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March 16 (UPI) — Kenya and Russia announced on Monday that Kenyans will no longer be recruited by the Russian military and sent to fight in Ukraine.

The move follows a Kenyan intelligence report indicating that more than 1,000 people from Kenya and other African nations in recent months have been recruited into deployment on the front lines of the war between Russia and Ukraine by “rogue” agencies participating in human trafficking.

The report, released in February, alleged that of Kenyans recruited for the war, 10 died, 28 were missing, 39 were hospitalized and others were fighting for Russia in Ukraine, The Kenyan Daily Post reported.

“We have agreed that Kenyans will no longer be enlisted for special operations through the defense ministry,” Kenyan Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi said during a news conference. “They will no longer be eligible to be enlisted.”

The nations also were expected to sign a labor agreement aimed at protecting Kenyans working in Russia — specifically in drone manufacturing — which will cover people working specifically for the military or for other related industries, he said.

Mudavadi told The BBC that Kenya has shut down more than 600 agencies that were lying to Kenyans about a range of possible jobs in Russia and other countries, with many ending up in Ukraine.

Russia has not given answers to relatives at its embassy in Kenya, nor has it commented on reports that human traffickers were fooling people into being enlisted in the war with lies about well-paid jobs.

Russian Defense Minister Sergei Lavrov said during the news conference that all foreign fighters, including those from Kenya, had not been coerced or lied to and their voluntary service complied with Russian law.

“Once a contract is terminated, the individual is no longer bound and is free to make their own decisions,” Lavov said, although Kenyans who have volunteered to join the war have to find and pay for their own travel home.

Ukraine’s foreign minister, Andrii Sybiha, alleged in November that at least 1,400 people from Africa from 36 countries have been sent to Ukraine by Russia, many of whom have been captured as prisoners of war.

Oscar winner Pavel Talankin called for ‘an end to all wars’ as he received the best documentary award for “Mr Nobody Against Putin”.

Passport holders have been urged to avoid wearing a common item of clothing when flying. When travelling on planes, there are certain items you should never wear

Every day, thousands of individuals globe-trot, but passport holders are now being advised to steer clear of a certain popular garment. When jetting off to sunnier climes, it’s only natural to adjust your wardrobe accordingly and prepare for the balmy weather; however, there’s a particular item you should avoid donning when boarding a plane.

You might be surprised to learn that your choice of attire can significantly influence both your travel experience and your safety. That’s why travellers are being urged to refrain from wearing this specific item when embarking on a flight in future, and it’s advice everyone would do well to heed.

The issue was recently spotlighted by Polly Ann, who goes by the handle Travel with Polly Ann on Instagram, and regularly imparts valuable travel tips to her multitude of followers. Unbeknownst to many, certain items of clothing are best stowed away in your suitcase when flying.

Polly Ann enumerates several garments she personally avoids, but one stands out as crucial from a travel safety perspective. It could have serious implications in the event of an emergency.

She divulged what people need to know in a frank post. It’s advice worth heeding, as it could greatly affect your travel experience.

Imparting wisdom to passport holders, she stated: “Things never to wear on a plane. Open-toed shoes.

“Sandals and open-toed footwear are discouraged because aircraft floors and bathrooms aren’t very clean and they don’t protect your feet in case of an emergency.

“Offensive clothing. Anything with profanity, lewd graphics or offensive messaging could lead to being asked to change or even denied boarding under some airline dress codes.”

She proceeds to mention several other items she’d steer clear of but, regarding safety, footwear is particularly crucial. Whilst they’re not typically prohibited on aircraft, travellers are actually discouraged from wearing sandals.

There are several reasons why it’s advisable to avoid them when flying. You might never have considered they can actually present hazards.

Why should they be avoided?

Experts generally recommend passengers avoid wearing sandals or open-toed footwear on flights due to safety risks during an emergency evacuation, the possibility of foot injuries from falling objects and hygiene issues.

If you do choose to wear them, it’s recommended you also wear socks. There are multiple reasons behind this guidance.

During an emergency, such as an evacuation, sandals can slip off, making it challenging to run or walk across harsh surfaces like tarmac, broken glass or wreckage. Additionally, aircraft floors are frequently dirty and chilly, meaning wearing sandals leaves your feet vulnerable to bacteria.

Aeroplanes are typically cold, and feet have a tendency to swell during lengthy flights, rendering the footwear increasingly uncomfortable. You may also be required to remove sandals at security checkpoints, which could extend your time getting through the airport.

Hence, it’s simpler all around if you refrain from wearing them. There are a few reasons why they could land you in a bit of trouble.

Inside the Washington bubble, we look inside the chaos shaping the US-Israeli war on Iran, from celebrations at DC power dinners and the Secretary of State admitting US defense of Israel to the Epstein files fading from public view. With low popular support for the war, can American voters do anything to stop it?

In this episode: 

• Patty Culhane (@PattyCulhane), Al Jazeera English Correspondent

Episode credits:

This episode was produced by Marcos Bartolomé, Sari el-Khalili, and Catherine Nouhan, with Spencer Cline, Tuleen Barakat, Maya Hamadeh, and our host, Malika Bilal. It was edited by Alexandra Locke. Special thanks to James Hamilton.

Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our video editors are Hisham Abu Salah and Mohannad al-Melhem. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer.

Connect with us:

@AJEPodcasts on X, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube

President Trump on Friday directed federal agencies to stop using technology from San Francisco artificial intelligence company Anthropic, escalating a high-profile clash between the AI startup and the Pentagon over safety.

In a Friday post on the social media site Truth Social, Trump described the company as “radical left” and “woke.”

“We don’t need it, we don’t want it, and will not do business with them again!” Trump said.

The president’s harsh words mark a major escalation in the ongoing battle between some in the Trump administration and several technology companies over the use of artificial intelligence in defense tech.

Anthropic has been sparring with the Pentagon, which had threatened to end its $200-million contract with the company on Friday if it didn’t loosen restrictions on its AI model so it could be used for more military purposes. Anthropic had been asking for more guarantees that its tech wouldn’t be used for surveillance of Americans or autonomous weapons.

The tussle could hobble Anthropic’s business with the government. The Trump administration said the company was added to a sweeping national security blacklist, ordering federal agencies to immediately discontinue use of its products and barring any government contractors from maintaining ties with it.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who met with Anthropic’s Chief Executive Dario Amodei this week, criticized the tech company after Trump’s Truth Social post.

“Anthropic delivered a master class in arrogance and betrayal as well as a textbook case of how not to do business with the United States Government or the Pentagon,” he wrote Friday on social media site X.

Anthropic didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.

Anthropic announced a two-year agreement with the Department of Defense in July to “prototype frontier AI capabilities that advance U.S. national security.”

The company has an AI chatbot called Claude, but it also built a custom AI system for U.S. national security customers.

On Thursday, Amodei signaled the company wouldn’t cave to the Department of Defense’s demands to loosen safety restrictions on its AI models.

The government has emphasized in negotiations that it wants to use Anthropic’s technology only for legal purposes, and the safeguards Anthropic wants are already covered by the law.

Still, Amodei was worried about Washington’s commitment.

“We have never raised objections to particular military operations nor attempted to limit use of our technology in an ad hoc manner,” he said in a blog post. “However, in a narrow set of cases, we believe AI can undermine, rather than defend, democratic values.”

Tech workers have backed Anthropic’s stance.

Unions and worker groups representing 700,000 employees at Amazon, Google and Microsoft said this week in a joint statement that they’re urging their employers to reject these demands as well if they have additional contracts with the Pentagon.

“Our employers are already complicit in providing their technologies to power mass atrocities and war crimes; capitulating to the Pentagon’s intimidation will only further implicate our labor in violence and repression,” the statement said.

Anthropic’s standoff with the U.S. government could benefit its competitors, such as Elon Musk’s xAI or OpenAI.

Sam Altman, chief executive of OpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT and one of Anthropic’s biggest competitors, told CNBC in an interview that he trusts Anthropic.

“I think they really do care about safety, and I’ve been happy that they’ve been supporting our war fighters,” he said. “I’m not sure where this is going to go.”

Anthropic has distinguished itself from its rivals by touting its concern about AI safety.

The company, valued at roughly $380 billion, is legally required to balance making money with advancing the company’s public benefit of “responsible development and maintenance of advanced AI for the long-term benefit of humanity.”

Developers, businesses, government agencies and other organizations use Anthropic’s tools. Its chatbot can generate code, write text and perform other tasks. Anthropic also offers an AI assistant for consumers and makes money from paid subscriptions as well as contracts. Unlike OpenAI, which is testing ads in ChatGPT, Anthropic has pledged not to show ads in its chatbot Claude.

The company has roughly 2,000 employees and has revenue equivalent to about $14 billion a year.

Airbnb has gained popularity over the years for its cozy and unique places to stay across the world, but one user of the app is ‘begging’ hosts to stop using 1 thing

An Airbnb user is “begging” hosts to stop using 1 thing in their rooms, calling it “weird” and “uncomfortable”.

When visiting new towns, cities or countries, people have different ideas of where they would like to stay.Some people prefer the convenience of a well-placed hotel where you know you’re going to get a comfy and clean room with a number of amenities, such as a hairdryer and even a kettle for hot drinks.

Others, however, prefer to stay in an Airbnb, which are homely and often have even more perks, such as an entire kitchen, a hot tub or even a balcony, depending on where you stay.

There is no right or wrong way to travel, but one Airbnb user is asking hosts of properties and rooms to stop using one thing in their bedrooms that they find ‘weird’.

The user took to Reddit to write the post titled “Hosts: please, for the love of five stars and good repeat guests….”

The post read: ” Don’t use microfiber bedsheets. They don’t stay put. Unless you get into bed and immediately become corpse-like, the whole thing gets wrinkled and baggy almost immediately.

“They don’t breathe. No matter how nice and cool the ambient temperature is, inside the sheets is uncomfortable.

“It’s weirdly warm on the skin in the same way sleeping in a thin plastic bag is. Actually, that’s exactly what sleeping in microfiber sheets feels like, minus the crinkly sounds.

“They feel cheap. Yes they don’t wrinkle, yes they’re smooth to the touch, but so is a painter’s tarp. Basic cotton sheets—they don’t even have to be of a high thread count—will fix this! That is all.”

Dozens of people agreed with the poster after noticing a number of hotels also moving away from cotton sheets.

One person said: “Plastic sheets are the worst! Cotton sheets. Hell, most hotels only have 350 threadcount cotton sheets. All you “need” per say.

“I’m with you though. I cannot stand microfiber, anything with polyester or rayon or any of that plastic rooted fibers.”

A second added: “I am a host and sometimes a guest and fully agree, nothing worse than microfiber or polyester sheets, I only use linen or cotton.“And for pillows and duvet cover just feather and down. They can actually be washed and drycleaned and are so much more comfortable.”A third said: “I totally agree. I recently stayed at a VERY expensive AirBnB in Sonoma, CA and they had microfiber sheets! I hate them. Automatic deduction of a star in the review.”

A woman has shared her pride after a stunning Welsh beach was named the best beach in the UK by TripAdvisor – and the stunning footage shows exactly what makes it special

A stroll along the beach is a brilliant way to boost both physical and mental well-being, making it an ideal weekend activity, provided it’s not absolutely chucking it down. A Welsh woman, Sian, expressed her pride upon discovering that the beach named the best in the UK by TripAdvisor is located in her homeland.

Rhossili Bay, situated on the westernmost point of the Gower Peninsula in South Wales, consistently ranks amongst the finest beaches in the UK and Europe, and Sian believes it’s “not hard to see why”. Captioning her TikTok clip, she wrote: “Rhossili Bay has been voted TripAdvisor’s best beach in the UK. Honestly, it’s not hard to see why. Endless golden sands, wild Atlantic waves, and sunsets that stop you in your tracks.”

Sian then showcased a video montage featuring various snippets she’d captured of the stunning beach, from the entrance to the hill offering panoramic views over the beach, and a breathtaking sunset she had the fortune to witness.

In the comments section, users were swift to praise the beach as “very special,” and noted that people “don’t call it God’s country for nothing”. This nickname is often bestowed upon Wales due to its dramatic landscapes and spiritual historical significance.

Another user chimed in: “This is one of my all-time favourite places”.

What does TripAdvisor have to say?

Many others on TripAdvisor share the same sentiment. The beach boasts an impressive 4.8 out of five rating on the site, which says: “Rhossili Bay lies at the western end of the beautiful Gower peninsula. Three miles of golden sands, iconic landscapes including Worms Head and Rhossili Down and history everywhere, from neolithic through to the more recent, including home to Edgar Evans.

“It’s a haven for walkers, with trails in all directions, including the Welsh Coastal Path. The beach welcomes dogs throughout the year, and the entire area is stunning regardless of the weather.”

“Today, the National Trust looks after two of the three miles of the beach, Rhossili Down, and most of the coastline between Rhossili and Port Eynon (26 miles of Gower coastline in total). The landscape is free. The village of Rhossili also hosts other private businesses. The car park is free to NT (National Trust) members during the day.

“Non-members are currently charged £5 per day (car). There is no overnight parking/camping. All profits from the car park go towards maintaining the area’s beauty. Please note that the toilets are owned and operated by Swansea Council.”

Public reviews also sing praises of the stunning beach. One visitor wrote: “During our trip to the Gower Peninsula, we also visited the beautiful Rhossili Bay. The stretch of beach there is rightly regarded as one of the most beautiful beaches in Wales.”

Another visitor enthused: “One of the most beautiful views you will see – in the UK or even in Europe. It is well-maintained. There are walks, but the views are reasonably accessible for those with mobility issues. Highly recommended.”

However, not everyone was smitten, with one critic labelling it as: “Pitiful, boring, uninspiring. Total waste of time and money.” But they were in the minority.

A third person recounted: “We were blessed with a warm sunny day when we arrived here for a look around. We parked in the NT car park (free with membership) and had a lovely walk along the coastal path, enjoying the fresh air and the views over the bay.

“There are walks of varying lengths, and it is well worth a visit. There are toilets and a few cafes to have a drink and some food too!”

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