(NEW YORK) — Kenya’s Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale has halted construction of the U.S.-backed Ebola quarantine facility at Laikipia Air Base after being found in contempt of court for allowing work to continue despite a court order.
Duale appeared before the High Court in Nairobi on Tuesday and said he directed “the immediate and complete cessation of any intended construction, site preparations or related activities” concerning the facilitly.
“It was never the intention of the ministry or myself as the Cabinet Secretary to disregard, undermine, or act in defiance of the orders,” he said.
Duale also told the court he would be “the last person to disregard a court order” and “the last person to violate any constitutional order given by any court.”
The court accepted Duale’s apology and discharged him with a warning, saying that he would face sentencing if there was any indication he disobeyed its orders again. The injunction stopping construction was extended until a hearing on July 23.
“Today was an important moment for justice in Kenya,” Nora Mbagathi, executive director of Kenya’s Katiba Institute, an organization formed to support the country’s constitution that challenged the U.S. plan, told ABC News in a WhatsApp message.
“By appearing in court and confirming that construction of the quarantine facility has been halted, Duale has affirmed the government’s recognition that they are not above the Constitution,” the message continued. “His apology to the Court and the people of Kenya is an important moment not just for our courts but for our democracy and rule of law.”
This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.
Congressional candidate Claire Valdez speaks during a Get Out the Vote (GOTV) rally at Kings Theater on June 18, 2026 in New York City. Brad Lander, Claire Valdez and Darializa Avila Chevalier are challenging incumbents in Democratic primary contests. (Photo by Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images)
(NEW YORK) — The first major test of New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s political influence could come Tuesday as three of his congressional endorsees face competitive primary races.
Two Democratic congressmen in New York City are facing challenges from progressive candidates endorsed by Mamdani, while two other races in the city each have multiple candidates vying for the Democratic nomination, including a Kennedy family member.
The Empire State is once again expected to play a pivotal role in the battle for control of the House this November.
North of the city in the Hudson Valley, a crowded Democratic field is seeking to flip Republican U.S. Rep. Mike Lawler’s seat.
And in the state’s sprawling 21st Congressional District, which stretches from the top of the Catskill Mountains to the Canadian border, a candidate endorsed by President Donald Trump is taking on a state GOP-backed assemblyman in the race to replace Rep. Elise Stefanik.
1 city, 4 high-profile races
New York City largely leans blue, but the primary races are showing deep divisions among Democratic voters.
“I think what’s interesting about primaries, especially in New York, is that they’re the main contest because they tend to have an outsized influence on the general election,” said Hostos Community College assistant professor Helen Chang.
When drivers cross into Brooklyn, they are greeted with a sign noting that Mamdani is the mayor and Antonio Reynoso is the borough president.
While Mamdani and Reynoso’s names might appear together on the sign, they are not on the same page in the 7th District race in which Reynoso is a candidate. Reynoso is supported by New York Attorney General Letitia James, but Mamdani is backing state Assemblywoman Claire Valdez. Julie Won, a city council member, is also running.
In Manhattan and Brooklyn’s 10th District, Rep. Dan Goldman is being challenged by Mamdani-endorsed former comptroller Brad Lander, while in the 13th District, which covers parts of Manhattan and the Bronx, the mayor is supporting community advocate Darializa Avila Chevalier over Rep. Adriano Espaillat. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries is backing Espaillat and Goldman.
Mamdani did not endorse a candidate in Manhattan’s 12th District. The race has been dominated by the artificial intelligence industry, with spending both supporting and opposing state Assemblyman Alex Bores.
Former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg endorsed state Assemblyman Micah Lasher in the race, while former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is backing former President John F. Kennedy’s grandson, Jack Schlossberg. Lincoln Project co-founder George Conway, health researcher Nina Schwalbe and attorney Laura Dunn are also running.
Noteworthy contests to the north
In the northern suburbs, the 17th is one of the state’s handful of swing districts. Home to Bill and Hillary Clinton, the district has been represented by Lawler since 2023.
Several Democrats are looking to make the district blue again, including former National Security Council Counterterrorism Director Cait Conley, Rockland County Legislator Beth Davidson, Tarrytown Village Trustee Effie Phillips-Staley, former reporter Michael Sacks and retired Air Force officer John Cappello.
Further upstate in the state’s northernmost district, Republican primary candidate Anthony Constantino has aimed to closely align himself with Trump.
Constantino, who received the president’s endorsement, is the CEO of Sticker Mule and made headlines in 2024 by placing a large “Vote for Trump” sign atop his building.
Rival candidate Robert Smullen, a state assemblyman and retired Marine Corps officer, was endorsed by the chair of the New York Republican State Committee.
Steny Hoyer arrives in Christianborg Palace on January 16, 2026 in Copenhagen, Denmark. (Photo by Martin Sylvest Andersen/Getty Images)
(WASHINGTON) — At the beginning of this year, after spending more than four decades in Congress and serving as the number two Democrat in the House under Nancy Pelosi, Rep. Steny Hoyer, 87, announced his plans to retire at the end of his current term.
Hoyer’s announcement instantly launched a crowded race to replace him in southern Maryland’s deep-blue 5th Congressional District, which has ballooned to include more than 20 Democratic primary candidates. Voters head to the polls Tuesday to decide who will be the Democratic nominee for Hoyer’s seat, as well as other federal, state and local offices on the ballot in Maryland’s midterm primary election.
Shortly after announcing his retirement, Hoyer chose his intended successor — the longtime Democrat endorsed his former aide Maryland state Del. Adrian Boafo. The district is unlikely to elect a Republican, so whoever wins the Democratic primary is on a glide path to victory in November.
Boafo, who served as Hoyer’s campaign manager, also picked up endorsements from other Democratic heavyweights in the state like Maryland Gov. Wes Moore and U.S. Sen. Angela Alsobrooks.
Those running against Boafo include former Prince George’s County Executive Rushern Baker, healthcare CEO Quincy Bareebe, Prince George’s County Councilwoman Wala Blegay and former Capitol Police officer Harry Dunn, who rose to national prominence for his testimony in congressional hearings about defending the U.S. Capitol during the Jan. 6, 2021 insurrection. Dunn ran for the House in the 3rd District in 2024 and finished second in the Democratic primary.
The debate over the influence of pro-Israel and pro-cryptocurrency super PAC money has played a central role in the race to replace Hoyer, as Boafo’s opponents have criticized the millions of dollars his campaign has received from the American Israel Public Affairs Committee’s United Democracy Project (UDP) PAC and Protect Progress, a crypto-aligned super PAC.
“Adrian has spent the last year laser-focused on the issues impacting Marylanders. His opponents continue to try and make the race about anything else besides what this race is actually about: the people of this district and the real need to have a fighter who stands up to this President,” Boafo’s campaign manager, Oren Adams, told ABC News in a statement.
In the northwest part of the state, former Rep. David Trone — who gave up his seat representing Maryland’s 6th District to launch an unsuccessful run for Senate in 2024 — is trying to make a political comeback after losing to Alsobrooks in the 2024 Democratic primary. Trone, a businessman who has self-funded his campaigns to the tune of tens of millions of dollars, is hoping to reclaim his seat from his successor, Rep. April McClain-Delaney, the wife of former Rep. John Delaney, who also once represented the 6th District before leaving to seek higher office.
At the top of the ballot, Moore seeks the Democratic nomination for what would be his second term in the governor’s mansion. The high-profile governor is seeking re-election as his name continues to be floated as a potential contender for the Democratic nomination for president in 2028.
The official trailer for Klara and the Sun has arrived. The latest film from director Taika Waititi is set to make its debut in movie theaters on Oct. 23. It’s based on the bestselling novel from Nobel Prize winner Kazuo Ishiguro. The comedy-drama follows an artificial friend, played by Jenna Ortega, who just wants to find the perfect home. The film also stars Amy Adams, Mia Tharia, Aran Murphy, Steve Buscemi and Natasha Lyonne …
Boyhood is making its way back to movie theaters. The Oscar-winning best picture, which was filmed over the course of 12 years, is returning to cinemas nationwide for its 12th anniversary. Independent Film Company is rereleasing the Richard Linklater film starting on July 31. Its cast, including Ethan Hawke, Patricia Arquette and Ellar Coltrane, is set to celebrate the anniversary milestone during a one‑night reunion event in Austin, Texas, on July 18 …
The Powerpuff Girls are heading to the big screen. Variety reports that a new Powerpuff Girls movie is in development at Warner Bros. Pictures Animation. While the movie is currently in the works, there is no deal set in place at the moment, according to the outlet …
Lainey Wilson steps into the spotlight Thursday night for a headlining performance on ABC’s annual three-hour CMA Fest special.
But Lainey has a history with the festival, formerly known as Fan Fair, that dates back to her teens.
“I was probably 14 or 15 when I saw Sugarland in a big blow-up ball and they rolled across the entire floor of the stadium, and I thought that was the coolest thing I’d ever seen,” she recalls. “It was insane. And I remember Martina McBride singing ‘Broken Wing.'”
While the “Somewhere Over Laredo” superstar stops short of naming a favorite, she definitely has a major contender.
“I remember every single year watching Keith Urban, like, pop up in all these random spots in the stadium,” she says. “To me he’s always been one of the best performers.”
“I’ve been coming every year since I was 14 years old, so it’s hard just to choose one,” she adds.
CMA Fest premieres Thursday at 8 p.m. ET on ABC and streams the following day on Hulu.
Disney is the parent company of ABC News and Hulu.
Lady Gaga performs onstage during The MAYHEM Ball Tour at The Kia Forum on July 28, 2025 in Inglewood, California. (Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Live Nation)
BTS’ current tour landed them in the #1 spot among the North American top touring artists, grossing more than $104 million so far this year. Lady Gaga’s The MAYHEM Ball ranked #2, with a gross exceeding $87 million. Other artists in the top 10 include Bad Bunny, Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band, New Edition, Luke Combs, the Eagles and Cardi B.
When it comes to the worldwide chart, Bad Bunny is #1, raking in more than $225 million. Lady Gaga is #2, followed by BTS at #3. Ed Sheeran ranks at #5 with a gross of more than $105 million. He just started the North American leg of his LOOP tour a few days ago, so those numbers aren’t reflected in the totals.
While some high-profile artists canceled tours and individual shows this year, Pollstar reports the industry is doing better than ever. Gross revenue for the top 100 touring artists is more than 12% higher than last year: a total of $3.16 billion. In case you’re wondering, the average ticket price in North America is $122.15, which is actually down 2.4% from last year.
If you didn’t get a chance to see The MAYHEM Ball, Gaga filmed a reimagined version called MAYHEM Requiem, now streaming on Apple Music.
BTS’ tour, in support of their album ARIRANG, is currently making its way through Europe and is set to return to North America starting Aug. 1. Ed Sheeran’s LOOP stadium tour, featuring opening act Myles Smith and a rotating lineup of other performers, wraps up its North American leg in Tampa, Florida, in November.
Cardi B performs during her Little Miss Drama tour at Madison Square Garden on March 25, 2026, in New York City. (Photo by Arturo Holmes/Getty Images for Live Nation)
Cardi B has made the top-10 lists for touring artists both domestically and internationally.
She ranks #7 on Pollstar‘s worldwide list for her Little Miss Drama tour, which, according to the chart, grossed $72.1 million. On Pollstar‘s Top 10 North American Tours list, her tour ranks #4, with 36 shows reported.
New Edition rounds out the North American top 10, coming in at #10.
“It’s gratifying to see Pollstar’s record-setting mid-year data finally putting to rest this year’s so-called ‘blue dot fever,’ which erroneously claimed the live business was collapsing,” Pollstar editor-in-chief Andy Gensler said in a statement. “Our data definitively shows otherwise.”
Cardi’s Little Miss Drama tour ran from Feb. 11 to April 18, marking her first-ever headlining arena tour. It featured performances of hits from her debut album, Invasion of Privacy, and its follow-up, Am I the Drama?, as well as appearances from various artists, including Fetty Wap, Missy Elliott, Vybz Kartel, Tyla, Kehlani and GloRilla.
She is set to take the stage Sunday at the BET Awards 2026.
‘Music Video Mischief’ book cover. (Trouser Press)
Nigel Dick, the director of videos including Oasis’ “Wonderwall” and Guns N’ Roses’ “Sweet Child o’ Mine,” is releasing a memoir.
The book is called Music Video Mischief and is due out Sept. 15.
“Music Video Mischief goes behind the scenes for a wild ride through the creative process, the egos, the politics, and the logistics involved in making videos for A-listers,” a press release reads. “Dick shares entertaining tales of things going right and wrong, stars who were wonderful to work with and stars who weren’t, natural disasters, amazing triumphs, and mad dashes around the world — all with self-deprecating wit and the enthusiasm of a lifetime music fan.”
Dick also directed videos including Nickelback’s “Photograph,” Ozzy Osbourne’s “Back to Earth,” Britney Spears’ “Oops!…I Did It Again” and Band Aid’s “Do They Know It’s Christmas?”
“If you thought Nigel could direct a video, you should see him write a book!” Nickelback’s Chad Kroeger says.
Bruce Springsteen and The E Street Band perform at The Kia Forum on April 07, 2026 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)
Bruce Springsteen, the Eagles and AC/DC are among the artists landing in the top 10 on Pollstar’s 2026 midyear touring charts.
While Bad Bunny leads the worldwide touring artists midyear chart with a gross of over $225 million, AC/DC is the highest-charting rock act. It lands at #4 thanks to the European leg of their Power Up tour, which has brought in close to $120.3 million so far this year.
Eagles, thanks to their Sphere residency and a handful of U.S. shows, land at #8 on the worldwide chart, with over $69.7 million in gross sales. Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band are at #10, bringing in over $58.4 million with The Land of Hope and Dreams tour.
Among the North American top touring artists, Eagles land at #5, while Springsteen lands at #7. K-pop act BTS tops the list with a gross of over $104 million.
And both AC/DC and Eagles have a chance to add to their 2026 haul. AC/DC brings their Power Up tour back to North America July 11 in Charlotte, North Carolina, with dates confirmed through Sept. 29 in Philadelphia; Eagles have more Sphere shows in September and November.
Springsteen wrapped his The Land of Hope and Dreams tour on May 30 in Philadelphia.
