International News
Death Toll Rises As Madagascar Protests Persist Despite Gov’t Action
Protesters in Madagascar continued to take to the streets on Tuesday, undeterred by a strong police presence and teargas, a day after President Andry Rajoelina dismissed his government in an effort to quell escalating unrest that the UN says has claimed 22 lives.
The demonstrations, largely driven by young people, have been inspired by “Gen Z” protests in countries like Indonesia and Nepal.
Citizens are expressing anger over entrenched mismanagement and repeated interruptions in water and electricity services across the island nation.
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On Monday, Rajoelina dismissed all his ministers, apologized for their inaction, and promised to address the country’s problems. But his move has done little to halt the rallies, with hundreds gathering in the capital after calls circulated widely on social media.
“The sacking was a small victory,” said 30-year-old activist Masova, who spoke under a pseudonym to protect her identity. “We really want change, the rule of law, justice for all. That’s why it’s no longer just a Gen Z movement.”
Police have been stationed in key areas of the city, and AFP journalists witnessed officers using teargas to disperse a small crowd attempting to assemble.
In the city’s outskirts, daily life appeared to resume, with schoolchildren and street vendors active, though traffic remained light.
Protesters have called for Rajoelina’s resignation, criticizing the government for trying to suppress youth voices.
“They call us the TikTok generation, a generation of idiots, and when we rise up, they won’t even let us speak,” said a student protester dressed in black to mourn those killed in earlier demonstrations.
“Mr Andry Rajoelina, when you led protests, you were allowed to, it was fine. But when we young people rise to fight for our country, you try to silence us.”
The UN has condemned the use of live ammunition during the protests, noting that some victims were bystanders or demonstrators killed by security forces.
The government, however, rejected these figures as unverified and “based on rumours or misinformation.”
The unrest began last Thursday in Antananarivo before spreading to other cities. Last week’s demonstrations were followed by looting, leading authorities to impose a dusk-to-dawn curfew.
Rajoelina, a former mayor of the capital who first came to power after a 2009 coup, invited applications for a new prime minister on Monday, with plans to form a new government in the coming days.
“The president is part of a corrupt system,” said a 30-year-old agricultural engineer, speaking anonymously. “He is trying to make us believe that something will change.”
Madagascar, home to nearly 32 million people, is one of the world’s poorest countries despite being a top producer of vanilla and possessing significant natural resources.
According to the World Bank, nearly 75 percent of the population lived below the poverty line in 2022.
The United Kingdom is considering sweeping new restrictions that could limit or completely block children under the age of 16 from accessing social media platforms, as part of a broader push to improve online safety and reduce excessive screen time among young users.
The proposal, currently under government consultation, is being led by Prime Minister Keir Starmer and focuses on addressing concerns over how teenagers interact with platforms such as Instagram and TikTok.
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Officials say the move is driven by growing evidence and public concern that algorithm-driven feeds and “endless scrolling” features may be negatively affecting children’s sleep patterns, concentration levels, and overall well-being.
The government is also reviewing whether additional measures such as app curfews and time limits should be introduced.
Technology Secretary Liz Kendall said the consultation has already attracted widespread public input, with tens of thousands of responses from parents, teenagers, and advocacy groups.
She noted that the government is particularly interested in feedback on addictive platform design features and the use of AI tools targeting younger users.
The UK is also studying policies already implemented in other countries. Australia has introduced stricter age-based restrictions, while Greece and Indonesia have also moved toward tighter regulation of children’s access to social media.
Authorities emphasize that no final decision has been made, but the consultation process is expected to shape future legislation on how tech companies operate and how young users are protected online in the digital age.
U.S. President Donald Trump has sparked global reactions following his remarks about Pope Leo XIV after the Pope’s recent anti-war message calling for peace in conflict-hit regions.
The controversy began after Pope Leo XIV delivered a strong appeal at the Vatican, urging world leaders to end ongoing wars and prioritise dialogue over violenceviolence.
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The pontiff warned against the “idolatry of power” and called for global cooperation to restore peace.
Reacting to the message, Trump told reporters he is “not a big fan” of Pope Leo XIV, describing him as “very liberal” and questioning his views on crime and international security.
The U.S. President further criticised the Pope’s stance on global conflicts, suggesting his message overlooks serious security challenges linked to rising geopolitical tensions, including nuclear concerns.
In a follow-up post on Truth Social, Trump intensified his criticism, accusing the Pope of taking a weak position on foreign policy matters and suggesting political factors influenced his leadership position.
The comments have since triggered widespread debate across political and religious circles, adding to ongoing tensions between Washington and the Vatican over issues such as immigration policy, military action, and global diplomacy.
While both sides have previously denied any formal rift, the latest exchange has renewed global attention on their differing positions regarding war and peace efforts.
The Israeli military said on Thursday that Mohammed Wishah, an Al Jazeera journalist killed in a strike in Gaza on Wednesday, was a Hamas operative “operating under the guise of a journalist.”
According to Israeli forces, Wishah was “a key terrorist in Hamas’ rocket and weapons production headquarters” and had been planning attacks against soldiers in the area.
The military said he used his journalist identity to advance Hamas’ operations against Israel.
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Al Jazeera, the Qatar-based broadcaster, strongly condemned the killing. In a statement, the network described the attack as a “heinous crime of targeting and killing” its correspondent and insisted the strike was deliberate, not accidental.
The channel vowed to pursue “all necessary legal action to prosecute those responsible for the killing of its correspondents and staff in Gaza.”
Media rights organization Reporters Without Borders also condemned the incident, stating that Wishah’s name now joins “more than 220 journalists killed in two and a half years by Israeli forces in Gaza, at least 70 of whom were killed while performing their duties.”
The killing occurred despite a US-backed ceasefire in Gaza that has been in effect since October 2025, highlighting ongoing tensions and frequent accusations of truce violations by both Israel and Hamas.
Al Jazeera listed Wishah among 11 of its journalists killed in Gaza since the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack on southern Israel that triggered the Gaza war.
Past incidents include the killing of Mohammad Salama in August 2025 and the deaths of four Al Jazeera staff and two freelancers outside Al-Shifa hospital in Gaza City earlier that year, prompting widespread condemnation.
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