A history of American political scandals that have shaped American politics as it is today. Resourced and researched through American freedom of information act and with Political History Majors and Professors from Columbia university. 

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Trump cancels nearly $1 billion in Congress-approved spending, drawing criticism from lawmakers

Get you up to speed: Trump cancels nearly $1 billion in spending approved by Congress, a move some lawmakers called illegal

President Trump has moved to cancel nearly $1 billion in spending approved by Congress, including $567 million in services for refugees and asylees, according to the White House. This action, executed through a “pocket rescission,” has faced criticism from lawmakers, including Senator Susan Collins and Representative Rosa DeLauro.

The Trump administration’s latest rescission marks the second use of a “pocket rescission” tactic in two years, with the fiscal year ending on Wednesday. The Government Accountability Office has indicated that such actions may violate legal standards set by the Impoundment Control Act, with critics planning to address these legality concerns in Congress.

Republican Senator Susan Collins has condemned the latest rescissions as “unlawful,” stating that lawmakers received no prior consultation regarding the $810 million in cuts. The administration’s previous use of pocket rescissions has faced legal challenges, and opposition lawmakers may pursue legislative action to counter the current cancellations.

What remains unclear — It is not specified how Congress will respond to the latest pocket rescission or whether legal challenges will be mounted against it.

Trump cancels nearly $1 billion in Congress-approved spending, drawing criticism from lawmakers

President Trump moved to cancel almost $1 billion in spending that was approved by Congress, the White House said late Friday, marking the second time the administration has employed a rarely used tactic that some lawmakers in both parties have called illegal.

The administration said it was calling off $567 million in spending on services for refugees, asylees and other migrants through the Department of Health and Human Services. The White House is also rescinding $50 million for several other programs that aid immigrants and noncitizens, $70 million in “Woke International Education” grants and fellowships and $56 million in Housing and Urban Development programs.

“President Trump is committed to utilizing all possible tools to cut wasteful and harmful government spending that does not benefit American citizens,” the White House said.

The White House said it would claw back the spending through a controversial maneuver called a “pocket rescission,” in which the president notifies Congress shortly before the end of the fiscal year that it doesn’t wish to spend funds that lawmakers appropriated.

Under the Impoundment Control Act, the president can propose rescissions of budget authority, which Congress has 45 legislative days to approve. But if proposals are made late in the fiscal year, the funds can effectively be withheld until they expire. The fiscal year ends on Wednesday.

The Trump administration used the same tactic last year to cancel $4.9 billion in foreign aid funds approved by Congress. That marked the first pocket rescission since 1977, during the Carter administration.

Republican Sen. Susan Collins of Maine, who chairs the powerful Senate Appropriations Committee, strongly criticized the latest pocket rescission.

In a statement Friday, she said lawmakers were informed of $810 million in pocket rescissions “without warning or consultation.” She said it appears that the White House’s Office of Management and Budget “intentionally withheld these funds for months to execute this unlawful cancellation of appropriations that were approved on a bipartisan basis and signed into law.”

Collins noted that the Government Accountability Office has called pocket rescissions illegal.

“Any effort to rescind appropriated funds without congressional approval is a clear violation of the law,” said Collins, a frequent critic of pocket rescissions who is running for reelection this year. “I will work with my colleagues to address these illegal actions.”

Rep. Rosa DeLauro of Connecticut, the top Democrat on the House Appropriations Committee, said the Trump administration is “once again trying to steal more money promised to communities across the country.”

Since returning to office last year, Mr. Trump has sought to call off spending on programs that do not align with his policy priorities, drawing lawsuits.

Last year’s pocket rescissions drew a legal challenge from organizations and businesses that receive funding for foreign aid projects. The Supreme Court ultimately allowed the Trump administration to cancel billions in foreign aid funds, pointing to the president’s power to oversee foreign relations, but did not reach a final decision on the merits.

Ten men sentenced to a total of 130 years for arson attack in Stoke-on-Trent

Get you up to speed: 10 men jailed for 130 years after setting a mother and girl, 13, on fire | News UK

Ten men have been sentenced to a combined 130 years for a revenge attack in which a woman and her daughter were set on fire at their home on Beverley Drive in Stoke-on-Trent. The mother suffered severe injuries, including 65% burns, while her 13-year-old daughter sustained 15% burns during the incident on December 16, 2021.

The investigation involved extensive CCTV analysis, digital evidence, and specialist forensic work to establish the roles of all individuals involved in the incident. Sentencing occurred at Leicester Crown Court, with several men having entered guilty pleas prior to the 11-week trial that concluded in February 2026.

Detective Constable Howard Davies stated that the sentences aim to send a “strong message that this kind of violence will not be tolerated.” All ten men will serve two-thirds of their sentences, with the remainder on licence, as the court concluded that the attack was a “deliberate revenge for the relatively minor injury”.

What remains unclear — It is not specified how many of the ten sentenced men were directly involved in the attack on the mother and daughter.

Ten men sentenced to a total of 130 years for arson attack in Stoke-on-Trent

Ten men sentenced to a total of 130 years for arson attack in Stoke-on-Trent
10 men have been sentenced after a ‘revenge attack’ that saw a woman and her daughter set on fire (Picture: Stoke Sentinlel/BPM Media)

A total of 10 men have been jailed for a combined 130 years after setting fire to a home in a ‘revenge attack’ that severely injured a woman and a teenage girl.

On December 16, 2021, shortly before 11pm, a group of men smashed the downstairs windows of a house on Beverley Drive in Stoke-on-Trent and poured petrol into the hallway and outside the living room window.

A 31-year-old woman and a 13-year-old girl were inside at the time, both of whom had no choice but to jump out of an upstairs window.

Police confirmed that the mother had been struck on the head and set on fire; she suffered 65% burns, a broken pelvis, broken ribs, and a cut to her liver.

She spent two months in a coma and was not expected to survive, but she is now walking again and is predicted to need medical treatment for life.

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The child suffered 15% burns to her arm, requiring skin grafts, in what Staffordshire Police’s major investigations department called a ‘truly shocking’ act of violence.

Ten men have now been sentenced, to a total of more than 130 years, following a house fire and violent disorder in Stoke on Trent. The convictions followed an 11???week trial at Nottingham Crown Court, which concluded on 20 February 2026, alongside a number of guilty pleas entered before the trial began. Three men were sentenced prior to today, with seven men sentenced today at Leicester Crown Court, sitting at Loughborough (Friday 25 September). Three men were jailed for attempted murder in connection with the attack. At around 4pm on 16 December 2021, a fight broke out on Kildare Street, Longton, involving Naveed Hussain, Bilal Ahmed, Kashif Ahmed and Ali Abbas. During the incident, Kashif Ahmed sustained a stab wound to his shoulder and later attended hospital. At 10.55pm the same evening, a group of men went to a house on Beverley Drive, Bentilee, Stoke-on-Trent, demanding to speak to Naveed Hussain. The men smashed the downstairs windows and poured petrol into the hallway and outside the living room window. A 31???year???old woman inside the property was struck on the head and set on fire. She suffered 65 per cent burns and was not expected to survive but did. She remained in a coma for two months and continues to require lifelong medical treatment. A 13???year???old girl also suffered 15 per cent burns to her right arm. To escape the flames, both victims smashed an upstairs window and jumped from the bedroom. The woman sustained a broken pelvis, broken ribs and a lacerated liver, and later had to relearn how to walk. Both were taken to specialist hospitals in Birmingham. The investigation involved extensive CCTV analysis, digital evidence and specialist forensic work to establish the role of everyone involved. Detective Constable Howard Davies, from our Major Investigations Department, said: ???These sentences mark the conclusion of a lengthy and complex investigation into an extremely serious and violent series of events that left a mother with life???changing injuries. The level of violence displayed that evening was truly shocking, culminating in a deliberate and reckless act that put lives at grave risk. ???Thanks to the dedication of our investigation team, including extensive CCTV analysis, digital enquiries and specialist forensic work, we were able to build a clear picture of the roles played by those involved and present compelling evidence before the court. ???I want to acknowledge the incredible strength and resilience shown by the victims, who have endured unimaginable physical and emotional trauma. My thoughts remain firmly with them as they continue their recovery. ???We hope these sentences send a strong message that this kind of violence will not be tolerated, and that those responsible will be held to account.??? Shakil Uddin, 23, of Oldham, was sentenced to 34 years??? imprisonment after being found guilty of one count of attempted murder and arson with intent to endanger life. Ali Abbas, 23, of Normacot, Stoke???on???Trent, was sentenced to 25 years??? imprisonment after admitting two counts of attempted murder and arson with intent to endanger life Haris Mahmood, of Normacot, Stoke-on-Trent, was sentenced to 24 years-and-nine-months??? imprisonment after admitting two counts of attempted murder and arson with intent to endanger life Riyadh Iqbal, 23, of Normacot, Stoke-on-Trent, was sentenced to 12-and-a-half years??? imprisonment after being found guilty of Section 18 ??? grievous bodily harm with intent and arson with intent to endanger life. Lukman Khan, 25, of Normacot, Stoke???on???Trent, was sentenced to 12-and-a-half years??? imprisonment after being found guilty of Section 18 ??? grievous bodily harm with intent and arson with intent to endanger life Muhammad Sufyaan???Shah, 25, of Oldham, was sentenced to 11-and-a-half-years??? imprisonment after being found guilty of Section 18 ??? grievous bodily harm with intent Tayyeb Majeed, 24, of Longton, Stoke???on???Trent, was sentenced to ten-and-a-half-years??? imprisonment after being found guilty of Section 18 ??? grievous bodily harm with intent Kashif Ahmed, 26, of Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent, was jailed for 48 weeks after pleading guilty to violent disorder Naveed Hussain, 32, of Longton, Stoke-on-Trent, was sentenced to six months imprisonment, suspended for 18 months after pleading guilty to violent disorder and possession of a knife blade/sharp pointed article in a public place Bilal Ahmed, 27, of Normacot, Stoke-on-Trent, was sentenced to 15 months imprisonment, suspended for 18 months after he pleaded guilty to violent disorder.
Haris Mahmood, 22, was sentenced to 24 years and nine months in prison (Picture: Stoke Sentinlel/BPM Media)
Ten men have now been sentenced, to a total of more than 130 years, following a house fire and violent disorder in Stoke on Trent. The convictions followed an 11???week trial at Nottingham Crown Court, which concluded on 20 February 2026, alongside a number of guilty pleas entered before the trial began. Three men were sentenced prior to today, with seven men sentenced today at Leicester Crown Court, sitting at Loughborough (Friday 25 September). Three men were jailed for attempted murder in connection with the attack. At around 4pm on 16 December 2021, a fight broke out on Kildare Street, Longton, involving Naveed Hussain, Bilal Ahmed, Kashif Ahmed and Ali Abbas. During the incident, Kashif Ahmed sustained a stab wound to his shoulder and later attended hospital. At 10.55pm the same evening, a group of men went to a house on Beverley Drive, Bentilee, Stoke-on-Trent, demanding to speak to Naveed Hussain. The men smashed the downstairs windows and poured petrol into the hallway and outside the living room window. A 31???year???old woman inside the property was struck on the head and set on fire. She suffered 65 per cent burns and was not expected to survive but did. She remained in a coma for two months and continues to require lifelong medical treatment. A 13???year???old girl also suffered 15 per cent burns to her right arm. To escape the flames, both victims smashed an upstairs window and jumped from the bedroom. The woman sustained a broken pelvis, broken ribs and a lacerated liver, and later had to relearn how to walk. Both were taken to specialist hospitals in Birmingham. The investigation involved extensive CCTV analysis, digital evidence and specialist forensic work to establish the role of everyone involved. Detective Constable Howard Davies, from our Major Investigations Department, said: ???These sentences mark the conclusion of a lengthy and complex investigation into an extremely serious and violent series of events that left a mother with life???changing injuries. The level of violence displayed that evening was truly shocking, culminating in a deliberate and reckless act that put lives at grave risk. ???Thanks to the dedication of our investigation team, including extensive CCTV analysis, digital enquiries and specialist forensic work, we were able to build a clear picture of the roles played by those involved and present compelling evidence before the court. ???I want to acknowledge the incredible strength and resilience shown by the victims, who have endured unimaginable physical and emotional trauma. My thoughts remain firmly with them as they continue their recovery. ???We hope these sentences send a strong message that this kind of violence will not be tolerated, and that those responsible will be held to account.??? Shakil Uddin, 23, of Oldham, was sentenced to 34 years??? imprisonment after being found guilty of one count of attempted murder and arson with intent to endanger life. Ali Abbas, 23, of Normacot, Stoke???on???Trent, was sentenced to 25 years??? imprisonment after admitting two counts of attempted murder and arson with intent to endanger life Haris Mahmood, of Normacot, Stoke-on-Trent, was sentenced to 24 years-and-nine-months??? imprisonment after admitting two counts of attempted murder and arson with intent to endanger life Riyadh Iqbal, 23, of Normacot, Stoke-on-Trent, was sentenced to 12-and-a-half years??? imprisonment after being found guilty of Section 18 ??? grievous bodily harm with intent and arson with intent to endanger life. Lukman Khan, 25, of Normacot, Stoke???on???Trent, was sentenced to 12-and-a-half years??? imprisonment after being found guilty of Section 18 ??? grievous bodily harm with intent and arson with intent to endanger life Muhammad Sufyaan???Shah, 25, of Oldham, was sentenced to 11-and-a-half-years??? imprisonment after being found guilty of Section 18 ??? grievous bodily harm with intent Tayyeb Majeed, 24, of Longton, Stoke???on???Trent, was sentenced to ten-and-a-half-years??? imprisonment after being found guilty of Section 18 ??? grievous bodily harm with intent Kashif Ahmed, 26, of Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent, was jailed for 48 weeks after pleading guilty to violent disorder Naveed Hussain, 32, of Longton, Stoke-on-Trent, was sentenced to six months imprisonment, suspended for 18 months after pleading guilty to violent disorder and possession of a knife blade/sharp pointed article in a public place Bilal Ahmed, 27, of Normacot, Stoke-on-Trent, was sentenced to 15 months imprisonment, suspended for 18 months after he pleaded guilty to violent disorder.
Ali Abbas, 23, was given 25 years behind bars (Picture: Stoke Sentinlel/BPM Media)
Lukman Khan, 24, of Normacot, was found guilty of Section 18 ? grievous bodily harm with intent and arson with intent
Lukman Khan, 25, was sentenced to 12-and-a-half years (Picture: Stoke Sentinlel/BPM Media)

An 11-week trial followed at Nottingham Crown Court, which concluded in February, while several men entered guilty pleas prior to the trial.

Today, at Leicester Crown Court, seven men were sentenced, while three others had already been sentenced at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court.

On June 3, Bilal Ahmed, 27, of Normacot, Stoke-on-Trent, and Naveed Hussain, 32, of Longton, Stoke-on-Trent, were sentenced.

Ahmed was given 15 months in prison, suspended for 18 months, as well as 100 hours of unpaid work after pleading guilty to violent disorder.

Hussain was sentenced to 22 months in prison, suspended for 18 months, after pleading guilty to violent disorder and possession of a knife blade or sharp pointed article in a public place.

On July 7, Kashif Ahmed, 26, of Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent, was sentenced to 48 weeks in prison after pleading guilty to violent disorder.

Tayyeb Majeed, 23, of Longton, Stoke-on-Trent, was convicted of Section 18 ? grievous bodily harm with intent.
Tayyeb Majeed, 23, was sentenced to 10-and-a-half years (Picture: Stoke Sentinlel/BPM Media)
Riyadh Iqbal, 23, of Normacot, Stoke-on-Trent, was found guilty of Section 18 ? grievous bodily harm with intent and arson with intent
Riyadh Iqbal, 23, was given a 12-year-six-month sentence (Picture: Stoke Sentinlel/BPM Media)

Sentenced today, Haris Mahmood, 22, of Normacot, Stoke-on-Trent, was given 24 years and nine months, having pleaded guilty to two counts of attempted murder and arson with intent to endanger life.

Shakil Uddin, 23, of Oldham, was sentenced to 34 years after being convicted of one count of attempted murder and arson with intent to endanger life.

Ali Abbas, 23, of Normacot, Stoke-on-Trent, was jailed for 25 years after pleading guilty to numerous charges: two counts of attempted murder and arson with intent to endanger life, two counts of grievous bodily harm with intent, and possession of a knife or blade in a public place.

Riyadh Iqbal, 23, of Normacot, Stoke-on-Trent, was sentenced to 12-and-a-half years after being found guilty of grievous bodily harm with intent and arson with intent to endanger life.

Tayyeb Majeed, 24, of Longton, Stoke-on-Trent, was jailed for 10-and-a-half years after a conviction for grievous bodily harm with intent.

Lukman Khan, 25, of Normacot, Stoke-on-Trent, was sentenced to 12-and-a-half years after being found guilty of grievous bodily harm with intent and arson with intent to endanger life.

Shakil Uddin, 23, of Oldham
Shakil Uddin, 23, has been given a 34-year prison sentence (Picture: Stoke Sentinlel/BPM Media)
Muhammad Sufyaan-Shah, 25 of HMP Hindley, Wigan, was convicted of Section 18 ? grievous bodily harm with intent.
Muhammad Sufyaan-Shah, 25, was sentenced to 11-and-a-half years (Picture: Stoke Sentinlel/BPM Media)

Finally, Muhammad Sufyaan-Shah, 25, was sentenced to 11-and-a-half years in prison after being found guilty of grievous bodily harm with intent.

All will serve two-thirds of their sentences, with the rest on licence.

The court heard how, at approximately 4pm on the day of the fire, a fight broke out between Hussain, Abbas, Bilal Ahmed, and Kashif Ahmed.

According to police, the brawl on Kildare Street, Longton, resulted in Kashif Ahmed sustaining a stab wound to his shoulder, for which he went to hospital.

Then, several hours later, a gang went to the two-bed property on Beverley Drive and demanded to speak to Hussain, at which point the revenge attack was carried out.

Hussain’s ex-partner was ‘relaxing in her home’ at the time, unaware that he had been in a street fight earlier on, while her teenage daughter was ‘on her phone upstairs’ when she heard the men breaking in, demanding to know where her stepdad was. It is believed Hussain visited his ex and her child at the house ‘periodically’.

Bilal Ahmed. // Ten men are facing jail after a mum and daughter suffered serious burns when their house was petrol-bombed in a revenge arson attack. A 31-year-old woman and a 13-year-old girl were forced to jump from an upstairs window after suffering horrific burn injuries as their home was torched in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffs. Emergency services were called to Beverley Drive, in the Bentilee area of the city, after a gang of men poured petrol inside the property and set it alight. The mother, who was also hit on the head as well as being set on fire, suffered 65 per cent burns and was left in a coma for two months. Photo released 24/02/2026
Bilal Ahmed, 27, was sentenced to 15 months in prison, suspended for 18 months, plus 100 hours of unpaid work (Picture: Staffordshire Police / SWNS)

Judge Mayo said it is ‘virtually impossible to imagine a more horrific scene’ than what the victims faced that night, with the girl having recalled hearing her mother screaming as her ‘hair, face, arms, and legs’ were on fire while she was unclothed.

The attack was described as ‘deliberate revenge for the relatively minor injury to Kashif Ahmed’, with prosecutor Siobhan Collins adding: ‘It is clear when that was put in motion the intended victim was Naveed Hussain.’

Commenting after the offenders were sentenced, Detective Constable Howard Davies said: ‘We hope these sentences send a strong message that this kind of violence will not be tolerated and that those responsible will be held to account.’

At least 13 dead after military aircraft crashes during emergency landing in DRC

Get you up to speed: At least 13 killed after plane crashes in emergency landing near homes | News World

A military aircraft crashed into a hillside in Kenge, Kwango province, Democratic Republic of Congo, killing all 13 people on board. Among the victims were high-ranking military officials, including General Likulia Bakumi, and the plane was attempting an emergency landing after suffering a technical malfunction.

An investigation into the crash has been launched by the government aviation accident body, with details pending on the specific technical malfunction that led to the accident. The Democratic Republic of Congo has a notable history of aviation accidents, despite accounting for a mere 0.1% of global air traffic.

The government aviation accident body has initiated an investigation into the crash, which resulted in the deaths of all 13 individuals on board, including high-ranking military officials. Remy Saki Bokinda, the province vice governor, stated, “With no landing strip available in Kenge, the plane crashed into a residential plot,” highlighting the challenges faced in aviation safety in the region.

What remains unclear — The specific technical malfunction that caused the aircraft to crash has not been disclosed.

At least 13 dead after military aircraft crashes during emergency landing in DRC

At least 13 dead after military aircraft crashes during emergency landing in DRC
The military aircraft crashed into a hillside in DRC, killing all people on board (Picture: X)

Several people have died after a plane crashed in a fireball in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

At least 13 people were killed in the collision involving a military aircraft.

High-ranking officers were among the victims, according to officials.

The plane was travelling to the capital, Kinshasa, from Kikwit city when it suffered a technical malfunction.

The pilot tried to perform an emergency landing, but the aircraft plunged towards homes in Kenge, Kwango province, in southwestern DRC.

A screengrab showing thick smoke and flames rising from plane crash site in DR Congo
The plane had attempted an emergency landing, but it crashed in a fireball in Kenge, DRC (Picture: X)

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Remy Saki Bokinda, the province vice governor, told Reuters: ‘With no landing strip available in Kenge, the plane crashed into a residential plot.’

The plane was carrying General Likulia Bakumi, the army’s auditor general, a major, a captain, other military personnel and civilians, he confirmed.

Breaking – L-410 crash on DR Congo. All 13 aboard died.

Flight had diverted to Kenge due to technical difficulties enroute but crashed at Kenge and burst into fire.

Amongst the victims were the president of the military high court and other military and civilian personnel.…

— Francisco Cunha – ✈️ Aviation et al (@OnDisasters) September 25, 2026

All people on board are said to have died after the wreckage was engulfed by flames.

Footage shows people rushing to the burning plane, with thick smoke billowing into the air from the hillside.

In another clip, the lifeless body of the pilot was carried away on a stretcher.

Twelve people were ‘burned beyond recognition,’ while the pilot was discovered outside the aircraft, Mr Bokinda said.

An investigation into the crash has been launched by the government aviation accident body.

Deadly aviation accidents are not uncommon in DR Congo, the second-largest African country, where distances are long and roads are in poor condition.

The country has featured high on the list of countries for most aviation accidents in the past, despite accounting for only 0.1% of global air traffic.

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Protesters rally in Granada to support Maricarmen Abascal’s eviction

Protesters rally in Granada to support Maricarmen Abascal’s eviction

Protest gathering
Protesters assembled outside Granada city hall in support of 87-year-old Maricarmen Abascal, who was evicted from her Madrid apartment on September 23.
Housing Crisis
Protests across Spain highlight the growing public discontent over escalating housing costs, particularly affecting vulnerable demographics such as elderly tenants.
Housing Protests
“We stand in solidarity with Maricarmen Abascal; her eviction highlights the urgent need for affordable housing solutions across Spain,” stated a protest organiser in Granada.

Video. Protests erupt in Granada after eviction of 87-year-old woman in Madrid

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Protesters gathered outside Granada city hall on Thursday in support of 87-year-old Maricarmen Abascal, who was evicted from her Madrid apartment on September 23. UGC footage shows large crowds rallying in the city, including at a student protest.

Demonstrations in support of Abascal were also held in other parts of Spain, reflecting wider anger over the country’s rising housing costs. Her eviction has become a focal point for protests over housing affordability and the difficulties faced by older tenants.

Plane crash in Democratic Republic of the Congo claims 14 lives

Get you up to speed: Plane crash in DR Congo kills more than a dozen

A Congolese army plane crashed into a residential area in Kenge, Kwango province, killing at least 14 people, including senior military officials. The plane was en route from Kikwit to Kinshasa when it developed a technical fault and attempted to land without a strip, leading to the fatalities as confirmed by Major-General Efomi Ekenge.

An investigation has been launched to determine the cause of the crash, as aircraft operations remain suspended pending findings. In addition to the military officials, at least two civilians were among those confirmed dead in the incident.

An investigation has been initiated to ascertain the cause of the plane crash that claimed 14 lives, including senior military officials, according to Major-General Efomi Ekenge. The deputy governor of Kwango, Remy Saki Bokinda, highlighted the lack of a landing strip in Kenge as a significant factor in the disaster, which underscores ongoing challenges in the region.

What remains unclear — The exact cause of the plane’s technical fault that led to the crash has not been disclosed.

Plane crash in Democratic Republic of the Congo claims 14 lives

News|AviationPlane crash in DR Congo kills more than a dozen

Civilians and senior military officials among 14 dead after an army plane crashes into a residential area in the DRC.

Published On 26 Sep 202626 Sep 2026

At least 14 people, including senior military officials, were killed on Friday when a Congolese army plane crashed in the southwest of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).

The plane was travelling to the capital, Kinshasa, from the southwestern city of Kikwit on Friday when it developed a technical fault and attempted to land in Kenge, in Kwango province.

Remy Saki Bokinda, deputy governor of Kwango, said: “With no landing strip available in Kenge, the plane crashed into a residential plot.”

Congolese military spokesperson Major-General Efomi Ekenge said 14 people had died in the crash.

“All those on board died; 12 were burned beyond recognition, while the pilot’s lifeless body was found outside the aircraft,” he said.

According to the military, among those killed were civilians and members of an official delegation travelling with the two generals, along with other military personnel.

Bokinda also said most of the bodies were burned beyond recognition and the pilot was found dead outside the wreckage.

An investigation has been opened to determine the cause of the accident, Ekenge said.

The DRC, a vast, mineral-rich country in central Africa, has endured decades of conflict, particularly along its eastern border with Rwanda, where several armed groups compete for control of lucrative mining areas.

The Congolese military has been battling a number of rebel groups that have claimed key cities in the country since last year.

Beaumont driving safety training campus receives £38.5 million from province

Get you up to speed: Planned driving safety training campus in Beaumont gets $38.5M from province

The Alberta Motor Transport Association Safety Campus is set to offer specialised training for law enforcement and commercial drivers. Located in Alberta, the facility will focus on hands-on learning.

The Alberta Motor Transport Association Safety Campus is set to enhance training capabilities for law enforcement and commercial drivers in Alberta. Investigations into the operational framework of the facility are ongoing, with no timeline provided for completion.

The Alberta Motor Transport Association announced the launch of the AMTA Safety Campus, which will offer tailored training programmes for law enforcement and commercial drivers. The initiative is part of a broader effort to enhance road safety and will roll out in the coming months.

What remains unclear — There is no information on when the AMTA Safety Campus will officially open.

Beaumont driving safety training campus receives £38.5 million from province

Beaumont safety
The Alberta Motor Transport Association Safety Campus, or AMTA Safety Campus, will provide specialized, hands-on training for law enforcement and commercial drivers.