Demonstrators Stormed Kenya’s Parliament to Protest Taxes

Kenya’s president deployed the military today to crack down on what he called “treasonous” protesters. Demonstrators furious over the passage of a bill that would raise taxes stormed the Parliament building in Nairobi, climbed in windows and set fire to the entrance.

The police fired at the protesters, who had flooded the streets around the Parliament by the thousands — some draped in the Kenyan flag and chanting for the president to resign. At least five people were reported dead from gunshot wounds, and more than 30 others were wounded, according to Amnesty International and several Kenyan civic organizations.

Here’s the latest reporting from my colleagues in the city.

President William Ruto struck an uncompromising tone in an address to the nation, vowing “to ensure that a situation of this nature will not recur again, at whatever cost.” His predecessor urged him to show restraint and listen to the protesters.

The contentious bill was introduced by Ruto’s government in May to address the country’s heavy debt burden. But Kenyans have widely criticized the legislation, saying it adds punitive new taxes and raises others on staple goods.

It’s Primary Day in several states

Today’s highest profile primary election is in New York’s 16th Congressional District, where the left-wing incumbent Jamaal Bowman is trying to hold off a challenge from George Latimer, a moderate Democrat. The race has centered in part on Bowman’s criticism of Israel, which galvanized younger Democrats but also fomented backlash.

Another race we’ll be watching is Representative Lauren Boebert’s Republican primary in Colorado. After nearly losing the general election in 2022, she switched to a more conservative district.

Israel’s top court delivers a blow to Netanyahu’s coalition

The Israeli Supreme Court ruled unanimously today that the military must begin drafting ultra-Orthodox Jewish men. The decision threatens Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s fragile wartime coalition, which relies on secular members who oppose the exemption and ultra-Orthodox parties that support it.

All nine judges agreed that there was no legal basis for the military exemption. The issue, long a source of tension, has only grown more heated as the war in Gaza has required tens of thousands of reservists to serve multiple tours and costing the lives of hundreds of soldiers.

In Gaza, half a million people are facing starvation because of a catastrophic lack of food, a group of global experts said.

The U.S. arrested 8 migrants over terrorism concerns

Months ago, eight Tajik men sought asylum at the southwestern U.S. border. Federal authorities had no reason to doubt that they were desperate migrants, so they were admitted into the country. Soon afterward, though, the F.B.I. learned that the men might have ties to the Islamic State and opened a counterterrorism investigation.

It was no ordinary investigation: The men were monitored constantly and the White House was updated regularly. This month, heightened concerns about an imminent attack triggered the arrest of all eight men on immigration charges, though it is not yet clear if the men were, in fact, planning an attack.

More top news

An intimate look at a superstar’s struggles

The new documentary “I Am: Celine Dion” delivers a grim reminder that illness shows no regard for even the most revered talents. Dion, who was diagnosed with a rare condition called stiff person syndrome, can’t even move her body, let alone deliver a soaring ballad with the full force that once roused millions.

In one scene, when Dion, 56, sees a sequined costume of hers hung up at her home and says “I think I was very good,” her use of the word was feels crushingly honest. But the movie is not uniformly sad: When Dion sings during a studio session, she still is very good.

A guide to midlife

Midlife, typically defined as the period from 40 to 60, is an inflection point. It’s often when we start to notice our bodies and minds aging in frustrating or disconcerting ways. But it’s also an opportunity to improve health and well-being going forward.

To help navigate it all, our health reporter Dana Smith asked readers to submit questions about middle age and answered the most common concerns, with the help of experts.

Roger Federer’s memorable send-off

There are thousands of graduation speeches on college campuses each spring. Most are unremarkable. But occasionally one becomes an online sensation, like Roger Federer’s address this month to Dartmouth graduates.

One part in particular has been shared with millions. It’s when Federer asked the audience what percentage of points he — a tennis legend — won in his career. The answer: 54 percent. “The best in the world are not the best because they win every point,” he said. “It’s because they know they’ll lose again and again, and have learned how to deal with it.”

Have an insightful evening.

Thanks for reading. I’ll be back tomorrow. — Matthew

Emree Weaver was our photo editor today.

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