Why Haiti mission should prompt US to soul searchFriday, May 24th, 2024 00:00 | By PrintPresident Williiam Ruto is received by the President of the United States of America Joe Biden at The White House. PCSPresident William Ruto attended a rare U.S. state reception for an African leader yesterday – but much of the chat focused on a third country: Haiti. Life expectancy is just 63 years, compared with 76 in the United States and 72 in Latin America and the Caribbeanas a whole. Haiti today has to import most of the rice it consumes, largely from the United States. The United States took 60 years to recognize Haiti and invaded and occupied the nation from 1915 to 1934.

The Justice Department says Live Nation also threatened to retaliate against one firm if it did not stop a subsidiary from competing for artist promotion contracts. Michael Carrier, a professor at Rutgers Law School who specialises in antitrust litigation, said the Justice Department has a strong case. “And, in terms of justifications, there is really very little that (Live Nation) can offer in terms of how they’re helping the consumer.”A breakup between Live Nation and Ticketmaster is possible, Mr Carrier said. The company owns or controls more than 265 of North America’s concert venues and dozens of top amphitheatres, according to the Justice Department. The Justice Department allowed Live Nation and Ticketmaster to merge as long as Live Nation agreed not to retaliate against concert venues for using other ticket companies for 10 years.

Presidential menu: What Ruto and Mama Rachel will be served at White House State DinnerPresident William Ruto and First Lady Rachel Ruto will Thursday night be hosted by the Bidens for a State Dinner at the White House after a State Visit invitation by President Joe Biden. Kenya will be the first African nation in nearly 15 years, to be hosted for a state dinner at the White House, with a menu that includes butter-poached lobster and a white chocolate basket with banana ganache, raspberries, peaches and candied lime zest. President Ruto started his historic four-day State visit to the United States of America on Monday, the first by an African leader in 15 years. For starters, President Ruto and the First Lady will be served chilled heirloom tomato soup with sourdough crisps and arbequina olive oil. State dinner planning is done by the first lady’s staff and the White House social office, and starts months in advance.

The US Department of Justice filed a major antitrust lawsuit Thursday seeking to break up an alleged monopoly in the live music industry between concert promoter Live Nation Entertainment and its subsidiary, bookings website Ticketmaster. "It is time to break up Live Nation." Widespread outages and exorbitant fees caused an uproar, with lawmakers in Washington holding hearings to question Live Nation executives over the debacle. The move against Live Nation also comes as the Biden administration, according to polls, is seen by voters as failing to do enough to curb inflation. Ticketmaster was accused of organizing a boycott of Pearl Jam by live venues and the band eventually gave up its campaign against the ticketing giant.

Kenya to get major non-NATO ally status in Ruto’s US state visitThursday, May 23rd, 2024 09:27 | By AgenciesPresident William Ruto and his US Counterpart Joe Biden during a roundtable meeting on Wednesday May 22, 2024. PHOTO/ @StateHouseKenya/XPresident Joe Biden will extend major non-NATO ally status to Kenya during the three-day state visit by the African country’s leader this week, two U.S. officials confirmed. President Joe Biden will extend major non-NATO ally status to Kenya during the three-day state visit by the African country’s leader this week, two U.S. officials confirmed. Even though Biden has yet to travel to the continent, as he promised to do, the major non-NATO ally status might serve as a consolation and sign of intent. The new status, which is largely symbolic, could offer more legitimacy to the East African nation’s mission.

Ms Achieng started using the charcoal jiko three years ago after ditching a clean cooking fuel because she could not sustain the cost. Overall, the ministry’s data shows Kenya’s uptake of clean cooking fuels has doubled from 15 per cent to 31 per cent in recent years. There is also no mention of developing a local economy in clean cooking technology that would be sustainable over the long term,” he said. The summit ended with a $2.2 billion pledge to accelerate clean cooking in the continent. The IEA advises that main options for clean cooking are improved biomass stoves, e-cooking or electric stoves, bio-digesters, ethanol, gas stoves and LPG stoves.

“It is time to break up Live Nation-Ticketmaster,” US Attorney General Merrick Garland said in a statement announcing the lawsuit. Live Nation, the self-proclaimed “largest live entertainment company in the world,” drew antitrust scrutiny when it merged with ticketing giant Ticketmaster in 2010. In 2019, the DOJ and Live Nation agreed to update and extend the 2010 consent decree they entered when the government allowed the merger to go through without a challenge. The DOJ’s antitrust investigation into Live Nation was reportedly opened shortly after this incident, according to The New York Times. In the complaint, the DOJ details several methods that Live Nation-Ticketmaster allegedly used to lock up the market.

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He has been touring the nation protected by special agents from the US's Diplomatic Security Service (DSS). Kenyans.co.ke profiles the elite group that has offered security to dignitaries such as President Ruto for over a century. DSS has more than 2,500 agents, security engineering officers, security technical specialists, and diplomatic couriers. Special agents also advise the US ambassador on security matters, investigate passport and visa fraud, conduct personnel security investigations and manage a complex range of security programs. Training and RecruitmentTo keep up with the changing technology and tactics used by militants, the security team offers intense training depending on the role of the agent.

Mr Cheruiyot Kirui, an accomplished climber who had reached the peak of Mount Kenya more than 10 times, went missing above 8,000 metres on Mt Everest on Wednesday. "With profound sadness, we share the news of Kenyan mountaineer Cheruiyot Kirui's passing on Mt Everest. AdvertisementRead: Kagambi's journey to the world's rooftopKenyan hiker Cheruiyot Kirui posted this photo in his trekking update he posted on Instagram page on April 27, 2024. PHOTO | INSTAGRAM via Cheruiyot Kirui (cheruiyot_ak)The fate of Mr Nawang Sherpa, who was with Mr Kirui in the 'death zone', was still unknown on Thursday morning, according to base camp officials. Mr Kirui becomes the second hiker to be confirmed dead in the ill-fated expedition after Romanian climber Gabriel Tavara was found lifeless inside his tent at Camp III on Tuesday.

Kenya’s Haiti mission top of agenda in Ruto-Biden meetingThursday, May 23rd, 2024 11:09 | By AgenciesFormer Haitian Prime Minister Ariel Henry, second from left, after giving a lecture at United States International University in Nairobi, Kenya, on March 1, 2024. The planned deployment of police to Haiti, a first for the East African country outside the continent, has sparked fierce debates in Kenya’s Parliament and its courts. Former Haitian Prime Minister Ariel Henry, second from left, after giving a lecture at United States International University in Nairobi, Kenya, on March 1, 2024. For months, the Security Council failed to find a country to step up and lead such a mission after a previous UN mission to Haiti was beset by controversies. However, there are disagreements on the Haiti mission, analysts point out.

The role of speaker makes Kamerhe, a close ally of President Felix Tshisekedi, the country's number two authority. Of the 407 members of parliament who cast ballots on Monday, 371 voted in favour of Kamerhe's candidacy for speaker. Tshisekedi named Judith Suminwa as Congo's first female prime minister on April 1. The Sacred Union, Tshisekedi's coalition, has a majority in parliament with at least 90 percent of elected members of the 500 seats in parliament. Kamerhe has previously served as Tshisekedi's chief of staff and as deputy prime minister of the economy.

The initiative, which was unveiled with the support of Global Gateway, Europe’s investment strategy initiative for the world, will support the nation’s goal of a complete 100 percent transition to clean power generation by 2030. “By making the Kenyan energy system more resilient, efficient and clean, the programme definitely contributes to Kenya’s energy and climate goals, powering socio-economic growth and transformation. It will also support reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and green industrialization,” said CS Chirchir. “The programme will support Kenya’s socioeconomic development and green transition. It boosts the renewable energy sector by increasing electricity generation capacity, through additional generation from hydro, geothermal and solar sources, and strengthening reliability and efficiency of the transmission system,” stated Simson, European Commissioner.

US expected to designate Kenya as major non-NATO ally, source saysU.S. President Joe Biden is expected to designate Kenya as a major non-NATO ally during a three-day state visit by Kenyan President William Ruto this week, a source familiar with the plans said. The two leaders will meet again in the Oval Office on Thursday, followed by a joint news conference and a state dinner. Biden’s designation of Kenya as a major non-NATO ally comes as it is preparing to send forces to Haiti as part of a U.N.-led force deploying to address the security crisis in the Caribbean. The designation is granted by the United States to close, non-NATO allies that have strategic working relationships with the U.S. military. Biden in March designated Qatar as a major non-NATO ally of the U.S., fulfilling the promise he had made to Qatar earlier in the year.

Gusty winds and small hail are possible. Winds WSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 70%..TonightVariable clouds with showers and scattered thunderstorms. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 50%.