National Democrats are celebrating the results of a special election for the Iowa State Senate, after Democrat Catelin Drey won in a district President Donald Trump carried by 11 points in 2024 to break a Republican supermajority of the chamber. Republicans argue the low turnout race won’t reflect the voters who come out to support the party in the midterms, and that the results are influenced by the Democratic National Committee’s efforts to inject national money and volunteers into the race. But the results are a potential warning sign for Republicans and suggest Democratic voters may be more engaged heading…
Author: Oki Bin Oki
Police in Istanbul have seized jewels and antiques worth an estimated $30 million from businesses in the city’s historic Grand Bazaar during an investigation into smuggled diamonds, Turkish media reported Wednesday. The operation was launched after 10 suspects were initially detained for smuggling gems into Turkey, broadcaster CNN Turk and other outlets reported. Acting on orders from the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office, police raided 23 businesses in the 15th-century covered marketplace, arresting a further 40 people. Police confiscated some 135 pieces of jewelry, 1,132 ingots of precious metals and 267 historical artifacts with a value of 1.25 billion Turkish…
An eight-year-old and 10-year-old were shot and killed when a gunman fired shots through the windows of a church at the Annunciation Catholic School in Minneapolis on Wednesday morning, police said. Seventeen others, including 14 children, were injured in the shooting during a Mass that marked the first week of school, police said. Two children are in critical condition, police said. The gunman died at the scene from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara said. The mass shooting unfolded just before 8:30 a.m. when the gunman approached the side of the building and fired a rifle through…
KPop Demon Hunters has climbed “up, up, up” Netflix’s charts to become its most viewed movie ever, the streaming platform says. Since its release in June, the animated musical has been watched more than 236 million times, overtaking the action comedy Red Notice to take the top spot. It is the latest in a series of chart-topping achievements by the film, which has become a surprise global hit. Songs from the movie have also been some of the most streamed online on Spotify, while the track Golden hit number one on the Billboard Hot 100 earlier this month. Produced by…
Lil Nas X has said he’s OK after a “terrifying last four days” following his arrest in Los Angeles. The Grammy winner, known for his country-rap hit Old Town Road, was arrested on Thursday after police officers said he assaulted them after they found him walking the streets naked. He was taken to hospital for treatment for a possible overdose. On Monday, the 26-year-old rapper pleaded not guilty to injuring a police officer and resisting arrest. He was later released after paying a $75,000 (£56,000) bail. Posting on Instagram on Tuesday, he assured fans: “Your girl is gonna be OK,…
South Korea has passed a bill banning the use of mobile phones and smart devices during class hours in schools – becoming the latest country to restrict phone use among children and teens. The law, which comes into effect from the next school year in March 2026, is the result of a bi-partisan effort to curb smartphone addiction, as more research points to its harmful effects. Lawmakers, parents and teachers argue that smartphone use is affecting students’ academic performance and takes away time they could have spent studying. The ban has its sceptics, including students, who question how it would…
Kenya Airways recorded a staggering Sh12 billion loss in the first half of the year. This reversed a net profit of Sh513 million posted in the same period in 2024. The airline’s revenues dropped 19 per cent from Sh91 billion in 2024 to Sh74 billion this year, as passenger numbers and available seat capacity declined sharply. The airline blamed the sharp decline on reduced capacity, following the temporary grounding of three long-haul aircraft and a shortage of spare parts. “In 2025, some of our wide-body fleet, so we have nine Dreamliners in our fleet, we’re calling that wide body, meaning…
Federal Reserve governor Lisa Cook will file a lawsuit challenging her removal by President Donald Trump, marking a major escalation in the president’s battle with the US central bank. “President Trump has no authority to remove Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook,” her lawyer Abbe David Lowell said in a statement. The president has said there was “sufficient reason” to believe Cook had made false statements on her mortgage, and cited constitutional powers which he said allowed him to remove her. The unprecedented move comes as Trump has put increasing pressure on the Fed – especially its chair Jerome Powell -…
A “heavily armed” man is being hunted after two Australian police officers were shot dead and one injured in an ambush in a small rural town in the state of Victoria. Police described the situation in Porepunkah in the Australian Alps – 300km (186 miles) north-east of Melbourne – as an “active incident” and that hundreds of officers had been deployed. Officers were attacked as 10 of them attended a house to serve an arrest warrant, which Australian media said was for historical sex offences. Police say the suspect escaped by running into the bush alone after the shooting. Australian…
The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) Tuesday arrested for grilling an accountant of the Siaya County Government, Hezron Junior Opiyo, alias Hezron Opiyo, for allegedly embezzling approximately Sh100 million through payment of fraudulent and fictitious allowances. Investigations by the Commission revealed that Opiyo, an accountant at the Department of Finance and Economic Planning, fraudulently processed payments disguised as allowances for training and other official county engagements that never took place. The investigations follows a complaint into alleged embezzlement of approximately Sh400 million by several Siaya County officials, EACC said. Upon completion of investigations, EACC forwarded the file to the Director…
Tablets seamlessly blend work and play, supporting productivity, sparking creativity, and providing endless entertainment options. From students taking notes to artists crafting masterpieces, their utility is unmatched. The HONOR Pad 10 exemplifies this, offering features that cater to every aspect of modern life. With its lightweight design, high-resolution display, and versatile functions, it transforms everyday activities into enjoyable, efficient, and inspiring experiences, making it a must-have for anyone embracing modern living. Tablets at Work: Boosting Productivity On-the-go workstation Tablets empower you to tackle essential tasks from anywhere with ease. They facilitate crystal-clear video calls, allow quick document edits, and streamline…
The shipping industry worldwide stresses sustainability. An increase in emissions and greater awareness about the issue have prompted companies to reassess their options for transporting goods. One strong instrument responsible for this shift is the CO₂ calculator. It helps shippers and logistics managers keep track of emissions, evaluate routes, and make carbon-conscious choices. Why Are Shipping Emissions Important? Transporting goods by land, sea, or air generates a substantial carbon footprint. Ocean freight accounts for a major chunk of emissions. Typically, large vessels regularly burn heavy fuel oils. They are high emitters of carbon dioxide. These emissions accumulate rapidly, particularly…
Mexican drug lord, Ismael ‘El Mayo’ Zambada, has entered a guilty plea to two drug smuggling and conspiracy charges in a court in New York, bringing an end to one of the longest and most notorious criminal careers in the history of organised crime. Zambada was not just any drug lord. He was the founder of the Sinaloa Cartel, for years the biggest and most powerful criminal organisation in Mexico – with an astonishing global reach. Last year, he pleaded not guilty to a raft of drug smuggling, gun-running and money laundering offences. But now, he has changed his plea…
Two Elon Musk-backed businesses have officially sued Apple and OpenAI, accusing them of joining forces illegally to block threats from potential competitors. The lawsuit, filed in the US by X and xAI, takes aim at Apple’s decision to integrate OpenAI’s chatbot into the operating systems of its smartphones, an exclusive arrangement that it says violated competition law. The filing makes good on a threat Musk had lobbed against the two tech giants earlier this month, when he alleged that Apple favoured OpenAI in its app store rankings. Apple did not immediately respond to a request for comment, while OpenAI said…
Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja Monday highlighted the county’s focus on investing more in early childhood education to meet the surging enrolment driven by the success of the Dishi na County programme, which is now feeding 316,000 learners. Speaking at Lavington Primary School, which is a 67-year-old institution, Sakaja confirmed that his administration has constructed 66 ECDE classrooms and currently has 21 underway. “We have constracted 66 ECDE classrooms and an additional 21 are currently under construction. More learners are joining as we highlight the success of Dishi na County, and they cannot be left behind.” “Plans are also in motion,…