Police block airing grievances against British army abuses in Kenya hours before King Charles landed

Police block airing grievances against British army abuses in Kenya hours before King Charles landed

A British soldier seemed to claim credit in 2021 on social media for starting the wildfire, which destroyed thousands of acres of a nature conservancy. The British High Commissioner at the time said she was “appalled” by the post and promised the royal military police would investigate.

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Israel says it battled Hamas gunmen inside their vast tunnel network underground Gaza

Israel says it battled Hamas gunmen inside their vast tunnel network underground Gaza

Gaza health authorities say that 8,306 people, including 3,457 minors, have been killed in Israeli attacks since October 7. UN officials say more than 1.4 million of Gaza’s civilian population of about 2.3 million have been made homeless. We were unable to independently verify casualty counts.

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US to evict Gabon, Niger, Uganda and Central African Republic from Agoa trade programme

US to evict Gabon, Niger, Uganda and Central African Republic from Agoa trade programme

Launched in 2000, AGOA grants exports from qualifying countries duty-free access to the US market. It is set to expire in September 2025, but discussions are already underway over whether to extend it and for how long.

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World Bank predicts meteoric spike in oil prices if Israel-Hamas war escalates

World Bank predicts meteoric spike in oil prices if Israel-Hamas war escalates

Some analysts are sceptical that the US would experience massive oil shortages, since US oil production is at an all-time high.

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Digital IDs: Human rights groups in Kenya want stronger legislative basis to eliminate bias and erosion of privacy

Digital IDs: Human rights groups in Kenya want stronger legislative basis to eliminate bias and erosion of privacy

Dr Ngare said that Gates’ involvement with Maisha Namba is just one of his many interests in Africa, having previously been involved with “The clandestine administration of fertility regulating Tetatus vaccines to Kenyan women in 2014-2015, facilitated by Gavi and the WHO,” which he says “is still fresh in our minds.”

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Surveillance fears emerge over why Bill Gates is pushing President Ruto to endorse digital IDs for newborns in Kenya

Surveillance fears emerge over why Bill Gates is pushing President Ruto to endorse digital IDs for newborns in Kenya

Some experts said they believe the Maisha Namba programme has other, unannounced, aims. Dr Wahome Ngare, chairman of the Kenya Catholic Doctors Association, told The Defender that Maisha Namba will operate as a vaccination tracking programme.

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Argentina captain Lionel Messi wins record eighth Ballon d’Or for best player in the world

Argentina captain Lionel Messi wins record eighth Ballon d’Or for best player in the world

Norway international Erling Haaland scored a record-breaking 36 goals in 35 league games and hit 52 in all competitions as City won the Treble of Premier League, Champions League and FA Cup. He was recognised for his achievements with the Gerd Muller Trophy for best goal scorer.

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Africa: A young continent ruled by old men and where democracy is strangled by gerontocrats

Africa: A young continent ruled by old men and where democracy is strangled by gerontocrats

Youthful uprisings first flared in 2011, during the Arab Spring, when an uprising in Tunisia inspired others in Egypt and Libya. Later, powerful demonstrations erupted in Nigeria, Zimbabwe, Senegal and even Eswatini, a tiny kingdom of 1.2 million people in southern Africa.

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Africa’s cultural conquest of West has gained pace through music, industrialisation is limping

Africa’s cultural conquest of West has gained pace through music, industrialisation is limping

African fashion had its own shows in Paris and Milan. In Venice, Africa is the focus of this year’s Architectural Biennale. Last year, an architect from Burkina Faso won the prestigious Pritzker Prize. In 2021, Tanzania-born Abdulrazak Gurnah won the Nobel Prize in Literature.

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In 10 years Africa is projected to have world’s largest skilled workforce, overtaking China and India

In 10 years Africa is projected to have world’s largest skilled workforce, overtaking China and India

Businesses are chasing Africa’s tens of millions of new consumers emerging every year, representing untapped markets for cosmetics, organic foods, even champagne. Hilton plans to open 65 new hotels on the continent within five years. Its population of millionaires, the fastest growing on earth, is expected to double to 768,000 by 2027, the bank Credit Suisse estimates.

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