By Bradley Shahenza

Washington — The U.S. government shutdown has entered its second week after the Senate failed for the fourth time to approve spending proposals aimed at reopening federal operations.

On Friday, both Republican and Democratic plans fell short of the 60-vote threshold needed to advance. A Republican-led proposal secured 54 votes in favor and 44 against, while a Democrat-led plan saw 45 in favor and 52 opposed. With both sides entrenched, the White House warned of looming mass layoffs to preserve essential services. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt described the measure as “fiscal sanity,” though she offered no details on which agencies would be affected.

Healthcare remains the central sticking point. Democrats are pushing to extend health insurance subsidies for low-income Americans and reverse cuts to Medicaid, while Republicans accuse them of using the shutdown to secure benefits for undocumented immigrants — a charge Democrats have denied. “We know Americans want this,” Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said, insisting that many Republicans privately support expanding healthcare coverage.

President Donald Trump has added to tensions, saying he would meet with Office of Management and Budget (OMB) director Russell Vought to examine “which of the many Democrat agencies” to cut. On Friday, Vought announced the suspension of $2.1 billion in federal infrastructure funding for Chicago, adding to earlier freezes of $18 billion for New York City and $8 billion for energy projects in Democratic-led states.

The economic toll is already mounting. The White House estimates the shutdown could shave $15 billion off U.S. GDP each week as federal workers face furloughs and services stall. Polls show Americans divided: 47% blame Republicans, 30% Democrats, and 23% remain unsure.

With no breakthrough in sight, lawmakers warn the shutdown could drag on unless party leaders strike a compromise.

Source BBC News

By Bradley Shahenza

The Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) has issued a new directive to employers and employees, emphasizing the immediate application of all tax reliefs, deductions, and exemptions on salaries.

The directive follows recent amendments to the Income Tax Act, which aim to enhance compliance and ensure fairness in tax administration.

In a public notice, KRA instructed employers to identify and grant exemptions to workers holding legitimate tax exemption certificates. The authority said the move seeks to streamline the payroll process and prevent cases where eligible employees are overtaxed.

Employers have also been urged to ensure all applicable reliefs, including personal and insurance reliefs, are correctly reflected in employees’ monthly tax deductions.

At the same time, KRA has rolled out a new Electronic Rental Income Tax System (eRITS) to strengthen the collection of rental income tax from property owners and landlords across the country.

In a notice published in the MyGov newspaper the tax agency urged all landlords to update their property and taxpayer details on the new digital platform.

“KRA wishes to notify the public that it has rolled out an Electronic Rental Income Tax System (eRITS), which will facilitate easier payment of Monthly Rental Income (MRI). The system enables management of properties, filing, and payment of rental taxes in a simple and convenient way,” the Commissioner noted.

The dual directives signal KRA’s broader effort to modernize tax administration through digital systems and ensure that all taxpayers both salaried employees and landlords meet their obligations efficiently. The authority affirmed that full compliance will help boost national revenue while reducing disputes related to tax overpayments and delays. 

By Bradley Shahenza

Electric vehicle (EV) sales in the United Kingdom reached a record high in September, according to the latest data from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT).

Sales of pure battery electric vehicles (BEVs) surged by nearly a third to 72,779 units, while plug-in hybrid vehicles recorded even faster growth. Together, electric and hybrid cars accounted for more than half of all new car registrations last month.

The SMMT attributed the surge to attractive carmaker discounts, a wider selection of models, and the reintroduction of the government’s electric car grant scheme. The scheme offers a £3,750 discount on eligible vehicles to encourage drivers to switch from petrol and diesel engines.
Although businesses and fleet operators accounted for 71.4% of BEV purchases, private ownership of electric cars has also increased significantly. So far in 2025, zero-emission vehicles make up over one in five (22.1%) of all new cars registered across the country.

SMMT Chief Executive Mike Hawes described the September results as evidence that electrified vehicles are “powering market growth after a sluggish summer.” He noted that industry investment in EV technology is “paying off,” though he acknowledged that consumer demand still lags behind government and industry ambitions.

In total, 312,887 new vehicles were registered in September the highest figure since 2020. The strong performance comes despite ongoing challenges in the automotive sector, including U.S. tariffs and Jaguar Land Rover’s temporary production halt following a major cyberattack.

Top-selling models for the month included the Kia Sportage, Ford Puma, and Nissan Qashqai. Notably, two Chinese vehicles — the Jaecoo 7 and BYD Seal U also ranked among the top 10 sellers, reflecting the growing influence of Chinese EV manufacturers in the UK market. 

source ; BBC news

By Bradley Shahenza

Machines don’t see gender; they see your strength,” says Surekha Yadav, India’s first female train driver, who has officially retired after an inspiring 36-year career with the Indian Railways.

Born in 1965 in a small town in Maharashtra, Ms Yadav grew up in a farming family as the eldest of five children. From an early age, she balanced her studies with helping her parents on the farm.

She credits her success to her parents’ progressive mindset. “Though my parents came from a modest background, they were progressive in their thinking. They educated me, and that allowed me to work,” she said.

After completing her studies in electrical engineering, Ms Yadav came across a newspaper advertisement by the Indian Railways seeking assistant train drivers.

Unaware that there were no women in the role at the time, she applied simply to earn a living and passed the tough selection process.
In 1989, she began her career driving goods trains, becoming the first woman in India to do so. When she arrived for her training, she was surprised to find herself the only woman among all the trainees.
“I wondered what to do. But I thought, if I don’t take up the job, someone else will. Since I’ve been selected, I’ll do it,” she recalled.

Over the years, Ms Yadav drove various passenger and goods trains across India, often through challenging routes and harsh weather.

Today, her courage has paved the way for more than 2,000 women train operators across the country.
Her story remains a powerful reminder that determination, not gender, defines ability. 

Source; BBC News