Global Pulse

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  • Driver arrested after chasing down child cyclist on footpath

    Driver arrested after chasing down child cyclist on footpath

    A frightening incident that unfolded on a public footpath in Washington State has resulted in the arrest of a driver, after video footage documented the individual chasing a young child riding a bicycle through the pedestrian space.

    Local law enforcement confirmed that the alarming encounter was captured on camera by a witness, showing the driver deliberately moving their vehicle onto the dedicated footpath – an area designed exclusively for walkers and non-motorized users – before pursuing the 10-year-old boy who was cycling along the route. The grainy but clear footage shows the young cyclist swerving to avoid the oncoming car, pedaling frantically to escape the advancing vehicle as the driver continues the pursuit through the path, which runs alongside a busy residential street in the suburban community.

    Witnesses who were present at the scene on Wednesday afternoon reported that multiple bystanders called 911 immediately after observing the incident, with several attempting to intervene to protect the child before the driver brought their vehicle to a stop. Local police arrived at the location within minutes, taking the driver into custody without further incident. The child was evaluated by emergency medical responders at the scene and did not sustain any physical injuries, though he was reported to be visibly shaken by the terrifying encounter.

    Authorities have not yet released a public motive for the chase, nor have they shared details of any prior connection between the driver and the child or his family. The driver is currently being held at a local county detention center, with charges pending as law enforcement completes their investigation into the incident.

    Community leaders in the area have issued statements calling for greater safety oversight of pedestrian footpaths, which are frequently used by local children cycling to school and families out for walks. “This is a reminder that even our quietest, most seemingly safe public spaces can become sites of danger,” said a local city council representative in a press briefing following the arrest. “We are reviewing our safety protocols to ensure that incidents like this do not happen again, and we are prioritizing support for the child and his family as they process this frightening experience.”

  • About 40 passengers previously left ship hit by Hantavirus outbreak at island of St. Helena

    About 40 passengers previously left ship hit by Hantavirus outbreak at island of St. Helena

    THE HAGUE, Netherlands – Dutch government officials confirmed new details Thursday that add greater urgency to the global contact-tracing effort underway after a deadly hantavirus outbreak spread aboard an international cruise ship. Roughly 40 passengers left the vessel at the remote South Atlantic British territory of St. Helena following the death of the first recorded victim, a disclosure that the cruise operator had not made publicly until now.
    Among the passengers who disembarked at St. Helena was the wife of a Dutch man who lost his life to the virus. As previously confirmed by the cruise line, the woman accompanied her husband’s body off the ship before boarding a commercial flight to South Africa. Shortly after arriving in Johannesburg, she collapsed at the city’s airport and later died from the infection.
    This new confirmation that dozens of other passengers also left the ship at the South Atlantic stopover upends earlier incomplete information released by the cruise company, which had not acknowledged any additional disembarkations beyond the Dutch woman and her late husband. Contact-tracing teams across South Africa and multiple European nations have now launched urgent efforts to locate and monitor every passenger who got off the ship during the stop, to slow further spread of the virus.
    One case already linked to the outbreak has been confirmed outside of the vessel: on Wednesday, health authorities in Switzerland announced that a man who also disembarked at St. Helena and traveled back to Europe has tested positive for hantavirus. The full details of his travel route and interactions since leaving the ship have not yet been finalized by investigators.
    Dutch authorities have so far declined to share any information about the current locations of the other 39 passengers who got off at St. Helena, leaving public health teams scrambling to track down the potentially exposed group across the globe.
    Additional evacuation efforts have continued in recent days as the death toll from the outbreak has climbed. According to the cruise operator, a British passenger was medically evacuated from the ship to South Africa via Ascension Island just days after the first death was recorded. On Wednesday, three more people – including the cruise ship’s lead doctor – were pulled from the vessel off the coast of Cape Verde and airlifted to Europe for urgent medical care.
    As of the latest update, three passengers have died from the hantavirus infection, with multiple other people remaining sick with the disease aboard the ship and in medical facilities across multiple continents.

  • Top BJP leader’s aide shot dead in violence after Indian state election

    Top BJP leader’s aide shot dead in violence after Indian state election

    Fresh violence has rattled the eastern Indian state of West Bengal just days after the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, secured a historic, first-ever election victory ending 15 years of Trinamool Congress (TMC) rule, with the fatal shooting of a top BJP leader’s aide amplifying already soaring political tensions.

    Chandranath Rath, personal assistant to Suvendu Adhikari — the former TMC leader turned BJP heavyweight widely tipped to become West Bengal’s next chief minister — was gunned down Wednesday night while traveling home by car. Law enforcement agencies have launched a full homicide investigation, though no arrests have been announced as of the latest updates. West Bengal Police Chief Siddh Nath Gupta confirmed that investigators have recovered the getaway vehicle used by the attackers, as well as live ammunition and spent bullet casings from the crime scene. The vehicle’s license plate was found to be falsified, complicating initial tracking efforts. Eyewitness accounts have pointed to a shooter operating from a motorcycle, but police have not yet confirmed details of the attacker count or any potential suspects.

    Rath’s killing is the third confirmed fatality recorded in the state since election results were officially announced on Monday, marking an escalation of unrest that has followed the historic poll outcome. Even before the shooting, police had already taken more than 400 people into custody in connection with widespread reports of post-poll violence and voter intimidation across the state.

    Political violence in the wake of state elections is not a new phenomenon in West Bengal, where violent clashes between workers of rival political parties have become a recurring pattern. This cycle of violence is rooted in the state’s long-entrenched “party society” system, a concept first coined by political scientist Dwaipayan Bhattacharyya to describe how political affiliation became embedded in every aspect of daily life and livelihood during decades of Communist rule. Zaad Mahmood, a political science professor at Kolkata’s Presidency University, explained to the BBC that in recent decades, political identity has replaced caste and religion as the primary axis of conflict in many rural areas. For local residents, survival is often tied directly to loyalty to the ruling party, meaning a shift in political power feels like an existential threat to many. While the total number of fatalities in this election cycle is lower than in previous polls, Mahmood noted that violence extends far beyond reported deaths, creating a pervasive climate of fear that persists before, during and after voting.

    Tensions have been building in West Bengal for weeks, with the election held against the backdrop of a controversial voter roll update that left millions of eligible voters removed from electoral registers. Outgoing TMC chief Mamata Banerjee, who was defeated by Adhikari in her own long-held stronghold constituency of Bhabanipur, has alleged the exercise deliberately targeted non-BJP voters to clear a path for the BJP’s landslide win, which delivered the party 207 of the state assembly’s 294 seats. Both the BJP and India’s national Election Commission have repeatedly denied these allegations.

    Both major political parties have condemned Rath’s murder and traded blame over the ongoing wave of post-poll violence. Adhikari called the killing “heartwrenching” and labeled it a premeditated “cold-blooded murder.” The TMC issued a formal statement rejecting political violence as incompatible with democratic governance, demanding an immediate, court-monitored investigation to hold the perpetrators accountable. Both parties claim their workers have been targeted: the BJP says two of its members have been killed, while the TMC puts its death toll at three. Police have only confirmed Rath’s BJP affiliation, with no verification of other victims’ party ties.
    BJP leaders have seized on the violence to criticize the outgoing TMC government, arguing that law and order collapsed during Banerjee’s 15-year tenure. Sukanta Majumdar, a junior federal minister from the BJP, told reporters that once the new BJP government is sworn in this Saturday, the party will work to restore public safety, though he acknowledged stabilizing the state will take time. Adhikari is still widely expected to be named chief minister when the new administration takes office this weekend, though the BJP has not officially confirmed his appointment.

    In addition to fatal clashes, widespread reports of arson, vandalism and intimidation have emerged from districts across the state, including Kolkata, Murshidabad, Birbhum and Howrah. The TMC has alleged that BJP workers have targeted TMC party offices, vandalizing properties and setting some ablaze — claims the BJP has repeatedly denied. The TMC also accused BJP supporters of using a bulldozer to demolish meat shops in a popular Kolkata market, an incident that takes on heightened political weight given that food choice was a core campaign issue in the election. The TMC framed the incident as part of a deliberate pattern of intimidation that sets a dangerous precedent for law and order under a BJP government. State BJP chief Samik Bhattacharya rejected the claims, saying the party does not endorse any form of violence, and a senior police officer noted that a victory rally was held in the market but no “untoward incident” occurred.

    The national Election Commission has already directed state police and district administrations to step up law and order monitoring across West Bengal, with orders to take immediate action against any acts of violence or vandalism. Rath’s assassination has amplified fears among observers and residents alike that post-poll unrest will grow in scale in the coming days, as the state transitions to its first ever BJP-led government.

  • Massive GST windfall fuels Western Australia’s $3.5bn budget surplus, new spending

    Massive GST windfall fuels Western Australia’s $3.5bn budget surplus, new spending

    Western Australia’s state Labor government has delivered its eighth consecutive annual budget surplus, marking the third surplus under Premier Roger Cook and Treasurer Rita Saffioti, alongside a suite of new spending measures designed to address soaring household costs, expand housing supply, and upgrade public health infrastructure. Bolstered by an expected $9.3 billion in goods and services tax (GST) revenue set to flow into state coffers in the coming fiscal year, the 2024-25 budget posts a $3.5 billion surplus, with state debt projected to hit $34.5 billion by the end of June 2024 — $4 billion lower than earlier forecasts, earning the state the title of Australia’s lowest-cost jurisdiction for public debt.

    State officials credit the private sector for driving Western Australia’s standout economic performance, noting that private activity accounts for 86% of the state’s domestic economic growth, which has expanded by 27% over the past five years. Cook emphasized that the budget is built on two core priorities: sustaining the state’s position as Australia’s strongest economy and delivering tangible support for households in key areas including jobs, healthcare, housing, and cost-of-living relief.

    “This is a responsible budget designed to keep Western Australia strong,” Cook said in remarks following the budget announcement. “We are delivering on our commitments to keep Western Australia the strongest economy in the nation and the best place to live, work and raise a family.”

    The centerpiece of the budget is a $1 billion cost-of-living support package, though the targeted structure of the aid means many households will not qualify for direct financial relief. Unlike in previous years following the COVID-19 pandemic, the state will not offer broad state-funded energy rebates for households this year, and motorists will face a 2.5% increase in driver license and vehicle registration fees, with no fee freeze in place. Instead, the largest share of relief is directed to drivers, with a one-time $100 fuel credit available to all licensed driver holders, part of a $198 million package to offset rising petrol prices.

    Additional support is targeted at families with school-aged children, with $90 million allocated for student assistance payments. Eligible families will receive $150 per child enrolled in kindergarten or primary school, and $250 per high school student. A further $70 million funds expanded free public transport initiatives: students will receive free travel to and from school, all passengers will access free rides on Sundays, and senior citizens will pay no fares for off-peak and weekend travel. State officials estimate that a two-child family can receive more than $2000 in combined assistance from the full suite of cost-of-living measures.

    Housing affordability and supply, one of the most pressing issues facing Western Australian households, received a $4.7 billion total investment to unlock new land and deliver thousands of new dwellings across Perth and regional areas. More than $1 billion of that funding will go toward developing core infrastructure including roads, water networks and power connections for new residential areas. A joint federal-state $2 billion commitment will build 34,000 new homes, 11,000 of which will be allocated to first home buyers in areas close to metro train stations, new greenfield residential developments and regional hubs.

    Frontline workers in seven major regional centers — Bunbury, Kalgoorlie, Karratha, Port Hedland, Broome, Geraldton and Albany — will benefit from a $692 million regional housing program that will deliver 500 new dwellings over four years, alongside additional funding for local infrastructure, job creation, healthcare and essential services. The state also expanded tax concessions for first home buyers: the stamp duty exemption threshold has been raised from $500,000 to $600,000 for completed homes, and from $400,000 to $450,000 for vacant land, with partial concessions available for homes valued up to $800,000. The property cap for the $10,000 First Home Owner Grant has also been increased from $750,000 to $800,000. While fewer than 320 homes under $600,000 and just 52 vacant lots under $450,000 are currently listed for sale in Perth, the government projects the changes will support roughly 25,000 first home buyers over time. An additional $1.5 billion will boost social and affordable housing, delivering thousands of new affordable rental units and public housing dwellings, including 1,426 new social dwellings delivered through the federal Housing Australia Future Fund partnership.

    Public health also received a historic $9 billion investment over the next four years, with funding allocated for new hospital construction, hundreds of additional hospital beds, and expanded capacity across the public health system. A key project is a new state-of-the-art cancer center in Perth, modeled on integrated treatment-research facilities already operating in Sydney and Melbourne that combine clinical care, cutting-edge research and clinical trials. The state’s Building Hospitals Fund will receive an extra $500 million, bringing total investment in hospital infrastructure to $2 billion by 2026-27 and $5.5 billion over the four-year funding period.

    To rebalance state spending and redirect funds to frontline services, the government will cut 1,500 back-office public sector roles, a move Treasurer Saffioti framed as a necessary adjustment to shifting policy priorities. “We considered all factors and tried to get the balance right,” Saffioti said. “You can always do more, and there are people who want more, but we’ve done our best to support families.”

    The budget has drawn sharp criticism from the state opposition, led by Opposition Leader Basil Zempilas, who argued the $100 fuel credit is a superficial distraction that fails to address the core crises facing Western Australian households. “The people of Western Australia are hurting, and nothing that we’ve seen in today’s budget has changed that,” Zempilas said. “To the people of Western Australia in the middle of this cost of living and housing crisis, the $100 fuel smoke screen will do nothing to help the people camped in their cars or on the side of road. It will do nothing to alleviate the stress and pressure that comes on families.”

    Zempilas added that the small one-time fuel credit pales in comparison to recent increases in water, electricity and vehicle registration costs, and argued the government has failed to address the root causes of household financial stress. “This is a government that has forgotten the here and now, and for all of those people in our community, for all of those people hurting, what changes today? And the answer is very, very little,” he said. “This is not a budget that addresses the absolute fundamental concerns of West Australians who are hurting and buckling under the pressures of our housing crisis and this cost of living and household stress crisis.”

  • Iran reviewing US proposal as Trump pressures Tehran for agreement on deal to end war

    Iran reviewing US proposal as Trump pressures Tehran for agreement on deal to end war

    Nearly two months after the United States and Israel launched military strikes against Iran, a fragile ceasefire has held for more than a month, but intense diplomatic wrangling and lingering military tensions are keeping the global community on edge. As U.S. President Donald Trump issued a stark ultimatum that new, intensified bombing would resume unless Tehran agrees to a deal that reopens the strategically critical Strait of Hormuz, Iran confirmed it is reviewing Washington’s latest proposal, injecting cautious optimism into markets even as a fresh military confrontation took place just hours before.

    The conflict, which began on February 28, has upended global energy markets and disrupted critical supply chains: Iran effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz, the chokepoint through which roughly 20% of the world’s traded oil flows, while the U.S. imposed a full naval blockade on Iranian ports. This standoff sent fuel prices soaring, roiled the global economy, and imposed heavy costs on international businesses: major shipping giant Hapag-Lloyd estimates the closure is costing the firm approximately $60 million per week, driven by spiking fuel and insurance premiums. By Thursday, Brent crude prices stabilized around $100 per barrel as traders bet on a diplomatic breakthrough, lifting sentiment across international markets.

    Hours before markets reacted to the prospect of a deal, the U.S. military struck an Iranian oil tanker attempting to breach the American blockade in the Gulf of Oman, damaging the vessel’s rudder, according to U.S. Central Command. The clash follows the Trump administration’s messy, contradictory messaging on its Iran strategy in recent days, with shifting narratives that have left both allies and markets uncertain about Washington’s end goals.

    Pakistan, which hosted in-person talks between U.S. and Iranian delegations last month that ultimately failed to produce an agreement, has emerged as a key mediator in the negotiations. On Thursday, Pakistani Foreign Ministry spokesperson Tahir Andrabi told reporters that Islamabad expects a peaceful settlement “sooner rather than later,” adding that a durable agreement would benefit not just the region, but global peace and security. He declined to share specific timelines or details of ongoing diplomatic backchannels, however, noting that Pakistan would keep sensitive negotiations confidential. “We remain positive, we remain optimistic, and we hope the settlement will be soon rather than later,” Andrabi said.

    In a series of social media posts, Trump laid out his stark terms for ending the conflict. “The two-month war could soon end and oil and natural gas shipments disrupted by the conflict could restart,” he wrote, adding that the entire process hinges on Iran accepting an agreement that he did not publicly detail. “If they don’t agree, the bombing starts… and it will be, sadly, at a much higher level and intensity than it was before.”

    According to Axios reporting, the White House believes it is close to finalizing a one-page memorandum of understanding with Tehran that would end the conflict. Key reported provisions include a moratorium on Iranian uranium enrichment, the lifting of U.S. economic sanctions on Iran, the release of billions of dollars in frozen Iranian assets, and the mandatory reopening of the Strait of Hormuz to international commercial shipping. The White House has not officially confirmed the details of the proposed agreement. For its part, Iran pushed back on earlier reporting of the draft deal: Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei told state television that Tehran “strongly rejected” the terms outlined by Axios, but confirmed that it is still reviewing the newest U.S. proposal delivered through diplomatic channels.

    Just this week, Trump called off a short-lived U.S. military operation dubbed Project Freedom, which aimed to forcibly open a protected corridor for commercial shipping through the strait. The operation lasted less than 48 hours: only two U.S.-flagged commercial vessels traversed the U.S.-guarded route, and the U.S. military sank six small Iranian boats it said threatened civilian shipping during the operation. Hundreds of commercial ships remain stranded in the Persian Gulf, unable to exit to open waters without passing through the closed strait.

    Major global powers have begun positioning themselves to respond to the ongoing crisis. On Wednesday, French President Emmanuel Macron announced that a French aircraft carrier strike group is moving toward the Red Sea to prepare for a potential joint Franco-British mission to restore maritime security in the Strait of Hormuz once conditions allow. China, which maintains close economic and political ties with Iran and holds unique influence in Tehran, has also stepped into the diplomatic fray. Ahead of a scheduled high-profile summit between Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing on May 14-15, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi traveled to Beijing to meet with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi. During the talks, Wang called for an immediate comprehensive ceasefire, noting that China is “deeply distressed” by the ongoing conflict. The Trump administration has publicly pressured Beijing to use its influence to push Iran to agree to reopen the strait and roll back its nuclear program, a core U.S. demand in the negotiations. Araghchi confirmed to Iranian state media that the talks covered all key sticking points, including the Strait of Hormuz, Iran’s nuclear program, and ongoing U.S. sanctions.

  • ASX 200 surges as plunging oil prices send mining giants soaring

    ASX 200 surges as plunging oil prices send mining giants soaring

    A confluence of bullish signals from global markets and easing geopolitical tensions in the Middle East pushed Australia’s benchmark share index to solid gains on Thursday, capping a day of uneven sector performance driven by falling crude oil prices. The ASX 200 closed 84.50 points, or 0.96%, higher at 8878.10, while the broader All Ordinaries index rose 90.90 points, or 1.01%, to settle at 9107. The Australian dollar also edged up 0.20% to trade at 72.49 U.S. cents by market close. The rally followed a record-setting overnight session on Wall Street, where the S&P 500 gained 1.5% and the technology-focused Nasdaq climbed 2.08% to both hit new all-time closing highs. The upward momentum in U.S. equities was triggered by a breakthrough diplomatic development: the U.S. government tabled a one-page proposal that could pave the way for a gradual reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global oil chokepoint. U.S. President Donald Trump announced via social media that he was pausing military “Project Freedom” for a short period to allow time for a final agreement with Iran to be negotiated and signed. IG market analyst Tony Sycamore noted that this more constructive geopolitical tone injected fresh optimism into global markets, pulling West Texas Intermediate crude prices back below the key $100 per barrel threshold. For the ASX, falling oil prices delivered an outsized boost to mining and resources stocks, which led all 11 market sectors with a 3.67% collective gain. Major iron ore miners posted double-digit gains in line with the sector: BHP rose 3.78% to $58.52, Rio Tinto gained 3.23% to $180.24, and Fortescue Metals outperformed many peers with a 3.73% rise to $21.42. Gold producers also rallied alongside rising spot gold prices, which traded at $4709 per ounce at press time. Northern Star Resources climbed 4.38% to $31.70, Evolution Mining surged 6.33% to $13.10, and Newmont Corporation added 2.78% to $160.06. Consumer staples, another key driver of the day’s gains, also saw broad upward movement. Woolworths closed 0.92% higher at $34.16, Coles eked out a 0.37% gain to $21.81, and Treasury Wine Estates rose 1.17% to $4.34. Not all sectors joined the rally, however. Energy stocks bore the brunt of lower crude prices, posting broad losses across the board. Woodside Energy slumped 4.24% to $30.49, Santos fell 3.30% to $7.63, and fuel retailer Ampol dropped 2.28% to $34.22. In the fintech space, digital financial services firm Zip bucked broader market trends to post a 4.76% gain to $2.64 after it reaffirmed its full-year 2026 guidance of $260 million in earnings before interest and tax. Conversely, wagering operator TAB suffered a steep 23.48% nosedive to $0.88 after Australia’s financial intelligence agency Austrac issued a formal notice over the firm’s compliance failures with anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing regulations. Gaming firm Lights & Wonder also closed 8.34% lower at $102.66 after reporting mixed first-quarter 2026 results: overall earnings rose 5% year-over-year, but adjusted net profit after tax slipped 2% to US$115 million (AU$159 million). In total, seven of the ASX’s 11 sectors finished the session in positive territory, closing out one of the market’s strongest single-day gains in recent weeks. Altogether, the day’s trading highlighted how shifting geopolitical developments and global market momentum continue to shape Australian equities, with commodity price movements driving sharp divergences across sector performance.

  • Kenyan politicians trade accusations of ‘goonism’ as political violence rises ahead of 2027 election

    Kenyan politicians trade accusations of ‘goonism’ as political violence rises ahead of 2027 election

    In the East African nation of Kenya, political tensions are hitting a fever pitch 12 months out from the 2025 general election, and a new term has come to dominate public discourse: ‘goonism.’ Coined by national leaders to criticize the growing trend of violent, intimidating gangs targeting opposing political groups, the phrase has revealed deep divides between President William Ruto’s administration and the country’s opposition, as the competition for power grows increasingly hostile and dangerous.

    Ruto, who first swept into office in a tight 2022 race after campaigning as a devout born-again Christian promising to build a pious, peaceful nation centered on working-class Kenyans, now faces widespread accusations of breaking the values he once championed. Once nicknamed ‘Nabii’ – the Swahili word for prophet – for his public piety, Ruto framed his 2022 campaign as a rebellion against long-standing political dynasties, arguing his rise to power came solely through God’s grace rather than elite privilege. But many of his one-time supporters say a dramatic shift occurred immediately after his inauguration.

    While Ruto still attends Sunday church services, critics note he no longer carries a Bible or quotes scripture regularly. Controversial decisions, from demolishing a small chapel on the Statehouse compound to build a newer facility to rolling out aggressive income tax hikes just months after taking office, have reinforced claims of betrayal. The tax proposals sparked mass protests by thousands of young Kenyans across the capital Nairobi that forced partial rollbacks, but failed to ease public anger. Later, additional unrest erupted after a popular blogger died in police custody, and a 2024 protest that saw demonstrators storm the parliamentary building left Ruto’s political standing damaged – and the president increasingly determined to project hardline strength. In a fiery response to anti-government protests where demonstrators carried signs demanding his resignation, Ruto infamously instructed police to ‘break’ protesters’ limbs, drawing widespread condemnation that framed the comment as a veiled threat against political dissent.

    Today, both ruling and opposition figures decry goonism, but each side blames the other for the surge in political violence. Opposition leaders claim the gangs that disrupt their rallies and intimidate their supporters are directly state-sponsored. ‘We must say no, collectively, to the new specter, the new norm, of goonism,’ prominent opposition leader Kalonzo Musyoka told local media, rejecting government claims that opposition groups are behind the violence. Even ruling party allies have acknowledged the threat the trend poses to Kenya’s democracy: National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula, a close Ruto ally, recently stated that ‘the culture of goonism has no place in a democratic society.’ Interior Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has also pledged to crack down on unauthorized armed gang activity targeting political gatherings.

    The violence has already spilled into everyday public life: Last month, opposition Senator Godfrey Osotsi was violently assaulted by a group of men at a western Kenyan restaurant over his political views, leaving him with injuries serious enough to require hospitalization. The attack sparked local protests and drew widespread condemnation from religious leaders across the country.

    Religious leaders have emerged as some of the most vocal critics of Ruto’s shift away from his stated Christian values, with one prominent megachurch pastor delivering a viral sermon that implicitly condemned the president’s ties to political violence. ‘Everyone who wants to rule this country by that kind of thing, I speak as a prophet of God: You shall fall,’ megachurch pastor Wilfred Lai, based in the coastal city of Mombasa, told his congregation during a recent Sunday service. ‘You can’t use goons and you are telling us that you are taking us into a better place. You are a liar and the truth is not in you.’ Though Lai never mentioned Ruto by name, the widely shared clip of the sermon left little doubt among Kenyans who he was targeting. Lai was one of multiple evangelical leaders who publicly supported Ruto during his 2022 campaign, making his rebuke all the more significant.

    Public anger has been further stoked by a bitter, venomous public feud between Ruto and his former deputy Rigathi Gachagua, who was impeached earlier this year after falling out with the president. Gachagua now leads the ‘Wantam’ movement, which is pushing to limit Ruto to a single term. The pair have traded increasingly vulgar insults: In March, Gachagua called Ruto a thief who would ‘steal a funeral home,’ prompting Ruto to label Gachagua a ‘cold-blooded pig’ who stole from his own brother. The public spectacle drew a rare rebuke from Kenya’s top Catholic leadership. ‘Disagreement is OK, but insulting each other in public is a disgrace,’ said Archbishop Maurice Muhatia, head of the local Catholic bishops conference, at a recent gathering. ‘Give us a break.’

    Political scholars and analysts warn that if both sides do not de-escalate tensions immediately, the 2025 election could be one of the most violent in Kenya’s modern history. Kenya has a long history of fractious, election-related violence – most notably the deadly 2007 post-election unrest that saw the criminal gang Mungiki play a major role in targeted attacks. Analysts say the current context is far more volatile than past elections, with Ruto’s uncompromising leadership style stoking fears of a shift toward authoritarianism, a break from past Kenyan presidents who were more open to accommodating opposition. ‘Goonism’ is ‘a product of gangster theology’ of which Ruto is the high priest, said Nairobi-based independent writer Christine Mungai, arguing the president has mastered ‘how to perform public piety’ while working ‘to make life harder for everyone.’

    Karuti Kanyinga, a Kenyan development scholar and visiting professor at South Africa’s Stellenbosch Institute for Advanced Study, warned that if hostile rhetoric and gang activity continue, the 2025 election will devolve into widespread bloodshed. ‘If Ruto and opposition figures don’t tone down the rhetoric the election is going to be very bloody,’ Kanyinga said, adding that by next year, ‘everyone will have their own protection gangs.’

    As the election draws closer, Ruto continues to court influential church leaders, who hold massive social and political sway across Kenyan communities. But with growing numbers of religious leaders turning against him, and opposition groups gaining traction amid widespread public anger, Ruto’s path to a second term remains uncertain. Though his position is precarious, adversaries acknowledge the president remains a cunning, formidable opponent who will be difficult to unseat in next year’s vote.

  • Circus tackles jihadist nightmares of Burkina Faso’s children

    Circus tackles jihadist nightmares of Burkina Faso’s children

    For over a decade, brutal jihadist insurgency has torn through West Africa’s Burkina Faso, leaving a generations-long crisis in its wake: thousands of children have been murdered, kidnapped, sexually assaulted, and forcibly recruited as fighters by armed groups, per United Nations investigations. Human rights organizations have also documented widespread abuses against minors by Burkinabe government forces and allied civilian militias, a sensitive topic the performing artists have chosen not to address, given the ruling military junta’s heavy crackdown on dissent following two successive coups in 2022.

    Now, one of the country’s oldest performance troupes, Dafra Circus, is turning the silent trauma of conflict-affected children into a gripping, wordless stage production. Titled *Souffle* — French for “Breath” — the 60-minute performance uses acrobatics, mime, choreographed movement, and storytelling to capture the unspoken horror of childhoods destroyed by violence. The four-person cast brings harrowing scenes to life: one sequence depicts children juggling spent ammunition collected from battlefields; another, a traumatized performer stumbles through wobbly pirouettes and unsteady somersaults to mimic the descent into madness triggered by constant terror.

    Drawn from the real-life experiences of the troupe’s members — all of whom have been directly impacted by the violence that centers Burkina Faso — the production is more than an artistic performance, its creators say. For choreographer Jean Adolphe Sanou, *Souffle* centers on the connection between life and hope, and hope, he argues, is inherently tied to the futures of children. Artistic director Moustapha Konate, 30, explained that circus is uniquely suited to bear heavy political and social messages: the medium draws audiences in through spectacle, the beauty of movement, and feats of skill, making it easier to engage with a devastating topic that might otherwise feel too overwhelming to confront.

    “We take a clear stand against the use of children in war,” Konate emphasized. The UN’s most recent report on the conflict confirms children bear the brunt of Burkina Faso’s escalating spiral of violence, documenting more than 2,200 gross abuses against minors between 2022 and early 2024, the vast majority attributed to jihadist insurgents.

    After premiering to sold-out, enthusiastic crowds in Burkina Faso’s capital Ouagadougou and the troupe’s home base of Bobo-Dioulasso, the company brought *Souffle* to an international audience in mid-April at a festival in Abidjan, the economic capital of neighboring Ivory Coast. For many local attendees, the subtle, emotional performance offered a more human perspective on the conflict than sensationalized news reports. “It’s a bit more subtle, less shocking than what we see on TV, which is always scary,” 21-year-old audience member Yeli Gnougoh Coulibaly said after the show, explaining that the performance moved him deeply by making the crisis feel personal.

    For many Burkinabe audience members, the blend of traditional circus skills with dance, theater, and narrative storytelling was also a new experience, Konate noted, opening the door for wider conversations about the human cost of a conflict that rarely captures sustained global attention. Even as it confronts unspeakable trauma, the production ultimately frames its core message around resilience and the possibility of healing: as its title *Souffle* suggests, it is a reminder that the children of Burkina Faso still carry the breath of life, and the right to a hopeful future.

  • Britons set to punish Starmer’s Labour in local polls

    Britons set to punish Starmer’s Labour in local polls

    Polling stations opened across England, Scotland and Wales at 7 a.m. GMT on Thursday for what is poised to be the most high-stakes electoral test for Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s Labour government since the party’s landslide 2024 general election victory that ended 14 years of Conservative rule.

    Nearly two years into Starmer’s premiership, pre-election opinion polls point to a grim outcome for the ruling party, with losses large enough to reignite long-simmering tensions over his leadership and amplify growing calls for his resignation or an official leadership challenge. Widespread public disillusionment with the traditional major parties has created a power vacuum that two populist factions — Nigel Farage’s right-wing anti-immigration Reform UK and the left-wing Green Party led by self-described eco-populist Zack Polanski — are projected to fill as their main beneficiaries.

    Around 5,000 of the UK’s 16,000 local council seats in England are up for grabs in this vote, while voters in Scotland and Wales are also choosing new members for their respective devolved legislatures. Polls will close at 10 p.m. Thursday, with partial results expected overnight and the full bulk of vote counts set to be released Friday.

    Starmer campaigned on a platform of transformative national change after 14 years of Conservative governance marked by austerity measures, Brexit-driven political chaos, and the 2022 economic crash under former Prime Minister Liz Truss. But critics argue his tenure has been defined by a string of unforced policy missteps and controversies, most notably a high-profile scandal tied to his former close ally Peter Mandelson, the ex-UK envoy to the U.S. who was fired over his ties to late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

    Most damaging for Starmer’s approval ratings has been the government’s failure to deliver on its core campaign promise of jumpstarting sustained economic growth. British households continue to grapple with a prolonged cost-of-living crisis driven by soaring energy prices and stagnant wages, leaving many voters frustrated that the change they voted for has yet to materialize. As University College London associate politics professor Melanie Garson put it: “The change hasn’t been delivered, or change that has been delivered has been negative.”

    Garson noted that this election marks an unprecedented turning point for UK politics, noting “for the first time, significant pressure on the main political parties across every single council.” She described the vote as “a huge barometer for how the country is feeling about this political establishment.”

    Ahead of voting, Starmer framed the election as a binary choice between national unity and division, “progress versus the politics of anger.” Labour has also sought to stem losses by highlighting problematic comments from opposition candidates, unearthing racist remarks from some Reform contenders and antisemitic statements from several Green candidates.

    Pre-election projections paint a dire picture for Labour across all regions. Polling suggests the party will lose control of the devolved Welsh government for the first time since the Welsh parliament was established 27 years ago, with a recent More in Common poll placing Reform neck-and-neck with pro-independence Plaid Cymru in Labour’s traditional Welsh heartlands.

    In Scotland, the Scottish National Party (SNP) is projected to extend its 19-year hold on the Edinburgh devolved parliament, with YouGov data forecasting that Reform could even push Labour into third place in the region. In London, the Greens are on track to seize seats from Labour by courting disaffected left-wing voters with a pro-Gaza policy platform.

    Leading pollster Robert Hayward projects that Labour could lose as many as 1,850 of the roughly 2,550 local council seats it is currently defending. Hayward predicts Reform will gain 1,550 seats from both Labour and the Conservatives, mostly in majority white working-class communities that have long been traditional strongholds for the major parties. The Conservatives, who have been out of national power since 2024, are also bracing for heavy losses of their own traditional heartland seats.

    Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch framed the shift as a definitive end to the UK’s traditional two-party system, telling PA Media: “The two-party era has moved into a multi-party era. But the fact is none of these new parties or Labour have a plan for the country.”

    Farage, for his part, expressed confidence in Reform’s prospects Thursday: “The message is clear: if you want real change, you’d better vote for it, and we go into tomorrow feeling pretty optimistic about our prospects.”

    Following the expected poor results, UK media is rife with speculation that senior Labour figures could move to oust Starmer. Names frequently cited as potential challengers include former deputy prime minister Angela Rayner and current Health Secretary Wes Streeting. However, neither contender commands universal support within the parliamentary Labour party, and a leadership challenge requires the backing of at least 20 percent of Labour MPs to move forward. Some backbench lawmakers are also reportedly planning to demand that Starmer announce a timeline for stepping down, despite his repeated public commitments to leading the party into the next general election scheduled for 2029.

  • China says ties with US remain stable ahead of Trump visit despite ‘disruptions’

    China says ties with US remain stable ahead of Trump visit despite ‘disruptions’

    BEIJING – One week ahead of a highly anticipated bilateral summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping, senior diplomatic and political leaders from both nations have issued public statements emphasizing a commitment to preserving overall stable bilateral relations, even amid acknowledged ongoing disruptions. On Thursday, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, China’s highest-ranking diplomatic official, addressed a visiting bipartisan U.S. congressional delegation led by Senate Foreign Relations Committee member Steve Daines, a Montana Republican and prominent ally of President Trump.

    Wang opened the discussion by framing the trajectory of China-U.S. ties over the preceding year, noting that while the relationship has navigated significant twists and unplanned disruptions, it has remained anchored in overall stability. He specifically credited both President Xi Jinping and President Trump for providing critical directional guidance to the bilateral relationship at key inflection points, and called on both nations to collaborate on a shared path forward that advances global peace and security.

    Senator Daines echoed Wang’s call for stability, reiterating that Washington’s priority lies in de-escalating existing tensions rather than pursuing full economic decoupling from the world’s second-largest economy. “I strongly believe that we want to de-escalate, not decouple. We want stability, we want mutual respect,” Daines stated during the meeting.

    The Republican senator also highlighted economic opportunities that could emerge from next week’s summit, suggesting that a successful meeting could clear the way for additional Chinese purchases of Boeing commercial aircraft, a outcome that would benefit the U.S. aviation manufacturing sector. Beyond trade and economic cooperation, Daines praised China’s recent diplomatic efforts to ease rising tensions in the Middle East, particularly its work to facilitate the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz — a strategic chokepoint through which 20% of the world’s global oil supplies transits. He pointed to Wang Yi’s Wednesday meeting with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi as tangible evidence of China’s constructive diplomatic engagement in the region. This aligns with longstanding U.S. pressure on Beijing to leverage its economic and political influence with Iran to keep the critical waterway open, ahead of Trump’s scheduled May 14-15 visit to China.

    This trip marks Daines’ second visit to China since President Trump took office, following an earlier trip in March 2025. That earlier visit took place at a moment of heightened bilateral friction, with both sides locked in disagreements over trade tariffs and cooperation to curb the illegal cross-border fentanyl trade.