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

 

Husband of Tanzania's president dies while undergoing treatment

ZANZIBAR, Tanzania 

The husband of Tanzania’s President Samia Hassan died Monday while undergoing treatment in a hospital in Zanzibar, the country’s vice president announced.

Hafidh Hassan became Tanzania’s first gentleman in 2021, when his wife took office as the country's first female president following the death of President John Magufuli. Hassan had been receiving treatment for a heart condition.

Vice President Deogratius Ndejembi announced Hassan's death and expressed his condolences to the family. He said arrangements were being made for his burial in the family’s native Zanzibar, a semiautonomous archipelago that is part of Tanzania.

President Hassan is serving a second term after winning a disputed election in 2025 with more than 97% of the vote. Candidates from the two main opposition parties were barred from running.

The couple had four children, three sons and a daughter who is a deputy minister. His burial is scheduled to take place later today.

Kenyan President William Ruto expressed sorrow on behalf of his government and people. “President Samia has lost a lifelong companion, her children a beloved father, and Tanzania a distinguished son,” he wrote.

Burundi’s President Evariste Ndayishimiye together with Rwanda President Kagame sent their condolences to President Hassan and the people of Tanzania.

EAST AFRICA NEWSPAPERS 7/9/2026

 

Odegaard sinks Chelsea in London derby thriller

LONDON, England 

Reigning champions Arsenal came from behind to beat big-spending Chelsea in a pulsating London derby at Emirates Stadium.

Chelsea stunned the home fans by taking a second-minute lead through £117m summer signing Morgan Rogers' volley after the Gunners failed to clear Reece James' free-kick.

That was the first goal Mikel Arteta's side have conceded this season.

Despite their flying start, Chelsea had not kept a clean sheet in their previous 18 Premier League games and Xabi Alonso's side were forced to withstand wave after wave of Arsenal pressure.

Emiliano Martinez denied Bukayo Saka, while Jorrel Hato and Wesley Fofana each made crucial blocks before the Gunners levelled in the 25th-minute after former Chelsea forward Kai Havertz beat Martinez at his near post with a well-placed finish.

In a high-quality match, Chelsea - who spent close to £350m in the summer transfer window - came within a whisker of retaking the lead.

After captain James had forced David Raya into a save from outside the box, Pedro Neto hit the post after a wonderful solo run before Martin Odegaard settled it in the 50th minute.

The Arsenal captain beat Martinez after Havertz's clever dummy, the Norwegian's second goal in three Premier League games.

Chelsea substitute Estevao thought he had equalised right at the end of the game but Raya produced a brilliant finger-tip save as the Blues lost for the fifth straight league game at Emirates Stadium.

Zelensky says he expects war to continue into winter after talks with US envoys

By Imogen James, KYIV Ukraine

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has said he expects the war with Russia to continue into the winter, following a round of talks with Donald Trump's top envoys in Kyiv.

The discussions finished without an announcement of a major breakthrough, after Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner travelled to Ukraine for the first time since Russia's full-scale invasion. The previous day, the pair had held talks with Vladimir Putin in Moscow.

Witkoff said he was "encouraged" by what he called "substantive" and important talks in Kyiv.

Zelensky stressed that he wanted a just peace with no opportunity for renewed aggression by Russia.

Following Sunday's talks, which lasted several hours behind closed doors, Zelensky told reporters they agreed officials from Ukraine, Europe and America would meet in the near future to continue discussions.

"We're confident there'll be a good resolution here," Witkoff said, adding the negotiators had "made a lot of progress in Moscow", referring to the pair's discussions with the Russians on Saturday.

Zelensky emphasised that should the war continue into the winter - "which is what it looks like for now" - Ukraine would need air defence and energy support.

When asked about the talks in Moscow, Kushner said the US team "went through a lot of the ideas that hadn't worked to date" and "tried to think about" what elements are needed for "durable peace".

"It was a very good dialogue, he [Putin] asked a lot of questions, we asked a lot of questions."

Witkoff said the envoys had met Putin first as they "needed to hear where he stood", adding the US team "made a lot of progress in Moscow".

The US envoys had travelled to Kyiv by train after flying to Poland – Zelensky told the media that it was not possible for them to land their plane despite preparations.

Putin and Zelensky agreed to halt strikes on each other's capitals for three days while the negotiators carried out their trip.

Zelensky greeted Witkoff and Jared Kushner at Kyiv's St Sophia Cathedral, near where a Russian drone hit the headquarters of Ukraine's security services on Friday.

Overnight, Russian and Ukrainian forces continued to exchange strikes, with Ukraine confirming they struck an oil refinery, an airfield, and two air defence systems.

The country's defence ministry said they targeted the Ryazan oil refinery, which supplies the Russian army, and an airfield in Rostov-on-Don.

Earlier, Ukraine's Air Force reported that Russia attacked Ukraine with 108 long-range drones and small cruise missiles.

The country's air defences downed 82 drones and six missiles, but 11 locations were hit, with debris falling at a further seven sites.

Saturday's talks in Moscow lasted three hours and were held behind closed doors in Putin's official residence in the heart of the Russian capital, according to Russian state media.

Both sides have given broadly positive remarks without going into specifics.

Putin's adviser Yuri Ushakov described the talks as "constructive, extremely frank".

EAST AFRICA NEWSPAPERS 6/9/2026

 

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.