Mamdani’s multilingual, meme-friendly style wins over young voters

SPOKANE: Devastating wildfires sweeping across the outskirts of Spokane, Washington, have destroyed more than 700 buildings, displaced 64,000 residents, and prompted fears that fatalities may be discovered as emergency crews struggle to contain the fast-moving infernos. The cluster of three major wildfires, which erupted over the weekend, has become the highest firefighting priority in the United States, with more than 1,100 firefighters deployed to battle the flames. Despite their efforts, officials confirmed that none of the fires had been contained by Monday. The blazes have scorched over 8,000 acres (3,200 hectares) on the northern edge of Spokane, Washington’s second-largest city, located near the Idaho border. Thick smoke has blanketed the region, reducing visibility and worsening air quality across large parts of the Pacific Northwest. Dramatic aerial footage showed firefighting aircraft repeatedly dropping fire retardant over forests as towering flames raced toward residential neighborhoods. Entire communities have been reduced to ashes, with officials warning that another 400 structures may also have been damaged or destroyed. For many families, the evacuation came with little warning. Among them was Kami Fehlig, who fled her home with her husband, two daughters and family dog after watching flames leap across the Spokane River and race toward their neighborhood. “We knew we had to leave immediately,” she recalled. “We grabbed our wedding album, baby books, pet supplies and whatever we could carry before the power went out.” Hours later, the family learned that their home and surrounding neighborhood had been completely destroyed. Authorities said thousands more residents remain under mandatory evacuation orders as shifting winds continue to threaten additional communities. Emergency officials also warned that the full scale of the disaster may not yet be known. Several people have been reported missing, while search teams have been unable to access some of the hardest-hit areas because of intense fire activity. “There is a high probability that fatalities will be found once crews can safely enter devastated neighborhoods,” incident command spokesperson Benjamin Cossel said. The cause of the fires remains under investigation. The Spokane fires are part of an exceptionally severe wildfire season gripping the Pacific Northwest. Washington alone is battling 15 major wildfires, with more than 250,000 acres already burned. Across the United States, officials have recorded over 44,700 wildfires so far this year, consuming nearly 5.2 million acres, making it one of the worst fire seasons in recent years. Neighboring British Columbia, Canada, is also experiencing intense wildfire activity fueled by record drought conditions and extreme heat. Fire managers hope a brief period of cooler temperatures and lighter winds will help firefighters make progress before another round of scorching weather arrives later this week. Scientists say increasingly frequent and intense wildfire seasons across North America and Europe are being driven by prolonged drought, rising temperatures and other effects linked to human-caused climate change, leaving communities facing ever-growing environmental and economic challenges.

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced that the newly inaugurated government of Colombian President Abelardo de la Espriella has formally requested US collaboration in joint military operations within Colombia to combat drug trafficking organizations. Speaking in Panama City during a meeting of the Americas Counter-Cartel Coalition, Hegseth confirmed that Colombia will join the US-led “Shield of the Americas” regional counter-narcotics initiative as its 19th member nation. De la Espriella, a conservative leader sworn into office last week, has taken a hardline stance against armed groups, reversing the policy direction of his predecessor, Gustavo Petro. Hegseth also urged participating Latin American nations to reject the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court (ICC). Addressing legal scrutiny surrounding recent US military strikes against suspected regional drug networks, Hegseth maintained that US counter-cartel actions fully comply with international humanitarian law.

NEW DELHI: A massive youth-led protest in India’s capital has taken an unusual turn after thousands of demonstrators responded to a police crackdown not only with slogans but also with memes, short videos and social media posts. The online campaign has become a powerful extension of the street movement, with young protesters using humour to document their experiences and keep public attention focused on their demands. The demonstrations were organised by supporters of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), a youth movement that first emerged over allegations of examination paper leaks and irregularities in government recruitment. Over time, the campaign expanded into a broader call for transparency, accountability and reforms in India’s education and recruitment systems. Tens of thousands of protesters marched towards Parliament in New Delhi, demanding the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. Demonstrators accused the government of failing to stop repeated examination leaks that they say have damaged the future of millions of students. The minister has rejected the allegations and insisted that opposition parties are using students for political purposes. Police blocked the march before protesters could reach Parliament. Security personnel used tear gas and baton charges to disperse the crowd after demonstrators attempted to cross security barriers. Authorities also suspended mobile internet services around the protest area, saying the measure was necessary to maintain law and order. Both protesters and police reported injuries during the clashes. Demonstrators claimed that many participants were beaten during the operation, while police said several officers were also injured. Once internet services were restored, social media platforms were flooded with videos recorded during the protest. Instead of sharing only images of violence, many young protesters posted humorous clips showing themselves preparing for the march, running from tear gas and joking about the day’s events. Several participants uploaded “fit check” videos before joining the protest. The popular social media trend, usually used to show clothing and fashion, was transformed into political content. Some joked that they were dressed for a protest where they expected to face police action. Hours later, many of those same individuals were posting videos from the streets after the clashes. Other protesters shared short clips reviewing the effects of tear gas in a humorous style or laughing about the long distances they ran while escaping baton charges. The humour quickly attracted millions of views and became one of the defining features of the protest movement online. Participants said the jokes were never meant to make light of the violence. Instead, they described humour as a way to deal with fear and emotional stress. Many said laughing together helped them remain calm during an extremely tense situation. Young demonstrators also explained that recording videos had become a natural part of participating in modern protests. Smartphones allowed them to document events from their own perspective and preserve evidence of what happened on the streets. Researchers who study digital culture say the protests highlight how political activism is changing among younger generations. Unlike traditional demonstrations that relied mainly on speeches, banners and newspapers, today’s movements increasingly use short videos, memes and online storytelling to spread their message. Experts believe internet humour has become an effective political tool because it reaches audiences who may not normally follow current affairs. A single viral video or meme can introduce complex political issues to millions of young people in a simple and engaging way. Observers also note that humour has always played an important role in protest movements around the world. Songs, cartoons, street theatre and satire have historically helped protesters build unity, reduce fear and maintain morale during difficult campaigns. Social media has simply given those traditions a new digital form.