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Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam to withdraw extradition bill
3 hours ago
Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam has said she will withdraw the highly controversial extradition bill which triggered months of protests.
The proposal, introduced in April, would have allowed criminal suspects to be extradited to mainland China.
The bill was suspended in June when Ms Lam called it "dead", but she stopped short of withdrawing it.
Full withdrawal is one of five key demands of protesters, who are also calling for full democratic rights...
zoom rader wrote:I call for Tobago independence
Show me the liesrandolphinshan wrote:zoom rader wrote:I call for Tobago independence
I call for your ban for continuous posting nonsense and lies
RT wrote: Lebanon’s ‘tax intifada’: Beirut aflame as protesters call for ‘downfall of the regime’
18 Oct, 2019 11:27 / Updated 2 hours ago
Thousands of protestors have blocked streets across Lebanon with flaming barricades, marching for a second consecutive day over new tax proposals, government ineptitude and inefficiency.
The spark for the latest wave of protests came in the form of a proposed new fee of 20 cents per day for calls via voice over internet protocol (VoIP). However, as the anti-government protests gained traction across the country, the proposal was quickly revoked by Telecoms Minister Mohamed Choucair. This proposed “WhatsApp tax” would have come in addition to a tax hike on Value-Added Tax (VAT) from 11 to 15 percent.
In addition, the country has just endured its worst forest fires in more than 10 years. The government also took flak for mismanaging the response and failure to limit the damage.
Thousands of protesters gathered outside the government headquarters in central Beirut on Thursday evening, as protesters chanted “the people want the downfall of the regime,” during the largest protests the country has witnessed in years.
The government has been widely criticized for failing to implement long-promised reforms aimed at tackling its ongoing economic woes, as unemployment for those under 35 remains stubbornly high at 37 percent. Lebanon also suffers under one of the world's largest debt burdens owing to its 15-year civil war which lasted from 1975 to 1990.
Lebanese media has described the latest round of protests, which cross sectarian lines, as a "tax intifada" and the "WhatsApp Revolution.” The government, which consists of almost all major parties, was appointed less than a year ago and many are already wondering whether it will survive the current unrest.
The cabinet was due to meet at the presidential palace in Baabda to discuss the 2020 state budget before the weekend, but Prime Minister Saad al-Hariri cancelled the meeting early on Friday.
So far, two foreign workers have died from smoke inhalation as a result of a fire that broke out near the protests in Beirut.
According to the Lebanese Red Cross, 22 people were taken to hospital and 77 treated for their injuries at the scene as police deployed rubber bullets, tear gas and baton charges to disperse the crowds of protesters that thronged the streets for up to 10 hours on Thursday evening.
All schools, universities and banks across the country are closed Friday on government orders in anticipation of further protests.
Chile protests: Unrest in Santiago over metro fare increase
19 October 2019
A state of emergency has been declared in the Chilean capital, Santiago, after protests sparked by increased metro ticket prices turned violent.
Protesters - many of them high school and university students - jumped turnstiles, attacked several underground stations, started fires and blocked traffic, leaving widespread damage across the city and thousands of commuters without transport.
Television pictures showed protesters throwing stones, attacking police vehicles and burning at least one bus. Anti-riot police used tear gas and batons against some protesters, who have been demonstrating for days against the increase.
The unrest exposes divisions in the country, one of Latin America's wealthiest but also one of its most unequal. There have been growing complaints about the cost of living - especially in Santiago, a city of some six million people - and calls for economic reforms.
Speaking on television, President Sebastián Piñera said the aim of the state of emergency was to "ensure public order and the safety of public and private property". The measure allows authorities to restrict people's freedom of movement and their right to assembly.
He also said the government would "call for a dialogue... to alleviate the suffering of those affected by the increase in fares".
Earlier this month, the government increased fares to $1.17 (£0.90) for a journey during peak hours, blaming higher energy costs and a weaker peso.
Speaking to Radio Agricultural earlier, President Piñera said: "It's one thing to demonstrate and another to commit the vandalism we have observed. This isn't protest, it's crime."
It was not immediately clear how many people had been detained or injured. Despite the protests, authorities said they would not reverse the fare increase.
The Chilean government condemned what it described as "acts of violence and vandalism" that were "being carried out by organised groups", and invoked the State Security Law that imposes harsher sentences for those found guilty of public disorder.
The protests continued after nightfall, with people clanging pots and blocking traffic.
Energy company Enel Chile said vandals had set fire to its high-rise corporate headquarters in the centre of Santiago. It said its workers were evacuated and no-one was injured.
After Friday's protests, metro authorities said all lines would remain closed for at least two days due to the serious destruction that made it impossible to operate the system safely. The damages were estimated at $700,000, including broken surveillance cameras and other equipment.
Santiago's underground system is considered one of Latin America's most modern, with 140km (86 miles) of track and 136 stations.
Bolivia mayor has hair forcibly cut by crowd of protesters
Image caption Patricia Arce was covered in red paint and had her hair cut off
The mayor of a small town in Bolivia has been attacked by opposition protesters who dragged her through the streets barefoot, covered her in red paint and forcibly cut her hair.
Patricia Arce of the governing Mas party was handed over to police in Vinto after several hours.
It is the latest in a series of violent clashes between government supporters and opponents in the wake of controversial presidential elections.
At least three people have died so far.
What happened?
A group of anti-government protesters was blocking a bridge in Vinto, a small town in Cochabamba province in central Bolivia, as part of their ongoing demonstrations following the presidential election on 20 October.
Rumours spread that two opposition protesters had been killed nearby in clashes with supporters of incumbent president, Evo Morales, prompting an angry group to march to the town hall.
The protesters accused Mayor Arce of having bussed in supporters of the president to try and break a blockade they had set up and blamed her for the reported deaths, one of which was later confirmed.
Amid shouts of "murderess, murderess" masked men dragged her through the streets barefoot to the bridge. There, they made her kneel down, cut her hair and doused her in red paint. They also forced her to sign a resignation letter.
Ms Arce was eventually handed over to the police who took her to a local health centre.
Her office was set alight and the windows of the town hall were smashed.
Who died?
The person killed in clashes between supporters and opponents of President Morales was identified as 20-year-old student Limbert Guzmán Vasquez. Doctors said Mr Guzmán Vasquez had a fractured skull which may have been caused by an explosive device.
He is the third person to be killed since the clashes between the two sides erupted on 20 October.
What's behind the clashes?
Tension has been running high since election night when the results count was inexplicably paused for 24 hours.
The suspension prompted suspicions among supporters of opposition candidate Carlos Mesa that the result had been rigged to allow Mr Morales, who has been in power since 2006 to stay on for another five years.
The final result gave Mr Morales just over the 10-percentage-point lead he needed to win outright in the first round of the presidential election.
Election observers from the Organization of American States (OAS) expressed their concerns and an audit by the body is currently underway. However, Mr Mesa has rejected the audit arguing that it was agreed without his or his party's input.
Mr Morales has accused Mr Mesa of staging a coup d'etat and supporters of each side have squared off in La Paz and other cities.
What do the protesters want?
Some protesters have adopted the motto: "Five demands, not one less!" These are:
• For the protests not to be characterised as a "riot"
• Amnesty for arrested protesters
• An independent inquiry into alleged police brutality
• Implementation of complete universal suffrage
• The fifth demand, the withdrawal of the bill, has already been met.
Some also want the resignation of Carrie Lam, whom they view as Beijing's puppet.
Protests supporting the Hong Kong movement have spread across the globe, with rallies taking place in the UK, France, US, Canada and Australia.
In many cases, people supporting the demonstrators were confronted by pro-Beijing rallies.
Chinese president Xi Jinping has warned against separatism, saying any attempt to divide China would end in "bodies smashed and bones ground to powder".
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-49317695
Ben_spanna wrote:So if the politicians withdrew the legislation for expedition in Hong Kong... why is there so much continuing protesting ?
De 18000 PNM ppl love it.rspann wrote:Ah raise gas three times and "Nobody ain't protest here yet, heh heh!"
Officer killed, police stations STORMED by protesters amid anti-fuel hike rallies in Iran
17 Nov, 2019 15:58
A police officer has died in a hospital after being critically injured during unrest in western Iran. He attempted to defend a city police command that was invaded by an angry mob, local media report.
The incident took place in the city of Kermanshah – a capital of a western Iranian province bordering Iraq – which saw major demonstrations on Saturday. One such rally spiraled into violent clashes between the protesters and the police, and ended up with an armed mob storming the police station.
The officer identified as Major Iraj Javaheri was inside the building and sought to stop the attackers but received a gunshot wound, Police Information Center spokesman, Commander Ali Akbar Javidan, told the local media. He was then rushed to a hospital, but succumbed to his injuries on Sunday night.
The attack on the police station in Kermanshah was not an isolated incident, as the protests sparked by a surprise gasoline price hike apparently grew increasingly violent. A footage obtained by RT Arabic shows a transport police headquarters in the city of Karaj, located just west of Tehran, burning, after it was supposedly stormed by violent protesters.
The video also shows some people hurling stones at the building, with its entrance blocked by boulders and litter. Public outrage was provoked by the government’s decision to raise gasoline price from 10,000 rials per liter to 15,000, which translates into about $0.13 a liter, or about $0.50 a gallon. Those who would like to buy more than 60 liters in a month, would also have to pay double price.
The move announced on Thursday was criticized by some Iranian clerics and secular officials and gave rise to demonstrations on Friday. The rallies were initially largely peaceful, but the public anger soon escalated into vandalism and clashes between demonstrators and police.
On Sunday, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei blamed violence during the rallies on criminal and foreign influence, while backing the government’s decision. He also confirmed that some people died in the protests. Earlier, the Iranian authorities said that one person was killed in the southeastern city of Sirjan.
Sirjan’s acting Governor Mohammad Mahmoudabadi also told journalists that some violent elements within a largely “calm gathering” damaged public property, including fuel stations, sought access to a local oil company’s major fuel depots and even set them on fire.
Ben_spanna wrote:if enough people are fedup we should have some form of agreement with the government that we could apply by the thousands for Refugee status to first world countries.
i wonder how many people would leave for good!?!
Blaze d Chalice wrote:Plenty of them riots and protests is in homogeneous societies.
'Their own' protesting 'their own'
For Trini to protest it will require people to put aside race.
And even if they do manage, whoever race in charge, will try to chain up 'their own'
Colombia protests: Troops stay on streets as unrest continues
Colombia's President Iván Duque has said security forces will remain on the streets to maintain order, as protests continued for a third day.
The anti-government demonstrations erupted on Thursday, when more than 250,000 marched in a national strike.
They started peacefully but clashes between protesters and police have since broken out, and there have been reports of vandalism and looting.
Mr Duque said troops would carry out joint patrols with police.
"We express the total and absolute rejection of all Colombians for the vandalism, for the terrorism, for the looting," Mr Duque told reporters on Saturday.
At least three people have died since the protests against corruption and possible austerity measures began.
A curfew was imposed in the capital, Bogotá, on Friday, but it did not deter protesters from returning to the streets a day later.
When protests resumed on Saturday, police used tear gas to disperse hundreds of people who had gathered near Bogotá's National Park, reports said.
Demonstrators also gathered outside of congress in Bolivar Plaza, near the presidential palace.
Separately, late on Friday, three police officers were killed in a bomb attack in the country's south-west.
It is not clear if the incident is connected to the protests. The area is notorious for drug trafficking and gang violence.
What are the protests about?
Colombians have taken to the streets over possible changes to the minimum wage, pension and tax reforms, and the privatisation of state companies. The government insists there are no planned pension or labour reforms and that any changes would take place in consultation with labour groups.
Protesters are also angry about alleged corruption and what some see as the government's failure to honour a 2016 peace deal with left-wing Farc rebels amid a rise in violence.
Thursday's general strike was called by unions and student groups, and more protests were held on Friday, with police using tear gas to disperse crowds
President Duque said he had heard Colombians and vowed to deepen "social dialogue".
Unrest in Colombia has coincided with a surge of anti-government demonstrations elsewhere in Latin America.
Protesters have taken to the streets in several Latin American countries in recent months, including in Chile, where conservative President Sebastián Piñera is grappling with the country's biggest crisis since its return to democracy in 1990.
In Bolivia, claims of election fraud led to the resignation of long-time leftist President Evo Morales amid nationwide protests. Demonstrations have also taken place in Ecuador and Nicaragua.
Macron pension reform: France paralysed by biggest national strike in years
A nationwide strike has severely disrupted schools and public transport across France.
Workers are angry at being forced to retire later or face reduced pensions.
School and transport workers have been joined by police, lawyers, and hospital and airport staff for a general walkout that could include millions of people.
France's largest nationwide strike in years was agreed by unions unhappy with President Emmanuel Macron's plans for a universal points-based pension system.
"What we've got to do is shut the economy down," said union official Christian Grolier of the Force Ouvrière (Workers' Force). "People are spoiling for a fight."
Interior Minister Christophe Castaner said on the eve of the strike he expected almost 250 demonstrations nationwide, some of which he said could turn violent.
"We know there will be lots of people in these protests and we know the risks. I have requested that systematically when there is rioting or violence we make arrests immediately," he said.
On Paris's famous Champs-Élysées boulevard, riot police began searching pedestrians' bags before dawn, and shops on a planned protest route have been ordered to close.
How bad is the transport chaos?
Transport networks ground to a near-halt in some areas on Thursday morning.
Some 90% of high-speed TGV and intercity trains have been cancelled, with buses also affected. In Paris, just five of the city's 16 metro lines are running.
The early rush hour saw deserted stations as commuters shared car rides, took to their bikes or worked from home.
"Public transport will be very difficult today, as it will tomorrow and probably this weekend too," junior transport minister Jean-Baptiste Djebbari told French station RTL radio.
Train operators Eurostar and Thalys, which run international services, have cancelled at least half their services linking Paris with London and Brussels. Eurostar will operate a reduced timetable until 10 December.
Air travel has been badly affected, with hundreds of flights cancelled. Air France said it would cancel 30% of internal flights and 30% of short-haul international flights, amid walk-outs by air traffic controllers.
Low-cost carrier EasyJet has cancelled 223 domestic and short-haul international flights, and warned passengers to expect delays.
Who else is walking out?
Nurses and hospital staff, lawyers and police officers, refuse collectors, energy staff and postal workers are among others participating in industrial action.
France's health minister said it was not yet clear how badly hospitals would be affected, but preparations had been made to deal with the strike.
Parents with children of primary school age will also be affected.
The largest primary school teachers' union said it expected as many as four out of 10 schools to shut across the country. About 70% of primary teachers are expected to take industrial action.
The union representing secondary or high schools expects 60% of teachers to go on strike but schools are due to stay open.
Farmers, whose pensions are among the lowest in the country, have said they will not join Thursday's strikes.
How long will the disruption last?
The industrial action is expected to last beyond Thursday and some trade union leaders have warned they will keep it up until Mr Macron abandons his campaign promise to overhaul the retirement system.
One opinion poll put public support for the strikes at 69%, with backing strongest among 18-34 year-olds.
The Macron administration will hope to avoid a repeat of the country's general strike over pension reforms in 1995, which crippled the transport system for three weeks and drew massive popular support, forcing a government reversal.
A number of yellow-vest protesters known as "gilets jaunes" said they planned to join the demonstrations.
The movement, which emerged at the end of 2018, started with demonstrations against a sharp increase in diesel taxes, but has broadened to reflect anger over higher living costs and President Macron's economic policies.
Are Macron's pension reforms really that controversial?
France currently has a system comprising dozens of different schemes and Mr Macron wants to create a unified system, which he says would be more fair.
His new plan aims to reward employees for each day worked, awarding points that would later be transferred into future pension benefits.
The official retirement age has been raised in the last decade from 60 to 62, but remains one of the lowest among the OECD group of rich nations - in the UK, for example, the retirement age is 66.
The move to a universal points-based pension system would remove the most advantageous pensions for a number of jobs ranging from sailors to lawyers and even opera workers.
Meanwhile, those retiring before 64 would receive a lower pension. For example, someone retiring at 63 would receive 5% less, so unions fear it will mean having to work longer for a lower pension.
A recent poll concluded that 75% of people thought that pension reforms were necessary, but only a third believed the government could deliver them.
What do the workers say?
Several workers have explained their grievances, ranging from poor salaries to frustration with the political class.
Paris metro driver Damien Vitry told the France Info news website that he provided a service so others could celebrate New Year's Eve.
"You lose out with your family life and that's why we get compensation," he said. "This pension reform is a bit like a football match where they change the rules at half-time.
With all the added measures he would now have to work longer if he wanted a full pension, he complained.
Train driver Cyril Romero, from Toulouse, told France Info he would reconsider his job if the reforms went through.
"I started in 2001 with a contract that allowed me to leave at 50. But like everyone else, I got the reforms which pushed back my early retirement age to 52-and-a-half and then, in reality, 57-and-a-half for full pension. Now they want to make us work even longer."
An unnamed history teacher, writing in Huffpost, was planning to strike on Friday as well as Thursday.
"For me, the pension reforms are one punch too many. We're fighting not to lose hundreds of euros of pension a month - after more than 40 years in a job.
"How can you dream of ending your career in front of pupils beyond the age of 70, in worsening conditions and on what for many of us is just a minimum wage?"
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