Fresh headlines and publisher-supplied excerpts from Kenya, Africa and the world—collected in one transparent, attributed briefing.
Congo launched Ebola vaccinations in Kisangani as the outbreak spread to six provinces, with health authorities prioritizing frontline workers and reporting 5,713 confirmed cases and 2,744 deaths.Why it matters: This is the day’s most urgent global health development and directly affects regional stability, cross-border movement, and humanitarian response.
Read briefingComprehensive, up-to-date news coverage, aggregated from sources all over the world by Google News.
Read briefingComprehensive, up-to-date news coverage, aggregated from sources all over the world by Google News.
Read briefingComprehensive, up-to-date news coverage, aggregated from sources all over the world by Google News.
Read briefingThis photo gallery, curated by photo editor Leslie Mazoch, highlights some of the most compelling images worldwide published by The Associated Press in the past week.Rescuers use an earthmover to carry a victim of flash flooding to safety along the Trishuli River in Nepal’s Nuwakot district, Wednesday, Aug. 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Niranjan Shrestha)Rescuers use an earthmover to carry a victim of flash flooding to safety along the Trishuli River in Nepal’s Nuwakot district, Wednesday, Aug. 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Niranjan Shrestha)A girl cries as she waits for news of relatives missing after flash floods in Bidur, Nepal’s Nuwakot district, Thursday, Aug. 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Niranjan Shrestha)A girl cries as she waits for news of relatives missing after flash floods in Bidur, Nepal’s Nuwakot district, Thursday, Aug. 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Niranjan Shrestha)Women smoke waterpipes as they sit by the Litani River in the village of Qaaqaaiet al-Jisr, southern Lebanon, Sunday, Aug. 23, 2026. (AP Photo/Mohammed Zaatari)Women smoke waterpipes as they sit by the Litani River in the village of Qaaqaaiet al-Jisr, southern Lebanon, Sunday, Aug. 23, 2026. (AP Photo/Mohammed Zaatari)Carlos Alcaraz, of Spain, left, and Serena Williams, of the United States, talk on the court during a mixed doubles match at the U.S. Open tennis championships, Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)Carlos Alcaraz, of Spain, left, and Serena Williams, of the United States, talk on the court during a mixed doubles match at the U.S. Open tennis championships, Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)Rocky, a gibbon hand-raised by on-site caretaker Jodi Kleier, sits in an enclosure at the Gibbon Conservation Center in Santa Clarita, Calif., Friday, Aug. 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)Rocky, a gibbon hand-raised by on-site caretaker Jodi Kleier, sits in an enclosure at the Gibbon Conservation Center in Santa Clarita, Calif., Friday, Aug. 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)Mohammed Ajouri mourns over the body of his brother Islam Ajouri, 14, who, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health, was killed by Israeli forces, as his body is brought to the hospital in the West Bank city of Nablus, Sunday, Aug. 23, 2026. (AP Photo/Majdi Mohammed)Mohammed Ajouri mourns over the body of his brother Islam Ajouri, 14, who, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health, was killed by Israeli forces, as his body is brought to the hospital in the West Bank city of Nablus, Sunday, Aug. 23, 2026. (AP Photo/Majdi Mohammed)A man stands on a boat over a coral reef in the Dutch Cays of Guna Yala on Panama’s Caribbean coast, Monday, Aug. 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)A man stands on a boat over a coral reef in the Dutch Cays of Guna Yala on Panama’s Caribbean coast, Monday, Aug. 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)Mandy Madson, wearing a Dolly-inspired wig, takes a selfie at a makeshift memorial outside the home of the late Dolly Parton in Brentwood, Tenn., Wednesday, Aug. 26, 2026. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)Mandy Madson, wearing a Dolly-inspired wig, takes a selfie at a makeshift memorial outside the home of the late Dolly Parton in Brentwood, Tenn., Wednesday, Aug. 26, 2026. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)Palestinians inspect the Abu Salim Mosque a day after it was hit by an Israeli airstrike, in Deir al-Balah, central Gaza Strip, Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana)Palestinians inspect the Abu Salim Mosque a day after it was hit by an Israeli airstrike, in Deir al-Balah, central Gaza Strip, Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana)Revelers throw tomatoes at each other during the annual “Tomatina” tomato fight fiesta, in the village of Bunol near Valencia, Spain, Wednesday, Aug. 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Alberto Saiz)Revelers throw tomatoes at each other during the annual “Tomatina” tomato fight fiesta, in the village of Bunol near Valencia, Spain, Wednesday, Aug. 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Alberto Saiz)A woman poses for a photo while visiting a photography exhibit showcasing works by international photographers from the collection of the Tehran Museum of Contemporary Art, in Tehran, Saturday, Aug. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi)A woman poses for a photo while visiting a photography exhibit showcasing works by international photographers from the collection of the Tehran Museum of Contemporary Art, in Tehran, Saturday, Aug. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi)Real Sociedad’s Jon Aramburu pulls back Real Madrid’s Kylian Mbappe during the La Liga soccer match between Real Madrid and Real Sociedad in Madrid, Spain, Wednesday, Aug. 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)Real Sociedad’s Jon Aramburu pulls back Real Madrid’s Kylian Mbappe during the La Liga soccer match between Real Madrid and Real Sociedad in Madrid, Spain, Wednesday, Aug. 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)Skeletal remains inside the Espiritu Santo Hospital from 1575, according to archeologists from ProLima, are exposed during excavation at the Sanctuary of Santa Rosa de Lima, in Lima, Peru, Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Martin Mejia)
Read briefingComprehensive, up-to-date news coverage, aggregated from sources all over the world by Google News.
Read briefingComprehensive, up-to-date news coverage, aggregated from sources all over the world by Google News.
Read briefingComprehensive, up-to-date news coverage, aggregated from sources all over the world by Google News.
Read briefingIn April 2024, Mr Raval, one of Kenya’s wealthiest individuals, unveiled the Sh45 billion clinker plant in West Pokot, as the steel magnate moved to become a major regional supplier of the key...
Read briefingDonald Trump has said he will rename Lake Ontario as Lake America in the US following the escalating trade war with Canada.
Read briefingService charges collected on air passengers’ travel costs are set to be channelled towards aviation safety and tourism under changes approved by the National Assembly. Parliament passed the Air Passenger Service Charge (Amendment) Bill, 2026, on Thursday, August 27, which seeks to change how money raised through the levy is managed and allocated. The proposal would give the charge a more defined role in financing activities within Kenya’s aviation sector.A key focus is strengthening aviation safety by supporting institutions responsible for maintaining safe and efficient air transport operations. Part of the revenue would also support tourism promotion, capitalising on the role of air travel in connecting Kenya to international and domestic visitors. “The Bill seeks to streamline the management and allocation of the Air Passenger Service Charge, with the broader objective of ensuring that funds generated from the charge contribute directly to strengthening aviation safety and promoting tourism,” Parliament explained in a statement.The statement added, “A stronger aviation safety framework will benefit passengers, airlines and other players in the aviation industry while enhancing confidence in Kenya’s air transport system.”For passengers, the change concerns the use of the service charge included in their travel costs rather than the entire amount paid for an airline ticket.The legislation also seeks to bring greater clarity to the administration and distribution of money collected through the charge. Aviation operators and travellers would consequently have a clearer link between the levy and spending on safety and air transport services. The changes come amid increased domestic and regional travel due to strong local tourist attractions and more favourable entry requirements in other countries.Further, the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) recently approved a new batch of air service licences, paving the way for additional domestic and international routes for travellers in Kenya and across the region.
Read briefingComprehensive, up-to-date news coverage, aggregated from sources all over the world by Google News.
Read briefingThe group raised its loan-loss provision by 30 percent to Sh273.9 million from Sh210.6 million, signalling continued caution over potential credit losses.
Read briefingGospel singer Linet Munyali, popularly known as Size 8, found herself at the centre of renewed speculation about her marriage to DJ Mo after viewers raised questions about alleged infidelity during her recent live session. The singer was speaking about love during the session when some viewers began bringing up the cheating allegations involving her […]
Read briefingMwalimu Rachel has urged women to broaden their understanding of personal standards, arguing that high expectations should not apply only to romantic relationships. Speaking on Thursday, August 27, 2026, Rachel questioned why discussions about women having “standards” often revolve around the kind of men they want to date, where they expect to be taken and […]
Read briefingKenyan musician Edgar, popularly known by his stage name Stoopid Boy, has reportedlyy died today, Thursday, August 27, 2026. While exact details regarding his passing have not yet been made public, his death marks a tragic loss for Kenya’s vibrant urban music scene. The young artist catapulted to national fame in 2024 with his viral […]
Read briefingConvicted Bosnian Serb war criminal Ratko Mladić has died in a UN prison at The Hague aged 84.He was jailed for life in 2017 for genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity during the wars in the former Yugoslaviain 1992-95.After the Bosnian war, he went on the run for 16 years until he was finally tracked down in rural Serbia in 2011 and put on trialin the Dutch city.The sentence for the man known as the “Butcher of Bosnia” was upheld on appeal by the UN court in 2021. He was being given palliative care in the hospital of the UN detention facility, where he died.In a statement confirming the death on Thursday, the UN Court said Dutch authorities have begun an investigation.It added that the court’s top judge”has ordered a full inquiry into the circumstances” of Mladić’s death.In May, the court rejected a bid for his release from jail as he was nearing the end of his life.The judge agreed his situation was “dire” but ruled that he was receiving “comprehensive and compassionate treatment” in prison.Mladić’s lawyers said at the time that he had already been bedbound or in a wheelchair for a long time and later had suffered a suspected stroke that left him almost unable to speak.Mladić – who never recognised the UN court – had been held at The Hague detention facility since 2011.He commanded Bosnian Serb forces in the 1990s against the Bosnian Croat and Bosniak (Bosnian Muslim) armies.During the war his troops committed what became known as “ethnic cleansing” in Bosnia-Herzegovina in a bid to expel the non-Serbian population by force. They besieged the main city of Sarajevo with the deaths of more than 10,000 people, and carried out the massacre of 8,000 men and boys at Srebrenica.Hasan Hasanović , a Srebrenica survivor who lost his twin brother and father in the massacre, told the BBC World Service’s Newshour programme that Mladić’s death “does not bring closure because the people who were killed in Srebrenica cannot come back”.“His death is just a biological necessity, and it doesn’t bring to an end the political project and military project that created that legacy of genocide. And we now live with the consequences of a divided country, genocide denial,” said Hasanović, who now works at the Srebrenica memorial centre.However, Bosnian Serb separatist leader Milorad Dodik told Reuters news agency that Mladić “was respected by Serbian people. As a commander he stood to defend Serbs.”“I genuinely believe he protected the Serbian people, because after all, that was his duty,” a man called Milan was quoted as saying by Reuters.Another man, Vasilije, said: “It’s a massive shame, it really is. Personally, I think it’s a total injustice that he was even thrown in The Hague.”
Read briefingComprehensive, up-to-date news coverage, aggregated from sources all over the world by Google News.
Read briefingIEBC rejected claims that politicians had purchased a house for its chairperson to influence him.
Read briefingNAIROBI, Kenya, Aug 27 — Kenya is recording a decline in skilled birth attendance and family planning uptake, raising concerns over persistent gaps in access to maternal and newborn healthcare.Data presented to editors in Nairobi on Thursday showed that deliveries conducted by skilled birth attendants fell from 69.77 per cent between April and June 2025 to 65.47 per cent between January and March 2026.The number of women using family planning services also declined over the same period, highlighting challenges in access to reproductive health services.Polycarp Oyoo, Programs Advisor for Maternal and Newborn Health at the International Centre for Reproductive Health Kenya (ICRHK), said the figures should prompt closer scrutiny of why women are not consistently accessing antenatal and delivery services.“Every day we lose about 15 mothers,” Oyoo said, adding that dozens of newborn deaths and stillbirths are also recorded daily.He urged journalists and policymakers to investigate whether weaknesses within the health system are contributing to preventable maternal and newborn deaths.The data presented during the Wanahabari Editors’ Roundtable on Strengthening Media Engagement for Maternal, Newborn, Child Health and Nutrition (MNCH+N) showed that delays remain a major contributor to maternal and newborn deaths.According to the presentation, 30 per cent of maternal and newborn deaths are associated with delays in deciding to seek care, while 25 per cent are linked to delays in reaching a health facility.A further 45 per cent occur after patients reach health facilities but fail to receive timely and quality care.Ministry of Health data cited during the meeting also showed that only 37 per cent of facilities providing delivery services meet basic Emergency Obstetric and Newborn Care standards.The presentation further indicated shortages of critical medicines and commodities, with 48 per cent of facilities reporting a lack of magnesium sulphate, 47 per cent lacking benzyl penicillin and 40 per cent reporting shortages of oxytocin.Postpartum haemorrhage, or excessive bleeding after childbirth, was identified as the leading reported maternal complication between 2020 and 2025.Oyoo said maternal health challenges begin before pregnancy and childbirth, making access to family planning services an important component of reducing unintended and high-risk pregnancies.Data presented at the meeting showed that the number of family planning users among women of reproductive age declined from 1,519,066 in January-March 2025 to 1,385,575 in January-March 2026.The presentation showed that women aged above 25 accounted for most users, while adolescents and younger women recorded lower uptake.Oyoo said the decline among younger women required investigation to determine whether the challenge was linked to availability of contraceptives, information, access to services or other factors.“Why are adolescents, why is the younger population not getting this?” he asked.The presentation further showed that Kenya recorded 480 maternal deaths, 811 neonatal deaths and 3,590 perinatal deaths during the six months preceding the meeting, based on data accessed through the Ministry of Health’s health information systems.Oyoo said journalists could use the Ministry of Health’s EWENE dashboard to track deaths at county and facility level and investigate the circumstances surrounding individual cases.He cautioned against focusing solely on national figures, urging newsrooms to identify facilities and counties where particular problems may be concentrated.Nakuru, Kakamega and Nairobi were among counties recording high numbers of deaths in the six-month data reviewed.However, Oyoo said counties reporting few or no maternal deaths should also be investigated to determine whether the figures reflect better health outcomes or possible gaps in reporting.The data was presented as Kenya implements the Every Woman Every Newborn Everywhere (EWENE) Acceleration Plan 2026-2028, launched by the government in May.The Ministry of Health says the plan seeks to accelerate efforts to reduce preventable maternal and newborn deaths, particularly in counties with high mortality burdens.The plan targets a reduction in Kenya’s maternal mortality ratio from 355 deaths per 100,000 live births to 140 or fewer by 2028.It also targets a reduction in neonatal mortality from 21 to 12 or fewer deaths per 1,000 live births, while seeking to increase skilled birth attendance to 100 per cent and eliminate oxytocin stockouts.The government has also introduced a six-month Maternal and Newborn Health Rapid Results Initiative under EWENE to accelerate implementation and improve outcomes.Oyoo challenged journalists to track whether the government’s interventions are achieving their targets.He called for scrutiny of maternal and newborn health budgets, staffing, availability of essential commodities and the quality of care provided in health facilities.
Read briefingComprehensive, up-to-date news coverage, aggregated from sources all over the world by Google News.
Read briefingComprehensive, up-to-date news coverage, aggregated from sources all over the world by Google News.
Read briefingUganda’s military chief, General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, has announced that he will run for president in 2031, positioning himself as a potential successor to his father, long-serving President Yoweri Museveni.Kainerugaba, 52, made the declaration in a series of posts on X, saying he intends to contest for “the highest office in the land” in the 2031 elections.“With my great father, Mzee’s, support I will get 90% in the elections in 2031,” Kainerugaba said, referring to his 81-year-old father.The announcement renews speculation over Uganda’s political succession and Kainerugaba’s long-standing ambitions to eventually take over from Museveni, who has ruled the country since 1986.Kainerugaba leads the Patriotic League of Uganda, a political pressure group, and has previously expressed presidential ambitions. He had indicated that he would contest the 2026 election but ultimately withdrew from the race.Museveni’s own plans beyond the 2026 election remain unclear. A government spokesperson told Reuters that Museveni and the ruling National Resistance Movement would make a decision on his political future when the time comes.Kainerugaba’s latest declaration nevertheless puts the question of succession firmly back into Uganda’s political debate.The military chief has become a prominent and controversial figure in Ugandan politics, particularly because of his outspoken social media presence and comments targeting opposition figures.He played a major role in securing his father’s re-election in the January 2026 elections, according to Reuters, including through actions against opposition forces and an internet shutdown.Kainerugaba has previously attracted international attention over his social media posts, including threats directed at leading opposition figure Bobi Wine.Uganda’s opposition remains under significant pressure. Bobi Wine left the country earlier this year, saying he feared for his safety, while veteran opposition politician Kizza Besigye has been in detention since 2024 and faces treason charges.Critics have accused Museveni’s government of human rights abuses, including arbitrary detention and torture, allegations the government has denied.Kainerugaba’s declaration that he will seek the presidency in 2031 is therefore likely to intensify debate over whether Uganda is heading towards a political transition within the Museveni family and the role the military chief could play in the country’s future.For now, Museveni’s position remains unchanged, with the government yet to confirm whether he intends to seek another term.
Read briefing'I’m looking to bring new aircraft and grow the capacity.'
Read briefing