The Hong Kong leader, Carrie Lam, has banned people from wearing face masks during protests and in all public assemblies by invoking rarely used emergency powers, prompting thousands of people to take to the streets against the measure. Pro-democracy demonstrators have used masks to hide their identities in the past four months of escalating tensions with the Chinese government, and officials are hoping a ban may dissuade many from participating
Category Archives: Protest
Hong Kong protests: journalist blinded in one eye amid mounting violence
Journalists’ association files judicial review over treatment of media and ‘excessive force’
An Indonesian journalist hit in the face by a rubber bullet during protests in Hong Kong has been permanently blinded in one eye, her lawyer has said, in what is the most serious injury among members of the media since the movement began in June.
There are growing concerns about the threat to journalists from the escalating violence, and an increasingly hostile climate that saw one reporter arrested on Tuesday, after several others were injured by police and one by protesters in a day of chaotic violence. All were wearing high-visibility jackets and “press” markings.
Continue reading...Corruption won’t be solved by ‘wishing it away’, Iraqi government warned
Iraq PM’s adviser claims violent protests can only be addressed by tackling corruption head-on
A head-on confrontation with institutionalised corruption among Iraqi politicians is the only way to address the protests gripping the country, a senior adviser to the country’s beleaguered prime minister, Adel Abdul-Mahdi, has warned.
But admitting that Mahdi may not have the political capital to fight the corruption, Laith Kubba said: “We have problems with those political groups who have their grip over money, banks and power, and rooted to corruption. It is a problem and there is no real answer to it.
Continue reading...At least seven killed as Iraqi security forces fire on protesters
More violence marked second day of angry rallies against unemployment and corruption
At least seven people have been killed and dozens wounded in clashes across Iraq, as security forces fired live ammunition and teargas for the second day to disperse anti-government protesters demanding jobs, improved services and an end to corruption.
The deaths brought the overall number of protesters killed in two days of violence to nine. Protests on Tuesday had left two dead – one in Baghdad and another in the city of Nasiriyah – and over 200 wounded.
Continue reading...‘This means war’, says Hong Kong protester at school sit-in after teenager shot – video
Hundreds of college students have staged a sit-in in Hong Kong to condemn the police officer who shot a teenager in the chest during protests on China's National Day. At a news conference outside Tsuen Wan Public Ho Chuen Yiu Memorial college, where the teenager is a student, a masked protester called for a new government and said 'this means war'
Continue reading...Hong Kong protester shot as China National Day demonstrations intensify – video
Hong Kong police shot an 18-year-old protester in the chest with live ammunition as demonstrations in the city intensified.
The incident came as many Hongkongers defied a ban on demonstrations on the day marking the 70th anniversary of communist rule in China.
Protests called to mark a 'national day of grief' saw tens of thousands of people demonstrate across the city in what was the most widespread show of public anger towards Beijing yet.
Hong Kong protesters rain on China’s anniversary parade
Beijing’s carefully planned celebrations turned into a PR disaster for Xi Jinping
October 1 was meant to be a carefully choreographed showcase of China’s military and economic might on the 70th anniversary of communist rule, and a celebration of the strongman president, Xi Jinping.
But after a picture-perfect parade was beamed around the world from Beijing, the one part of the country that is not under his full control ripped up the playbook, with the people of Hong Kong pouring on to the streets to challenge Xi’s vision for China.
Continue reading...Hong Kong protesters and police exchange blows in China National Day clashes – video
Violent clashes have rocked Hong Kong as riot police forcefully broke up protesters on the day China celebrated the 70th anniversary of Communist party rule.
The event is the country's most important of the year as it looks to project its assurance in the face of mounting challenges, including nearly four months of anti-government protests in Hong Kong and an economy-sapping trade war with the US
Hong Kong protesters use chairs as barricade during riots – video
Demonstrations in Hong Kong on China's National Day escalated into violence as protesters threw petrol bombs at police, who retaliated with teargas and rubber bullets. One group of protesters made a barricade with three linked chairs as they took cover from police fire
- Hong Kong protester reportedly shot in chest as China National Day demos intensify – live
- Xi Jinping warns ‘no force can shake this great nation’
‘Human rights before mining rights’: German villagers take on coal firm
Residents say they will not be ousted by energy firm seeking to expand the Garzweiler mine
A group of villagers living on the edge of one of Germany’s biggest surface coalmines have vowed not sell their properties to the energy company RWE, and to mount a legal challenge against any attempt to oust them from their homes.
The protest alliance is the first coordinated effort in more than 10 years against the expansion of the Garzweiler mine in the western state of North Rhine-Westphalia, which threatens the existence of 12 villages that are home to 7,600 residents. Demolition of the first four villages is scheduled to begin in 2023.
Continue reading...Protesters hit with teargas and petrol bombs in clashes with police in Hong Kong – video
Police in Hong Kong have used teargas and pepper spray against thousands of protesters who gathered for an unsanctioned march in the Causeway Bay shopping district. The city is bracing for days of protests and clashes culminating in anti-government demonstrations on Tuesday, China’s National Day – a politically significant anniversary marking 70 years since the founding of the People’s Republic of China
Continue reading...Police fire teargas and pepper spray as Hong Kong protests continue
Riot officers confront crowds gathered in Causeway Bay shopping district
Hong Kong police have used teargas and pepper spray on thousands of protesters as demonstrations enter the 17th week in the city’s most serious political crisis in decades.
The protest, which was not sanctioned by police, was scheduled to start at 3pm local time (0800 BST) in the Causeway Bay shopping district, but dozens of riot police began guarding the area hours before. They stopped and searched a number of young people dressed in black.
Continue reading...Teargas and water cannon fired at Hong Kong protesters – video
Teargas and water cannon was fired at Hong Kong protesters by police during a large rally marking the fifth anniversary of the umbrella protests on Saturday 28.
Earlier in the day, activists put posters and banners on the 'Lennon wall' a series of messages through the city calling for democracy
Continue reading...‘Hong Kong can’t go back to normal’: protesters keep Umbrella spirit alive
Police fire teargas at rally marking five-year anniversary of pro-democracy movement
Large numbers of police were on the streets of Hong Kong on Saturday night as officers conducted stop and searches on public transit lines and questioned residents wearing black, the colour adopted by protesters, after a mass rally dispersed to mark the fifth anniversary of the pro-democracy “umbrella movement”.
Protesters changed into civilian clothes in alleys and behind walls of umbrellas in districts close to government headquarters, where earlier police fired a water cannon filled with dye and abrasive liquid from behind defensive barriers.
Continue reading...Greta Thunberg meets Justin Trudeau amid climate strikes: ‘He is not doing enough’
Teen has private meeting with Canadian prime minister, who later says he ‘agrees with her completely’
The teen activist Greta Thunberg has urged Justin Trudeau and other world leaders to do more for the environment as she led half a million protesters in Montreal as part of a global wave of “climate strikes.”
The 16-year-old Swede met privately with the Canadian prime minister but later told a news conference with local indigenous leaders that he was “not doing enough” to curb greenhouse gases responsible for global warming.
Continue reading...Egypt’s Tahrir Square on lockdown as regime moves to stifle protests
Security forces patrol Cairo, a week after rare rallies appeared to catch Sisi regime off guard
Egyptian security forces have blocked access to Cairo’s Tahrir Square, the highly symbolic focal point of the 2011 revolution, as part of a wide-ranging crackdown aimed at heading off planned protests against the president, Abdel Fatah al-Sisi.
Barricades and checkpoints on surrounding streets and the Qasr al-Nil Bridge diverted traffic on Friday afternoon, and three metro stations underneath the square were closed. Security officials stopped and searched pedestrians in the vicinity.
Continue reading...Fresh wave of climate strikes takes place around the world
Hundreds of thousands hit streets across continents to demand action on climate
Hundreds of thousands of people around the world are taking place in the latest wave of climate strikes to demand urgent action on the escalating ecological emergency.
Last week, millions walked out of schools and workplaces, uniting across timezones, cultures and generations in the biggest climate protests in history before a special UN conference in New York.
Continue reading...The Guardian view on Egypt: Sisi isn’t everyone’s favourite dictator | Editorial
While foreign leaders buddy up to Abdel Fatah al-Sisi, his people endure a brutal crackdown on rights
Even before Egyptian authorities warned that they would “decisively confront” any protests that take place on Friday, it was evident that it would require extraordinary courage to answer the call to the streets. Abdel Fatah al-Sisi’s regime has repeatedly shown its utter ruthlessness since seizing power six years ago in a coup. Security forces killed thousands of people protesting against the takeover. The country has locked up 60,000 political prisoners. Executions have soared this year.
Yet hundreds of people did demonstrate in cities including Cairo, Suez and Alexandria last week. The authorities responded with teargas, rubber bullets, beatings and live ammunition. Almost 2,000 people have since been arrested – more than are thought to have taken part. They include several prominent figures who do not appear to have been involved in any way, including the internationally recognised rights lawyer Mahienour el-Massry, who was defending protesters; the journalist and opposition politician Khaled Dawoud; and Hazem Hosny, a former spokesperson for Sami Anan, the former military chief of staff detained since he tried to challenge Mr Sisi for the presidency last year.
Continue reading...Over 1,900 arrested as Egypt braces for more protests
Demonstrations planned for Friday against rule of Abdel Fatah al-Sisi
More than 1,900 people have been arrested in Egypt in the last week, as the country braces for further demonstrations on Friday against the rule of president Abdel Fatah al-Sisi.
The figures were compiled by the Cairo-based NGO the Egyptian Center for Economic and Social Rights. Bystanders and others who had little to do with the protests were reportedly detained along with the demonstrators, and those arrested were being held across the country.
Continue reading...Contractor, actor … protest leader? The Egyptian exile driving rare dissent
Mohamed Ali is unlikely source of viral videos about corruption that have stirred resentment
Hundreds of protesters have taken to the streets across Egypt since Friday in a rare show of public dissent against Abdel-Fatah al-Sisi’s rule. But the call for demonstrations came from an unlikely source: a contractor and part-time actor living in exile in Barcelona, who has made bold corruption claims in a string of viral videos.
Mohamed Ali is a former military contractor who addresses Egyptians from his apartment, shirt often unbuttoned and cigarette in hand. His colloquial style of speech, sometimes swearing in an accent more working class than his own, is intended to present a man-of-the-people appeal. Ali has called for a million Egyptians to march on Friday.
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