Kenya was rocked by anti-tax riots as thousands of protesters voiced their anger over tax increases in the capital city, Nairobi. President William Ruto deployed the military to crack down on what he called “treasonous” demonstrators, leading to violence and at least five reported deaths.
The protests spread beyond Nairobi, with demonstrations in other cities and reports of government crackdowns on critics and mass arrests. The government argued that the tax legislation was necessary for revenue, but many Kenyans criticized it as driving up the cost of living for millions.
In Israel, the Supreme Court ruled that the military must begin drafting ultra-Orthodox Jewish men, a decision that has the potential to divide Benjamin Netanyahu’s coalition government. The exemption of ultra-Orthodox men from military service has been a source of tension in Israel for years.
Meanwhile, Julian Assange pleaded guilty to violating the Espionage Act for sharing state secrets on WikiLeaks, setting a concerning precedent for press freedoms. While the plea deal is seen as a blow to American press freedoms, it also avoided a definitive Supreme Court ruling that could further restrict journalistic freedoms.
In other news, wood-fire-oven pizzerias are becoming increasingly popular in American cities, leading to a rise in the quality of pizza offerings in the U.S. China made history by bringing soil from the far side of the moon back to Earth, providing potential insight into the origins of the moon and Earth.
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