Kenya records 19 Mpox deaths as cases rise to 1,298

NAIROBI, Kenya 

At least 19 people have died from Mpox since the outbreak was confirmed in Kenya three months ago, according to a statement released early this week by the Kenyan Ministry of Health.

The Kenyan Ministry of Health indicated that seven counties have so far been identified as high-risk areas for medullary tuberculosis (mpox) due to their location along major transport corridors and their proximity to border crossings.

The East African country has recorded 1,298 confirmed cases of mpox to date, with 452 in Mombasa, which has the highest number of cases, followed by Nairobi with 320.

The counties of Busia, Makueni, Kiambu, Kilifi, and Nakuru have also been classified as high-risk areas, as the outbreak has spread to more than 40 counties.

The ministry warned that mox remains a threat to the country despite efforts to contain its spread. It called for continued public awareness campaigns, strengthened surveillance, and intensified screening at county border crossings to detect and contain new infections.

The ministry indicated that it was also maintaining surveillance for other infectious diseases. Although no confirmed cases of Ebola have been recorded in Kenya, measures have been put in place to respond to any suspected cases and prevent the virus from entering the country.

The ministry added that it would continue to strengthen surveillance, vaccination, public awareness and coordination among health authorities, while continuing its efforts to contain mox and prepare to deal with other emerging health risks.

Misfiring Arsenal beat Napoli in Champions League

NAPLES, Italy 

Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard’s sensational late strike broke stern Napoli resistance as the English champions began their bid for Champions League glory with a hard-fought 1-0 win in Naples on Wednesday.

Mikel Arteta’s side, who lost to Paris Saint-Germain on penalties in last season’s final, spurned several glorious chances against the well-drilled hosts before Odegaard lashed a shot off the post and in from the edge of the area with 15 minutes to go.

It continued a perfect start to the campaign for Arsenal, who began their Premier League title defence with three wins in a row before condemning Massimiliano Allegri’s team to a third consecutive defeat.

Arsenal’s next European test comes at home against Lille on Tuesday, October 13. Napoli travel to Villarreal on the same day as they look to bounce back.

Injuries to Scott McTominay and Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa forced Allegri into a midfield reshuffle, with Kevin De Bruyne and Billy Gilmour coming in. Left-back Mathias Olivera was also selected after the hosts had let a two-goal lead slip to lose 3-2 away to Inter Milan on Saturday.

Arteta made four changes from Arsenal’s 2-1 win over Chelsea on Sunday, with Piero Hincapie, Mikel Merino, Eberechi Eze and Viktor Gyokeres earning their first starts of the season.

The hosts set out to soak up pressure and frustrate last season’s runners-up, who struggled to break the low block early on and were almost caught out at the other end when De Bruyne and Matteo Politano both called goalkeeper David Raya into action.

Arsenal carved out a big chance midway through the first half when Merino’s header from 8 yards out was pushed over the bar by Alex Meret.

The Gunners, who won all eight of their league phase games to kick-start their run to the final last season, continued to probe as Ben White produced a tame finish from a promising position before Meret scooped a Hincapie cross-shot off his line.

Rasmus Hojlund’s hold-up play was proving a useful weapon for Napoli on the counter, as Politano forced another save from Raya.

But it was Arsenal who ended the first half feeling they should have been in front, after Saka was played through on goal and had only the keeper to beat, only to lift a poor finish over the bar.

Napoli were forced into a goalkeeper change during the interval, with Vanja Milinkovic-Savic replacing the injured Meret, but Arsenal picked up where they left off as Hincapie wasted another good chance by scooping his shot over from 5 yards.

Arsenal continued to knock at the door to no avail until the 75th minute, when in-form Odegaard smashed an unstoppable shot in off the post from the edge of the area, just three days after scoring a winning strike against Chelsea.

The visitors had a huge chance to settle it with five minutes to go when Noni Madueke had a shot charged down by Milinkovic-Savic before fellow substitute Christos Tzolis’s follow-up effort was blocked on the line.

They were almost made to pay when a neat passing move from Napoli left De Bruyne with space in the box, but the Belgian opted to play a ball across an empty 6-yard box instead of shooting.

Kai Havertz thought he had doubled the Gunners’ lead in stoppage time with a tap-in from Milinkovic-Savic’s parry, but the offside flag was up.

Iran war won't end until after crucial November elections, says Trump

By Max Matza, WASHINGTON United States 

United States President, Donald Trump, has said he does not think the Iran war will end until after November's midterm elections, adding that oil prices will not come down until then.

"I think the war's going to end immediately after the election because they can't hold out any longer," Trump said of Tehran on Wednesday.

He made the comments as he headed to Texas for the party's first-ever midterm election convention, when the balance of power could change in the US government.

Trump is facing falling polling numbers and pressure from within his Republican Party to end the war with Iran. 

On Wednesday, oil prices rose to $100 (£74) for the first time since July due to increased fighting in the Middle East.

"Right after the election, oil prices are going to be tumbling downward," Trump told reporters. "I think it's going to take a little bit longer than the midterm."

He added that Iran was "desperate to try and affect the election, so that we can get a nice weak group of people in there" - an apparent reference to the Democrats - "and leave them alone and let them have their nuclear weapon".

He provided no proof of the election claim. Tehran has repeatedly denied it is seeking nuclear weapons.

At the convention in Texas, Trump echoed some of these lines, saying the price of oil would tumble "as soon as we win the war with Iran".

In his speech, he also referenced dissatisfaction among some Americans on the issue: "Guys come up to me and say, 'I wish you didn't do the war in Iran. Now gasoline is up'".

Trump also said further negotiations with Iran could possibly happen, "but it's not something we're looking at".

The US president initially predicted the war, which is now in its seventh month, would last only a matter of weeks. 

The conflict, and its knock-on effects on everything from fuel to groceries, has led to a steep decline in his approval ratings - and pressure from those within his party, including devout supporters, to quickly end the war.

Midterm elections will be held on 3 November, and Republicans are in danger of losing their control on Congress.

At the convention, Trump sought to energise the party ahead of November. Historically, a sitting president's party tends to lose seats in Congress in the midterm elections.

Fighting in the Middle East has intensified in recent days, as oil facilities throughout the region come under attack, driving up the global price of fuel and any item that requires shipping.

The price of oil hit $100 a barrel on Wednesday for the first time since July. Similarly, earlier this week the price of US diesel hit an all-time-high, which is likely to cause a ripple effect on prices across the US.

EAST AFRICA NEWSPAPERS 10/9/2026

 

Oil hits $100 a barrel for first time since July after US and Houthi strikes

TEXAS, United States 

Oil prices rose past $100 (£74) a barrel on Wednesday after further strikes in the conflict between the US and Iran and continuing Houthi attacks in Saudi Arabia.

In back and forth attacks, the US hit five Iranian tankers in reprisal strikes after Tehran targeted one of its warships.

Brent crude - which is the global benchmark for prices - has not been as expensive since the end of July, when a ceasefire between Iran and the US collapsed.

Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi movement also attacked oil facilities in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday and have been targeting tankers in the Red Sea.

Brent crude did dip back down to $99.90 a barrel, but any fresh flare-ups in the Middle East could see it pushed higher again.

Tit-for-tat strikes between Iran and the US have escalated in the past week, more than six months after conflict broke out when the US and Israel launched attacks on Iran on 28 February.

Oil prices have fluctuated wildly since the war began, and pressure on the industry has been exacerbated by wider regional instability.

Before the conflict Brent crude had been priced at about $70 (£52) a barrel.

But the war has seen the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz, which carries 20% of the world's oil and liquefied natural gas (LNG).

The rising costs have sparked huge price leaps in petrol around the world for motorists at the pumps.

The US strikes on the five Iranian tankers saw four in the Gulf of Oman linked to Iran's Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) hit as well as another near Kharg Island.

Tehran responded by launching missiles at a US base in Jordan - most of which were shot down - and said it attacked two US vessels and eight oil tankers in the Strait of Hormuz.

The Houthis and Saudi Arabia have also been exchanging strikes since July after their own informal ceasefire unravelled.

On Monday the Houthis accused Saudi Arabia of bombing a prison in al-Hazm and killing 11 people.

Then on Tuesday the Saudi authorities said Houthis had struck civilian and economic sites in the cities of Abha, Khamis Mushait, Jazan and Najran.

The latest round of escalation comes after Iran targeted a US warship with ballistic missiles, which Centcom said were "successfully evaded". It added that no American troops were harmed during the attacks.

In response, the US said that the five Iranian oil tankers it targeted were "part of a multi-billion-dollar shadow network that funds the IRGC and its regional proxies".

One of the ships it had struck, the M/T Riesco, sunk in the Gulf of Oman, Centcom later said, posting a video on X of the damaged vessel.

US strikes Iranian oil tankers as Tehran targets American base in Jordan

WASHINGTON, United States 

US forces struck five Iranian tankers on Tuesday, sinking one, in response to Tehran twice targeting an American warship, US Central Command (Centcom) said.

Four Iranian oil tankers in the Gulf of Oman linked to Iran's Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) were targeted, as well as another near Kharg Island, a major oil terminal off Iran's coast, Centcom added.

Tehran responded by launching missiles at a US base in Jordan - most of which were shot down - and said it attacked two US vessels and eight oil tankers in the Strait of Hormuz.

Tit-for-tat strikes between the two countries have escalated in the past week, more than six months after the US and Israel launched attacks on Iran on 28 February.

Oil prices rose in Asia trading. Benchmark Brent crude was up by 1.5% at $99.35 (£73.35) a barrel, while US-traded oil was 1.3% higher at $94.23.

Jordan said it had shot down 18 of the 20 Iranian missiles, while two of them fell in unpopulated areas, an official spokesperson for the Jordanian Armed Forces said.

After warning of further retaliatory strikes, Iran's Revolutionary Guards said on Wednesday they had attacked two US vessels, eight oil tankers and 10 "non-compliant vessels" trying to pass through the Strait of Hormuz, state media reported.

The latest round of escalation comes after Iran targeted a US warship with ballistic missiles, which Centcom said were "successfully evaded". It added that no American troops were harmed during the attacks.

In response, the US said that the five Iranian oil tankers it targeted were "part of a multi-billion-dollar shadow network that funds the IRGC and its regional proxies".

One of the ships it had struck, the M/T Riesco, sunk in the Gulf of Oman, Centcom later said, posting a video on X of the damaged vessel.

Kharg Island - where one Iranian tanker was attacked in the latest round of US strikes - hosts Iran's main terminal for exporting oil.

Some 90% of the country's crude oil passes through the island in the Gulf, transported through pipes from the mainland.

Pressure on oil prices has been exacerbated by wider regional instability.

UN calls for immediate ceasefire as Sudan crisis deepens

NEW YORK, United States 

The United Nations is calling for an immediate ceasefire in Sudan, as drone attacks and the destruction of healthcare facilities deepen an already devastating humanitarian crisis.

More than six million people have been displaced inside Sudan, while another 4.5 million have fled the country.

UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk says civilians in several regions face an imminent risk of further attacks, calling for an end to foreign involvement and a return to civilian rule.

UN investigators say both the Sudanese Armed Forces and Rapid Support Forces are increasingly using long-range drones, extending attacks far beyond traditional front lines.

In South Kordofan, strikes on a kindergarten and hospital killed 114 people, including 60 children.

A separate attack on a teaching hospital killed at least 70 people.

Investigators say there are reasonable grounds to believe both sides committed serious violations that may amount to war crimes.

South Africa renews legal bid to stop US auction of Nelson Mandela memorabilia

PRETORIA, South Africa 

South Africa's government has turned to the country's Constitutional Court in a renewed bid to stop the auction in the United States of items once belonging to Nelson Mandela.

The four-year legal battle involves 29 objects, including Mandela's identity card, shirts, writings and a key to his prison cell on Robben Island, where he spent 18 of his 27 years in jail.

The country's heritage agency, SAHRA, and the culture ministry argue the items are part of South Africa's national heritage and were exported without permission.

The auction was first announced in 2021 by New York-based Guernsey's, but was suspended after SAHRA challenged the sale. South African courts later cleared the auction, before the government renewed its legal efforts to stop it.

Mandela's eldest daughter, Makaziwe, authorised the sale to raise funds for a memorial garden near her father's grave in Qunu.

Mandela became South Africa's first democratic president in 1994 and died in 2013, aged 95.

EAST AFRICA NEWSPAPERS 9/9/2026

 

Flight recorders recovered from 'devastating' Amazon cargo plane crash

MIAMI, United States 

Investigators have recovered the flight recorders from the Amazon cargo plane that crashed at Miami International Airport, but the priority remains the recovery of victims, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has said.

Five people were killed and five others seriously injured when the Boeing 767-300, operated by 21 Air, overshot the runway shortly before 14:00 local time (19:00 BST) on Sunday.

The plane hit two vehicles, including a white van carrying seven people within the airport perimeter, and a Toyota with three passengers.

NTSB chairwoman Jennifer Homendy said it was too early to draw conclusions about what caused the crash, with investigators still in the "fact finding stage".

Speaking at a press conference at Miami International Airport on Monday, Homendy said the aircraft had two crew members on board and was arriving from San Juan, Puerto Rico, on its third flight of the day.

The plane struck navigational aids and equipment after overrunning the runway, before hitting a white Ford van owned by a contract cleaning company.

It then travelled through a perimeter fence and collided with a Toyota Corolla, coming to rest about 1,300ft (394m) beyond the runway.

Homendy described the crash scene as "devastating", with debris from the aircraft, vehicles and airport fencing scattered across the area.

"It's hard to see, and I'm sure very difficult for the first responders as well," she said.

She said recovering victims' bodies was the current priority, adding: "The investigation and access to the aircraft, as well as evidence, can wait."

The flight data recorder and cockpit voice recorder have been recovered and are being sent to NTSB headquarters for evaluation.

Homendy said investigators could not yet say anything substantive about the cause of the crash as they were still collecting evidence at the scene.

Investigators will examine the flight history, crew experience and training, radar data, and aircraft performance. Separate teams will look at the plane's systems and engines, while a meteorologist will assess the weather conditions at the time of landing.

The NTSB will also examine whether the runway should have had an engineered materials arresting system (EMAS), which is designed to slow and stop aircraft that overrun a runway. Homendy said this would be a "key" part of the investigation.

EAST AFRICA NEWSPAPERS 8/9/2026