Nairobi, Kenya
CNN
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One of Kenya’s most prominent human rights activists has been released on bail after being charged with illegal possession of ammunition as critics accused them of increasing efforts to curb challenges in the East African country.

Boniface Mwangi was arrested over the weekend “in connection with promoting terrorist activities” during the June 25 protest, and Kenya’s Criminal Investigation Bureau (DCI) was announced on social media on Sunday, prompting immediate outrage among activists.

When the 42-year-old award-winning photographer appeared in court Monday, the terrorist charges had been downgraded to two counts of “possession of ammunition without a valid firearm certificate” due to the tear canister and the blank round that was allegedly found in his office.

His arrest says that over 100 protesters have been charged with terrorist crimes, arson and money laundering over the past month that has sparked demonstrations, particularly among young people whose support has urged him to power.

“I’m known as a human rights advocate, not a terrorist,” Mwangi told CNN on Monday evening after being released on bail. “I’m very burning. I’m not scared at all. The only thing that can stop me is the bullet in my head, but as long as I’m alive, I will continue to organize for a change of government. The government we have is not working for the people.”

Mwangi, who is critical of the Kenyan government and describes himself as a “guard of people.” He was arrested at his home by Plaincross police officers on Saturday and taken to his office in Nairobi, the capital.

He claimed that officers plundered the office, confiscated the device and found it. Two unused tear canisters and one blank round. Protesters often display canisters or rounds during demonstrations against journalists as evidence of police brutality and excessive use of force.

Social Media Videos Mwangi showed that he screamed “ruto has to go!” when he was kicked out of his office on Saturday.

Mwangi denied the charges. The judge released him through personal bonds and set the hearing date on August 21st.

Protests erupted in June after several incidents of suspected police brutality, including the death of a teacher in police custody.

During the protests, allegations swirled among social media frustrated demonstrators that government-related politicians attacked peaceful protesters and hired people to undermine their property in order to trust the demonstrations. The Kenyan Legal Association, which advises and supports legal professions, the government and the public, said the protest “pervades armed and hired idiots” in a harsh statement on Monday. “We strongly condemn this malicious and intentional re-emergence of radical militias sponsored by the political class.. ”

During the recent protest, CNN fought alongside police while uniformed officers watched, begging civilians in Nairobi and seeing a group of men armed with batons. The businesses were burned in other parts of the country and police stations were attacked.

CNN requested comment from the Kenyan government and police but did not respond.

President Root accused some misleading young politicians of the riot on Sunday, warning of the outcome. “The police are trained to deal with criminals. They are not trained in parenting. So, what would you expect if you abandon your child to the police?”

The right to protest is protected under the Kenya constitution, but authorities have characterized the recent demonstrations as a chaotic looter. Kenyan prosecutors slapped several young people with arson and terrorism accusations following the protest, and the judges placed large bail conditions despite many claiming their innocence.

Rights groups have condemned the use of terrorist accusations.

“We are deeply concerned about the continued misuse of the terrorism prevention law to manage public order,” according to a statement Monday from the Police Reform Working Group, a coalition of civil society organizations that monitor police. “This practice undermines Kenya’s criminal justice system and puts critical international partnerships aimed at protecting national security.”

The Kenya branch of the International Judicial Committee on Sunday said it was “surprising at the growth patterns of arbitrary arrests and launch crimes targeting innocent youth.” In a statement, the human rights group added: “What began as targeted persecution of young protesters demanding accountability has shifted to a full-scale attack on Kenya’s democracy.”

The government denied fraud. The prosecutor’s office defended the use of terrorist accusations, saying the protest was “a calculation and coordinated act of violence” and that the office was “committed to performing constitutional duties in accordance with the law, the public interest and judicial administration.”

“We want to reassure the public that all charges have come from strictly based on the evidence available,” he added Monday.

Heavy police

Activists like Mwangi and legal experts say the Kenyan government is violating dissent by using accusations such as terrorism, arson and money laundering to create fear among protesters.

Over the past year, CNN has filmed security forces fiercely split protests on multiple occasions, shooting unarmed protesters and assaulting bystanders. At least 38 people were killed and 130 injured in another protest earlier this month, according to the Kenya Human Rights Commission.

President Root previously told police officers on July 9 to shoot “snatchers and arsonists” with their legs if they consider them a threat, rather than killing them.

His Home Minister Kipchumba Malkomen went further after a week by issuing orders for officers to shoot and kill protesters who approach the police station. The former legal instructor tried to return comments after public protests, but did not retract the order.

On Monday, Marcomen called out people to challenge the accusations of fear, saying, “If you break into police stations and burn guns and steal guns, you’ll burn courts… and people’s business, what’s that crime if it’s not terrorism?”

Mwangi told CNN that Ruto and his government are “weaponizing DCI to criminalize dissent that is permitted by the Constitution, but he will fail.”

“They want to scare young people (away) out of protest because it’s difficult to get jobs,” he said. “And if the kids aren’t scared, they want to scare their parents.”

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CNN
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The United States is on the verge of falling out of the top 10 most powerful passports in the world.

The latest quarterly update of the Henry Passport Index, created by Henry & Partners, a London-based global citizenship and residential advisory firm, the US, which took the No. 1 position in 2014, ranked 10th in the rankings.

It is the lowest position in the United States in the 20-year history of the Index, using exclusive data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA) to track the global freedom of movement of 199 passport holders to 227 countries and territories around the world. Henry also counts multiple countries with the same score as one spot in the ranking, so there are actually 33 countries on the list, surpassing the US.

Entering the second half of this year, Singapore has achieved No. 1 position as the world’s most powerful passport in 2025.

The owners of this most desirable travel document enjoy visa-free access to 193 of the 227 destinations around the world.

Naturally, Singapore does not hand out passports to foreigners like Candy. To apply for Singapore citizenship, you will need at least two years of permanent residency, reviews of “economic contributions” and other qualifications, and mandatory national services for male applicants.

Korea joined Japan in second place in the rankings, with an open door to 190 destinations, ensuring that Asian countries have a solid lead in the global mobility race.

Denmark, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy and Spain all have access to 189 destinations that do not require previous visas, along with Finland, in the third tier, stage 3.

Europe is also shaking beyond the fourth position in the rankings of seven countries: Austria, Belgium, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal and Sweden. All enjoy visa-free access to 188 destinations.

Greece, Switzerland and New Zealand are in fifth place. All of these allow visa-free access to 187 destinations.

On the other side of the list, at number 99, Afghanistan has no access to 25 visa-free destinations and remains trapped at 25 less destinations than earlier this year. Syria is at 98 (27 destinations) and Iraq is at 97 (30 destinations).

This is the yawning movement gap for 168 destinations between top rank and bottom passports.

The UK ranked number one in the rankings due to visa-free access to 186 destinations. Australia, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Malta and Poland ranked 7th, while Canada, Estonia and the United Arab Emirates ranked 8th.

The United Arab Emirates is one of the index’s biggest success stories, rising from 42nd to 8th place in the last decade.

China has also jumped from 94 to 60 since 2015. This has been achieved without visa access to 29 countries in Schengen region of Europe.

“Active and strategic diplomacy”

The ninth place is shared by Croatia, Latvia, Slovakia and Slovenia, while the No. 10 is owned by Iceland, Lithuania and the United States. The US currently has visa-free access to 182 destinations around the world.

With provisions from the Trump administration’s recently enacted domestic policy bill, the United States will promptly require international visitors to pay a new “visa integrity fee” of at least $250, which was added to existing visa application fees. This fee applies to all visitors who need to obtain a non-immigrant visa to enter the United States.

Critics, including the American Travel Association, a national nonprofit that aims to increase travel to the United States, have panned new visa fees as a way to block visitors.

Christian H. Kaelin, chairman of Henley and Partners, said in the release that the latest Henley Passport Index reveals an increasingly competitive landscape in global mobility.

“The integration we see is that access must be acquired and maintained through aggressive and strategic diplomacy, underscores that access must be maintained,” he said. “The number of countries that actively negotiate visa exemptions and foster mutual agreements continues to increase, but opposition applies to those that are less involved in such efforts.”

The Henley & Partners list is one of several indexes created by financial companies, ranking global passports based on the access they provide to their citizens.

The Arton Capital Passport Index considers 193 UN member states and six territories passports (Taiwan, Macau, Hong Kong, Kosovo, Palestinian Territories, and Vatican). Areas annexed by other countries are excluded.

It is also updated in real time throughout the year, with the data collected through close monitoring of individual government portals.

Arton’s Global Passport Power Rank 2025 put the United Arab Emirates in the top spot, earning a 179 visa-free/Visa-on-Arrival score. Swoce is held by Spain with a score of 176.

The World Health Organization (WHO) staff residence and main warehouse were attacked by Israeli forces on Monday, the organization said.

Israeli tanks rolled into Gazanchuo on Monday for the first time since the start of the 21-month war, media reports said.

The organization damaged anyone’s main warehouse after the attack caused an explosion and fire, as “part of a systematic pattern of destruction of health facilities.” According to a WHO statement released Monday, the warehouse was later plundered by a “desperate crowd.”

CNN contacted the Israeli Defense Forces for comment.

The residence of WHO staff members also had been attacked three times, saying, “After the airstrikes caused fires and serious damage, they said they had staff and their families, including those who were seriously at risk and traumatized.

According to the WHO, the women and children were evacuated to the facility by Israeli forces, and the men were forced to be “handcuffed, interrogated on the spot and reviewed at muzzle.”

Four people were detained by Israeli forces, and three were later released.

“Because the major warehouses are not functioning, the majority of Gaza medical supplies are significantly constrained by hospitals, emergency medical teams and health partners, and already have very shorter medicines, fuels and equipment,” the organization said.

All locations of the facility are known to all parties involved in the conflict, but that will continue and the WHO will remain in Deial Balau to “provide and expand operations.”

“People who are awakened to dangerous conditions for humanitarians and healthcare workers to operate. As security situations and access continue to deteriorate, red lines have repeatedly crossed, and humanitarian operations have been pushed into shrink spaces to respond,” he said, calling for staff releases, staff and facilities to allow assistance in Gaza.