- US dockworkers to head back to work after tentative deal
- After Helene's destruction, North Carolina starts to rebuild
- Dockers end three-day strike at Montreal port
- What next for OpenAI after $157 billion bonanza?
- Israel-Hamas war causes 86-percent dive in Gaza GDP: IMF
- Milan's Morata moves house after Inter-fan town mayor 'violates' privacy
- 'Devastating' storm hits Augusta National but Masters will go on
- Relief in Brazil, Asia over delay to EU deforestation rules
- Oil prices jump, stocks fall on Middle East tensions
- Biden says 'discussing' possible Israeli strikes on Iran oil facilities
- Oil prices rise, stocks fall on Middle East tensions
- Oil rallies, stocks mostly retreat on Middle East tensions
- Phasing out teen smoking could save 1.2 mn lives: study
- 'Welcome relief': Asia producers hail EU deforestation law delay
- Japan PM slated to announce plans for 'happiness index'
- Turkish inflation falls less than expected in September at 49.4%
- Easing inflation lifts profit at UK supermarket Tesco
- Skiing calls on UN climate science to combat melting future
- China wine industry looks to breed climate resilience
- Tokyo rallies on weak yen, Hong Kong drops after surge
- Dutch airline KLM unveils 'firm' cost-cutting measures
- Carpe diem: the Costa Rican women turning fish into fashion
- Senegal looks to aquaculture as fish stocks dwindle
- Will AI one day win a Nobel Prize?
- Climate change, economics muddy West's drive to curb Chinese EVs
- Argentina's Milei vetoes university budget after huge protests
- TotalEnergies plans to grow oil and gas production until 2030
- 2024 Nobels offer glimmer of hope as global crises mount
- Tokyo rallies on weak yen, Hong Kong reverses after surge
- Tunisia readies for vote as incumbent Saied eyes victory
- High childcare costs in US weigh on women's employment
- US voters seek help with crushing childcare costs
- Taiwan shuts down for second day as Typhoon Krathon to land
- Supercharged storms: how climate change amplifies cyclones
- Biden official urges talks as US port strike enters second day
- Huge protests in Argentina over public university cuts
- Rally in oil prices loses steam on mixed day for global stocks
- South America treated to rare 'ring of fire' eclipse
- Biden official says port strike deal not as far as parties think
- Mexico's new president offers apology for 1968 student massacre
- Historic funding round values OpenAI at $157 billion
- Mixed US car sales in Q3 as industry hopes for post-election bounce
- Thunderstorms are a 'boiling pot' of gamma rays, scientists find
- Scientists unlock secret of 'Girl With Pearl Earring'
- Dolphins flash friendly grins when they're ready to play
- Facing backlash, EU moves to delay deforestation rules
- US private sector adds more jobs than expected in September: ADP
- Boys out of critical condition after Zurich stabbings
- Spain logs record summer tourism as inflow draws protests
- Hedi Slimane quits as Celine's artistic director
RBGPF | -1.35% | 59.99 | $ | |
RYCEF | 1.15% | 6.98 | $ | |
GSK | -2.81% | 38.37 | $ | |
SCS | -1.98% | 12.62 | $ | |
RELX | -1.46% | 46.61 | $ | |
BP | 0.28% | 32.46 | $ | |
CMSC | -0.16% | 24.74 | $ | |
NGG | -2.7% | 66.97 | $ | |
AZN | -2.12% | 77.93 | $ | |
RIO | -1.42% | 69.83 | $ | |
BTI | -2.45% | 35.11 | $ | |
VOD | -0.52% | 9.69 | $ | |
BCC | -0.9% | 138.29 | $ | |
JRI | -0.6% | 13.3 | $ | |
CMSD | -0.16% | 24.89 | $ | |
BCE | -1.77% | 33.84 | $ |
Kenya rejects blame over Omanyala US visa debacle
Kenyan authorities have rejected blame over a US visa hitch that may have robbed African 100-metre champion Ferdinand Omanyala of a chance of a medal at the World Championships in Oregon.
Many in Kenya were outraged when the country's 26-year-old sprint star secured a US visa only at the last-minute, meaning he landed in Oregon just a few hours before his heat last Friday.
Omanyala, currently the third fastest man in the world, made it through the heats but could only manage fifth place in the semi-finals.
Athletics Kenya chief Jackson Tuwei said the organisation had engaged an external firm to process the visa applications for the contingent of athletes and officials heading to Oregon.
While a number of athletes received their visas on July 8, Omanyala's passport was not released as the embassy required further information from him, Tuwei said in a statement late on Monday.
"Neither the (sports) ministry nor Athletics Kenya could intervene because the required processes by the embassy had to be undertaken individually," he said.
A magnanimous Omanyala -- who ran a time of 9:77 in September to win the crown of fastest man in Africa -- had said after finally securing his visa that "there is no-one to blame here".
- 'Joyriders' -
But former Kenyan government spokesman Ezekiel Mutua said Omanyala should have been accorded diplomatic treatment.
"The US visa delay controversy for our 100m sensation Ferdinand Omanyala should be an international relations matter," he said on Twitter.
"A sportsman of Omanyala's calibre should be treated like a diplomat and accorded such honour. He cannot just be stranded in a visa matter like a commoner."
Kenya's Sheila Chepkirui, who had been expected to compete in the 10,000m, failed to even get to Oregon because of a similar visa issue.
"The (sports) ministry should have fought for me as well if they indeed intervened for Omanyala. I was left on my own," said Chepkirui, who is set to travel to the English city of Birmingham for the Commonwealth Games starting next week.
Tuwei meanwhile also branded media allegations that people other than Kenya's 45 athletes and other support staff had travelled to Oregon as "false and unsubstantiated".
Police have confirmed they are investigating the claims, which mirror another scandal that engulfed Kenyan athletics at the Rio Olympics in 2016, when so-called "joyriders" were allowed to travel with the Kenya team.
Former sports minister Hassan Wario was convicted in September last year of abuse of office and the misappropriation of 55 million shillings ($460,000) over the scandal.
The charges covered allegations of embezzlement, the purchase of unauthorised air tickets, overpayment of allowances and expenditure on unauthorised persons.
Y.Jeong--CPN