Saturday, September 5, 2026
US envoys meet Putin in Moscow for Ukraine talks
MOSCOW, Russia
United States President Donald Trump's top negotiators are meeting Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow, as efforts to end the war in Ukraine gather pace.
Footage released by the Kremlin showed Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner being greeted by Putin, who said the current situation "is not so easy". He added Russia would explain "how we see the situation".
Witkoff thanked the Putin for agreeing with Ukraine to halt strikes on each other's capitals for three days. On Sunday the envoys will travel to Kyiv for more talks.
On Friday, Trump said Witkoff and Kushner were "bringing with them a proposal to end the war". So far, efforts from the US and its allies to broker a peace deal have failed.
At Saturday's talks in the Kremlin, Putin also said that "in any case, whatever happens, such contacts are undoubtedly always useful". He also thanked Trump for his peacemaking efforts.
The talks in Putin's official residence in the heart of the Russian capital are continuing behind closed doors.
Zelensky said earlier on Saturday that he had spoken to the envoys, who have "already begun working with the Russian side today".
"The plan for tomorrow's diplomatic engagements in Kyiv, involving the US team, has been approved. We are waiting for Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner and are ready for a substantive conversation," he added.
"From now through the end of Saturday, as well as on Sunday and Monday, Ukraine is ready to refrain from strikes on Moscow, and we expect the Russians to do the same regarding Kyiv."
Russian state media reported that President Vladimir Putin had ordered a halt to strikes on Kyiv for three days due to the US visit.
US news outlet Axios reported that the US envoys would separately meet both Putin and Zelensky.
Kushner and Witkoff have visited Russia several times but the talks on Sunday would be the first in Ukraine.
It is not clear how the US envoys will be travelling from Moscow to Kyiv.
Ukraine's airspace has been closed since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022.
Delegations from Ukraine have attended talks in the US over the past 18 months.
Earlier on Saturday, Zelensky said Russia had fired "demonstrative" strikes on airports in Kyiv and Boryspil overnight ahead of his planned meeting with the US.
Ukraine's president added: "Clearly, these Russian strikes on the airports are a reaction to the discussions and preparations for the possibility of the US side using an aircraft to travel to Ukraine and land at Kyiv Airport or Boryspil Airport."
Ukraine's airspace has been closed since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022.
Zelensky said on Friday he would guarantee the safety of Russian airspace during the envoys' visit and called for Russia to do the same for Ukraine.
Niger blames France for inciting failed mutiny, Paris denies involvement
NIAMEY, Niger
Niger has blamed France for inciting last week’s thwarted military mutiny, according to a government statement read on television on Friday and cited by Reuters and AFP.
On August 29, disgruntled soldiers attacked a strategic army base in Niamey and fired shots near the presidential palace. But the army and its Russian paramilitary allies eventually neutralised the mutiny.
The unrest killed three members of the presidential guard, according to Niger's Foreign Affairs Ministry. AFP reported a total number of five deaths, including civilians.
On Friday, Niger’s Council of Ministers said it had concluded that the attack had been incited by a vast network of accomplices led by France, Niger's former colonial power.
"A substantial body of evidence has been compiled regarding this attack, and Niger reserves the right to bring the matter before international courts," the government said in the statement quoted by Reuters
In response, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot denied any involvement of France in the attack.
"These are nothing but pure fantasies," Barrot told French radio station RFI on Saturday. "All of this is, as usual, a way of wrongly blaming France for something it is simply not responsible for."
According to RFI, on Tuesday already, a Nigerian military official had appeared on television to accuse several states, including France, Ivory Coast and Benin, of supporting the mutiny.
Like its fellow junta-run Sahel neighbours in Burkina Faso and Mali, Niger has turned its back on Paris since the 2023 coup that brought General Abdourahamane Tiani to power.
All three have sought closer ties with Russia in tackling the region's deadly jihadist conflict, which has continued to rage unabated.
Friday, September 4, 2026
Body of King Oyo returns to Uganda ahead of burial
ENTEBBE, Uganda
Mouners gathered at Entebbe airport on Friday to receive the body of Uganda’s King Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV of Tooro kingdom.
He died of of an undisclosed illness last week in the United States at the age of 34.
Uganda's President, Yoweri Museveni received the casket in a formal military parade.
"I gave assistance to the king and his family before his death. They first went to Germany and later they went to United States for treatment but it didn’t go as we hoped."
King Oyo ascended to the throne of Uganda’s Tooro kingdom at three years old and held the unofficial title of the world’s youngest reigning monarch.
“In fact this is unbearable," said Rwomusha Ibanda Gerald, a Tooro prince. "It was shocking to lose a wonderful and impactful king. He has died at age of 34 but impactful, someone might die of 90, 80 but with little records but at 34 years the record is immense."
Uganda is a republic but officially recognises traditional kingdoms. They have limited political power but their monarchs wield authority as guardians of tribal culture.
Oyo was not officially married when he died and there are fears his death could trigger a succession crisis. President Museveni said the king's mother had told him her son had an heir. But Tooro officials have denied knowledge of the child.
Balam Barugahara is a local government minister:
"We have a succession plan and we have a Babiito clan, we have the chief Mubiito who is now the current chairperson of the kingdom, running the afffairs of the kingdom and the kingdom put in place 21 members to execute its duty, so all is well. People should be calm.”
King Oyo’s body will lie in state in Kyegegwa in the Tooro kingdom in western Uganda before his burial on September 12.
Russia hits Ukrainian security headquarters in drone attack, Zelensky says
By Our Correspondent, KYIV Ukraine
A Russian drone has hit the headquarters of the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) during a strike in the heart of Kyiv, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has said.
The unmanned aerial vehicle crashed into the SBU headquarters on Friday afternoon, targeting a room used by security chief Oleksandr Poklad.
It is not clear whether Poklad was in the building, but Zelensky said he had since spoken to him to order an "appropriate, tangible response".
"The drone was aimed directly at the office of the Head of the Security Service in that building," Zelensky confirmed. It suggests Russia's new drones are growing in accuracy and signals Moscow could step up strikes before possible US mediation talks this weekend.
"All emergency services are on the scene. Everyone affected will receive the necessary assistance," Zelensky added in a message on Telegram.
"I instructed Poklad to deliver an appropriate, tangible response and, where possible, one that mirrors this strike, to the Russians once everything is ready. Our military will support this response."
Images of the office widely shared online showed black smoke pouring from two windows on the front of the building.
Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha said the attack was a "major escalation that demands resolute responses".
"Moscow launched this strike during a renewed push for peace - laying bare its true rejection of diplomacy," he added.
Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said five people had been hurt in the SBU attack, but did not elaborate on whether they were inside the offices.
A nearby café was damaged and one customer was taken to hospital after the strike.
Stanislav Zavertaylo, co-owner of the popular Zavertailo chain, told our correspondent that this was his third café to have been damaged since the start of the full-scale invasion.
"Now I'm in shock because there's a lot of damage. All the windows are broken, there's a lot of glass, garbage" he added.
The Russian defence ministry also said on Friday it had struck a cargo vessel in the Ukrainian port of Chornomorsk and a tanker near Odesa.
In recent weeks Russia has escalated its daytime strikes on Ukrainian targets.
In many instances it has employed jet-powered drones which are faster and harder to intercept. It is not yet known which type of munition was used in this latest attack.
The strike on the SBU building is a rare example of Russia successfully hitting a government building.
Thursday, September 3, 2026
South Africa's Sharpeville massacre victims launch legal action
SHARPEVILLE, South Africa
It's been more than 60 years since apartheid police opened fire on a 1960 protest in South Africa. Now, Lawyers for survivors and relatives of those killed are launching legal action against the South African government, hoping to overturn a law that has prevented compensation claims.
87 year-old Abram Mofokeng, a Sharpeville massacre survivor, hopes the government follows through on their pledges ."What we are expecting is for them to honour their promises. When Mr Mandela unveiled this memorial following his release from prison. He promised us R120 000 [$7,437 USD, at today's exchange rate ed.] for those that were affected," he says.
Lawyers are seeking to overturn legislation that was passed a year after the massacre.
Charne Tracey , an attorney, Lawyers For Human Rights, explains there are multiple aspects to the case, stating, "there are two major aspects to the case. The first aspect is having the Indemnity Act declared unconstitutional. The second aspect is having our class of people certified as a class so that we can pursue individual damages. We are bringing the case against the President of South Africa, the Minister of Police, and the Minister of Justice."
The Sharpeville massacre exposed apartheid's brutality to the world.
Mpai Chabane, Granddaughter of massacre victim, says, "we can't really explain but I can imagine if I was there on that day the heartbreak you know what there was blood we hear there was blood all over here and we see it by them staging the whole thing. It's really affecting us because we also grew up without grandparents. I'm one of them who grew up without a grandmother."
The Sharpeville massacre was a tragic event on March 21, 1960, when South African police opened fire on a peaceful, unarmed crowd protesting apartheid pass laws in the township of Sharpeville, killing at least 69 people and injuring over 180.
Kenyan president orders crackdown on foreigners operating small businesses
By Our Correspondent, NAIROBI Kenya
Kenya's President William Ruto has ordered a crackdown on foreigners operating small-scale businesses, saying local traders and hawkers need to be protected.
His announcement comes amid growing debate about the increasing number of African migrants involved in Kenya's vast informal economy.
"From next week, all [foreign] traders doing those small businesses should close them," he said, also promising to fast-track proposed legislation to preclude foreigners from certain areas of trade.
Ruto said Kenya remained open to foreign investment, but argued that investors - including Chinese traders - should create jobs and expand production rather than compete with Kenyans in small businesses.
"It cannot be that a person comes from China or elsewhere to be a hawker or open a small shop," he said in an address to small-scale traders who had come to meet the president at State House in the capital, Nairobi, on Wednesday afternoon.
"We have made efforts to improve the economy, we have not improved investor confidence for hawkers to come to Kenya," said Ruto, who plans to seek a second term in election next year.
It is unclear how many foreign nationals are involved in small-scale trading or how many would be affected by the new crackdown.
Kenya hosts a large refugee population, some of whom live and work outside the country's refugee camps.
Government figures show that Kenya had about 857,000 registered refugees and asylum seekers by the end of June, with nearly 14% living in urban areas.
Kenyan law recognises the right of refugees to work and operate businesses, although they are required to obtain the appropriate documentation. Refugees wishing to work or engage in a trade or business can apply for a special permit.
In Nairobi and other major towns, migrants from the region can be found working in barber shops and salons, construction, operating motorbike taxis and street vending, as well as selling clothes, food and household goods.
Some have fled conflicts or economic hardship at home, while others have moved to Kenya in search of better opportunities under the relatively free movement of people allowed within the East African Community, a regional bloc made up of eight countries.
The growing presence of foreigners has at times caused tensions with local traders and workers who accuse them of competing for scarce jobs and business opportunities.
In July, a video of a Kenyan man confronting a Burundian trader in Nairobi and accusing him of taking opportunities from locals sparked widespread criticism.
The clash also prompted Fred Ngoga, an expert on regional conflict prevention from Burundi, to appeal for the protection of his country's citizens.
"The majority of Kenyans are decent and good people who welcome their brothers and sisters from Burundi," he said at the time, adding that most Kenyans had rejected the hostility directed at the trader.
UN warns of 'supersized' El Niño as countries prepare for impact
By Esme Stallard, LONDON England
The world has entered a "danger zone of extreme weather" as the impacts of El Niño start to be felt globally, UN head António Guterres has warned.
The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) has released the latest data on the natural weather phenomenon showing it could be the strongest for more than 70 years and last until at least February 2027.
El Niño changes weather patterns around the world, pushing some regions into drought whilst others experience stronger typhoons and flooding.
Forecasters also say El Niño will boost temperatures in some places, coming on top of rising heat globally from human-induced climate change.
"El Niño is being supersized before our eyes. The science leaves no room for doubt: the planet is in uncharted waters, and those waters are heating up," Guterres said.
The repoter spoke with governments and scientists about the measures being taken globally to reduce the risk of deaths, displacement and environmental damage.
Early warning systems have been strengthened and deployment of pre-emptive medical assistance, but the strength of this particular event has raised serious concerns particularly for vulnerable groups.
The WMO - a UN agency - said it has undertaken a "major mobilisation" to try to circulate its forecasts of potential extreme weather events, linked to El Niño, to as many communities as possible.
WMO Secretary-General Celeste Saulo warned: "El Niño has the potential to deliver a massive blow to communities and economies across the world."
El Niño is a natural weather phenomenon that develops in the Pacific Ocean and is linked to a change in wind patterns. It allows warm water to spread eastwards and releases heat into the atmosphere.
Sea temperatures in the central and eastern tropical Pacific have risen sharply in recent months - a clear sign of a strengthening El Niño.
In the Pacific's key monitoring region, surface temperatures have been well over 2C above average in recent weeks, putting it on track to be declared a "very strong" event.
But it is expected to surpass even that marker. Monthly sea surface temperatures could get close to 4C above average, forecasts suggest.
This would make it the strongest El Niño since at least 1950, by potentially a large margin.
Temperatures are even more exceptional below the surface of the Pacific - in places more than 8C above average.
Above-normal sea temperatures are also expected in other parts of the world including the Indian Ocean, tropical Atlantic and around parts of the Australian coast.
With its rich marine life, changes in ocean heat are of particular concern to Australia.
It has been plagued by marine heatwaves in recent years - driven by climate change.
El Niño is a natural phenomenon, but it tends to bring the kind of extreme heat which also drives those disasters, Dr Alistair Hobday, chief researcher at Australia's science agency, told the reporter.
This year, marine heatwave forecasts indicate the Great Barrier Reef will be spared the worst of the conditions, giving coral there more time to recover.
"[But] Southern Australia is getting slammed," said Hobday.
Last time a marine heatwave hit South Australia and Tasmania, there were starving penguins, fish kills, suffocating algae outbreaks, and jellyfish invasions.
Australia has recently introduced early warning systems for marine crises - this gives time for financial relief for fisheries to be established, relocation of crucial species and increased coral monitoring.
But this event is shaping up to be unprecedented - and Hobday admits he is quite worried.
Wednesday, September 2, 2026
Bus crash on Egypt's Red Sea coast kills 22
SOUTH SINAI, Egypt
At least 22 people have been killed in a bus crash in eastern Egypt, the country's health ministry has said.
Another 28 people were injured on the road between Red Sea towns of Dahab and Nuweiba in the South Sinai governorate on Wednesday morning.
Reports in Egyptian and Jordanian media say as many as 10 Jordanian nationals were among those killed in the accident.
The cause of the crash remains unknown.
The area is a popular tourist destination, attracting visitors from around the world.
It is unclear how many people were on board at the time of the crash.
In a statement, the Egyptian health ministry said all the injured people were being treated in three different hospitals.
Deadly road accidents are common across Egypt, with the authorities reporting nearly 6,000 fatalities in 2025.
Such accidents are often blamed on reckless driving and poor road maintenance.
Last month, 18 people were killed and 30 injured when two lorries collided in the north-eastern Ismailia governorate.
Trump $1 coin makes him first living president on US currency in a century
WASHINGTON, United States
Donald Trump's portrait has made its way on to a US coin - the first time a living president has appeared on American currency in a century.
On Wednesday, the US Mint launched the $1 coin with a portrait of Trump alongside the words "LIBERTY" and "IN GOD WE TRUST", to celebrate America's 250th anniversary.
The special-edition coin captures "the spirit, pride, and legacy of a nation approaching its landmark anniversary", the US Mint said.
The coins - priced at $61 (£45) for a roll of 25 and $154.50 for a bag of 100 - were "not currently in stock" on the mint's website within hours of going on sale.
The coin has been "created to celebrate this historic national milestone" with a "once-in-a-generation anniversary design destined to become a standout addition to modern collections", the US Mint said.
They are also being sold in vending machines at the US Mint store in Washington DC.
While the coins have a golden colour they do not contain any actual gold. According to the US Mint, they are 88.5% copper with the balance being made up of zinc, manganese and nickel.
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