Kenya’s President William Ruto has come under fire after pledging to purchase a chapati-making machine capable of producing one million chapatis daily for Nairobi high school students. The announcement, made during his development tour in Nairobi, has been widely criticized as a misplaced priority.
While visiting St. Teresa Girls Secondary School in Mathare, Ruto responded to an appeal from Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja, who requested assistance in acquiring the machine to support the Dishi Na County school feeding program.
Over 300,000 children are benefiting from the program; that means we need a machine to produce a million chapatis every day. I have asked the President for it, Sakaja said.
Ruto assured the enthusiastic students, I have agreed to buy a chapati-making machine. Governor, your work is now finding where to buy it.
However, many Kenyans criticized the promise, arguing that it does not address urgent economic challenges, education funding shortages, or healthcare issues. Critics on social media dismissed the pledge as an unnecessary diversion from key national priorities.
Many Kenyans took to X (formerly Twitter) to ridicule the announcement. Some sarcastically compared Ruto’s promise to global technological advancements, while others branded him “El Chapo,” a play on chapati’s street name “chapo” and the infamous Mexican drug lord.
One user wrote:
Chinese president launches 20 bullet trains, 3 space stations, and 5,000 km of expressway… Japan opens a nuclear power plant… Ibrahim Traore builds 50 hospitals in a year. William Ruto: I’ll buy a machine that makes 1 million chapatis a day.
Another post read:
How has Kenya sunk so low? While serious nations discuss AI, infrastructure, and disease eradication, our president is lying to high school students about chapatis!
A Citizen Digital financial analysis estimated that producing one million chapatis daily would cost taxpayers up to Ksh 10 million per day, or Ksh 2.5 billion annually, excluding transport, labor, and distribution expenses.
Despite growing public frustration and previous appeals from clergy and civil leaders urging the president to focus on governance rather than roadside promises, Ruto continues to make pledges that have yet to materialize.
Protests have erupted following the death of Ladi Anzaki Olubunmi, a Nigerian woman working as a content moderator for TikTok in Nairobi. Olubunmi was found dead in her Lower Kabete apartment on Friday after being missing from work for three days.
According to CNN journalist Larry Madowo, Olubunmi moved to Kenya in 2022 to work for French outsourcing firm Teleperformance, a subsidiary of TikTok. During her time in Kenya, she had not seen her family. She was among many African workers recruited by outsourcing companies to work in Nairobi, but reports indicate that several moderators lacked work permits, restricting their ability to travel home.
A colleague, who spoke anonymously to *The Nigerian Guardian Newspaper*, alleged that Teleperformance denied Olubunmi her leave days and a work permit, making it impossible for her to return home. The source claimed Olubunmi had repeatedly pleaded with managers for permission to visit her family but was ignored.
“The deceased was entitled to a return ticket every year under her contract, but she only went home once after begging and crying to the management,” the colleague said. “She went to her managers in tears, but they laughed at her and recorded her.”
Her sudden death has sparked a strike among her colleagues, who accuse Teleperformance of failing to check on her well-being when she did not report to work. They claim that only after she was unreachable for days did coworkers visit her apartment and discover her body.
Teleperformance has denied any wrongdoing, stating it has been in contact with Olubunmi’s family and local authorities to determine the cause of death. The company has yet to release an official statement addressing the allegations regarding work permits and employee welfare.
Mophat Okinyi, a Kenyan content moderator recognized by *TIME100 AI* for his work in the industry, confirmed the incident and said a vigil would be held in Nairobi in Olubunmi’s honor. Okinyi has been a vocal advocate for improved working conditions for content moderators and is among a group that petitioned the government to investigate the industry’s labor practices.
Olubunmi’s death has drawn attention to the challenges faced by content moderators in Kenya, where many work under high-pressure conditions with limited labor protections. The case has reignited concerns over the treatment of outsourced workers in the global tech industry.
The European Union has announced retaliatory tariffs on a range of U.S. industrial and agricultural products in response to the Trump administration’s decision to impose 25% tariffs on all steel and aluminum imports. The countermeasures, worth approximately 26 billion euros ($28 billion), aim to put economic pressure on key Republican-held states while attempting to limit further damage to European businesses.
The EU’s response was swift, coming just hours after Washington unveiled its new tariffs. The move escalates already tense transatlantic trade relations, which have been under strain following recent U.S. warnings that Europe must take greater responsibility for its own security.
The EU’s countermeasures include tariffs not just on steel and aluminum but also on textiles, home appliances, and agricultural goods. The measures are designed to impact industries in Republican-dominated states, particularly those with strong farming sectors.
Among the affected products are soybeans from Louisiana, home to House Speaker Mike Johnson, as well as beef and poultry from Kansas and Nebraska. Agricultural goods from Alabama, Georgia, and Virginia are also included on the list, mirroring a strategy used during Trump’s first term when the EU targeted bourbon, motorcycles, peanut butter, and jeans.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen stated that while the EU remains open to negotiations, it will not stand idly by in the face of U.S. protectionism.
“As the U.S. applies tariffs worth $28 billion, we are responding with countermeasures worth 26 billion euros,” von der Leyen said. “We firmly believe that in a world fraught with geopolitical and economic uncertainties, it is not in our common interest to burden our economies with tariffs.”
Von der Leyen warned that Trump’s tariffs would ultimately harm both sides of the Atlantic, increasing costs for consumers and disrupting supply chains.
The American Chamber of Commerce to the EU criticized both the U.S. tariffs and the EU’s retaliatory measures, arguing that the escalating trade conflict would harm jobs, economic prosperity, and security on both sides.
“The two sides must de-escalate and find a negotiated outcome urgently,” the chamber said in a statement.
This is not the first time the EU has responded to Trump’s aggressive trade policies. During his first term, the administration imposed similar steel and aluminum tariffs, prompting European countermeasures that targeted U.S.-made products such as bourbon and motorcycles.
This time, the EU’s response will unfold in two phases. On April 1, the bloc will reinstate previous “rebalancing measures” that had been suspended under the Biden administration. Then, on April 13, additional duties will take effect, targeting 18 billion euros ($19.6 billion) worth of U.S. exports to Europe.
EU Trade Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič, who traveled to Washington last month to discuss trade concerns, expressed frustration over the U.S. position.
“I argued to avoid the unnecessary burden of measures and countermeasures, but you need a partner for that. You need both hands to clap,” Šefčovič said in Strasbourg.
The European steel sector is expected to be among the hardest hit by Trump’s tariffs, with industry group Eurofer estimating potential losses of up to 3.7 million tons of steel exports. The U.S. represents the second-largest market for EU steel producers, accounting for 16% of total exports.
With transatlantic trade valued at around $1.5 trillion annually—roughly 30% of global trade—both sides have much to lose from prolonged economic conflict. While the EU maintains a goods trade surplus with the U.S., it argues that this is counterbalanced by an American surplus in service exports.
Unlike the EU, the United Kingdom has decided against immediate retaliatory tariffs, with British Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds stating that London will “continue to engage closely and productively with the U.S. to press the case for U.K. business interests.”
However, Reynolds did not rule out future trade action, emphasizing that “all options remain on the table, and we won’t hesitate to respond in the national interest.”
As tensions rise, it remains to be seen whether Washington and Brussels can find a compromise—or whether this latest trade dispute will escalate into a full-blown economic conflict.
Greenland’s center-right opposition party has won an unexpected victory in the country’s general election, a race shaped by the debate over independence and renewed interest from U.S. President Donald Trump in acquiring the semi-autonomous Arctic territory.
The Democratic Party, which supports a gradual approach to breaking away from Denmark, secured approximately 30% of the vote, according to near-final results.
“Greenland needs us to stand together in a time of great interest from outside,” Democratic leader Jens Frederik Nielsen told local media. “There is a need for unity, so we will enter into negotiations with everyone.”
With no party winning an outright majority, the Democrats will now have to negotiate with other parties to form a coalition government.
Greenland, the world’s largest island, has been under Danish control for about 300 years, despite being nearly 3,000 km (1,860 miles) away from Copenhagen. While the territory has autonomy over domestic affairs, foreign and defense policy remain under Denmark’s authority.
Of the six main parties in the election, five advocate for full independence, though they disagree on how quickly to pursue it.
The Democratic Party, which gained more than 20% in support compared to 2021, is considered moderate on independence. Meanwhile, the nationalist Naleraq party, which calls for an immediate break from Denmark and closer ties with the U.S., finished in second place with nearly a quarter of the vote.
The governing coalition parties, Inuit Ataqatigiit (IA) and Siumut, fell to third and fourth place, signaling a major political shake-up and an upset for Prime Minister Mute B. Egede.
Around 44,000 Greenlanders were eligible to vote, choosing 31 members of parliament as well as local government officials. The election was held at 72 polling stations across the vast island.
Greenland’s strategic Arctic position and vast, untapped mineral reserves have long attracted international attention, particularly from the U.S. Trump first floated the idea of purchasing Greenland in 2019 during his first term, a proposal dismissed by Greenlandic and Danish leaders.
Since returning to office in January, Trump has renewed his push.
“We need Greenland for national security. One way or another, we’re gonna get it,” he declared in a recent address to the U.S. Congress.
Leaders in both Greenland and Denmark have firmly rejected Trump’s demands. Outgoing Prime Minister Egede reiterated that Greenland is “not for sale” and deserves to be “treated with respect.”
An Indonesian social media influencer has been sentenced to two years and 10 months in prison for blasphemy after making comments about Jesus Christ’s hair. The court in North Sumatra found Ratu Thalisa, a Muslim transgender woman with nearly 450,000 TikTok followers, guilty of spreading hate speech against Christianity, according to Amnesty International and local media reports.
Thalisa, known online as Ratu Entok, made the remarks during a live broadcast on October 2, 2024, while holding up an image of Christ. In response to a viewer’s comment suggesting she should cut her hair to appear more masculine, she said: “You should not look like a woman. You should cut your hair so that you will look like his father.”
Her remarks prompted five Christian groups to file police complaints, leading to her arrest on October 8.
In addition to her prison sentence, the court fined Thalisa approximately $6,200. She was convicted under Indonesia’s Electronic Information and Transactions (EIT) law, with the court ruling that her comments could disturb “public order” and “religious harmony.”
Amnesty International Indonesia has strongly criticized the ruling, calling it a “shocking attack” on freedom of expression.
“The EIT law should not be used to punish people for social media comments,” said Usman Hamid, Executive Director of Amnesty International Indonesia, on Monday.
“While Indonesia should prohibit the advocacy of religious hatred that constitutes incitement to discrimination, hostility, or violence, Ratu Thalisa’s speech does not meet that threshold,” he said.
According to Amnesty, at least 560 people were charged under the EIT Law from 2019 to 2024, with offenses ranging from defamation to hate speech.
“This sentence highlights the increasingly arbitrary and repressive application of Indonesia’s EIT law to silence free speech,” Hamid added. “The authorities must quash Ratu Thalisa’s conviction, ensure her immediate and unconditional release, and revise problematic provisions of the EIT Law that criminalize ‘immorality,’ defamation, and hate speech.”
Thalisa is one of several individuals recently convicted under Indonesia’s blasphemy laws, which critics argue disproportionately target religious minorities and those perceived to have insulted Islam.
Indonesia, the world’s largest Muslim-majority nation, has a population of 231 million, with at least 93% identifying as Muslim. In recent years, religious conservatism has been on the rise, and rights groups warn that blasphemy laws are being increasingly “weaponized” to suppress dissent.
In September 2023, Muslim social media influencer Lina Lutfiawati, known as Lina Mukherjee, was sentenced to two years in prison after posting a TikTok video in which she recited an Islamic prayer before eating pork.
One of Indonesia’s most high-profile blasphemy cases involved Basuki Tjahaja Purnama, widely known as Ahok, Jakarta’s first non-Muslim governor in 50 years. In 2017, he was sentenced to two years in prison for blasphemy after referencing a Quranic verse during his re-election campaign, despite issuing a public apology.
Former Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte has been “forcibly taken” onto a plane bound for The Hague, his daughter said Tuesday, following his dramatic arrest on an International Criminal Court (ICC) warrant. Duterte faces charges related to his brutal anti-drug crackdown, which resulted in thousands of deaths.
The 79-year-old ex-leader was placed on a flight late Tuesday, according to the current government. “They are taking him out on a plane by force without considering his health conditions,” his youngest daughter, Veronica Duterte, wrote on Instagram.
In a separate statement to The Philippine Star, Duterte’s elder daughter, Vice President Sara Duterte, confirmed the destination. “As I write this, he is being forcibly taken to The Hague tonight. This is not justice – this is oppression and persecution,” she said.
Duterte’s plane made a layover in Dubai for several hours before continuing to the Netherlands on Wednesday, according to flight tracking websites. Initially scheduled to land at 7:00 a.m. local time, tracking service Flightradar24 now estimates arrival at 5:00 p.m. local time. Duterte received medical attention during the layover, Reuters reported.
Following the departure, Sara Duterte told reporters she would travel to the Netherlands on Wednesday.
Duterte was taken into custody at Manila’s main airport upon returning from Hong Kong on Tuesday. The ICC confirmed the arrest warrant was issued for Duterte on charges of murder as a crime against humanity, covering actions allegedly committed between November 1, 2011, and March 16, 2019.
President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., Duterte’s successor, acknowledged receiving an Interpol notice for Duterte’s arrest warrant at 3 a.m. local time.
“Interpol asked for help and we obliged because we have commitments to the Interpol which we have to fulfill,” Marcos said during a Tuesday night press conference.
Duterte, known for his harsh anti-drug campaign, led an aggressive crackdown on drug dealers, targeting the illegal trade with relentless and violent tactics. While police data confirms more than 6,000 fatalities, independent monitors estimate the number of extrajudicial killings is significantly higher.
The ICC’s ongoing investigation into Duterte was well known, but his arrest nonetheless sent shockwaves across the country. His loyal supporters mobilized immediately, with some angrily confronting police outside the airbase where he was held for several hours.
“I’m sad because I didn’t think it would come to a point where he would be arrested. For me, he did a lot for our country, and this is what they did to him,” said Aikko Valdon, a 31-year-old overseas Filipino worker, speaking to Reuters.
Duterte’s arrest marks a dramatic conclusion to his turbulent and controversial reign over the Philippines. He ruled the nation of 115 million for six years, leaving behind a legacy of violence. However, he remains widely revered in Davao City, where he served as mayor for two decades before becoming president.
His drug war resulted in thousands of deaths, disproportionately affecting young men from impoverished communities. Many were shot by police and vigilantes as part of the campaign against drug dealers, leading to domestic inquiries and the ICC investigation that culminated in his arrest.
Duterte has consistently denied ordering extrajudicial killings, though he has publicly admitted instructing police to shoot suspects who resisted arrest.
For the families of those killed in Duterte’s drug war, his arrest represents long-awaited justice.
Christine Pascual, whose son was among the victims, told Reuters, “Through our prayers and the years we fought for justice, we did not expect this moment to come. Finally, an arrest warrant was issued against Duterte.”
Other victims’ relatives see the arrest as just the beginning of a longer fight. “The fight has just started, but we will make sure to see this through. We will not stop,” said Llore Pasco, a mother of two victims.
Duterte withdrew the Philippines from the ICC in 2019, a move widely criticized as an attempt to shield himself from accountability. However, under the ICC’s jurisdiction rules, the court retains authority over crimes committed while a country was still a member—in this case, between 2016, when Duterte took office, and 2019, when the withdrawal took effect.
The ICC announced that Duterte will face an initial appearance hearing once in its custody.
At an event in Hong Kong on Sunday, Duterte appeared to anticipate his fate, lashing out at the ICC. “I have a warrant … from the ICC or something,” he told supporters. “What did I do wrong? I did everything that I could in my time so that there is a little bit of quiet and peace for the lives of the Filipinos.”
Despite leaving office, Duterte remained politically active. He registered in October to run for mayor of Davao once again. His family continues to wield considerable political influence across the country.
Sara Duterte, his daughter, was impeached last month on allegations including plotting to assassinate President Marcos. Meanwhile, Duterte’s son, Sebastian Duterte, serves as Davao’s current mayor and had planned to run as his father’s vice mayor in the upcoming mid-term elections.
FILE PHOTO: Russian President Vladimir Putin meets with Yevgeny Balitsky, Moscow-installed governor of the Russian-controlled parts of Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia region (not pictured), amid the Russia-Ukraine conflict, at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia November 18, 2024. Sputnik/Vyacheslav Prokofyev/Pool via REUTERS ATTENTION EDITORS - THIS IMAGE WAS PROVIDED BY A THIRD PARTY./File Photo
The Kremlin has responded for the first time to Ukraine’s acceptance of a US-proposed 30-day ceasefire, warning that Russia will not act prematurely and needs to receive further details from Washington.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said Russia is carefully analyzing statements following the US-Ukraine discussions. He added that US officials will relay the ceasefire details to Moscow through diplomatic channels.
Contacts between officials are expected in the coming days, but the US has not yet requested a phone call between Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump, Peskov stated. He also emphasized that such a call could be “organized very quickly” if needed.
Russian sources told Reuters that President Vladimir Putin is unlikely to accept the US-backed 30-day ceasefire proposal approved by Ukraine. A senior Russian official indicated that any agreement would have to account for Russia’s battlefield gains and address Moscow’s concerns.
“It is difficult for Putin to agree to this in its current form,” the source said, speaking anonymously due to the sensitivity of the issue. “Putin has a strong position because Russia is advancing,” they added.
The source also warned that without security guarantees alongside the ceasefire, Russia’s strategic position could weaken, allowing the West to shift blame onto Moscow for prolonging the war.
Another senior Russian official described the ceasefire proposal as a potential trap, arguing that Putin would struggle to halt military operations without concrete assurances. The Kremlin has yet to issue an official response.
Putin has consistently ruled out short-term truces. “We don’t need a truce, we need a long-term peace secured by guarantees for the Russian Federation and its citizens,” he said in December.
Russia currently controls nearly a fifth of Ukraine’s territory, approximately 113,000 square kilometers (43,630 square miles), and has been making incremental gains for months.
Ukraine’s hold on a portion of Russia’s Kursk region, seized in August, appears to be slipping, according to open-source war maps and Russian military estimates.
A military expert has suggested Ukraine may have had little choice but to agree to the US ceasefire proposal. Matthew Savill, director of military sciences at the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI), said Kyiv appears to be stabilizing relations with Washington, and a minerals deal might soon be signed.
However, Savill cautioned that Ukraine may have made concessions behind the scenes. “We don’t yet know what terms and conditions Russia will demand in return,” he told presenter Wilfred Frost.
Asked who stands to benefit most from the ceasefire, Savill noted that Russia currently has “momentum” on the battlefield, particularly in the Kursk region. “A ceasefire, especially one that restores US military aid and intelligence, will be enormously beneficial to Ukraine,” he said.
“It will frustrate the Russians, who might have hoped to eliminate the Kursk pocket before entering serious negotiations. However, much will depend on how Moscow maneuvers the terms of any ceasefire,” he added.
The captain of the Solong, the container ship involved in a North Sea ship collision, is a Russian national, the vessel’s owner confirmed. The maritime accident occurred on Monday when the Solong crashed into the Stena Immaculate, an oil tanker anchored off the coast of East Yorkshire. The shipping company Ernst Russ reported that the rest of the crew consisted of Russian and Filipino nationals.
Authorities arrested a 59-year-old man on suspicion of gross negligence manslaughter in connection with the ship accident in the North Sea, according to Humberside Police. The suspect remains in custody as investigators probe the cause of the collision. Representatives are working alongside the Maritime and Coastguard Agency to determine the circumstances that led to the crash.
The Stena Immaculate oil tanker, operating under the U.S. government’s tanker security program, was carrying 220,000 barrels of jet fuel when the collision occurred. The impact triggered fires and explosions, with smoke visible from space.
One crew member remains missing and is presumed dead. Authorities confirmed that one crew member from the Solong has not been found.
The maritime search and rescue operation saved 36 people, while ambulances and emergency response teams were stationed at a nearby port. All 23 crew members of the Stena Immaculate were accounted for, but the search for the missing Solong crew member was called off Monday evening.
Recent port state control inspections revealed that the Solong had previously failed safety checks. In July 2024, an inspection found deficiencies in its emergency steering position communications and compass readings.
Administrators identified ten safety issues, including inadequate alarm systems, poorly maintained survival craft, and fire doors not meeting required standards. Another inspection in Scotland in October 2024 flagged concerns about improperly marked lifebuoys.
The jet fuel spill from the Stena Immaculate was reported to have a limited environmental impact, according to Crowley, the maritime company managing the ship.
Officials stated that most of the spilt jet fuel has evaporated or burned off, and there are no visible leaks from either vessel. The Solong, which had been drifting, has now been secured by tugboats.
Investigators continue to examine the cause of the North Sea ship collision as concerns mount over maritime safety regulations and enforcement.
More than 100 hostages were rescued by Pakistani troops on Tuesday after armed militants attacked a passenger train carrying over 450 people in the country’s southwestern Balochistan province. Three people, including a train driver, a police officer, and a soldier, were killed in the assault, while the fate of several passengers remains unknown.
The attack unfolded when insurgents blew up a railway track, forcing the train to a halt in a remote mountainous area. Witnesses described panic as militants boarded the train, separating men from women. “People began hiding under seats in fear. They allowed me and my family to go because I told them I’m a heart patient,” said 49-year-old Allahditta from a makeshift hospital in Mach.
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi confirmed that security forces had rescued over 100 hostages and killed 16 militants in an ongoing clearance operation marked by intense gunfire. The assault was swiftly claimed by the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), a separatist group responsible for escalating violence in the province.
Some passengers managed to escape and walked for hours to reach the nearest railway station, while others remain unaccounted for as security forces continue their operation.
Balochistan has been the epicenter of a long-running insurgency, with militant groups accusing the government of exploiting the region’s natural resources while neglecting local communities. In recent months, the BLA has escalated attacks, including the targeted killings of travelers and deadly bombings, such as the November 2023 blast at Quetta’s main railway station that killed 26 people.
Pakistan has blamed neighboring Afghanistan’s Taliban-led government for providing sanctuary to militants, a charge Kabul denies.
Security experts warn that the attack underscores the growing instability in the region, with Pakistan witnessing its deadliest year in nearly a decade. According to the Center for Research and Security Studies, over 1,600 people were killed in militant attacks in 2023, with violence particularly concentrated in the western border regions.
As security forces continue operations to locate remaining hostages and neutralize threats, authorities brace for potential retaliatory attacks amid the province’s worsening security crisis.
President Donald Trump briefly escalated trade tensions on Tuesday by announcing a 50% tariff on Canadian steel and aluminum, only to reverse course hours later, maintaining the previously planned 25% rate. The rapid shift rattled financial markets and sparked renewed fears of inflation.
The turmoil began after Ontario Premier Doug Ford threatened a 25% surcharge on electricity exports to the U.S. in response to Trump’s tariff hike. Ford later agreed to suspend the surcharge and meet with U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick in Washington on Thursday, prompting the White House to confirm that only the original 25% tariffs would go into effect as scheduled.
“President Trump has once again used the leverage of the American economy, which is the best and biggest in the world, to deliver a win for the American people,” said White House spokesperson Kush Desai.
Markets fluctuated throughout the day, with the S&P 500 briefly entering correction territory before rebounding following Ford’s decision and news of Ukraine’s 30-day ceasefire. Trump dismissed concerns over market volatility, insisting his policies were aimed at long-term economic growth.
Despite the tariff retreat, Trump warned that further measures, including increased duties on Canadian automobiles, could be imposed if Canada did not drop its “egregious” trade protections.
Meanwhile, as Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau prepares to hand over power to his successor, Mark Carney, the escalating trade dispute has further complicated diplomatic relations. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt condemned Ford’s initial electricity threat as “egregious and insulting,” reinforcing Trump’s push for U.S. energy independence.
The business community remains wary, with major U.S. corporations cautioning that the administration’s unpredictable trade policies could hinder consumer spending and economic stability. Amid growing concerns of a recession, investors brace for additional tariffs on automobiles and potential retaliatory measures from Canada and China.
“This is what a trade war looks like,” said Josh Lipsky of the Atlantic Council’s GeoEconomics Center. “Tit-for-tat escalation that can quickly spiral to both sides’ economic detriment.”
