Verbatim sentences from the source article.
The Standard
… The visit was closely monitored across the Horn of Africa and the Middle East, where developments involving Somaliland carry broader geopolitical implications linked to Red Sea security, maritime trade routes and regional alliances. …
Letter from Mogadishu: Turkey joins Somalia talks as Hargeisa bubblesThe Standard
Audio By VocalizeIsrael and Hezbollah agreed a ceasefire on Friday, a US official said, after deadly exchanges between the two sides in Lebanon put a deal to end the Middle East war under strain, less than two days after it was signed. …
Israel, Hezbollah agree ceasefire as US-Iran deal under strainCitizen Digital
… The memorandum of understanding, signed by Trump in France, is aimed at ending months of conflict, reopening the vital Strait of Hormuz and stabilizing energy markets after a war that drove up oil prices and raised fears of a wider Middle East crisis. …
Trump's Iran deal sparks anger among Republican hawksThe Standard
… a welcome ceremony at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, on May 20, 2026. [AFP] In recent weeks, China has hosted several global leaders, including US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, as well as senior officials from Africa, Asia, the Middle East …
Why more and more global leaders are turning to BeijingCitizen Digital
… "Achieving lasting peace in the Middle East and Gulf region still requires unremitting efforts from all parties," Wang said, adding that China was willing to work with Pakistan to promote peace. …
China warns next phase of US-Iran talks will be 'more difficult'The Standard
Audio By VocalizeG7 leaders on Wednesday hailed the US-Iran deal to end the Middle East war as a "historic opportunity" and agreed to increase pressure on Russia over its invasion of Ukraine, ahead of an unusual summit session with AI bosses to discuss online security. …
G7 leaders applaud Iran, Ukraine progress ahead of tackling AICitizen Digital
… 5, 2026 07:27 (EAT) Add as a Preferred Source on Google Follow us Follow on Whatsapp Follow on Google Follow on Twitter Audio By Vocalize Oil prices dropped towards $80 a barrel and stocks rallied on Monday after Washington and Iran reached a framework deal to end the Middle East …
Oil plunges, stocks jump on US-Iran peace dealCitizen Digital
… retary for Energy and Petroleum Opiyo Wandayi has expressed optimism that Kenyans could see a more significant reduction in fuel prices from next month following a newly signed peace agreement between the United States and Iran that is expected to ease tensions in the Middle East …
Wandayi predicts lower fuel prices as US-Iran peace deal eases oil market fearsCapital News
… The motorists’ lobby says the latest review is difficult to justify because international crude oil prices reportedly dropped significantly during May 2026 following easing tensions in the Middle East and optimism over diplomatic engagements involving Iran and the United States. …
Motorists blast EPRA over ‘insulting’ Sh0.22 fuel price cutCitizen Digital
… The wave of attacks came as news of a US-Iran deal started to open a path to peace in the Middle East war, highlighting the lack of progress toward an end to over four years of fighting in Ukraine. …
Deadly strikes on Ukraine leave Kyiv cathedral in flamesGlobal crude prices surged past $112 per barrel driven by the rapid expansion of the Middle East conflict and mounting fears of a full-blown regional war, putting fresh pressure on Kenya's fuel costs and economy.
22 hours ago · The Standard →
Global crude prices surged past $112 per barrel driven by the rapid expansion of the Middle East conflict and mounting fears of a full-blown regional war, putting fresh pressure on Kenya's fuel costs and economy.
22 hours ago · The Standard →
Iran and the United States have halted missile strikes after fighting over the Strait of Hormuz. Trump's UN envoy said the president is giving negotiations "a little bit of room" while forces remain ready, and Iran's army spokesman confirmed Tehran has halted retaliatory operations.
27 July 2026 · The Standard →
Dubai's property market has cooled following the outbreak of Middle East conflict in late February, with rents falling despite the city's earlier rapid growth. Some residents have capitalized on lower prices to upgrade to larger, better-located apartments at reduced cost, though the city's image as a safe destination has been damaged by attacks on iconic sites.
26 July 2026 · The Standard →
Artcaffé is expanding beyond Nairobi to Eldoret and coastal towns, driven by rising demand for curated dining experiences among Kenya's growing middle-income population. The chain, which currently operates more than 60 outlets, is launching a new Winter Mediterranean Menu as part of its growth strategy.
25 July 2026 · Capital News →
Kenya's Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi has condemned attacks on commercial vessels in the Red Sea and threats to the Bab al-Mandab Strait, warning that the escalating crisis could disrupt global trade and increase the cost of essential imports including oil and fertilizer.
24 July 2026 · Citizen Digital →
Oil prices surged to $100 a barrel as Tehran-backed Houthi rebels targeted Red Sea shipping and U.S. President Donald Trump threatened military strikes in return. Saudi Arabia's use of the Red Sea as an alternative export route faces disruption, potentially removing more oil from the market.
24 July 2026 · Citizen Digital →
Netanyahu's office stated that Saudi Arabia joining the Abraham Accords would represent a historic advancement for Middle East peace, following a US-Saudi nuclear deal that President Trump said would be conditional on Saudi normalization with Israel.
24 July 2026 · Citizen Digital →
A four-day African Maritime Forces Summit in Rabat, Morocco brought representatives from more than 40 African countries and 20 international partner states to address maritime security challenges including piracy, illegal fishing, maritime terrorism, and transnational crime. Somalia's navy commander discussed measures his country has taken to improve security along its coastline despite a sharp fall in piracy over more than a decade, though experts warn of isolated recent attacks and persistent illegal fishing by foreign vessels.
24 July 2026 · The Standard →
An opinion piece argues that the Lamu Refinery—now in implementation with government commitments fulfilled and financing secured—is a strategic investment that will strengthen regional energy security, unlock the LAPSSET Corridor, and position Kenya as East Africa's gateway for energy, trade and manufacturing.
23 July 2026 · The Standard →
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov met in Manila on the sidelines of an ASEAN summit to discuss the Ukraine war and US-Russia relations, with both officials expressing openness to dialogue despite stalled peace efforts.
23 July 2026 · The Standard →
Wildlife veterinarian Robert Aruho, Conservation Lead at Mount Kenya Wildlife Conservancy, has been appointed Chair of the IUCN Species Survival Commission Antelope Specialist Group for 2026–2030, leading an international network responsible for guiding antelope protection and recovery across Africa, Asia and the Middle East.
22 July 2026 · Capital News →
President Donald Trump said Tuesday the US is far from finished with Iran and warned the next military target could be Pickaxe Mountain, a deeply buried nuclear site near Natanz where Western intelligence suspects Iran is building an undeclared enrichment facility. Trump estimated it would take Iran more than 20 years to rebuild from current damage.
22 July 2026 · Citizen Digital →
Yemen's Iran-backed Houthis announced a maritime embargo of Saudi Arabia, stepping up tensions as the rebels threatened the top oil exporter's ability to bypass the Strait of Hormuz. The blockade, if enforced, could strain Saudi Arabia's economy by cutting off Red Sea port access and hurt global markets reliant on Saudi crude exports.
20 July 2026 · Citizen Digital →
Cabinet Secretary Mudavadi has called for greater collaboration among governments, faith leaders and young people to promote peace, empower youth and strengthen good governance across Eastern Africa, speaking at the 21st Plenary Assembly of AMECEA in Nairobi.
20 July 2026 · The Standard →
Iran's judiciary announced the execution by hanging of Erfan Esfandiari and Gol-Mohammad Mohammadi on Sunday. The men were convicted of assaulting police officers and videotaping the incident during anti-government protests that began in December over economic grievances and intensified in January.
19 July 2026 · Citizen Digital →
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio is traveling to the Philippines to meet with Southeast Asian counterparts at an ASEAN foreign ministers' meeting in Manila. The trip aims to advance US priorities for a "free and open Indo-Pacific" amid tensions in the Middle East and US concerns about China's alleged election interference.
18 July 2026 · Citizen Digital →
Kenya launched a digital livestock tracking system called ANITRAC at a national meat conference, designed to strengthen animal health, improve food safety, and meet international traceability requirements to help grow the livestock sector from its current Sh390 billion annual contribution toward a Sh1 trillion goal within two years.
18 July 2026 · The Standard →
The United States struck Iran and Tehran hit back at US allies in the Gulf on Thursday amid renewed fighting over the Strait of Hormuz, a month after a preliminary peace deal was signed to end the conflict that broke out in late February.
16 July 2026 · Citizen Digital →
The National Water Harvesting and Storage Authority, Tana River County Government and Stella Mundi Properties Ltd have signed a memorandum of understanding to implement a climate-smart lucerne farming project aimed at boosting irrigation, food security and livelihoods through water infrastructure development and commercial fodder production.
16 July 2026 · Citizen Digital →
EU countries agreed Wednesday to maintain Russia's oil price cap at $44 for one week to allow time for negotiating a broader sanctions package, avoiding an imminent deadline that would have raised the cap. The 21st round of sanctions the EU proposes on Russia since its 2022 invasion of Ukraine has faced resistance from multiple countries seeking to water down various provisions.
16 July 2026 · Citizen Digital →
Kenya's foreign exchange reserves are set to reach a seven-month high following proceeds from the government's sale of a 15 per cent stake in Safaricom totalling Sh244.5 billion, World Bank funding of $750 million, and Kenya Pipeline Company privatisation receipts of Sh103.45 billion received in April, with the CBK expecting the shilling to remain stable.
16 July 2026 · The Standard →
The government has extended the eight per cent VAT rate on petroleum products by three months to continue offering Kenyans relief from high fuel costs, using powers granted by Parliament's April VAT Amendment Act which allows the Treasury Cabinet Secretary to extend the initial three-month relief period.
15 July 2026 · The Standard →
The Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority announced that maximum retail prices for Super Petrol, Diesel, and Kerosene will remain unchanged from July 15 to August 14, 2026. The government extended an 8 per cent VAT relief on petroleum products for three months and used Sh945 million from the Petroleum Development Levy Fund to stabilize prices amid global oil market volatility.
14 July 2026 · Capital News →
Kenya's government has extended an 8 per cent Value Added Tax reduction on petroleum products for three more months until October 14, 2026, and approved a Ksh.945 million subsidy for the July–August fuel pricing cycle to protect consumers from rising global oil prices and Middle East tensions.
14 July 2026 · Citizen Digital →
Energy Cabinet Secretary Opiyo Wandayi said Kenya holds adequate fuel stocks and that Middle East conflict has not disrupted petroleum product availability, crediting the Government-to-Government fuel import arrangement for protecting the country from supply disruptions and price volatility.
14 July 2026 · The Standard →
The government has extended the reduced 8 percent Value Added Tax on petroleum products for another three months until October 14, 2026, to cushion consumers from rising global oil market uncertainty. The extension also includes a Sh945 million injection from the Petroleum Development Levy during July-August 2026 to stabilize pump prices.
14 July 2026 · The Standard →
The government has extended the reduced 8 per cent VAT on petroleum products for three more months until October 14, 2026, to shield motorists, businesses and households from volatile global oil prices. The Energy and Petroleum Cabinet Secretary said the extension was made in consultation with the National Treasury, and the government will also inject Sh945 million from the Petroleum Development Levy during July-August 2026 to stabilise pump prices.
14 July 2026 · The Standard →
President Cyril Ramaphosa is visiting France for a three-day trip, including a commemoration on Sunday for South African soldiers killed in World War I at the Battle of Delville Wood. Ramaphosa met with French President Emmanuel Macron on Friday, with the two leaders finding broad convergence on crises in the Middle East and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
12 July 2026 · Citizen Digital →
The World Bank's Kenya Economic Update projects the national poverty rate could rise by two to 4.5 percentage points by the end of 2026, with an additional 1–2.4 million Kenyans potentially falling below the poverty line due to worsening economic conditions including inflation, high cost of living, and joblessness. The bank has also downwardly revised Kenya's 2026 growth forecast to 4.3 per cent from 4.6 per cent, citing fiscal challenges and geopolitical tensions.
11 July 2026 · The Standard →
The Horn of Africa has become a key site of geopolitical competition, with Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Egypt, Iran, and other international powers seeking influence across the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. In Somalia, this rivalry intensifies as the federal government faces domestic challenges and criticism over state institutions, corruption, and political disputes.
10 July 2026 · Citizen Digital →