TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — An Iranian military helicopter crashed into a fruit and vegetable market in central Iran on Tuesday, reportedly killing at least four people.
The crash happened in the town of Dorcheh, some 330 kilometers (205 miles) south of Iran's capital, Tehran, in the country's Isfahan province, Iranian state television reported. Isfahan is home to a major Iranian air base, as well as a nuclear site struck by the U.S. during the Iran-Israel war in June.
The army helicopter had been on a training flight, state TV said. The pilot and co-pilot died in the crash, it added, showing footage of debris and smoke rising from the market.
Iran's semiofficial Fars news agency said two people on the ground at the market died in the crash.
This is the second crash in less than a week in Iran. An F-4 fighter jet crashed near Iran's western city of Hamedan, killing one of its pilots.
Iran has a history of fatal crashes. Western sanctions have dried up the supply of parts for aircraft in Iran, which relies on a fleet of aging helicopters and airplanes for both its government and commercial airlines.
This image released by the Iranian Red Crescent Society shows the scene of a helicopter crash in the town of Dorcheh some 205 miles (330 kilometers) south of the capital Tehran, Iran, Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2026. (Iranian Red Crescent Society via AP)
This image released by the Iranian Red Crescent Society shows the scene of a helicopter crash in the town of Dorcheh some 205 miles (330 kilometers) south of the capital Tehran, Iran, Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2026. (Iranian Red Crescent Society via AP)
NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — Financing for electric vehicle transport is ramping up in Africa as confidence rises in the potential for battery swapping, fast charging and other technologies.
Spiro, Africa’s largest electric mobility operator, has secured $50 million in debt financing from African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank), U.S.-based climate fintech Nithio and the Africa Go Green Fund to expand its battery-swapping network.
The announcement comes days after Arc Ride, another e-mobility firm, received a $5 million equity commitment from the International Finance Corporation (IFC) signaling growing institutional confidence in Africa’s clean transport sector. Gogo Electric, a Ugandan e-bike start up also raised $1 million last week from ElectriFi, the EU-funded electrification financing funded by EDFI management firm.
Spiro said it will use the capital to extend its battery-swapping stations to existing and new markets while advancing technology including automated battery swaps, fast charging, and renewable energy integration.
“This new funding reinforces our vision of building a robust, scalable energy network tailored for Africa by Africans,” said Kaushik Burman, CEO of Spiro.
The e-mobility company operates in Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Nigeria, Benin, and Togo, with trials in Cameroon and Tanzania. It has deployed over 80,000 electric motorcycles, circulated more than 300,000 batteries, completed 30 million battery swaps, and established more than 2,500 swap stations. Riders have logged over one billion carbon-free kilometers.
“We will use it to deploy energy infrastructure that will contribute meaningfully to a greener future in Africa,” said its founder, Gagan Gupta.
Development financiers see electric mobility as both a climate solution and an industrialization opportunity in Africa.
“Spiro is one of the largest and fastest-growing players in the Pan-African e-mobility market. We see e-mobility as a critical pillar of Africa’s clean energy transition,” said Raghav Sachdeva, chief investment officer at Nithio.
Laurène Aigrain, managing director of Africa Go Green Fund said the transaction reflects the funds commitment to backing commercially robust businesses that combine innovation with measurable environmental and social impact.
Afreximbank officials framed their backing as central to Africa’s sustainable industrialization.
“Driving Africa’s transition to electric mobility is central to how we view sustainable economic development across the continent,” said Oluranti Doherty, managing director for export development.
Since 2022, Spiro has raised more than $230 million, financing production and assembly facilities across Nigeria, Kenya, Uganda, and Rwanda, a reflection of the broader trend of climate-focused capital flowing into Africa’s e-mobility sector.
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A man rides an electric Spiro motorcycle in Nairobi, Kenya, Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Henry Naminde)
A man rides an electric Spiro motorcycle in Nairobi, Kenya, Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Henry Naminde)
Men ride an electric Spiro motorcycle in Nairobi, Kenya, Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Henry Naminde)
FILE -A man rides an electric motorcycle from Ampersand on a test drive in Nairobi, Kenya, Jan. 23, 2023. (AP Photo/Brian Inganga, File)
