then shared the earnings with corrupt government officials. Lupi has always denied any wrongdoing and said he ordered an investigation as soon as he heard about the allegations. “I am making this decision with the certainty that my name has not been…

Former world 100m champion Fred Kerley has withdrawn from this weekend’s Grand Slam Track meeting in Miami after being arrested for battery, officials confirmed on Friday. The 29-year-old American sprinter, who won 100m gold at the 2022 World Championships, was detained on Thursday by police in Broward County, Florida. Arrest records showed Kerley had been arrested on a charge of touch or strike battery and remained in jail as of early Friday. The Letsrun.com track and field news website said Kerley had been arrested following an incident at the official hotel for this weekend’s Grand Slam Track meeting, the second…

The former chief executive of fashion brand Abercrombie & Fitch is “mentally incompetent” and currently unfit to stand trial on charges of sex trafficking and prostitution, a US court has ruled. Mike Jeffries will now be held in custody and treated in hospital for an initial period of up to four months to determine if his condition is likely to improve enough for the case to proceed. Mr Jeffries’ legal team said last December he has dementia and late onset Alzheimer’s disease. He is accused of using his wealth, power and status to traffic and sexually abuse vulnerable men over…

A Senate Health Committee oversight mission has laid bare a litany of failures in Mandera, Wajir and Marsabit counties, exposing deep-rooted cracks in Kenya’s healthcare system that disproportionately affect marginalised regions. The inquiry, led by Sen Jackson Mandago (Uasin Gishu), revealed a crisis spanning drug shortages, outdated equipment, understaffing, neglected infrastructure and questionable financial accountability. 𝑴𝒂𝒏𝒅𝒆𝒓𝒂: 𝑩𝒓𝒐𝒌𝒆𝒏 𝒎𝒂𝒄𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒆𝒔, 𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒇𝒇 𝒈𝒂𝒑𝒔 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒂𝒍𝒍𝒆𝒈𝒆𝒅 𝒅𝒓𝒖𝒈 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒇𝒕 In Mandera, the delegation visited Mandera Teaching and Referral Hospital, Khadija Dispensary and Elwak Sub-County Hospital. The picture was bleak. Of the hospital’s five dialysis machines, only three were functioning. CEO Okash Adan admitted they needed…

The Standing Committee on Devolution and Intergovernmental Relations has pledged to amend the Public Finance Management (PFM) Act to establish clear guidelines and procedures for the opening, maintenance and closure of bank accounts operated by county governments. Amending the PFM Act, they explained, will ensure that the 47 devolved units comply with the regulations requiring bank accounts to be opened at the Central Bank of Kenya in order to enhance accountability and transparency. Regulation 82 (1) (b) of the Public Finance Management (County Governments) Regulations, 2015, provides that all county government bank accounts shall be opened at the Central Bank…

The Senate Committee on Roads, Transportation and Housing, chaired by Senator Eddy Okech (Migori), held a comprehensive consultative meeting with the Ministry of Lands, Public Works, Housing & Urban Development to deliberate on the status of key housing programmes, policy direction, challenges, legislative gaps, and opportunities for collaboration in the sector. During the session, Principal Secretary Charles Hinga briefed the Committee on the national housing agenda, highlighting that 139,703 housing projects are currently ongoing, while an additional 346,209 projects have been advertised. He also reported that Sh470 million worth of mortgages have been disbursed to civil servants under government-backed initiatives.…

The White House has confirmed a military parade will be held to mark the US Army’s 250th anniversary on 14 June, which falls on the same day as President Donald Trump’s birthday. A “day-long festival” will be held on the National Mall in Washington DC, an army spokesperson said, adding that the event would feature 6,600 soldiers, 150 vehicles and 50 aircraft. Trump first floated a military parade during his first term, but he scrapped the idea after reports it would have cost about $90 million (£71m). Earlier on Friday, Trump announced plans to rename Veterans Day – known as…

The five policemen who were killed in an ambush by al-Shabaab gunmen in an ambush in Lamu’s Boni Forest have been identified. The incident happened on April 29. They are corporal Francis Leshan Leashao, constables Rafael Tatio, Benson Mwangi Kariuki, Austin Kipkoech and Reuben Kiang Mokua. Police authorities said eight other officers from the elite Special Operations Group were injured in the clash in Lehelo area. They were all young officers who had experience in the operations. The injured were later flown to Nairobi for specialized treatment, police said. The team was ambushed as they pursued the gunmen believed operating…

Seven people have died in a collision between a tour bus and a truck near Yellowstone National Park. Eight others were injured when a Chevy pickup truck and a van carrying 14 tourists crashed on a highway in eastern Idaho on Thursday. Police said an air ambulance flew some victims to hospital “due to the severity of the injuries”. Both vehicles caught fire. “Tragically, six individuals in the van and the driver of the pickup died as a result of the crash,” Idaho State Police said. The identities or nationalities of the victims have not been revealed. Police are still…

Four Kenyan film makers were arrested and detained in police custody in a dramatic raid at their studio in Karen, Nairobi. They are under probe over claims of publishing false information and cyberbullying. The group is linked to the BBC documentary Blood Parliament which captured events of June 25, 2024 during the Gen Z protests over Finance Bill. The four include — Nicholas Wambugu, Brian Adagala, Mark Denver Karubiu, and Christopher Wamae. According to the Chairperson of the Kenya Film and Television Professionals Association (KFPTA) Ezekiel ‘Ezy’ Onyango, their equipment and data storage devices were seized during the operation. “We…

A sugarcane plantation covering an unknown number of acres was set ablaze by unknown individuals in Angata Barrikoi, Transmara South Sub county. This comes just days after six people were killed and others injured following a confrontation with police in the area over a disputed piece of land. Emergency teams responded to the scene in efforts to contain the spread of the fire. There was little to salvage, witnesses said. Tension continued to grow in the area amid fresh claims and counter claims on the disputed 6,000 piece of land. At least six people were killed and 15 others injured…

Four filmmakers linked to the BBC documentary Blood Parliament were Friday night arrested in Nairobi. They were picked up from their studio in Karen and detained at Muthaiga police station for unclear reasons. They were identified as Nicholas Gichuki, Chris Wamae, Brian Adagala and Mark Karubiu. The filmmakers are reportedly being held at Muthaiga and Pangani police stations in Nairobi, activist Boniface Mwangi said. “The police have arrested three filmmakers, Nicholas Wambugu, Brian Adagala, MarkDenver Karubiu, and a Chris Wamae at their offices at Karen Village. The police confiscated their equipment, and hard drives,” he said. He added a group…