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Angola in Turmoil as Four Killed, 500 Arrested in Violent Protests
Angola in Turmoil as Four Killed, 500 Arrested in Violent Protests
Violence erupted in Angola’s capital city, Luanda, on Monday as thousands of protesters took to the streets to demonstrate against rising petrol prices.
The protests, which began as a three-day strike by taxi drivers, have escalated into one of the most widespread and disruptive waves of protest the country has seen in recent years.
According to eyewitnesses, roads were blocked, shops were looted, cars were destroyed, and clashes broke out between demonstrators and police.
The situation worsened at night, with reports of gunfire in parts of the capital.
As of Tuesday, pockets of protests continued in Luanda, with further clashes with police and more looting of shops.
Demonstrations have also spread to the central city of Huambo.
The protests were sparked by the government’s decision to raise the price of diesel by over 33%, a measure introduced in early July as part of plans to remove fuel subsidies in the oil-rich nation.
This move has resulted in higher fares for urban Angolans who rely on taxis and has also driven up the price of staple foods and other basics.
A prominent local activist, Laura Macedo, told the BBC that the fuel price issue is just the last straw that has reignited widespread public discontent.
“People are fed up. Hunger is rife, and the poor are becoming miserable,” she said.
However, President João Lourenço has dismissed such concerns, saying that protesters are using petrol prices as a pretext to undermine the government.
He pointed out that even after the increase, the price of diesel in Angola remains around 40 US cents per litre, and there are not many countries in the world with prices this low.
The average monthly wage in Angola is just 70,000 kwanzas ($75; £56), and a promise by the presidency to increase this to 100,000 kwanzas has not materialized.
As frustrations spilled over Monday, groups of protesters took to the streets in various parts of Luanda, chanting against fuel price increases, nearly five decades of rule by the governing MPLA party, and expressing their frustration with the country’s current state of affairs.
The state-run media in Angola came under heavy criticism on social media for continuing with its regular programming and failing to cover the demonstrations.
The MPLA warned young people not to join the protests and said that these “acts of vandalism are deliberately intended to tarnish and hinder the joyful celebration” of Angola’s 50th anniversary of independence.
According to local authorities in Luanda, the strike originally announced by taxi organizations had been called off following negotiations with authorities.
However, “groups of unidentified individuals, without any legitimate representation of the taxi sector, resumed the call for strike actions, promoting intimidation and violence, including attacks on vehicles circulating on public roads, even those not providing taxi services”.
A major taxi association, Anata, has distanced itself from the violence but vowed to continue the three-day strike, saying “the voice of the taxi drivers reflects the outcry of the Angolan people”.
As of Tuesday, major shops, banks, and other businesses have remained closed.
Some civil servants have returned to work, but many people who work for private companies have stayed at home on the advice of their employers.
Police warn they are patrolling the streets and will continue to “intervene where there are still disturbances” to “re-establish public order and peace”.
The situation remains tense, and it is unclear how the government will respond to the protests.
Four people have been killed, and 500 have been arrested in connection with the protests, according to police.
The protests have brought the city to a standstill, and it remains to be seen how the situation will unfold.
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Two Dead, Nine Injured in Brown University Shooting
Two Dead, Nine Injured in Brown University Shooting
Two students were killed and nine others injured after a gunman opened fire at Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island, on Saturday, police said.
Authorities have detained a person of interest in his 20s, who is now cooperating with investigators.
The attack occurred around 4:00 p.m. local time (21:00 GMT) at the Holley Engineering Building on the eastern end of the university campus.
Police said the identities of the victims have not yet been released.
Brown University President Christina Paxson confirmed that all those affected, including the deceased, were students.
In a statement on Sunday, Paxson said parts of the campus remained restricted as police continued investigations.
She added that around 2,000 students were relocated to safe locations overnight and expressed gratitude to local residents who opened their homes to students.
Providence Mayor Brett Smiley said seven of the injured students were in stable condition, one was critical, and another had been discharged.
The mayor, who visited victims and their families in hospital, described their courage as “overwhelming” and confirmed that the shelter-in-place order issued earlier had been lifted.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) said the suspect was detained at a hotel in Coventry early Sunday morning based on a lead from Providence Police.
Police Chief Oscar Perez confirmed that officers were no longer searching for additional suspects and were working closely with prosecutors to collect evidence.
President Donald Trump, speaking at the White House, expressed sympathy for the families of the two deceased students and wished a speedy recovery for the nine injured.
The shooting brings the number of mass shootings in the United States in 2025 to 389, according to the Gun Violence Archive, which defines mass shootings as incidents with four or more victims killed or injured, not including the attacker.
Authorities are urging the public to remain vigilant as the investigation continues, while a vigil is scheduled for Sunday evening to support the Brown University community.
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Bondi Beach Attack: 15 Dead, Father-Son Gunmen Behind Shooting
Bondi Beach Attack: 15 Dead, Father-Son Gunmen Behind Shooting
A mass shooting at Bondi Beach on Saturday left 15 people dead, including a child aged 10, during a Hanukkah celebration. Authorities are treating the incident as a terror attack.
Police confirmed the shooters were a 50-year-old father and his 24-year-old son.
The father died at the scene, while the son remains in critical condition.
The 50-year-old was a licensed firearms holder; six guns and two improvised devices were recovered from the site.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese called the attack “an act of pure evil”, saying it deliberately targeted the Jewish community, and promised full resources to support the investigation and combat antisemitism.
NSW Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon said quick response, informed by last year’s Bondi stabbing, helped save lives.
328 officers have been deployed to protect Sydney’s Jewish community, while two properties in western Sydney were searched overnight.
Among the victims was British-born Rabbi Eli Schlanger. Eyewitnesses described the chaos, with some saying the gunfire felt like it lasted “an eternity.”
Authorities continue to investigate the attack as Australians reel from the tragedy.
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Trump Reacts as ISIS Kills Three Americans in Syria
Trump Reacts as ISIS Kills Three Americans in Syria
President Donald Trump has pledged a “very serious retaliation” after an ambush in central Syria on Saturday, killing two U.S. service members and one American civilian interpreter, an attack the United States blames on the Islamic State (ISIS) group.
In a statement and social‑media post, Trump described the assault near Palmyra—a region still volatile and not fully controlled by the Syrian government—as “an ISIS attack against the U.S. and Syria.”
He mourned the three victims as “great American patriots” and confirmed that three other U.S. soldiers wounded in the attack are recovering.
Speaking from the White House before departing for a public event, the president said he expected a firm U.S. response, noting that there will be “very serious retaliation” against ISIS and any group that targets American forces.
Trump noted that Syrian President Ahmed al‑Sharaa, whose government has been cooperating with U.S. forces in counter‑terrorism operations, was “extremely angry and disturbed” by the incident.
The ambush occurred as U.S. troops were engaged in a counter‑terrorism mission alongside Syrian partners; the suspected attacker was killed by coalition forces, U.S. Central Command said.
The identities and units of the deceased are being withheld pending family notification.
Defense officials, including Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, echoed Trump’s stance, issuing stark warnings that the U.S. will pursue individuals or groups that target Americans.
The U.S. maintains a force of around 900 troops in Syria as part of ongoing operations against ISIS remnants, despite the group’s loss of territorial control years earlier.
The attack is the first fatal incident involving U.S. personnel in Syria since the fall of the Assad regime, highlighting persistent security challenges and raising questions about the future scope of U.S. military engagement in the region.
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