Hellen Obiri of Kenya shattered a 22-year-old course record on Sunday at the TCS New York City Marathon, crossing the finish line in 2 hours, 19 minutes, and 51 seconds. Margaret Okayo, also from Kenya, had held the previous mark of 2:22:31 since 2003. Obiri remained alongside Sharon Lokedi through most of the 26.2-mile race before surging during the final mile with a blazing 4:58 split that left her competitor behind.
Kenyan athletes claimed all three podium positions in a historic sweep. Lokedi took second place with a time of 2:20:07, while Sheila Chepkirui rounded out the top three at 2:20:24. The dominant performance trimmed more than two minutes from the longstanding benchmark.
Obiri has built an impressive resume across...
Authorities in Kiambu County began probing a deadly crash on Sunday afternoon that sparked vigilante violence after an enraged crowd burned a passenger vehicle following a fatal collision along Thika Road. A 33-seat minibus struck and killed a pedestrian near Juja town when its operator lost control of the vehicle, according to witness accounts. Angry residents and motorcycle taxi operators surrounded the transport, extracted its operator, and ignited the bus while passengers fled to safety. Video footage circulating online captured dense smoke billowing from the engulfed vehicle as spectators observed from afar. Emergency responders extinguished flames but found destruction upon arrival.
Traffic ground to a halt on the congested...
Youth organizer Kasmuel McOure urged Orange Democratic Movement politicians to publicly support their coalition arrangement with UDA after backing the partnership during private negotiations. McOure told party officials on Sunday that elected representatives should honor commitments made behind closed doors rather than distancing themselves from the unity government when facing constituents. The activist emphasized that cooperation talks involved strategic planning for electoral zones and candidate coordination across both organizations.
McOure warned against political maneuvering that contradicts decisions reached by senior leadership. He reminded members that the Broad-Based framework includes mutual endorsements and occasional...
Pope Leo XIV called for calm in Tanzania during his weekly address at St. Peter's Square, urging citizens to reject violence after deadly clashes marred national elections held on Oct. 29. The pontiff told thousands gathered for Sunday Mass that dialogue must replace aggression as multiple deaths and injuries were reported from election-related turmoil across the East African country. Tanzanian officials have not released casualty figures.
The Catholic leader also condemned atrocities in Sudan, where humanitarian conditions continue deteriorating amid civil war between the Rapid Support Forces and Sudanese Armed Forces that began in April 2023. About 14 million people have fled their homes in a nation of 51 million as famine spreads...
Scientists at the University of Surrey created a method that boosts artificial intelligence systems by replicating how human brains organize connections between neurons. The technique, detailed in the journal Neurocomputing, links each artificial neuron only to adjacent or related units rather than creating vast webs of connections across entire networks. This approach mirrors biological brain structure and drastically reduces energy consumption while maintaining accuracy in modern AI applications like ChatGPT and similar generative models.
Senior lecturer Dr. Roman Bauer said intelligent systems can now operate far more efficiently while slashing power requirements. He noted that training popular large AI models currently uses more...
Former leader Nangolo Mbumba called on citizens to support Swapo during a campaign event on Saturday in Divundu, arguing the ruling party represents the sole political organization proven reliable across decades. Speaking at a gathering in Mukwe constituency within Kavango East region, Mbumba told supporters that Swapo has maintained dedication to bettering conditions for residents since independence fighters gave their lives during the liberation struggle.
The ex-president highlighted 35 years of governance as evidence of sustained peace and advancement under party control. He emphasized that President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah would continue pursuing prosperity for all sectors and communities. Mbumba pushed voters to elect August...
Kenyan authorities reported that 21 fatalities resulted from a massive earthslide in the nation's western region after torrential rains struck on Friday evening. Interior Minister Kipchumba Murkomen said rescue teams moved victims' remains to an adjacent landing strip following the disaster in Marakwet East. Over 30 individuals remained missing as family members continued reporting absences, while emergency helicopters transported 25 severely injured survivors for advanced treatment.
The Kenyan Red Cross coordinated recovery missions but reported that affected zones stayed cut off from vehicle access because of mudflows and sudden flooding. Officials halted search operations on Saturday but announced plans to continue efforts on...
Scholar Gerson Shikukumwa argues that land ownership patterns in southern Africa remain fundamentally unchanged since colonial rule ended, with white minorities controlling disproportionate shares despite decades of independence. According to figures from Advocating for Justice in Southern Africa, whites make up 7.3 percent of South Africans but control 72 percent of agricultural land, while black Africans, who constitute 81.4 percent of the population, hold just 4 percent. In Namibia, whites possess 27 percent of 39 million farmland hectares compared with 16 percent owned by black citizens.
Shikukumwa contends that post-independence reconciliation efforts masked structural inequalities rather than addressing them. He describes...
Officials have dropped the requirement for business registration papers when young entrepreneurs seek money from the National Youth Development Fund, according to a government announcement on Friday. Applicants who receive approval will complete their registration with the Business and Intellectual Property Authority after their projects get the green light.
Finance ministry executive director Michael Humavindu said the change represents part of wider reforms that include raising the maximum age from 35 to 45 years. Starting December 1, entrepreneurs can submit requests directly to three institutions: the Development Bank of Namibia, the Agricultural Bank of Namibia, and the Environmental Investment Fund. During a trial period from...
