UK Threatens Eritreans with Total Visa Ban Over Migrant Return Policy

Shabana Mahmood, Britain's Home Secretary arrives for a Cabinet meeting in Downing Street in London, 21 July 2026.

By Africa News

United Kingdom

Britain’s Home Secretary has threated to ban all Eritreans from entering the country unless Asmara agrees to the return of more small boat migrants and convicted criminals.

Shabana Mahmood said on Thursday that VIPs and officials from Eritrea have already been stripped of fast-track access to UK visas.

And as of today, diplomats based in the UK will face restrictions on their movements outside London.

It said they will now be barred from travelling 60 kilometres beyond the capital without permission from the Foreign Office.

The Home Office said the warning comes after Eritrea abruptly withdrew returns cooperation earlier this year and after months of efforts by London to resolve the matter privately.

Eritreans were the most common nationality arriving in the UK by small boat in the year ending June 2026.

The British government said returns arrangements are vital for failed asylum seekers and criminals.

It says less than 4 per cent of the 2,626 Eritreans whose asylum claims were rejected in the past four years have been deported.

Mahmood says other nations could face similar visa restrictions if they fail to accept migrant returns.

Black Panther Party Stalwarts to Celebrate 1966 Founding in Oakland, Programs That Aided the Poor

By COREY WILLIAMS

12:07 AM EDT, October 15, 2026

The legacy of the Black Panther Party lives on six decades after its founding, in the work of a Seattle medical center started to address systemic health disparities in the African American community, particularly among Black children.

Originally known as the Sidney Miller Free Medical Clinic in 1969, it put into practice the national Black Panther Party’s Ten-Point Program to uplift African Americans as the Black Power movement gained momentum. Now, as the Carolyn Downs Family Medical Center, it, along with the affiliated Country Doctor Community Clinic, sees tens of thousands of patients in a year.

As the celebration begins Thursday for the Black Panther Party’s Oct. 15, 1966, founding in Oakland, California, former members are looking beyond the iconic black leather jackets, berets and clenched fists to highlight programs aimed at healing disenfranchised and forgotten communities.

From free medical clinics and pushing nationally for sickle cell anemia testing to providing free breakfasts for children and community schools promoting education and literacy, the Black Panthers understood what was needed during the racially turbulent 1960s, said Fredrika Newton, widow of co-founder Huey P. Newton.

“We sought to meet the basic needs of the Black community, not only the Black, but all oppressed communities,” she told The Associated Press Tuesday. “Children were going to school hungry. People couldn’t get medical care. People were sleeping in the streets, just like today.”

A planned four-day conference this weekend in downtown Oakland includes a gala. Surviving original members and other Black Panther Party veterans are expected to attend.

Co-founders Huey P. Newton and Bobby Seale were students at Merritt College in Oakland, where they formed the Panthers during the Civil Rights Movement. Both became active in Bay Area politics during the mid-1960s and believed the Civil Rights movement may have addressed the plight of Blacks in Southern states, but it failed to bring about any real change in the U.S. West and North.

With Newton as minister of defense and Seale as the group’s chair, the Black Panther Party for Self-Defense advocated for political and economic empowerment and initiatives to improve life for the city’s Black residents in addition to standing up to what they saw as racist and heavy-handed policing in the Black community.

“We knew that Black people were getting brutalized by the police,” said Fredrika Newton, who joined the Black Panther Party in 1971 after meeting Huey P. Newton. “We wanted to make sure that they were getting educated and taught how to protect themselves.”

Confrontations with law enforcement — broadcast to households across the country — galvanized Black support for the organization but also worried many white people. Seale, declaring that the Second Amendment right to bear arms also applied to Blacks, led a small group of armed Panthers in 1967 into the California state legislature.

The Black Panther Party was targeted by the FBI, which put its leaders and members under surveillance and operated a yearslong disruption and discrediting campaign.

John “Bunchy” Crear was caught up in the maelstrom of race and politics sweeping across California in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Crear, along with some friends, began attending Black Panther political education classes in 1970. He joined at age 19.

“I was at home in my bedroom listening to my music when my mother comes in and says two white gentlemen from the FBI were in the living room wanting to talk to me,” recalled Crear, 74, who lives in Houston. “I walked in and there were the men in black. They asked if I was a member of the Black Panther Party, then pulled a book out with photos asking if I knew this person, if I knew that person.”

“‘Well, John, if you stay in school and get you a good job, you’ll never hear from us again,’” Crear said the men told him before leaving.

Healthcare part of community survival programs

The Black Panther Party purchased buildings and homes that served as safe houses and centers for their community survival programs, which mostly addressed food insecurity, lack of healthcare, unequal education and other issues in Black communities.

Chapters were started in about 70 other cities. The chapter in Seattle started one of the 13 original Black Panther Party-founded healthcare clinics across the country and is the only one still in operation.

“Thinking especially about Black folks in the 1960s and 70s, it was impossible to try to address one need and not all because they were vulnerable and under threat in so many areas,” said Brandy Taylor, chief executive of the Carolyn Downs Family Medical Center and Country Doctor Community Clinic.

“It wasn’t just about medical care. It was about free speech, social services, food security and knowing your rights. There were so many doors closed that you couldn’t survive without addressing them all,” she said.

From the end to emulation

The Black Panther Party folded in 1982 after years of police surveillance, as well as dwindling national membership, infighting, allegations of embezzlement and scandals in which Huey P. Newton was implicated and criminally charged.

Newton’s addictions to alcohol and drugs overtook him. He was murdered in Oakland, California, in 1989 by a drug dealer.

In 2021, a bronze bust of Huey P. Newton was unveiled in Oakland.

However, some see similarities in why the Black Panthers were started with the emergence of the Black Lives Matter movement following the 2013 acquittal of the man who killed Trayvon Martin, a Black teenager in Sanford, Florida.

“We want to let young people know exactly what we did and what could be done,” said Fredrika Newton, who also is president and co-founder of the Huey P. Newton Foundation.

“This is not a blueprint for what they can do now, but they can certainly see what we did, take what we did, apply them to the conditions today and organize,” she said. “Organize around the needs that exist today.”

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Williams is a Detroit-based member of AP’s Race & Ethnicity team.

Emergency Aid Reaches Climate-Affected Communities in Afar

Addis Ababa, October 14, 2026 (ENA)— Emergency humanitarian assistance is reaching drought-affected communities in Afar Region, Ethiopia, targeting vulnerable households and people in need following climate-induced challenges.

The first round of relief supplies, dispatched from the central grain warehouse in Adama city, is being delivered to high-priority individuals and families across the region.

In Girifo Kebele of Bidu Woreda, residents have begun receiving the assistance, which beneficiaries say has arrived at a critical time as drought continues to strain their livelihoods and access to food.

Meyrem Abdu, one of the beneficiaries, said the assistance would help support her children and other family members who have been facing food shortages.

She expressed appreciation for the government’s response to the situation affecting communities in the region.

Asiya Mohammed, another beneficiary, said the intervention would help ease the hardship facing her family and other residents.

He further noted that the support was particularly important given their difficult circumstances.

On his part, Team Leader of Inventory Quality and Control at the Afar Region Disaster Risk Management Commission, Mohammed Abdella said the distribution was targeting the most vulnerable groups in affected areas.

He explained that the region had previously been mobilizing its own resources to support drought-affected communities and was now supplementing those efforts with additional relief supplies dispatched by the Ethiopian Disaster Risk Management Commission.

Bidu Woreda Agriculture and Natural Resources Office Head, Yesuf Mohammed said drought associated with climate change had caused significant hardship for local residents, describing the humanitarian intervention as timely and essential.

The ongoing distribution is intended to provide immediate relief to affected households as authorities mobilize assistance for communities facing the impacts of drought.

The humanitarian supply comes amid ongoing efforts by regional and federal authorities to support drought-affected communities and address food shortages in vulnerable areas, as ENA learned. 

Ethiopian Forces Seize Tigray Cities as Tensions With Eritrea Rise

By Al Mayadeen English

13 Oct 2026 14:27

Ethiopian forces and allied groups enter Shire, Adigrat and Adwa in Tigray as tensions with Eritrea escalate and fears of a wider conflict grow.

Ethiopian government forces and their allies have expanded their control over cities in the northern Tigray region after entering Shire and Adigrat following the withdrawal of fighters from the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF), amid reports of a military advance toward the Eritrean border and mounting tensions between Addis Ababa and Asmara.

Government-aligned forces entered Shire in northwestern Tigray on Friday with little resistance after TPLF fighters and the local administration withdrew from the city two days earlier, witnesses told the African News Agency.

Residents said shops had closed and neighborhood groups had been formed to guard against looting. Four people were reportedly killed in exchanges of fire linked to incidents of looting and the deteriorating security situation.

In Adigrat, a city close to the Eritrean border, Ethiopian forces and allied armed groups entered on Saturday after Eritrean troops that had been deployed in the area in previous days withdrew, Reuters reported.

Witnesses said Ethiopian soldiers and military vehicles were seen in the streets. Reuters also verified footage showing government-aligned forces inside the city.

The developments followed reports of Ethiopian drone strikes against Eritrean forces near Adigrat, while Addis Ababa accused Asmara of entering its territory and supporting armed groups opposed to the Ethiopian government.

Government forces also entered the city of Adwa on Sunday without fighting after TPLF fighters withdrew, AFP reported, marking another advance by forces aligned with Addis Ababa across northern Tigray.

TPLF fighters withdraw toward Sheraro

A representative of a breakaway TPLF faction told the African News Agency that withdrawing fighters were moving toward Sheraro, a city near the Eritrean border.

The official also said some fighters had left the TPLF and returned to their villages amid the group's recent battlefield setbacks.

The Ethiopian army and its allies regained control of Mekelle, the capital of Tigray, on October 3 after the TPLF announced its withdrawal from the city and said it would temporarily relocate its administration while continuing military operations.

Ethiopia and Eritrea sever diplomatic ties

The Ethiopian advance comes amid a sharp deterioration in relations between Addis Ababa and Asmara, with the two countries severing diplomatic ties last week.

Ethiopia accused Eritrea of deploying forces as far as 60 kilometers into Tigray, describing the alleged move as an attack on its sovereignty that warranted defending its territory.

Eritrea denied the accusations and appealed to the UN Security Council, calling for action against Ethiopia. Asmara accused Addis Ababa of using allegations of an Eritrean military incursion to justify an attack against Eritrea.

The Ethiopian government has also accused Eritrea of supporting the armed coalition led by the TPLF, which resumed operations against government forces in late September. Eritrea has rejected the allegations.

Tigray advance raises fears of wider regional war

The latest developments have revived fears of a broader regional conflict after years of fighting in northern Ethiopia between 2020 and 2022.

That conflict ended with a peace agreement, but key political and security disputes between the parties remained unresolved.

The Ethiopian forces' advance across Tigray has further shifted the military balance, but the situation remains fluid, particularly around areas close to the Eritrean border.

The escalation between Addis Ababa and Asmara has raised concerns that fighting could spread into border areas and develop into a wider military confrontation, threatening to reopen a conflict that the 2022 peace agreement had sought to end.

Zimbabwe’s Caine Prize Winner Rejects Claim He Used AI to Write His Story

A customer browses for books at a bookstore in Harare, Zimbabwe, Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Aaron Ufumeli)

By Farai Mutsaka

4:15 PM EDT, October 14, 2026

HARARE, Zimbabwe (AP) — Zimbabwean author Simbarashe Kundizeza, whose prize for a short story is under review over allegations of AI use, denied using artificial intelligence to write what he said was a story inspired by his family’s experiences, and he suggested that AI-detection technology is biased.

Kundizeza’s “The Blue Fighter” won this year’s $10,000 Caine Prize for African Writing last week, but a report in The Atlantic magazine said the AI detection tool Pangram had indicated the entire story was AI-generated with the exception of an excerpt from a poem by another author.

Kundizeza posted a denial on X late Tuesday, and in an interview Wednesday with The Associated Press said that African writers and readers should challenge such accusations.

“There is need to use technology responsibly so that it is not deployed to create a bias against natives who seek to write about their own experiences and cultures,” he said. “Although I am not too well versed with these technologies, it is well known that AI is in certain ways biased against us, it’s something that really needs to be looked at because this kind of treatment I got is not going to stop,” he added.

The Caine Prize organizers have not retracted the prize, but have said that it is under review and that they have a responsibility to examine such AI claims. “We aim to do this by taking a human-centered approach, ensuring that writers are supported and cared for during the process. We have initiated that process in this case,” the organizers said this week.

In his statement on X, Kundizeza insisted that his story, centered on family relationships and economic hardship, was entirely his own work. He said it had gone through standard editorial processes. He said the story reflected his family’s life during Zimbabwe’s years of economic turmoil.

“Aspects of the story, including characters and the setting, are drawn from events in my own life,” he said, describing it as “a deeply personal story about economic collapse and familial relationships.”

He challenged the suggestion that differences between the winning story and his earlier work should cast doubt on his authorship.

“As writers, we develop recurring interests, but we don’t produce work from a single fixed template. To suggest that a writer cannot write in different styles or genres, or improve his writing substantially after five or more years, fundamentally misunderstands the craft of writing,” he said in his X post.

The allegations have prompted a wider debate on social media, with some questioning whether Black authors are being unfairly targeted by AI-related accusations.

Radical Books Collective, an international group that organizes online book clubs, literary events and podcasts focused on political literature and ideas, described the controversy as part of a broader pattern. “The digital lynchings continue as Black authors are being targeted in AI/plagiarism scandals: Jamir Nazir, Jerry Falade, Thélyson Orélien and now Simbarashe Kundizeza,” the collective posted.

Nhlandla Duba, a linguist from Zimbabwe who researches English literature at the University of Pretoria, said Kundizeza’s story rings true.

“That story sounds human. Zimbabwean literature is alive!” Duba proclaimed on X.

Environmentalists Picket African Energy Week, Urging an End to New Oil and Gas Exploration

By MICHELLE GUMEDE

10:09 AM EDT, October 13, 2026

JOHANNESBURG (AP) — Climate activists picketed outside the African Energy Week conference in Cape Town, South Africa, on Tuesday, calling for an end to new oil and gas exploration across the continent and accusing energy companies of prioritizing profits over people and the environment.

Greenpeace Africa and Extinction Rebellion campaigners challenged efforts to position Africa as a new frontier for fossil fuel development, arguing that further investment would worsen climate change and threaten communities already grappling with its effects.

“Oil companies from overseas have made billions in profits this year alone at the expense of people’s lives, at the expense of ecosystems, at the expense of African lives,” Siya Myeza, a climate and energy campaigner with Greenpeace Africa, told The Associated Press.

Myeza branded the gathering “Africa Exploitation Week,” accusing the industry of driving environmental destruction and poverty. Police removed the protesters, who wore T-shirts bearing the slogan “Make polluters pay.”

The protests come as South Africa seeks to expand oil and gas development to attract investment and bolster energy security. The government presents natural gas as a complement to renewable energy, saying gas-fired plants could provide electricity when wind and solar output drops.

Despite legal setbacks, British energy giant Shell plans to drill up to five deepwater wells in the Northern Cape Ultra Deep block off South Africa’s west coast to explore for and assess oil and gas deposits. The project’s environmental approval has drawn appeals.

Protesters say such plans risk prolonging dependence on fossil fuels at a time when countries should be cutting emissions.

Judy Scott-Goldman, a representative of Extinction Rebellion in Cape Town, acknowledged that renewable energy would feature at the conference but said campaigners opposed promoting new oil and gas exploration.

She said expanding fossil fuel use would run counter to commitments under the Paris climate agreement to reduce emissions.

“We’re here to say we don’t want to see any exploration of oil and gas on this continent,” she told the AP.

She pointed to fires, floods and rising food prices as consequences of climate change, warning that its effects could also drive migration and social unrest.

DR Congo’s Confirmed Ebola Cases Exceed 9,000 as Containment Efforts Falter

2:42 PM EDT, October 13, 2026

BUNIA, Congo (AP) — Confirmed cases in Congo’s Ebola outbreak have surpassed 9,000, with more than 4,300 deaths, as health authorities struggle to contain an outbreak spreading across seven provinces, according to government figures released Tuesday.

The Health Ministry reported 9,066 confirmed cases and 4,381 deaths, with the death toll approaching half the number of confirmed cases.

The rising death toll has alarmed health workers and authorities, with a large share of recorded deaths occurring outside treatment centers. The latest report recorded 88 new cases and warned that “community transmission remains a concern.”

The outbreak has created new hot spots as it spreads to more communities, with 65 health zones across seven provinces now affected.

Officials say the confirmed cases account for only a third of all cases, with many going undetected. The outbreak involves the rare Bundibugyo virus, for which there is no approved vaccine or treatment.

Efforts to contain the virus have been impaired by several factors, including fighting between government forces and rebel groups, which has created one of the world’s direst humanitarian crises, widespread disregard for health precautions, intense population movements and shortages of medical supplies and treatment centers.

The outbreak has surpassed Congo’s 16 previous outbreaks in scale and is on track to top the 2014-2016 West Africa regional outbreak that killed 11,000 people.

“I feel that the government is overwhelmed by events. But there is nothing else to say. The government needs to fully shoulder its responsibilities to ensure the effectiveness of the response against Ebola,” said Samuel Buju, a resident of Bunia, the provincial capital of Ituri, one of the outbreak’s hot spots.

Last week, Kenya became the second country after Uganda to report an Ebola case imported from Congo, deepening concerns about the virus spreading across borders.

A Gunman Kills at Least 4 People in Shooting After South Africa Memorial Service

5:30 AM EDT, October 14, 2026

JOHANNESBURG (AP) — A gunman fired on a group of mourners leaving a memorial service for a local politician in South Africa, killing at least four people and injuring three others, police said Wednesday.

At least one of those wounded in the shooting late Tuesday in Katlehong township was a child, according to police, who said the suspect was in custody after turning himself in.

Police initially said two men died at the scene southeast of Johannesburg, but authorities raised the death toll to four after two more people died in a hospital on Wednesday.

The shooting is being investigated by a political killings task team, the South African Police Service said in a statement.

Some of the victims were members of the youth league of the African National Congress party, the largest party in South Africa’s Parliament, according to local media reports, which said the memorial service was for a woman who served as a local ANC leader and died in what was suspected to be a politically motivated shooting earlier this month.

Police did not immediately confirm the identity of the victims and only said they had attended a memorial for a “member of a political party.”

South Africa has high rates of gun crime, including shootings related to local political rivalries.

A report earlier this month by the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime said there had been 43 killings in South Africa this year that were suspected to be politically motivated.

South Africa will hold local elections on Nov. 4 to decide which parties control municipal councils.

Neo-Colonial Libya Executing People Based on Secret Trials and Confessions Extracted Under Torture, Group Says

This is a locator map for Libya with its capital, Tripoli. (AP Photo)

10:27 AM EDT, October 14, 2026

CAIRO (AP) — Libya has executed at least 31 people since late August following military trials, marking the country’s first known executions since 2010, Human Rights Watch said Wednesday.

The rights group said it had documented the executions carried out by the self-styled Libyan National Army (LNA) as of Sept. 10. It warned that at least 50 other people held at Gernada military prison were at imminent risk of execution.

The LNA, also known as the Libyan Arab Armed Forces, is an east-based military force commanded by decades-long Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) asset Gen. Khalifa Hifter that controls eastern and southern Libya.

“The Libyan Arab Armed Forces are putting people to death after secret trials built on confessions allegedly extracted through torture, in courts that Libya’s own Supreme Court has said should not be trying civilians,” Bassam Khawaja, HRW’s deputy Middle East and North Africa director, said in a report. “Every execution carried out under these conditions is an irreversible injustice.”

Human Rights Watch called on the army to immediately halt executions and impose a moratorium on the death penalty.

The LNA military prosecutor announced in late August that a firing squad executed 10 people after they were convicted of murder and terrorism-related charges, according to the rights group.

Many of those executed were arrested in Derna and Benghazi cities during or after conflicts between the LNA and opposing armed groups between 2014 and 2018, according to the Wednesday report.

In September, Amnesty International reported that military courts in eastern Libya had convicted hundreds of civilians between 2018 and 2021 in secret trials targeting people accused of criticizing the LNA. At least 22 were sentenced to death during this period. The group also said torture was reportedly used to extract confessions.

International rights groups have repeatedly criticized the detention and, in some cases, execution of people after unfair trials. Amnesty International has said Libya retains the death penalty for a wide range of offenses, with courts in both the east and west continuing to impose death sentences for murder following “grossly unfair trials.”

Libya was plunged into chaos and division after a CIA-Pentagon-NATO-backed counter-revolution that toppled and killed its longtime Pan-Africanist statesman Moammar Gadhafi in 2011. The country has been divided for years between rival administrations in the east and west, each backed by armed groups and foreign governments.

Kenya Confirms Second Ebola Case, Rules Out Community Spread

The Kenya's health ministry has identified 128 cases of first patient contact, although it dismisses having detected "no contagion" on a large scale in the country

October 14, 2026 Hour: 7:28 pm

Kenya announced a second Ebola case on Wednesday, a relative of the country’s first patient, but said it has detected no large-scale spread of the virus, according to a Health Ministry statement.

Kenya confirmed its first imported case: a Kenyan citizen who traveled from DR Congo through Ugandan territory before dying in Nairobi. On Wednesday, Kenya’s Health Ministry confirmed a second case after relatives of the first patient tested positive while in quarantine.

The second case also emerged from within the quarantined group, which means the patient was being monitored before symptoms appeared.

The Ministry detailed that the second patient, a 39-year-old man, is a relative of Kenya’s first Ebola case and developed symptoms on Tuesday. He was among the people placed in quarantine after the first case was identified. The agency said early detection of the infection “improves his chances of recovery” and that the two cases are linked.

The first patient, a 40-year-old Kenyan, had been living in Congo, where he fell ill and received treatment at two health centers, according to the ministry. He traveled through three Ebola-affected provinces before leaving the country and arriving in neighboring Uganda on October 1. He then flew to Kenya, where a relative picked him up at the airport and drove him to a hospital. He began receiving treatment and tested positive for Ebola on October 5. He died the same day.

Since then, the Ministry has identified 128 contacts of the first patient. Of these, 113 were located and 108 were placed in quarantine in Kenya, while fifteen contacts have not yet been located. Five of the contacts are abroad, and the health authorities of those countries have been notified, the Ministry said. In this sense, the Ministry stressed that “early” detection increases the chances of recovery and limits the risk of transmission. It said there has been no large-scale spread of the virus in the country.

Kenya has strengthened controls at border crossings and airports since detecting its first case, and has urged the public to report suspected infections through an emergency telephone line, according to earlier reports on the ministry’s response.

Health authorities in the region, including the World Health Organization, have warned of a continuing risk of cross-border spread because of the constant movement of people. Uganda, which reported about 20 cases earlier this year, declared itself free of the disease in August. Whether more of the quarantined contacts test positive in the coming days will determine how contained the situation is in Kenya.

The cases come as the outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo, caused by the Bundibugyo strain, has surpassed 9,000 confirmed cases, according to Congolese health authorities. The World Health Organization has warned of a continuing risk of cross-border spread because of constant movement of people in the region.

The National Institute of Public Health of the Democratic Republic of Congo confirmed in its most recent epidemiological report that “the total number of cases of Ebola infection has exceeded the 9,000-case barrier.” The official data updated to this October 14 reveal that “the number of positive cases totaled 9,144 registered and confirmed”, while “cumulative deaths rose to 4,410 people due to the disease.”

No Vaccine Available

The outbreak is caused by the Bundibugyo strain of the virus and began to spread rapidly after it was officially declared in May. Local medical teams and health agencies are struggling to curb community transmission across multiple critical hotspots in the country, according to the report.

Health experts say the situation is made harder by the absence of approved vaccines and specific drug treatments for this variant, which limits clinical options in affected health centers.

Regional health authorities warned that the impact of the outbreak has crossed national borders, creating what they called a regional crisis in Africa. They cautioned that, if not contained, the outbreak could spread beyond its current boundaries. The World Health Organization (W.H.O.) has warned of an ongoing risk of cross-border spread because of constant movement of people in the region.

Uganda reported about 20 cases and two deaths earlier this year, but its health authorities declared the country free of the disease in August.

Globally, the epidemic is the second-largest on record, behind only the 2014-2016 West Africa outbreak, which according to W.H.O. statistics affected more than 28,600 people and killed more than 11,000 in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone. Recent reports from specialized agencies continue to add dozens of new infections each week in the hardest-hit provinces.

Experts note that containing outbreaks of this kind has historically required large financial resources, specialized logistics and close cooperation between affected governments. Without effective vaccines for this strain, and with high population mobility, mitigation efforts remain difficult.

Kenya Confirms Second Ebola Case, a Relative of First Patient

Health workers and officials walk outside a Ebola isolation facility at The Nairobi Hospital, Kenya, Wednesday, Oct. 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Andrew Kasuku) License this photo

By EVELYNE MUSAMBI

NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — Kenya’s Health Ministry confirmed the country’s second Ebola case Wednesday, saying a relative of the man who died two days after arriving from Congo had tested positive while in quarantine.

The ministry said the 39-year-old man had been identified as a close relative of Kenya’s first Ebola case and developed symptoms Tuesday.

The first patient, a 40-year-old Kenyan, had been living in Congo, where he fell ill and was treated at two health facilities. He traveled through three Ebola-affected provinces before leaving the country and arriving in neighboring Uganda on Oct. 1. He flew to Kenya, where a relative picked him up at the airport and drove him to a hospital. He began receiving treatment and tested positive for Ebola on Oct. 5. He died that day.

Health officials identified about 128 contacts linked to the first case, and placed 108 of them in quarantine. Five of the contacts are outside Kenya, and authorities in those countries have been notified, according to Kenya’s Ministry of Health.

The second patient was among those quarantined. The health ministry said early detection of the infection “improves his chances of recovery.”

The ministry said the two cases were linked and there was “no evidence of spread in the community”.

Kenya has tightened screening at border crossings and airports since detecting its first Ebola case and urged the public to take precautions and report suspected infections through an emergency hotline.

Mauritius Imposes Curfew to Calm Days of Protests After Woman Shot by Police

By MICHELLE GUMEDE

1:22 PM EDT, October 14, 2026

JOHANNESBURG (AP) — Mauritius imposed an overnight curfew after a police shooting fueled rare civil unrest on the Indian Ocean island, better known as an idyllic holiday destination and one of Africa’s most stable democracies.

Police said on Wednesday that the situation was under control and the curfew had been lifted after days of protests that intensified when an officer shot and wounded a woman on Friday.

Protesters clashed with police, blocked roads with burning tires and other debris, and damaged public buildings, according to local reports. Videos published by a Mauritian news outlet showed protesters firing what appeared to be fireworks at police officers.

The paramilitary Special Mobile Force police unit was mobilized.

The curfew required everyone in the capital, Port Louis, and several other towns to remain indoors from 8:30 p.m. Tuesday until 6 a.m. Wednesday.

The protests began last week over water shortages and the cost of living but escalated after the shooting in Beau Bassin-Rose Hill, southwest of Port Louis.

Financial services and tourism underpin Mauritius’ economy. The island, known for its luxury beach resorts, last experienced similar unrest in 1999, when the death of a popular musician in police custody sparked days of rioting.

The wounded woman was taken to hospital. Police said they had arrested one officer, suspended three others and were investigating the shooting. The three were suspended for “failing to provide assistance to a person whose life was in danger,” according to a police statement.

The national public prosecutor’s office said the investigation should also cover Special Mobile Force officers present at the time of the shooting.

Prime Minister Navin Ramgoolam, who ordered the curfew, warned in a televised address Tuesday that protesters involved in violence and destruction would face “very heavy consequences.”

Police reported several arrests but gave no exact number. There were no immediate reports of injuries other than those suffered by the woman who was shot. Schools and public transport services were also closed during the protests.

___

AP writer Gerald Imray in Johannesburg contributed to this report.

Somalia: UAE Backing Armed Opposition, Fueling Unrest

By Al Mayadeen English

13 Oct 2026 18:01

Somalia's defense minister accuses the UAE of backing opposition forces as tensions rise over armed groups in Mogadishu and the country's political future.

Somali Defense Minister Ahmed Moallim Fiqi has accused the United Arab Emirates (UAE) of interfering in Somalia’s internal affairs, fueling political divisions, and supporting opposition figures challenging the federal government, amid warnings over armed mobilization threatening security in the capital, Mogadishu.

Fiqi accused foreign actors of providing money and weapons to opposition forces to weaken President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s administration and obstruct its efforts to consolidate federal authority. He said some opposition figures were mobilizing armed groups and stockpiling weapons in the capital, warning that the government would not tolerate the use of force to pursue political objectives or undermine stability.

The defense minister said armed men had entered the home of former Somali President Sharif Sheikh Ahmed, accusing them of gathering there to carry out provocative activities.

“Sharif’s house has become a haven for chaos, and armed militias have been assembled there to engage in provocations,” Fiqi said.

Somalia warns against armed mobilization in Mogadishu

Speaking on Tuesday, Fiqi stressed that Mogadishu would not become a gathering point for armed militias, emphasizing the responsibility of security institutions to protect civilians and prevent movements threatening the capital’s security.

He said government forces had removed a group of 260 armed men from a location in Mogadishu. He also accused opposition figures of attempting to organize armed formations and transfer personnel from some federal member states to the capital.

Fiqi added that the government would confront attempts to stockpile weapons or establish armed formations outside legal frameworks, stressing that security agencies would continue carrying out their duties.

The accusations come amid a wider political dispute over constitutional amendments, elections, and the tenure of federal institutions, with the government and opposition exchanging warnings as tensions over the country’s political future intensify.

Opposition met with RSF in Abu Dhabi

Earlier in October, Fiqi accused opposition figures of holding meetings in Abu Dhabi with parties he said were linked to Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces (RSF).

The defense minister said that the meetings were intended to draw on methods used to organize armed militias, warning against efforts that could return Somalia to an era of conflict between rival armed factions.

Sharif Sheikh Ahmed rejected the accusations, claiming his visit to the UAE was for family reasons. He accused the federal government of exploiting its political disagreements with the opposition to justify security measures against its rivals.

The former president called for political disputes to be resolved through dialogue, warning that using security forces in political conflicts could push the country toward another internal confrontation.

Deterioration of Somalia-UAE relations 

The latest accusations come against the backdrop of a sharp deterioration in relations between Mogadishu and Abu Dhabi. In January 2026, Somalia’s Council of Ministers terminated agreements with the UAE covering government agencies, affiliated entities, and regional administrations. The decision extended to cooperation involving the ports of Berbera, Bosaso, and Kismayo, as well as existing bilateral security and defense arrangements.

The Somali government said the move followed evidence of actions undermining the country’s sovereignty, national unity, and political independence. The foreign ministry was instructed to formally notify the UAE and coordinate the implementation of the cancellations, while informing international and regional partners, including the African Union and the United Nations.

President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has also accused the UAE of encouraging the Somaliland administration to secede from Somalia, in what represents a major source of tension between Mogadishu and Abu Dhabi. He said the UAE had previously been an important partner, particularly in security cooperation, but relations deteriorated over what he described as Abu Dhabi’s bias toward Somaliland and its dealings with the administration separately from the federal government.

According to the Somali president, his government repeatedly raised concerns with Emirati officials and presented evidence of practices it considered detrimental to Somalia’s unity and sovereignty, but did not receive the response it expected.

Tensions have also been compounded by allegations concerning Emirati military activity in Somalia. Puntland security officials accused the UAE of carrying out a drone strike on January 26, 2025, in the Togga Kharaago area of the Al-Miskaad mountains in the Bari region.

The strike, which reportedly took place during military operations against ISIS, killed four members of a family and wounded five others, according to an investigation published by Drop Site and cited by Somalia Now. 

Al-Mashat: Yemen to Confront Saudi Arabia Until War and Blockade End

By Al Mayadeen English

13 Oct 2026 22:36

Supreme Political Council President Mahdi al-Mashat says strikes on Saudi Arabia aim to end the 12-year war and blockade on Yemen, reclaim national resources, expel occupiers, and safeguard holy sites and maritime security.

Sanaa's military operations against Saudi Arabia are justified and aim to force Riyadh to end its longstanding aggression and blockade of Yemen, Mahdi al-Mashat, the president of the Supreme Political Council, said on Tuesday.

In remarks to SABA News Agency, al-Mashat said the most immediate path to a solution lies in ending the Saudi war and blockade against Yemen. He emphasized that the battle is now aimed at bringing an end to 12 years of continued aggression and siege, reclaiming the country’s national wealth and resources, and expelling every occupier from Yemeni territory.

He reaffirmed Yemen’s determination to confront Saudi Arabia until its war and blockade are brought to an end, including by striking its military build-ups to thwart its objective of occupying the country.

Addressing Saudi Arabia directly, al-Mashat stated that “the sensible one among those involved in the invasion of Yemen is the one who takes the initiative to leave it before it is too late.”

Al-Mashat further noted that Saudi policies had repeatedly obstructed major national milestones, weakened the Yemeni state, and prevented the country from harnessing its resources and wealth. Yemenis, he maintained, now face a historic opportunity to consolidate their national project and build a strong and just state, free from subservience to foreign powers or external dependency.

Holy sites are a red line, international navigation is safe

Al-Mashat held KSA fully responsible for any attack on holy sites or any attempt to implicate the Yemeni people in such acts. Emphasizing that holy sites constitute a red line, he warned that Sanaa would not remain silent in the face of any reckless act.

He argued that Saudi Arabia's repeated allegations that Yemen had targeted Medina exposed its state of helplessness and failure, while reflecting its actions in accordance with Zionist plans. Al-Mashat also renewed his call for countries and entities endorsing these accusations to reconsider their positions and verify the claims.

In a separate statement, al-Mashat condemned “the crimes of Saudi aggression and the targeting of civilians,” saying they laid bare Riyadh's "brutality" and affirming Yemen’s right to respond.

Concluding his remarks, he stressed that international navigation remains safe and that Yemen is committed to fulfilling its international obligations concerning maritime navigation.

He warned, however, that the threat to maritime security stems from Saudi Arabia turning the Bab al-Mandab Strait into a war zone, and called on the international community to condemn this course of action.

Saudi aggression against Yemen in numbers

According to SABA, Saudi strikes over the years of aggression have destroyed more than 571 fuel stations across the country, along with 644 fuel tankers.

The agency added that the aggression has involved 300,000 Saudi airstrikes, which have hit homes, residential neighborhoods, markets, hospitals, and schools. It said the raids have also struck funeral gatherings, weddings, roads, bridges, displacement camps, airports, ports, and factories.

On Tuesday, Yemeni Armed Forces spokesperson Brigadier General Yahya Saree announced that Saudi warplanes carried out 104 airstrikes across Yemen over the past 24 hours.

Saree said the raids bombed the governorates of Sanaa, Dhamar, Taiz, Amran, Lahj, al-Jawf, Marib, Saada, and Hodeidah.

Two civilians were martyred, and two others were wounded when a Saudi attack hit the Yemeni Oil Company in the Ras Isa area of Hodeidah, according to Yemen’s Health Ministry.

In a separate incident, three citizens were martyred after an unexploded remnant of the Saudi aggression detonated in the Hays district, south of Hodeidah, Saba News Agency reported.

104 Saudi Airstrikes Hit Nine Yemeni Governorates in 24 Hours

By Al Mayadeen English

Source: Yemeni Military Media

13 Oct 2026 21:20

Brigadier General Saree says Saudi Arabia bombed the governorates of Sanaa, Dhamar, Taiz, Amran, Lahj, al-Jawf, Marib, Saada, and Hodeidah.

Saudi warplanes carried out 104 airstrikes across Yemen over the past 24 hours, Yemeni Armed Forces spokesperson Brigadier General Yahya Saree announced on Tuesday.

Saree said the raids bombed the governorates of Sanaa, Dhamar, Taiz, Amran, Lahj, al-Jawf, Marib, Saada, and Hodeidah.

Two civilians were martyred, and two others were wounded when a Saudi attack hit the Yemeni Oil Company in the Ras Isa area of Hodeidah, according to Yemen’s Health Ministry.

In a separate incident, three citizens were martyred after an unexploded remnant of the Saudi aggression detonated in the Hays district, south of Hodeidah, Saba News Agency reported.

Aggression by the numbers

According to Yemen's SABA news agency, Saudi strikes over the years of aggression have destroyed more than 571 fuel stations across the country, along with 644 fuel tankers.

The agency added that the aggression has involved 300,000 Saudi airstrikes, which have hit homes, residential neighborhoods, markets, hospitals, and schools.

It said the raids have also struck funeral gatherings, weddings, roads, bridges, displacement camps, airports, ports, and factories.

Earlier on Tuesday, Saudi aircraft targeted the Yemeni Oil Company facility in the al-Sabaha area of Bani Matar district, west of the capital Sanaa.

Sabaha facility has no military value

Earlier on Tuesday, Saudi aircraft bombed the Yemen Petroleum Company facility in the al-Sabaha area of Bani Matar district, west of the capital Sanaa. The attack followed Saudi threats to hit the company and its central al-Sabaha station in Sanaa.

Citing a company source, Saree stressed that the al-Sabaha facility holds no petroleum products and has no military value. 

Sanaa government spokesperson Omar al-Bukhaiti added that the Saudi strike on the facility amounts to a clear war crime. He pointed out that the targeted site was empty, adding that supplies of petroleum products remain stable and sufficient to meet citizens’ needs for an extended period.

Saree later announced that the Yemeni Armed Forces had confronted Saudi-backed combat formations targeting Sanaa.

Warning to evacuate Aramco facility

The Yemeni Armed Forces had earlier warned Saudi Arabia that any attack on the capital Sanaa will draw a "harsh and painful response" in Riyadh. They also urged all employees and civilians near any facility belonging to Saudi Aramco to evacuate and keep their distance, declaring that “these sites are legitimate targets for our forces.”

The warning specifically covered the Aramco facility in Dammam and King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh. The forces called on all citizens to leave their vicinity immediately, cautioning that they would "target these facilities if Saudi Arabia goes ahead with targeting what it announced in the capital Sanaa."

The Yemeni Armed Forces reiterated that any Saudi attack on the capital would trigger a retaliatory strike on Riyadh, in line with the "escalation for escalation" equation.

Russian Forces Destroy Over 260,000 Military Drones in Ukraine Operation — Top Brass

The Ukrainian army lost roughly 1,285 troops in battles with Russian forces in all the frontline areas over the past 24 hours

© Alexander Polegenko/TASS

MOSCOW, October 13. /TASS/. Russian forces have destroyed over 260,000 Ukrainian military drones since the start of the special military operation in Ukraine, according to the latest report released by Russia’s Defense Ministry.

"In all, the following targets have been destroyed since the start of the special military operation: 674 aircraft, 284 helicopters, 260,703 unmanned aerial vehicles, 672 surface-to-air missile systems, 31,216 tanks and other armored combat vehicles, 1,787 multiple rocket launchers, 36,713 field artillery guns and mortars and 74,402 special military motor vehicles," the ministry said in a statement.

Kiev loses 1,285 troops along engagement line in past day - latest figures

The Ukrainian army lost roughly 1,285 troops in battles with Russian forces in all the frontline areas over the past 24 hours, according to the latest data on the special military operation in Ukraine released by Russia’s Defense Ministry.

The latest figures show that the Ukrainian army lost over 270 troops, a tank and a field artillery gun in the responsibility area of Russia’s Battlegroup North, roughly 230 troops and an armored combat vehicle in the responsibility area of the Battlegroup West and about 160 troops and four armored combat vehicles in the responsibility area of the Battlegroup South.

During the last 24-hour period, the Ukrainian army also lost roughly 345 troops and seven armored combat vehicles in the responsibility area of Russia’s Battlegroup Center, over 240 troops and an armored combat vehicle in the responsibility area of the Battlegroup East and about 40 troops and two field artillery guns in the responsibility area of the Battlegroup Dnepr, the latest figures show.

Russia’s Battlegroup North fighting for three communities in pocket of encirclement in Kharkov area

Russia’s Battlegroup North forces are fighting for the liberation of three communities in the Kharkov Region and tightening the ring of encirclement of Ukrainian troops in that area, the ministry reported.

"Battlegroup North units are tightening the ring of encirclement in the Kharkov Region and expanding the outer area of control. In the pocket of encirclement, they are fighting for the liberation of the communities of Nikolayevka, Varvarovka and Nefyodovka in the Kharkov Region," the ministry said.

During the last 24-hour period, the Ukrainian army lost roughly 60 troops, a motor vehicle and five ground robotic platforms in the pocket of encirclement, it specified.

Battlegroup North forces are expanding the outer area of control and continue battles for taking control of the settlements of Prikolotnoye, Kotovka and Gogino in the Kharkov Region, the ministry said.

Russia’s Battlegroup North inflicts over 270 casualties on Ukrainian army in past day

Russia’s Battlegroup North forces inflicted more than 270 casualties on Ukrainian troops and destroyed an enemy tank and a field artillery gun in its areas of responsibility over the past 24 hours, the ministry reported.

In the Kharkov direction, Battlegroup North units "inflicted losses on manpower and equipment of two mechanized brigades, a motorized infantry brigade of the Ukrainian army and a territorial defense brigade in areas near the settlements of Velikiye Prokhody, Khotomlya, Pogoreloye, Russkaya Lozovaya, Tsirkuny and Veliky Burluk in the Kharkov Region," the ministry said.

In the Sumy direction, Battlegroup North units struck formations of two mechanized brigades of the Ukrainian army and two territorial defense brigades in areas near the settlements of Glukhov, Yuryevo, Barilovka, Maryino, Konotop and Nikolskoye in the Sumy Region and the city of Sumy, it said.

Overall, the Ukrainian army lost more than 270 personnel, a tank, eight motor vehicles, a field artillery gun and an electronic warfare station in the areas of responsibility of Russia’s Battlegroup North over the past 24 hours, it specified.

Russia’s Battlegroup West inflicts 230 casualties on Ukrainian army in past day

Russia’s Battlegroup West inflicted roughly 230 casualties on Ukrainian troops and destroyed an enemy armored combat vehicle in its area of responsibility over the past day, the ministry reported.

"Battlegroup West units improved their forward positions and inflicted losses on manpower and equipment of two mechanized brigades, an assault brigade of the Ukrainian army and two territorial defense brigades in areas near the settlements of Grushevka, Blagodatovka, Berezovka, Maliyevka and Osinovo in the Kharkov Region and Volchy Yar in the Donetsk People’s Republic," the ministry said.

The Ukrainian army lost an estimated 230 personnel, an armored combat vehicle, 17 motor vehicles, three artillery guns and four electronic warfare stations in that frontline area over the past 24 hours, it said.

Russia’s Battlegroup South inflicts 160 casualties on Ukrainian army in past day

Russia’s Battlegroup South inflicted roughly 160 casualties on Ukrainian troops and destroyed four enemy armored combat vehicles in its area of responsibility over the past day, the ministry reported.

"Battlegroup South units gained better lines and positions and inflicted losses on formations of two mechanized brigades, an airmobile brigade of the Ukrainian army and a marine infantry brigade in areas near the settlements of Kramatorsk, Semyonovka, Slavyansk and Nikolayevka in the Donetsk People’s Republic," the ministry said.

The Ukrainian army lost an estimated 160 personnel, four armored combat vehicles, 31 motor vehicles and an artillery gun in that frontline area over the past 24 hours, it specified.

Russia’s Battlegroup Center forces liberate 286 buildings in Dobropolye over past day

Russia’s Battlegroup Center forces liberated 286 buildings in Dobropolye in the Donetsk People’s Republic and destroyed roughly 65 Ukrainian troops over the past 24 hours, the ministry reported.

"In Dobropolye in the Donetsk People’s Republic, assault groups of the 51st Army advanced in the town’s central and northwestern parts. Some forces jointly with marine infantry formations continued mopping up the town’s quarters they had seized and the territory of the Dobropolskaya coalmine," the ministry said.

During the last 24-hour period, Battlegroup Center units liberated 286 buildings, including three production structures and eliminated roughly 65 Ukrainian troops in Dobropolye, it said.

Russia’s Battlegroup Center inflicts 345 casualties on Ukrainian army in past day

Russia’s Battlegroup Center inflicted roughly 345 casualties on Ukrainian troops and destroyed seven enemy armored combat vehicles in its area of responsibility over the past day, the ministry reported.

"Battlegroup Center units inflicted losses on manpower and equipment of two mechanized brigades, an airborne brigade of the Ukrainian army and two National Guard brigades in areas near the settlements of Liman, Verovka, Belozerskoye, Svyatogorovka, Vesyolaya Gora, Maryevka and Novoyavlenka in the Donetsk People’s Republic," the ministry said.

The Ukrainian army lost an estimated 345 personnel, seven armored combat vehicles, eight motor vehicles, three field artillery guns and a Grad multiple rocket launcher in the responsibility area of Russia’s Battlegroup Center over the past 24 hours, it specified.

Russia’s Battlegroup East inflicts over 240 casualties on Ukrainian army in past day

Russia’s Battlegroup East inflicted more than 240 casualties on Ukrainian troops and destroyed an enemy armored combat vehicle in its area of responsibility over the past day, the ministry reported.

"Battlegroup East units continued their advance deep into the enemy’s defenses and inflicted losses on manpower and equipment of a mechanized brigade, an air assault brigade, two assault regiments of the Ukrainian army and a marine infantry brigade in areas near the settlements of Gavrilovka and Tarasovka in the Dnepropetrovsk Region, Dudnikovo, Zalivnoye, Blakitnoye and Volnyanka in the Zaporozhye Region," the ministry said.

The Ukrainian army lost more than 240 personnel, an armored combat vehicle, eight motor vehicles and an artillery gun in that frontline area over the past 24 hours, it specified.

Russia’s Battlegroup Dnepr eliminates 40 Ukrainian troops in past day

Russia’s Battlegroup Dnepr eliminated roughly 40 Ukrainian troops and destroyed two enemy field artillery guns in its area of responsibility over the past day, the ministry reported.

"Battlegroup Dnepr units gained better lines and positions and inflicted losses on formations of a mechanized brigade and a mountain assault brigade of the Ukrainian army in areas near the settlements of Orekhov and Kushugum in the Zaporozhye Region," the ministry said.

"Up to 40 Ukrainian military personnel, 20 motor vehicles, two field artillery guns and two electronic warfare stations were destroyed," it said.

Russian forces strike Ukrainian military-industrial, transport sites in past day

Russian forces struck Ukrainian military-industrial sites, transport infrastructure facilities and enemy deployment areas over the past 24 hours, the ministry reported.

"Operational/tactical aircraft, attack unmanned aerial vehicles, missile troops and artillery of the Russian groups of forces struck Ukraine’s military-industrial and transport infrastructure facilities used by the Ukrainian army, workshops producing unmanned aerial vehicles and their storage sites, and also temporary deployment areas of Ukrainian armed formations and foreign mercenaries in 142 locations," the ministry said.

Russian air defenses intercept 883 Ukrainian UAVs over past day

Russian air defense forces intercepted and destroyed 883 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) over the past 24 hours, the ministry reported.

"Air defense capabilities shot down 883 fixed-wing unmanned aerial vehicles," the ministry said.

Ukrainian Army Attacks DPR Settlements Eight Times in 24 Hours, Wounding Two People

Strikes damaged a truck and one civil infrastructure facility

DONETSK, October 14. /TASS/. The Ukrainian army attacked settlements in the Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR) eight times over the past 24 hours, leaving two people wounded, the DPR department for documenting Ukraine’s war crimes reported.

"Eight attacks by Ukrainian armed formations were recorded, including five [attacks] in the Gorlovka and one [attack] each in the Volodarsky, Telmanovo, and Yasinovataya directions. Reports indicate that two civilians were wounded. Ten rounds of various types of ammunition were fired," the report said.

Strikes damaged a truck and one civil infrastructure facility, according to the department.

Tokyo Uses Reporters to Gather Data to Undermine Russia’s Security — Foreign Ministry

Maria Zakharova noted that today’s event is not an isolated case

Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova Russian Foreign Ministry/TASS

© Russian Foreign Ministry/TASS

MOSCOW, October 13. /TASS/. Japan relies on journalists working in Russia to collect information intended to weaken Russia’s security, Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said.

"Tokyo’s attempts to use its correspondents who are in Russia and have the status of foreign journalists to gather information with the aim of undermining the security of our state are regrettable. We cannot fail to point out that today’s event is not an isolated case," she said on the ministry’s website.

Hokkaido Shimbun Reporter Arrested on Espionage Charges, Taken to Moscow

The Investigative Directorate of the Russian Federal Security Service has initiated a criminal case against the Japanese citizen

© Russian Federal Security Service/TASS

MOSCOW, October 13. /TASS/. A correspondent for the Japanese newspaper Hokkaido Shimbun in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk in Russia’s Far East has been detained on suspicion of espionage, transported to Moscow and placed in custody, the FSB said.

"On the eve of his departure from our country, the foreign national was detained in the Sakhalin Region and then taken to Moscow. The Investigative Directorate of the FSB of Russia has initiated a criminal case against the Japanese citizen under Article 276 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (espionage)," it said.

"By a decision of the Lefortovsky District Court of Moscow, he has been placed under arrest. Further investigative and operational activities are being carried out."

Number of Drones Downed on Approach to Moscow Since Start of Say Reaches 96

Emergency services’ specialists are working at the sites where debris fell, Mayor Sergey Sobyanin reported

© Aleksey Konovalov/TASS

MOSCOW, October 14. /TASS/. The Russian Defense Ministry’s air defenses have shot down another 21 UAVs heading to Moscow, Mayor Sergey Sobyanin said on his Max channel.

"An attack by 21 more UAVs has been repelled by the Defense Ministry’s air defenses. Emergency services are working at the scene of the fall of debris," he wrote.

This brings the number of UAVs downed by air defense systems while approaching Moscow since the start of the day to 96, according to TASS calculations.

French Government Closes Hundreds of Schools Amid Protests Against Austerity 

Thousands of high school students have been arrested as many schools have been vandalized

By Abayomi Azikiwe

Editor, Pan-African News Wire

Monday October 12, 2026

Political Review

High school students in France have engaged in strikes and mass demonstrations as funding cuts and lay-offs have created intolerable conditions in the education sector.

On October 12, the government shutdown schools across the country in an effort to curb discontent among the youth, many of whom have suffered injuries from the police crackdown on unrest. 

One student suffered serious hand injuries when he picked up a teargas grenade that soon exploded. Many people within civil society have criticized the harsh measures utilized by the French police to disperse the demonstrations.

Media reports on the situation in France emphasized the tumultuous character of the struggle being waged by high school students and their supporters. Rather than making decisions which would improve the educational outcomes in France, the government has responded with school closures and the intensification of police repression.

Hundreds of thousands of high school students reached the breaking point having to accept staff shortages and dilapidated buildings. There are videos posted on social media of rats running through the corridors of schools, broken toilets, mold and holes in the walls of buildings.

It was not only the 500,000 students who marched around the country on October 6 many of their teachers joined in with them. The class sizes of 35 pupils are making effective instruction almost impossible. 

Since early October, approximately 7,000 people have been arrested, most of whom some 85% are children. These figures were provided by the French Interior Ministry.

These demonstrations are taking place ahead of the planned 2027 national elections. The French political landscape is sharply divided between the far-right National Rally party and the left-wing France Unbowed (LFI) which is headed by Jean-Luc Melenchon. 

Two-term President Emmanuel Macron cannot run again. Many believe that the upcoming elections will represent a turning-point in French politics.

Over the last eight years there have been periodic protests in the European state. The Yellow Jackets campaigns were centered around the costs of transportation. 

Several years later during 2023, millions engaged in several general strikes over proposed changes in the national pension system. The government policy was centered around raising the retirement age from 62 to 64. There was mass support for the demonstrations and strikes. However, the administration in France imposed the new policy absent a vote within the national assembly.

During that same year, 17-year-old Nahel Merzouk, who was of North African descent, was shot dead by the French police. Days of unrest followed bringing international attention to the problems of police brutality within France.

The following year in 2024, mass protests and strikes arose just days prior to the Olympic games held in Paris. Garbage was piled up in the streets while there were severe disruptions in the public transportation system.

Political Impact of the Student Strikes and Demonstrations

According to opinion polls in France regarding the most recent unrest among the youth, the majority of people are in support of the students. The far-right National Rally has condemned the student demonstrations calling for the parents of students to be charged for the property damage done during the unrest.

In response to the strikes and demonstrations, French Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu said that by the end of October 3,000 substitute teachers will be brought into the system. Nonetheless, despite this promise of hiring extra teachers, students have continued their protest actions. 

One press source has noted:

“Protesting teenagers at French upper secondary schools, known as lycees, have complained about high teacher absenteeism, school days they say are too long and buildings in poor condition. They have also called attention to inadequate cooling during hot summer days. Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu urged local authorities on Sunday to prioritize filling gaps caused by long-term absences and unfilled posts. He also called a meeting for Tuesday with regional presidents to discuss renovating school buildings. The closures affect teaching and leave families and students facing uncertainty over when lessons can resume. The education minister said the shutdowns were mainly a precaution, while officials weighed school safety against plans for a gradual return to classes. Geffray said the number of schools closed on Monday would be similar to Friday’s, even as authorities planned a partial return to lessons. Organizers, however, called for protests to continue on Tuesday.” (https://journalarta.com/en/2026/10/12/schools-closed-france-student-protests/)

After the school closures on October 12, the following day more demonstrations were planned to keep the issue before the public. The LFI leader Jean-Luc Melenchon has been present alongside the students in the mass demonstrations.

The French political divide has hampered the capacity of the present government to resolve the crisis. Conditions within the school system are so dire that the students are demanding immediate actions which will have long-term implications for youth.

As it relates to the reforms announced by the French government, Le Monde noted in a report that:

“The student organizations behind the protests are yet to be convinced, however. The Union of High School students described the initial announcements last week as ‘crumbs.’ They are maintaining their demand for an extra €10 million to be invested in the country's high schools. France's 10,000 medical students are meanwhile beginning to express concern at the effect any continued school blockades could have on exams that start on Monday, which help determine their eventual speciality. They do not want to see the students' action disrupt such a crucial stage of their education.” (https://www.lemonde.fr/en/france/article/2026/10/12/french-high-school-students-plan-fresh-protests_6758502_7.html)

Education, Public Sector Cuts and the Capitalist Crisis

The problems which have come to the fore are part and parcel of a broader crisis within the French economy. The labor and student unrest over the last several years represents the failing capitalist system in Europe.

There is additional pressure being placed on European economies of those states which are members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). The administration of President Donald Trump in the United States has demanded that the United Kingdom and other European continental states raise the level of military expenditures to 5% of their national budgets.

During the beginning of the unprovoked war by the US and Israel, Trump demanded that other NATO states enter directly in the bombing of the Islamic Republic of Iran. Although the UK does allow Pentagon warplanes to utilize and refuel at their bases, they have refrained from joining the efforts to destroy Iran and occupy the Strait of Hormuz. 

The war with Iran has become a major factor in the global economic downturn. Fuel prices have skyrocketed, prompting inflation in areas of food, fertilizer and other essential commodities.

In the German newspaper Deutsche Welle, it says of the status of the French education system:

“The latest scores for the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development’s (OECD) program for international student assessment (Pisa), which were published in September, illustrate the scale of the problems in the education system. According to the results, more than one in three 15-year-olds in France no longer achieve a basic level of competence in mathematics, for example. Macron's reform of the upper secondary education system has also been criticized. The abolition of academic streaming in favor of specialist subjects selected by the individual was meant to give pupils greater freedom of choice. However, the large number of possible subject combinations make it difficult to timetable lessons. Students complain that they have too many free periods and longer school days. The problems also extend to universities. A lecturer at a Paris university described a seminar attended by 50 students — so many that they have to fetch chairs from other rooms or sit on the floor. So far, she said, the university administration had done nothing about it.” (https://www.dw.com/en/schools-crisis-in-france-investment-fails-to-inspire-confidence/a-79621916)

The demonstrations in France are reflective of a broader European social discontent. In Belgium there was the beginning of a national walkout on October 9 when air flights were cancelled due to work stoppages. (https://www.reuters.com/world/belgium-strike-partly-shuts-public-sector-budget-deal-delayed-2026-10-12/)

Both workers and students held mass demonstrations, some of which turned violent. On October 12 the national strike impacted transportation and other areas within the public sector.

Belgian right-wing Prime Minister Bart De Wever admitted that the failure of the government to reach agreement on a national budget has created unease and anger throughout broad segments of the population. De Wever noted that large-scale budget cuts were inevitable which will undoubtedly impact workers and youth inside the country.

All of these events in France and Belgium are a direct result of the international situation prompted by the economic and military policies of the US. Facing a midterm election as the approval rating of the Trump administration has reached unprecedented lows, the White House is striking out against its perceived political enemies. Minnesota Congresswoman Ilhan Omar had her Washington, D.C. residence raided by the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on October 12 under an obvious politically motivated attempt to deflect attention away from the deteriorating social conditions in the US. 

Many believe that the situation in Western Europe and the US will only worsen in the coming weeks and months. The outcomes of these struggles will have a tremendous impact on the status of working people and the nationally oppressed in North America and Europe.

YAF Strike Riyadh Airport, Khamis Mushait Air Base With Precision

By Al Mayadeen English

Source: Yemeni Military Media + Al Mayadeen

12 Oct 2026 23:34

The Yemeni Armed Forces targeted King Khalid Airport in Riyadh with a ballistic missile and Khamis Mushait Air Base with a drone, warning airlines against using Saudi airports.

The Yemeni Armed Forces targeted King Khalid International Airport in the Saudi capital, Riyadh, with a ballistic missile, YAF spokesperson Brigadier General Yahya Saree announced, confirming that the strike achieved a direct hit.

The Armed Forces also carried out another operation targeting Khamis Mushait Air Base with a drone, saying the attack also achieved a direct hit, according to Saree.

The Yemeni Armed Forces renewed their warning to international airlines, experts, employees, workers, and travelers against operating flights to Saudi airports, stressing that they are "unsafe", with the exception of airports and airspace serving the holy areas in Mecca and Medina.

With four top-tier ops., YAF strike Saudi airports, Aramco facilities

Yesterday, the Yemeni Armed Forces spokesperson Yahya Saree announced that the YAF carried out four top-tier military operations targeting two Saudi airports and two Aramco energy facilities in retaliation for continued Saudi aggression against Yemen.

In a statement issued October 11, Saree detailed that the four operations were carried out with ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and drones.

The first operation targeted King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh in three stages, disrupting air traffic and forcing the airport to a complete halt, according to the spokesperson.

The second operation targeted Aramco’s Shedgum gas facility in Saudi Arabia’s Eastern Province. Saree said the strike hit its target accurately and caused large fires.

The third operation struck Aramco’s Tanajib gas facility, also in the Eastern Province, according to Saree, who described the strike as "precise" and said it sparked fires at the site.

The fourth targeted King Fahd International Airport in Dammam, where Saree said a direct hit disrupted air traffic.

Missile and drone attack on Saudi troop concentrations

In a separate operation, the Yemeni Armed Forces targeted Saudi troop build-ups in Ras al-'Ara and al-Saqiya areas with six ballistic missiles and two drones, Saree said.

He reported that the attack killed and wounded dozens of personnel.

Saree also said Yemeni air defenses confronted Saudi aircraft with a large number of locally manufactured surface-to-air missiles, forcing them to retreat.

Saree renewed a warning to international companies, experts, employees, workers, and travelers against operating or taking flights to Saudi airports, which he described as unsafe.

He explicitly exempted the airports and airspace of the holy cities of Mecca and Medina.

IRGC Targets 3rd Tanker Violating Hormuz Restrictions, Warns US Allies

By Al Mayadeen English

Source: IRGC Public Relations Office

12 Oct 2026 20:39

Iran’s IRGC Navy warns against cooperation with US forces as Tehran strengthens its naval deterrence capabilities.

Iran’s Islamic Revolution Guard Corps Navy (IRGC-N) announced that its forces targeted a third supertanker in the Strait of Hormuz after the vessel defied Iranian navigation restrictions, reaffirming its determination to enforce security measures in the strategic waterway and warning against cooperation with US forces.

In a statement, the IRGC Navy’s Public Relations Office said the tanker caught fire after being targeted for attempting to cross the strait through an unauthorized route.

The vessel had deliberately switched off its navigation system and disregarded repeated warnings from Iranian naval forces while attempting to pass through the waterway, according to the statement.

The IRGC Navy said the tanker’s actions constituted a violation of the security measures governing maritime traffic and were intended to undermine order and stability in the strait.

The naval force stressed that commercial ships and oil tankers operating in the Strait of Hormuz must comply with Iran’s navigation restrictions, warning that any cooperation with the US military in the strait or the wider Gulf region would be met with a decisive response.

Iran develops new weapons to counter enemy threats

Separately, the deputy commander of the Iranian Army’s Navy said Iranian forces were advancing their military capabilities by developing new weapons designed to exploit vulnerabilities identified in their adversaries' defenses.

He explained that Iran had closely examined the enemy’s weaknesses and was incorporating its findings into the development of new weapons systems and operational tactics.

The commander further stressed that Iranian naval forces were adapting their strategies to counter hostile military maneuvers, pointing to what he described as a significant retreat by enemy forces from Iran’s maritime borders.