Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has said it is “deeply concerning” that Kanye West is set to headline Wireless Festival in London this summer. West, now known as Ye, has drawn widespread criticism for antisemitic comments he has made in recent years, for which he issued an apology in January. Sir Keir said, in comments first reported by the Sun on Sunday, that West had been booked “despite his previous antisemitic remarks and celebration of Nazism”. The festival’s headline sponsor Pepsi has now confirmed that it has “decided to withdraw its sponsorship” of the three-day event. “Antisemitism in any form…
Author: Oki Bin Oki
A 61-year-old man died after falling from the third floor of a hospital building in Gatundu, Kiambu County. The incident occurred in the early hours of Saturday at Gatundu Level V Hospital, where the patient, identified as Vincent Mburu, had been admitted since March 30. According to police, the man was receiving treatment at the hospital’s emergency wing after being diagnosed with alcohol withdrawal syndrome. Preliminary investigations indicate that the patient fell from the third-floor landing onto a concrete pavement at around 1:15 a.m., dying on the spot due to injuries believed to include a broken neck. Police officers who…
The niece and grand-niece of the deceased commander of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps, Gen Qasem Soleimani, have been arrested, the State Department has said. Hamideh Soleimani Afshar and her daughter’s lawful US permanent resident status was revoked by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, a statement released on Saturday said. In a post on social media, Rubio said the two women were in the custody of US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), pending removal from the country. Gen Soleimani, who was Iran’s most powerful military commander, was killed in 2020 in a US air strike in Iraq which was ordered…
The Australian government encouraged people to go ahead with their Easter travel plans, despite fuel shortages at hundreds of petrol stations across the country. “Easter is a very special time of faith and family,” energy minister Chris Bowen said on Saturday, adding: “Go take a break – but get no more fuel than you need”. Fuel prices in Australia have soared since the start of the US-Israel war with Iran and the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a key route for global oil and gas shipments. Bowen said 312 of Australia’s roughly 8,000 service stations had run out…
The National Police Service issued a nationwide safety advisory as heavy rains continue to batter several parts of the country, leaving at least 112 people dead as of April 3, 2026. In a statement released during the Easter holiday period, the police warned that the ongoing downpours have heightened risks for both motorists and pedestrians, especially amid increased travel across the country. Hundreds others have been displaced in the chaos. Spokesman Michael Muchiri urged Kenyans to exercise caution and remain vigilant, noting that a combination of adverse weather conditions and high human movement could lead to more casualties if safety…
Government ministers in Senegal have been banned from all non-essential foreign travel following the rise in the price of oil resulting from the conflict in Iran, the prime minister has announced. Speaking at a youth rally on Friday, Ousmane Sonko said that the current cost of a barrel of oil was approaching double what had been budgeted for. Sonko has postponed his own trips to Niger, Spain and France as part of the restrictions. He said that the mines minister would announce further measures to curb government spending in the coming week. Senegal’s move is the latest response from the…
US President Donald Trump is seeking $152m (£115m) to reopen the infamous Alcatraz prison as part of his proposed budget for the 2027 fiscal year. Located near San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge, the site, also known as The Rock, was once regarded as one of America’s most notorious prisons, but has served as a tourist attraction in recent years. The budget request is seeking money “to rebuild Alcatraz as a state-of-the-art secure prison facility”, with funds covering the first year of costs. The plan has been met with scepticism by a number of politicians in California, with questions raised about…
Democracy “kills” and the people of Burkina Faso must “forget” it, the country’s military ruler has said in an interview aired on state television. Capt Ibrahim Traoré, who seized power in a coup three years ago, suggested most Africans do not want the system of democracy and that Burkina Faso had its own, alternative approach, without giving details. Traoré initially pledged to restore democratic rule to the West African country by July 2024, but two months before this deadline, the junta announced it would extend its rule for another five years. In January, the authorities announced a ban on all…
Eight people from different African countries have been deported to Uganda from the United States, the first such transfer under a migration deal signed last year. The group arrived on Wednesday after a US judge approved their cases, Uganda’s foreign ministry said. The ministry said in a statement that its deal with the US designated Uganda as a safe third country for migrants who cannot return to their countries, for reasons such as persecution. The Uganda Law Society has condemned the deportations, saying the individuals had effectively been dumped in the country “through an undignified, harrowing and dehumanising process”. The…
A search operation rescued one crew member after a US fighter jet was shot down over western Iran, US and Israeli media report, citing unnamed officials. Reports a US F-15E jet had been downed were first published by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-affiliated Tasnim news agency. It would mark the first time a US jet has been taken out by Iran since the start of the war on 28 February. Social media footage verified by the BBC shows a refuelling plane and two helicopters flying low over Khuzestan province, consistent with a search and rescue mission. The apparent incident comes…
All officials of the Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU) were Friday re-elected, getting a fresh mandate to continue steering the doctors’ union for another term. According to the official results released after the poll held on Thursday, Secretary General Dr. Davji Atellah retained his seat unopposed, signalling strong internal backing and continuity at the helm of the union. His deputy, Dr. Dennis Miskellah Mbogori, was also re-elected after garnering 4,339 votes (69.64%) against his opponent Dr. Wendy Nyeera Kimbui’s 1,869 votes (29.99%). National Chairperson Dr. Abidan Mwachi staved off competition from Dr. Deogracious Moses Maero Onyango and…
The Kenya National Union of Teachers Secretary General Collins Oyuu and his deputy Hesbon Otieno were among ten officials elected unopposed in the union’s polls held on Friday. The elections, held at Tom Mboya Labour College, brought together delegates from across the country. Also elected unopposed were National Chairman Patrick Karinga, First Vice National Chairman Malel Langat, and Second Vice National Chairman Aggrey Namisi. Other positions filled without contest include National Treasurer James Ndiku, Deputy National Treasurer Kennedy Nyamwanda, and Assistant National Treasurer Kullow Mohammed. In the women’s leadership category, Mercy Kambati and Mercy Ndungu also secured their positions unopposed.…
The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) asked Kenyans who registered as voters before 2012 to register afresh, saying they are not included in the current biometric Register of Voters (RoV) unless they later updated their details. IEBC Chairman Erastus Ethekon said the current register was established in 2012 following major electoral reforms that introduced biometric voter registration to enhance the credibility and transparency of elections. “As a result, individuals who registered before 2012 are not part of the current biometric register unless they presented themselves for fresh registration,” said Ethekon. The reforms were anchored in the Constitution of Kenya…
The Board of Directors of the Kenya Pipeline Company appointed an acting Managing Director following the arrest of Joe Sang. The board said it had named Pius Mwendwa (GM-Finance) as acting MD adding it had taken note of the ongoing reports and developments affecting Sang and others. “The Board is monitoring the situation and is in communication with the relevantbinstitutions to understand the nature and scope of the allegations.” “We wish to assure our stakeholders, our shareholders and the public that KPC’s operations remain stable and unaffected,” chairperson Faith Boinett said in a statement. Sang and 15 other officials serving…
Cuba will free 2,010 prisoners as part of a “humanitarian and sovereign gesture,” it announced on Thursday, as it faces continued political pressure from the US. Those freed will include foreign nationals, young people, women and those aged over 60, a statement from the Cuban embassy in the US said. It said the release was taking place “in the context of the religious celebrations of Holy Week, which is a customary practice in our criminal justice system”. Since returning to the White House, US President Donald Trump has made clear his desire to change Cuba’s leadership and has implemented an…