Russia’s first cargo ship headed to Rostov, Russia, carrying 2,500 tons of metal from the Ukrainian city of Mariupol. “Today, 2,500 tons of hot rolled steel sheets left Mariupol port,” a Russian port official said. Ukraine decried the shipment as “looting.”
Russia declared full control of Mariupol earlier this month after more than 2,400 Ukrainian soldiers surrendered at the Russian-besieged Azovstal iron and steel works, and the port was demined and reopened to commercial vessels last week.
At least 16 people were killed in renewed protests across Kenya on the anniversary of last year’s controversial tax increase bill, Amnesty Kenya reported. President Irungu Houghton stated that at least five of the deaths were due to police shootings, confirmed by both Amnesty Kenya and the Kenya National Human Rights Commission.
Kenyatta National Hospital in Nairobi reported 107 injured, mostly with gunshot wounds. A Kenya Power security guard was also killed during the unrest.
The protests reignited after President William Ruto said he would not sign the tax bill, despite its earlier approval. Last year’s protests over the same bill left more than 60 dead and hundreds injured.
TR