ars and defiance as Lebanese family bury child, 11, killed in Israeli strike

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March 28, 2026

Hugo Bachegaand

Samantha Granville,in Saksakiyeh, southern Lebanon

BBC Jawad wears a grey hoodie and smiles for the camera — Jawad is one of the latest civilian victims

A funeral has been held in a southern Lebanese village for an 11-year-old boy and his uncle who were killed in an Israeli air strike.

Jawad Younes and his uncle, 41-year-old Ragheb Younes, were laid to rest in Saksakiyeh on Saturday after their family compound was hit a day earlier.

They are among the latest casualties in Israel’s offensive against the Iran-backed armed group Hezbollah, after the group fired rockets into Israel earlier this month amid the war between the US and Israel against Iran.

Lebanese health officials say more than 1,100 people have been killed since the escalation began, with civilians increasingly caught in the crossfire.

The Israeli military did not respond to a request for comment on the intended target of the strike that hit the Younes family compound.

Hundreds gathered in Saksakiyeh town centre for Jawad and Ragheb’s funeral.

Women dressed in black robes wailed over the bodies, one of which was draped in Hezbollah’s yellow flag – a reflection of the group’s support in this largely Shia area.

Malak Meslmani, Jawad’s mother, sat beside her son’s body with tears streaming down her face.

“My son is gentle and pure,” she said.

“He loved the idea of martyrdom, and when he grew up, he wanted to be with the resistance.

“He wanted to resist the enemy Israel who killed him.”

As the funeral procession made its way to the grave site, the sound of Israeli air strikes echoed in the distance. Plumes of smoke rose above nearby hilltops.

The strike on the Younes family home happened shortly after 13:00 (11:00 GMT) on Friday. Jawad’s father, Hussein Younes, said his son had been playing football with his nine cousins at the time.

Standing in front of the ruins of his home, Jawad’s father threw his hands in the air, and shouted: “I don’t know! I don’t know!”, when asked why the Israeli military had targeted the house.

“If this was a military base, no kids would be here,” he told the BBC.

The BBC spoke to multiple members of the family and local council members who all said the family had no involvement with Hezbollah militarily.Five people survived the attack, and those wounded were taken to a nearby hospital. Among them was Jawad’s aunt, Zeinab.

“Before it happened, me and my husband were inside,” she said, speaking through tears from her hospital bed.

“We didn’t see anything, and we didn’t hear anything… Then I found myself under a pile of rubble.”

Zeinab is being treated for a broken spine and a fractured leg. Doctors say they are hopeful she will walk again, but she is likely to require extensive surgery.

She said there had been no warning ahead of the strike, and that the family would have fled had they been alerted.

1:58’Our home is gone, everything is gone’: BBC speaks to displaced Lebanese families

Israel says it will take control of large buffer zone in southern Lebanon

Fear and defiance in southern Lebanon city as Israel-Hezbollah war intensifies

Jaward and Ragheb’s burial comes just a day after another family in the same neighbourhood buried two children and their mother. They were also killed in Israeli bombardment amid another wave of deadly strikes across southern Lebanon.

On Saturday, three Lebanese journalists were killed in what authorities described as a targeted Israeli strike on their media vehicle, including Ali Shoeib, a well-known correspondent for Al Manar TV, a station affiliated with Hezbollah.

The Israeli army described him as a Hezbollah member who had been exposing Israeli military positions in southern Lebanon, without providing evidence to support the claims.

Lebanon’s President, Joseph Aoun, condemned the attack as a “blatant crime” that violated all norms under which journalists should be protected during war.

The Committee to Protect Journalists has previously accused Israel of repeatedly killing media professionals while alleging they were militants without providing credible evidence.

Also on Saturday, an Israeli air strike killed five paramedics in the town of Zoutar. Human rights groups say Israel’s repeated attacks on healthcare workers in Lebanon could amount to war crimes.

Since 2 March, Israeli air strikes have battered towns and villages across Lebanon, while ground forces continue to advance in the south as part of an ongoing offensive. Israel says its operations are aimed at Hezbollah targets, but civilians are frequently among those killed.

On Friday, the UN’s refugee agency warned that Lebanon was facing a worsening humanitarian crisis that could become catastrophic, with more than one million people now displaced.

Lebanon remains trapped in a cycle of violence, with Israel and Hezbollah both vowing to continue the fight despite the mounting human cost.

Many, like the surviving members of the Younes family, say they are willing to pay the price.

“We are not afraid of the war, because we are not afraid of death,” Zainab’s son Ali said.

Security Committee Flags Infrastructure and Security Gaps at Malaba Border

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March 28, 2026

The Administration and Internal Security Committee today conducted an inspection visit to the Malaba Border Post, where officials raised urgent concerns over infrastructure deficiencies and security challenges affecting operations at the busy crossing point.

The officials who included the Director, Deputy County Commissioner, and representatives from the Kenya Revenue Authority, spoke in unison on the pressing need for improvements, citing the strain placed on existing facilities by high traffic volumes.

In his remarks, the Director highlighted the inadequacy of the current road network, noting that the carriageway is too narrow to accommodate the large number of trailers that transit through the border daily. This, he said, contributes to congestion and delays in cargo clearance.

Concerns were also raised regarding the capacity of the existing warehouse. One official observed that the facility appears to have been constructed without anticipating the current volume of cargo, resulting in significant operational challenges.

The area MP and Committee Member, Hon. Oku Kaunya, underscored the strategic importance of Malaba Border, describing it as the second-largest entry point in the country, handling approximately 73 percent of cargo. He emphasized the urgent need to upgrade infrastructure, including expanding the road into a dual carriageway to enhance efficiency and ease congestion.

Hon. Kaunya further proposed the elevation of Malaba to a passport issuance centre, citing the vast and busy nature of the border. He also raised concerns over security infrastructure, noting that although plans for a new police station exist, progress has stalled despite land being available.

He urged the Committee to fast-track the project, stating that it would significantly bolster security in the area.

Additional issues highlighted during the meeting included frequent power outages, inadequate transport for officers, insufficient/ poor housing, and the prevalence of fraudulent documentation.

The Director in charge of Immigration presented evidence of attempted forgery, revealing a case where an individual tried to replicate his official security stamp to fraudulently facilitate cargo clearance, an incident that underscores the growing sophistication of cross-border crime.

The Committee, led by Hon. Col. (Rtd.) Dido Rasso, reaffirmed its commitment to addressing the challenges raised and ensuring that Malaba Border is equipped to effectively serve its critical role in regional trade and security.

By Anthony Solly

“I am not a politician who can be intimidated” Senator Osotsi Declines Court Battle Over ODM Ouster, Alleges Political Scheme

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March 28, 2026

By Andrew Kariuki

Vihiga Senator Godfrey Osotsi has said he will not challenge his removal as Deputy Party Leader of the Orange Democratic Movement in court, opting instead to focus on advancing what he described as the party’s “true ideals.”

In a strongly worded statement following his ouster, Osotsi criticised the leadership changes effected during the Linda Ground faction’s National Delegates Convention (NDC), arguing that the process failed to adhere to the party constitution.

He maintained that while he had a strong legal case to contest the decision, he had chosen to channel his efforts toward championing democratic principles within the rival Linda Mwananchi faction.

“My removal only serves to grant me greater opportunity to engage more vigorously in championing the interests of the party and the people of Kenya,” he stated.

Osotsi further claimed that his removal was part of a broader political scheme, revealing that he had previously declined an offer to serve as Secretary General following the removal of Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna.

He said he rejected the position on principle, insisting that Sifuna had committed no wrongdoing, and suggested that his stance may have provoked retaliation from party power brokers.

“This decision appeared to anger those orchestrating these changes and I was warned of consequences at the NDC, where efforts were reportedly made to script reactions against me through coordinated meetings and coaching of selected individuals posing as delegates,” he said.

The senator also accused the State of interfering in ODM’s internal affairs, alleging that police were deployed to block the Linda Mwananchi faction’s planned “People’s National Delegates Convention” at Ufungamano House.

He termed the disruption politically motivated and dismissed the rival Linda Ground gathering as stage-managed.

“I did not attend the NDC convened under Oburu Oginga as I considered it both irregular and inconsistent with the original purpose for which it was intended,” he said.

“I am not a politician who can be intimidated or governed by fear and I remain steadfast in my commitment to democratic principles.”

The developments come amid a deepening rift within ODM following the death of longtime party leader Raila Odinga on October 15, 2025.

During the Linda Ground NDC held at Jamhuri Grounds, delegates ratified Oburu Oginga as the party leader, with Mombasa Governor Abdulswamad Shariff Nassir and Kisii Governor Simba Arati approved as Deputy Party Leaders.

Osotsi was dropped during the process after failing to secure a proposer and seconder.

The parallel meetings have exposed widening divisions within ODM, with competing factions laying claim to the party’s direction and legacy in the post-Raila era.

IEBC to Launch New Voter Registration Drive After Adding 277,903 Voters

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March 28, 2026

By Andrew Kariuki

The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission is set to roll out an Enhanced Continuous Voter Registration (ECVR) exercise beginning Monday, March 30, 2026, as part of efforts to boost voter numbers ahead of the 2027 General Election.

The 30-day exercise will run daily until April 28, 2026, covering all days of the week from Monday to Sunday.

According to the commission, registration will be conducted across multiple locations, including county assembly wards on a rotational basis guided by kit movement schedules, universities and colleges, Huduma Centres, constituency offices and the IEBC Customer Experience Centre at Anniversary Towers in Nairobi.

However, the commission clarified that the exercise will not be conducted in areas with ongoing by-elections or active election petitions.

The initiative is anchored on the theme “Deepening Democracy in Kenya Through Inclusive Voter Registration.”

IEBC Commissioner Ann Nderitu said the exercise will prioritize grassroots access by taking registration services to the ward level to reach more eligible voters.

She revealed that since September 2025, the commission has already registered 277,903 new voters under the continuous voter registration programme.

Nderitu noted that the exercise will offer three key services: registration of new voters, transfer of voters to new constituencies, and correction of voter details.

“For correction of particulars and transfer, this will be done at the constituency level, where a voter is required to visit the constituency they wish to register in,” she said.

IEBC Chairperson Erastus Ethekon said the commission has put in place extensive infrastructure to support the exercise.

“By Monday, we will have registration centres across all villages and wards, over 33,000. This exercise will be massive,” Ethekon stated.

The commission has urged all eligible Kenyans who have not registered as voters, as well as those seeking to update their details, to take advantage of the exercise.

“We’re all behind him”: Henderson confirms England’s support for White

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March 28, 2026

Henderson: England players “will always support” Ben White after fan jeers

Jordan Henderson has said he and his England team-mates “will always support” Ben White, after the Arsenal defender was booed by sections of the crowd during Friday’s 1-1 draw with Uruguay at Wembley.

White, 28, was met with loud jeers when he came on as a 69th-minute substitute and again after opening the scoring 12 minutes later. The match marked his first England appearance since leaving the 2022 World Cup in Qatar for personal reasons.

He subsequently asked not to be considered for selection for the remainder of Gareth Southgate’s tenure as England manager.

“As team-mates, we are always there to support,” said Brentford midfielder Jordan Henderson, 35, who himself was booed by England fans following his controversial move to Saudi Arabian side Al-Ettifaq.

“I have been through it myself, but that is part and parcel of being an England player.

“Some of the fans probably don’t even know why they are booing—they listen to what is being said in the media, and a lot of the time what the media says isn’t true.

“Not many people know the ins and outs of what happened in Qatar, and it is for us to deal with internally. Ben has been good since he came back in, and we will support him as team-mates.”

By James Kisoo

Vihiga High Court Orders Re-Sentencing in Robbery with Violence Case

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March 28, 2026

By Andrew Kariuki

The High Court in Vihiga has allowed an application by a death row convict seeking review of his sentence in a robbery with violence case, paving the way for re-sentencing.

In a judgment delivered on March 24, 2026, Justice J. Kamau ruled in favour of petitioner Daniel Njihia Njuguna, who had challenged his death sentence imposed under Section 296(2) of the Penal Code.

Njuguna had previously exhausted all appeal avenues, including the High Court and the Court of Appeal, both of which upheld his conviction and sentence. However, he returned to court in January 2025 seeking a sentence review based on constitutional provisions and evolving jurisprudence on mandatory sentences.

In his application, the petitioner argued that the mandatory death sentence was unconstitutional and denied courts discretion in sentencing. He cited various legal precedents and constitutional provisions, including Article 50(2)(p), which guarantees the right to benefit from the least severe punishment.

He further urged the court to consider his mitigation, noting that he had taken responsibility for the offence, was a first offender, and had undergone rehabilitation while in custody.

The court found merit in the application, noting that it had jurisdiction to review the sentence under Article 50(2)(q) of the Constitution and did not need to remit the matter back to a lower court.

Justice Kamau directed that the petitioner provide documents to support his mitigation by May 16, 2026, while the Probation Office was ordered to file a pre-sentence report by April 30, 2026.

The petitioner is expected to appear before the court on May 7, 2026, for mitigation and re-sentencing.

The ruling reflects the growing shift in Kenya’s legal system toward reviewing mandatory sentences, particularly in light of constitutional protections and evolving sentencing guidelines.

What now for Woods after latest arrest?

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March 28, 2026

By Peter John

Would he play or wouldn’t he? Any golf fan thinking of Tiger Woods in the past week or so was probably wondering if we would see him compete at next month’s Masters.

Now the questions are much darker.

It was known that this all time great golfer was in a race to recover from a ruptured Achilles and two back surgeries in time to take on the undulating demands of Augusta National.

It seemed a race he was losing.

But Woods, a 15-times major champion and one of the most dominant figures the sporting world has ever seen, was refusing to give up on the dream.

“I keep trying,” the 50-year-old said last Tuesday. “I want to play. I love the tournament.”

In one dramatic incident, his priority has switched to dealing with the latest hit to his reputation – arrest, eight hours in jail, another bleary-eyed mugshot dominating news outlets and charges including driving under the influence.

He has been here before – trying to recover from injuries that would have ended most athletic careers, as well as driving incidents that have crushed his reputation.

In the 2009 crash that precipitated his initial downfall, Woods was found to have sleeping pills in his system. Eight years later he was discovered asleep in a haphazardly parked car 15 miles from his Florida home.

There was damage to the driver’s side of the Mercedes. He later explained he had suffered a reaction to medications prescribed in the wake of four back surgeries, including a spinal fusion.

Woods pleaded guilty to reckless driving and entered a programme for first-time DUI offenders. It was also reported that he checked into a treatment clinic.

The incident led to the publication of a first dishevelled mugshot, a savage contrast to thousands of glorious pictures that had celebrated his status as an all-conquering champion.

And those were the images that returned with his improbable fifth Masters victory in 2019, fused back and all, achieved at the age of 43. Again Woods had shown himself to be a genuinely extraordinary sporting hero.

Within two years, though, his fortunes plummeted once more. Woods’ high-speed single vehicle crash near Los Angeles nearly cost the former world number one his right leg.

Californian police were criticised for not testing for impairment. Many observers found it surprising that officers felt there was no evidence to suggest they needed to carry out such tests.

It was a horrific crash. Woods’ leg needed surgical rebuilding and there were plenty who doubted his golfing future. But, remarkably, he hobbled his way back.

Too often, though, the pain was evident to the watching galleries. Then followed the ruptured Achilles 13 months ago and two further back surgeries.

We have not seen him play competitive golf outdoors since the Open of July 2024, his only action a nine-shot cameo in this week’s TGL indoor simulator finals.

Of late, Woods’ primary influence has been off the course, chairing the PGA Tour’s Future Competitions Committee.

It is a relatively recent appointment, but for the best part of five years he has been at the forefront of shaping the tour’s response to the arrival of the breakaway LIV Golf circuit.

He was too busy to take America’s Ryder Cup captaincy last year and is currently weighing up whether to accept the job for the 2027 match at Adare Manor in Ireland.

But such roles, returning to action (he has registered for June’s US Senior Open) and indeed any public-facing activities have been upended in the way his Range Rover flipped on to its side on Friday afternoon.

Police officers are analysing skid marks on Jupiter Island’s 30mph South Beach Road to gauge the speed of the 82-time tour winner’s car while attempting his ill-fated overtake manoeuvre.

Prosecutors are looking to build their case on three charges: driving under influence (despite passing a breathalyser test for alcohol), refusing to give a urine sample and damage to property.

Regardless of whether he is able to play at the Masters, Woods was expected to be in Georgia for the unveiling of The Patch – a revamped public golf course he has worked on with the Augusta National club. He was also looking forward to Rory McIlroy’s champion’s dinner on the Tuesday night.

Instead, talk shows across America and beyond are into overdrive on a far less wholesome agenda, speculating about the turbulent life of this elite sportsman – someone who has enjoyed and endured more extreme highs and lows than pretty much any other.

Trying to play the Masters, trying to hit a ball 300 yards, escaping from the sand, holing a delicate three-footer or trying to mastermind the future of men’s professional golf or captaining his country all pale in significance now.

Tiger Woods’ priorities must lie elsewhere. He is in a bunker of a different kind. Recurring road incidents had already shown a deeply troubled side to this supreme champion.

And it has happened again.

Man City Faces Daunting Task of Replacing Captain Silva

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March 28, 2026

Manchester City

could lose the services of their manager and captain next season with the futures of both Pep Guardiola and Bernardo Silva in question beyond this summer.

Manager Guardiola has led the club to an unprecedented period of success during his tenure and midfielder Silva – his most trusted lieutenant – has been beside him every step of the way.

When the skipper climbed the steps at Wembley Stadium following City’s brilliant Carabao Cup final win over Arsenal on Sunday, it was the 18th piece of silverware he had lifted since joining the club from Monaco in 2017.

Silva may not quite have the standing of past City icons such as Kevin de Bruyne, Sergio Aguero, Vincent Kompany or David Silva, but his achievements will undoubtedly sit alongside theirs when he does make his exit from Etihad Stadium.

By James Kisoo

House Republicans reject Senate deal, prolonging partial US government shutdown

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March 28, 2026

By Peter John

Republicans in the US House of Representatives have rejected a bipartisan deal to reopen the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and instead approved a different plan, prolonging the shutdown that has caused huge delays at airports.

Their Senate colleagues backed a bill that would have reopened most of DHS but excluded funding for immigration agencies to garner support from Democrats.

House Republican leaders rejected this, with Speaker Mike Johnson labelling the Senate bill a “joke”.

TSA agents, who manage US airport security, have not been paid in more than a month due to the impasse. Congress is now heading on a two-week break.

House Republicans are demanding that the legislation includes money for immigration enforcement, and their plan would mean funding DHS at current levels – including for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) – for 60 days.

“Republicans are not going to be any part of any effort to reopen our borders or to stop immigration enforcement,” Speaker Mike Johnson said.

They passed the measure in a 213 to 203 vote late on Friday. The bill will head back to the Senate for approval but top Democrat Chuck Schumer described it as “dead on arrival” in the upper chamber.

Democrats have pushed to halt funding to immigration agencies covered under DHS without reforms.

With Congress taking a two-week break, funding for the DHS – which covers TSA agents, as well as ICE and Customs and Border Protection – appears unlikely to pass any time soon.

President Donald Trump signed an order directing his administration to pay hundreds of airport security agents. The DHS posted on X late on Friday: “TSA officers should begin seeing paychecks as early as Monday, March 30.”

The move may be met with legal and political challenges, as the US Constitution tasks Congress with authorising spending for the federal government.

There has been widespread disruption at airports across the US, where travellers have faced hours-long queues due to a shortage of TSA officers at security checkpoints.

Around 50,000 agents with the TSA have been working without pay since mid-February. This has reduced the number turning up to work each day and led to hundreds quitting.

Currently, only a third to 50% of its TSA checkpoints are operating, according to Jim Szczesniak, director of aviation for the Houston Airport System.

A few hours before the Senate vote, Trump wrote on Truth Social that he would sign an executive order “to immediately pay our TSA Agents”.

“Trump should never have had to step in to rescue TSA workers and US air travel,” said the Republican Senate Majority Leader, John Thune, addressing the chamber after the vote.

“We’re here because, thanks to Democrats’ determined refusal to reach an agreement, there will be no Homeland Security funding bill this year,” he said.

Schumer said the package included funding for the TSA, US Coast Guard and Federal Emergency Management Agency.

He told the chamber that “in the wake of the murders of Renee Good and Alex Pretti, Senate democrats were clear: no blank cheque for a lawless ICE and border patrol”.

There has been mounting controversy over the actions of ICE agents, particularly in Minneapolis, Minnesota, where US citizens Good and Pretti were shot by federal agents during operations earlier this year.

Democrats want any deal on DHS funding to include measures like an end to ICE agents wearing masks, a ban on racial profiling and a requirement for judicial warrants to be issued before agents can enter private property.

MP Wamuchomba Appeals to President Ruto Over Alleged Injustice Involving Jailed Nephew of Senior Leader

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March 28, 2026

By Andrew Kariuki

Githunguri MP Gathoni Wamuchomba has made a public appeal to President William Ruto, calling for intervention in what she describes as a troubling case of alleged injustice involving a man said to be the nephew of a senior political figure.

In a statement shared on her official X page, Wamuchomba recounted a distressing narrative in which the man claims he was arrested and prosecuted under questionable circumstances following the illness and eventual death of his father.

According to the account, the individual alleges that during his father’s prolonged illness, he was subjected to intimidation through what he describes as fabricated court cases, allegedly orchestrated by his uncle in an attempt to obtain important documents entrusted to him by his father.

The situation is said to have escalated after the father’s death, when the man was arrested and charged in connection with the alleged theft of a vehicle said to have belonged to his late father. Despite maintaining his innocence, he was remanded for two years as the case remained pending before eventually being convicted and sentenced to 20 years in prison.

Wamuchomba further claimed that the man’s appeals were unsuccessful, with allegations that court files were lost along the way, leaving him to serve part of his sentence at Manyani Maximum Prison.

The MP also raised concerns over alleged family conflict, claiming that the man’s mother, described as the first wife, was forced to flee the country after facing intimidation, and later faced violence when attempting to return and pursue justice.

In the statement, Wamuchomba alleged that the individual’s uncle, now a senior figure in government, took control of the deceased’s properties and transferred them to other family members during the man’s incarceration.

She appealed directly to the President to use his constitutional powers to review the case and consider a presidential pardon, while also calling for protection to enable the man’s mother to return home safely.

“As a mother, I can share in his mother’s pain,” Wamuchomba stated, urging authorities to intervene and ensure justice is served.

The claims have not been independently verified, and no official response has been issued by the individuals mentioned or relevant state agencies at the time of publication.

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