Kenya may be known for its long history of success in marathons and long-distant running, but now the nation is also targeting becoming an international powerhouse in the world of sprinting, with eyes on medals at this year's Paris Olympics.

Nairobi

Kenya, traditionally celebrated for its marathon and long-distance running achievements, is now ambitiously expanding its focus to include sprinting. The country aims to establish itself as a formidable contender in sprint events at the international level, with aspirations of earning medals at the upcoming Paris Olympics. This new direction underscores Kenya's commitment to diversifying its athletic prowess beyond the long distances for which it is globally renowned.

At a recent international athletics meet held in Nairobi, Ferdinand Omanyala, Africa's fastest man and the 2022 African and Commonwealth champion, finished fifth. Despite this outcome, Omanyala remains optimistic about his preparation for the Paris Olympics, emphasizing a strategic approach to his season. His aim is to avoid peaking too early, ensuring he can deliver his best performance when it counts the most. Omanyala's participation and historical breakthrough in the 100-metre semifinal at the 2021 Olympic Games in Tokyo reflects Kenya's growing strength in sprinting competitions.

Kenya's success in long-distance events at the 2021 Olympics in Tokyo, where the country won 10 of the 37 African medals, sets a high bar for its athletes. In a bid to build on this legacy, the Athletics Federation of Kenya is nurturing a new generation of sprinters. This move is aimed at capturing medals in shorter races, challenging the traditionally dominant countries in these events. Additionally, the World Athletics Federation has introduced a financial incentive for Olympic champions, awarding a €50,000 prize to gold medalists at the Paris Olympics, further motivating Kenyan athletes to strive for top honors in sprinting.



Kenya, home of marathon champions, targets sprinting success

A sense of disappointment overwhelms the Nairobi City Stadium. Africa's fastest man, Ferdinand Omanyala, finished fifth in Kenya's international athletics meet on the weekend of the 20th of April. But the 2022 African and Commonwealth champion isn't worried. He's slowly picking up momentum as he builds towards this summer's Olympics in Paris. What I can tell the fans is that we are approaching this season differently. I don't want to peak too early. I don't want to peak in March and then go down before August. So that's the plan that we have. So now we're just going to make sure that we correct everything as we go. At the 2021 Olympic Games in Tokyo, Kenya won 10 of the 37 African medals, mainly thanks to its performances in long-distance meets. That year, Omanyala made history by qualifying for the 100-metre Olympic semifinal. Of course the short-distance races are dominated by Jamaicans and Americans and also some guys in the UK and perhaps even Nigeria as well in some sense, but I think that we had a very good season. I think there's going to be a lot of build-up to the event and a lot of preparations going into it. And I trust that we're going to see a very, very solid performance this summer round. In the land of long-distance runners, Omanyala is on a mission to popularise sprinting. And the Athletics Federation is training a whole new generation of sprinters. There is going to be relying on the traditional medium and long-distance races, but there will definitely be expectations for Kenyans to sort of, you know, win a medal in the sprints or possibly get to the final. And this year, athletes could have yet another incentive to win gold in Paris. For the first time, the World Athletics Federation will give a €50,000 reward to its Olympic champions.

Mexican authorities say three bodies have been found in an area where two Australian brothers and their American travel companion are missing. It follows the arrest of three people in relation to their disappearance.

Baja California

Bodies found in search for missing Perth brothers

China has launched an uncrewed spacecraft on a nearly two-month mission to retrieve rocks and soil from the far side of the moon, the first country to make such an ambitious attempt.

Wenchang

China launches mission to far side of the moon

Britain's opposition Labour Party won a parliamentary seat in northern England on Friday (May 3) and control of several councils, inflicting heavy losses on the governing Conservatives to pile more pressure on Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.

London

U.K.'s Labour claims big early win over Conservatives

Turkey has announced that it is halting trade with Israel, worth $7 billion a year, until a permanent ceasefire and humanitarian aid are secured in Gaza. Israel denounced the decision as breaking trade agreements.

Ankara

Turkey to stop trade with Israel until Gaza ceasefire

Media watchdog group Reporters Without Borders warned of declining government support for press freedom as it unveiled its annual world rankings on Friday, highlighting Argentina among the countries where the situation has deteriorated.

Paris

States doing less to support press freedom, says watchdog

Arizona's Democratic governor signed a bill overturning an 1864 law banning abortion, a month after the state's supreme court said the Civil War-era rule was valid.

Arizona

Arizona governor signs bill repealing 1864 abortion ban

U.S. President Joe Biden said that both freedom of speech and the rule of law must be respected in protests at college campuses over Israel's war in Gaza. In response to a reporter's question, Biden said that the campus protests had not forced him to reconsider his policies in the Middle East.

Washington

Biden breaks silence on protests at University Campuses

From suspensions to expulsions to criminal charges, college students across the U.S. involved in these pro-Palestinian protests could face life-changing consequences. Some are demanding amnesty for these protesters.

New York

More than 1,000 student protesters arrested across U.S.

English voters are heading to polling stations to pick mayors, councilors and a new lawmaker in the last electoral test for British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak before a national vote later this year.

Voters head to polls in last test for U.K.'s Sunak

The US State Department accused Russia of having used a chemical weapon against Ukrainian forces in violation of the Chemical Weapons Convention, while also announcing fresh sanctions against Moscow. In addition to the chemical agent chloropicrin, Russia also used "riot control agents (tear gas) as a method of warfare in Ukraine, also in violation of the CWC," the department said in a factsheet.

Zaporizhzhia

Ukraine Invasion

U.S. accuses Russia of using chemical weapons in Ukraine

There are grave concerns for Perth brothers Jake and Callum Robinson who are missing on a surf trip in Mexico's Baja region. The pair have failed to arrive at their accommodation and are not responding to contact from their families.

Council of the City of Sydney

Grave fears for brothers missing on Mexico surf trip

Federal Treasurer Jim Chalmers has kept open the prospect of tax incentives in the budget as business warned that changes to foreign investment laws. It comes amid criticism that budget spending could prompt further inflation and prompt rate rises.

Government hints at further tax incentives in Budget

Colombian President Gustavo Petro says his country will break diplomatic relations with Israel. He's criticised Israel's conduct since the start of the war on Gaza. Petro requested to join South Africa's case at the International Court of Justice accusing Israel of genocide.

Bogotá

Israel-Gaza War

Colombia ends diplomatic relations with Israel

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken met Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday, pushing to get more aid into Gaza, while urging Hamas to accept a deal that would halt fighting and bring some hostages home from the enclave.

Jerusalem

Blinken pushes for sustained aid into Gaza during Israel trip

Police in Georgia fired teargas and rubber bullets at protesters demonstrating against a bill that would require organizations – including media and NGOs – that receive more than 20 percent of their funding from abroad to register as agents "pursuing the interests of a foreign power." The bill has been dubbed the "Russian law" by its detractors.

Tbilisi

Thousands protest against Georgia's 'foreign influence' bill

A diplomatic push is underway to reach a ceasefire in Gaza, with the U.S. exerting pressure on Hamas to agree to Israel's terms. But Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to attack Rafah in southern Gaza, whether there's a ceasefire or not.

Netanyahu vows to invade Rafah 'with or without' ceasefire deal

Qantas has apologised to customers after its app exposed personal passenger data. The airline blames a technical disruption and says the data breach was not a cyber security incident.

Qantas app data breach exposes customer data

The International Court of Justice has ruled against issuing emergency measures over German arms sales to Israel as requested by Nicaragua, which had argued that there was a serious risk of genocide in Gaza amid Israel’s assault on the Palestinian territory.

The Hague

ICJ rejects measures over German arms exports to Israel

New York police have entered Columbia University and arrested protesters barricaded inside a building who have been calling on the New York school to divest itself from companies associated with Israel.

Police enter Columbia University, arrest protesters

A smiling and healthy-looking King Charles returned to public duties on Tuesday (April 30) for the first time since he was diagnosed in February with cancer, paying a visit to a treatment center for the disease in London.

King Charles returns to public duties, visits cancer center

A 14-year-old boy is dead and multiple people injured after a daylight sword attack in Hainault, in east London. The alleged attacker tasered and arrested by Police shortly afterwards.

Hainault

Teenage boy killed in London sword attack

Brittany Higgins has failed in a bid to delay a defamation trial brought against her by Senator Linda Reynolds over social media posts made in July last year. Fiancé David Sharaz, also named in the case, calling for the Senator to drop the case.

Canberra

Brittany Higgins fails in bid to delay defamation trial

Since taking office four months ago, Argentina's new president Javier Milei has slashed public employment in an effort to cut the country's deficit. So far, 24,000 people have been let go, and Milei has said he wants that figure to hit 70,000, about 10 percent of overall government employees.

Buenos Aires

Argentina's Milei slashes 24,000 government jobs

A Russian missile attack on an educational institution in a popular seafront park in the Ukrainian Black Sea port of Odesa killed at least five people and injured 32, local officials said. Odesa has been a frequent target of Russian missile and drone attacks, particular port infrastructure.

Odesa

Russian missile attack kills five in Ukraine's Odesa

Scotland's leader Humza Yousaf resigned, further opening the door to the UK opposition Labour Party regaining ground in its former Scottish heartlands during a national election expected to be held later this year.

Edinburgh

Scotland's First Minister Humza Yousaf quits

A 17-year-old girl charged with the stabbing murder of her 10-year-old sister in a suburb of Lake Macquarie in New South Wales will remain in custody.

Lake Macquarie

Teenager faces court over murder of 10-year-old sister

Columbia University began suspending pro-Palestinian activists who refused to dismantle a tent encampment on its New York City campus after the Ivy League school declared a stalemate in talks seeking to end the polarizing protest.