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Japan has expressed outrage following the arrest of a U.S. Marine suspected of killing a Japanese woman in Okinawa.
The Marine was arrested after the death of a 39-year-old woman in a hotel in Naha. Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has demanded cooperation from the United States in the investigation and called for measures to prevent similar incidents.
The case has revived long-standing tensions over the large U.S. military presence in Okinawa. The island hosts a significant proportion of U.S. military facilities in Japan, and local communities have previously protested against crimes and disturbances involving military personnel.

The separatist Parti Québécois has won Quebec’s provincial election but failed to secure enough seats to form a majority government.

The party, led by Paul St-Pierre Plamondon, won 59 of the 127 seats in the provincial legislature, leaving it short of the 64 seats required for a majority. The result brings the party back to power after more than a decade.
Plamondon has renewed his commitment to eventually hold a referendum on Quebec’s independence from Canada. However, he has said such a referendum would be delayed until after U.S. President Donald Trump leaves office. The result is expected to create fresh discussions about Canadian national unity.

A Nigerian Air Force aircraft has crashed in Ondo State, killing all 25 people on board.
The ATR-42 aircraft was travelling from Benin City towards Lagos when it disappeared from radar. The wreckage was later found near Igbokoda, close to a naval facility. The aircraft had five crew members and 20 passengers on board.
President Bola Tinubu expressed condolences to the victims’ families and declared three days of national mourning. He also ordered a full investigation to establish what caused the crash.

At least 30 people have died following a collision between two motorised wooden boats on the Congo River in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The accident occurred near Ngombe-Lukolela in Equateur province. Officials said one of the boats was travelling from Ubangi towards Kinshasa while the other was travelling from Kinshasa towards Lukolela.
Dozens of people remained missing after the accident, prompting search and rescue operations. Officials said the exact cause of the collision was still unclear, although night travel, overcrowding and poor safety standards have contributed to previous boat accidents in the country.

Fighting has intensified in Ethiopia’s Tigray region, raising fears that the renewed conflict could develop into a wider regional crisis.
Reports indicate that government forces and fighters linked to the Tigray People’s Liberation Front have engaged in clashes around Mekelle and other parts of northern Ethiopia. Airstrikes and artillery exchanges have reportedly killed at least 17 people in several locations.
The renewed violence comes several years after Ethiopia’s devastating 2020–2022 civil war. The latest conflict has also increased tensions between Ethiopia and neighbouring countries, while international actors have called for restraint and dialogue to prevent further escalation.

The World Bank has raised its forecast for Africa’s economic growth in 2026 to 4.3 percent, citing stronger economic performance and reforms in several countries.
The institution said countries including Zambia, Nigeria, Ethiopia and Angola have implemented reforms that are helping improve their economic outlook. However, the World Bank warned that economic growth has not yet translated into sufficient improvements in living standards, with per-capita income growth remaining relatively low.
The World Bank also encouraged African governments to invest more in artificial intelligence, digital infrastructure and data protection. It said AI could help improve sectors such as agriculture, education and small businesses while creating new opportunities for employment and economic development.

The government has announced plans to fast-track the completion of 1,656 kilometres of road projects in Kiambu County at an estimated cost of Sh152 billion.
Deputy President Kithure Kindiki made the announcement during a tour of development projects in Kiambaa and Gatundu South constituencies. He said the government was monitoring road projects across the county to ensure that construction work progresses faster.
According to the government, the road projects are expected to improve connectivity between communities, support transportation of goods and services and stimulate economic activities, particularly in rural areas.

A fuel tanker exploded shortly after midnight along the Salgaa-Nakuru section of the Nakuru-Eldoret Highway, causing authorities to close part of the busy highway.
The Kenya Red Cross said its emergency team responded to the incident and attended to two casualties. A multi-agency team involving emergency responders worked to contain the fire and secure the area.
Motorists were advised to avoid the affected section of the highway and use alternative routes while emergency teams dealt with the incident. Authorities had not immediately established the cause of the explosion, while investigations and response operations continued.

President William Ruto has announced that the government expects to recruit a total of 120,000 teachers by December 2026.
Speaking during World Teachers’ Day celebrations at Kasarani Gymnasium in Nairobi, the President said the recruitment programme represents one of the largest teacher enrolment exercises in the country’s history. He also said the 2026–27 education budget includes funds to convert 20,000 contract teachers to permanent and pensionable terms.
Ruto said the government had already promoted more than 126,000 teachers since he took office. The administration says the recruitment and promotion programme is intended to address teacher shortages and improve learning conditions in schools across the country.

Kenya has confirmed its first imported case of Ebola after a Kenyan citizen who had been living in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) died while receiving treatment in Nairobi.
Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale said the patient had lived in the DRC for seven years and developed symptoms about a month before travelling to Kenya. He arrived in Nairobi on October 3 after travelling by road from the DRC to Kampala, Uganda, before taking a flight to Nairobi.
The patient was isolated at Nairobi Hospital after developing symptoms including fever, extreme fatigue, muscle pain, sore throat and bleeding under the skin. Health authorities have identified 28 people who had contact with the patient and are also tracing 23 passengers and four crew members who were on the same flight. The government has urged Kenyans to remain calm while strengthening surveillance and contact tracing.