Free Republic

Nairobi. SNIPPET: “An explosive found in a Nairobi matatu (taxi) was similar to the one used in a Kampala attack and two city bombings, a court heard on Tuesday. The object weighing 10kgs, was an improvised explosive device designed to be exploded at a target by either a suicide bomber or by remote control via a cellphone, a police officer, who presented bomb experts’ findings, said. “The device was complete with all the components of an improvised explosive device and was designed to function to maximum destruction of property and life,” the officer said. He told the court that the...

David Cameron is facing turmoil after a UKIP surge enabled the scandal-hit Liberal Democrats to cling on in the most crucial by-election battle for 30 years and pushed the Tories into a humiliating third place. The Liberal Democrats held the South Coast seat of Eastleigh seat vacated by Chris Huhne - despite an unprecedented period of bad publicity over the Lord Rennard scandal and record lows in national opinion polls.

NAIROBI, April 9 — For centuries, Somalis used poetry and songs to pass protest messages to powerful rulers they were too afraid to confront directly. Now, some young Somalis are using rap to speak out against Islamists who they say are using religion to wage war in their country. The 11-member Waayaha Cusub band, currently in exile in neighbouring Kenya, wants its rap lyrics to encourage fellow Somalis to stand up to Islamist rebels known as al Shabaab. They have handed out at least 7,000 free copies of their newly-released album titled “No To Al Shabaab” to residents in Nairobi’s...