Brazil splits into two as Lula clinches re-election

BRASILIA, Brazil 

Brazil's leftist President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva pulled off a dramatic comeback on Sunday as he clinched a re-election victory, but his rival Flavio Bolsonaro refused to accept the loss and said he would seek to annul the vote.

Lula heads into a fourth term with almost half of the nation having rejected him, desperate for change.

With Lula's victory, Brazil staved off a conservative wave that has seen numerous countries - such as Argentina, Chile, Colombia, and Peru - all shift right, backed by US President Donald Trump.

The leftist icon, who turns 81 on Tuesday, defied projections to win an unprecedented fourth term.

According to official results, he won 51.8 percent of the votes to 48.2 percent for Flavio Bolsonaro, with Lula pulling around 4.4 million more votes.

The senator is the son of former far-right president Jair Bolsonaro, who is serving a 27-year jail term for attempting a coup after his loss to Lula in the country's last election in 2022.

Sunday's vote was marked by confusion after a Supreme Court ruling extended voting by two hours as some polling stations had already closed.

The move came at the request of Lula who complained that buses had been pulled from circulation in various cities, barring citizens from voting.

Flavio Bolsonaro also requested an extension in some regions due to heavy rains, but he described the decision as "unacceptable" and a "dirty trick"

"It is impossible to recognise the results. I am going to request the annulment of these elections," he said, stone-faced, in a brief speech in Brasilia.

No candidate who lost the first round has gone on to win the second in Brazil since 1989, the first direct election after the end of the country's military dictatorship.

"People went to vote because we managed to convince them that voting was very important for ensuring democracy in the country," Lula said in his first comments after the win.

VFireworks and vuvuzelas rang out in Rio de Janeiro, while thousands of people dressed in red, the color of Lula's Workers' Party, streamed into the streets of Sao Paulo to celebrate.

After the first-round defeat, the left swung into action with massive rallies, declaring "Never Again Bolsonaro" and revamped their social media strategy.

The abstention rate decreased from the first round, falling from 21 percent to 19 percent.

Julio Canelo, 42, a lawyer celebrating in Rio de Janeiro hailed a victory for "the entire democratic spectrum."

"It was the result of the people mobilising, in the streets and online," he told reporters.

A fierce social media battle drew in Meta, parent company of WhatsApp, Facebook and Instagram, which Lula's campaign accused of favoring his opponent with "algorithmic manipulation."

Meta denied this but acknowledged that some of Lula's campaign ads had been mistakenly deactivated due to technical errors.

"We are going to have to regulate them," Lula said of social media companies after his win.

A bitter campaign marred by scandals and mudslinging laid bare the deep divisions that have plagued Brazil over the past decade.

EAST AFRICA NEWSPAPERS 26/10/2026

 

Niger imposes curfew on petrol sales amid national fuel shortage

NIAMEY, Niger

Niger’s government has announced an overnight curfew on the sale of petrol across the country, except at designated stations.

As of this week, they are not able to sell fuel between nine at night and six in the morning to enable suppliers, including the Nigerien Petroleum Company (Sonidep), to restock them.

It said this temporary measure aimed to improve the smooth running of operations while guaranteeing deliveries and the availability of petrol, following a countrywide shortage.

But the measure is impacting taxis drivers, like Moussa Idé Boubacar, who said he has not been able to make his payments for two days.

“Normally, we generate revenue of around 20,000 a day, of which 8,000 is for payments and 12,000 is for fuel. With this shortage, we’ve had some management issues,” he said.

As the fuel shortage spread, motorists have been facing increasingly long queues at stations.

Residents in the capital, Niamey, and elsewhere said this was disrupting daily life, making it difficult to get to work and carry out their daily activities.

The taxi union, Synctaxi, has called for the new curfew to be relaxed for operators who are struggling to make ends meet.

“To obtain fuel, you need authorisation. The petrol station must be open around the clock,” said it secretary-general, Ganda Sanda.

“We are appealing to the governorate and the governor as well to reconsider because it does not suit us,” he said.

Sanda added that the union wanted to draw the authorities’ attention to the fact that the transport sector “makes a significant contribution to the country’s development”.

In addition to the curfew, the sale of fuel in jerry cans outside stations has also been prohibited in all areas that have at least one petrol station.

The authorities have called on Nigeriens to show “understanding and civic-mindedness” saying the measures were aimed at improving supply.

Arsenal join Man City at summit after Villa end leaders' perfect start

LONDON, England 

Arsenal joined Manchester City at the top of the Premier League table after a 2-0 victory over Everton in torrential rain at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday, capitalising on City's first defeat of the season earlier in the day.

​City had left the door open when they fell to a 2-1 loss at Aston Villa, where Nicolas Jackson struck twice to end the visitors' ‌perfect start to the league campaign.

Tottenham Hotspur stunned fourth-placed Chelsea 2-0 in only their second league victory at Stamford Bridge in 36 years, while Fulham beat Coventry City 1-0 for their second league victory of the season.

With the leaders beaten in Birmingham, Arsenal seized their chance to erase the three-point gap as goals from Ezri Konsa and Gabriel secured a comfortable win over Everton in soaking north London conditions.

The result moved ​Mikel Arteta's side level on 21 points with City in what is already shaping up to be a closely fought title race after eight games, but one ​played under a cloud amid City's off-field financial case.

Arsenal made their strong start count when Martin Odegaard's corner caused chaos in the ⁠Everton box. England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford kept out the initial danger after the ball was flicked on at the near post but, with Everton unable to clear, Konsa bundled home ​his first goal for the club from a yard out in the seventh minute.

The set-piece goal was Arsenal's first since May, ending a run of 13 games across all competitions without ​one.

"I've come to this stadium for many seasons, I know how tough it is to play against us," Konsa said. "It's not surprising to me.

"We are champions and to be champions you've got to win games consistently. This is our home and we want to win as many games here as possible."

Arsenal's two milestone men combined to give the Gunners a two-goal cushion in the 68th minute, with Ben White ​marking his 200th appearance for the club by clipping a cross to the far post, where Gabriel headed home on his 200th Premier League appearance.

Everton are ninth in the table.

At Villa Park, Unai Emery's team climbed to sixth on 11 points with their first home league victory this season and third successive league win over City, who are playing under the shadow of ‌an independent ⁠commission's findings that they committed 114 breaches of Premier League financial rules.

City have always denied any wrongdoing, and have appealed.

Jackson took advantage of two City blunders, opening the scoring in the sixth minute when defender Marc Guehi's heavy touch allowed Villa captain John McGinn to pounce and feed the striker, who slotted the ball into the bottom corner.

Erling Haaland equalised soon after the break when he headed home Iliman Ndiaye's clipped cross from a free kick.

But Jackson struck the winner on the hour when Ibrahim Mbaye surged down the right before cutting the ball ​back for his Senegal international teammate, whose shot ​sneaked under the diving body of keeper Gianluigi ⁠Donnarumma.

"It was incredible, we got the win which is the most important thing. Man City are a strong team, the league leaders," Jackson told TNT Sports. "It's just the beginning, we're trying to work game by game."

At Stamford Bridge, Spurs got on the scoresheet in the 77th ​minute when Chelsea goalkeeper Mike Penders punched a corner into his own net in his first league start.

Chelsea were reduced to 10 ​men when Cole Palmer ⁠was shown a second yellow card in the 80th minute for a late challenge on Conor Gallagher.

Mathys Tel sealed the victory for Spurs in the 87th when he gained possession inside his own half before embarking on a surging run down the left, gliding past two defenders and firing a low shot from outside the box into the bottom corner.

"It's very special, because we came ⁠here a lot ​of times and didn't get a win," said Tel. "And today, we made it together, all together, we showed ​great mentality, and I'm very happy about it."

Spurs climbed to 12th with the win.

At Coventry, Fulham appeared ready to substitute Oscar Bobb before the winger produced a moment of quality in the 80th minute, driving into the ​box and curling a superb finish into the far corner.

Fulham are 13th in the table, while Coventry are 19th.

Tanzania’s jailed opposition leader Lissu plans hunger strike over denied legal access

DAR ES SALAAM, Tanzania 

Tanzania’s jailed opposition leader Tundu Lissu will begin a hunger strike Monday to protest prison authorities’ alleged refusal to allow court-ordered private consultations with his lawyers, his lawyer said Saturday.

Lissu, who survived being shot 16 times in a 2017 assassination attempt, faces a treason charge carrying a possible death sentence is being held at Ukonga maximum security prison. 

The leader of Chadema, Tanzania’s main opposition party, has been detained for more than 18 months, with a final judgment scheduled for Nov. 6.

The lawyer, Dr. Rugemeleza Nshala, said Lissu told him of the planned strike during a meeting in prison. Speaking to journalists in Dar es Salaam, Nshala said he warned Lissu about the implications for his health because he relies on medication.

Nshala said Lissu was prepared to stop taking his medication.

“I am ready to face the consequences, but I will fight for the rule of law,” Nshala quoted him as saying.

Nshala said authorities had denied private consultations despite a court order and, on some occasions, barred access to Lissu altogether.

Lissu questioned why court decisions keeping him in custody were enforced while an order protecting his access to lawyers was allegedly disregarded, Nshala said.

Prisons authorities, had issued no public statements on the planned hunger strike, though its spokesperson, Elizabeth Mbezi, has said they are following on the hunger strike reports. 

Treason charge followed calls for electoral reform

Lissu was arrested April 9, 2025, after addressing a rally calling for electoral reforms ahead of that year’s general election. He was charged with treason the following day.

He has spent periods in exile since the assassination attempt, citing threats to his life. 

In May 2025, he went on hunger strike to protest being required to appear in court remotely rather than in person.

Presidential candidates from Tanzania’s two main opposition parties were barred from contesting the October 2025 election, which triggered protests and deadly violence.

Inquiry found hundreds citizens died in election violence

An inquiry into the election violence found in April that at least 518 people died. Mohamed Chande Othman, who chaired the inquiry, said the toll was likely higher because some families buried relatives without taking their bodies to morgues.

The United Nations had earlier called for an investigation into the killings and reports that police removed bodies from mortuaries to undisclosed locations. 

Chadema put the death toll at about 2,000, a figure the U.N. said it could not verify amid insecurity and an internet shutdown during the election period.

Second patient dies of Ebola in Kenya as US warns its citizens

NAIROBI, Kenya 

Kenya has recorded its second death from Ebola as it handles its first ever outbreak of the disease.

A woman, aged 65, who was a close family member of the first victim, a man who had travelled from the Democratic Republic of Congo, died after being placed in quarantine, the health ministry said.

Seven other Ebola patients were receiving treatment at two isolation facilities, it added.

All the cases were within "one cluster, with no evidence of community spread", the ministry said.

More than 4,000 people have died in Africa since Ebola was confirmed in DR Congo in May, making it the second most deadly outbreak of the disease.

Kenya's latest victim had been under quarantine when she developed symptoms on 13 October, the health ministry said.

The first death, on 5 October, was that of a man who fell ill in September and was treated in several hospitals in DR Congo before arriving in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi, where he died a few days later.

Those still being treated are three other relatives of the first victim, three health workers and a hospital cleaner.

The US has warned its citizens against travelling to Kenya, while neighbouring countries such as Uganda, Ethiopia and Somalia are also on alert.

Ebola is a rare but deadly disease caused by a virus. As the disease progresses, vomiting and diarrhoea develop and it can lead to organ failure. Some, but not all, patients develop internal and external bleeding.

EAST AFRICA NEWSPAPERS 24/10/2026

 

Shock as Wiliete dump champions Mamelodi Sundowns out of CAF Champions League

By Mihlali Baleka, PRETORIA South Africa 

Mamelodi Sundowns shockingly failed to qualify for the CAF Champions League group stage for the first time in 11 seasons, ending their title defence before the it even properly started.

Sundowns were stunned by Angolan side Wiliete, who held them to a 1-1 draw in the second leg of the final group stage qualifier at Loftus Versfeld on Friday, as the visitors won the tie on the away goals rule to reach the group stage instead.

The Brazilians will feel that they took their foot off the gas in the most important game of the season so far, despite having already won the MTN8, topping the Betway Premiership standings, and winning the CAF African-Asian-Pacific Cup.

High on confidence, Sundowns got off to the ideal start when Tashreeq Matthews' deflected shot off Arao Wiwi gave them the lead. Sundowns then looked to control the game with precision, using Marcelo Allende to dictate the tempo.

However, their dominance didn’t yield a second goal. Instead, it was Ronwen Williams who had to save his team from conceding in the first half as they went into the break ahead.

The Angolans levelled the tie in the second half, taking advantage of a crucial away goal when Cassius Mailula’s backpass missed his teammate and found an unmarked Mabululu, who picked his spot and curled his shot past Williams.

Brayan León tried to bully his way through a stubborn Angolan defence, but Wiliete held firm. Coach Miguel Cardoso threw everything at the visitors, including withdrawing defenders for offensive players.

But it wasn’t to be, as the match ended 1-1, with the visitors eliminating the former champions on the away goals rule. 

It is a heartbreak that will live long in the memory for Sundowns, who must now focus on other competitions, such as the FIFA Intercontinental Cup and domestic tournaments, including the Betway Premiership, before returning to continental football next season.

Casualties feared as multi-storey building collapses in Nairobi

By Our Correspondent, NAIROBI Kenya 

A multi-storey building collapsed mid-construction in the Kenyan capital on Friday, with many feared trapped in the rubble and accusations of dangerous building work.

Videos shared online showed a dramatic crash and huge clouds of dust as the building – thought to have been around 18 storeys high – came down in the densely populated business and residential area of Eastleigh.

The building was reduced to a pile of rubble as search and rescue teams arrived on the scene, but struggled to start accessing the site which was jammed between other high-rise buildings.

Police said they had already rescued one woman from the rubble, and could hear the voice of another.

"There are lots of people trapped here," Bibiye Mahmoud, president of the Institution of Engineering Technology of Kenya, told reporters at the site of the disaster.

"The contractors and the engineers are supposed to ensure that the works are followed by professionals. But most are not. This is why we are seeing these catastrophes... There is no accountability," she added.

Kenya's National Building Inspectorate report found that 87 percent of buildings audited nationwide last year failed to meet standards or lacked the required approvals.

"Our concern is to save lives," Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja told reporters, adding: "This building has no occupation certificate...this has potentially cost lives."

An occupation certificate is essentially the authority's formal sign-off that a building is safe and legally fit to be occupied.

John Ogallo, vice-president of the Institution of Engineers of Kenya, who was also at the site, said there were warning signs about the building.

"People here are saying distresses were observed, like cracks," before it collapsed, he told reporters.

If you build with the wrong materials, "it becomes a time bomb," he added.

Nairobi is undergoing a rapid construction boom, with high-rise buildings appearing all over the city, particularly in Eastleigh which is known for its busy market areas and as a hub for the Somali community.

Local media reported looting immediately after the collapse, which happened around lunchtime. 

There have been many concerns over safety over the years.

There were 86 building collapses between 2009 and 2019 in Nairobi, killing an estimated 200 people, according to a report by the Kenya Institute for Public Policy Research and Analysis.

Nairobi protest planned for Monday over high fuel prices and soaring cost of living

By Keneth Gachie, NAIROBI Kenya 

The Coalition of Kenya Human Rights Defenders has notified the police of plans to hold a peaceful demonstration against high fuel prices in Nairobi on Monday, October 26. 

In a letter dated Thursday, October 22, which was received at the Police Service Headquarters on the same day, the coalition said the march would begin along Kimathi Street in Nairobi’s Central Business District (CBD) and proceed until State House. 

“We, the Coalition of Human Rights Defenders, hereby notify your office of our intention to hold a peaceful demonstration on Monday, 26 October 2026, to protest the high cost of fuel and its impact on the cost of living. The assembly point will be Kimathi Street, with the intended destination being State House, Nairobi,” the letter stated.

According to the organisers, between 500 and 900 people were expected to take part in the demonstrations.

The coalition pledged to maintain peace, ensure orderly participation and respect the rights of members of the public throughout the march. 

“We undertake to promote peaceful and orderly participation and to respect the rights of the public throughout the demonstration. We submit this notification for your attention and necessary coordination in accordance with the law,” the coalition wrote.

The announcement comes days after protests against rising fuel prices were held along the same street on Tuesday, October 20.

Plans for demonstrations follow the latest fuel price increases announced by the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA) for the October-November cycle, which raised pump prices in Nairobi to Ksh226.96 per litre for petrol, Ksh227.76 for diesel and Ksh219.87 for kerosene.

The increases have drawn opposition from various groups, including motorists, public transport operators and ride-hailing drivers, who say the higher costs are putting additional pressure on business costs and household incomes. 

Despite circulating threats of protests, Matatu Owners Association president Albert Karakacha ruled out an industry strike, saying operators would continue running their businesses despite the higher diesel prices, with commuters likely to bear much of the impact.

A look at the major candidates in Israel’s election Tuesday

By Our Correspondent, JERUSALEM Israel

Three years after the Hamas-led attacks on Israel that triggered the war in Gaza, Israeli voters will decide next Tuesday whether to grant Benjamin Netanyahu yet another term as prime minister — or usher in a new era of Israeli politics.

Polling suggests a tight race between Netanyahu, leader of the nationalist Likud party, and his chief rival, Gadi Eisenkot, who leads the centrist Yashar!, for control of the government.

Israelis vote for parties, which then form alliances to create a majority coalition. No single party has ever won a majority in the 120-member parliament, or Knesset.

Here is a look at some of the most important leaders of the major parties ahead of the election:

Benjamin Netanyahu, prime minister

Netanyahu, 77, is Israel’s longest-serving prime minister and the most dominant force in Israeli politics, having persevered through wars, crises, scandals and the Oct. 7, 2023, attack — the deadliest in Israel’s history. 

He is the longtime leader of the Likud party, and supporters point to his record on security and the economy, as well as his close ties with U.S. President Donald Trump, who has endorsed Netanyahu.

Netanyahu’s opponents say he’s responsible for the policy and security failures that preceded the Oct. 7, 2023, attack and accuse him of mismanaging the wars that followed. 

In 2024, the International Criminal Court issued a warrant for Netanyahu’s arrest over allegations of war crimes and crimes against humanity. 

He is also embroiled in a years-long legal scandal at home, having been charged with fraud, breach of trust and accepting bribes. Netanyahu denies any wrongdoing.

Gadi Eisenkot, former military chief of staff

Eisenkot, 66, comes from a working-class family of Jewish Moroccan immigrants. He spent four decades rising through the ranks of Israel’s military, eventually becoming the chief of staff.

The general currently leads the largest opposition party — the centrist Yashar! — after entering politics in 2022. 

His son and two nephews were killed in combat in Gaza following the Oct. 7 attacks.

Eisenkot also served as an observer in Netanyahu’s war cabinet, but resigned after eight months, when he accused the prime minister of lacking a clear strategy. 

He has since positioned himself as a moderate alternative to Netanyahu, but remains hawkish on security. Eisenkot is credited with formulating Israel’s so‑called “Dahiyeh Doctrine,” a military strategy calling for the use of disproportionate power in areas from which militants launch attacks.

If he succeeds in forming a coalition, Eisenkot could become the first Israeli prime minister of Mizrahi descent. Israel’s Mizrahim, who come from North Africa and the Middle East, have historically faced discrimination from the country’s European-descended elite.

Naftali Bennett, former prime minister

Bennett, 54, is the right-wing and religiously observant leader of Beyachad (Together), a joint ticket with centrist politician Yair Lapid. 

He opposes Palestinian independence and supports settlement-building in the occupied West Bank.

Before entering the Knesset in 2013, Bennett served as Netanyahu’s chief of staff and also was head of the Yesha Council, an umbrella organization of local authorities inside Israeli settlements. 

His conservative Yamina party won seven seats, which helped him cobble together a coalition of both left-wing and Arab parties. 

He then briefly served as prime minister in 2021, the result of a power-sharing agreement, also with Lapid.

While Bennett, like Netanyahu, takes a hard line toward the Palestinians, the two men have deep disagreements over Netanyahu’s handling of security issues and his battle against the Israeli legal system.

Itamar Ben-Gvir, national security minister

Ben-Gvir, 50, is Israel’s national security minister and a far-right provocateur with multiple convictions, including for supporting a terrorist organization. 

He leads Otzma Yehudit (Jewish Power), an ultra-nationalist party whose strong showing in the last election secured him his Cabinet post and helped push Netanyahu’s coalition further to the right.

He is a trained lawyer who gained recognition by successfully defending right-wing Jewish extremists accused of violence against Palestinians. 

When Ben-Gvir was a teenager, the military refused to draft him because of his extreme views. 

He was also a follower of Meir Kahane, the violently racist rabbi who advocated for expelling Palestinians from Israel, Gaza and the West Bank.

Ben-Gvir has also laid out plans for what he says would be the “voluntary” emigration of roughly 2 million Palestinians from the Gaza Strip, where he has advocated for re-building Jewish settlements.

Mansour Abbas, Knesset member and leader of Ra’am

Abbas, 52, is a Palestinian Arab politician and dentist from northern Israel. He leads Ra’am, an Islamist party that was the first Arab-led party to join a governing coalition in 2021.

His strategy has been to focus on more local issues, such as crime in Arab communities, rather than the larger Israeli-Palestinian conflict, in the hopes it will win Ra’am more seats in the Knesset and court potential coalition partners.

As part of this push, Abbas named former police commander and centrist Jewish politician Yoav Segalovitz as the number two candidate on Ra’am’s electoral list. Abbas has served in the Knesset since 2019.facebook