The situation in Uttar Pradesh's Unnao has returned to normal on Sunday after hundreds of farmers and the Unnao police clashed at the site for the ambitious Trans-Ganga City on Saturday, with the former claiming that they had not been adequately compensated for the land acquired by the Uttar Pradesh State Industrial Development Authority (UPSIDA). 
 
The local administration and the police are on alert and keeping an eye on the farmers residing in the area. 
 
Also, a heavy force is deployed at the protest site in order to prevent any untoward incident in the future. 
 
On Saturday, scores of farmers pelted stones at the JCB machine which was deployed to carry out work for the high-tech trans-Ganga city, claiming that they have not received compensation for their land acquired by the UPSIDA&nbsp;in 2012. 
 
Trans Ganga City is the planned satellite township in the Indian province of Uttar Pradesh in the Unnao district which comes under the Kanpur metropolitan area. 
 
The area comprises the stretch from the limits of the Unnao Municipality to the Ganga river near Kanpur on NH 25 and Unnao-Shuklaganj Highway. 
 
The Uttar Pradesh government has also proposed a Skill Development University near the proposed Hi-tech city.

The situation in Uttar Pradesh's Unnao has returned to normal on Sunday after hundreds of farmers and the Unnao police clashed at the site for the ambitious Trans-Ganga City on Saturday, with the former claiming that they had not been adequately compensated for the land acquired by the Uttar Pradesh State Industrial Development Authority (UPSIDA).

The situation in Uttar Pradesh's Unnao has returned to normal on Sunday after hundreds of farmers and the Unnao police clashed at the site for the ambitious Trans-Ganga City on Saturday, with the former claiming that they had not been adequately compensated for the land acquired by the Uttar Pradesh State Industrial Development Authority (UPSIDA). The local administration and the police are on alert and keeping an eye on the farmers residing in the area. Also, a heavy force is deployed at the protest site in order to prevent any untoward incident in the future. On Saturday, scores of farmers pelted stones at the JCB machine which was deployed to carry out work for the high-tech trans-Ganga city, claiming that they have not received compensation for their land acquired by the UPSIDA in 2012. Trans Ganga City is the planned satellite township in the Indian province of Uttar Pradesh in the Unnao district which comes under the Kanpur metropolitan area. The area comprises the stretch from the limits of the Unnao Municipality to the Ganga river near Kanpur on NH 25 and Unnao-Shuklaganj Highway. The Uttar Pradesh government has also proposed a Skill Development University near the proposed Hi-tech city.

Uttar Pradesh: Situation eases up after police-farmer clashes

Fresh clashes between Iraqi security forces and anti-government protesters broke out in Baghdad on Friday despite a call for calm by the country's <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/iraqs-top-shiite-cleric-sistani-says-security-forces-must-keep-peace-260801">top Shi'ite Muslim cleric</a>, as authorities grapple with the country's biggest crisis in years.

Security forces fired tear gas and threw stun grenades into crowds of protesters wearing helmets and makeshift body armour on the main road in the middle of the Iraqi capital, sending demonstrators scattering, some wounded, Reuters reporters said.

More than 260 people have been killed since the protests over a lack of jobs and services began in Baghdad on Oct. 1 and quickly spread to southern provinces, according to police and medics.

Police, the military and paramilitary groups have used live gunfire against mostly unarmed protesters since the beginning of the unrest.

Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, who only speaks on politics in times of crisis and wields enormous influence over public opinion in Shi'ite-majority Iraq, held security forces accountable for any violent escalation and urged the government to respond as quickly as possible to demonstrators' demands.

"The biggest responsibility is on the security forces," a representative of Sistani said in a sermon after Friday prayers in the holy city of Kerbala. "They must avoid using excessive force with peaceful protesters."

Protesters, some of whom view Sistani as part of the political and religious system they say is the cause of many Iraqis' misery, took little solace from the cleric's words.

"He says he's supporting protests and that we should keep going but he hasn't helped. The speech won't make a difference either way," said one woman protesting in Baghdad whose son was killed in recent clashes.

"I'm the mother of a student. They took his life," she said, giving her name as Umm al-Shaheed, Arabic for mother of the martyr.

The demonstrators, mostly unemployed youth, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/iraq-crude-stuck-at-field-for-third-day-as-protests-cut-roads-260728">demand an overhaul of the political system</a> and a corrupt ruling class which has dominated state institutions since the US-led overthrow of Saddam Hussein in 2003.

The violent response from authorities has fuelled public anger. Snipers from Iran-backed militias that have participated in the crackdown were deployed last month, Reuters reported.

Watch video: Iraq protests continue

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Deadly force

Live fire is still being used and even tear gas canisters, fired directly at protesters' bodies instead of being lobbed into crowds, have killed at least 16 people, New York-based Human Rights Watch said on Friday.

Doctors at hospitals have shown Reuters scans of tear gas canisters embedded in the skulls of dead protesters.

Sistani warned against the exploitation of the unrest by "internal and external" forces which he said sought to destabilise Iraq for their own goals. He did not elaborate.

He said those in power must come up with a meaningful response to <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/blocking-police-at-checkpoints-iraqis-revel-in-people-power-260738">the demonstrations</a>.

Handouts for the poor, promises to try corrupt officials and creation of more job opportunities for graduates have failed to placate protesters, whose demands include a new electoral system and the removal of all current political leaders.

The protesters have also rejected foreign interference in Iraq, which has long been caught between its two main allies and bitter rivals the United States and Iran.

Public anger has been directed particularly towards Iran, which supports the parties and paramilitary groups that dominate the Baghdad government and state institutions.

Fresh clashes between Iraqi security forces and anti-government protesters broke out in Baghdad on Friday despite a call for calm by the country's top Shi'ite Muslim cleric, as authorities grapple with the country's biggest crisis in years.

Fresh clashes between Iraqi security forces and anti-government protesters broke out in Baghdad on Friday despite a call for calm by the country's top Shi'ite Muslim cleric, as authorities grapple with the country's biggest crisis in years. Security forces fired tear gas and threw stun grenades into crowds of protesters wearing helmets and makeshift body armour on the main road in the middle of the Iraqi capital, sending demonstrators scattering, some wounded, Reuters reporters said. More than 260 people have been killed since the protests over a lack of jobs and services began in Baghdad on Oct. 1 and quickly spread to southern provinces, according to police and medics. Police, the military and paramilitary groups have used live gunfire against mostly unarmed protesters since the beginning of the unrest. Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, who only speaks on politics in times of crisis and wields enormous influence over public opinion in Shi'ite-majority Iraq, held security forces accountable for any violent escalation and urged the government to respond as quickly as possible to demonstrators' demands. "The biggest responsibility is on the security forces," a representative of Sistani said in a sermon after Friday prayers in the holy city of Kerbala. "They must avoid using excessive force with peaceful protesters." Protesters, some of whom view Sistani as part of the political and religious system they say is the cause of many Iraqis' misery, took little solace from the cleric's words. "He says he's supporting protests and that we should keep going but he hasn't helped. The speech won't make a difference either way," said one woman protesting in Baghdad whose son was killed in recent clashes. "I'm the mother of a student. They took his life," she said, giving her name as Umm al-Shaheed, Arabic for mother of the martyr. The demonstrators, mostly unemployed youth, demand an overhaul of the political system and a corrupt ruling class which has dominated state institutions since the US-led overthrow of Saddam Hussein in 2003. The violent response from authorities has fuelled public anger. Snipers from Iran-backed militias that have participated in the crackdown were deployed last month, Reuters reported. Watch video: Iraq protests continue Deadly force Live fire is still being used and even tear gas canisters, fired directly at protesters' bodies instead of being lobbed into crowds, have killed at least 16 people, New York-based Human Rights Watch said on Friday. Doctors at hospitals have shown Reuters scans of tear gas canisters embedded in the skulls of dead protesters. Sistani warned against the exploitation of the unrest by "internal and external" forces which he said sought to destabilise Iraq for their own goals. He did not elaborate. He said those in power must come up with a meaningful response to the demonstrations. Handouts for the poor, promises to try corrupt officials and creation of more job opportunities for graduates have failed to placate protesters, whose demands include a new electoral system and the removal of all current political leaders. The protesters have also rejected foreign interference in Iraq, which has long been caught between its two main allies and bitter rivals the United States and Iran. Public anger has been directed particularly towards Iran, which supports the parties and paramilitary groups that dominate the Baghdad government and state institutions.

Fresh clashes erupt in Baghdad despite call for peace by top cleric Sistani

A man accused of crashing his car into the security barriers surrounding Britain's Houses of Parliament was charged with attempted murder, police said.&nbsp

Salih Khater, 29, a Sudanese-born British national living in Birmingham, central England, will appear in custody at Westminster Magistrates Court in London on Monday, police said.&nbsp

He was charged yesterday with one count of attempting to murder members of the public and one of attempting to murder police officers following the incident outside London's iconic Palace of Westminster on Tuesday.&nbsp

The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), England's state prosecutors, are treating the case as terrorism, the police said.&nbsp

"The charges follow an incident in which Khater drove his car into a stationary group of members of the public then at police officers, before crashing into the barriers outside the Houses of Parliament," London's Metropolitan Police said in a statement.&nbsp

"Due to the methodology, iconic location and the alleged targeting of civilians and police officers, the CPS are treating this case as terrorism."&nbsp

Khater is being charged under the Criminal Attempts Act 1981.&nbsp

A man accused of crashing his car into the security barriers surrounding Britain's Houses of Parliament was charged with attempted murder, police said. Salih Khater, 29, a Sudanese-born British national living in Birmingham, central England, will appear in custody at Westminster Magistrates Court in London on Monday, police said.

A man accused of crashing his car into the security barriers surrounding Britain's Houses of Parliament was charged with attempted murder, police said. Salih Khater, 29, a Sudanese-born British national living in Birmingham, central England, will appear in custody at Westminster Magistrates Court in London on Monday, police said. He was charged yesterday with one count of attempting to murder members of the public and one of attempting to murder police officers following the incident outside London's iconic Palace of Westminster on Tuesday. The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), England's state prosecutors, are treating the case as terrorism, the police said. "The charges follow an incident in which Khater drove his car into a stationary group of members of the public then at police officers, before crashing into the barriers outside the Houses of Parliament," London's Metropolitan Police said in a statement. "Due to the methodology, iconic location and the alleged targeting of civilians and police officers, the CPS are treating this case as terrorism." Khater is being charged under the Criminal Attempts Act 1981.

Hong Kong unrest: Protesters clash with police at malls, face petrol bombs and tear gas

Clashes in <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/erdogan-says-will-clear-terrorists-from-syria-border-if-sochi-deal-fails-258300">northeast Syria</a> between pro-Ankara fighters backed by the Turkish air force and a Damascus-backed force led by Syrian Kurds left 15 dead on Saturday, a monitor said.

Rami Abdel Rahman, head of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, told AFP that nine pro-Turkish fighters and six members of the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) were killed in a zone between the towns of Tal Tamr and Ras al-Ain.

State news agency SANA said earlier Syrian government forces had entered the provincial borders of Ras al-Ain near Turkey's border on Saturday, &nbsp;an area that was taken by Turkish forces in the latter's weeks-long offensive against Syria's Kurds.

The Observatory said the Syrian government's deployment there was its largest in years.

Syrian government troops had also deployed along a road stretching some 30 kilometres south of the frontier, SANA said.&nbsp;

Watch: What's the on-ground reality&nbsp;in Syria?

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Turkey and its Syrian proxies on October 9 launched a cross-border attack against Kurdish-held areas, grabbing a 120-kilometre-long&nbsp;swathe of Syrian land along the frontier.

The incursion left hundreds dead and caused 300,000 people to flee their homes, in the latest humanitarian crisis in Syria's brutal eight-year war.

Turkey and Russia this week struck a deal in Sochi for more Kurdish forces to withdraw from the frontier on both sides of that Turkish-held area under the supervision of Russian and Syrian forces.

On Saturday, the Britain-based Observatory said some 2,000 Syrian troops and hundreds of military vehicles were deploying around what <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/amnesty-international-says-turkey-deporting-syrians-to-planned-safe-zone-region-258214">Turkey calls its "safe zone"</a>.&nbsp;

Government forces were being accompanied by Russian military police, the Observatory said.&nbsp;

Moscow has said 300 Russian military police had arrived in Syria to help ensure Kurdish forces withdraw to a line 30 kilometres (18 miles) from the border in keeping with Tuesday's agreement.

Under the Sochi deal, Kurdish forces have until late Tuesday to withdraw from border areas at either end of the Turkish-held area, before joint Turkish-Russian patrols start in a 10-kilometre strip there.

Ankara eventually wants to set up a buffer zone on Syrian soil along the entire length of its 440-kilometre-long border, including to resettle some of the 3.6 million Syrian refugees currently in Turkey.

The SDF has objected to some provisions of the Sochi agreement and it has so far maintained several border posts.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan warned Saturday that Ankara would "clear terrorists" on its border if the Kurdish forces, which his country view as an offshoot of its own banned insurgency, did not withdraw by the deadline.

Clashes in northeast Syria between pro-Ankara fighters backed by the Turkish air force and a Damascus-backed force led by Syrian Kurds left 15 dead on Saturday, a monitor said.

Clashes in northeast Syria between pro-Ankara fighters backed by the Turkish air force and a Damascus-backed force led by Syrian Kurds left 15 dead on Saturday, a monitor said. Rami Abdel Rahman, head of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, told AFP that nine pro-Turkish fighters and six members of the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) were killed in a zone between the towns of Tal Tamr and Ras al-Ain. State news agency SANA said earlier Syrian government forces had entered the provincial borders of Ras al-Ain near Turkey's border on Saturday, an area that was taken by Turkish forces in the latter's weeks-long offensive against Syria's Kurds. The Observatory said the Syrian government's deployment there was its largest in years. Syrian government troops had also deployed along a road stretching some 30 kilometres south of the frontier, SANA said. Watch: What's the on-ground reality in Syria? Turkey and its Syrian proxies on October 9 launched a cross-border attack against Kurdish-held areas, grabbing a 120-kilometre-long swathe of Syrian land along the frontier. The incursion left hundreds dead and caused 300,000 people to flee their homes, in the latest humanitarian crisis in Syria's brutal eight-year war. Turkey and Russia this week struck a deal in Sochi for more Kurdish forces to withdraw from the frontier on both sides of that Turkish-held area under the supervision of Russian and Syrian forces. On Saturday, the Britain-based Observatory said some 2,000 Syrian troops and hundreds of military vehicles were deploying around what Turkey calls its "safe zone". Government forces were being accompanied by Russian military police, the Observatory said. Moscow has said 300 Russian military police had arrived in Syria to help ensure Kurdish forces withdraw to a line 30 kilometres (18 miles) from the border in keeping with Tuesday's agreement. Under the Sochi deal, Kurdish forces have until late Tuesday to withdraw from border areas at either end of the Turkish-held area, before joint Turkish-Russian patrols start in a 10-kilometre strip there. Ankara eventually wants to set up a buffer zone on Syrian soil along the entire length of its 440-kilometre-long border, including to resettle some of the 3.6 million Syrian refugees currently in Turkey. The SDF has objected to some provisions of the Sochi agreement and it has so far maintained several border posts. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan warned Saturday that Ankara would "clear terrorists" on its border if the Kurdish forces, which his country view as an offshoot of its own banned insurgency, did not withdraw by the deadline.

15 dead in Syria clashes between pro-Turkish forces, Kurds: Report

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/morales-leads-bolivia-election-but-faces-run-off-257140">Bolivia's electoral board</a> released new data late on Monday that showed President Evo Morales had enough votes to win the hotly contested election, sparking allegations of fraud from the opposition and angry clashes in the streets.

The board had halted a preliminary vote count late on Sunday with results then showing the election going to a second-round run-off. The abrupt pause had fuelled concerns among election monitors and foreign governments over potential vote tampering.

After the 24-hour gap, the Supreme Electoral Tribunal (TSE) updated its count to show Morales with a wider lead of 46.85 per cent&nbsp;of votes to rival Carlos Mesa's 36.73 per cent, just enough to give him the 10-point lead needed to win in the first round.

As protesters scuffled with police in the streets of the capital, La Paz, outside the counting venue, runner-up Mesa slammed the results as "shameful" and said he would not recognise them.

"We trust citizens won't accept this," Mesa told journalists in the lowland city of Santa Cruz. "This government has created an impossible situation. It's mocking the popular vote."

Just a day earlier, Mesa had celebrated making it to a second-round after an official count of nearly 84 per cent&nbsp;of ballots showed Morales short of the votes needed to avoid a run-off. Other polls also showed a tight race leading to a second round.

Morales, however, who has won his previous three terms with solid majorities, insisted late on Sunday that he would get enough votes from rural areas for an outright win.

The uncertainty sparked protests in the landlocked South American country and fears among international election observers and diplomats about potential manipulation of the vote, with some worried it could trigger the kind of violent unrest that has recently roiled Chile and Ecuador.

"The result is in question and we're seeing the start of a conflict, a climate could be unleashed that moves this from tension to convulsion," said Bolivian political analyst Franklin Pareja.

 
Tear gas

Before the electoral court resumed updating of preliminary results on Monday, thousands of Bolivians protested outside a hotel in La Paz where the TSE had gathered to process votes. Police fired tear gas at crowds, amid reports of clashes in protests elsewhere.

The TSE's earlier decision to halt the provisionary count with just 83.76 per cent&nbsp;of the ballot completed had prompted the official monitor, the Organisation of American States (OAS), to demand to know why.

"Those numbers clearly indicated a second round, a trend that coincided with the only authorized rapid count and statistics from the observation mission," Manuel Gonzalez, the head of the mission, said.

Gonzalez said the change in one day was "inexplicable" and a blow to voters' trust in the electoral process, but his comments fell short of calling the results illegitimate.

Argentina, Brazil and the White House also expressed concern over the interruption of the official reporting of results.

"Electoral authorities should immediately restore credibility and transparency to the process so that the will of the Bolivian people is respected," Michael Kozak, the US assistant secretary of state for western hemisphere affairs, said on Twitter.

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Electoral authorities should immediately restore credibility &amp; transparency to the process so that the will of the Bolivian people is respected. <a href="https://t.co/vDc1L4ffX3">https://t.co/vDc1L4ffX3</a>
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If Morales wins, Latin America's longest continuous-serving standing leader would extend his rule to 19 years.

Antonio Costas, one of the six-member TSE team coordinating the count, told Reuters on Monday that the decision had been made to suspend the preliminary count to focus on the slower official calculation.

That count, still underway, with about 60 per cent&nbsp;of ballots processed, has Mesa and Morales closely tied with a little over 42 per cent&nbsp;of votes each.

Costas added that he had not come under any political pressure to halt the preliminary count, which had been meant as a tool to help ensure greater transparency of the vote.

Morales, a former union leader of coca growers, has overseen a long stretch of political and economic stability for Bolivia, the continent's poorest country. His support has slipped amid slowing economic growth and concern about government corruption and anti-democratic practices.

Bolivia's electoral board released new data late on Monday that showed President Evo Morales had enough votes to win the hotly contested election, sparking allegations of fraud from the opposition and angry clashes in the streets.

Bolivia's electoral board released new data late on Monday that showed President Evo Morales had enough votes to win the hotly contested election, sparking allegations of fraud from the opposition and angry clashes in the streets. The board had halted a preliminary vote count late on Sunday with results then showing the election going to a second-round run-off. The abrupt pause had fuelled concerns among election monitors and foreign governments over potential vote tampering. After the 24-hour gap, the Supreme Electoral Tribunal (TSE) updated its count to show Morales with a wider lead of 46.85 per cent of votes to rival Carlos Mesa's 36.73 per cent, just enough to give him the 10-point lead needed to win in the first round. As protesters scuffled with police in the streets of the capital, La Paz, outside the counting venue, runner-up Mesa slammed the results as "shameful" and said he would not recognise them. "We trust citizens won't accept this," Mesa told journalists in the lowland city of Santa Cruz. "This government has created an impossible situation. It's mocking the popular vote." Just a day earlier, Mesa had celebrated making it to a second-round after an official count of nearly 84 per cent of ballots showed Morales short of the votes needed to avoid a run-off. Other polls also showed a tight race leading to a second round. Morales, however, who has won his previous three terms with solid majorities, insisted late on Sunday that he would get enough votes from rural areas for an outright win. The uncertainty sparked protests in the landlocked South American country and fears among international election observers and diplomats about potential manipulation of the vote, with some worried it could trigger the kind of violent unrest that has recently roiled Chile and Ecuador. "The result is in question and we're seeing the start of a conflict, a climate could be unleashed that moves this from tension to convulsion," said Bolivian political analyst Franklin Pareja. Tear gas Before the electoral court resumed updating of preliminary results on Monday, thousands of Bolivians protested outside a hotel in La Paz where the TSE had gathered to process votes. Police fired tear gas at crowds, amid reports of clashes in protests elsewhere. The TSE's earlier decision to halt the provisionary count with just 83.76 per cent of the ballot completed had prompted the official monitor, the Organisation of American States (OAS), to demand to know why. "Those numbers clearly indicated a second round, a trend that coincided with the only authorized rapid count and statistics from the observation mission," Manuel Gonzalez, the head of the mission, said. Gonzalez said the change in one day was "inexplicable" and a blow to voters' trust in the electoral process, but his comments fell short of calling the results illegitimate. Argentina, Brazil and the White House also expressed concern over the interruption of the official reporting of results. "Electoral authorities should immediately restore credibility and transparency to the process so that the will of the Bolivian people is respected," Michael Kozak, the US assistant secretary of state for western hemisphere affairs, said on Twitter. The U.S. is closely watching 1st round of elections in #Bolivia, especially the sudden interruption of the electronic vote tabulation. Electoral authorities should immediately restore credibility & transparency to the process so that the will of the Bolivian people is respected. https://t.co/vDc1L4ffX3 — Michael G. Kozak (@WHAAsstSecty) October 21, 2019 × If Morales wins, Latin America's longest continuous-serving standing leader would extend his rule to 19 years. Antonio Costas, one of the six-member TSE team coordinating the count, told Reuters on Monday that the decision had been made to suspend the preliminary count to focus on the slower official calculation. That count, still underway, with about 60 per cent of ballots processed, has Mesa and Morales closely tied with a little over 42 per cent of votes each. Costas added that he had not come under any political pressure to halt the preliminary count, which had been meant as a tool to help ensure greater transparency of the vote. Morales, a former union leader of coca growers, has overseen a long stretch of political and economic stability for Bolivia, the continent's poorest country. His support has slipped amid slowing economic growth and concern about government corruption and anti-democratic practices.

Bolivia's election sparks protest as rivals clash over results

Fierce clashes broke out between protesters and riot police in&nbsp;Hong&nbsp;Kong&nbsp;Sunday as <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/hong-kong-police-fire-tear-gas-at-protesters-in-shopping-district-252673">thousands marched through the strife-torn city</a>, during a day of global protests aimed at casting a shadow over communist China's upcoming 70th birthday.

Beijing is preparing for huge, tightly-choreographed festivities from Tuesday to mark the founding of the People's Republic of China, including a massive military parade that will revel in the country's emergence as a global superpower.

But ongoing unrest in&nbsp;Hong&nbsp;Kong&nbsp;threatens to upstage those celebrations as the semi-autonomous city boils with public anger over the erosion of its special freedoms under Beijing's rule.

Democracy activists in the financial hub had vowed to ramp up their nearly four-month-long campaign ahead of Tuesday's National Day celebrations, which&nbsp;Hong&nbsp;Kong&nbsp;protesters have dubbed a "Day of Grief".

Sunday witnessed the most intense clashes in weeks as police used tear gas, rubber bullets and water cannons at multiple locations for hours during running battles with hardcore protesters hurling rocks and petrol bombs.

Using online forums and social media, demonstrators called for "anti-totalitarian" rallies to be held around the globe.&nbsp;Marches were held in Australia -- where more than 1,000 people rallied in Sydney -- and Taiwan, with more held in some 40 locations in Europe and North America.

Clashes broke out before&nbsp;Hong&nbsp;Kong's unsanctioned march begun when angry groups in the Causeway Bay shopping district surrounded and heckled officers stopping and searching people.

But the tear gas police fired only emboldened the crowds, who then began walking through the streets in the thousands.

Running battles

Some hardcore activists vandalised subway stations, tore down banners proclaiming the upcoming 70th-anniversary celebrations and set fire to makeshift barricades.

Many marchers were holding so-called "Chinazi flags", a version of the Chinese flag with yellow stars arranged in the shape of a swastika.

Police spent hours firing tear gas and rubber bullets at different downtown locations and made multiple arrests throughout the day.

An AFP reporter witnessed masked men repeatedly beating pro-democracy protesters in Wanchai district using long clubs.

It was unclear if the men were officers dressed as protesters, a tactic police increasingly use.

A news reporter was also treated by volunteer medics after being hit in the face with a police projectile, while at least two men were attacked by democracy demonstrators and a taxi was trashed.

One video posted by activists showed police spraying pro-democracy lawmaker Eddie Chu in the face point-blank with what was described as pepper spray, as he argues with the officers.

Hospital authorities late Sunday said 13 people were admitted, one in a serious condition.

A 20-year-old student, who gave his first name as Tony, was waving a Ukrainian flag.

Many of&nbsp;Hong&nbsp;Kong's more hardcore protesters take inspiration from the 2014 Ukrainian Revolution, which ousted a pro-Russian president.

"We are hoping that if we connect to different parts of the world and fight against Chinese communism, we will win this movement," he told AFP.&nbsp;

A 62-year-old protester, who gave his surname as Man, said he felt people's livelihoods and freedoms had deteriorated since Britain handed&nbsp;Hong&nbsp;Kong&nbsp;to China in 1997.

"I don't want to topple the regime, but it definitely needs to change," he told AFP. "It needs to seek a reconciliation with the people."

Months of unrest

Over the last 17 weeks,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/street-fires-burn-in-hong-kong-amid-running-battles-between-protesters-and-police-252690">Hong&nbsp;Kong&nbsp;has witnessed the worst political unrest since its handover to China</a>, with huge pro-democracy rallies as well as increasingly intense clashes between police and a minority of violent protesters.&nbsp;

The city's summer of discontent was triggered by an extradition bill to the mainland that has now been shelved.&nbsp;

But the movement has since morphed into a call for free elections and less intervention from Beijing.

On Friday and Saturday night, tens of thousands of people turned out for two peaceful rallies.

There were brief clashes late Saturday when police used water cannon and tear gas to beat back small groups of protesters hurling bricks and petrol bombs at a government building.

Students are planning a one-day strike on Monday while activists have called for people to dress in black on Tuesday.

Under the policy of "one country, two systems", China has offered tiny&nbsp;Hong&nbsp;Kong&nbsp;certain liberties denied to citizens on the mainland -- including freedom of expression, unfettered access to the internet, and an independent judiciary.

But the arrangement is due to expire in 2047, and many accuse Beijing of already eroding some of those freedoms.

Protesters are calling for an independent inquiry into alleged police abuses, an amnesty for those arrested, and the right to elect their leaders -- demands dismissed by China and city leader Carrie Lam.

Fierce clashes broke out between protesters and riot police in Hong Kong Sunday as thousands marched through the strife-torn city, during a day of global protests aimed at casting a shadow over communist China's upcoming 70th birthday.

Fierce clashes broke out between protesters and riot police in Hong Kong Sunday as thousands marched through the strife-torn city, during a day of global protests aimed at casting a shadow over communist China's upcoming 70th birthday. Beijing is preparing for huge, tightly-choreographed festivities from Tuesday to mark the founding of the People's Republic of China, including a massive military parade that will revel in the country's emergence as a global superpower. But ongoing unrest in Hong Kong threatens to upstage those celebrations as the semi-autonomous city boils with public anger over the erosion of its special freedoms under Beijing's rule. Democracy activists in the financial hub had vowed to ramp up their nearly four-month-long campaign ahead of Tuesday's National Day celebrations, which Hong Kong protesters have dubbed a "Day of Grief". Sunday witnessed the most intense clashes in weeks as police used tear gas, rubber bullets and water cannons at multiple locations for hours during running battles with hardcore protesters hurling rocks and petrol bombs. Using online forums and social media, demonstrators called for "anti-totalitarian" rallies to be held around the globe. Marches were held in Australia -- where more than 1,000 people rallied in Sydney -- and Taiwan, with more held in some 40 locations in Europe and North America. Clashes broke out before Hong Kong's unsanctioned march begun when angry groups in the Causeway Bay shopping district surrounded and heckled officers stopping and searching people. But the tear gas police fired only emboldened the crowds, who then began walking through the streets in the thousands. Running battles Some hardcore activists vandalised subway stations, tore down banners proclaiming the upcoming 70th-anniversary celebrations and set fire to makeshift barricades. Many marchers were holding so-called "Chinazi flags", a version of the Chinese flag with yellow stars arranged in the shape of a swastika. Police spent hours firing tear gas and rubber bullets at different downtown locations and made multiple arrests throughout the day. An AFP reporter witnessed masked men repeatedly beating pro-democracy protesters in Wanchai district using long clubs. It was unclear if the men were officers dressed as protesters, a tactic police increasingly use. A news reporter was also treated by volunteer medics after being hit in the face with a police projectile, while at least two men were attacked by democracy demonstrators and a taxi was trashed. One video posted by activists showed police spraying pro-democracy lawmaker Eddie Chu in the face point-blank with what was described as pepper spray, as he argues with the officers. Hospital authorities late Sunday said 13 people were admitted, one in a serious condition. A 20-year-old student, who gave his first name as Tony, was waving a Ukrainian flag. Many of Hong Kong's more hardcore protesters take inspiration from the 2014 Ukrainian Revolution, which ousted a pro-Russian president. "We are hoping that if we connect to different parts of the world and fight against Chinese communism, we will win this movement," he told AFP. A 62-year-old protester, who gave his surname as Man, said he felt people's livelihoods and freedoms had deteriorated since Britain handed Hong Kong to China in 1997. "I don't want to topple the regime, but it definitely needs to change," he told AFP. "It needs to seek a reconciliation with the people." Months of unrest Over the last 17 weeks, Hong Kong has witnessed the worst political unrest since its handover to China, with huge pro-democracy rallies as well as increasingly intense clashes between police and a minority of violent protesters. The city's summer of discontent was triggered by an extradition bill to the mainland that has now been shelved. But the movement has since morphed into a call for free elections and less intervention from Beijing. On Friday and Saturday night, tens of thousands of people turned out for two peaceful rallies. There were brief clashes late Saturday when police used water cannon and tear gas to beat back small groups of protesters hurling bricks and petrol bombs at a government building. Students are planning a one-day strike on Monday while activists have called for people to dress in black on Tuesday. Under the policy of "one country, two systems", China has offered tiny Hong Kong certain liberties denied to citizens on the mainland -- including freedom of expression, unfettered access to the internet, and an independent judiciary. But the arrangement is due to expire in 2047, and many accuse Beijing of already eroding some of those freedoms. Protesters are calling for an independent inquiry into alleged police abuses, an amnesty for those arrested, and the right to elect their leaders -- demands dismissed by China and city leader Carrie Lam.

Hong Kong clashes as China 70th anniversary celebrations near

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/hong-kong-clashes-as-china-70th-anniversary-celebrations-near-252714">Hong Kong</a> pro-democracy protests on Tuesday to mark the 70th anniversary of communist China's founding on Tuesday will be "<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/hong-kong-police-fire-tear-gas-at-protesters-in-shopping-district-252673">very, very dangerous</a>", police in the city warned Monday.

"After our analysis, we're expecting the situation tomorrow to be very, very dangerous," Superintendent John Tse told reporters.&nbsp;

"Core <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/street-fires-burn-in-hong-kong-amid-running-battles-between-protesters-and-police-252690">rioters </a>are increasing their violence. The depth and breadth of their violence and plans show that they are increasingly resorting to terrorism," he added.

Beijing is preparing for huge, tightly-choreographed festivities from Tuesday to mark the founding of the People's Republic of China, including a massive military parade that will revel in the country's emergence as a global superpower.

But ongoing unrest in Hong Kong threatens to upstage those celebrations as the semi-autonomous city boils with public anger over the erosion of its special freedoms under Beijing's rule.

Hong Kong pro-democracy protests on Tuesday to mark the 70th anniversary of communist China's founding on Tuesday will be "very, very dangerous", police in the city warned Monday.

Hong Kong pro-democracy protests on Tuesday to mark the 70th anniversary of communist China's founding on Tuesday will be "very, very dangerous", police in the city warned Monday. "After our analysis, we're expecting the situation tomorrow to be very, very dangerous," Superintendent John Tse told reporters. "Core rioters are increasing their violence. The depth and breadth of their violence and plans show that they are increasingly resorting to terrorism," he added. Beijing is preparing for huge, tightly-choreographed festivities from Tuesday to mark the founding of the People's Republic of China, including a massive military parade that will revel in the country's emergence as a global superpower. But ongoing unrest in Hong Kong threatens to upstage those celebrations as the semi-autonomous city boils with public anger over the erosion of its special freedoms under Beijing's rule.

Hong Kong police warn National Day protests will be 'very, very dangerous'

What's next for Hong Kong's protest movement?

An army helicopter buzzes overhead and ambulances travel up wet empty roads in Myanmar's northeast, ferrying aid to thousands of residents displaced by fresh clashes between rebels and the military.

Burnt-out cars and bullet casings lie along the road to Shan state's Kutkai -- a town ringed by mountains, poppy fields, and a patchwork of ethnic armed groups fighting for more autonomy and control over land and resources.

"We are still afraid to go back home," Ba Yi, a 63-year-old former teacher, told AFP while sheltering in a monastery.

"Every time I hear explosions, I want to go away."

The area near the Chinese border has been riven by armed conflict for decades, and Myanmar civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi pledged to secure peace when she took office in 2016.

It is also home to what experts believe to be the world's largest methamphetamine-making region, fuelling a complex web of conflict.

Fighting in the region escalated after rebel attacks on an army academy and police outposts killed at least 15 this month, operations the military said were in retaliation for a drug crackdown.

Local civil society organisations say more than 2,000 people have been displaced.

"Even if I wanted to go back to my home, I can't go... the situation is not peaceful in my village," said Lyaw Aye Pwint, an 18-year-old student.

The US embassy issued a travel warning this month for more than a dozen towns in Shan state due to "civil unrest and armed conflict".

Dozens of NGO workers were evacuated last week days after an ambulance driver was killed in an attack blamed on rebels.

But rescue workers are still braving the danger to bring aid to the displaced.

"The main missions are to send provisions to the villagers from restricted areas and try to rescue people from conflict areas and send them to shelters," said Tin Win, part of a volunteer aid convoy.

Myanmar's army has long battled different insurgent groups fighting for more autonomy in a country dominated by the Bamar ethnic majority.

Amid the recent fighting, the army is still making large drug seizures.

On Sunday the military said it had found 762 kilograms (0.8 tonnes) of crystal meth in backpacks in eastern Shan state, a haul worth an estimated $12.6 million.

On August 22 it confiscated dozens of bags of meth tablets worth $7 million.

"We are still clearing off the area in northern Shan State. We still have fighting in that area," Zaw Min Tun, an army spokesperson, told AFP.

An army helicopter buzzes overhead and ambulances travel up wet empty roads in Myanmar's northeast, ferrying aid to thousands of residents displaced by fresh clashes between rebels and the military.

An army helicopter buzzes overhead and ambulances travel up wet empty roads in Myanmar's northeast, ferrying aid to thousands of residents displaced by fresh clashes between rebels and the military. Burnt-out cars and bullet casings lie along the road to Shan state's Kutkai -- a town ringed by mountains, poppy fields, and a patchwork of ethnic armed groups fighting for more autonomy and control over land and resources. "We are still afraid to go back home," Ba Yi, a 63-year-old former teacher, told AFP while sheltering in a monastery. "Every time I hear explosions, I want to go away." The area near the Chinese border has been riven by armed conflict for decades, and Myanmar civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi pledged to secure peace when she took office in 2016. It is also home to what experts believe to be the world's largest methamphetamine-making region, fuelling a complex web of conflict. Fighting in the region escalated after rebel attacks on an army academy and police outposts killed at least 15 this month, operations the military said were in retaliation for a drug crackdown. Local civil society organisations say more than 2,000 people have been displaced. "Even if I wanted to go back to my home, I can't go... the situation is not peaceful in my village," said Lyaw Aye Pwint, an 18-year-old student. The US embassy issued a travel warning this month for more than a dozen towns in Shan state due to "civil unrest and armed conflict". Dozens of NGO workers were evacuated last week days after an ambulance driver was killed in an attack blamed on rebels. But rescue workers are still braving the danger to bring aid to the displaced. "The main missions are to send provisions to the villagers from restricted areas and try to rescue people from conflict areas and send them to shelters," said Tin Win, part of a volunteer aid convoy. Myanmar's army has long battled different insurgent groups fighting for more autonomy in a country dominated by the Bamar ethnic majority. Amid the recent fighting, the army is still making large drug seizures. On Sunday the military said it had found 762 kilograms (0.8 tonnes) of crystal meth in backpacks in eastern Shan state, a haul worth an estimated $12.6 million. On August 22 it confiscated dozens of bags of meth tablets worth $7 million. "We are still clearing off the area in northern Shan State. We still have fighting in that area," Zaw Min Tun, an army spokesperson, told AFP.

Myanmar clashes between army and rebels force thousands from home

Several persons were injured as fresh clashes were reported in trouble-torn Bhatpara area in North 24 Parganas district of West Bengal Saturday as rival groups violated Section 144 imposed there.

Police had to resort to lathi charge to disperse the crowd.

The incident happened moments after a three-member BJP central delegation left the area after their scheduled visit.

As the delegation left, two groups, one led by the BJP and other by TMC, engaged in pitched battle as both sides hurled countrymade bombs and stones at each other.

Several persons were injured in the incident.&nbsp;

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Bhatpara had witnessed clashes between rival groups suspected to be affiliated to TMC and BJP on Thursday in which two persons had died.&nbsp;

A three-member BJP delegation, led by former Union minister S S Ahluwalia, arrived at trouble-torn Bhatpara on Saturday, where two people were killed and seven injured in clashes between two groups believed to be affiliated to the TMC and the BJP.

The BJP central leadership had asked the team led by Ahluwalia, an MP from West Bengal, to visit Bhatpara in North 24 Pargana district.

Two people had died and seven others injured in clashes in Bhatpara between the groups suspected to be attached to TMC and BJP on Thursday. Section 144 has been imposed by the administration in the wake of the clashes.

Earlier in the day, a joint delegation of CPI(M) and Congress headed by Leader of Opposition Abdul Mannan and CPI(M) leader Sujan Chakraborty visited the troubled areas of Baruipara, Jagaddal, Bhatpara. They demanded a CBI inquiry into the killings.

On Friday, the BJP leadership had also demanded a CBI inquiry into the incident to bring out the truth.

A TMC citadel for long, Bhatpara has been witnessing frequent post-poll violence between the rival parties.

The fight intensified ever since TMC MLA Arjun Singh crossed over to the BJP and was elected to Lok Sabha from Barrackpore. Bhatpara comes under the Barrackpore Lok Sabha constituency.

In the bypoll to the Bhatpara Assembly seat that were held along with the Lok Sabha elections, Arjun Singh's son Pawan Singh had defeated TMC candidate and former state minister Madan Mitra.&nbsp;

Several persons were injured as fresh clashes were reported in trouble-torn Bhatpara area in North 24 Parganas district of West Bengal Saturday as rival groups violated Section 144 imposed there.

Several persons were injured as fresh clashes were reported in trouble-torn Bhatpara area in North 24 Parganas district of West Bengal Saturday as rival groups violated Section 144 imposed there. Police had to resort to lathi charge to disperse the crowd. The incident happened moments after a three-member BJP central delegation left the area after their scheduled visit. As the delegation left, two groups, one led by the BJP and other by TMC, engaged in pitched battle as both sides hurled countrymade bombs and stones at each other. Several persons were injured in the incident. #WATCH West Bengal: Slogans of "Bengal Police haye haye! Mamata Banerjee haye haye!" raised during the visit of BJP delegation to Bhatpara, North 24 Parganas district. pic.twitter.com/gVV3WoWgsl — ANI (@ANI) June 22, 2019 × Bhatpara had witnessed clashes between rival groups suspected to be affiliated to TMC and BJP on Thursday in which two persons had died. A three-member BJP delegation, led by former Union minister S S Ahluwalia, arrived at trouble-torn Bhatpara on Saturday, where two people were killed and seven injured in clashes between two groups believed to be affiliated to the TMC and the BJP. The BJP central leadership had asked the team led by Ahluwalia, an MP from West Bengal, to visit Bhatpara in North 24 Pargana district. Two people had died and seven others injured in clashes in Bhatpara between the groups suspected to be attached to TMC and BJP on Thursday. Section 144 has been imposed by the administration in the wake of the clashes. Earlier in the day, a joint delegation of CPI(M) and Congress headed by Leader of Opposition Abdul Mannan and CPI(M) leader Sujan Chakraborty visited the troubled areas of Baruipara, Jagaddal, Bhatpara. They demanded a CBI inquiry into the killings. On Friday, the BJP leadership had also demanded a CBI inquiry into the incident to bring out the truth. A TMC citadel for long, Bhatpara has been witnessing frequent post-poll violence between the rival parties. The fight intensified ever since TMC MLA Arjun Singh crossed over to the BJP and was elected to Lok Sabha from Barrackpore. Bhatpara comes under the Barrackpore Lok Sabha constituency. In the bypoll to the Bhatpara Assembly seat that were held along with the Lok Sabha elections, Arjun Singh's son Pawan Singh had defeated TMC candidate and former state minister Madan Mitra.

West Bengal: Fresh clashes break out in trouble-hit Bhatpara, many injured

Two rival groups opened indiscriminate fire at each other after Eid prayers in Pakistan Punjab province, killing at least 10&nbsp;people and injuring nine others.&nbsp;

The incident took place on Wednesday in Jalalpur Pirwala Tehsil of Multan district.

The two groups resorted to indiscriminate firing after a dispute, Geo News reported.

According to sources, the members of one group were returning to their homes after offering Eid prayers when assailants from another group attacked them.&nbsp;

Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar sought a detailed report from the regional police officer (RPO) of Multan on the incident. 
He directed the RPO to arrest the culprits without delay.

Two rival groups opened indiscriminate fire at each other after Eid prayers in Pakistan Punjab province, killing at least 10 people and injuring nine others. The incident took place on Wednesday in Jalalpur Pirwala Tehsil of Multan district.

Two rival groups opened indiscriminate fire at each other after Eid prayers in Pakistan Punjab province, killing at least 10 people and injuring nine others. The incident took place on Wednesday in Jalalpur Pirwala Tehsil of Multan district. The two groups resorted to indiscriminate firing after a dispute, Geo News reported. According to sources, the members of one group were returning to their homes after offering Eid prayers when assailants from another group attacked them. Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar sought a detailed report from the regional police officer (RPO) of Multan on the incident. He directed the RPO to arrest the culprits without delay.

10 killed in Pakistan during armed clash on Eid

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Sunday said that post-May 23, he will issue an advisory in view of the Lok Sabha poll results and the possibility of subsequent clashes between the workers of the SP and the BSP.

Addressing a poll meeting here, he said, "On May 23, when the election results are declared, 'bua' (BSP supremo Mayawati) will say 'babua' (SP chief Akhilesh Yadav) is the head of the goons and 'babua' will say 'bua' is the epitome of corruption. This is certain."

The Chief Minister said he will not allow any violence in Uttar Pradesh, adding, "We will issue an advisory so that the citizens are not caught in their violence."

Hitting out at the political rivals of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Adityanath said, "During the 2017 Uttar Pradesh Assembly polls, (Congress leader) Priyanka Gandhi had talked about the combination of two boys (Congress chief Rahul Gandhi and Akhilesh Yadav).

"But Uttar Pradesh had said the pair was not of two boys, but of two oxen. The people of the state laugh over their education. We do not want (people with) the brains of an ox, but those who can usher in development."

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Sunday said that post-May 23, he will issue an advisory in view of the Lok Sabha poll results and the possibility of subsequent clashes between the workers of the SP and the BSP.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Sunday said that post-May 23, he will issue an advisory in view of the Lok Sabha poll results and the possibility of subsequent clashes between the workers of the SP and the BSP. Addressing a poll meeting here, he said, "On May 23, when the election results are declared, 'bua' (BSP supremo Mayawati) will say 'babua' (SP chief Akhilesh Yadav) is the head of the goons and 'babua' will say 'bua' is the epitome of corruption. This is certain." The Chief Minister said he will not allow any violence in Uttar Pradesh, adding, "We will issue an advisory so that the citizens are not caught in their violence." Hitting out at the political rivals of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Adityanath said, "During the 2017 Uttar Pradesh Assembly polls, (Congress leader) Priyanka Gandhi had talked about the combination of two boys (Congress chief Rahul Gandhi and Akhilesh Yadav). "But Uttar Pradesh had said the pair was not of two boys, but of two oxen. The people of the state laugh over their education. We do not want (people with) the brains of an ox, but those who can usher in development."

Will issue advisory post May 23 in view of SP-BSP clashes: UP CM Yogi Adityanath

A former boxer who became a hero to some of France's <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/french-yellow-vests-clash-with-police-in-nantes-during-their-weekly-demonstrations-196293">"yellow vest" protesters</a> after being filmed punching police officers during a demonstration in Paris goes on trial Wednesday on charges that carry up to seven years in jail.

Christophe Dettinger, 37, an ex-national light-heavyweight champion, was caught on camera on January 5 throwing a flurry of punches at an officer during clashes on a footbridge over the river Seine near parliament.

The footage, which was played repeatedly on TV and social media, also showed the 1.9-meter (6.3-foot) tall Dettinger kicking another officer on the ground.&nbsp;

The scene caused widespread outrage, with the government describing it as a prime example of the violence that has characterised the yellow vest demonstrations since they began in November.

One of the injured officers was treated in hospital for his injuries.

Dettinger, nicknamed "The Gypsy From Massy" during his days in the ring in reference to the town south of Paris where he began his career, turned himself in two days after the incident and has been in custody ever since.

Some French people have hailed him as a hero for taking on the police.&nbsp;

&nbsp;An angry 'ordinary citizen'&nbsp;

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/demonstrator-loses-hand-at-paris-yellow-vest-march-196297">The yellow vest movement </a>— so-named after the luminous safety vests worn by the activists — started over fuel tax hikes and quickly grew into a broader rebellion against the economic policies and leadership style of President Emmanuel Macron.

The number of people taking part in weekly protests has fallen significantly since the start of the year, but the heat has still not gone out of the movement, with the demonstrations regularly ending in rioting.

Six people were arrested on Tuesday suspicion of having used a forklift truck to ram open the doors leading to the office of government spokesman Benjamin Griveaux, on the same day as Dettinger's attack on the police.

On Friday, a leading figure of the yellow vest movement, 33-year-old truck driver Eric Drouet, will also be tried on charges of illegally organising a demonstration in Paris.

He faces up to six months in prison if convicted.

Since the start of the protests, 1,796 people have been sentenced in court, mainly for the destruction of public property and attacks on the police.

Another 1,422 are still awaiting trial, Prime Minister Edouard Philippe told parliament on Tuesday.

In a video posted on YouTube a day after his outburst, Dettinger described himself as an "ordinary citizen" acting out of anger with what he called the repressive tactics of the police.

At his first court appearance the married father-of-three, who has no previous convictions, apologised for his actions. &nbsp;

His case has elicited widespread sympathy among the yellow vests and their supporters, with an online fundraising drive bringing in more than 117,000 euros ($134,000) towards his legal costs before being shut down.

In another sign of support, street artists painted two giant black-and-white portraits of the boxer, one showing him punching the policemen, on a wall in northern Paris.

Some yellow vests argue that Dettinger's punches were just retribution for the police, who have been criticised for their liberal use of rubber bullets and stun grenades which have left dozens seriously injured.

But the police have also drawn sympathy, with a fund for the injured officers garnering over a million euros in donations.

Around 10,000 people taking part in a rally in Paris last month to condemn "yellow vest" violence, during which the police were applauded. 
&nbsp;

A former boxer who became a hero to some of France's "yellow vest" protesters after being filmed punching police officers during a demonstration in Paris goes on trial Wednesday on charges that carry up to seven years in jail.

A former boxer who became a hero to some of France's "yellow vest" protesters after being filmed punching police officers during a demonstration in Paris goes on trial Wednesday on charges that carry up to seven years in jail. Christophe Dettinger, 37, an ex-national light-heavyweight champion, was caught on camera on January 5 throwing a flurry of punches at an officer during clashes on a footbridge over the river Seine near parliament. The footage, which was played repeatedly on TV and social media, also showed the 1.9-meter (6.3-foot) tall Dettinger kicking another officer on the ground. The scene caused widespread outrage, with the government describing it as a prime example of the violence that has characterised the yellow vest demonstrations since they began in November. One of the injured officers was treated in hospital for his injuries. Dettinger, nicknamed "The Gypsy From Massy" during his days in the ring in reference to the town south of Paris where he began his career, turned himself in two days after the incident and has been in custody ever since. Some French people have hailed him as a hero for taking on the police. An angry 'ordinary citizen' The yellow vest movement — so-named after the luminous safety vests worn by the activists — started over fuel tax hikes and quickly grew into a broader rebellion against the economic policies and leadership style of President Emmanuel Macron. The number of people taking part in weekly protests has fallen significantly since the start of the year, but the heat has still not gone out of the movement, with the demonstrations regularly ending in rioting. Six people were arrested on Tuesday suspicion of having used a forklift truck to ram open the doors leading to the office of government spokesman Benjamin Griveaux, on the same day as Dettinger's attack on the police. On Friday, a leading figure of the yellow vest movement, 33-year-old truck driver Eric Drouet, will also be tried on charges of illegally organising a demonstration in Paris. He faces up to six months in prison if convicted. Since the start of the protests, 1,796 people have been sentenced in court, mainly for the destruction of public property and attacks on the police. Another 1,422 are still awaiting trial, Prime Minister Edouard Philippe told parliament on Tuesday. In a video posted on YouTube a day after his outburst, Dettinger described himself as an "ordinary citizen" acting out of anger with what he called the repressive tactics of the police. At his first court appearance the married father-of-three, who has no previous convictions, apologised for his actions. His case has elicited widespread sympathy among the yellow vests and their supporters, with an online fundraising drive bringing in more than 117,000 euros ($134,000) towards his legal costs before being shut down. In another sign of support, street artists painted two giant black-and-white portraits of the boxer, one showing him punching the policemen, on a wall in northern Paris. Some yellow vests argue that Dettinger's punches were just retribution for the police, who have been criticised for their liberal use of rubber bullets and stun grenades which have left dozens seriously injured. But the police have also drawn sympathy, with a fund for the injured officers garnering over a million euros in donations. Around 10,000 people taking part in a rally in Paris last month to condemn "yellow vest" violence, during which the police were applauded.

French 'yellow vest' boxer on trial for punching police

<a href="http://13.232.42.114/world/us-backed-syrian-forces-launch-final-battle-against-islamic-state-enclave-196295">US-backed forces</a> were locked in fierce fighting as they pressed the battle against the last shred of the <a href="http://13.232.42.114/world/us-backed-syrian-force-to-start-final-battle-against-is-enclave-196281">Islamic State group's "caliphate" in eastern Syria</a> on Sunday, a war monitor said.

The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), supported by a US-led coalition, announced a final push to retake the jihadist pocket near the Iraqi border late Saturday, after a pause of more than a week to allow civilians to flee.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported heavy clashes between both sides on Sunday morning, as coalition planes and artillery bombarded jihadist positions.

"The battle is ongoing. There were heavy clashes this morning, with landmines going off," said Rami Abdel Rahman, the head of the Britain-based war monitor.

The SDF launched an offensive to expel IS from the eastern province of Deir Ezzor in September.

The Kurdish-led alliance has since whittled down jihadist-held territory to a patch of just four square kilometres (one square mile) on the eastern banks of the Euphrates.

Up to 600 jihadists could still remain inside, most of them foreigners, according to SDF spokesman Mustafa Bali.

Since fighting intensified in December, more than 37,000 people, mostly wives and children of jihadist fighters, have fled out into SDF-held desert areas, the Observatory says.

That figure includes some 3,200 suspected jihadists detained by the SDF, according to the monitor, which relies on sources inside Syria for its information.

At the height of their rule, the jihadists imposed their brutal interpretation of Islamic law on a territory spanning parts of Syria and Iraq that was roughly the size of Britain.&nbsp;

But separate military offensives in both countries, including by the SDF, have since retaken the vast bulk of the cross-border "caliphate" they declared in 2014.&nbsp;

US-backed forces were locked in fierce fighting as they pressed the battle against the last shred of the Islamic State group's "caliphate" in eastern Syria on Sunday, a war monitor said.

US-backed forces were locked in fierce fighting as they pressed the battle against the last shred of the Islamic State group's "caliphate" in eastern Syria on Sunday, a war monitor said. The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), supported by a US-led coalition, announced a final push to retake the jihadist pocket near the Iraqi border late Saturday, after a pause of more than a week to allow civilians to flee. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported heavy clashes between both sides on Sunday morning, as coalition planes and artillery bombarded jihadist positions. "The battle is ongoing. There were heavy clashes this morning, with landmines going off," said Rami Abdel Rahman, the head of the Britain-based war monitor. The SDF launched an offensive to expel IS from the eastern province of Deir Ezzor in September. The Kurdish-led alliance has since whittled down jihadist-held territory to a patch of just four square kilometres (one square mile) on the eastern banks of the Euphrates. Up to 600 jihadists could still remain inside, most of them foreigners, according to SDF spokesman Mustafa Bali. Since fighting intensified in December, more than 37,000 people, mostly wives and children of jihadist fighters, have fled out into SDF-held desert areas, the Observatory says. That figure includes some 3,200 suspected jihadists detained by the SDF, according to the monitor, which relies on sources inside Syria for its information. At the height of their rule, the jihadists imposed their brutal interpretation of Islamic law on a territory spanning parts of Syria and Iraq that was roughly the size of Britain. But separate military offensives in both countries, including by the SDF, have since retaken the vast bulk of the cross-border "caliphate" they declared in 2014.

'Heavy clashes' as US-backed forces battle Islamic State in Syria: Report

Ten members of rival civilian self-defence groups were killed in a gun battle in the Mexican state of Guerrero, a local security official said late Sunday.

Guerrero, located on Mexico's southern Pacific coast, is one of the country's most violent regions, where rump groups of criminals belonging to defeated but once powerful drug cartels fight to control lucrative drug smuggling routes.

In response, armed civilian vigilante groups have emerged in an attempt to maintain peace.

"Members of two groups of armed civilian groups that call themselves community (self-defence) police faced off in a gun battle on Sunday," said Roberto Alvarez, the regional head of security.

After the clash state police found "two vehicles that showed multiple bullet impacts and inside the lifeless bodies of ten people," Alvarez said.

The statement did not say how many people were found in each vehicle, or which groups the victims belonged to.

Drug-related violence has resulted in some 200,000 deaths in Mexico since December 2006, according to official figures.

Ten members of rival civilian self-defence groups were killed in a gun battle in the Mexican state of Guerrero, a local security official said late Sunday. Guerrero, located on Mexico's southern Pacific coast, is one of the country's most violent regions, where rump groups of criminals belonging to defeated but once powerful drug cartels fight to control lucrative drug smuggling routes.

Ten members of rival civilian self-defence groups were killed in a gun battle in the Mexican state of Guerrero, a local security official said late Sunday. Guerrero, located on Mexico's southern Pacific coast, is one of the country's most violent regions, where rump groups of criminals belonging to defeated but once powerful drug cartels fight to control lucrative drug smuggling routes. In response, armed civilian vigilante groups have emerged in an attempt to maintain peace. "Members of two groups of armed civilian groups that call themselves community (self-defence) police faced off in a gun battle on Sunday," said Roberto Alvarez, the regional head of security. After the clash state police found "two vehicles that showed multiple bullet impacts and inside the lifeless bodies of ten people," Alvarez said. The statement did not say how many people were found in each vehicle, or which groups the victims belonged to. Drug-related violence has resulted in some 200,000 deaths in Mexico since December 2006, according to official figures.

Ten killed in clash of Mexican self-defence forces

At least 61 combatants have been <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/uss-pompeo-calls-for-end-to-fighting-in-yemen-174509">killed in clashes</a> in Yemen's flashpoint Hodeida, medics and a military source said Sunday, and dozens of wounded were taken to hospitals outside the city.

Medics in the Red Sea city reported 43 Huthi rebels and nine loyalists killed in clashes over the past 24 hours. Another nine loyalist fighters were reported killed by medics at a hospital in government-held Mokha, south of Hodeida. A government military source confirmed the toll.

Dozens of wounded rebels were transferred to hospitals in the provinces of Sanaa and Ibb, further inland, a source at the Hodeida military hospital said.&nbsp;

At least 61 combatants have been killed in clashes in Yemen's flashpoint Hodeida, medics and a military source said Sunday, and dozens of wounded were taken to hospitals outside the city.

At least 61 combatants have been killed in clashes in Yemen's flashpoint Hodeida, medics and a military source said Sunday, and dozens of wounded were taken to hospitals outside the city. Medics in the Red Sea city reported 43 Huthi rebels and nine loyalists killed in clashes over the past 24 hours. Another nine loyalist fighters were reported killed by medics at a hospital in government-held Mokha, south of Hodeida. A government military source confirmed the toll. Dozens of wounded rebels were transferred to hospitals in the provinces of Sanaa and Ibb, further inland, a source at the Hodeida military hospital said.

At least 61 killed in clashes in Yemen's Hodeida

Curfew in pockets of Shillong was relaxed for seven hours today, even as Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma said the violence that broke out on Thursday was a local issue and not communal in nature.

A team of Shiromani Akali Dal leaders from Delhi visited the Meghalaya capital in view of the clashes between two communities leaving at least 10 people injured.

The East Khasi Hills district authorities relaxed the curfew from 8 am to 3 pm to allow churchgoers to attend Sunday services, officials said.

"The problem is very much in a particular locality, on a particular issue. It just happened that two particular communities were involved, but it's not a communal thing," Sangma told a press conference here.

The clashes in parts of Shillong were given a communal colour by vested groups and a section of the media outside the state, he said.

A number of those arrested in connection with the violence are from outside East Khasi Hills district, in which Shillong falls, and they were given alcohol and cash by some people, he said.

The administration exercised restraint in the first 48 hours and met leaders of civil society organisations to ascertain if their members were involved.

"We came to know there is a large number of people who have come here from West Khasi Hills district and many of those nabbed by the police were from outside Shillong," he said.

The administration and the police are on the job to protect every individual, said Sangma, who chaired a meeting of officials of the home department and Director General of Police S B Singh earlier in the day.

Earlier, a SAD team, including MLA Manjinder Singh Sirsa and the party's Delhi unit president Manjit Singh, met the residents of the violence-affected area.

The SAD team also called on the chief minister.

"I am happy to inform you that the delegation was very happy with the response of the state government to ensure that all citizens are given protection," he said.

Officials told PTI that the curfew was promulgated in 14 localities under the jurisdictions of the Lumdiengjri police station and the Cantonment police beat house resumed at 3 pm.

Night curfew will continue in the entire city from 10 pm till 5 am, and Internet and messaging services continue to remain suspended, the official said.&nbsp;

'The problem is very much in a particular locality, on a particular issue. It just happened that two particular communities were involved, but it's not a communal thing,' Sangma said

Curfew in pockets of Shillong was relaxed for seven hours today, even as Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma said the violence that broke out on Thursday was a local issue and not communal in nature. A team of Shiromani Akali Dal leaders from Delhi visited the Meghalaya capital in view of the clashes between two communities leaving at least 10 people injured. The East Khasi Hills district authorities relaxed the curfew from 8 am to 3 pm to allow churchgoers to attend Sunday services, officials said. "The problem is very much in a particular locality, on a particular issue. It just happened that two particular communities were involved, but it's not a communal thing," Sangma told a press conference here. The clashes in parts of Shillong were given a communal colour by vested groups and a section of the media outside the state, he said. A number of those arrested in connection with the violence are from outside East Khasi Hills district, in which Shillong falls, and they were given alcohol and cash by some people, he said. The administration exercised restraint in the first 48 hours and met leaders of civil society organisations to ascertain if their members were involved. "We came to know there is a large number of people who have come here from West Khasi Hills district and many of those nabbed by the police were from outside Shillong," he said. The administration and the police are on the job to protect every individual, said Sangma, who chaired a meeting of officials of the home department and Director General of Police S B Singh earlier in the day. Earlier, a SAD team, including MLA Manjinder Singh Sirsa and the party's Delhi unit president Manjit Singh, met the residents of the violence-affected area. The SAD team also called on the chief minister. "I am happy to inform you that the delegation was very happy with the response of the state government to ensure that all citizens are given protection," he said. Officials told PTI that the curfew was promulgated in 14 localities under the jurisdictions of the Lumdiengjri police station and the Cantonment police beat house resumed at 3 pm. Night curfew will continue in the entire city from 10 pm till 5 am, and Internet and messaging services continue to remain suspended, the official said.

Shillong clashes not communal, says Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma

As many as 11 people have been reported dead in clashes between locals and the police in Tamil Nadu's Tuticorin. According to reports, Union Home Ministry has demanded a report from the Tamil Nadu government over anti-Sterlite protests.

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Home Ministry seeks a report from Tamil Nadu govt over <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Thoothukudi?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Thoothukudi</a> incident where 11 people were killed yesterday in police firing during protests against Sterlite industries. <a href="https://t.co/MjSK2tzHYR">pic.twitter.com/MjSK2tzHYR</a>
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/999161540405223426?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 23, 2018</a></blockquote>
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Chaos broke out as locals continued to protest Sterlite’s industrial plant for the 100th consecutive day on Tuesday.

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Madras High Court's Madurai bench to today deliver interim order on the ongoing construction of a new copper smelter by <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Sterlite?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Sterlite</a> industries in <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Thoothukudi?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Thoothukudi</a> . 11 people were killed yesterday in police firing during protests against the construction of the new copper smelter
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As per reports, the protesters seek closing of the industrial plant. Agitators also ransacked the Collector’s office and burnt tyres.

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Security tightened in <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Thoothukudi?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Thoothukudi</a> after eleven people were killed yesterday in police firing during protests against Sterlite industries. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TamilNadu?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TamilNadu</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SterliteProtest?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SterliteProtest</a> <a href="https://t.co/lmjbsTf66p">pic.twitter.com/lmjbsTf66p</a>
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Visuals from the ground showed <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/anti-sterlite-protests-in-tuticorin-one-killed-several-injured-in-clashes-with-police-138862">policemen charging at protesters with lathis</a> who pelted stones at them.

Several shops and commercial establishments remain closed in Tuticorin due to violent protests.

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Security tightened in <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Thoothukudi?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Thoothukudi</a> after eleven people were killed yesterday in police firing during protests against Sterlite industries. Section 144(prohibits assembly of more than 4 people in an area) has been imposed in the city. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TamilNadu?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TamilNadu</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SterliteProtest?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SterliteProtest</a> <a href="https://t.co/cyOUFrxCGC">pic.twitter.com/cyOUFrxCGC</a>
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The foundation stone of Sterlite’s copper-smelting plant in Tamil Nadu's Thoothukudi district was laid by the late former chief minister of Tamil Nadu, J Jayalalithaa, in the year 1994.

For over two decades, locals here have been fighting cases in various courts to protest its ongoing operations stating that the plant causes severe air and water pollution and contaminates the soil. &nbsp;

So far, there have only been temporary shutdowns and the plant has continued with its operations.&nbsp;

This year, fresh protests started in February when the company commenced works on its second unit amid opposition from the local people.

Section 144 of the CrPC (Criminal Procedure Code which lists out the procedure for administration of law in India), which prevents unlawful assembly of people in an area, has been imposed in and around the Sterlite unit. There is a heavy deployment of police in the city, with additional forces being rushed in from neighbouring cities as well.

Meanwhile, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister K Palaniswami announced a compensation of Rs 10 lakh to the families of each of those killed, Rs 3 lakh to those seriously injured, and Rs 1 lakh for people who suffered minor injuries.

The Sterlite plant is a copper unit of Vedanta Limited.&nbsp;

Madras High Court's Madurai bench will deliver an interim order today on the ongoing construction of a new copper smelter by Sterlite industries in Thoothukudi

As many as 11 people have been reported dead in clashes between locals and the police in Tamil Nadu's Tuticorin. According to reports, Union Home Ministry has demanded a report from the Tamil Nadu government over anti-Sterlite protests. Home Ministry seeks a report from Tamil Nadu govt over #Thoothukudi incident where 11 people were killed yesterday in police firing during protests against Sterlite industries. pic.twitter.com/MjSK2tzHYR — ANI (@ANI) May 23, 2018 × Chaos broke out as locals continued to protest Sterlite’s industrial plant for the 100th consecutive day on Tuesday. Madras High Court's Madurai bench to today deliver interim order on the ongoing construction of a new copper smelter by #Sterlite industries in #Thoothukudi . 11 people were killed yesterday in police firing during protests against the construction of the new copper smelter — ANI (@ANI) May 23, 2018 × As per reports, the protesters seek closing of the industrial plant. Agitators also ransacked the Collector’s office and burnt tyres. Security tightened in #Thoothukudi after eleven people were killed yesterday in police firing during protests against Sterlite industries. #TamilNadu #SterliteProtest pic.twitter.com/lmjbsTf66p — ANI (@ANI) May 23, 2018 × Visuals from the ground showed policemen charging at protesters with lathis who pelted stones at them. Several shops and commercial establishments remain closed in Tuticorin due to violent protests. Security tightened in #Thoothukudi after eleven people were killed yesterday in police firing during protests against Sterlite industries. Section 144(prohibits assembly of more than 4 people in an area) has been imposed in the city. #TamilNadu #SterliteProtest pic.twitter.com/cyOUFrxCGC — ANI (@ANI) May 23, 2018 × The foundation stone of Sterlite’s copper-smelting plant in Tamil Nadu's Thoothukudi district was laid by the late former chief minister of Tamil Nadu, J Jayalalithaa, in the year 1994. For over two decades, locals here have been fighting cases in various courts to protest its ongoing operations stating that the plant causes severe air and water pollution and contaminates the soil. So far, there have only been temporary shutdowns and the plant has continued with its operations. This year, fresh protests started in February when the company commenced works on its second unit amid opposition from the local people. Section 144 of the CrPC (Criminal Procedure Code which lists out the procedure for administration of law in India), which prevents unlawful assembly of people in an area, has been imposed in and around the Sterlite unit. There is a heavy deployment of police in the city, with additional forces being rushed in from neighbouring cities as well. Meanwhile, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister K Palaniswami announced a compensation of Rs 10 lakh to the families of each of those killed, Rs 3 lakh to those seriously injured, and Rs 1 lakh for people who suffered minor injuries. The Sterlite plant is a copper unit of Vedanta Limited.

Anti-Sterlite protests: Death toll mounts to 11, Home Ministry demands report from Tamil Nadu govt

China today condemned fighting on its border between Myanmar forces and ethnic rebels that has left 19 dead, mostly civilians, in some of the worst violence to rattle the restive frontier in recent years.

The fighting erupted yesterday when ethnic-minority insurgent groups, who are locked in a long-running battle with the Myanmar state, attacked security posts around Muse, a border town and trade hub in northeastern Shan state.

A local resident told AFP she heard gunfire through the night until early Sunday morning, with fear gripping a town that lives at the mercy of both government militias and ethnic armies fighting for more autonomy.

"We heard shooting the whole night until this morning around 6:00 am. We do not know what was going on and who was fighting," said Muse resident Aye Aye.

Yesterday's carnage, which also left at least 27 injured, was one of the bloodiest days in recent years in a long-running rebellion that is separate from the Rohingya crisis to the west.

Fighting in the remote region in early 2017 sent more 20,000 Myanmar refugees scrambling across the border into China's Yunnan province, raising tensions.

Today, the Chinese embassy in Yangon condemned the clashes and said it had urged "relevant parties" to reach an immediate ceasefire.

The violence "made people from the Myanmar side flee across the Chinese border, and stray bullets have entered into Chinese territory", the statement added.

Observers believe Beijing holds significant sway over the ethnic rebels near its border and is a key player in a faltering peace process steered by Myanmar's civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi.

Suu Kyi placed the peace bid -- an effort to extinguish around two dozen complicated and long-running ethnic conflicts across the country -- at the top of her agenda after she was elected to office in landmark 2015 elections.

But the effort has been severely hampered by a surge in fighting between Myanmar security forces and an alliance of rebel groups in northeastern Shan and Kachin states.

Saturday's attacks were blamed on the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) and the Ta'ang National Liberation Army (TNLA), which claimed responsibility for operation and apologised for the civilian deaths.

Suu Kyi, the first civilian leader of the former junta-run country in decades, lacks control over security policy and the still-powerful military, which has retained key government posts in a delicate power-sharing arrangement.

Today, the Chinese embassy in Yangon condemned the clashes and said it had urged "relevant parties" to reach an immediate ceasefire

China today condemned fighting on its border between Myanmar forces and ethnic rebels that has left 19 dead, mostly civilians, in some of the worst violence to rattle the restive frontier in recent years. The fighting erupted yesterday when ethnic-minority insurgent groups, who are locked in a long-running battle with the Myanmar state, attacked security posts around Muse, a border town and trade hub in northeastern Shan state. A local resident told AFP she heard gunfire through the night until early Sunday morning, with fear gripping a town that lives at the mercy of both government militias and ethnic armies fighting for more autonomy. "We heard shooting the whole night until this morning around 6:00 am. We do not know what was going on and who was fighting," said Muse resident Aye Aye. Yesterday's carnage, which also left at least 27 injured, was one of the bloodiest days in recent years in a long-running rebellion that is separate from the Rohingya crisis to the west. Fighting in the remote region in early 2017 sent more 20,000 Myanmar refugees scrambling across the border into China's Yunnan province, raising tensions. Today, the Chinese embassy in Yangon condemned the clashes and said it had urged "relevant parties" to reach an immediate ceasefire. The violence "made people from the Myanmar side flee across the Chinese border, and stray bullets have entered into Chinese territory", the statement added. Observers believe Beijing holds significant sway over the ethnic rebels near its border and is a key player in a faltering peace process steered by Myanmar's civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi. Suu Kyi placed the peace bid -- an effort to extinguish around two dozen complicated and long-running ethnic conflicts across the country -- at the top of her agenda after she was elected to office in landmark 2015 elections. But the effort has been severely hampered by a surge in fighting between Myanmar security forces and an alliance of rebel groups in northeastern Shan and Kachin states. Saturday's attacks were blamed on the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) and the Ta'ang National Liberation Army (TNLA), which claimed responsibility for operation and apologised for the civilian deaths. Suu Kyi, the first civilian leader of the former junta-run country in decades, lacks control over security policy and the still-powerful military, which has retained key government posts in a delicate power-sharing arrangement.

Beijing urges ceasefire after deadly Myanmar border clashes

Clashes broke out on Sunday (April 22) between asylum-seekers and groups of locals on Lesbos, police said, in one of the most serious bouts of violence on the Greek island in months.

The violence erupted late Sunday after members of the radical "Patriotic Movement" gathered on the central square of the island's main city Mytilene, where some 200 Afghan asylum-seekers launched a sit-in protest last week against their miserable living conditions. The asylum-seekers were demonstrating against conditions in the island's camp and delays in asylum applications.

The clashes raged all night until security forces used tear gas to disperse the crowd and evacuate the square, forcing the Afghans to return to the island's overcrowded migrant camps.

A dozen migrants were lightly hurt and had to be taken to hospital, police said.

The clashes, which began on Sunday evening, lasted well into the early hours of Monday, the official said.&nbspTensions spiraled further when Left-wing activists arrived in support of the migrants and started fighting with the far-Right supporters.

Lesbos was the main gateway to Europe for nearly a million refugees and migrants in 2015. Its main camp, Moria, suffers from overcrowding, with more than double the number of people it can handle, and conditions have deteriorated. Acts of violence and protests are often reported in the camp.

The clashes, which began on Sunday evening, lasted well into the early hours of Monday, the official said

Clashes broke out on Sunday (April 22) between asylum-seekers and groups of locals on Lesbos, police said, in one of the most serious bouts of violence on the Greek island in months. The violence erupted late Sunday after members of the radical "Patriotic Movement" gathered on the central square of the island's main city Mytilene, where some 200 Afghan asylum-seekers launched a sit-in protest last week against their miserable living conditions. The asylum-seekers were demonstrating against conditions in the island's camp and delays in asylum applications. The clashes raged all night until security forces used tear gas to disperse the crowd and evacuate the square, forcing the Afghans to return to the island's overcrowded migrant camps. A dozen migrants were lightly hurt and had to be taken to hospital, police said. The clashes, which began on Sunday evening, lasted well into the early hours of Monday, the official said.&nbspTensions spiraled further when Left-wing activists arrived in support of the migrants and started fighting with the far-Right supporters. Lesbos was the main gateway to Europe for nearly a million refugees and migrants in 2015. Its main camp, Moria, suffers from overcrowding, with more than double the number of people it can handle, and conditions have deteriorated. Acts of violence and protests are often reported in the camp.

Asylum-seekers and locals clash on Greek island of Lesbos over migrant crisis

The Taliban has vowed to "take serious revenge" after an Afghan airstrike in an area controlled by the militant group killed or wounded dozens of people, many of them children.

The government and military have said the Afghan Air Force (AAF) hit a Taliban base in the northeastern province of Kunduz on Monday where senior commanders were meeting to plan attacks. 
&nbsp 
But Afghan security sources and witnesses have told&nbspthat AAF helicopters struck a madrassa in Dashte Archi district where a graduation ceremony for religious students was underway.

At least 59 people were killed, including Taliban commanders, according to security sources. Health officials said at least 57 wounded were taken to hospital in the provincial capital Kunduz.&nbsp

The Taliban issued a statement late Wednesday saying it "condemns in the strongest terms this major crime and vows to take serious revenge against the perpetrators".

An AFP photographer was among the first journalists to visit the scene of the airstrike on Wednesday after receiving permission from the Taliban. It is deep inside Taliban-controlled territory and normally inaccessible to the media.&nbsp

The madrassa and mosque appeared to be undamaged. But in a field adjacent to the religious compound, where the graduation ceremony was purportedly held, AFP saw a hole in the ground that locals said was made by a rocket, though that could not be verified.&nbsp

AFP also saw large piles of hats, turbans and shoes that were said to belong to the victims of the airstrike. At least half a dozen freshly dug graves could be seen nearby.

Abdullah, 40, who lives near the compound housing the madrassa and mosque and was invited to attend as a member of the local community, told AFP that he saw the airstrike happen.&nbsp

"We were about to finish the ceremony at 1:00 pm when (Afghan military) aircraft bombarded innocent children," he said Wednesday.

"People were panicked. Children and elders were also wounded in the bombardment."

Government officials in both Kabul and Kunduz have given conflicting figures for the number of casualties, with some denying any civilians had been killed or that a madrassa had been hit.&nbsp

Afghan officials have been known to minimise civilian casualties.

The Afghan military initially denied civilians were among the dead and wounded, but later blamed the Taliban for shooting them. It said 18 Taliban commanders were killed and 12 were wounded in the airstrike.&nbsp

But Naim Mangal, a doctor at the hospital where most of the wounded were taken, told that "all the victims" had been "hit by pieces of bomb, shrapnel".&nbsp

At least 59 people were killed, including Taliban commanders, according to security sources

The Taliban has vowed to "take serious revenge" after an Afghan airstrike in an area controlled by the militant group killed or wounded dozens of people, many of them children. The government and military have said the Afghan Air Force (AAF) hit a Taliban base in the northeastern province of Kunduz on Monday where senior commanders were meeting to plan attacks. But Afghan security sources and witnesses have told&nbspthat AAF helicopters struck a madrassa in Dashte Archi district where a graduation ceremony for religious students was underway. At least 59 people were killed, including Taliban commanders, according to security sources. Health officials said at least 57 wounded were taken to hospital in the provincial capital Kunduz. The Taliban issued a statement late Wednesday saying it "condemns in the strongest terms this major crime and vows to take serious revenge against the perpetrators". An AFP photographer was among the first journalists to visit the scene of the airstrike on Wednesday after receiving permission from the Taliban. It is deep inside Taliban-controlled territory and normally inaccessible to the media. The madrassa and mosque appeared to be undamaged. But in a field adjacent to the religious compound, where the graduation ceremony was purportedly held, AFP saw a hole in the ground that locals said was made by a rocket, though that could not be verified. AFP also saw large piles of hats, turbans and shoes that were said to belong to the victims of the airstrike. At least half a dozen freshly dug graves could be seen nearby. Abdullah, 40, who lives near the compound housing the madrassa and mosque and was invited to attend as a member of the local community, told AFP that he saw the airstrike happen. "We were about to finish the ceremony at 1:00 pm when (Afghan military) aircraft bombarded innocent children," he said Wednesday. "People were panicked. Children and elders were also wounded in the bombardment." Government officials in both Kabul and Kunduz have given conflicting figures for the number of casualties, with some denying any civilians had been killed or that a madrassa had been hit. Afghan officials have been known to minimise civilian casualties. The Afghan military initially denied civilians were among the dead and wounded, but later blamed the Taliban for shooting them. It said 18 Taliban commanders were killed and 12 were wounded in the airstrike. But Naim Mangal, a doctor at the hospital where most of the wounded were taken, told that "all the victims" had been "hit by pieces of bomb, shrapnel".

Taliban vows 'serious revenge' over Afghan airstrike

The group in control of the last rebel bastion near Damascus appeared on Sunday to have agreed to a deal for its fighters to make peace with the government or quit the eastern Ghouta enclave, Syrian state media said.

Jaish al Islam, most of whose members are drawn from the area, has been defending the city of Douma against a months-long onslaught by government forces.&nbsp

If confirmed, its surrender or departure for rebel-held areas in northwest Syria would herald an end to the large-scale conflict in the enclave.

State television and Syrian newspapers said information indicated that, under the deal, the group would hand over heavy and mid-sized weapons and acknowledge the restoration of state sovereignty over Douma.

A Hezbollah run-media unit said on Sunday an agreement had been reached after several days of negotiations to spare bloodshed in Douma.

The unit of the powerful Lebanese Shi'ite militia that has been fighting with the Syrian army said among the terms of the deal was set up a Syrian government-approved local council to run the city`s affairs after rebels withdraw.

It also said a Russian-led committee with representatives from Turkey, Iran and Russia, the three guarantors of the Astana peace talks who set up "de-escalation" zones across Syria, would be responsible for handing over prisoners of war jailed by the rebels.

Jaish al Islam had no immediate comment on the reports but responded to earlier claims by the Syrian government that it was negotiating a deal to stay and not to pull out of the city.

The government lost control of Douma, the largest urban centre in the eastern suburbs of Damascus in insurgent hands, in the early phase of Syria`s civil war, now in its eighth year.

If confirmed, the agreement with Jaish al Islam would mirror others reached by insurgents following heavy bombing of areas under their control by government forces and Russian jets that has killed hundreds of civilians.

Late on Saturday, negotiators reached a deal to evacuate wounded Jaish al Islam civilians and fighters to Idlib in the northwest.&nbsp

A group of stranded fighters from another insurgent group, Failaq al Rahman, who had fled to Douma from advancing army troops at the start of the latest campaign, left the city on Sunday, state media said.&nbsp

Syria's state news agency SANA said 24 buses carrying around 1,200 fighters from Failaq al Rahman and their families left Douma on Sunday in the first such pullout of fighters.

On Saturday the rebel group concluded a week-long evacuation of thousands of its fighters from areas it had controlled in other parts of the enclave.

A political official in Jaish al Islam denied they had agreed to evacuate Douma and said the government-inspired reports were stepped up psychological warfare aimed at forcing them to capitulate.

"Jaish al Islam has taken the decision to remain steadfast and the idea of leaving is not on the table," said the official.

Opposition sources say Jaish al Islam officials have been desperately trying to strike a deal that would bring Russian military police into Douma, and let the group keep a role in maintaining internal security but under the state`s overall jurisdiction.

Russian military officers negotiating with Jaish al Islam told the group it accepted such an arrangement but the Syrian government remained against it, a senior opposition source familiar with the talks said.

Russia, a key ally of President Bashar al-Assad, was behind the main battle plan, directing elite forces and militias on the ground and calling in air strikes from Syrian and Russian warplanes, two Western intelligence sources based in the region told Reuters this week.

The Syrian army last week warned the insurgents to surrender or face a military assault to drive them out.

The Syrian army command said on Saturday it had regained most of the towns and villages in eastern Ghouta and was pressing its military operations in Douma.

The city's fall would seal the rebels' worst defeat since 2016. 
The once bustling commercial hub on the outskirts of the capital was the main centre of street protests in the Damascus suburbs against Assad's one-party rule that ignited the conflict more than seven years ago.&nbsp

A resident reached by phone described a sense of foreboding among those still in the besieged city.

"The fear is of the unknown and not bombardment or hunger ... what the coming days will bring we cannot predict," said the resident, Bilal Bwaidani.

Defence analysts say a major goal of the government's campaign was to complete a security belt around the capital, where for years rebels dug into a network of tunnels and well-fortified positions resisted countless offensives to seize the enclave.

Many of the predominantly Sunni Muslim inhabitants of eastern Ghouta say they fear their displacement was part of a deliberate attempt to bring demographic changes in strategic areas that dilute their presence in favour of Assad`s Alawite sect and other minorities.

Jaish al Islam, most of whose members are drawn from the area, has been defending the city of Douma against a months-long onslaught by government forces

The group in control of the last rebel bastion near Damascus appeared on Sunday to have agreed to a deal for its fighters to make peace with the government or quit the eastern Ghouta enclave, Syrian state media said. Jaish al Islam, most of whose members are drawn from the area, has been defending the city of Douma against a months-long onslaught by government forces. If confirmed, its surrender or departure for rebel-held areas in northwest Syria would herald an end to the large-scale conflict in the enclave. State television and Syrian newspapers said information indicated that, under the deal, the group would hand over heavy and mid-sized weapons and acknowledge the restoration of state sovereignty over Douma. A Hezbollah run-media unit said on Sunday an agreement had been reached after several days of negotiations to spare bloodshed in Douma. The unit of the powerful Lebanese Shi'ite militia that has been fighting with the Syrian army said among the terms of the deal was set up a Syrian government-approved local council to run the city`s affairs after rebels withdraw. It also said a Russian-led committee with representatives from Turkey, Iran and Russia, the three guarantors of the Astana peace talks who set up "de-escalation" zones across Syria, would be responsible for handing over prisoners of war jailed by the rebels. Jaish al Islam had no immediate comment on the reports but responded to earlier claims by the Syrian government that it was negotiating a deal to stay and not to pull out of the city. The government lost control of Douma, the largest urban centre in the eastern suburbs of Damascus in insurgent hands, in the early phase of Syria`s civil war, now in its eighth year. If confirmed, the agreement with Jaish al Islam would mirror others reached by insurgents following heavy bombing of areas under their control by government forces and Russian jets that has killed hundreds of civilians. Late on Saturday, negotiators reached a deal to evacuate wounded Jaish al Islam civilians and fighters to Idlib in the northwest. A group of stranded fighters from another insurgent group, Failaq al Rahman, who had fled to Douma from advancing army troops at the start of the latest campaign, left the city on Sunday, state media said. Syria's state news agency SANA said 24 buses carrying around 1,200 fighters from Failaq al Rahman and their families left Douma on Sunday in the first such pullout of fighters. On Saturday the rebel group concluded a week-long evacuation of thousands of its fighters from areas it had controlled in other parts of the enclave. A political official in Jaish al Islam denied they had agreed to evacuate Douma and said the government-inspired reports were stepped up psychological warfare aimed at forcing them to capitulate. "Jaish al Islam has taken the decision to remain steadfast and the idea of leaving is not on the table," said the official. Opposition sources say Jaish al Islam officials have been desperately trying to strike a deal that would bring Russian military police into Douma, and let the group keep a role in maintaining internal security but under the state`s overall jurisdiction. Russian military officers negotiating with Jaish al Islam told the group it accepted such an arrangement but the Syrian government remained against it, a senior opposition source familiar with the talks said. Russia, a key ally of President Bashar al-Assad, was behind the main battle plan, directing elite forces and militias on the ground and calling in air strikes from Syrian and Russian warplanes, two Western intelligence sources based in the region told Reuters this week. The Syrian army last week warned the insurgents to surrender or face a military assault to drive them out. The Syrian army command said on Saturday it had regained most of the towns and villages in eastern Ghouta and was pressing its military operations in Douma. The city's fall would seal the rebels' worst defeat since 2016. The once bustling commercial hub on the outskirts of the capital was the main centre of street protests in the Damascus suburbs against Assad's one-party rule that ignited the conflict more than seven years ago. A resident reached by phone described a sense of foreboding among those still in the besieged city. "The fear is of the unknown and not bombardment or hunger ... what the coming days will bring we cannot predict," said the resident, Bilal Bwaidani. Defence analysts say a major goal of the government's campaign was to complete a security belt around the capital, where for years rebels dug into a network of tunnels and well-fortified positions resisted countless offensives to seize the enclave. Many of the predominantly Sunni Muslim inhabitants of eastern Ghouta say they fear their displacement was part of a deliberate attempt to bring demographic changes in strategic areas that dilute their presence in favour of Assad`s Alawite sect and other minorities.

Last eastern Ghouta rebels poised to surrender: Syrian state media

Heavy clashes and air strikes shook Syria&#39;s rebel enclave of Eastern Ghouta on Sunday despite a UN call for a ceasefire to end one of the most ferocious assaults of Syria&#39;s civil war.

After days of diplomatic wrangling, the Security Council on Saturday adopted a resolution calling for a 30-day ceasefire in Syria without delay, to allow for aid deliveries and medical evacuations.

President Bashar al-Assad&#39;s forces launched a major bombing campaign against the enclave on the edge of Damascus a week ago, with over 500 people killed so far.

However, the UN resolution remains unclear as to when and how broadly the ceasefire could be implemented.

Russia is a key ally of Assad&#39;s regime and in a phone call on Sunday German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Emmanuel Macron urged President Vladimir Putin to use his influence. &nbsp;

They called on Russia to exercise maximum pressure on the Syrian regime to achieve an immediate suspension of air raids and fighting, Merkel&#39;s office said in a statement.

Reportedly, seven civilians were killed in strikes on Sunday, bringing the total number of dead in the week to 527, including 129 children.

Although there appeared to be fewer air strikes, Observatory chief Rami Abdel Rahman said, fighting had intensified on the ground.

Heavy clashes erupted in southern areas of Eastern Ghouta, he said, with at least 13 members of pro-regime forces and six fighters from the Jaish al-Islam rebel group killed.

Heavy clashes and air strikes shook Syria's rebel enclave of Eastern Ghouta

Heavy clashes and air strikes shook Syria's rebel enclave of Eastern Ghouta on Sunday despite a UN call for a ceasefire to end one of the most ferocious assaults of Syria's civil war. After days of diplomatic wrangling, the Security Council on Saturday adopted a resolution calling for a 30-day ceasefire in Syria without delay, to allow for aid deliveries and medical evacuations. President Bashar al-Assad's forces launched a major bombing campaign against the enclave on the edge of Damascus a week ago, with over 500 people killed so far. However, the UN resolution remains unclear as to when and how broadly the ceasefire could be implemented. Russia is a key ally of Assad's regime and in a phone call on Sunday German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Emmanuel Macron urged President Vladimir Putin to use his influence. They called on Russia to exercise maximum pressure on the Syrian regime to achieve an immediate suspension of air raids and fighting, Merkel's office said in a statement. Reportedly, seven civilians were killed in strikes on Sunday, bringing the total number of dead in the week to 527, including 129 children. Although there appeared to be fewer air strikes, Observatory chief Rami Abdel Rahman said, fighting had intensified on the ground. Heavy clashes erupted in southern areas of Eastern Ghouta, he said, with at least 13 members of pro-regime forces and six fighters from the Jaish al-Islam rebel group killed.

Strikes, clashes hit Syria's Ghouta despite ceasefire call

Yemen&#39;s&nbsp;Prime Minister Ahmed bin Dagher on Sunday accused southern separatists of attempting a coup in the interim capital of Aden after they took over the government headquarters.

The premier called on the Saudi-led coalition fighting Iran-backed Huthi rebels to intervene, hours after fierce clashes erupted between military units loyal to the government of President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi and security forces loyal to the southern separatists.

At least six people, including four from pro-government forces, were killed and dozens wounded in the clashes that spread to most of Aden, security sources said.

&quot;A coup is ongoing here in Aden against legitimacy and the country`s unity,&quot; Dagher said in the statement.

Security sources told AFP that pro-separatist units, trained and backed by the United Arab Emirates, had taken over the government headquarters in Aden after clashes with pro-government forces.

Dagher said that events in Aden were headed towards &quot;total military confrontation&quot; and urged members of the coalition, in particular the UAE, to take action.

The premier called on the Saudi-led coalition fighting Iran-backed Huthi rebels to intervene, hours after fierce clashes erupted between military units loyal to the government of President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi and security forces loyal to the southern separatists

Yemen's Prime Minister Ahmed bin Dagher on Sunday accused southern separatists of attempting a coup in the interim capital of Aden after they took over the government headquarters. The premier called on the Saudi-led coalition fighting Iran-backed Huthi rebels to intervene, hours after fierce clashes erupted between military units loyal to the government of President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi and security forces loyal to the southern separatists. At least six people, including four from pro-government forces, were killed and dozens wounded in the clashes that spread to most of Aden, security sources said. "A coup is ongoing here in Aden against legitimacy and the country`s unity," Dagher said in the statement. Security sources told AFP that pro-separatist units, trained and backed by the United Arab Emirates, had taken over the government headquarters in Aden after clashes with pro-government forces. Dagher said that events in Aden were headed towards "total military confrontation" and urged members of the coalition, in particular the UAE, to take action.

Yemen PM accuses separatists of coup after HQ takeover

Several people were killed as Yemeni armed groups allied to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates fought in the southern city of Aden on Sunday.&nbsp;

The worst clashes yet between UAE-backed southern separatists and forces loyal to the Saudi-based government risk crippling their once united war effort against the Iran-aligned Houthi movement in Yemen&#39;s north.

The fighting erupted after strict decisions issued by the government to ban peaceful demonstrations organized by the STC in Aden province.

Explosions and heavy gunfire could be heard ranging out across Aden&#39;s main streets media reports said.&nbsp;

An unprecedented military adventure for the usually cautious Gulf states, the campaign in their much poorer and less politically stable neighbour was aimed at sending a decisive signal that they would oppose Iranian expansion in their midst.

But Yemen has been torn apart by three years of conflict and the factional fighting in the south compounds the misery.

Gunmen were deployed throughout most districts of Aden on Sunday and there was heavy automatic gunfire and explosions in the southern port city, according to Reuters witnesses.

Armed separatists wrested a key military base and several government buildings from soldiers loyal to President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi as residents reported that hundreds of pro-Southern demonstrators had gathered in a main square.

The clashes come as a deadline imposed by the separatists for the government to resign expired on Sunday. 
 
Although Hadi remains in exile in Saudi Arabia, his administration nominally controls about four-fifths of Yemen&#39;s territory, but political and military leaders in Aden now want to revive the former independent state of South Yemen.

The southern separatists - the Southern Resistance Forces - last week accused Hadi&#39;s cabinet of corruption and inefficiency and demanded they quit.

A top military adviser to President Hadi, Mohammed Ali al-Miqdashi, said any move toward rebellion would render the southerners an enemy.

&quot;There is no difference between the Houthis and anyone else who rebels against the legitimate government, no matter who they are - left, right, south, east,&quot; said Miqdashi, speaking at a remote military base near the central Yemeni city of Marib, late on Saturday.

A senior southern political source accused the government of pushing the dispute toward an armed showdown.

&quot;The Hadi government was nervous about any demonstration by the people, so they tried to stop it by force thinking that if there were a battle, the coalition would intervene and save them,&quot; the source said.

In a statement late on Saturday before the clashes began, the Saudi-led coalition urged all parties to seek &quot;calm and restraint, adhering to the language of a calm dialogue.&quot;

(With inputs from agencies)

The worst clashes yet between UAE-backed southern separatists and forces loyal to the Saudi-based government risk crippling their once united war effort against the Iran-aligned Houthi movement in Yemen's north

Several people were killed as Yemeni armed groups allied to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates fought in the southern city of Aden on Sunday. The worst clashes yet between UAE-backed southern separatists and forces loyal to the Saudi-based government risk crippling their once united war effort against the Iran-aligned Houthi movement in Yemen's north. The fighting erupted after strict decisions issued by the government to ban peaceful demonstrations organized by the STC in Aden province. Explosions and heavy gunfire could be heard ranging out across Aden's main streets media reports said. An unprecedented military adventure for the usually cautious Gulf states, the campaign in their much poorer and less politically stable neighbour was aimed at sending a decisive signal that they would oppose Iranian expansion in their midst. But Yemen has been torn apart by three years of conflict and the factional fighting in the south compounds the misery. Gunmen were deployed throughout most districts of Aden on Sunday and there was heavy automatic gunfire and explosions in the southern port city, according to Reuters witnesses. Armed separatists wrested a key military base and several government buildings from soldiers loyal to President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi as residents reported that hundreds of pro-Southern demonstrators had gathered in a main square. The clashes come as a deadline imposed by the separatists for the government to resign expired on Sunday. Although Hadi remains in exile in Saudi Arabia, his administration nominally controls about four-fifths of Yemen's territory, but political and military leaders in Aden now want to revive the former independent state of South Yemen. The southern separatists - the Southern Resistance Forces - last week accused Hadi's cabinet of corruption and inefficiency and demanded they quit. A top military adviser to President Hadi, Mohammed Ali al-Miqdashi, said any move toward rebellion would render the southerners an enemy. "There is no difference between the Houthis and anyone else who rebels against the legitimate government, no matter who they are - left, right, south, east," said Miqdashi, speaking at a remote military base near the central Yemeni city of Marib, late on Saturday. A senior southern political source accused the government of pushing the dispute toward an armed showdown. "The Hadi government was nervous about any demonstration by the people, so they tried to stop it by force thinking that if there were a battle, the coalition would intervene and save them," the source said. In a statement late on Saturday before the clashes began, the Saudi-led coalition urged all parties to seek "calm and restraint, adhering to the language of a calm dialogue." (With inputs from agencies)

Deadly clashes split ranks of Gulf allies in Yemen war, several people killed

A 19-year-old Palestinian man shot dead by an Israeli army soldier during clashes carried out due to raid in the occupied West Bank, the Palestinian health ministry said on Saturday.

The man was shot in the head and critically wounded before he was pronounced dead at a hospital in the northern West Bank city of Jenin, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health.

The health ministry identified the dead man as Ahmad Abu Obeid, 19.

The Israeli army had carried out a military campaign in the Jenin area on Saturday seeking to arrest Palestinians reportedly involved in killing an Israeli rabbi in January.&nbsp;

An Israeli military spokesman confirmed the campaign in the Jenin area and said that the army arrested a number of suspected Palestinians and took them in for questioning.

Raziel Shevah, a 35-year-old rabbi, was shot dead near Havat Gilad, a wildcat Jewish settlement outpost in the Nablus area, on January 9.

The army has since launched multiple violent raids to search for the suspected killer, 22-year-old Ahmed Jarrar.

Jarrar is the son of Nasser Jarrar, a member of Islamist militant movement Hamas who was killed while fighting Israeli forces during the second Palestinian intifada.

The army did not say if he had been caught during the raid.

The health ministry identified the dead man as Ahmad Abu Obeid, 19

A 19-year-old Palestinian man shot dead by an Israeli army soldier during clashes carried out due to raid in the occupied West Bank, the Palestinian health ministry said on Saturday. The man was shot in the head and critically wounded before he was pronounced dead at a hospital in the northern West Bank city of Jenin, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health. The health ministry identified the dead man as Ahmad Abu Obeid, 19. The Israeli army had carried out a military campaign in the Jenin area on Saturday seeking to arrest Palestinians reportedly involved in killing an Israeli rabbi in January. An Israeli military spokesman confirmed the campaign in the Jenin area and said that the army arrested a number of suspected Palestinians and took them in for questioning. Raziel Shevah, a 35-year-old rabbi, was shot dead near Havat Gilad, a wildcat Jewish settlement outpost in the Nablus area, on January 9. The army has since launched multiple violent raids to search for the suspected killer, 22-year-old Ahmed Jarrar. Jarrar is the son of Nasser Jarrar, a member of Islamist militant movement Hamas who was killed while fighting Israeli forces during the second Palestinian intifada. The army did not say if he had been caught during the raid.

Palestine man shot dead by Israeli army soldier during clashes

A battle fought on January 1, 1818, between the British East India Company, containing Dalits in its infantry, and the Peshwas, who were upper-caste Brahmins, at Bhima Koregaon, has come to haunt the citizens residing in the 21st century.&nbsp;

On the 200th anniversary of the battle, clashes broke out between the Dalits and alleged right-wing groups on January 1, across towns and cities in Maharashtra. 
&nbsp; 
The Dalit protesters blocked major roads in Mumbai, disrupted road traffic and train services, bringing the life to a standstill after over 160 buses were damaged and heavy security was deployed to control the situation.&nbsp;

BR Ambedkar&#39;s grandson Prakash Ambedkar called for Maharashtra bandh on Wednesday, after the clashes killed one person and injured several others.&nbsp;

Groups of Dalit activists jumped on the railway tracks, raising slogans and waving flags to attempt a rail-blockade at Thane and Virar stations in Palghar.

However, they were prevented by the security forces and nearly 100 protesters were detained.&nbsp;

Commuters have been left stranded due to lack of mode of transport in the state today. Scores of people were witnessed waiting near Thane&#39;s Vartak Nagar.&nbsp;

Metro services between Asalfa and Ghatkopar Metro station in Mumbai were stopped by the protesters.

Violence spilled over to adjoining parts of Maharashtra after the right-wing groups were objecting to the observance of &#39;Victory Day&#39; since they considered it to be an anti-national celebration.

Even the Dabbawala association decided not to run its delivery service, fearing the law and order issues in the city.&nbsp;

The bus service towards Pune&#39;s Baramati and Satara and inter-state bus services from Karnataka-Maharashtra have been temporarily suspended till further order as a precautionary measure.&nbsp;

To prevent further damage the administration has also suspended internet services in Aurangabad.&nbsp;

Schools and colleges in Thane remain closed considering the safety and security of students.

Earlier, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Pravin Mundhe appealed to the citizens to carry on with their daily routine.&nbsp;

&quot;There will be peace in the city. Don&#39;t trust rumours being spread on social media,&quot; he added.

Meanwhile, the Rajya Sabha was adjourned today till noon after opposition including Congress and BSP, sought to raise the issue of caste violence in the state.&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

Clashes broke out between the Dalits and alleged right-wing groups on January 1

A battle fought on January 1, 1818, between the British East India Company, containing Dalits in its infantry, and the Peshwas, who were upper-caste Brahmins, at Bhima Koregaon, has come to haunt the citizens residing in the 21st century. On the 200th anniversary of the battle, clashes broke out between the Dalits and alleged right-wing groups on January 1, across towns and cities in Maharashtra. The Dalit protesters blocked major roads in Mumbai, disrupted road traffic and train services, bringing the life to a standstill after over 160 buses were damaged and heavy security was deployed to control the situation. BR Ambedkar's grandson Prakash Ambedkar called for Maharashtra bandh on Wednesday, after the clashes killed one person and injured several others. Groups of Dalit activists jumped on the railway tracks, raising slogans and waving flags to attempt a rail-blockade at Thane and Virar stations in Palghar. However, they were prevented by the security forces and nearly 100 protesters were detained. Commuters have been left stranded due to lack of mode of transport in the state today. Scores of people were witnessed waiting near Thane's Vartak Nagar. Metro services between Asalfa and Ghatkopar Metro station in Mumbai were stopped by the protesters. Violence spilled over to adjoining parts of Maharashtra after the right-wing groups were objecting to the observance of 'Victory Day' since they considered it to be an anti-national celebration. Even the Dabbawala association decided not to run its delivery service, fearing the law and order issues in the city. The bus service towards Pune's Baramati and Satara and inter-state bus services from Karnataka-Maharashtra have been temporarily suspended till further order as a precautionary measure. To prevent further damage the administration has also suspended internet services in Aurangabad. Schools and colleges in Thane remain closed considering the safety and security of students. Earlier, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Pravin Mundhe appealed to the citizens to carry on with their daily routine. "There will be peace in the city. Don't trust rumours being spread on social media," he added. Meanwhile, the Rajya Sabha was adjourned today till noon after opposition including Congress and BSP, sought to raise the issue of caste violence in the state.

Maharashtra comes to standstill after protests over Bhima-Koregaon violence

Prime Minister Narendra Modi today chaired a high-level meeting on the situation in Kashmir Valley, which has been rocked by violent protests in the wake of the killing of Hizbul commander Burhan Wani.&nbsp;Back from a visit to four African countries, Modi convened a meeting of Union Ministers and senior officials. 
 
The Prime Minister was given a detailed presentation of the situation prevailing in the Valley which has witnessed escalating protests following the killing of Wani on Friday.&nbsp;Violent clashes between security forces and protestors have so far left 24 dead. 
 
The meeting was attended by Home Minister Rajnath Singh, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj,&nbsp;Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar, Minister of State for PMO Jitendra Singh, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar among others. 
 
Yesterday, Parrikar, Jaitley and Doval, who returned a day earlier from Africa where he was accompanying the Prime Minister, had met to discuss the situation.&nbsp;The Ministers were briefed by Chiefs of central security agencies about the steps taken to bring back peace and normalcy in the Valley. 
 
All forces have been asked to ensure security of Amarnath pilgrims and enhance vigil along the border to check fresh attempts of infiltration from across the border.&nbsp;Sources said security forces were asked to ensure judicious use of force against protesting civilians. 
 
Parrikar had told reporters that an overall assessment of security situation in Kashmir has to be done by the Home Ministry and Army was ready to provide any assistance like increasing force levels in any areas required. 
 
Earlier, the Home Minister had reached out to opposition leaders, including Congress chief Sonia Gandhi and former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and Parliamentary leaders of all parties, and discussed the prevailing situation there. 
 
During the telephone conversation with Gandhi and National Conference leader Omar, the Home Minister had discussed with them efforts to bring back peace and normalcy in Kashmir Valley. 
 
(PTI)

The region has been rocked by violent protests in the wake of the killing of Hizbul commander Burhan Wani, leaving 24 dead

Prime Minister Narendra Modi today chaired a high-level meeting on the situation in Kashmir Valley, which has been rocked by violent protests in the wake of the killing of Hizbul commander Burhan Wani. Back from a visit to four African countries, Modi convened a meeting of Union Ministers and senior officials. The Prime Minister was given a detailed presentation of the situation prevailing in the Valley which has witnessed escalating protests following the killing of Wani on Friday. Violent clashes between security forces and protestors have so far left 24 dead. The meeting was attended by Home Minister Rajnath Singh, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar, Minister of State for PMO Jitendra Singh, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar among others. Yesterday, Parrikar, Jaitley and Doval, who returned a day earlier from Africa where he was accompanying the Prime Minister, had met to discuss the situation. The Ministers were briefed by Chiefs of central security agencies about the steps taken to bring back peace and normalcy in the Valley. All forces have been asked to ensure security of Amarnath pilgrims and enhance vigil along the border to check fresh attempts of infiltration from across the border. Sources said security forces were asked to ensure judicious use of force against protesting civilians. Parrikar had told reporters that an overall assessment of security situation in Kashmir has to be done by the Home Ministry and Army was ready to provide any assistance like increasing force levels in any areas required. Earlier, the Home Minister had reached out to opposition leaders, including Congress chief Sonia Gandhi and former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and Parliamentary leaders of all parties, and discussed the prevailing situation there. During the telephone conversation with Gandhi and National Conference leader Omar, the Home Minister had discussed with them efforts to bring back peace and normalcy in Kashmir Valley. (PTI)

Indian PM Narendra Modi meets with ministers and senior officials over fatal Kashmir clashes

Clashes in several areas across Yemen&nbsp;on Friday&nbsp;killed 22 Shiite rebels and 11 members of pro-government forces, military officials said, after peace talks hit a new barrier. 
 
Fierce battles erupted in the northern Jawf province when Huthi rebels attacked loyalists in al-Motoon district, triggering a counter attack by government forces backed by warplanes from the Saudi-led coalition, a military official said. 
 
The fighting left 13 rebels dead, while eight loyalists were killed by mistake in an air strike that missed its target, the official added. 
 
Further south, three Huthi rebels were killed in clashes in Bayhan, Shabwa province, another military official said. 
 
And in the Southwestern flashpoint city of Taez, six rebels and three loyalists were killed in renewed fighting when insurgents attacked government troops on the outskirts of the city, a military official said. 
 
Clashes have continued despite a UN-brokered ceasefire that entered into effect on&nbsp;April 11&nbsp;and paved the way for peace talks in Kuwait. 
 
Those talks received a new blow&nbsp;on Thursday&nbsp;when government representatives demanded a full withdrawal of Iran-backed rebels from territory seized since 2014. 
 
On Wednesday, the rebel delegation said it would not sign up to any deal on military and security issues until there was agreement on a consensus president and a national unity government to oversee the transition. 
 
The peace roadmap put forward by UN envoy Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed proposed the formation of a unity government in tandem with the withdrawal and disarmament of the rebels, although he acknowledged major differences between the two sides&#39; timetables. 
 
Despite a 15-month Saudi-led military intervention in support of the government of President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi, the rebels and their allies remain in control of swathes of territory they have overran since 2014, including the capital Sanaa. 
 
More than 6,400 people have been killed since the intervention began, the majority of them civilians, and there has been growing international pressure for an end to the conflict. 
 
(AFP)

Fighting between govt and rebel forces continues despite a UN-brokered ceasefire

Clashes in several areas across Yemen on Friday killed 22 Shiite rebels and 11 members of pro-government forces, military officials said, after peace talks hit a new barrier. Fierce battles erupted in the northern Jawf province when Huthi rebels attacked loyalists in al-Motoon district, triggering a counter attack by government forces backed by warplanes from the Saudi-led coalition, a military official said. The fighting left 13 rebels dead, while eight loyalists were killed by mistake in an air strike that missed its target, the official added. Further south, three Huthi rebels were killed in clashes in Bayhan, Shabwa province, another military official said. And in the Southwestern flashpoint city of Taez, six rebels and three loyalists were killed in renewed fighting when insurgents attacked government troops on the outskirts of the city, a military official said. Clashes have continued despite a UN-brokered ceasefire that entered into effect on April 11 and paved the way for peace talks in Kuwait. Those talks received a new blow on Thursday when government representatives demanded a full withdrawal of Iran-backed rebels from territory seized since 2014. On Wednesday, the rebel delegation said it would not sign up to any deal on military and security issues until there was agreement on a consensus president and a national unity government to oversee the transition. The peace roadmap put forward by UN envoy Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed proposed the formation of a unity government in tandem with the withdrawal and disarmament of the rebels, although he acknowledged major differences between the two sides' timetables. Despite a 15-month Saudi-led military intervention in support of the government of President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi, the rebels and their allies remain in control of swathes of territory they have overran since 2014, including the capital Sanaa. More than 6,400 people have been killed since the intervention began, the majority of them civilians, and there has been growing international pressure for an end to the conflict. (AFP)

33 killed in renewed clashes across Yemen

Heavy fighting between the Islamic State group and rebels gripped a town in northeastern Syria Saturday, a monitor and an activist said, after a lightning assault by the jihadists cut a main supply route. 
&quot;Heavy clashes took place overnight between IS fighters and rebels inside the walls of Marea town,&quot; the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said. 
IS swept through rebel-held territory early Friday in a shock offensive in Aleppo province, cutting off the main road between Marea and Azaz, 20 kilometres (12 miles) to the northeast near the Turkish border.&nbsp; 
The surprise advance came as the jihadist group faced an offensive by a US-backed Kurdish-Arab alliance in its own heartland of Raqa province further east. 
Maamoun Khateeb, a journalist and activist from Azaz, told AFP that IS attacked Marea early Saturday mainly from the east and north using tanks and two car bombs. 
The advance has besieged around 15,000 residents remaining inside Marea, he said.&nbsp; 
Human rights groups have warned that the IS advance in Aleppo has left tens of thousands of displaced Syrians trapped along the closed Turkish border. 
To the east in Raqa province, warplanes from the US-led coalition conducted air strikes on IS positions north of Raqa city, Observatory chief Rami Abdel Rahman said. 
But the Kurdish-Arab alliance fighting the jihadist group north of its de facto Syrian capital had made no strategic progress on the ground, he said. 
Syria`s war has killed more than 280,000 people and displaced millions since it started with the brutal repression of anti-government protests in 2011.

Heavy fighting between the Islamic State group and rebels gripped a town in northeastern Syria Saturday, a monitor and an activist said, after a lightning assault by the jihadists cut a main supply route.

Heavy fighting between the Islamic State group and rebels gripped a town in northeastern Syria Saturday, a monitor and an activist said, after a lightning assault by the jihadists cut a main supply route. "Heavy clashes took place overnight between IS fighters and rebels inside the walls of Marea town," the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said. IS swept through rebel-held territory early Friday in a shock offensive in Aleppo province, cutting off the main road between Marea and Azaz, 20 kilometres (12 miles) to the northeast near the Turkish border. The surprise advance came as the jihadist group faced an offensive by a US-backed Kurdish-Arab alliance in its own heartland of Raqa province further east. Maamoun Khateeb, a journalist and activist from Azaz, told AFP that IS attacked Marea early Saturday mainly from the east and north using tanks and two car bombs. The advance has besieged around 15,000 residents remaining inside Marea, he said. Human rights groups have warned that the IS advance in Aleppo has left tens of thousands of displaced Syrians trapped along the closed Turkish border. To the east in Raqa province, warplanes from the US-led coalition conducted air strikes on IS positions north of Raqa city, Observatory chief Rami Abdel Rahman said. But the Kurdish-Arab alliance fighting the jihadist group north of its de facto Syrian capital had made no strategic progress on the ground, he said. Syria`s war has killed more than 280,000 people and displaced millions since it started with the brutal repression of anti-government protests in 2011.

IS-rebel clashes rock northeast Syria town

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