A week after Liam Payne’s death in Argentina, all five of One Direction’s albums have returned to the UK charts. The band’s third album, Midnight Memories, leads the field, re-entering the chart at number 13, with sales and streams increasing 517% week-on-week, according to the Official Charts Company. Three of One Direction’s singles also re-enter the Top 40, while Payne’s final solo single, Teardrops, made its chart debut at number 85. The star died on 16 October at the age of 31 after falling from a third-floor hotel balcony in Buenos Aires. He is survived by his seven-year-old son, Bear,…
Author: David Wafula
Grammy Award-winning US rapper Lil Durk has been arrested on a charge of murder-for-hire, according to CBS News, the BBC’s US partner. Police records seen by US media show the star, real name Durk Devontay Banks, was arrested in Broward County, Florida, on Thursday night and is being held without bail. The arrest comes a day after five people with ties to Banks’ hip-hop group, Only The Family (OTF), were reported to have been charged in Chicago in connection with a 2022 shooting that killed the cousin of rival rapper Quando Rondo. Lil Durk has had six albums in the…
The International Commission of Jurists (ICJ) has cautioned that a proposed extension of term limits for Kenyan elected leaders could incite public unrest. The Constitution of Kenya Amendment (No. 2) Bill, 2024, introduced by Nandi Senator Samson Cherargei, has been open for public feedback since October 2. If approved, it would extend the terms of the President, Governors, Senators, Members of Parliament, and Members of County Assemblies (MCAs) from five to seven years, although the President and Governors would still be limited to two consecutive terms. ICJ Kenya Chair Protas Saende warned that public patience is running low, especially following…
The Senate’s official email system crashed this week after receiving over 200,000 public submissions on the proposed Constitution of Kenya Amendment (No. 2) Bill, 2024. This bill seeks to extend the terms of elected leaders, including the President, from five to seven years. “Thank you for the overwhelming response to the Constitution of Kenya (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill, 2024. Due to high submission volumes, our email system has temporarily experienced issues,” read a statement from the Senate on X, formerly known as Twitter. The Senate noted that the massive influx of feedback had filled the capacity of allocated email addresses.…
Senator Gideon Moi has been appointed to lead a Commonwealth team of experts tasked with observing Botswana’s general elections scheduled for October 30, 2024. The team, selected by Commonwealth Secretary-General Rt Hon Patricia Scotland, comprises five members with expertise in politics, elections, media, law, and civil society. Joining Senator Moi are Judge Peter Herbert OBE, a retired human rights barrister and judge from the United Kingdom; Chipokota Mwanawasa, policy adviser to the President of Zambia; Idzuafi Hadi Kamilan, Executive Director of Malaysia’s Institute for Political Reform and Democracy; and Temitope Kalejaiye, Public Relations and Engagement Officer at the Commonwealth Secretariat.…
Iconic singer Kate Bush, known for her reclusive nature and powerful music, recently told the BBC that she is “very keen” to start working on new music. Speaking to BBC Radio 4’s Today program, Bush revealed that she has “lots of ideas” and is eager to return to her creative roots after a long break. Her last studio album, 50 Words for Snow, came out in 2011, and since then, she’s only released live and compilation albums. In a rare interview with Emma Barnett, Bush also launched a new project—a four-minute animated film titled Little Shrew. The black-and-white short, set…
Amazon Prime members now have a new benefit to add to their list: fuel discounts. The latest perk from Amazon allows members to save 10 cents per gallon at approximately 7,000 BP, Amoco, and AM/PM stations across the United States, potentially saving members up to $70 a year. To access the discount, members need to link their Amazon account to BP’s Earnify app, a loyalty program platform. Although current gas prices are at their lowest since January, the recent Middle East conflict has driven global oil prices up, causing concern over potential price hikes at the pump. Amazon’s new fuel…
Kenya police alongside the Haitian troops staged raids on separate strongholds of criminal gangs in the larger Port-au-Prince and recovered assorted weapons. The team under Multinational Security Support Mission (MSS) said they arrested dozens of suspected criminals in the October 21 raid in PaP, at Artibonite and the wider Western departments. MSS Force commander Godfrey Otunge said they will sustain the operation to pacify areas under the control of the gangs.. The heinous attack at Pont Sonde some weeks ago saw the immediate deployment of police officers drawn from MSS and HNP who have been conducting night and day patrols…
The Ministry of Labour has announced new international job openings for Kenyans. A Qatari company, in collaboration with the ministry, is offering positions. Labour Cabinet Secretary (CS) Alfred Mutua revealed that the Qatari company is seeking workers in two categories: Hospitality & Service Industry and Construction & Technical Roles. “A Qatari company, in partnership with the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection, is in Nairobi conducting interviews for various job opportunities over the next two days,” Mutua said. The company is seeking to employ nurses, commis, demi chefs, chef de partie, kitchen helpers, barbacks, runners, waitresses, and steward supervisors in…
Police have recorded 339 cases between August to October. Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja expressed concern over the recurring pattern of killings during this period in three years. In 2023, 336 cases were reported, while 341 cases were recorded in 2022. The latest incidents are currently under investigation. In one case, the partially decomposed body of Willis Onyango Aiyeko, 52, a Wells Fargo employee, was discovered in Mungowere stream, Khwisero Sub-County. He had been reported missing at Siaya Police Station on October 21, 2024. His family is expected to transport the body to Nairobi from the Siaya Teaching and…
A radio station in Poland has ignited debate after replacing its journalists with AI-generated presenters. OFF Radio Krakow, located in the southern city of Krakow, relaunched this week as what it described as “the first experiment in Poland where journalists are virtual characters created by AI.” The station said its new AI avatars are designed to engage younger audiences by discussing cultural, artistic, and social topics, including issues affecting the LGBTQ+ community. Marcin Pulit, the head of the station, explained that the move aims to explore the role of artificial intelligence in media. “Is AI an opportunity or a threat…
Ron Ely, best known for playing the title role in the 1960s NBC series Tarzan, has died at the age of 86. His daughter, Kirsten Casale Ely, confirmed to the Associated Press that Ely passed away on September 29 at his home in Los Alamos, California. Though not as widely recognized as Johnny Weismuller, the Olympic swimmer who portrayed Tarzan in earlier films, Ely left a lasting mark on the character. His portrayal of the iconic jungle hero in the TV series helped shape the image of Tarzan for a new generation. “He was an actor, writer, coach, mentor, family…
Kisumu County Governor Anyang’ Nyong’o has expressed deep sorrow over the passing of renowned scholar Prof. Shem Migoti-Adhola, who died on Tuesday after an illness. In his condolence message, Governor Nyong’o remembered Prof. Migoti-Adhola as a close friend and a distinguished academic. “I have learned with deep sorrow about the death of my friend Shem Migoti-Adhola,” Nyong’o said. He praised Prof. Migoti-Adhola for his significant contributions to both academia and socio-economic development, noting his leadership in government, the private sector, and various universities. Prof. Migoti-Adhola was also recognized for his work with the Institute of Policy Analysis and Research. “On…
Kentucky state Sen. Johnnie Turner died Tuesday from injuries he suffered after being thrown into an empty swimming pool while riding his lawnmower just more than a month ago. Turner, 76, formerly served in the U.S. Army as a medic and was an attorney in Cumberland, Ky., before joining the Legislature. The Republican had been in office since 2021, and previously served in the Kentucky House from 1999-2003. “This loss is deeply personal to me, as I have known Johnnie long before our paths crossed in public office. I will miss my friend; my heart breaks for his wife, Maritza,…
Pop superstar Beyoncé will appear with Vice President Kamala Harris at her event in Houston on Friday evening, according to three sources familiar with the plans. Beyoncé is also expected to perform, according to one of the sources, who has direct knowledge of the preparations. The Washington Post first reported the news of Beyonce’s appearance. The pop star is from Houston and her appearance comes as the vice president has welcomed other musicians, like Bruce Springsteen and Eminem, to the campaign trail. The vice president has racked up a slew of prominent celebrity endorsements since jumping into the race in July,…