A man died on the sidelines of mass demonstrations against proposed tax hikes in the Kenyan capital, police said Friday, with the mounting protest a day earlier also leaving 200 people injured.

A police watchdog said it was investigating allegations that the man was shot by police after Thursday’s demonstrations in Nairobi, the second this week.

Led largely by young Kenyans, the protests began in Nairobi on Tuesday before spreading nationwide.

They have been galvanised by widespread discontent over President William Ruto’s economic policies as many people already grapple with a cost-of-living crisis.

Thursday’s demonstrations in Nairobi were mostly peaceful, but officers fired tear gas and water cannon throughout the day in an attempt to disperse people who gathered to protest near parliament.

The Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) said Friday it had “documented the death” of a 29-year-old man, “allegedly as a result of police shooting”.

“The Authority has this morning launched investigations into the fatal shooting,” the IPOA said in a statement.

According to a Nairobi police report seen by AFP, a 29-year-old man was taken to hospital in Nairobi’s central district at around 7:00 pm (1600 GMT) on Thursday “unconscious with a thigh injury” before “succumbing” to his injuries, without giving further details.

A spokesman for Amnesty International Kenya, Mathias Kinyoda, told AFP that “one demonstrator was shot yesterday in the CBD (central business district) as he was trying to run away from the police”.

Kinyoda said the person had died.He said that the shooter “was wearing plain clothes but he was accompanying the police”, and called for an investigation.

“We saw what happened,” a witness told AFP, describing how he was among people gathered on the second floor of a building.

“We could see police opening fire at the group that was gathered there,” the man said.

“It was a police officer in a baseball cap because he got down from a police vehicle and ran back to it after the shooting when the crowd dispersed.”

Late Thursday, several organisations, including Amnesty International Kenya, said that at least 200 were injured in Nairobi.

The Kenyan Red Cross said on X, formerly Twitter, that eight were in critical condition.

* Masses march –Thousands assembled across the country on Thursday, from the Indian Ocean city of Mombasa to the Rift Valley city of Nakuru and Ruto’s home city of Eldoret.

Following smaller-scale demonstrations in Nairobi earlier in the week, the cash-strapped government agreed to roll back several tax hikes laid out in a new bill.

But Ruto’s administration still intends to increase some taxes, defending the proposed levies as necessary for filling its coffers and cutting reliance on external borrowing.

After the decision to scrap levies on bread purchases, car ownership as well as financial and mobile services, the treasury warned of a 200-billion-shilling ($1.5-billion) shortfall.

The proposed taxes were projected to raise 346.7 billion shillings ($2.7 billion), equivalent to 1.9 per cent of GDP, and reduce the budget deficit from 5.7 per cent to 3.3 per cent of GDP.

The government has now targeted an increase in fuel prices and export taxes to fill the void left by the changes, a move critics say will make life more expensive in a country battling high inflation.

Kenya is one of the most dynamic economies in East Africa but a third of its 51.5 million people live in poverty.

The College of Education Academic Staff Union, Federal College of Education, Gusau, has suspended its three-month-old strike.

The chairman, Muktar Abdullahi, told journalists in Gusau on Thursday that the strike was suspended after a meeting of union members.

Mr Abdullahi urged members of the union to resume academic activities immediately.

He apologised to the institution’s students for the inconveniences caused them during the strike.

“Let me apologise to our students. I assure you that we shall recover from the long absence from academic activities. Whatever happened should be put behind us. We have now resumed full academic activities,” he said.

The chairman said that the decision to call off the strike was reached unconditionally.

“Members of the union reached an agreement after the meeting, and we were able to resolve the issues at stake,” he said.

A coalition of Zamfara-based civil society groups recently staged a protest to decry the college’s poor progress in academic activities.

The coalition’s spokesman, Nasiru Garba, said it was unfair for the academic staff union to embark on strike after the appointment of a substantive provost.

He expressed the commitment of the coalition to support efforts towards repositioning the college for academic excellence.

Troops of 6 Brigade Nigerian Army/Sector 3 Operation WHIRL STROKE, OPWS, in Taraba State, say they have arrested a terrorist behind the recent attacks that led to loss of lives in Bali local government area of the state.

Several persons, including a 92-year-old man, were killed last week in Mararaban Azagawa village of Bali.

In a statement made available to journalists on Thursday by the Acting Assistant Director, 6 Brigade, Army Public Relations, Lieutenant Oni Olubodunde, he said the troops succeeded in arresting the terrorist responsible for the deadly attack.

He identified the suspect as Hassan Ibrahim, 39, adding that items such as a dane gun, cartridges and a motorcycle belonging to one of the victims, were recovered from him.

The suspect, whose nickname was also given as Godu, was said to have admitted his involvement in the heinous act and has provided valuable information to the troops.

“He is currently in custody, cooperating with authorities to help capture his collaborators,” the statement added.

In the statement, the commander of 6 Brigade Sector 3 OPWS, Brigadier General Kingsley Chidiebere Uwa, applauded the public for providing useful information leading to the capture of the suspect.

He also urged all to continue supporting the Brigade’s efforts to eliminate criminal activities in Taraba State.

He stated that “the successful capture of the terrorism mastermind is a significant achievement for the troops and a step towards restoring peace and security in the affected community.”

Chelsea defender, Ian Maatsen, is close to joining Aston Villa.

According to The Athletic, Maatsen could be playing in the Premier League next season.

The 21-year-old spent the last campaign on loan at Borussia Dortmund.

Maatsen impressed with the Bundesliga side, helping them reach the Champions League final.

Dortmund wanted to keep him on a permanent deal, but look to have been beaten to his signature by Aston Villa.

The transfer fee is believed to be around £37.5million.

The Edo State Government on Wednesday condemned the alleged rape and murder of a fresh graduate of the University of Benin, Glory Adekolure. .

The victim was reportedly raped and killed at Iyowa Community, Benin City, on Thursday, June 13, 2024.

A source said that the 22-year-old was on her way home after processing her clearance forms when she waylaid, tortured and raped to death by yet-to-be-identified persons.

Her corpse was later dropped close to her mother’s house.

In a statement by the state government in Benin City, communications and orientation commissioner Chris Nehikhare, expressed shock and sadness over the incident.

“Governor Godwin Obaseki has ordered the Commissioner of Police, Funso Adegboye, to fish out the perpetrators of the evil act within the next seven days,” he said.

The Nigerian Government has announced that it is sending its first citizen into space.

The Director General of the National Space Research and Development Agency, NASRDA, Mathew Adepoju, made this known at a press conference in Abuja on Wednesday.

He said that the government had signed a Memorandum of Understanding, MoU, with the Space Exploration and Research Agency, SERA, to facilitate the ambitious venture.

According to him, “This collaboration, which is coming to the country, marks a significant milestone in Nigeria’s 25th anniversary of Space Exploration journey and opens new opportunities for scientific research and technological advancement.”

Meanwhile, DAILY POST recently reported that NASRDA had decried the lack of patronage for homegrown technology to fight maritime insecurity.

The agency said that 90 per cent of security challenges facing the maritime sector in the country can be tackled by Geo-Stationary Satellite.

Former President Muhammadu Buhari has commiserated with ex-Senate President Bukola Saraki over the death of his mother, Florence.

Buhari described Florence as a strong pillar of the Saraki dynasty.

In a statement by his spokesman, Garba Shehu, the former President said Florence was a hardworking community leader whose kindness and thoughtfulness towards others is an inspiration and would be remembered.

He said, “I am saddened by the demise of Chief Florence Saraki, a strong pillar of the Saraki dynasty and a mother firmly committed to family values and the welfare of the less privileged.

“The commitment and resilience she showed as she supported the family following the death of the patriarch, Senator Abubakar Olusola Saraki, and Waziri of Ilorin is praiseworthy.

“She was a hardworking and people-friendly community leader whose kindness and thoughtfulness towards others is an inspiration. She will sorely be missed by many in Kwara state and at the centre.

“My thoughts and prayers are with the former senate president and my noteworthy minister, for whom their mother meant so much. He May her soul rest in peace.”

Researchers have identified the world’s oldest wine, a drop of white, discovered in an ancient Roman burial site in southern Spain, which was found to be some 2,000 years old.

The wine was discovered in 2019 in a Roman mausoleum near Carmona, a town near Seville, believed to have been a family tomb dating back to the ancient Roman city of Carmo.

According to the research team from the University of Cordóba and the town’s archaeological department, the burial site contained six urns holding human remains as well as several objects.

In what they described as a rather exceptional and unexpected discovery, the scientists found the remains of a male individual submerged in a reddish liquid inside a sealed glass funerary urn.

Analysis of the liquid’s mineral profile and the detection of certain characteristic polyphenols, biomarkers found in every wine, allowed it to be identified as white wine.

This is according to the findings published in the Journal of Archaeological Science.

The liquid’s red colour was acquired over time, possibly due to solid residues contained in the urn, they said in the paper.

The researchers said that identifying the wine’s origins proved most difficult as there’s nothing left to compare it to.

However, they found similarities in the mineral profile of modern-day white wines produced in Montilla-Moriles, a wine-growing region east of Carmona, and sherry wines from Jerez.

While the Romans extensively used wine for burial rituals due to its religious significance, the remnants of ancient wines reported so far have all been dried up, often absorbed on vessel walls.

The researchers said their findings constitute the oldest ancient wine conserved in the liquid state.

Previously, the oldest wine ever recorded was a bottle from Speyer, Germany, discovered in 1867 and believed to have been preserved since the fourth century, according to a University of Cordóba statement.

The fact that it was the remains of a male individual that were covered in wine is no coincidence.

The researchers point out that women were long forbidden from tasting wine during Roman times.

Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court in Abuja, on Wednesday, dismissed a fresh bail application the detained Deputy Commissioner of Police, Abba Kyari, filed to be released on bail, pending the conclusion of his trial.

Kyari is facing an eight-count charge bordering on drug trafficking brought against him by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency.

The NDLEA alleged that Kyari and his men, sometime between January 19 and 25, 2022, at the office of Inspector-General of Police, IRT, Abuja, in connivance with one ASP John Umoru (now at large), ACP Sunday J. Ubia, ASP Bawa James, Insp. Simon Agirigba and Insp. John Nuhu, unlawfully tampered with 21.25kilograms worth of cocaine that they seized from the two convicted drug traffickers- Chibunna Patrick Umeibe and Emeka Alphonsus Ezenwane- even as it also accused them of dealing in cocaine worth 17.55kg.

The charge stated that this is contrary to section 14(b) of the NDLEA Act, CAP N30 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004, the defendants

The court had, in two previous rulings, denied the defendant’s bail and ordered their remand at Kuje prison.

The Court of Appeal in Abuja also refused Kyari’s request for bail.

At today’s sitting, Justice Nwite, in a ruling, held that Kyari’s application lacked merit.

He stated that Kyari failed to establish any exceptional circumstance that would warrant the exercise of judicial discretion in his favour.

The trial judge said that the court had earlier dismissed a similar bail application that was brought before it and ordered an accelerated hearing of the case.

He said no evidence was shown to convince the court why it should depart from its earlier ruling.

Justice Nwite rejected Kyari’s application and approved that the NLDEA, proceed with the prosecution of both Kyari and his co-defendants in the matter.

Recall that the court last month granted Kyari temporary bail from prison custody to enable him to participate in his mother’s final burial rites.

The court granted him N50m bail for two weeks and two sureties in like sum.

Previously, Kyari had filed an application to challenge the charge brought against him which the court on March 22, 2023, dismissed.

Kyari, through his team of lawyers led by Mr Nureni Jimoh (SAN), argued that the charge was legally defective and premature.

He added that the NDLEA ought to have allowed police to exhaust its internal machinery before filing the applications in court.

He claimed that the Police had already commenced an investigation into allegations against him and issued an interim report.

The defendant argued that he could only be charged to court upon the conclusion of the internal investigation by the police

An Arab diplomat told AFP on Wednesday that at least 600 Egyptians died during the hajj pilgrimage, citing searing heat that reached 51.8 degrees Celsius (125 degrees Fahrenheit) on Monday.

“All of the (newly confirmed) deaths were because of the heat as well,” the diplomat said after Arab officials earlier reported a figure of at least 323 Egyptian deaths.

Baseball legend and one of the greatest players in history of the sport, Willie Mays, has died “peacefully” at the age of 93, Major League Baseball (MLB) team San Francisco Giants made the announcement in the early hours of Wednesday.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has arrived in North Korea for a two-day state visit.

Mr Putin was received by North Korea’s ruler, Kim Jong Un, at the airport in Pyongyang, the Russian news agency Interfax reported on Wednesday.

According to observers, the two-day visit will also focus on further arms deliveries from Pyongyang, which Moscow intends to use in its war against Ukraine.

The main part of the visit begins on Wednesday.

The day would begin with a meeting between Mr Putin and Mr Kim in Kim Il Sung Square, Pyongyang’s urban and symbolic centre.

Long negotiations were planned, first in one-on-one talks, then on a larger scale.

In addition to several meals together, a wreath-laying ceremony and a joint concert visit have also been announced.

The last time Mr Putin was in North Korea was in 2000, when he was received by Mr Kim’s father, Kim Jong Il.

He said that after a long break in the relationship, the two countries have recently moved closer together, not least because of the Ukraine war.

The U.S. Federal Trade Commission has referred a complaint against the popular video-sharing app TikTok and its Chinese parent company, ByteDance, to the Department of Justice.

It was alleged that they failed to protect children’s privacy.

The FTC said in a statement that it uncovered reason to believe TikTok and ByteDance were violating or were about to violate the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act.

The regulator did not provide any further details of the alleged violations in its statement.

The FTC said that it did not typically make referrals of complaints public but “determined that doing so here is in the public interest.’’

The FTC is responsible for consumer protection in the U.S. and plays an important role in competition policy.

TikTok rejected the allegations in a statement on X, noting it had been in talks with the FTC for over a year.

“We’re disappointed the agency is pursuing litigation instead of continuing to work with us on a reasonable solution,’’ it said.

TikTok also said that many of the FTC’s allegations related to past events and practices were factually inaccurate or had been addressed.

In 2019, TikTok agreed to pay $5.7 million to settle FTC allegations against its predecessor company, Musically, concerning the collection of data from children under the age of 13.

These collections were done without parental consent, in violation of U.S. law.

According to the FTC, the current investigation into TikTok and its Chinese-based parent company, ByteDance, began with an audit to determine whether the platform was complying with the terms of the previous agreement.

TikTok is currently involved in a separate legal battle in the U.S. over a proposed law that would force a change of ownership.

U.S. politicians are concerned that the Chinese government could potentially access data from American users through ByteDance and use the app for propaganda.

TikTok denied the allegations and has taken legal action in the U.S.

Tragedy struck on the Abuja-Keffi highway when a trailer’s brake system failed, resulting in an accident that killed four people and injured several others.

The incident occurred as the driver lost control while descending Kugbo hill.

The out-of-control trailer smashed into multiple vehicles before coming to a halt, causing significant damage.

The impact was so severe that a Honda Accord was completely crushed, leaving dismembered bodies and body parts scattered at the scene.

Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) officials, along with sympathizers, faced a harrowing task as they worked to retrieve the remains of the victims from the wreckage.

As of the time of reporting, efforts were still ongoing to extract the bodies from the mangled car.

A pilgrim from Plateau State, Nigeria, Mr Ismaila Musa, has died in Makka, Saudi Arabia.

Alhaji Daiyabu Dauda, the Executive Secretary, Plateau Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board, disclosed this in a statement issued on Tuesday in Jos.

Dauda said that the deceased, who hails from Mangu Local Government Area of the state, died on Tuesday after a brief illness.

“He was ill and had been on admission at Annur Specialist Hospital in Makka since May 31.

”We wish to extend our heartfelt condolences to his immediate family, the government and people of Plateau.

”We pray that Allah will accept his hajj, grant him eternal rest and give his family the fortitude to bear this irreparable loss,” Dauda prayed.

Quadri Aruna will not play in the 2024 World Table Tennis (WTT) Contender Lagos after pulling out of the tournament due to precautionary measures to prevent injury.

Waheed Oshodi, the deputy president of the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) Africa and the chairman of the LOC, confirmed this during the WTT Contender Lagos World Press Conference ahead of the second edition of the WTT Series in Nigeria starting on Wednesday.

Mr Oshodi said the physio advised the reigning ITTF Africa Cup champion to withdraw from the competition due to his body structure being prone to injury as the 35-year-old continues work to win an Olympic medal at the 2024 Paris Games starting on July 26.

“He (Aruna Quadri) has been advised not to participate in WTT Contender Lagos but the physio as a precautionary measure to avoid injury due to his body,” Mr Oshodi said. “Aruna is currently preparing for the biggest event which is the Olympics.”

He added, “He is 35 years old now, so he does not have much time remaining to win an Olympic medal. He is currently working hard with experienced Segun Toriola (head coach of the Nigerian table tennis team) in preparation for the upcoming Olympics.”

“We know with two or three good games, you are in the semifinals where you can compete for the Olympic medal.

Mr Oshodi noted that even though Aruna will not compete in the WTT Contender Lagos, he will still be involved in the competition in other ways to help motivate local players.

Abuja Electricity Distribution Company has confirmed that parts of Abuja are currently experiencing power outages.

AEDC disclosed this in a notice to customers through its official X handle on Tuesday.

The disco noted that the power outage affected residents around Wuse Zone 3, parts of Zone 2, Zone 5 and environs in the Federal Capital Territory.

AEDC blamed the power outage on a faulty feeder serving the affected areas.

However, AEDC did not state when power supply will be restored to the affected areas.

“This is to inform residents around Wuse Zone 3, parts of Zone 2, Zone 5 and environs, that the power outage currently being experienced is due to a technical fault on the feeder serving these areas.

“Our dedicated technical team is working tirelessly to restore the supply as
quickly as possible. We regret any inconvenience caused”, the notice reads.

Ekiti State Governor, Mr Biodun Oyebanji, has expressed condolences on the demise of the Elemure of Emure-Ekiti, HRM Oba Emmanuel Adebayo, who recently passed away.

The news of the passing of the renowned traditional ruler was officially communicated to the governor over the weekend after the conclusion of all traditional rites.

Governor Oyebanji, in a condolence message signed by his Special Adviser on Media, Yinka Oyebode, described the demise of Oba Adebayo as a sad development, given that the late monarch did not exhibit any signs of illness during their last meeting.

He described the late Oba Adebayo as a loving and dependable traditional ruler who cared deeply for the people and showed tremendous interest in their welfare and the development of his town.

Condoling with the family of the late monarch, the Elemure-in-Council, and the people of the town, the Governor urged them to take solace in the fact that the late Oba Adebayo lived an impactful life of service to the town, Ekiti State, Nigeria, and humanity, for which he would remain unforgettable.

“My condolences and those of the Government of Ekiti State go to the immediate family of the late Kabiyesi, the Elemure-in-Council, and the good people of Emure-Ekiti on the demise of the Elemure, Oba Emmanuel Adebayo.

“The late Oba Adebayo was a great leader of his people, a lover of development, and a patriot who devoted his early life to the service of the country as a police officer, rising to the position of Commissioner of Police before ascending the throne of his forefathers. As a traditional ruler, he also made his mark, with his reign attracting significant development to his town.

“Our prayer is that the good Lord grants the departed monarch eternal rest and comforts the family and the good people of Emure-Ekiti,” the Governor added.

Thailand has approved same-sex marriage, becoming the first country in the Southeast Asian region to do so.

The development followed the nation’s Senate passing a marriage equality bill on Tuesday, June 18.

Al Jazeera reports that the upper house gave a final approval — by 130 votes to four, with 18 abstentions — allowing same-sex couples to get married.

The new legislation is expected to go to King Maha Vajiralongkorn for royal assent and come into force 120 days after publication in the official Royal Gazette.

Thailand will become the third place in Asia where same-sex couples have been legalised after Taiwan and Nepal although India came close in October but the Supreme Court referred the decision back to parliament.

Aljazeera also reports that the new legislation changes references to “men”, “women”, “husbands” and “wives” in marriage laws to gender-neutral terms.

It also gives same-sex couples the same rights as heterosexual ones when it comes to adoption and inheritance.

The Lagos State police command has confirmed the release of the three abducted Fouani brothers.

Recall that the Managing Director of Fouani Company and three other Lebanese nationals were kidnapped while traveling on a boat from Apapa to the Victoria Island.

The victims were reportedly coming from their factory by boat when they were abducted.

They were identified as Abbas Fouani, Youssef Fouani, and Amtal Fouani.

The victims, including the boat driver and his assistant, were released Monday night in Orugbo Iddo.

The police spokesperson in the state, Benjamin Hundeyin, who confirmed the report, said that “the feat was achieved by the Lagos Marine police with support from the navy.”