BRITISH CITIZEN AND TURKISH NATIONALS TAKEN HOSTAGE IN KENYA

GLOBAL NEWS

21st October 2024

By Oyenike

BRITISH CITIZEN AND TURKISH NATIONALS TAKEN HOSTAGE IN KENYA

A British citizen has reported that he and several Turkish nationals were kidnapped in Nairobi, Kenya, by masked assailants on Friday, with four Turkish individuals still unaccounted for. Necdet Seyitoğlu, who lived in the UK for 18 years before relocating to Kenya two years ago, was freed after eight hours when he presented his British passport to his captors. The UK Foreign Office confirmed that they are offering consular assistance to him and his family following the incident.

Kenyan authorities stated they are investigating the “kidnapping incident” after a motorcycle rider observed the abduction. Reports indicate that two vehicles blocked a silver sedan containing two individuals from both the front and rear. “Approximately eight armed individuals emerged from the two vehicles and forcibly removed the two occupants,” said police spokesperson Resila Onyango, before driving away with them.

Later, Yusuf Kar, a British citizen of Turkish descent, went to a local police station and identified the kidnapped individuals as Hüseyin Yeşilsu and Necdet Seyitoğlu. As of now, Turkish officials have not provided any comments regarding the situation.

Mr. Seyitoğlu, who works as an education consultant, shared further insights into his kidnapping experience, which slightly differs from the police’s version. He recounted that a white SUV blocked his vehicle as he was departing for work with a friend at 07:30 local time (04:30 GMT).

The two men were blindfolded and handcuffed by four armed captors before being transported to an undisclosed location. Seyitoğlu mentioned that their inquiries about their situation went unanswered, stating, “We asked them, can you show your identification? Where are we going? But there was no response.”

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HARRIS MARKS BIRTHDAY WITH GEORGIA CHURCH VISITS AS TRUMP SERVES FRIES IN PENNSYLVANIA

Kamala Harris celebrated her 60th birthday on Sunday while campaigning in Georgia, as her opponent Donald Trump served fries at a McDonald’s in Pennsylvania to connect with working-class voters. Music icon Stevie Wonder joined Harris, singing “Happy Birthday” and encouraging voters to consider the broader community in their choices.

In her brief speech, Harris emphasised the importance of prioritising the welfare of children and families, advocating for resources to help lift people out of poverty. At a Baptist megachurch, she urged the Black congregation to adopt compassionate values amidst a climate of hate and fear, subtly referencing Trump without naming him.

US Vice President and 2024 Democratic Presidential candidate, Kamala Harris

Georgia is a crucial battleground state for the upcoming 5th November election, with both candidates planning events in Pennsylvania, which is also seen as vital for their campaigns. As Election Day approaches, the competition between the Democratic vice president and the Republican billionaire intensifies.

Harris delivered a measured address to the enthusiastic Black church audience, sharing the story of the Good Samaritan and motivating them to vote and bring light to dark times. In contrast, Trump’s campaign rhetoric has become increasingly aggressive and ominous.

He has made inflammatory remarks about undocumented immigrants, threatened retaliation against his foes, praised authoritarian leaders like Vladimir Putin, and painted a picture of America as a nation in disarray that only he can restore.

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COUNCIL PLANS TO TURN ‘EYESORE’ LOCATIONS INTO MODERN HOMES

A council has received a grant of £688,484 to construct new housing in a city centre. Gloucester City Council plans to utilise these funds to prepare the former Wessex House site behind Gloucester Railway Station for around 45 residential units.

This initiative is part of the council’s goal to create 200 homes on unattractive sites to address a housing deficit. Councillor Luke Shervey emphasised their dedication to resolving this issue and providing quality homes, which are essential for health and well-being. The funding is sourced from the government’s brownfield land release programme, which allocates £68 million among 54 councils to redevelop brownfield areas into housing projects.

Councillors Jeremy Hilton and Luke Shervey at the site of the former Wessex house

Alex McIntyre expressed his happiness that Gloucester City Council has been awarded this funding, seeing it as a promising start for further developments on brownfield locations throughout the city. He is eager to see more affordable housing being constructed on these previously used sites. Additional locations earmarked for development include the old Fortis Insurance building in Kingsholm, Spread Eagle Court, and The Oxbode, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

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MINISTER VOWS TO ACHIEVE 20,000 AFFORDABLE HOMES GOAL

The Minister for Delivery in Wales has committed to doing everything possible to assist the Welsh Government in fulfilling its obligations, although she acknowledged that there is limited time before the next Senedd election in 2026. Julie James mentioned that the promise to construct 20,000 affordable homes by then is precariously close to failing, but she remains optimistic about achieving it. Former Minister Lee Waters, known for implementing Wales’ 20mph speed limit, has been brought in to support the housing goal.

James explained that her new position, established this summer by First Minister Eluned Morgan, aims to ensure smooth operations. She stated, “I will do what is necessary,” noting they have approximately 14 to 15 effective months to make progress. She also highlighted that once the election date is set, it becomes challenging to pass any non-consensual government initiatives.

The Minister for Delivery in Wales, Julie James

Addressing the critical issue of NHS waiting times, James mentioned her collaboration with Health Secretary Jeremy Miles to promote best practices across Wales. When asked about potential agreements with the English NHS to alleviate waiting times in Wales, she indicated that further discussions with Miles would be necessary for specific details.

Regarding the affordable housing target, which the public spending watchdog has questioned without additional funding, James acknowledged the difficulties posed by the pandemic and the cost of living crisis but expressed confidence in still achieving the goal. She emphasised that Lee Waters’ role is essential in this effort.

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DOLLAR RISES SHARPLY ON THE BACK OF A ROBUST U.S. ECONOMY AND TRUMP TRADES

The dollar increased on Monday, and Bitcoin reached a three-month peak as U.S. bond yields rose and the upcoming presidential election affected market dynamics. Last week’s currency fluctuations were influenced by the European Central Bank’s cautious rate cut and robust U.S. economic data, which tempered expectations for rapid declines in U.S. interest rates, especially if Donald Trump reclaims the presidency.

The dollar index, which gauges the greenback against key currencies, rose 0.17% to 103.63. It had dipped 0.3% on Friday as market risk appetite improved following China’s announcement of further stimulus details, yet it recorded a 0.55% increase for the week. Meanwhile, the euro decreased by 0.16% to $1.0849, and the pound fell 0.18% to $1.3025.

According to Erik Nelson, a macro strategist at Wells Fargo, the dollar’s strength is largely attributed to interest rates and relative economic growth. He noted that recent solid U.S. data, including a favourable jobs report, strong retail sales, and a promising GDP forecast, contrasts with Europe’s weaker performance and dovish stance from the ECB, creating a divergence in economic outlooks.

The dollar’s rise is also bolstered by polls indicating a higher likelihood of Trump winning the 5th November election, as his proposed tax and tariff strategies are expected to maintain elevated U.S. interest rates, potentially disadvantaging trading partners. Bitcoin benefited from this environment, with the expectation that a Trump administration might adopt a more lenient approach to cryptocurrency regulations, although it recently fell 0.1% to $68,333 after peaking at $69,487.

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