A Syrian court has sentenced ousted dictator Bashar al-Assad to death in absentia, after convicting him of committing war crimes and crimes against humanity during the country’s civil war. Assad fled from Damascus to Moscow with his family after his regime was overthrown in December 2024, ending his family’s five-decade grip on power. In the same case, the court also sentenced to death Atef Najib, Assad’s cousin and the former head of political security in southern Syria’s Deraa province. He appeared inside a cage in the courtroom as the judge read out his sentence. Deraa is widely seen as the…
Author: Special Correspondent
African countries have been urged to step up preparations for what could become one of the strongest El Nino events on record, as climate experts warn that heavy rains, floods, droughts and other extreme weather conditions could trigger widespread humanitarian and economic impacts across the continent from October. Meteorological and climate experts say forecasts point to a high likelihood of a strong El Nino developing later this year, prompting governments and regional institutions to accelerate disaster preparedness measures to reduce the risks posed by flooding, food insecurity, water shortages and disease outbreaks. According to the World Meteorological Organization, or WMO,…
Kenya’s Deputy President Kithure Kindiki has challenged African countries to fast-track their development agenda, saying the continent has the resources, talent and potential to attain first-world status if leaders focus on long-term investments instead of short-term political and economic gains. Speaking on behalf of President William Ruto at the Infra for Africa Forum and Africa50 General Shareholders Meeting in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, Prof. Kindiki urged African nations to believe in their ability to drive sustainable growth through strategic infrastructure development. In his speech, Prof. Kindiki emphasized the need for African countries to invest in long-term visions that would guarantee…
The construction of the long-awaited Nithi River Bridge in Tharaka Nithi County has moved a step closer after the Ministry of Lands officially launched the land acquisition and compensation process for residents whose properties will be affected by the project. The exercise marks a key milestone in the implementation of the bridge, which is expected to improve transport, enhance road safety and stimulate economic growth in the region. The launch brought together national and county government officials, local administrators and residents as the government began implementing the project aimed at eliminating one of the country’s most dangerous road black spots.…
KCB Group has received approval from the High Court to auction Cytonn’s Cysuites Hotel in a bid to recover a defaulted loan of Sh425.6 million. The court ruled that Cytonn Investments had no legal standing to stop the auction since it is not the registered owner of the property. In a judgement delivered on 2 August 2026, Justice Freda Mugambi dismissed Cytonn Investments’ attempt to block the sale, determining that while Cytonn was a shareholder in the registered owner, Wasini Resorts Limited, it had no legal standing to interfere with the bank’s security rights. Although Cytonn Investments argued that it…
Kenya, UK strike deal to resume military exercises Kenya and the United Kingdom have reached an agreement allowing joint military training to continue, easing a dispute that had threatened the presence of British Forces in Laikipia. The resolution follows bilateral talks after the UK Ministry of Defence delayed its annual training exercise in Kenya, known as Exercise Haraka Storm. The UK said the delay was linked to the lack of necessary operational licences and permissions from the Kenyan government. The issue emerged amid concerns from Kenyan lawmakers over possible amendments to the long-standing Kenya-UK Defence Cooperation Agreement (DCA). At the…
Saudi Arabia and the US have carried out strikes against Iran-backed militias in Iraq, in a potential escalation of the Middle East conflict. US Central Command (Centcom) said the strikes were against “Iran-aligned terrorists that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) directed to attack US forces and Saudi energy infrastructure”. Iraq’s paramilitary Popular Mobilisation Forces (PMF), which is dominated by Iran-backed Shia militias, said at least 20 of its members had been killed in US-Saudi strikes on its bases. It came hours after Centcom said Iran had launched missiles at US forces in the Middle East in an “attempted surprise…
The High Court has declared that the continued enforcement of Kenya’s shisha smoking ban is unlawful, ruling that the regulations used to enforce the prohibition expired after the government failed to regularise them within the period set by the court. In a ruling delivered by Justice Bahati Mwamuye on Tuesday, July 28, 2026, the court found that the Public Health (Control of Shisha Smoking) Rules, 2017, had ceased to have effect after the expiry of a nine-month period granted to the government to address legal shortcomings identified in an earlier judgment. “The Public Health Control of Shisha Smoking Rules 2017,…
University applicants have been cautioned against providing false information about their family circumstances in an effort to secure higher levels of state funding, with officials warning that verification systems will be used to identify fraudulent claims. The Universities Fund, which administers government scholarships, has urged students applying for government scholarships and loans to provide accurate details, saying false declarations about family status could undermine efforts to support genuinely vulnerable learners. Speaking during a public sensitisation forum at Uriri High School in Migori County, Universities Fund Acting Chief Executive Officer Dr Edwin Wanyonyi warned applicants against misrepresenting their circumstances, including making…
Jubilee Party Deputy Organising Secretary Pauline Njoroge has resigned from the party after 14 years of service, ending her tenure at the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) and her membership in the party. Njoroge announced her resignation in a statement on Tuesday, July 21, 2026, saying she was stepping down from the NEC with immediate effect. “For the last fourteen years, I have walked an incredible political journey. Today, however, I believe the time has come to embrace a new chapter,” she said. She also disclosed that she has been involved with the Linda Mwananchi movement since February, describing it…
