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Protests target Israeli team over Gaza conflictPM Pedro Sanchez expresses admiration for protestersPro-Palestinian protests forced the Vuelta a Espana cycle race to be abandoned at its finale on Sunday, with Danish cyclist Jonas Vingegaard declared winner as police sought to quell demonstrations against an Israeli team's participation.Protesters chanting "they will not pass" overturned metal barriers and occupied the Vuelta (Tour of Spain) route at several points in Madrid as police attempted to push them back."The race is over," said a spokesperson for the organisers, who also cancelled the podium ceremony, leaving Vingegaard celebrating in the back of his team car.Earlier, Spain's Socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez expressed "admiration for the Spanish people mobilising for just causes like Palestine" by protesting during the race.The demonstrations have targeted the Israel-Premier Tech team over Israel's actions in Gaza. Some riders had threatened to quit last week as routes were blocked, causing some falls.Seven Israeli chess players withdrew from a Spanish tournament starting on Friday after organisers told them they would not be competing under their flag, citing the Gaza conflict and expressing solidarity with the Palestinians.On Sunday in Madrid, more than 1,000 police officers were on duty as cyclists reached the final stage of the 21-day race - the biggest deployment since the Spanish capital hosted the NATO summit three years ago.Police held back a crowd of hundreds bearing placards and waving Palestinian flags for several hours as the cyclists snaked their way through towns and villages towards Madrid.As the riders drew closer to the capital, the demonstrators hurled plastic bottles and traffic cones, upended blue barriers and surged onto the road. Baton-wielding riot police fired smoke bombs to try to disperse them.PM Sanchez has repeatedly clashed with Israel over its war in Gaza, describing it as genocide.Spain, along with Ireland and Norway, last year recognised a Palestinian state, prompting an angry response from Israel, which said it amounted to a "reward for terrorism".This week, Sanchez announced a block on oil and arms to Israel. In response, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accused his Spanish counterpart of antisemitism and making genocidal threats.It is the first time one of cycling's Grand Tours has been prevented from completing its final stage by political demonstrators since the Vuelta in 1978 was halted by Basque separatists in San Sebastian.Health Minister Monica Garcia said the latest protests showed Spain was a "global beacon in the defence of human rights.""The people of Madrid join dozens of demonstrations across the country and peacefully bring to a halt the end of a cycling race that should never have been used to whitewash genocide," Garcia said in a post on Bluesky.A government source defended Sanchez's comments, saying: "The prime minister has shown his admiration for the Spanish people for being brave when others look the other way from the genocide in Gaza."

Nepal's new leader vowed Sunday to follow protesters' demands to "end corruption" as she began work as interim prime minister, after "Gen Z" youth demonstrations ousted her predecessor. Sushila Karki, the 73-year-old former chief justice, has been tasked with restoring order and addressing protesters' demands for a corruption-free future ahead of elections in six months. Protests, sparked by a ban on social media and feeding into long-standing economic woes, began on Monday and quickly escalated, with parliament and key government buildings set ablaze. "We have to work according to the thinking of the Gen Z generation," Karki said in her first public comments since taking office on Friday. A fifth of people in Nepal aged 15-24 are unemployed, according to the World Bank, with GDP per capita standing at just $1,447, in the Himalayan nation of 30 million people. "What this group is demanding is the end of corruption, good governance and economic equality," she added. Karki held a minute's silence on Sunday for those killed in the unrest, before meetings began in the key government complex of Singha Durbar -- where several buildings were set on fire during mass protests on Tuesday. At least 72 people were killed in two days of protests, and 191 injured, the government's chief secretary Eaknarayan Aryal said Sunday, increasing an earlier toll of 51. It was the worst unrest since the end of a decade-long civil war and the abolition of the monarchy in 2008. The appointment of Karki, known for her independence, came after intense negotiations by army chief General Ashok Raj Sigdel and President Ram Chandra Paudel, including with representatives of "Gen Z", the loose umbrella title of the youth protest movement. Thousands of young activists had used the Discord app to name Karki as their choice of leader. "The situation that I have come in, I have not wished to come here. My name was brought from the streets," Karki said. Parliament has been dissolved and elections set for March 5, 2026. "We will not stay here more than six months in any situation, we will complete our responsibilities and pledge to hand over to the next parliament and ministers," she added, in a speech to the nation. Ordinary Nepalis said they were hopeful the government would bring change -- but were aware the challenges were heavy. "This government's list of responsibilities and issues to address isn't easy," said grocery shopkeeper Satya Narayan, 69, in Pharping village, about an hour outside the capital. "It also needs to ensure unity and harmony in the country by taking all sections along". President Paudel, who swore Karki into office, said late Saturday that "a peaceful solution has been found through a difficult process". Soldiers have scaled back their presence on the streets, where they had been deployed in large numbers after the protests. But more than 12,500 prisoners who escaped from jails during the chaos are on the run, and present a daunting security headache. Regional leaders have congratulated Karki, including Nepal's two giant neighbours, India and China. Prime Minister Narendra Modi said New Delhi supported "peace, progress and prosperity" in Hindu-majority Nepal, while Beijing's foreign ministry said it wanted to "push China-Nepal relations steadily forward". Buddhism is the country's second-largest religion, and the Dalai Lama, the exiled Tibetan spiritual leader, wished Karki "every success in fulfilling the hopes and aspirations of the people of Nepal in these challenging times."

Hami Nepal used Discord app to mobilize protestsSudan Gurung and team propose cabinet changes, focus on youth involvementA former DJ and his obscure Nepalese non-profit used a social media app popular with video gamers to drive massive protests and become the unlikely power brokers in installing the country's new interim leadership.Sudan Gurung, the 36-year-old founder of Hami Nepal (We are Nepal), used the Discord messaging app and Instagram to mobilise massive demonstrations that forced Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli to resign, in the deadliest political crisis to hit the Himalayan nation in decades, a dozen people involved in the demonstrations said. The group used VPNs to access banned platforms and issued calls to action that reached tens of thousands of young people, they added. Representatives for Oli could not be contacted for comment."I was invited to join a group on Discord where there were about 400 members. It asked us to join the protest march a few kilometres from the parliament," 18-year-old student Karan Kulung Rai, who is not part of the group, told Reuters.Hami Nepal's early social media posts on Discord became so influential that they were referenced on national television.As protests grew violent, the group also identified messages it termed "fake news" and shared hospital phone numbers.Hami Nepal members, who asked not to be identified as they had used proxy names online for security reasons, said Gurung and the group's other leaders have since become central to high-stakes decisions, including the appointment of the new interim leadership till elections are held on March 5. They have already convinced the country's president and army chief to appoint former Chief Justice Sushila Karki, known for her tough stance against corruption, as Nepal's first woman prime minister in an interim capacity, three members of the group said."I will make sure that the power lies with the people and bring every corrupt politician to justice," Gurung said in his first press conference since the protest on Thursday. On Sunday, Gurung and his team were in meetings to decide key cabinet positions and were proposing that some government officials appointed by the previous administration be removed, members of Hami Nepal said."Meetings are ongoing between Karki and members of the group. We will finalise the cabinet soon," one of the members said. Gurung and Karki did not immediately respond to questions sent to their mobile phones.The "process is being carefully carried out, so that it consists of skilled and capable youth," Hami Nepal said on Instagram.Monday's protest by young adults loosely categorised as a "Gen Z" movement, as most participants were in their 20s, turned deadly within hours and rapidly brought down the government. The protests were directed at perceived government corruption and took off following a ban on multiple social media platforms - a directive that was reversed. Protesters clashed with authorities on the streets, leaving at least 72 dead and over 1,300 injured.Gurung, who is older than the Gen Z age bracket, and his team have vowed not to take up any cabinet positions but want to be part of the future decision-making."We don't want to be politicians. Sudan Gurung was only helping the 'Gen Z' group and we are only the voice of the nation and not interested in taking leadership positions," said Ronesh Pradhan, a 26-year-old volunteer for the group. Gurung, who was a DJ before he founded Hami Nepal, organised civic relief when the worst earthquake in Nepal's history killed over 9,000 people in 2015, and during the COVID-19 pandemic.Team members running the Instagram account, whose followers have swelled to over 160,000, and Discord posts alongside Gurung include 24-year-old cafe owner Ojaswi Raj Thapa and law graduate Rehan Raj Dangal.Thapa, who quickly emerged as a vocal protest movement leader, told Reuters in an interview that the judiciary was not independent and ensuring its freedom was a key priority once the interim government was put in place."We may need some changes to the constitution but we don't want to dissolve the constitution," he said on Thursday.

Nepal's newly appointed interim prime minister began work on Saturday by visiting young protesters wounded in the deadly anti-corruption rallies that ousted her predecessor.Sushila Karki, the 73-year-old former chief justice, was tasked a day earlier with restoring order and addressing protesters' demands for a corruption-free future ahead of elections in six months.She has not spoken publicly since being appointed late on Friday, but started her work to restore government by meeting some of the scores wounded in hospital.Protests began on Monday and quickly escalated, with parliament and key government buildings set ablaze, as they fed into long-standing economic woes in Nepal.At least 51 people were killed in the worst unrest since the end of a decade-long civil war and the abolition of the monarchy in 2008.The capital Kathmandu took a step back towards normality on Saturday as a curfew was eased and daily life returned, with markets opening, traffic returning and families visiting temples.Soldiers scaled back their presence on the streets, where they had been deployed in large numbers since the protests."We don't know what will happen in the future now, but we are satisfied today," said Durga Magar, a 23-year-old Kathmandu shopworker.A fifth of people in Nepal aged 15-24 are unemployed, according to the World Bank, with GDP per capita standing at just $1,447.The appointment of Karki, known for her independence, came after intense negotiations by army chief General Ashok Raj Sigdel and President Ram Chandra Paudel, including with representatives of "Gen Z", the loose umbrella title of the youth protest movement.Thousands of young activists had used the Discord app to debate the next steps, and to name Karki as their choice of next leader.Parliament was dissolved and elections set for March 5, 2026, shortly after she was appointed.International rights groups issued a joint statement calling for the new administration to end the "impunity of the past".Nepal is "at a turning point, where the hard work of securing human rights for all could be built upon or sent into reverse," Amnesty International's Isabelle Lassee said as part of the statement.For many Nepalis, Karki's appointment carried both symbolic weight and the promise of change."Nepal has got its first woman prime minister," said Suraj Bhattarai, 51, a social worker, adding he hoped she would "take good governance forward".Magar, the young shopworker, said corruption was the main issue."It doesn't matter whether it is Gen Z or anyone older in politics who tackles it," she said. "It just needs to stop."Regional leaders congratulated Karki.Prime Minister Narendra Modi said India supported "the peace, progress and prosperity" of Nepal.Bangladesh's Nobel-winning Muhammad Yunus, who is also an interim leader running the country since a 2024 revolution until elections next year, said Karki took over at a "critical" time but backed her "able leadership".Rooting out endemic corruption will be no easy task, while more than 12,500 prisoners who escaped from jails during the chaos are on the run and present a daunting security headache.Fr many, Karki marks a break from the revolving door of prime ministers who fuelled public anger with endless political horse-trading.KP Sharma Oli, the 73-year-old leader of the Communist Party, quit as prime minister on Tuesday, ending his fourth term in the post. His whereabouts are not known."They were playing a game of musical chairs," said Kathmandu businessman Shikhar Bajracharya, 32. "There was no possibility for younger people to come into power."

Nepal's first female chief justice named interim headShops reopen, cars back on roads in KathmanduAuthorities begin handing over bodies of those killedSushila Karki, a former chief justice, will become the first woman to lead Nepal, to be sworn in as interim leader later on Friday after violent anti-graft protests forced Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli to resign, the president's office said.President Ramchandra Paudel's office announced Karki's appointment following negotiations between Paudel, army chief Ashok Raj Sigdel and the protesters who led Nepal's worst upheaval in years.Fifty-one people were killed and more than 1,300 injured this week in the anti-graft protests by the 'Gen Z' movement, named for the age of its mainly young supporters.The protest was sparked by a social media ban that has since been rolled back. The violence subsided only after Oli resigned on Tuesday.Karki, 73, would take the oath of office at 9:15 p.m. local time (1530 GMT), said Archana Khadka Adhikari, information officer at the president's office. Two other ministers would also be sworn in along with her, local TV channels reported.The only woman to have served as chief justice, Karki was the preferred choice of the protesters who cite her reputation for honesty and integrity and a stance against corruption.She held the top judicial post for about a year until mid-2017.Nepal has grappled with political and economic instability since the abolition of its monarchy in 2008, while a lack of jobs drives millions to seek work in other countries and send money home.As the country of 30 million people inched back to normality on Friday - with shops reopened, cars back on roads, and police replacing the guns they wielded earlier this week with batons - families reclaimed bodies of those killed in the protests.Some roads were still blocked, although streets were patrolled by fewer soldiers than before."While his friends backed off (from the protests), he decided to go ahead," Karuna Budhathoki said of her 23-year-old nephew, as she waited to collect his body at Kathmandu's Teaching Hospital."We were told he was brought dead to the hospital."Another protester who died, Ashab Alam Thakurai, 24, had been married only a month earlier, his relatives said."The last we spoke to him ... he said he was stuck with the protest. After that we could not contact him ... eventually we found him in the morgue," said his uncle, Zulfikar Alam.

Nepal says 25 people died in protests, 633 injuredProtesters want former chief justice as interim headRelevant groups coordinating to tackle situation, army saysKathmandu calm as soldiers take control, airport opensSoldiers guarded Nepal's parliament and patrolled deserted streets on Wednesday with the capital Kathmandu under a curfew, after two days of deadly anti-corruption protests forced Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli to resign.The upheaval in the poor Himalayan nation was unleashed by a social media ban that was announced last week, but was rolled back after 19 people were killed on Monday as police fired tear gas and rubber bullets to control crowds.The death toll from the protests had risen to 25 by Wednesday, Nepal's health ministry said, while 633 were injured.Nepal's army said that relevant parties were coordinating to tackle the situation after the protests and resolve the issue. Media also said preparations were being made for authorities and protesters to hold talks, without giving details. Reuters could not independently confirm the information.Most of the protesters were young people voicing frustration at the government's perceived failure to fight corruption and boost economic opportunities, leading to the demonstrations being dubbed the "Gen Z protests".The young agitators want former Chief Justice Sushila Karki as the interim prime minister, said Raman Kumar Karna, the secretary of the Supreme Court Bar Association, who was consulted by the protesters."When they requested me, I accepted," Karki told Indian TV news channel CNN-News18."Gen Z" representatives told reporters that they met army officials later and proposed Karki as their choice to head an interim government.Burnt-out vehicles and twisted metal littered the area around parliament, where army firefighters battled to douse a blaze in the main hall, while the building's exterior was charred after protesters set it ablaze on Tuesday.TV footage showed youths cleaning up some damaged buildings and clearing debris from roads and the areas near parliament.Several other government buildings, from the supreme court to ministers' homes, including Oli's private residence, were also set ablaze in the protests, with the unrest subsiding only after the resignation.Armoured vehicles kept vigil in streets that were largely deserted, with shops and markets shut. Firefighters were engaged at different locations, while the process of clearing roads was also under way, army spokesman Raja Ram Basnet said."We are trying to normalise the situation first. We are committed to protect the life and property of people," Basnet said, adding that prisoners had set Kathmandu's Dilli Bazar Jail on fire before the army controlled the situation.The main airport in Kathmandu also reopened on Wednesday, an airport spokesperson said, more than 24 hours after flights had been suspended.In a post on X, the army said prohibitory orders imposing a curfew would remain in force until Thursday morning."Any demonstrations, vandalism, looting, arson, and attacks on individuals and property in the name of protest will be considered punishable crimes and strict action will be taken by security personnel," the post said.For years a lack of jobs has driven millions to seek work in countries such as Malaysia, the Middle East and South Korea, mainly on construction sites, so as to send money home."If shedding blood is good for our future, then it was right for me to participate in the protests," Suman Rai, 20, who suffered injuries during the demonstrations, said as he lay on a hospital bed with his head and left wrist heavily bandaged.Wedged between India and China, Nepal has struggled with political and economic instability since protests led to the abolition of its monarchy in 2008."It is highly condemnable to kill and injure hundreds without addressing the genuine demands of the youths. This is against the values of the peace-loving Nepali society," King Gyanendra, the last of Nepal's monarchs, said in a statement.In a post on X, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi appealed to Nepal's citizens to maintain peace and order, while Beijing also said it hoped social order and national stability will be restored as soon as possible.

At least 17 protesters were killed Monday when Nepal police dispersed young demonstrators in Kathmandu demanding the government lift its social media ban and tackle corruption.Several social media sites -- including Facebook, YouTube and X -- have been inaccessible in Nepal since Friday after the government blocked 26 unregistered platforms, leaving users angry and confused.Police used rubber bullets, tear gas, water cannon and batons when the demonstrators pushed through barbed wire and tried to storm into a restricted area near parliament. "Seventeen people have died," Shekhar Khanal, spokesman for the Kathmandu valley police, told AFP.Khanal said about 400 people were injured, including over 100 police.Following the violence, home minister Ramesh Lekhak resigned at a cabinet meeting in the evening, local media reported."I had been there for a peaceful protest, but the government used force," said Iman Magar, 20, who was hit in his right arm."It was not a rubber bullet but a metallic one, and it took away a part of my hand. The doctor says I need to undergo an operation."Sirens wailed through the city as the injured were taken to hospitals."I have never seen such a disturbing situation at the hospital," said Ranjana Nepal, information officer at the Civil Hospital, which received many of those wounded."Tear gas entered the hospital area as well, making it difficult for doctors to work," she told AFP.The United Nations demanded a swift and transparent probe of the violence."We are shocked by the killings and injury of protesters in Nepal today and urge a prompt and transparent investigation," UN rights office spokeswoman Ravina Shamdasani said in a statement."We have received several deeply worrying allegations of unnecessary or disproportionate use of force by security forces."Amnesty International also called for an investigation, and said live ammunition had been used against protesters.The district administration imposed a curfew in several key areas of the city, including the parliament, the president's residence and Singha Durbar, which houses the prime minister's office.Some of the demonstrators had climbed over the wall into the parliament premises and its gate was vandalised.Similar protests were organised in other districts across the country.Popular platforms such as Instagram have millions of users in Nepal who rely on them for entertainment, news and business."We were triggered by the social media ban but that is not the only reason we are gathered here," said student Yujan Rajbhandari, 24."We are protesting against corruption that has been institutionalised in Nepal."Another student, Ikshama Tumrok, 20, said she was protesting the "authoritarian attitude" of the government."We want to see change. Others have endured this, but it has to end with our generation," she told AFP.Demonstrators had started their protest in Kathmandu with the national anthem and waving the country's flag, before chanting against the social media stoppage and corruption.There have been several corruption cases reported in the last few years involving ministers, former ministers and high-profile officials.Since the ban, videos contrasting the struggles of ordinary Nepalis with the children of politicians flaunting luxury goods and expensive vacations have gone viral on TikTok, which is still operating."There have been movements abroad against corruption, and they are afraid that might happen here as well," said protester Bhumika Bharati.The cabinet decided last month to give the affected social media firms seven days to register in Nepal, establish a point of contact and designate resident grievance and compliance officers.The decision came after a Supreme Court order in September last year.In a statement on Sunday, the government said it respected freedom of thought and expression and was committed to "creating an environment for their protection and unfettered use".Nepal has restricted access to popular online platforms in the past.The government blocked access to the Telegram messaging app in July, citing a rise in online fraud and money laundering.It lifted a nine-month ban on TikTok in August last year after the platform agreed to comply with Nepali regulations.UN urges probe The United Nations demanded a swift and transparent investigation on Monday after a rights group accused police in Nepal of firing on people protesting against corruption, social media ban, killing at least 17. "We are shocked by the killings and injury of protesters in Nepal today and urge a prompt and transparent investigation," UN rights office spokeswoman Ravina Shamdasani said in a statement.

After weeks of violent protests, a leading rights activist and former chief justice have emerged as presidential contenders -- but can they succeed in the bare-knuckle world of Kenyan politics?President William Ruto has seen his popularity plummet since coming to power in 2022 over continued economic stagnation, corruption, police brutality and abductions targeting government critics.Ruto has stood firm against waves of violent protests seeking to force his resignation in mid-2024 and again in recent months, in which hundreds have died or disappeared.But many are now looking for new faces who can challenge him at the next election in 2027.Firebrand human rights activist Boniface Mwangi on Wednesday announced his bid for the top seat, vowing not to work with "anyone who is contaminated"."We cannot achieve change by working with people who have been part of the problem," Mwangi said as he announced his candidature.He pitched himself as the antithesis of the typical politician -- shunning bribes and the lavish cash hand-outs to voters that occur during Kenyan campaigns.But the 42-year-old faces an uphill struggle. His previous attempt to run a clean campaign -- running for a parliamentary seat in 2017 -- ended in failure.Another figure who has entered the fray is former chief justice David Maraga, who came out of retirement in June to announce his presidential bid.In an interview, he told AFP he had not previously considered a political career but was shocked into action by Ruto's violent crackdown on protesters."What I saw horrified me," he said. It is a "leadership that does not want to follow the law."Maraga, 74, made his name in 2017 when his bench of judges in the Supreme Court nullified the results of the presidential election over "irregularities and illegalities" -- an unprecedented ruling in Africa."Maraga could be our Muhammad Yunus," said Nelson Amenya, a columnist and whistleblower, on X, referring to the respected Bangladeshi civil society leader and statesman.Maraga rejects claims that he lacks the charisma and brawn for politics."I am prepared to go into the murky environment," he told AFP."What good is a good reputation for me if... I see my country going down and I see the youths being killed, being kidnapped?"'BUILT TO CORRUPT'Ruto remains defiant, saying only he has a plan for the country, based on mobilising international investment and reforming public services.The opposition's "only plan is that 'Ruto must go' -- how will that help Kenyans and the country?" he said in a speech during the protests in June.Ruto has also repeatedly proved his mastery of Kenyan politics -- how to exploit its deep-rooted tribal divisions and mobilise voters with financial promises.While the protests of 2024 and 2025 showed there was a new generation of educated young Kenyans keen to move beyond that type of politics, analysts say there is still a long way to go."Culture does not change overnight," political analyst Kaburu Kinoti told AFP. No candidate "can appeal to the mass political market without segmenting it into ethnic blocs."Patrick Gathara, a political cartoonist, said candidates like Mwangi and Maraga will struggle to stay clean."I have no faith that they are not going to be corrupted by the system, because our system is actually built to corrupt people," he said.Gathara said the key to Kenya's future cannot come from politicians but continued pressure by citizens."Change never comes from within," he said.