Nepal
At least 19 people have been killed and dozens injured in Nepal as police opened fire on crowds protesting a ban on social media platforms. Thousands of young Nepalis, many in school uniforms, marched through the capital Kathmandu, some forcing their way into parliament grounds. Police attacked them with live fire, rubber bullets and tear gas. A doctor at the National Trauma Center said several victims had gunshot wounds to the head and chest. The government says the ban, which includes Facebook, YouTube and X, is aimed at tackling fake accounts and online scams. The U.N. called for an urgent investigation into the killings.
More from Al Jazeera here.
Syria
Israel has hit targets near Homs, Latakia, and the ancient city of Palmyra in Syria, state media said. Syria’s foreign ministry called the strikes a “blatant infringement” of its sovereignty and part of a broader Israeli campaign to escalate attacks across the region. Israel, which rarely comments on such operations, has carried out hundreds of strikes on Syria in recent years, mostly targeting Iran-backed forces and military infrastructure. The raids have intensified since longtime leader Bashar al-Assad was overthrown in December.
More from Reuters here.
Uganda
Ugandan police have detained Alex Waiswa Mufumbiro, a senior official of the opposition National Unity Platform (NUP), outside a court in the capital Kampala. Mufumbiro was attending a bail hearing for party members held on what the NUP says are bogus charges. Witnesses said Mufumbiro was violently bundled into a van. Police confirmed the detention but gave no reason. The party, led by rapper-turned-politician Bobi Wine, has accused President Yoweri Museveni’s government of abductions and torture ahead of elections next year. One of those in court today was activist Eddie Mutwe, who the country’s military chief - President Museveni’s son - boasted on X he was holding in his basement. The opposition said Mutwe had been tortured.
More from the Monitor Uganda here.
The protest in Nepal was about corruption, misuse of power, accumulation of wealth, and the lavish lives of the corrupt elite. It turned violent, costing 19 lives including a student in his high school uniform with a backpack.
This is not about a "social media band." Don't twist the narrative. Truthful journalism demnads proper research and responsible reporting. Present the story as it is. Listen to the real voices on the ground.