Human rights groups in Kenya warn about the growing use of "goons," hired thugs who disrupt political rallies and scare opponents. This practice has increased after large protests against President William Ruto’s government and is raising concerns ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
Key Facts
"Goons" are hired by political leaders to cause trouble at rallies and intimidate people.
Their use in Kenya is a long-standing problem that is now getting worse.
The rise in "goonism" follows large protests against President William Ruto’s administration.
Human rights organizations have raised alarms about these violent tactics.
The issue is becoming more serious with one year left before Kenya’s next presidential vote.
Political repression is increasing through these actions.
The phenomenon harms peaceful political expression and public safety.
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Former actor Iain Robertson was sentenced to nine years in prison for raping a woman and assaulting two others. The court found him guilty of five crimes, including domestic abuse, that happened between 2004 and 2019.
Key Facts
Iain Robertson is 45 years old and acted in the BBC show River City.
He was convicted of five offences, including rape and domestic abuse.
The crimes took place between 2004 and 2019.
Robertson was described by witnesses as violent and controlling.
Victims experienced long-term effects such as anxiety, fear, and trust issues.
He appeared in court via video link from Barlinnie prison.
Robertson was added to the sex offenders’ register.
After release, he will be supervised for three more years.
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Thai sailors on a cargo ship attacked in the Strait of Hormuz are suing the ship’s owners. The sailors claim the owners did not take warnings from Iran seriously, which led to the attack.
Key Facts
Thai sailors were on a cargo ship that was attacked in the Strait of Hormuz.
The attack was deadly, causing casualties or severe harm.
The sailors have filed a lawsuit against the ship’s owners.
The lawsuit says the owners ignored warnings from Iran before the attack.
The Strait of Hormuz is a crucial waterway for global shipping.
The incident involves international maritime safety concerns.
Al Jazeera reported the story through journalist Tony Cheng.
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Many Americans use weight loss drugs called GLP-1s to help with type 2 diabetes and obesity. Experts warn these drugs reduce appetite, which can cause people to eat too little and miss important nutrients. They advise patients to eat protein-rich, nutrient-dense foods and follow a balanced diet along with exercise and other health supports.
Key Facts
GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy are used by about 1 in 8 Americans as of March 2026.
These drugs reduce appetite, which can lead to "undernutrition" if people do not eat carefully.
Undernutrition risks include loss of muscle mass, low levels of vitamin D, calcium, iron, and B vitamins.
Skipping meals while on these drugs can cause fatigue, dizziness, and loss of bone density.
The drugs do not differentiate between fat and muscle, so muscle loss can occur without enough protein and exercise.
Side effects of the drugs may limit food choices, increasing chances of nutritional gaps.
Experts recommend eating small, frequent meals rich in protein, staying hydrated, and avoiding highly processed foods.
GLP-1 medication should be combined with proper nutrition, physical activity, and behavioral support for best results.
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A teenage girl and a woman in her 40s died after getting into trouble in the sea at a beach in Essex, England. Several other people were injured and taken to the hospital. Police are investigating the incident and asking witnesses to come forward.
Key Facts
The incident happened near Seaview Avenue on West Mersea beach.
Police were called by ambulance services at 5:35 pm on Wednesday.
Two people died, one person is in serious condition, and three others have less serious injuries.
Those involved in the incident are believed to have known each other.
Emergency services asked people to avoid part of the beach on Wednesday night but it reopened Thursday morning.
The area has strong currents but is not usually considered dangerous by locals.
Police are asking anyone with information or videos to contact them with the incident number 1090.
Since mid-May 2026, there have been at least 29 accidental deaths in open water across the UK.
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The US is not willing to pressure Russia despite wanting progress in the Ukraine conflict. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov met US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on July 23 during the ASEAN Summit, marking their first meeting since September 2025 as the US focuses more on the Middle East war.
Key Facts
The meeting between Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio happened on July 23, 2026.
This meeting took place on the sidelines of the ASEAN Summit in Manila.
It was their first meeting since September 2025.
The US has shifted attention from the Ukraine conflict to the war in the Middle East.
The US wants progress in Ukraine but is not willing to put pressure on Russia to achieve it.
ASEAN Summit is a conference for countries in Southeast Asia to discuss political and economic issues.
Russia and the US continue to hold diplomatic talks despite their tensions.
The article was reported by FRANCE 24 journalist Kethevane Gorjestani.
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Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi promised to punish those who caused a leak of exam answers, which led to the cancellation of a major undergraduate medical exam for 2.2 million students. This scandal triggered protests by young people called the Cockroach Janta Party, spreading from New Delhi to cities like Mumbai and Bengaluru.
Key Facts
A leak of answers caused the cancellation of a large medical exam in India.
About 2.2 million students were affected by the exam cancellation.
Prime Minister Modi said those responsible would be punished quickly.
The scandal led to protests organized by a youth group called the Cockroach Janta Party.
Protests started in the capital, New Delhi, and spread to other big cities such as Mumbai and Bengaluru.
The protesters want changes in the education system and want the education minister removed.
The movement is youth-led and has gained wide attention in India.
There have been crackdowns by the police, but protests continue.
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The United States carried out air strikes on Iranian military targets for the 12th night in a row, hitting sites in several Iranian provinces. In response, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) attacked US military assets in Kuwait and Jordan and claimed responsibility for an explosion on a tanker in the Strait of Hormuz.
Key Facts
The US struck Iranian military sites including missile and drone facilities, coastal surveillance, and air defense installations.
Attacks affected Iranian cities near the Iraqi border and along the Strait of Hormuz, causing casualties and power outages.
Two people were killed and 11 injured in the US attacks, according to Iranian officials.
Iran’s IRGC claimed attacks on US bases in Kuwait, damaging a warehouse, missile defense systems, and drones.
The IRGC also hit US military assets in Jordan, including missile radar systems and helicopter maintenance facilities.
Iran said the tanker explosion in the Strait of Hormuz was caused by an attempt to navigate a mined route under US orders.
The IRGC stated that the Strait of Hormuz is under its control and emphasized they were responding to US violations.
The US Central Command confirmed a recent round of strikes but did not specify exact locations within Iran.
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Tens of thousands of students in New Delhi protest against repeated exam paper leaks, demanding the education minister’s resignation. The demonstrations have been met with police violence, which protesters have recorded and shared widely on social media, turning the internet into a platform for exposing police actions and criticizing the government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Key Facts
On July 20, thousands of students marched to the Indian parliament to protest exam paper leaks.
Police used tear gas, batons, and potentially pellet guns against peaceful students.
More than 100 students were injured during the crackdown.
Protesters captured videos of police violence and shared them on social media.
The main demands are the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, a government promise not to file cases against protesters, and compensation for families of students who died by suicide due to exam issues.
The protests have spread to major cities like Mumbai, Bengaluru, and Lucknow.
Young Protesters from Gen Z are using social media creatively to expose government actions and challenge Prime Minister Modi’s party online.
The Cockroach Janta Party is a political group leading the student protests and calls for continuing peaceful demonstrations.
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More than 2,300 Israeli settlers and far-right members entered the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in East Jerusalem during a Jewish holiday, with numbers possibly rising to 5,000. Israeli police restricted Palestinian worshippers' access and protected National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, whose visit was criticized by Palestinian officials and Jordan.
Key Facts
Over 2,300 Israelis, including settlers and far-right groups, entered the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound on a Jewish holiday called Tisha B’Av.
The number of visitors may increase to around 5,000 by sundown, exceeding past holiday visits.
Israeli police limited Palestinian access to the mosque and reportedly assaulted some worshippers.
National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir visited the site with heavy police protection.
Israeli settlers performed Jewish rituals inside the compound, which is a Muslim holy site.
Non-Muslims can visit but are not allowed to pray there, according to a 1967 agreement.
Palestinian and Jordanian officials condemned the visit as a provocative act violating the site's status.
The event is seen as a political shift with some Israeli leaders supporting calls to rebuild a Jewish temple at the site.
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The United States and Saudi Arabia have signed a civilian nuclear cooperation agreement. The deal was signed by U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright and Saudi Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman after years of talks.
Key Facts
The deal focuses on civilian nuclear energy cooperation between the U.S. and Saudi Arabia.
The agreement includes a separate bilateral safeguards arrangement to ensure safety.
Discussions started before the Biden administration and continued for several years.
The nuclear deal was part of a broader plan involving Saudi normalizing relations with Israel, which did not happen.
Some allies and safety advocates may oppose the agreement.
President Donald Trump is expected to publicly announce the deal.
The deal was confirmed on July 23, 2026.
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Jacqueline Davies, a 75-year-old woman from Wales, was killed when her own car rolled forward and hit her after she got out to move a cat on a hill. She was taken to hospital but died the next day from serious injuries caused by the accident.
Key Facts
Jacqueline Davies got out of her car, a red Ford Fiesta, to save a cat on a hill.
The car’s handbrake failed, causing it to roll forward and strike her fatally.
She managed to call emergency services (999) after the accident.
Davies was taken to University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff with serious injuries.
She died the day after the incident from a major bleeding caused by injury to a large vein.
The inquest into her death is ongoing and will continue in April 2027.
Gwent Police are asking for witnesses who were near Bryn Millwr, Hollybush on 6 July to contact them.
Her family described her as strong, independent, and full of character.
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President Donald Trump has made a nuclear deal with Saudi Arabia that allows them to develop nuclear technology with fewer restrictions than those imposed on Iran. This deal could help rebuild ties with Saudi Arabia but risks increasing nuclear tensions in the Middle East, especially with Iran.
Key Facts
President Trump’s deal lets Saudi Arabia enrich uranium and limit inspections, which could hide nuclear weapons development.
This deal contrasts with Trump’s strict demands on Iran’s nuclear activities.
Iran increased uranium enrichment after Trump ended a prior nuclear agreement.
The deal may give the US nuclear industry a financial boost by selling technology to Saudi Arabia.
Saudi Arabia has said it will build nuclear weapons if Iran does.
Saudi Arabia will not normalize relations with Israel without a clear path to a Palestinian state.
Trump aims to repair the US-Saudi alliance, which has been strained by conflict with Iran.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has emphasized reopening the Strait of Hormuz, a key shipping route, amid rising tensions.
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U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke about the conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine during the ASEAN summit in Manila. He addressed the challenges these regions face without offering detailed solutions in this report.
Key Facts
Marco Rubio is the U.S. Secretary of State.
He spoke at the ASEAN summit held in Manila.
The main topics were the conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine.
The article provides limited details about the content of his speech.
The report mentions related news about U.S. involvement in the Middle East and Ukraine.
ASEAN is a group of Southeast Asian countries working on regional issues.
The news was reported on July 23, 2026.
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A man named Hamada al-Banna, thought to have died during the 2023 war in Gaza, was recently found alive after a year of disappearance. His story highlights the pain of thousands of families in Gaza who still do not know the fate of their missing loved ones following the conflict.
Key Facts
Hamada al-Banna was separated from his brother during a trip for aid near the northern Gaza border.
His brother Adham was fatally shot by the Israeli army.
Hamada was injured by a blast, unconscious, and woke up after two months in an Israeli hospital.
He was held in an Israeli prison for about a year, including four months in solitary confinement.
His family believed he was dead and held a mourning ceremony for him.
After his release, Hamada returned home and reunited with his family, who were shocked and emotional.
The Gaza Ministry of Health reports nearly 3,500 missing people, while other groups estimate about 9,500 missing in Gaza.
Many families continue to search for loved ones missing since the 2023 war.
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About 12,000 people were evacuated from southwestern France due to wildfires that have destroyed large areas of land. Similar wildfires in Italy and Spain have caused evacuations and deaths, while record high temperatures across Europe continue to increase fire risks.
Key Facts
Around 12,000 people were evacuated in the Gironde region of southwestern France.
Over 2,000 hectares (about 4,000 acres) of land have burned in the Gironde fires.
Two French firefighters died recently while fighting fires near Bordeaux airport.
France has banned internal combustion and electric engines in many forest areas to reduce fire risks.
In Sicily, Italy, more than 350 fires have occurred, leading to evacuations and one firefighter death.
Wildfires in Spain caused evacuations, but most residents were allowed to return home except in one area.
Europe has experienced record high temperatures recently, making wildfires more common and severe.
A 2023 report identified Europe as the fastest-warming continent, with wildfire damage reaching record levels last year.
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A large wildfire broke out in a pine forest near Le Porge in southwest France, forcing nearly 12,000 people, mostly tourists, to evacuate. Hundreds of firefighters have been working to control the fire that has burned 2,000 hectares since it started on Wednesday.
Key Facts
The wildfire began around midday on Wednesday in Le Porge, southwest France.
The fire has destroyed about 2,000 hectares of forest, roughly three times the size of Gibraltar.
Nearly 12,000 people, including tourists and local residents, were evacuated by Thursday.
Flames reached heights of up to 10 meters in some parts.
Officials believe the fire may have started accidentally by a brush-clearing machine.
France has experienced three heatwaves since May, making wildfires more likely.
This wildfire comes soon after another large fire damaged 2,000 hectares of forest near Paris.
Hundreds of firefighters are actively fighting the blaze to stop it from spreading further.
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US actor Jason Alexander apologized for a 2012 comedy sketch he did with reality star Courtney Stodden when she was 17. The sketch included inappropriate content involving Stodden, who is now campaigning to end child marriage in California.
Key Facts
The sketch was made in 2012 and appeared on Funny or Die.
Alexander rubbed a phone on Stodden’s chest and made sexually suggestive comments.
Stodden was 17 years old, a minor, when the sketch was filmed.
Stodden said she felt alone and could not legally consent to the sketch.
Alexander publicly apologized and said he regretted the sketch and any harm caused.
Stodden is now 31 and works to pass a law in California making 18 the minimum age for marriage.
Stodden married actor Doug Hutchison at age 16, with parental permission, but they divorced in 2020.
Marrying under 18 with parental or court approval is still legal in 33 US states.
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Campaigners in Oradea, Romania, have been denied permission to hold Pride marches for four years in a row, with local authorities citing technical reasons. Despite the bans, organizers plan to hold the march again in 2026, drawing support from international groups and diplomats who say the issue affects basic rights and democracy.
Key Facts
Oradea is a city in western Romania with about 180,000 people.
Since 2023, local authorities have blocked Pride events every year using legal or technical excuses.
Organizers have offered many alternative routes and dates, but each time the city says no.
The mayor’s party describes itself as liberal, conservative, and Christian democratic but has not commented on the banning.
152 organizations from 30 countries urged local officials to allow the march safely and according to EU law.
Organizers see the bans as a threat to basic rights like peaceful assembly, not just LGBT rights.
The planned 2026 march will go ahead without permission, as it did in 2025 when hundreds attended despite fines.
Several diplomats and the Romanian ombudsman are expected to join the march this time.
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Millions of people in the central and western United States are expected to face very high temperatures this weekend due to a heat dome. This weather pattern traps hot air, causing temperatures to rise above 100 degrees Fahrenheit in many areas, increasing health risks.
Key Facts
A heat dome is causing extreme heat across the Southwest and Plains, including California, Arizona, Oklahoma, Kansas, Nebraska, South Dakota, and North Dakota.
Temperatures may reach up to 120 degrees Fahrenheit in California’s Coachella Valley and parts of the desert Southwest.
Cities like Phoenix expect highs between 107 and 116 degrees, while Tucson could see 105 to 112 degrees Fahrenheit.
Southern California’s Inland Empire may have temperatures up to 110 degrees, with night temperatures staying in the 70s, which reduces nighttime cooling.
Northern states like the Dakotas and Midwest cities such as Kansas City, Minneapolis, and Chicago will also see temperatures near or above 100 degrees Fahrenheit.
The heat dome is caused by a strong high-pressure system that traps hot air and suppresses clouds and rain.
The heat dome may last several days or weeks, increasing risks of dehydration, heat exhaustion, and heat stroke.
Older adults, young children, outdoor workers, and people with health problems are most at risk during extreme heat.
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