Israeli warplanes pounded Beirut and Tehran on Friday as Iran launched another wave of retaliatory strikes against Israel and Gulf countries. There was no sign of the war letting up on its seventh day, as U.S. President Donald Trump appeared to rule out negotiations with Iran and called for its “unconditional surrender.” The strikes in Lebanon were the heaviest since a 2024 ceasefire ended the last war between Israel and the Iran-backed Hezbollah, who fired rockets at Israel in the opening days of the latest conflict. Tens of thousands have fled Beirut’s suburbs and southern Lebanon after sweeping Israeli evacuation…
Author: Oki Bin Oki
Oil prices have jumped after Qatar’s energy minister warned he expects all oil and gas exporters in the Gulf to stop production within days. Saad al-Kaabi told the Financial Times the conflict in the Middle East – a region which plays a key role in global energy supplies and shipping routes – could “bring down the economies of the world”. Brent crude oil rose to $89.17 a barrel on Friday, up 4.4% from the end of trading on Thursday. If ships were unable to proceed through the Strait of Hormuz, Kaabi said that in two to three weeks the price…
The Senate of Kenya has commended the Nairobi City Water and Sewerage Company for improved financial accountability and stronger audit performance after the utility recorded a historic revenue collection of Sh12.6 billion in the last financial year. The recognition came when Johnson Sakaja appeared before the Senate County Public Investments and Special Funds Committee, chaired by Geoffrey Osotsi, to respond to queries regarding financial management within the county government. During the session, senators noted that the county had demonstrated improved accountability, with the Office of the Auditor-General issuing a qualified audit opinion, signaling progress compared to previous financial assessments. Members…
The Chief Executive Officer of Kenyatta National Hospital, Dr. Richard Lesiyampe, has appealed to the Nairobi City County Government, health workers and their unions to urgently resolve the ongoing strike that has disrupted healthcare services across the capital. Speaking amid growing pressure at the national referral facility, Dr. Lesiyampe said the industrial action, which began on December 8, has forced patients who would normally receive treatment at lower-level facilities to seek care at KNH. “I want to request the county government of Nairobi, particularly the health department, that since December 8 there has been what we call an industrial action…
The US has asked Ukraine for help defending Gulf allies against Iranian drones, according to President Volodymyr Zelensky. He said Ukraine’s partners had been reaching out and there had been “requests from the American side”. Zelensky said he had given instructions “to provide the necessary means and ensure the presence of Ukrainian specialists who can guarantee the necessary security”. Asked about the Ukrainian offer, US President Donald Trump said: “I’ll take any assistance from any country.” Earlier Zelensky had made clear Ukraine would help on condition that its own defence was not weakened and that there were diplomatic gains for…
Conservative Anglicans meeting in Nigeria’s capital Abuja have pulled back on plans to elect a rival “primus inter pares” – the Latin term meaning “first among equals” and describing the Archbishop of Canterbury’s position within the worldwide church, where Sarah Mullally is considered the ceremonial leader. Electing another person with the same title would have been seen by many as an open challenge to the leadership of the first female Archbishop of Canterbury just weeks before she formally begins the job. Instead, the group, known as Gafcon, says it is leaving behind old structures and old titles, and is now…
Authorities in Kenya launched a new training initiative aimed at equipping officers with direct access to INTERPOL’s global law enforcement systems, marking a significant step in strengthening the country’s response to transnational crime. The INTERPOL Policing Capabilities Foundation Course Module is designed to provide practical instruction on the use of INTERPOL’s global databases, secure communication platforms and investigative tools. The programme seeks to enhance the operational capacity of Kenyan officers to identify, investigate and respond to cross-border crimes, including sexual and gender-based violence, in collaboration with international partners. Inspector-General of the National Police Service of Kenya, Douglas Kanja Kirocho, said…
Ministry of Health moved to calm concerns raised by teachers’ unions over the transition to the Public Officers Medical Scheme Fund (POMSF), assuring educators that the new system is fully operational and delivering seamless healthcare services nationwide. In a statement, Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale said there is “absolutely no cause for alarm,” noting that the POMSF, administered under the Social Health Authority (SHA), is performing exceptionally well. According to the Ministry, more than 249,000 teachers and their dependents have successfully accessed treatment across the country since the rollout of the scheme. Current claims have surpassed Sh3.5 billion, reflecting what…
Former President Barack Obama on Thursday threw his support behind a redistricting effort in Virginia that aims to flip four Republican-held US House seats ahead of November’s midterm elections. In a video endorsement, Obama urged Virginians to support a referendum on a new map to ensure “your voting power is not diminished by what Republicans are doing in other states.” Obama’s public backing comes a day after the state Supreme Court cleared the way for the April 21 election in which voters will decide whether to change the state’s constitution to allow for the map redraw. Early voting opens Friday.…
From Manhattan rooftops to Tokyo skyline lounges and Berlin warehouse spaces, evenings in global capitals are no longer built around chance encounters. Entry is confirmed before arrival, tables are reserved days ahead, and guest lists are managed digitally. A Friday night in a major city often begins with a confirmation screen, a private reservation code, and a coordinated arrival time. Just as travelers secure rooftop seating or members-only access in advance, many also discreetly arrange refined company through trusted services like eros escort when planning exclusive evenings in competitive nightlife districts. The pattern is consistent across cities: preparation defines access.…
Somalia’s parliament voted to change its constitution and extend the term in office for lawmakers and the president, the president and the parliament’s speaker said, pushing back planned elections by a year. Somalia has endured conflict and clan battles with no strong central government since the fall of autocratic ruler Mohamed Siad Barre in 1991. While an African Union peacekeeping mission has pushed back the al Qaeda-linked al Shabaab group, it still controls vast areas of the countryside and has the ability to conduct regular strikes on major population centres. President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud had reached a deal last August…
Britney Spears was arrested in California, US court documents show. The singer was arrested by the California Highway Patrol at around 21:30 PT (05:30 GMT) on Wednesday. She was released in the early hours of Thursday morning and is scheduled to appear in Ventura County Superior Court on 4 May. The court documents do not confirm the reason for the singer’s arrest. It is not the first time Spears has had legal issues. She was charged with misdemeanor hit-and-run in 2007 which was later dismissed after she paid for the damages. A representative for Spears told BBC News: “This was…
A notorious cybercriminal was Thursday arraigned at the Milimani Law Courts, where he was charged with Access with Intent to Commit a Further Offence. This is contrary to Section 15(1) and Computer Fraud contrary to Section 26 (1) (b) as read with Section 2 (a) of the Computer Misuse and Cybercrimes Act No. 5 of 2018. Albert Komen Kipkechem alias Jonathan Kiptum Barmasai is the main suspect behind two incidents affecting a payment service provider, a local bank, and a SACCO, where the institutions lost over Sh52 million in June 2025. Upon discovery of the fraud, the affected entities reported…
Defence Secretary John Healey has met his counterpart in Cyprus after criticism over the UK’s response to drone attacks on the RAF base on the island. Healey met Vasilis Palmas to discuss how UK was reinforcing air defences to support “our shared security,” the PM’s spokesman said. Cyprus’s High Commissioner to the UK Dr Kyriacos Kouros told the BBC people had been “disappointed” with the information shared after the base was hit on Sunday night. Downing Street rejected suggestions the government failed to have enough military assets in the Middle East after the base was hit. The attacks on Cyprus…
The Bahrain and Saudi Arabia Grands Prix are under threat as a consequence of the US-Israel war with Iran. The two countries are among the Gulf states targeted by retaliatory missiles launched by Iran in response to US-Israeli air strikes. Bahrain is set to host the fourth race of the season from 10-12 April, with Saudi Arabia’s event in Jeddah a week later. Missiles have hit hotels and civilian and energy infrastructure, as well as targeting American bases in the countries. The US naval base in the Bahraini capital Manama has already been hit by Iranian missiles. It is situated…