Venezuela’s interim president will soon visit the United States, a senior US official said Wednesday, further signaling President Donald Trump’s willingness to embrace the oil-rich country’s new leader. Delcy Rodriguez would be the first sitting Venezuelan president to visit the United States in more than a quarter century — aside from presidents attending United Nations meetings in New York. She said Wednesday that she approached any dialogue with the United States “without fear.” “We are in a process of dialogue, of working with the United States, without any fear, to confront our differences and difficulties…and to address them through diplomacy,”…
Author: Oki Bin Oki
US President Donald Trump appeared on course for a setback at America’s top court on Wednesday over his unprecedented move to fire a central bank governor. Supreme Court justices from the left and right asked why they should speed through such an impactful decision, citing concerns about process and implications for central bank independence and the wider economy. Trump in August said he was removing Federal Reserve governor Lisa Cook, accusing her of engaging in mortgage fraud, which she has denied. Cook has argued she did not receive due process to dispute those claims, which Fed defenders say were a…
A key group of European Parliament members blocked a vote to ratify a US-European trade deal Wednesday after President Donald Trump threatened to take over Greenland and charge as much as an additional 35% tariff on countries opposed to his ambitions. “EU-US Deal on ice indefinitely!” Bernd Lange, chair of Parliament’s trade committee, said in a post on X. It’s unclear if the entire trade agreement, which called for 15% tariffs on European Union goods shipping to the US, has been called off or if parts that have already gone into effect will remain that way. The EU and the…
President Donald Trump on Wednesday called for “immediate negotiations” with Denmark to “discuss the acquisition of Greenland by the United States.” But Trump, in an address to world leaders and others at the World Economic Forum, said for the first time that he would not use military force in pursuit of the territory. “I won’t do that,” Trump said during the lengthy speech in Davos, Switzerland. “Now everyone’s saying, ‘Oh, good,’” he quipped. “People thought I would use force. I don’t have to use force. I don’t want to use force. I won’t use force.” Stocks, which had plummeted a…
The United Democratic Alliance (UDA) shall hold a Special National Governing Council (NGC) on Monday, January 26, to ratify the resolution to commence structured negotiations with the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party ahead of the 2027 polls. UDA Secretary General Hassan Omar Hassan said the party’s NGC shall bring together all UDA elected leaders (Governors, Deputy Governors, Senators, Members of National Assembly, Women Representatives and nominated leaders) at State House, Nairobi. This was ratified during a National Steering Committee (NSC) meeting on Wednesday, January 26, presided over by party chair, President William Ruto. During the NGC meeting, Ruto will receive…
Understanding NIC Code for Kirana Shop Kirana shops form the backbone of India’s retail ecosystem, serving millions of households with daily essentials ranging from groceries and food items to household products. Whether you’re running a small neighbourhood grocery store or planning to expand into a chain of retail outlets, understanding the correct National Industrial Classification (NIC) Code is essential for business registration, compliance, and accessing government benefits. The NIC Code serves as a standardised classification system that helps government agencies, banks, and regulatory bodies identify and categorise businesses accurately. For kirana shop owners, selecting the appropriate NIC code ensures smooth…
Organizations operating in today’s regulatory environment face increasing pressure to demonstrate compliance with various industry standards and government regulations. From healthcare to finance, companies must navigate complex compliance requirements while maintaining operational efficiency and security posture. Microsoft Defender for Cloud has emerged as a comprehensive solution that addresses many compliance challenges organizations face when operating in cloud and hybrid environments. This cloud security platform provides integrated compliance monitoring, assessment, and remediation capabilities that help organizations meet regulatory requirements while maintaining strong security postures across their technology infrastructure. Compliance Frameworks and Standards Support Industry-Specific Regulatory Support Microsoft Defender for Cloud provides…
ODM operative Oketch Salah has broken his silence amid growing internal tensions within the Orange Democratic Movement following the death of party leader Raila Odinga, firmly rejecting allegations surrounding his role during the veteran politician’s final days. In a strongly worded statement issued on Tuesday, Salah said he was being unfairly targeted and accused as factions within the party jostle for position after Odinga’s passing. “I am the one being accused, so I will respond directly and calmly,” Salah said, insisting that he was with Odinga from the time he first fell ill until his final moments. Salah described emotionally…
The government will process a title deed for Nairobi’s Gikomba Market in 90 days, President William Ruto has announced. Ruto said the market is on public land and the provision of a title deed in the name of Nairobi County will settle the ownership status once and for all. The President directed Lands Cabinet Secretary Alice Wahome and Principal Secretary Nixon Korir to work with the National Land Commission to issue a title deed to the county. “This will once and for all address speculation by land grabbers,” he said. The President also announced the construction of phase three of…
The European Parliament is planning to suspend approval of the US tariffs deal agreed in July, according to sources close to its international trade committee. The suspension is set to be announced in Strasbourg, France on Wednesday. The move would mark another escalation in tensions between the US and Europe, as Donald Trump ratchets up his efforts to acquire Greenland, threatening new tariffs over the issue on the weekend. The stand-off has rattled financial markets, reviving talk of a trade war and the possibility of retaliation against the US for its trade measures. Shares on both sides of the Atlantic…
Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja on Monday moved to stop ongoing demolitions in Mukuru kwa Njenga, terming the exercise illegal, inhumane, and carried out without due process. Speaking on the ground in Mukuru kwa Njenga, Sakaja faulted the agencies behind the demolitions, saying they acted without notice, consultation, or coordination with the county government. He said residents were forced to flee their homes as bulldozers moved in, leaving families terrified and uncertain about their future. “It is very unfortunate that we wake up to several agencies coming together to demolish houses without any notice or proper communication,” Sakaja said. “People are…
Kitutu Chache South MP Anthony Kibagendi was Tuesday arrested in Nairobi over assault claims and moved to Kisii ahead of planned arraignment. He will on Wednesday January 21 face assault and malicious damage charges in Kisii court, police said. He is accused of assaulting a reveler in Kisii Town last year. Kibagendi was stopped at a traffic jam along Uhuru Highway and forced out of his car by detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations. He was driven and booked at Muthaiga police station pending his transfer to Kisii for plea taking on Wednesday. He driven in a police car…
Interior and National Administration Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen Tuesday rallied leaders across the country to join hands in ensuring 100 per cent transition of learners from Junior to Senior Secondary School. Speaking in Kasige, Marakwet East Constituency, Elgeyo Marakwet County, during the burial ceremony of the late Endo Ward Member of the County Assembly, Jeremiah Kibiwott Toryebee, the CS stressed on the collective responsibility of all leaders in keeping children in school. “Let all of us work together to ensure full transition from junior to senior secondary school,” he said. “The County Commissioner and the NGAO team have clear instructions…
Beijing demanded the Taliban government protect its citizens after an explosion at a Chinese restaurant in the Afghan capital Kabul killed at least seven people. Six Afghans and one Chinese national were killed, and several more injured, in the blast at a Chinese restaurant in a heavily-guarded part of the city centre on Monday, officials told the media. The jihadist group Islamic State (IS) said it was behind the attack – although police in Kabul said the “nature of the explosion is unknown so far and is being investigated”. China has urged its citizens not to travel to Afghanistan, where…
Australia’s parliament has voted for sweeping gun law reforms and a crackdown on hate speech, a month after two attackers shot 15 people dead at a Jewish festival at Bondi Beach. Both bills passed the House of Representatives and Senate at a special sitting late on Tuesday. The gun reform measures include a national gun buyback scheme and new checks on firearm licence applications. Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke said the Bondi gunmen would not legally have had access to firearms if such a law had been in place prior to the attack, the country’s worst mass shooting in decades.…