No Chinese nationals were among the casualties in a deadly fire at an automotive parts factory in Daejeon, South Korea, the Chinese embassy in South Korea told Xinhua on Saturday.
According to the embassy, South Korean police notified it that none of the injured or the dead in the incident are Chinese citizens.
As of now, the fire has left 14 people dead, 59 injured, with all missing persons being found.
Police said they have launched identification procedures for the victims and are focusing on determining the cause of the fire.
The blaze broke out at about 1:17 p.m. local time on Friday. Around 170 workers were inside the factory at the time of the incident.
A civil society movement has raised alarm over a growing wave of building collapses in Nairobi, describing the incidents as a systemic governance failure rather than isolated accidents.
In a press statement dated March 21, 2026, Mtetezi, the Grassroots Economic Justice Movement, expressed concern over recent structural failures, including the partial collapse of a 22-storey building under construction in Westlands that left at least one worker dead and others injured or trapped.
The group linked the incident to a series of recent tragedies, including the Shauri Moyo collapse on March 16 that claimed four lives, as well as earlier cases reported in South C and Karen in January.
According to Mtetezi, the recurring collapses point to deeper structural issues within Nairobi’s planning and regulatory systems, including weak enforcement, compromised approvals, and a pattern of institutional inaction.
“These are not isolated accidents,” the statement said, arguing that the incidents reflect a cycle of impunity, ignored warnings, and delayed responses by public institutions.
The movement identified several key concerns, including alleged manipulation of site conditions to justify unsafe developments, irregular approval processes and widespread non-compliance with zoning regulations.
It also cited violations of basic planning standards such as setbacks, ventilation and public health requirements, warning that such breaches compromise the overall safety of urban developments.
Mtetezi further pointed to what it termed as enforcement failure, noting that stop orders and regulatory notices are often issued but not effectively implemented, allowing construction to continue despite identified risks.
The group has now called for accountability from multiple institutions, urging Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja to publicly release records relating to approvals, inspections and enforcement actions tied to recent building collapse sites.
It also called on county planning and enforcement departments to disclose buildings currently flagged as high-risk and urged professional bodies, including the Engineers Board of Kenya and the Board of Registration of Architects and Quantity Surveyors, to identify and take disciplinary action against professionals linked to unsafe developments.
Further, Mtetezi called on investigative and oversight agencies, including the Directorate of Criminal Investigations, the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions and the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission, to probe potential cases of negligence, collusion, or corruption in the approval and construction process.
The movement also urged Parliament, the Senate and the Nairobi County Assembly to hold urgent public hearings on the issue, terming it a national urban safety crisis.
“Buildings do not collapse only because concrete is weak. Buildings collapse because institutions are weak,” the statement said, attributing the incidents to compromised approvals, ignored inspections and prioritisation of profit over safety.
The call comes amid growing concern over urban safety in Nairobi, with pressure mounting on authorities to address systemic failures in planning, regulation, and enforcement before further loss of life occurs.
Eight suspects have been arrested following the dismantling of a suspected fertiliser adulteration and repackaging syndicate in Ejinja Village, Rurambi Sub-County, Kakamega County, after a targeted, intelligence-led operation by detectives.
The arrested individuals include the principal suspect, Napoline Murende Wakukha, alongside Isaya Chepkose Marende, Brivin Yeswa, Milkzadek Meja Nandwa, Martin Shilabula, Strola Deptica, Pascal Wathika Omusikoyo, and Jesca Bulimo.
According to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), a contingent of detectives drawn from the Operations Support Unit and their Kakamega-based counterparts conducted the raid at a homestead that had been identified as a processing and distribution point for fraudulent fertilizer products targeting unsuspecting farmers.
During the operation, sleuths established that the premises was being used for the illegal handling of Government of Kenya (G.O.K) subsidised fertiliser.
“A comprehensive search of the premises yielded significant exhibits, including two motor vehicles — a white Toyota Fielder (registration KDT 604C) and a black Mazda CX-5 (registration KDE 372P) — both loaded with assorted fertiliser bags, both full and empty,” DCI stated.
Detectives also recovered large quantities of fertiliser of various brands and weights, including UREA TOSHA labelled as G.O.K subsidised fertiliser, YARA products, BORA BORA variants, MEA CAN, DAP, and CALCIGROW granules.
Further, investigators recovered fertiliser suspected to have been tampered with, including contents from 39 bags of OCP Africa TSP labelled as G.O.K. subsidised fertiliser.
DCI also seized assorted empty branded bags, 48 packets of cement colour pigment used to alter the appearance of fertiliser, and three sewing machines used for repackaging.
Preliminary investigations revealed that the syndicate exploited registered farmers by persuading them to redeem government-issued subsidy fertiliser vouchers on their behalf in exchange for small incentives.
“The fertiliser would then be diverted, adulterated using chemical pigments to mimic high-value products such as DAP, repackaged, and sold at prevailing market rates,” stated DCI.
Investigations suggest possible collusion between the syndicate and individuals within select National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB) depots, notably in Voi and Webuye, facilitating the irregular acquisition of subsidised fertiliser.
According to the probe, while the fertiliser is legitimately collected from NCPB depots, its diversion and subsequent adulteration undermine government subsidy programmes, exposing farmers to economic loss and compromising agricultural productivity.
The scene has since been processed by Crime Scene Investigation (CSI) personnel, while the suspects remain in custody pending arraignment as investigations continue.
His family added: “He was passionate, sensitive, and endlessly driven to create. Those who truly knew him understood that his art was one of the purest reflections of who he was.
“Most people know Nicky for his work as an actor and for the characters he brought to life over the years. In recent years Nicky has found his passion in painting and art.”
About UzalendoBrendon played Xander Harris in Buffy the Vampire Slayer over seven seasons between 1997 and 2003 – best friend of the titular character played by Sarah Michelle Gellar. A planned reboot of Buffy was cancelled, Gellar announced to fans on Instagram earlier this month.
The Los Angeles-born actor received three Saturn nominations for his role in Buffy, two for best TV actor and one for best TV supporting actor.
Brendon’s twin brother Kelly Donovan Schultz also stood in as his brother’s body double in two episodes of Buffy.
He also starred alongside Alyson Hannigan, who shared a tribute in a post on Instagram. She wrote: “My Sweet Nicky, thank you for years of laughter, love and Dodgers. I will think of you every time I see a rocking chair. I love you. RIP.”
Following Buffy, Brendon appeared in various shows including Criminal Minds, Private Practice and Kitchen Confidential.
Brendon was open about his health struggles, including a heart attack, and underwent two spinal surgeries for cauda equina syndrome, a rare condition that can affect movement as well as bladder and bowel function.
The actor also lived with a stutter, later advocating the cause as a spokesperson for the Stuttering Foundation of America.
The late actor had also opened up about his struggles with substance addiction, alcoholism and mental health issues.
His family told the Hollywood Reporter: “While it’s no secret that Nicholas had struggles in the past, he was on medications and treatment to manage his diagnosis and he was optimistic about the future at the time of his passing.”
Cristiano Ronaldo, who is currently nursing a hamstring injury, was on Friday left out of the Portugal squad to play pre-World Cup friendlies against tournament co-hosts Mexico and the United States later this month.
The 41-year-old has not played for his Saudi club Al-Nassr since the end of February but Portugal coach Roberto Martinez insisted that Ronaldo’s participation at what would be a record sixth World Cup was “not at risk”.
“It’s a minor injury,” Martinez said at a press conference, adding that the five-time Ballon d’Or winner could be back “within one or two weeks”.
“Everything Cristiano has done physically during this season shows that he’s going through an excellent spell and that there are no physical problems.
“At the World Cup, the centre-forward position will be for Cristiano Ronaldo and Goncalo Ramos. We are looking for a third striker with a different profile.”
Portugal will face Mexico on Saturday, March 28, in Mexico City, and the United States three days later in Atlanta.
“This is the last chance to experiment, because it’s the final training camp before the World Cup squad is named,” said Martinez.
At the World Cup, co-hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada from June 11 to July 19, Portugal have been drawn in Group K with Colombia and Uzbekistan.
The other team in this group will come from a play-off that could see New Caledonia, Jamaica, or the Democratic Republic of Congo qualify.
Squad:
Goalkeepers: Diogo Costa (FC Porto), Jose Sa (Wolverhampton Wanderers/ENG), Rui Silva (Sporting)
Midfielders: Ruben Neves (Al-Hilal/KSA), Samu Costa (Mallorca/ESP), Mateus Fernandes (West Ham/ESP), Joao Neves (Paris Saint-Germain/FRA), Vitinha (Paris Saint-Germain/FRA), Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United/ENG), Rodrigo Mora (Porto)
Forwards: Ricardo Horta (Braga), Pedro Goncalves (Sporting), Joao Felix (Al Nassr/KSA), Francisco Trincao (Sporting), Francisco Conceicao (Juventus/ITA), Rafael Leao (AC Milan/ITA), Pedro Neto (Chelsea/ENG), Goncalo Guedes (Real Sociedad/ESP), Goncalo Ramos (Paris Saint-Germain/FRA)
The Trump administration filed a lawsuit Friday against Harvard University, accusing the institution of allowing a “hostile environment” toward Jewish and Israeli students during pro-Palestinian demonstrations on campus from 2023 to 2025.
President Donald Trump has launched an offensive against major American universities, accusing them of giving free rein on their campuses to pro-Palestinian movements in the face of the Israeli offensive in the Gaza Strip, action which he equates with antisemitism.
In its new complaint, the DOJ said Harvard “faculty and leadership turned a blind eye to antisemitism and discrimination against Jews and Israelis,” accusing the university of failing to enforce its own rules against pro-Palestinian and anti-Israeli protesters.
“Harvard let anti-Israeli demonstrators occupy its libraries. Harvard allowed an anti-Israeli encampment to persist for twenty days in violation of university policy,” said the lawsuit, filed in a Massachusetts court.
“Harvard fostered and continues to foster a campus climate where hostile antisemitism and anti-Israeli conduct thrives,” it said.
In a statement responding to the lawsuit, Harvard said it “cares deeply about members of our Jewish and Israeli community and remains committed to ensuring they are embraced, respected, and can thrive on our campus.”
The university said it had taken “substantive, proactive” steps to address the root causes of antisemitism and had “enhanced training and education on antisemitism for students, faculty, and staff.”
It also has launched programs to “promote civil dialogue and respectful disagreement inside and outside the classroom,” the university said. “Harvard’s efforts demonstrate the very opposite of deliberate indifference.”
In its lawsuit, the Trump administration asked the court to declare Harvard in violation of its contract with the federal government and, consequently, to release it from its obligation to pay millions of dollars in federal funds to the university and to demand the return of money already given.
The move is the latest salvo in the Trump administration’s offensive against the prestigious and oldest US university.
In September a federal judge, acting on a complaint filed by Harvard, ordered the government to rescind its freeze on $2.6 billion in funding to the university.
At the time, Trump indicated he was close to reaching an agreement under which Harvard would pay approximately $500 million, earmarked primarily for professional training.
However, in February the president said on his Truth Social network that he was now seeking $1 billion in damages from Harvard.
This announcement, which was not immediately followed by action, came after a New York Times article stating that Trump had abandoned his initial request for $200 million from Harvard in the face of university resistance.
President William Ruto has sustained his onslaught on opposition leaders, dismissing criticism that his remarks are unpresidential and maintaining that his verbal attacks are justified.
Ruto, who spoke during the Idd-ul-Fitr celebrations at the Kisumu State Lodge on Friday, appeared unapologetic over his previous comments, which critics have branded as abusive and body-shaming, hinting that they should prepare for more.
The Head of State went gloves off at the opposition and yet again seemingly laughed off at their rejoinders, saying his utterances were not ill-intended but meant as constructive criticism to urge them to watch their weight by frequenting the gym.
“Msiwajali wale wengine, wale nitawashughulikia, wale wa kutusumbua, wale wa pepo mbaya ya ukabila na chuki, nitawashughulikia,” the President declared.
Addressing the backlash regarding his recent comments telling opponents to reduce their food intake and go to the gym, President Ruto laughed off the criticism, framing his remarks as helpful advice rather than personal attacks.
“Nikawajibu kidogo tu, wakaleta maneno, mara sijui body shaming. Sijui nini, kwani kumwambia mtu aende gym na apunguze chakula ni body shaming? How is that body shaming?” he posed.
He reiterated that for two years consistently, the opposition leaders have insulted him, prompting his recent responses.
“For two years, wamenitukana bila kukoma. Juzi nimewajibu siku moja. Na hata nilipowajibu, niliwaambia tu tabia zenu si nzuri. Kaeni hivi, acheni wizi — hasa wizi wa fedha za kusaidia mayatima na wajane. Huo ndio wizi mbaya zaidi. Acheni pia mauaji ya wasichana na watoto. Nimewaambia wawe na nidhamu, chakula wapunguze, wasikule sana, wapunguze tamaa. Sasa hapo kosa iko wapi? Mimi sijatumia lugha ya matusi — wao ndio wamekuwa wakinitukana,” Ruto said.
Ruto also accused the opposition of dragging the country into personality politics instead of focusing on development.
While insisting that his primary focus remains on the national development agenda, Ruto made it clear that he would not ignore the political noise entirely adding that he had allocated a specific quota of his energy to dealing with his detractors.
“Nimesema 1% ya muda wangu nitatumia kudeal na hawa watu. Mnasema niwanyoroshe? Nitawaeleza mpaka watakipata,” Ruto vowed.
“Lakini 99% ya muda wangu, mimi nitumie kupanga mambo ya reli, kupanga barabara, kupanga matibabu, mambo ya kilimo, masomo ya watoto. Lakini 1% inatosha kwa hawa watu, nitawanyorosha.”
The President also took aim at those claiming his language falls below the dignity of his office. According to Ruto, calling out corruption and violence is a moral duty, specifically referencing his attacks on leaders he accuses of theft and involvement in killings.
“Nilikuwa naskia wakiongea sana mambo ya wizi na mauwaji. Nikawaambia wizi mbaya zaidi ni ule wa kuibia wajane na mayatima. Wacheni! Kwani hapo ni kosa? How is that wrong? How is that unpresidential?” he asked.
The remarks come amid a broader escalation of verbal confrontations between Ruto and opposition figures, especially his former deputy Rigathi Gachagua.
The two leaders have been trading barbs over tenders, failed projects, and alleged manipulation of government processes, with calls from clergy and stakeholders for restraint largely ignored.
Gachagua criticised the President’s language, saying he had “lost his cool and was no longer presidential,” linking the outbursts to exposed business dealings.
Vihiga Senator Godfrey Osotsi was among 39 passengers on board a Safarilink aircraft that veered off the runway at Wilson Airport on Friday evening.
According to a statement issued by the Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) on Friday night, the incident occurred at 2055 hrs when the aircraft arriving from Kisumu International Airport veered off the runway upon landing.
“We wish to confirm that all passengers and crew are safe, with no injuries reported. The aircraft remains on site, and recovery efforts are currently underway. Airport operations at Wilson Airport remain normal,” KAA said in a statement.
In a statement following the incident, Senator Osotsi confirmed he was on board the flight and expressed gratitude for surviving the ordeal.
“I thank God for His protection after I came out safely from an aircraft accident at Wilson Airport this evening. I was among the 39 passengers on board the Safarilink flight, including three crew members and the pilot, when the plane crash-landed,” he said.
He commended the pilot for what he termed as swift action that helped avert a possible disaster.
“I commend the pilot for his remarkable skill and presence of mind in controlling the aircraft and steering it off the runway, causing it to stall — an action that averted what could have been a catastrophic fire had the plane continued on the runway,” Osotsi said.
However, the senator raised concerns over what he described as a lack of emergency response at the airport, further linking the incident to ongoing concerns about infrastructure and safety at Wilson Airport, noting that he had recently sought a statement in the Senate regarding the matter.
“However, it is deeply troubling that despite the pilot’s efforts to save lives, there were no immediate rescue operations from the airport management. There was no ambulance on site and no emergency response team came to our aid. This level of unpreparedness is unacceptable for an airport of such significance,” he said.
“This incident comes just days after I sought a statement in the Senate of the Republic of Kenya regarding the safety concerns and deteriorating infrastructure at Wilson Airport. Today’s events have only reinforced those concerns. The runway was flooded and the lighting system is not functioning properly.”
The senator called for urgent action, including the closure and upgrade of the airport.
“Wilson Airport must be closed and comprehensively upgraded to meet international safety standards before it is allowed to resume full operations. The safety of Kenyans and all air passengers must never be compromised,” he said.
According to the outspoken lawmaker, poor conditions at the airport have previously led to flight diversions to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, questioning why the flight was allowed to land.
“It is common knowledge that due to these poor conditions, flights are often diverted to JKIA in the evening, raising serious questions as to why this particular flight was not redirected,” he said.
Kenya Railways has sought to allay fears of forceful land takeover, assuring that bona fide Kisumu residents affected by the construction of the 269-kilometre Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) line shall be compensated in due course.
Residents of Kisumu have expressed optimism over Saturday’s commissioning of the SGR line by President William Ruto, which is set to revamp trade and tourism in the region.
Apart from direct employment, the residents outlined a raft of ventures they plan to pursue in relation to the new line.
The SGR is expected to provide logistics solutions, while offering opportunities to expand local industries and strengthen Kenya’s export capacity.
“Being a central area, Kisumu needs to be an artery of business acumen and business transactions, and we look forward to seeing the neighbourhood really picking up value addition of our materials,” said Kenya Railways Corporation MD Philip Mainga.
Milling around the commissioning site, residents outlined their plans to secure both direct and indirect jobs, while praising the expected ease of movement for goods and passengers.
“Kutravel yetu itakuwa rahisi maana magari imetuumiza sana. Tunaona tutakuwa tunatumia ya zamani, lakini na hii ya kisasa, tunaona ni kama itakuwa cheaper. Dakika kidogo, ushafika Mombasa,” a resident, Tom Omukuba, stated.
David Gitahi added, “Tunashukuru Rais juu akizindua hii reli, inakuja na kazi, na hii kazi itasaidia wale walikuwa wanafanya idling. Haitakuwa, na kila mtu atapata nafasi ya kazi kulingana na ujuzi wake.”
A total of 5,000 acres will be used for the SGR corridor, with Kenya Railways pledging prompt compensation for those affected.
“We have identified the Project Affected Persons (PAPS). National Land Commission (NLC) is on the ground. By this week, the gazettement will be done, then we go to valuation and then we compensate them, so we are on course,” Mainga noted.
Phase 2B of the SGR features a 264km main line and an 8.69-kilometre branch leading to the Kisumu port. It has a freight capacity of 4,000 tonnes as well as a 120km/hr passenger train.
The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party leader Dr. Oburu Oginga has defended President William Ruto over criticism surrounding his recent public remarks against the opposition, dismissing claims that the Head of State’s responses are unpresidential.
Speaking during the Idd-ul-Fitr celebrations at the Kisumu State Lodge on Friday, Oburu said the President had endured sustained attacks for a long time and had only recently begun responding.
He questioned what he termed as double standards in political discourse, arguing the fairness of it being acceptable for the President to be attacked but not to respond.
“Mr. President, I know you have been abused for a long time, and you kept quiet. I didn’t know you were keeping those responses somewhere. Now you have released them, and people are crying,” said Oburu.
“But I don’t understand — when you are being attacked, it is considered normal, even sweet to some. But when you respond, when you release your arsenal, they say it is unpresidential. How can it be unpresidential to defend yourself?”
At the same time, the Siaya Senator backed the government’s development agenda, citing the Infrastructure Fund and expansion of Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) to Kisumu as key pillars for economic growth.
Oburu criticised the previous administration, saying it failed to deliver on similar projects despite attempts to secure financing.
He, however, praised the current administration for what he described as swift action in unlocking stalled projects, particularly the planned extension of the SGR to the lakeside city, and then further down to Malaba.
“This Infrastructure Fund is for the whole of Kenya, and I am sure it is going to do wonders. This Fund, together with the push for electricity, is what is required here,” he said.
“The previous government was defeated. They tried to negotiate loans, they tried to do everything to bring these developments, but they failed because they had no idea what to do.”
He added: “But within a very short time, you (Ruto) have found what to do. You have given direction, and that direction is now going to see the railway — the SGR — come to Kisumu, extend to Malaba, and connect us with other countries. That is the way to go to Singapore.”
The ODM party leader, known for his popular slogan ‘Tunataka Power’, underscored the importance of being in government for the Nyanza region’s development, urging the people to support Ruto’s government to benefit from development.
“You cannot go to Singapore when you don’t have power, and yet we are sitting here with power. How can I leave that and go looking for shareholders — people who are dividing this country into shareholding?” he posed.
President Ruto and his former deputy Rigathi Gachagua have been escalating the war of words in disregard for calls from the clergy and other stakeholders to tone down personality politics.
On Thursday, President Ruto, who unveiled several projects in Vihiga and Bungoma counties, maintained that opposition leaders have long dragged him into personality politics instead of engaging him on development, adding that he was now ready for them.
Gachagua, who is also the Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP) leader, has also been unrelenting in attacks against the President, whom he accuses of manipulating State tenders to favour his cronies.
