South Africa’s Democratic Alliance, the opposition party in a fragile coalition with the African National Congress, on Saturday named veteran activist Helen Zille to lead its campaign to take country’s main city Johannesburg from the ANC in elections next year. Local elections scheduled to be held between November 2026 and January 2027 loom as a major test for the ANC that has run the national government since the end of white-rule in the 1990s but which lost its absolute majority in parliament last year. Zille, 74, who was mayor of Cape Town from 2006 to 2009 and has headed the…
Author: Oki Bin Oki
On Saturday, September 20, 2025, Teso North MP Oku Kaunya was officially installed as the Iteso community spokesperson—a historic moment that signals a new era of unity, representation, and strategic influence for one of Kenya’s most vibrant communities. The ceremony took place at Amagoro Primary School in Busia County. Despite some controversy, Kaunya’s appointment is both timely and necessary, and it reflects the Iteso’s forward-looking political aspirations. Oku Kaunya is not new to public service. From his distinguished career in the Ministry of Interior—rising through the ranks from District Officer to Regional Commissioner—to his tenure in Parliament, Kaunya has consistently…
Three Russian warplanes that violated Estonian airspace have been intercepted by Nato, the military alliance has said. Estonia’s foreign ministry condemned the incursion as “brazen”. It said three Russian MiG-31 fighter jets entered the airspace of a Nato member “without permission and remained there for a total of 12 minutes” on Friday over the Gulf of Finland. Nato spokesperson Allison Hart said the military alliance “responded immediately and intercepted the Russian aircraft”, calling it “yet another example of reckless Russian behaviour and Nato’s ability to respond”. Estonian Prime Minister Kristen Michal later said his government had “decided to request Nato…
A US federal judge has struck down Donald Trump’s $15bn defamation lawsuit against the New York Times newspaper, citing issues with its contents. US District Judge Steven Merryday in his ruling on Friday said Trump had violated a federal rule requiring applicants to outline in a “short and plain statement” why they deserve relief from the court. A legal complaint, the judge said, is not “a protected platform to rage against an adversary”. He gave Trump 28 days to file an amended complaint. Trump signalled he would sue the New York Times earlier this week in a post on Truth…
gramme have long argued that H-1Bs undercut the American workforce, while proponents – including billionaire Elon Musk – argue it allows the US to attract top talent from around the world. A separate order is expected to order a review of minimum wage requirements for those under the scheme. Since 2004, the number of H-1B applications has been capped at 85,000 per year. While H-1B fees are subject to change and depend on the size of the employer, they currently include a $215 registration fee and another $780 fee for filing a form known as a I-129, required for larger…
US President Donald Trump is planning to invite King Charles and Queen Camilla to the US next year, a senior White House official confirmed to the BBC. The date of the visit – which will come as the US marks its 250th anniversary – remains unclear. Trump made a second state visit to the UK this week to meet with the King and Prime Minister Keir Starmer, describing the visit as an “exquisite honour” and a sign of an “unbreakable bond” between the two countries. The last official state visit by a British monarch to the US took place in…
The U.S. Senate voted on Thursday to confirm the top auto safety official along with dozens of other nominees, including officials overseeing highways and pipelines. The Senate voted 51-47 to confirm Jonathan Morrison to head the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and 47 other nominees, the first time the NHTSA has had a permanent leader in three years. Morrison, a former lawyer at Apple AAPL.O and chief counsel at the NHTSA during President Donald Trump’s first term, will oversee a series of safety probes at the NHTSA, including an investigation opened this week into about 174,000 Tesla Model Y cars…
Sudan’s paramilitary Rapid Support Forces killed 75 people in a drone strike that hit a mosque at a camp for displaced people near the western city of El-Fasher on Friday, first responders said. The RSF conducted their strike as they make gains in their push to capture Darfur’s last army-held city. The attack struck a mosque at the Abu Shouk camp, just outside the North Darfur capital, said the Emergency Response Room, a local volunteer group coordinating relief in the camp. “The bodies were retrieved from the rubble of the mosque,” the group said in a statement. There was no…
When it comes to building a resilient, performance-driven portfolio, investors often look to two of the most iconic indices in the world: NASDAQ and the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA). While both represent major slices of the U.S. economy, they reflect radically different investment philosophies. Understanding the differences between these indices isn’t just about knowing what companies they hold—it’s about recognizing what kind of investor you are: Are you chasing growth or seeking stability? Do you lean toward disruption or reliability? Let’s unpack how NASDAQ and Dow represent these two sides of the investing spectrum. What Makes NASDAQ and Dow…
Kenya is a country built on diversity. From the bustling streets of Nairobi to the serene beaches of Mombasa, a vast land of cultures, languages, and beliefs that shape the lives of millions in its country. Among the land of diversity lies a common thread that binds communities together, compassion. Across the vast traditions and mix of faiths, acts of kindness have long been a powerful force within Kenya, offering hope and support to those in need across each county. In a world often divided by differences, Kenya provides a powerful example of how diverse beliefs can foster shared values…
No nation in today’s day and age living in isolation due to the interconnected world we are in. Globalization has linked communities across continents through technology, trade, and humanitarian action. While Kenya has made a notable pace in addressing its own social and economic needs, the wave of conflicts, natural disasters, and health crises in other parts of the world often reach our borders. This reality makes humanitarian aid not only an act of charity but a module of stability across the globe as well as mutual survival. For Kenya, participating in international aid efforts reflects the spirit of utu—the belief…
A groundbreaking international study conducted in partnership with the Turkana community of northern Kenya revealed how humans have genetically adapted to survive in an extremely harsh environment. The study, published in Science, shows that thousands of years of natural selection have shaped remarkable physiological adaptations in the Turkana, enabling them to thrive in a landscape defined by extreme heat, water scarcity, and limited vegetation. The research was conducted through the Turkana Health and Genomics Project (THGP), a collaborative initiative bringing together researchers from Kenya and the United States, including Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI), the Turkana Basin Institute (TBI), Vanderbilt…
Elon Musk’s controversial comments at the Unite the Kingdom rally in London have raised doubts over his fellowship of the Royal Society – the world’s most prestigious scientific institution. Addressing the rally organised by right-wing activist Tommy Robinson, Musk criticised “uncontrolled migration” and said: “Whether you choose violence or not, violence is coming to you. You either fight back or you die.” In response, Sir Adrian Smith, president of the Society, wrote a letter to fellows in which he raised concerns about “resorting to the language of violence” and the threat it posed to the organisation’s values. He said the…
President Donald Trump on Thursday said his administration is “trying” to get the former U.S. Bagram Airfield in Afghanistan “back” from the Taliban. In remarks to the press while standing alongside U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer, the president criticized the handling of the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan under President Joe Biden and said he had “a little breaking news.” “We’re trying to get it back,” Trump said. “We’re trying to get it back because they need things from us.” Trump did not expand on whom he was referring to or, if referring to the Taliban, the terrorist organization that took…
Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone became the first woman in nearly 40 years to crack 48 seconds in the 400 meters Thursday, achieving 47.78 in a historically fast one-lap race at the world championships. McLaughlin-Levrone had company. Second-place finisher Marileidy Paulino clocked 47.98 on the rain-slickened track in Tokyo. The second- and third-fastest times in history trailed only the 47.60 by East Germany’s Marita Koch in 1985 — one of the last remaining vestiges of an Eastern Bloc doping system that was exposed years after it ended. When she crossed the line, McLaughlin-Levrone, who moved over from the hurdles to see what she…