Bernie Sanders condemns Netanyahu’s upcoming US Congress speech

Bernie Sanders condemns Netanyahu’s upcoming US Congress speech

Vermont senator Bernie Sanders has condemned Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s address before the US Congress today. His address comes amid fears of a growing regional war in the Middle East. Israel and Hamas have failed to agree on a ceasefire deal currently on the table. Protestors have promised a 'day of rage' over Israel's conduct during its ongoing war with the Palestinian militant group Hamas in Gaza. Ira […]

July 24, 2024 20

Africa

Scattered anti-government protests in Kenya

By Hillary Orinde Hundreds of protesters took to the streets across Kenyan towns on Tuesday in defiance of a police ban, the latest in a series of demonstrations that have rocked the East African nation. Activists led by young Gen-Z Kenyans launched peaceful rallies last month over steep tax increases but they spiralled into deadly violence, before morphing into wider anger against President William Ruto's government. […]

July 23, 2024 9

Africa

Kenya protests show citizens don’t trust government with their tax money: can Ruto make a meaningful new deal?

By Eric Magale, University of Pretoria and Mario Schmidt, Max Planck Institute for Social Anthropology Each year, the Kenyan government tables a finance bill outlining measures for funding the national budget. In the past, these bills have scarcely attracted public attention. This changed dramatically in 2023, with President William Ruto’s first budget following his election victory the year before. Ruto inherited an economy battling […]

July 17, 2024 48

World

Three killed in Bangladesh job quota protests

By Mohammad MAZED and Eyamin SAJID At least three people were killed in Bangladesh on Tuesday during violent clashes between rival groups over quotas for coveted government jobs, police said, a day after more than 400 people were injured. Police fired tear gas and rubber bullets as students demanding quotas be cut battled with counter-protesters backing the ruling Awami League party, fighting with sticks […]

July 16, 2024 17

Africa

Kenya unrest: Ruto awakened class politics that now threatens to engulf him

By Peter Lockwood, University of Manchester Many of the grievances of Kenya’s Gen-Z, young people who took to the streets in late June, have been palpable for years. I witnessed these during field research as a social anthropologist studying land, livelihoods, urbanisation and electoral politics in Kiambu County, which borders Nairobi to the north and west. I spent nearly two years there between 2017 […]

July 4, 2024 30

Africa

Kenyan Activists Rethink Strategy Amid Violence in Anti-Government Protests

Activists leading Kenya's anti-government protests are re-evaluating their approach after Tuesday's demonstrations were disrupted by violence and looting, which they fear could undermine their efforts to push President William Ruto to resign as reported by Reuters. The activists attribute the violence to "goons" allegedly hired by politicians to discredit the protests or pursue personal agendas. Some activists have called on social media to cancel the next planned demonstration on Thursday.

July 4, 2024 12

Africa

Kenya police say over 270 arrested for criminal acts during Tuesday protests

Kenyan police said they have arrested more than 270 people masquerading as protesters who are suspected of going on a criminal rampage during anti-government rallies on Tuesday. Widespread looting and property damage was reported during the youth-led demonstrations in various cities across the country, which some protesters said had been infiltrated by "goons". "Security forces across the country singled out suspects found engaging in criminal activities in […]

July 3, 2024 31

Science & Technology

Rise of digital activism in Africa as smartphone adoption surges

By Conrad Onyango, bird story agency From just making calls, to taking pictures and light browsing, to engaging in e-commerce transactions to, recently, engaging in digital activism, the way Africans are engaging with their smartphones is fast evolving. This is happening against the backdrop of a surge in smartphone usage across the continent, according to three recent reports. Three different reports show that […]

July 3, 2024 40

Africa

Kenya protests: Ruto pulling the finance bill is unlikely to satisfy angry young protesters – here’s why

By Kathleen Klaus, Uppsala University In a move that shocked observers, Kenya’s President William Ruto announced on 26 June he was withdrawing his government’s highly controversial finance bill. This followed two days in which tens of thousands of mostly young protesters took to the streets in nationwide rallies against the proposals contained in the country’s 2024 budget. Kathleen Klaus, who has studied […]

June 27, 2024 92