The Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) warned Tuesday that escalating political intolerance, violence, incitement and the alleged use of organised groups to intimidate opponents are threatening Kenya’s democratic space ahead of the 2027 General Election. The commission said it had documented a worrying pattern of political-related violence between June and August 2026, including deaths, attacks on civilians and police officers, destruction of property, disruption of political activities and assaults on journalists and human rights defenders. KNCHR Chairperson Claris Ogangah said the developments were “deeply disturbing and wholly unacceptable” in a constitutional democracy. “The loss of life, attacks against…
Author: Oki Bin Oki
Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has hailed the discovery of oil near the mouth of the Amazon river. Speaking after the find was announced by Brazil’s state-run oil company Petrobras, he said it could be “a passport to the country’s future”. His decision to allow exploratory drilling in the area known as the Brazilian Equatorial Margin was heavily criticised by environmentalists, who raised concerns that any potential oil spills could devastate its ecosystem. Lula, who is running for another four-year term in elections scheduled for October, stressed that he was still committed to eventually phasing out fossil fuels…
UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham has said the UK will continue “to support Ukraine 100%”, after Moscow warned of “consequences” following confirmation that British-made drones were used in recent Ukrainian strikes in Russia. “We are not fair-weather friends, we will be there in Ukraine’s hour of need and that won’t change,” said Burnham. The Russian embassy to the UK earlier accused Britain of “deliberately opting for an escalation of the Ukraine crisis”, adding that “the deeper its involvement in the conflict… the higher the price it will pay”. Ukraine has stepped up attacks on Moscow and elsewhere deep inside Russia,…
Ye, the rapper formerly known as Kanye West, is to play two shows in St Petersburg, Russia, this October – becoming the biggest Western star to play in the country since its invasion of Ukraine four years ago. Tickets for the shows at the 70,000-capacity Gazprom Arena sold out within hours of the announcement on Monday. Prices ranged from 9,000 roubles (£78) to 160,000 roubles (£1,394). The concerts come as West tries to rehabilitate his image after years of antisemitic and pro-Nazi remarks. He apologised in January, blaming his statements on a brain injury and bipolar disorder. But a major…
Meta has been hit with successive losses in court over how its platforms have targeted and harmed young users, but a jury trial set to begin on Tuesday may pose the biggest threat yet to its operations. The trial stems from a lawsuit filed in 2023 by 30 US states, including California and New York, in which they claim numerous violations of federal and state privacy laws for children. Not only are the states seeking upwards of $1 trillion from Meta, they are demanding it make changes to Instagram and Facebook, including ending “like” counts and infinite scroll. Should Meta…
Choosing a digital marketing partner in Singapore is often a confusing jungle, full of flashy sales pitches and over-hyped promises. Unfortunately, many business owners fall into the trap of purchasing generic packages that promise first-page rankings or instant traffic spikes, only to discover months later that these clicks never converted into real sales or qualified leads. Before you sign any retainer, you need to look past simple vanity metrics and ask tough, strategic questions to find a reliable SEO agency in Singapore. Your investment goes directly to your long-term business growth by testing a potential provider for its ability to…
For a second time, the US Supreme Court has declined President Donald Trump’s bid to overturn a federal civil jury verdict that found him liable for sexually abusing and defaming writer E Jean Carroll. In June, the top court had already denied a prior attempt by Trump to review the civil case. The president has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing and argued that the judge who oversaw the civil trial improperly allowed evidence to be presented that affected the jury’s perceptions of him. In July, he paid Carroll more than $5m (£3.6m) in damages over her civil claim that Trump sexually…
President Donald Trump has threatened to bomb Oman – a US ally – if it “gets in the way” of his administration’s own talks with Iran, Fox News reports. The US and Oman have separately been negotiating with Tehran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a waterway that is vital to the global economy. It has been largely closed for nearly six months during the US-Iran war. A reporter for Fox said the US president made the threat to Oman while using an expletive during a phone interview. Earlier in the day, Iranian officials said they were close to finalising…
Vintage guitar auctions reward patience, evidence, and a clear head. A clean finish or famous decal can draw attention, but value often sits in quieter details. Neck angle, solder joints, pot codes, bridge height, fret wear, finish history, and repair records all deserve careful review. Confident bidding starts before registration. Buyers who prepare well can separate a solid instrument from an expensive risk. Set a Real Budget Before bidding, a buyer should study fees, auction terms, return rules, and seller standards. A reliable guide to guitar auctions helps organize those checks, since older instruments often carry changed parts, partial records,…
Bangladesh said on Sunday that Prime Minister Tarique Rahman would not visit India until New Delhi extradited Sheikh Hasina, the Bangladeshi former premier who fled during a 2024 uprising. The countries have had a strained relationship since deadly anti-government protests brought down Hasina’s government and prompted her to escape to neighbouring India, where she remains. She faces the death penalty in Bangladesh after being convicted of crimes against humanity, and Dhaka has repeatedly requested her extradition. Speaking to reporters on Sunday, foreign ministry official A.K.M. Shahidul Karim played down media speculation about a possible trip by Rahman to India next…
Zambia’s President Hakainde Hichilema was well ahead in counting for national elections on Sunday with nearly half the constituencies declared, the electoral commission said. Hichilema had 54.82% or 1,056,812 of the declared votes, figures showed, putting him on track for re-election without a second-round runoff if he keeps the overall majority. His main challenger, Brian Mundubile, was in second place with 43% or 830,841 of the declared votes, with 105 out of 226 constituencies announced by around 1500 GMT. The presidential vote — held alongside parliamentary and local elections on Thursday — is seen as a test of whether Hichilema’s…
A meeting between Donald Trump’s Middle East envoy Jared Kushner and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has ended, the premier’s spokesperson has told the BBC. Kushner arrived in Israel on Sunday night after holding rare talks with Hamas to discuss the implementation of the US-backed Gaza peace plan. Last week, Israel rejected Trump’s 15-point plan for peace, which also calls for Israeli troops to withdraw and for Gaza to be rebuilt under a new civilian Palestinian administration. The rejection came after the president’s Board of Peace said it had reached an agreement for the “complete disarmament” of Hamas and other…
Prime Minister Andy Burnham exchanged messages with a person posing as the chief of staff to US President Donald Trump. Downing Street has declined to comment on the security breach, first reported by Politico. Politico reported that officials said Burnham communicated with the person claiming to be Susie Wiles “before becoming suspicious that the contact was illegitimate” and claimed only a “few messages” were exchanged. A government spokesperson said: “We do not comment on national security matters.” It is understood the communication between Burnham and the person posing as Wiles was in the form of messages and there was no…
Chaos rocked the Linda Mwananchi rallies in Homa Bay County on Sunday as at least one vehicle was torched, several people including journalists injured and 17 suspects arrested. Several other cars were attacked and vandalized in the chaos that seems to have had blessings from higher offices. There was no official comment from the local governor Gladys Wanga, police or the interior Principal Secretary Raymond Omollo who comes from the area. The attacks targeted at Linda Mwananchi supporters started on Saturday night when goons attacked Homa Bay Tourist Hotel where they shattered windows, destroyed property and stole items before leaving…
One person is dead and tens of thousands have lost power after Hurricane Lala lashed parts of Hawaii overnight, before weakening slightly Sunday morning to a tropical storm with 70 mph sustained winds and heavy rain. At least 126,000 customers are without power across the islands. Nearly 70% of the Big Island is without power. Hurricane-force wind gusts were reported in Hawaii, Honolulu and Maui counties, with the mountainous island terrain amplifying winds at higher elevations. Officials have issued a Flash Flood Emergency for Naalehu in Hawaii County, with the National Weather Service calling it a “Particularly Dangerous Situation.” “Several…