The controversial movie Padmaavat released Thursday (under heavy security) as scheduled.&nbsp;

The movie however was a no-show in four states. Cinema hall owners in Rajasthan, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, and Goa have refused to screen the movie saying they fear violence.&nbsp;

A contempt petittion was filed by Congress leader Tehseen Poonawala in the Supreme Court on Thursday against the four states. The petition said the &nbsp;four states had failed their duty to ensure law and order.&nbsp;

Padmaavat had been banned by the four states of Rajasthan, Gujarat, MP, and Haryana -- on the pretext of the threat of violence -- but the Supreme Court had revoked the bans. The court said it was the states&#39; duty to ensure law and order.&nbsp;

The contempt petition against&nbsp;the four states will be heard on Monday.&nbsp;

A contempt petition was also filed against the Karni Sena in the Supreme Court for the violence they have unleashed and will be heard next week.&nbsp;

Protests against the movie continued on Thursday.&nbsp;

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Man tries to self immolate outside a cinema hall in Varanasi, detained by Police. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Padmaavat?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Padmaavat</a> <a href="https://t.co/lIGVaaozct">pic.twitter.com/lIGVaaozct</a>
&mdash; ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANINewsUP/status/956423607579656192?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 25, 2018</a></blockquote>
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&nbsp;

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Protesters brandish swords, burn tires in protest against <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Padmaavat?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Padmaavat</a> in Muzaffarpur <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Bihar?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Bihar</a> <a href="https://t.co/y2Id7YfDxp">pic.twitter.com/y2Id7YfDxp</a>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/956408621042081792?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 25, 2018</a></blockquote>
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<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WATCH?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WATCH</a> Karni Sena members take out bike rally in protest against <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Padmaavat?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Padmaavat</a> in Jaipur <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Rajasthan?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Rajasthan</a> <a href="https://t.co/TqcCdLGhGS">pic.twitter.com/TqcCdLGhGS</a>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/956408290375684097?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 25, 2018</a></blockquote>
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Karni Sena members protest at Lucknow&#39;s Novelty cinema, present roses to people and appeal to them to not watch the film. A protester says &#39;we will also compensate money of the tickets in case people have already bought&#39; <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Padmaavat?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Padmaavat</a> <a href="https://t.co/uezpold0lG">pic.twitter.com/uezpold0lG</a>
&mdash; ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANINewsUP/status/956422159324258304?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 25, 2018</a></blockquote>
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And at least some movie halls decided not to show the movie.&nbsp;

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Notice put up outside PVR Cinemas in Gurugram&#39;s Ambience Mall. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Padmaavat?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Padmaavat</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Haryana?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Haryana</a> <a href="https://t.co/3F5nWNB6D2">pic.twitter.com/3F5nWNB6D2</a>
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<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Visuals?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Visuals</a> from Chittorgarh (Rajasthan): Heavy security outside Chittor Fort <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Padmaavat?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Padmaavat</a> <a href="https://t.co/c8JdGh5WTi">pic.twitter.com/c8JdGh5WTi</a>
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Security personnel outside cinema halls in <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Varanasi?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Varanasi</a>; police says, &#39;have not witnessed any protest yet, have increased security as a precautionary measure&#39; <a href="https://t.co/zWoV6Vq5xE">pic.twitter.com/zWoV6Vq5xE</a>
&mdash; ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANINewsUP/status/956386159604609025?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 25, 2018</a></blockquote>
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But the ones that are screening say the turnout has been good. The viewers say they &quot;want to see the reason behind all that uproar&quot;.&nbsp;

&quot;It&#39;s peaceful. Current show housefull. Police presence is here, our own security is also in place. All good as of now,&quot; said Kishore Ganatra, owner of E-Square cinema hall in Pune.&nbsp;

Viewers are saying they want to see the movie that has caused all the hue and cry

The controversial movie Padmaavat released Thursday (under heavy security) as scheduled. The movie however was a no-show in four states. Cinema hall owners in Rajasthan, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, and Goa have refused to screen the movie saying they fear violence. A contempt petittion was filed by Congress leader Tehseen Poonawala in the Supreme Court on Thursday against the four states. The petition said the four states had failed their duty to ensure law and order. Padmaavat had been banned by the four states of Rajasthan, Gujarat, MP, and Haryana -- on the pretext of the threat of violence -- but the Supreme Court had revoked the bans. The court said it was the states' duty to ensure law and order. The contempt petition against the four states will be heard on Monday. A contempt petition was also filed against the Karni Sena in the Supreme Court for the violence they have unleashed and will be heard next week. Protests against the movie continued on Thursday. Man tries to self immolate outside a cinema hall in Varanasi, detained by Police. #Padmaavat pic.twitter.com/lIGVaaozct — ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) January 25, 2018 × Protesters brandish swords, burn tires in protest against #Padmaavat in Muzaffarpur #Bihar pic.twitter.com/y2Id7YfDxp — ANI (@ANI) January 25, 2018 × #WATCH Karni Sena members take out bike rally in protest against #Padmaavat in Jaipur #Rajasthan pic.twitter.com/TqcCdLGhGS — ANI (@ANI) January 25, 2018 × Karni Sena members protest at Lucknow's Novelty cinema, present roses to people and appeal to them to not watch the film. A protester says 'we will also compensate money of the tickets in case people have already bought' #Padmaavat pic.twitter.com/uezpold0lG — ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) January 25, 2018 × And at least some movie halls decided not to show the movie. Notice put up outside PVR Cinemas in Gurugram's Ambience Mall. #Padmaavat #Haryana pic.twitter.com/3F5nWNB6D2 — ANI (@ANI) January 25, 2018 × #Visuals from Chittorgarh (Rajasthan): Heavy security outside Chittor Fort #Padmaavat pic.twitter.com/c8JdGh5WTi — ANI (@ANI) January 25, 2018 × Security personnel outside cinema halls in #Varanasi; police says, 'have not witnessed any protest yet, have increased security as a precautionary measure' pic.twitter.com/zWoV6Vq5xE — ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) January 25, 2018 × But the ones that are screening say the turnout has been good. The viewers say they "want to see the reason behind all that uproar". "It's peaceful. Current show housefull. Police presence is here, our own security is also in place. All good as of now," said Kishore Ganatra, owner of E-Square cinema hall in Pune.

Padmaavat releases, protesters brandish swords, owners say movie halls full

The DMK-led opposition today held protests across Tamil Nadu to demand a full rollback of the recent bus fare hike, with police detaining DMK&#39;s M K Stalin and MDMK&#39;s Vaiko for blocking roads in the capital.

Those that participated in the protests included the Congress, the Left parties, DMDK and VCK.

Stalin, DMK working president and leader of opposition in the assembly, was detained at Kolathur here along with scores of party workers and other opposition party members, including from the Congress, police said.

MDMK founder Vaiko and VCK founder Thol Thirumavalavan were detained with DMK workers at Saidapet when they staged protests demanding immediate rollback of the hike effected on January 19.

Warning of protests intensifying, Stalin said the government&#39;s move to marginally reduce the fares was an &quot;eye wash&quot;.

&quot;These protests will not end today... If the government does not withdraw the hike, our protests will intensify,&quot; he told reporters later.

The Tamil Nadu government had yesterday revised bus fares marginally, following protests by opposition parties and the public, especially students, over the recent &quot;steep&quot; hike.

The reduction of fares was between two paise to 10 paise per km for various categories of buses and routes such as city, districts, express and ordinary services, a government release said.

In Chennai city, bus fares have been cut by Re 1 across various stages. The minimum fare would now be Rs 4 and the maximum Rs 18. 
The revision will come into effect from today.

The state government had on January 19 hiked ticket prices of buses operated by transport corporations by about 20 to 54.54 per cent, drawing criticism from all.

Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation workers, owing allegiance to 17 trade unions, including those affiliated to the DMK and Left parties, had launched a stir on January 4 after talks with the state government on wage revision failed.

While the unions demanded that salaries be hiked 2.57 times, the government offered only 2.44, resulting in a stalemate.

The workers had withdrawn their eight-day strike on January 11 after the Madras High Court appointed an arbitrator to settle their wage-related dispute with the government.

Those that participated in the protests included the Congress, the Left parties, DMDK and VCK

The DMK-led opposition today held protests across Tamil Nadu to demand a full rollback of the recent bus fare hike, with police detaining DMK's M K Stalin and MDMK's Vaiko for blocking roads in the capital. Those that participated in the protests included the Congress, the Left parties, DMDK and VCK. Stalin, DMK working president and leader of opposition in the assembly, was detained at Kolathur here along with scores of party workers and other opposition party members, including from the Congress, police said. MDMK founder Vaiko and VCK founder Thol Thirumavalavan were detained with DMK workers at Saidapet when they staged protests demanding immediate rollback of the hike effected on January 19. Warning of protests intensifying, Stalin said the government's move to marginally reduce the fares was an "eye wash". "These protests will not end today... If the government does not withdraw the hike, our protests will intensify," he told reporters later. The Tamil Nadu government had yesterday revised bus fares marginally, following protests by opposition parties and the public, especially students, over the recent "steep" hike. The reduction of fares was between two paise to 10 paise per km for various categories of buses and routes such as city, districts, express and ordinary services, a government release said. In Chennai city, bus fares have been cut by Re 1 across various stages. The minimum fare would now be Rs 4 and the maximum Rs 18. The revision will come into effect from today. The state government had on January 19 hiked ticket prices of buses operated by transport corporations by about 20 to 54.54 per cent, drawing criticism from all. Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation workers, owing allegiance to 17 trade unions, including those affiliated to the DMK and Left parties, had launched a stir on January 4 after talks with the state government on wage revision failed. While the unions demanded that salaries be hiked 2.57 times, the government offered only 2.44, resulting in a stalemate. The workers had withdrawn their eight-day strike on January 11 after the Madras High Court appointed an arbitrator to settle their wage-related dispute with the government.

Tamil Nadu opposition holds protests, demands rollback of bus fare hike

Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge brought up the Maharashtra caste violence that had broken out on Monday in Bhima-Koregaon near Pune. One person had died in the clashes.&nbsp;

Kharge added that Prime Minister Modi would have to speak on the issue. He is a &quot;mauni baba on such issues,&quot; Kharge said.&nbsp;

&quot;Who instigated and interfered in this event?&quot; Kharge asked in the Lok Sabha.&nbsp;

Kharge answered his question himself. &quot;Samaaj mein division karne ke liye, kattar Hindutvavaadi, jo wahan RSS ke log hain...iske peecha unka haath hai. Unhone ye kaam karwaya hai,&quot; he said.&nbsp;

Kharge also asked for a Supreme Court judge to be appointed to look into the matter.&nbsp;

Live updates: <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/live-updates-maharastra-tense-after-pune-violence-28382">Maharashtra bandh today; Dalit protesters block roads, occupy railway tracks, stop metros</a>

Also read: <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/maharashtra-tense-after-pune-violence-28374" target="_blank">Maharashtra on edge after Bhima-Koregaon violence, protests</a>

Kharge was replied to by Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ananth Kumar.

&quot;Congress divide and rule ki policy use kar rahe hain. Aur sabka saath, sabka vikaas karke Narendra Modi ji desh ko saath le rahe hain,&quot; he said.&nbsp;

&quot;Aag ko bujhaane ke bajaaye, bhadkaane ka kaam Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi aur Congress party kar rahi hai. Ise desh bardasht nahin karega,&quot; Kumar added.&nbsp;

Bhima-Koregaon is where the last of the three Anglo-Maratha wars was fought on January 1, 1818.&nbsp;

The English, who had beaten the Peshwas in the war, had had a large number of Dalit soldiers in their army.&nbsp;

It was BR Ambedkar who had first referred to the war, and the beating of the Peshwa Brahmins, as an example of caste assertion by the Dalits.&nbsp;

The Dalits have ever since commemorated the anniversary of what they see as their &quot;victory&quot; in the last of the Anglo-Maratha wars.&nbsp;

The commemoration of the anniversary this year was reportedly opposed by Hindu groups.&nbsp;

The violence had broken out thereafter.&nbsp;

Mallikarjun Kharge also asked for a Supreme Court judge to be appointed to look into the matter

Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge brought up the Maharashtra caste violence that had broken out on Monday in Bhima-Koregaon near Pune. One person had died in the clashes. Kharge added that Prime Minister Modi would have to speak on the issue. He is a "mauni baba on such issues," Kharge said. "Who instigated and interfered in this event?" Kharge asked in the Lok Sabha. Kharge answered his question himself. "Samaaj mein division karne ke liye, kattar Hindutvavaadi, jo wahan RSS ke log hain...iske peecha unka haath hai. Unhone ye kaam karwaya hai," he said. Kharge also asked for a Supreme Court judge to be appointed to look into the matter. Live updates: Maharashtra bandh today; Dalit protesters block roads, occupy railway tracks, stop metros Also read: Maharashtra on edge after Bhima-Koregaon violence, protests Kharge was replied to by Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ananth Kumar. "Congress divide and rule ki policy use kar rahe hain. Aur sabka saath, sabka vikaas karke Narendra Modi ji desh ko saath le rahe hain," he said. "Aag ko bujhaane ke bajaaye, bhadkaane ka kaam Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi aur Congress party kar rahi hai. Ise desh bardasht nahin karega," Kumar added. Bhima-Koregaon is where the last of the three Anglo-Maratha wars was fought on January 1, 1818. The English, who had beaten the Peshwas in the war, had had a large number of Dalit soldiers in their army. It was BR Ambedkar who had first referred to the war, and the beating of the Peshwa Brahmins, as an example of caste assertion by the Dalits. The Dalits have ever since commemorated the anniversary of what they see as their "victory" in the last of the Anglo-Maratha wars. The commemoration of the anniversary this year was reportedly opposed by Hindu groups. The violence had broken out thereafter.

As Maharashtra comes to standstill, Congress demands statement from PM on Bhima-Koregaon violence

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/protests-hit-tehran-as-government-warns-against-illegal-gatherings-28138">Protesters in Iran who have staged three days of demonstrations</a> over economic hardship and alleged corruption should pay a high price if they break the law, the government said on Sunday.

The wave of anti-government demonstrations in several cities are the biggest challenge to Iran&#39;s leaders since unrest in 2009 that followed the disputed re-election of then-President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad went on for months.

Protesters have attacked banks and government buildings and burned a police motorcycle. Two protesters were shot dead in the western town of Dorud on Saturday night. The deputy governor of Lorestan province blamed foreign agents for the deaths.

&quot;No shots were fired by the police and security forces. We have found evidence of enemies of the revolution, Takfiri groups and foreign agents in this clash,&quot; Habibollah Khojastehpour said in an interview on state television on Sunday. Takfiri is a term for Sunni militants especially the Islamic State.

State media also quoted Interior Minister Abdolreza Rahmani Fazli as saying: &quot;Those who damage public property, violate law and order and create unrest are responsible for their actions and should pay the price.&quot;

Ahmad Khatami, a hardline cleric who leads Friday prayers in the capital Tehran, said the protests were similar to those in 2009 over alleged electoral fraud.

He called for capital punishment for those chanting slogans against the values of the Islamic Republic.

The protests have included chants and slogans against Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and the clerical leadership in power since 1979 revolution.

Videos posted on social media showed people chanting: &quot;Mullahs, have some shame, let go of the country.&quot;

Protests defied the police and Revolutionary Guards who have used violence to crush previous unrest because they are motivated by economic grievances and have no clear leader.

They are also difficult for the government of President Hassan Rouhani because he was elected on a promise to guarantee rights to freedom of expression and assembly.

Rouhani&#39;s main achievement, a 2015 deal with world powers that curbed Iran&#39;s nuclear program in return for a lifting of most international sanctions, is yet to bring the economic benefits the government promised.

Unemployment rose to 12.4 percent this fiscal year up 1.4 percentage points, according to the Statistical Centre of Iran. 3.2 Iranians are jobless.

The wave of anti-government demonstrations in several cities are the biggest challenge to Iran's leaders since unrest in 2009

Protesters in Iran who have staged three days of demonstrations over economic hardship and alleged corruption should pay a high price if they break the law, the government said on Sunday. The wave of anti-government demonstrations in several cities are the biggest challenge to Iran's leaders since unrest in 2009 that followed the disputed re-election of then-President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad went on for months. Protesters have attacked banks and government buildings and burned a police motorcycle. Two protesters were shot dead in the western town of Dorud on Saturday night. The deputy governor of Lorestan province blamed foreign agents for the deaths. "No shots were fired by the police and security forces. We have found evidence of enemies of the revolution, Takfiri groups and foreign agents in this clash," Habibollah Khojastehpour said in an interview on state television on Sunday. Takfiri is a term for Sunni militants especially the Islamic State. State media also quoted Interior Minister Abdolreza Rahmani Fazli as saying: "Those who damage public property, violate law and order and create unrest are responsible for their actions and should pay the price." Ahmad Khatami, a hardline cleric who leads Friday prayers in the capital Tehran, said the protests were similar to those in 2009 over alleged electoral fraud. He called for capital punishment for those chanting slogans against the values of the Islamic Republic. The protests have included chants and slogans against Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and the clerical leadership in power since 1979 revolution. Videos posted on social media showed people chanting: "Mullahs, have some shame, let go of the country." Protests defied the police and Revolutionary Guards who have used violence to crush previous unrest because they are motivated by economic grievances and have no clear leader. They are also difficult for the government of President Hassan Rouhani because he was elected on a promise to guarantee rights to freedom of expression and assembly. Rouhani's main achievement, a 2015 deal with world powers that curbed Iran's nuclear program in return for a lifting of most international sanctions, is yet to bring the economic benefits the government promised. Unemployment rose to 12.4 percent this fiscal year up 1.4 percentage points, according to the Statistical Centre of Iran. 3.2 Iranians are jobless.

Iran said protesters should pay a high price if they break the law

Demonstrators attacked a town hall in the Iranian capital Saturday as protests spilled into a third night despite government warnings against any further &quot;illegal gatherings&quot; and moves to cut off the internet on mobiles.

Meanwhile, US president Donald Trump weighed in on protests in Iran on Saturday, warning that the country&#39;s people want change and &quot;oppressive regimes cannot endure forever.&quot;

On Twitter, Trump posted two videos of his speech at the UN General Assembly in September where he spoke about the Iranian regime.&nbsp;

&quot;Oppressive regimes cannot endure forever, and the day will come when the Iranian people will face a choice,&quot; he tweeted, quoting from the speech. &quot;The world is watching!.&quot;

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Oppressive regimes cannot endure forever, and the day will come when the Iranian people will face a choice. The world is watching! <a href="https://t.co/kvv1uAqcZ9">pic.twitter.com/kvv1uAqcZ9</a>
&mdash; Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/947181212468203520?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 30, 2017</a></blockquote>
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&quot;The entire world understands that the good people of Iran want change, and, other than the vast military power of the United States, that Iran&#39;s people are what their leaders fear the most,&quot; Trump posted, again quoting from the UN speech.

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The entire world understands that the good people of Iran want change, and, other than the vast military power of the United States, that Iran&rsquo;s people are what their leaders fear the most.... <a href="https://t.co/W8rKN9B6RT">pic.twitter.com/W8rKN9B6RT</a>
&mdash; Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/947180713236934657?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 30, 2017</a></blockquote>
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He also tweeted in support of the protesters late Friday, prompting Iran&#39;s foreign ministry spokesman Bahran Ghasemi to dismiss his remarks as &quot;opportunistic.&quot;

Demonstrators chanted <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/price-protests-turn-political-in-iran-as-rallies-spread-28091">anti-government slogans</a> in several cities across Iran on Friday, Iranian news agencies and social media reports said, as price protests turned into the largest wave of demonstrations since nationwide pro-reform unrest in 2009.

In the third day, the wave of protests spread to Qom, around 80 km from the Iranian capital, Tehran, protesters in Qom and Tehran raised anti-government slogans against Iranian president Hassan Rouhani and Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei such as- &quot;Death to Hezbollah&quot; and &quot;Aren&#39;t you ashamed Khamenei? Leave the country.&quot;

(With input from agencies)

'Oppressive regimes cannot endure forever, and the day will come when the Iranian people will face a choice,' he tweeted, quoting from the speech

Demonstrators attacked a town hall in the Iranian capital Saturday as protests spilled into a third night despite government warnings against any further "illegal gatherings" and moves to cut off the internet on mobiles. Meanwhile, US president Donald Trump weighed in on protests in Iran on Saturday, warning that the country's people want change and "oppressive regimes cannot endure forever." On Twitter, Trump posted two videos of his speech at the UN General Assembly in September where he spoke about the Iranian regime. "Oppressive regimes cannot endure forever, and the day will come when the Iranian people will face a choice," he tweeted, quoting from the speech. "The world is watching!." Oppressive regimes cannot endure forever, and the day will come when the Iranian people will face a choice. The world is watching! pic.twitter.com/kvv1uAqcZ9 — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 30, 2017 × "The entire world understands that the good people of Iran want change, and, other than the vast military power of the United States, that Iran's people are what their leaders fear the most," Trump posted, again quoting from the UN speech. The entire world understands that the good people of Iran want change, and, other than the vast military power of the United States, that Iran’s people are what their leaders fear the most.... pic.twitter.com/W8rKN9B6RT — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 30, 2017 × He also tweeted in support of the protesters late Friday, prompting Iran's foreign ministry spokesman Bahran Ghasemi to dismiss his remarks as "opportunistic." Demonstrators chanted anti-government slogans in several cities across Iran on Friday, Iranian news agencies and social media reports said, as price protests turned into the largest wave of demonstrations since nationwide pro-reform unrest in 2009. In the third day, the wave of protests spread to Qom, around 80 km from the Iranian capital, Tehran, protesters in Qom and Tehran raised anti-government slogans against Iranian president Hassan Rouhani and Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei such as- "Death to Hezbollah" and "Aren't you ashamed Khamenei? Leave the country." (With input from agencies)

Government blocks internet amid Iran protests, Trump warns that people need change

The Iranian government blocked social media apps after protests intensified across the capital city and spread to areas like Qom -- 80kms away from Tehran.&nbsp;

At least two people have been killed during the protests which&nbsp;continued on the third. Numerous demonstrators have been arrested.&nbsp;

Iran&#39;s Interior Minister Abdolreza Rahmani Fazli&#39;s warned protestors stating that &quot;those who damage public property, violate law and order and create unrest are responsible for their actions and should pay the price.&quot;

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/iran-said-protesters-should-pay-a-high-price-if-they-break-the-law-28170" target="_blank">Despite the warning</a>, the protestors attacked a town hall in Tehran on Saturday.&nbsp;

The <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/3-reportedly-killed-in-ongoing-protests-in-iran-government-blocks-internet-28144">government was reported to have banned internet access</a> on local devices and have nos restricted access to a couple of social media applications to curb protests.

Social media applications like Instagram and Telegram have been banned.

Telegram app was previously accused of being a tool in instigating violence during protests.

Telecom Minister Mohammad-Javad Azari called the app as &quot;counter-revolutionary&quot;, facilitating armed uprising and social unrest.&nbsp;

&quot;If the counter-revolutionaries want to use this atmosphere to create riots, naturally the Supreme National Security Council will take action,&quot; he told the state broadcaster.

&quot;Iranian authorities are blocking access to Telegram for the majority of Iranians after our public refusal to shut down [Sedaie Mardom] and other peacefully protesting channels,&quot; Azari tweeted, referring to one of the channels criticised by Iran.

Telegram CEO Pavel Durov confirmed the blocking.

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

 
&nbsp;

The government was reported to have banned internet access on local devices

The Iranian government blocked social media apps after protests intensified across the capital city and spread to areas like Qom -- 80kms away from Tehran. At least two people have been killed during the protests which continued on the third. Numerous demonstrators have been arrested. Iran's Interior Minister Abdolreza Rahmani Fazli's warned protestors stating that "those who damage public property, violate law and order and create unrest are responsible for their actions and should pay the price." Despite the warning, the protestors attacked a town hall in Tehran on Saturday. The government was reported to have banned internet access on local devices and have nos restricted access to a couple of social media applications to curb protests. Social media applications like Instagram and Telegram have been banned. Telegram app was previously accused of being a tool in instigating violence during protests. Telecom Minister Mohammad-Javad Azari called the app as "counter-revolutionary", facilitating armed uprising and social unrest. "If the counter-revolutionaries want to use this atmosphere to create riots, naturally the Supreme National Security Council will take action," he told the state broadcaster. "Iranian authorities are blocking access to Telegram for the majority of Iranians after our public refusal to shut down [Sedaie Mardom] and other peacefully protesting channels," Azari tweeted, referring to one of the channels criticised by Iran. Telegram CEO Pavel Durov confirmed the blocking. (With inputs from agencies)

Iran protests: Government temporarily restricts social media on mobiles

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/sports/sindhu-settles-for-silver-as-she-loses-in-summit-clash-of-dubai-super-series-final-26993">Sindhu settles for silver as she loses in summit clash of Dubai Super Series Final</a>

Olympic silver medallist P V Sindhu suffered another heart-wrenching defeat against World No. 2, Akane Yamaguchi of Japan, to finish as runner-up at the Dubai Super Series Final here today. In the prestigious season-ending tournament finale, Sindhu played her heart&nbsp;out before going down fighting 21-15 12-21 19-21 to Yamaguchi in an energy-sapping summit clash that lasted an hour and 31 minutes.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/pakistans-isi-tries-to-lure-indian-officials-with-women-to-extract-confidential-documents-attempt-foiled-26978">To extract sensitive information, Pakistan&#39;s ISI sets honeytrap for 3 Indian officials; attempt foiled</a>

Pakistan&#39;s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) tried to extract sensitive information from three Indian officials posted in the country by setting a honeytrap for them, media reports said Sunday. The attempt, however, was foiled before any classified documents could be passed on, the reports added.&nbsp;

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-two-women-harassed-every-day-at-workplace-in-2017-26969" target="_blank">India: Two women harassed every day at workplace in 2017</a>

Two women were harassed every day at their workplaces in India in 2017.&nbsp;News reports said Sunday that the National Commission for Women (NCW) received an average of 1.7 complaints a day in 2017.&nbsp; The reports said that in the 316 days between January 1 and December 12, the commission received 539 complaints.&nbsp;

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/pakistan-8-killed-in-bomb-attack-on-quetta-church-26975" target="_blank">Pakistan: 8 killed in bomb attack on Quetta church</a>

At least 8 people have reportedly been killed and 25 injured in a bomb and gun attack on a Catholic church in Quetta, Pakistan.&nbsp;Pakistan&#39;s Dawn News confirmed the attack on the Bethel Memorial Methodist Church on Zarghoon Road, Quetta this afternoon.&nbsp;All casualties have been moved to Quetta&#39;s Civil Hospital.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/jk-protests-after-civilian-killed-in-crossfire-between-army-terrorists-26991" target="_blank">J&amp;K: Protests after civilian killed in crossfire between army, terrorists&nbsp;</a>

Clashes broke out in Kashmir&#39;s Kupwara district on Sunday after a civilian was killed in an exchange of fire between army personnel and terrorists the day before. The Army said a man, Asif Iqbal Bhat, was killed in an exchange of fire between army soldiers and terrorists after the army received specific information about the presence of terrorists in Thindpura village and laid an ambush.

Sindhu settles for silver as she loses in summit clash of Dubai Super Series Final Olympic silver medallist P V Sindhu suffered another heart-wrenching defeat against World No. 2, Akane Yamaguchi of Japan, to finish as runner-up at the Dubai Super Series Final here today. In the prestigious season-ending tournament finale, Sindhu played her heart out before going down fighting 21-15 12-21 19-21 to Yamaguchi in an energy-sapping summit clash that lasted an hour and 31 minutes. To extract sensitive information, Pakistan's ISI sets honeytrap for 3 Indian officials; attempt foiled Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) tried to extract sensitive information from three Indian officials posted in the country by setting a honeytrap for them, media reports said Sunday. The attempt, however, was foiled before any classified documents could be passed on, the reports added. India: Two women harassed every day at workplace in 2017 Two women were harassed every day at their workplaces in India in 2017. News reports said Sunday that the National Commission for Women (NCW) received an average of 1.7 complaints a day in 2017. The reports said that in the 316 days between January 1 and December 12, the commission received 539 complaints. Pakistan: 8 killed in bomb attack on Quetta church At least 8 people have reportedly been killed and 25 injured in a bomb and gun attack on a Catholic church in Quetta, Pakistan. Pakistan's Dawn News confirmed the attack on the Bethel Memorial Methodist Church on Zarghoon Road, Quetta this afternoon. All casualties have been moved to Quetta's Civil Hospital. J&K: Protests after civilian killed in crossfire between army, terrorists Clashes broke out in Kashmir's Kupwara district on Sunday after a civilian was killed in an exchange of fire between army personnel and terrorists the day before. The Army said a man, Asif Iqbal Bhat, was killed in an exchange of fire between army soldiers and terrorists after the army received specific information about the presence of terrorists in Thindpura village and laid an ambush.

WION Evening News Brief, December 17 2017

Honduras announced a curfew and suspended some constitutional rights to allow security forces to contain protests and unrest over a disputed election in which both candidates have declared themselves winner and the ballot count is entering its sixth day.

Honduras&#39; electoral court had finished counting nearly 95 percent of the vote boxes from last Sunday&#39;s presidential election by late yesterday and said it would conduct a hand count of 1,031 other boxes that presented &quot;inconsistencies.&quot;

Incumbent President Juan Orlando Hernandez held a lead of more than 46,000 votes over challenger Salvador Nasralla before the last-stage count. It was not immediately clear how many votes could be at play in the uncounted boxes.

As the wait for election results has dragged on rock-wielding protesters have increasingly taken to the streets against riot police armed with tear gas, batons and water cannons. National Police spokesman Jair Meza said 12 people had been wounded in clashes between police and protesters.

Meza said numerous businesses were also damaged and looted in the capital and in San Pedro Sula. Local press reported that protesters set a bank branch on fire and looted several other businesses along a street in San Pedro Sula.

Groups of demonstrators also continued blocking highways with burning tires and other debris, in some cases forcing parents to carry their children through the smoking barriers.

In a decree read out on radio and television, the government&#39;s Cabinet chief Jorge Hernandez said late yesterday that some constitutional guarantees would be suspended for 10 days to allow the army and police to control the situation.

The government declared a curfew from 6 PM to 6 AM across the country.

&quot;The curfew is to safeguard the security of the country,&quot; President Hernandez said as he left a hotel in the capital after meeting with observers from the Organization of the American States and the European Union.

&quot;This is the time for the people to feel supported by their armed forces and their police because it cannot be that somebody decides to loot or rob.&quot;

Earlier, electoral court president David Matamoros said that representatives of the political parties would be present for the vote counts and that no announcements would be made until there is a final result.

After speaking with representatives of the opposition alliance and the National Party, Matamoros said yesterday that each party would be able to accredit 60 people to participate in the afternoon count alongside international observers. He estimated it could take six hours.

But the opposition published a list of demands that included a broader review of votes in three jurisdictions where it alleges voter turnout was unusually high and said the number of ballot boxes that presented issues was far larger. It was unclear if its demands would be met.

The count had still not begun last night because no representatives for Nasralla had arrived: &quot;The wait continues,&quot; said court spokeswoman Lourdes Rosales.

In a statement, the court also said any suggestion of wrongdoing in its operations is false and it lamented the increasing violence in the streets.

Heide Fulton, charge d&#39;affaires at the US Embassy in Honduras, said via Twitter yesterday that Honduras was beginning an &quot;unprecedented phase in the electoral process.&quot; She called for calm during the count.

Both Nasralla and Hernandez have declared themselves the winner of the election and their parties have urged their supporters to defend the vote in the street.

Nasralla and Hernandez have urged calm and warned their supporters to not be provoked into violence.

Retired Gen Romeo Vazquez, who led the coup that ousted President Manuel Zelaya in 2009, blamed the unrest on the electoral tribunal&#39;s delay in returning results.&nbsp;

Earlier, electoral court president David Matamoros said that representatives of the political parties would be present for the vote counts and that no announcements would be made until there is a final result

Honduras announced a curfew and suspended some constitutional rights to allow security forces to contain protests and unrest over a disputed election in which both candidates have declared themselves winner and the ballot count is entering its sixth day. Honduras' electoral court had finished counting nearly 95 percent of the vote boxes from last Sunday's presidential election by late yesterday and said it would conduct a hand count of 1,031 other boxes that presented "inconsistencies." Incumbent President Juan Orlando Hernandez held a lead of more than 46,000 votes over challenger Salvador Nasralla before the last-stage count. It was not immediately clear how many votes could be at play in the uncounted boxes. As the wait for election results has dragged on rock-wielding protesters have increasingly taken to the streets against riot police armed with tear gas, batons and water cannons. National Police spokesman Jair Meza said 12 people had been wounded in clashes between police and protesters. Meza said numerous businesses were also damaged and looted in the capital and in San Pedro Sula. Local press reported that protesters set a bank branch on fire and looted several other businesses along a street in San Pedro Sula. Groups of demonstrators also continued blocking highways with burning tires and other debris, in some cases forcing parents to carry their children through the smoking barriers. In a decree read out on radio and television, the government's Cabinet chief Jorge Hernandez said late yesterday that some constitutional guarantees would be suspended for 10 days to allow the army and police to control the situation. The government declared a curfew from 6 PM to 6 AM across the country. "The curfew is to safeguard the security of the country," President Hernandez said as he left a hotel in the capital after meeting with observers from the Organization of the American States and the European Union. "This is the time for the people to feel supported by their armed forces and their police because it cannot be that somebody decides to loot or rob." Earlier, electoral court president David Matamoros said that representatives of the political parties would be present for the vote counts and that no announcements would be made until there is a final result. After speaking with representatives of the opposition alliance and the National Party, Matamoros said yesterday that each party would be able to accredit 60 people to participate in the afternoon count alongside international observers. He estimated it could take six hours. But the opposition published a list of demands that included a broader review of votes in three jurisdictions where it alleges voter turnout was unusually high and said the number of ballot boxes that presented issues was far larger. It was unclear if its demands would be met. The count had still not begun last night because no representatives for Nasralla had arrived: "The wait continues," said court spokeswoman Lourdes Rosales. In a statement, the court also said any suggestion of wrongdoing in its operations is false and it lamented the increasing violence in the streets. Heide Fulton, charge d'affaires at the US Embassy in Honduras, said via Twitter yesterday that Honduras was beginning an "unprecedented phase in the electoral process." She called for calm during the count. Both Nasralla and Hernandez have declared themselves the winner of the election and their parties have urged their supporters to defend the vote in the street. Nasralla and Hernandez have urged calm and warned their supporters to not be provoked into violence. Retired Gen Romeo Vazquez, who led the coup that ousted President Manuel Zelaya in 2009, blamed the unrest on the electoral tribunal's delay in returning results.

Honduras announces curfew, restrictions amid vote protests

A day after violent protests broke out on the campus,&nbsp;Chennai&#39;s Sathyabama declared a month&#39;s holiday and asked the students to vacate the hostel.&nbsp;

Mattresses were set on fire and hostel window panes were smashed after a violent protest broke out following a female student&#39;s suicide. The student&nbsp;was caught copying in the examination.&nbsp;

Several first-year students set parts of campus on fire, reports confirmed.&nbsp;

Reports said quoting a police officer that the college management has declared holiday for a month. However, the university did not confirm if the campus would be closed for a month.&nbsp;

The police said they are investigating the matter. The post-mortem of the student&#39;s body will be done today.

The&nbsp;18-year-old first-year student was studying computer science at Chennai&#39;s Sathyabama University. She was reportedly caught cheating in the&nbsp;exam and was&nbsp;called out by the staff and asked to leave the room, which allegedly led her to take the drastic step, reports said.&nbsp;

According to reports, the student was found hanging in her hostel room,&nbsp;she was then declared dead.

Many students damaged college property and broke the college furniture until police came in to control the situation. However, no arrests has been made, reports state.&nbsp;

Armed police were later deployed outside the college, ANI reported.

An 18-year-old first-year student was caught cheating in the?exam and was?called out by the staff and asked to leave the room, which allegedly led her taking the extreme step

A day after violent protests broke out on the campus, Chennai's Sathyabama declared a month's holiday and asked the students to vacate the hostel. Mattresses were set on fire and hostel window panes were smashed after a violent protest broke out following a female student's suicide. The student was caught copying in the examination. Several first-year students set parts of campus on fire, reports confirmed. Reports said quoting a police officer that the college management has declared holiday for a month. However, the university did not confirm if the campus would be closed for a month. The police said they are investigating the matter. The post-mortem of the student's body will be done today. The 18-year-old first-year student was studying computer science at Chennai's Sathyabama University. She was reportedly caught cheating in the exam and was called out by the staff and asked to leave the room, which allegedly led her to take the drastic step, reports said. According to reports, the student was found hanging in her hostel room, she was then declared dead. Many students damaged college property and broke the college furniture until police came in to control the situation. However, no arrests has been made, reports state. Armed police were later deployed outside the college, ANI reported.

Chennai: Sathyabama University students told to vacate hostel after violent protest

Large protests could greet President Donald Trump&nbsp;on Tuesday&nbsp;when he travels to Arizona for his first campaign rally since he caused an uproar with his remarks about a white nationalist demonstration in Virginia.

Phoenix Mayor Greg Stanton, a Democrat, asked the Republican president to postpone&nbsp;Tuesday&#39;s&nbsp;event scheduled for&nbsp;7 p.m. MST&nbsp;(0200 GMT&nbsp;on Wednesday) in light of his response to the street battles that broke out earlier this month at a protest against the removal of a Confederate statue in Charlottesville.

Trump was widely criticized for blaming both white nationalists and counter-protesters for the violence at the rally organized by neo-Nazis and white supremacists.

&quot;America is hurting. And it is hurting largely because Trump has doused racial tensions with gasoline,&quot; Stanton wrote in the Washington Post. &quot;With his planned visit to Phoenix&nbsp;on Tuesday, I fear the president may be looking to light a match.&quot;

Several anti-Trump demonstrations are planned for Phoenix, according to social media postings by local activists.

Some White House officials privately expressed concern&nbsp;on Monday&nbsp;about Trump&#39;s Phoenix rally, fearing he might revisit the Charlottesville issue in the heat of the moment while cheered on by thousands of supporters.

Trump has railed against the media coverage of his remarks, saying on Twitter that news outlets &quot;totally misrepresent what I say about hate, bigotry.&quot;

It will be Trump&#39;s first trip as president to Arizona, which he won in the 2016 election. He will also visit a border protection facility in Yuma, Arizona, along the U.S.-Mexican border as he seeks congressional funding for the wall he wants built..

Republican Governor Doug Ducey told the Arizona Republic&nbsp;on Monday&nbsp;that he would welcome Trump on the tarmac when he arrived but would not attend the campaign rally. Instead, he said he would be focused on ensuring the safety of the event.

Trump has clashed with Arizona&#39;s two Republican U.S. senators, John McCain and Jeff Flake, on various issues. Both lawmakers are critics of the president.

Last week, Trump in a tweet called Flake &quot;WEAK on borders, crime and a non-factor in Senate. He&#39;s toxic!&quot; and appeared to endorse Kelli Ward, Flake&#39;s Republican challenger in his 2018 re-election race.

Trump said earlier this month that he was considering pardoning Joe Arpaio, the former Arizona sheriff found guilty of criminal contempt for violating the terms of a 2011 court order in a racial profiling case.

Trump has caused an uproar with his remarks about a white nationalist demonstration in Virginia which is expected to lead to protests by local activists in his Phoenix's rally

Large protests could greet President Donald Trump on Tuesday when he travels to Arizona for his first campaign rally since he caused an uproar with his remarks about a white nationalist demonstration in Virginia. Phoenix Mayor Greg Stanton, a Democrat, asked the Republican president to postpone Tuesday's event scheduled for 7 p.m. MST (0200 GMT on Wednesday) in light of his response to the street battles that broke out earlier this month at a protest against the removal of a Confederate statue in Charlottesville. Trump was widely criticized for blaming both white nationalists and counter-protesters for the violence at the rally organized by neo-Nazis and white supremacists. "America is hurting. And it is hurting largely because Trump has doused racial tensions with gasoline," Stanton wrote in the Washington Post. "With his planned visit to Phoenix on Tuesday, I fear the president may be looking to light a match." Several anti-Trump demonstrations are planned for Phoenix, according to social media postings by local activists. Some White House officials privately expressed concern on Monday about Trump's Phoenix rally, fearing he might revisit the Charlottesville issue in the heat of the moment while cheered on by thousands of supporters. Trump has railed against the media coverage of his remarks, saying on Twitter that news outlets "totally misrepresent what I say about hate, bigotry." It will be Trump's first trip as president to Arizona, which he won in the 2016 election. He will also visit a border protection facility in Yuma, Arizona, along the U.S.-Mexican border as he seeks congressional funding for the wall he wants built.. Republican Governor Doug Ducey told the Arizona Republic on Monday that he would welcome Trump on the tarmac when he arrived but would not attend the campaign rally. Instead, he said he would be focused on ensuring the safety of the event. Trump has clashed with Arizona's two Republican U.S. senators, John McCain and Jeff Flake, on various issues. Both lawmakers are critics of the president. Last week, Trump in a tweet called Flake "WEAK on borders, crime and a non-factor in Senate. He's toxic!" and appeared to endorse Kelli Ward, Flake's Republican challenger in his 2018 re-election race. Trump said earlier this month that he was considering pardoning Joe Arpaio, the former Arizona sheriff found guilty of criminal contempt for violating the terms of a 2011 court order in a racial profiling case.

Phoenix Mayor asked Trump to reschedule his rally in Phoenix.

Venezuelan troops on Thursday fired what appeared to be rubber bullets at protesters attacking the perimeter of an airbase and a demonstrator was killed, bringing renewed scrutiny of the force used to control riots that have killed at least 76 people.

At least two soldiers shot long firearms through the fence at protesters from a distance of just a few feet. One man collapsed to the ground and was carried off by other protesters, television footage showed. Paramedics took at least two other injured people to a hospital, a Reuters witness said.

The protesters who attacked the fence outside La Carlota airbase in the wealthy east of Caracas, earlier burnt a truck and a motorbike when security forces broke up a march destined for the attorney general&#39;s office.

David Jose Vallenilla, 22, died after arriving at a hospital in the Chacao municipality where the protest happened, the mayor said.

&quot;He died at a private clinic where he arrived in very bad condition,&quot; said Mayor Ramon Muchacho.

Hundreds of thousands of Venezuelans have taken to the streets over the past months to protest a clampdown on the opposition, shortages of food and medicine and President Nicolas Maduro&#39;s plan to overhaul the constitution.

The reaction of the security forces to provocation from protesters has been in the spotlight since images showed a national guard pointing a pistol at protesters on Monday.

Opposition lawmaker Jose Manuel Olivares said Vallenilla had been killed by the national guard firing rubber bullets at point blank range. Olivares, whose arm was wounded in the protest, called for sit-ins on highways on Friday and protests at military bases on Saturday.

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Opposition supporters clash with riot security forces at a rally against Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro&#39;s government in Caracas, Venezuela June 22, 2017. (Reuters)
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Vallenilla suffered wounds to the lungs and heart, a doctor who attended him told Reuters. Reuters could not independently confirm that Vallenilla was the shooting victim shown in television footage. The attorney general&#39;s office said he was shot three times.

&quot;The troops found responsible for crimes will be presented before the law,&quot; said Interior Minister Nestor Reverol, calling on the opposition to stop violent protests.

Maduro says the violence is part of a foreign-led plot to overthrow his government.

A small group of protesters throwing petrol bombs and powerful fireworks from behind flimsy homemade shields was able to rip down a section of the fence surrounding the airbase, despite volleys of tear gas and rubber bullets.

At least one soldier aimed a shotgun through the fence, Reuters pictures showed. The national guard uses shotgun cartridges filled with small rubber balls in protests.

Venezuela&#39;s national guard is a wing of the military charged with internal public order. It mainly uses tear gas, water cannons and rubber bullets to control protests that frequently escalate into riots.

On Monday, a teenager died during another protest in the same area after footage showed a national guard soldier pointing a pistol at protesters.

After that incident, Maduro moved the head of the national guard to a new position looking after security in the capital, part of a reshuffle that brought several more military figures into his cabinet.

The government is investigating troops involved in Monday&#39;s incident. &quot;I have ordered an investigation to see if there was a conspiracy behind this,&quot; Maduro said earlier on Thursday, saying the men involved in Monday&#39;s shooting had been detained.

(Reuters)

This brings renewed scrutiny of the force used to control riots that have killed at least 76 people

Venezuelan troops on Thursday fired what appeared to be rubber bullets at protesters attacking the perimeter of an airbase and a demonstrator was killed, bringing renewed scrutiny of the force used to control riots that have killed at least 76 people. At least two soldiers shot long firearms through the fence at protesters from a distance of just a few feet. One man collapsed to the ground and was carried off by other protesters, television footage showed. Paramedics took at least two other injured people to a hospital, a Reuters witness said. The protesters who attacked the fence outside La Carlota airbase in the wealthy east of Caracas, earlier burnt a truck and a motorbike when security forces broke up a march destined for the attorney general's office. David Jose Vallenilla, 22, died after arriving at a hospital in the Chacao municipality where the protest happened, the mayor said. "He died at a private clinic where he arrived in very bad condition," said Mayor Ramon Muchacho. Hundreds of thousands of Venezuelans have taken to the streets over the past months to protest a clampdown on the opposition, shortages of food and medicine and President Nicolas Maduro's plan to overhaul the constitution. The reaction of the security forces to provocation from protesters has been in the spotlight since images showed a national guard pointing a pistol at protesters on Monday. Opposition lawmaker Jose Manuel Olivares said Vallenilla had been killed by the national guard firing rubber bullets at point blank range. Olivares, whose arm was wounded in the protest, called for sit-ins on highways on Friday and protests at military bases on Saturday. Opposition supporters clash with riot security forces at a rally against Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro's government in Caracas, Venezuela June 22, 2017. (Reuters) × Vallenilla suffered wounds to the lungs and heart, a doctor who attended him told Reuters. Reuters could not independently confirm that Vallenilla was the shooting victim shown in television footage. The attorney general's office said he was shot three times. "The troops found responsible for crimes will be presented before the law," said Interior Minister Nestor Reverol, calling on the opposition to stop violent protests. Maduro says the violence is part of a foreign-led plot to overthrow his government. A small group of protesters throwing petrol bombs and powerful fireworks from behind flimsy homemade shields was able to rip down a section of the fence surrounding the airbase, despite volleys of tear gas and rubber bullets. At least one soldier aimed a shotgun through the fence, Reuters pictures showed. The national guard uses shotgun cartridges filled with small rubber balls in protests. Venezuela's national guard is a wing of the military charged with internal public order. It mainly uses tear gas, water cannons and rubber bullets to control protests that frequently escalate into riots. On Monday, a teenager died during another protest in the same area after footage showed a national guard soldier pointing a pistol at protesters. After that incident, Maduro moved the head of the national guard to a new position looking after security in the capital, part of a reshuffle that brought several more military figures into his cabinet. The government is investigating troops involved in Monday's incident. "I have ordered an investigation to see if there was a conspiracy behind this," Maduro said earlier on Thursday, saying the men involved in Monday's shooting had been detained. (Reuters)

Venezuelan troops fire on protesters at airbase, 1 killed

Prime Minister Theresa May&#39;s office said on Sunday there had been no change to plans for US&nbsp;President Donald Trump&#39;s to come to Britain on a state visit, after the Guardian newspaper <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/fearing-public-protests-trump-puts-uk-visit-on-hold-16700" target="_blank">reported </a>the trip had been postponed.

The paper, citing an unidentified adviser at May&#39;s Downing Street office who was in the room at the time, reported Trump had told May by telephone in recent weeks that he did not want to come if there were likely to be large-scale protests.

&quot;We aren&rsquo;t going to comment on speculation about the contents of private phone conversations,&quot; a spokeswoman for May&#39;s office said. &quot;The queen extended an invitation to President Trump to visit the UK and there is no change to those plans.&quot;

&nbsp;

Meanwhile, the White House also denied the Guardian report,&nbsp;with an administration official telling Reuters, &quot;The subject never came up on the call.&quot;

No date has been set for the visit, which was agreed during May&#39;s visit to Washington in January, but British media had reported it was planned for October.

May&#39;s hold on power has been significantly weakened since the results of a snap election last week cost her Conservative Party a parliamentary majority. In a bid to save her position, May has been trying to form a government with Northern Ireland&#39;s Democratic Unionist Party, or DUP,&nbsp;a small faction of social conservatives.

She needs eight seats to form a majority, and the DUP hold ten. British politics is going through an upheaval just a week before talks begin on Britain&#39;s exit from the European Union, set for 2019.

Trump&#39;s public criticism this month of London Mayor Sadiq Khan&#39;s response to an attack by Islamist militants in London was condemned in Britain. May found herself forced to defend Khan, who is from the opposition Labour party.

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Pathetic excuse by London Mayor Sadiq Khan who had to think fast on his &quot;no reason to be alarmed&quot; statement. MSM is working hard to sell it!
&mdash; Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/871725780535062528">June 5, 2017</a></blockquote>
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At that time, Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson said there was no reason to cancel the visit, while White House spokesman Sean Spicer said that Trump intended to go and that &quot;he appreciates Her Majesty&#39;s gracious invitation&quot;.

Trump said he was unwilling&nbsp;to explicitly endorse a candidate in the UK election, but he had&nbsp;<a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/01/27/theresa-may-meets-donald-trump-white-house-live/" target="_blank">appeared</a> with pro-Brexit Theresa May, holding hands in late January. After the election, where May lost her majority but retained power in the UK, Trump called to offer his &quot;warm support&quot;.

Bernie Sanders called to congratulate the Labour Party&#39;s Jeremy Corbyn, May&#39;s opponent, who while not coming into power gained important seats and achieved a large and surprising success.

(With inputs from Reuters)

The White House denied a report saying Trump told May on the phone that he wouldn't visit the UK, fearing large-scale protests

Prime Minister Theresa May's office said on Sunday there had been no change to plans for US President Donald Trump's to come to Britain on a state visit, after the Guardian newspaper reported the trip had been postponed. The paper, citing an unidentified adviser at May's Downing Street office who was in the room at the time, reported Trump had told May by telephone in recent weeks that he did not want to come if there were likely to be large-scale protests. "We aren’t going to comment on speculation about the contents of private phone conversations," a spokeswoman for May's office said. "The queen extended an invitation to President Trump to visit the UK and there is no change to those plans." Meanwhile, the White House also denied the Guardian report, with an administration official telling Reuters, "The subject never came up on the call." No date has been set for the visit, which was agreed during May's visit to Washington in January, but British media had reported it was planned for October. May's hold on power has been significantly weakened since the results of a snap election last week cost her Conservative Party a parliamentary majority. In a bid to save her position, May has been trying to form a government with Northern Ireland's Democratic Unionist Party, or DUP, a small faction of social conservatives. She needs eight seats to form a majority, and the DUP hold ten. British politics is going through an upheaval just a week before talks begin on Britain's exit from the European Union, set for 2019. Trump's public criticism this month of London Mayor Sadiq Khan's response to an attack by Islamist militants in London was condemned in Britain. May found herself forced to defend Khan, who is from the opposition Labour party. Pathetic excuse by London Mayor Sadiq Khan who had to think fast on his "no reason to be alarmed" statement. MSM is working hard to sell it! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 5, 2017 × At that time, Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson said there was no reason to cancel the visit, while White House spokesman Sean Spicer said that Trump intended to go and that "he appreciates Her Majesty's gracious invitation". Trump said he was unwilling to explicitly endorse a candidate in the UK election, but he had appeared with pro-Brexit Theresa May, holding hands in late January. After the election, where May lost her majority but retained power in the UK, Trump called to offer his "warm support". Bernie Sanders called to congratulate the Labour Party's Jeremy Corbyn, May's opponent, who while not coming into power gained important seats and achieved a large and surprising success. (With inputs from Reuters)

Will Trump visit UK? May, White House deny Guardian report, say trip still on

Courier services have told customers that the Venezuelan customs authority has banned them from importing items such as gas masks, slingshots and bulletproof vests used by some demonstrators in anti-government protests.

Other prohibited items include first aid supplies such as burn cream and gauze, according to emailed messages sent to clients this week by the package delivery companies. These goods have been used to treat injured protestors.

Courier services sending the advisories included local service Zoom and the Venezuela office of Mail Boxes Etc, known as MBE.

Another company, BVA Export, told clients in an email, &quot;It is not allowed to send gas masks and items that can be used for defense and/or attack in the Venezuelan protests.&quot; It included a detailed list of the products that it said had been banned.

There was no immediate response by the companies to requests for comment.

Government officials have publicly accused the opposition of using courier services to equip demonstrators in nearly two months of near-daily clashes with security forces.

Referring to unidentified courier services, Jose Cabello, head of Venezuela&#39;s tax and customs agency Seniat, said in a statement early this week that, &quot;(The opposition) will not use the ports of our country as a bridge to arm their terrorist groups.&quot;

The Seniat and the Information Ministry on Saturday did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the courier services&#39; notifications of the banned imports.

President Nicolas Maduro calls the protests a violent effort to overthrow his government, and he insists the country victim of an &quot;economic war&quot; led by adversaries with the help of Washington.

The demonstrations have killed at least 58 people so far. Protesters routinely spend hours in clashes with National Guard troops and police, who disperse them and break up improvised barricades with a combination of tear gas, rubber bullets and armored vehicles.

Most protesters do not have gas masks and instead seek to abate the effects of tear gas with improvised solutions such as rubbing anti-acid liquid on their faces.

Courier services are primarily used by Venezuelans to buy goods such as food and medicine that are not available due to the chronic product shortages that now characterise the OPEC nation&#39;s once-prosperous economy.

Members of Venezuela&#39;s growing diaspora in countries such as the United States and Panama also use courier services to ship supplies to family back home.

(Reuters)

As violent protests grip the country, the government has also apparently banned goods used by demonstrators for treating injuries

Courier services have told customers that the Venezuelan customs authority has banned them from importing items such as gas masks, slingshots and bulletproof vests used by some demonstrators in anti-government protests. Other prohibited items include first aid supplies such as burn cream and gauze, according to emailed messages sent to clients this week by the package delivery companies. These goods have been used to treat injured protestors. Courier services sending the advisories included local service Zoom and the Venezuela office of Mail Boxes Etc, known as MBE. Another company, BVA Export, told clients in an email, "It is not allowed to send gas masks and items that can be used for defense and/or attack in the Venezuelan protests." It included a detailed list of the products that it said had been banned. There was no immediate response by the companies to requests for comment. Government officials have publicly accused the opposition of using courier services to equip demonstrators in nearly two months of near-daily clashes with security forces. Referring to unidentified courier services, Jose Cabello, head of Venezuela's tax and customs agency Seniat, said in a statement early this week that, "(The opposition) will not use the ports of our country as a bridge to arm their terrorist groups." The Seniat and the Information Ministry on Saturday did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the courier services' notifications of the banned imports. President Nicolas Maduro calls the protests a violent effort to overthrow his government, and he insists the country victim of an "economic war" led by adversaries with the help of Washington. The demonstrations have killed at least 58 people so far. Protesters routinely spend hours in clashes with National Guard troops and police, who disperse them and break up improvised barricades with a combination of tear gas, rubber bullets and armored vehicles. Most protesters do not have gas masks and instead seek to abate the effects of tear gas with improvised solutions such as rubbing anti-acid liquid on their faces. Courier services are primarily used by Venezuelans to buy goods such as food and medicine that are not available due to the chronic product shortages that now characterise the OPEC nation's once-prosperous economy. Members of Venezuela's growing diaspora in countries such as the United States and Panama also use courier services to ship supplies to family back home. (Reuters)

Venezuela bans imports of gas masks, bulletproof vests: Courier services

The Hurriyat leadership, which is spearheading the separatist movement in Indian Kashmir, has called off strike on Friday in view of the Shivratri festival celebrated by the Hindu population of Kashmir.

Hurriyat spokesman Ayaaz Akbar confirmed this development to ANI and said that there would be no shutdown on Friday.

Ahead of the upcoming festival in the Valley, the police has issued an advisory calling on the locals to cooperate at frisking points.

The people have also been asked not to touch any abandoned object and inform the police if any suspicious person or object is seen in the area.

Last Friday, clashes broke out in Srinagar and despite the stern warning of Army chief Bipin Rawat, Pakistan flags were waved by demonstrators.

This incident took place near Jama Masjid in Srinagar after the prayers were over and people were captured raising Pakistan&#39;s flag and also pelted stones.

(ANI)

Hurriyat spokesman Ayaaz Akbar confirmed this development to ANI and said that there would be no shutdown on Friday

The Hurriyat leadership, which is spearheading the separatist movement in Indian Kashmir, has called off strike on Friday in view of the Shivratri festival celebrated by the Hindu population of Kashmir. Hurriyat spokesman Ayaaz Akbar confirmed this development to ANI and said that there would be no shutdown on Friday. Ahead of the upcoming festival in the Valley, the police has issued an advisory calling on the locals to cooperate at frisking points. The people have also been asked not to touch any abandoned object and inform the police if any suspicious person or object is seen in the area. Last Friday, clashes broke out in Srinagar and despite the stern warning of Army chief Bipin Rawat, Pakistan flags were waved by demonstrators. This incident took place near Jama Masjid in Srinagar after the prayers were over and people were captured raising Pakistan's flag and also pelted stones. (ANI)

India: Hindu festival allays strike in Kashmir for 24 hours

A protest against a $2.4-billion Chinese-backed power plant in&nbsp;Bangladesh turned violent, killing one person and injuring about a dozen, risking delay to a project seen as a symbol of warming ties between the two nations.

The coal-fired plant being built 265 km (165 miles) southeast of Dhaka, the capital, is a major draw for foreign investment in&nbsp;Bangladesh, and is expected to begin power generation by the end of 2019.

Police said security forces were guarding the site on Thursday to prevent disruption to construction work that villagers fear will force several evictions, disturb graveyards where relatives are buried, and damage the environment.

&quot;There is an uneasy situation, and police are patrolling the area to avoid any further clashes,&quot; said Alamgir Hussain, an official of the Banshkhali police station near the plant site.

Protesters were chanting slogans on Wednesday when project supporters attacked them, said Nurul Mostafa, a leader of the group that wants the plant shifted.

About a dozen people were injured in the clashes. A similar protest last year led to the deaths of four demonstrators, halting work on the plant.

Such protests risk delaying the project and hamper fund-raising efforts, said a senior official of conglomerate S Alam Group, which has a deal with China&#39;s SEPCOIII Electric Power Construction Corp to build the 1,320-MW plant.

&quot;We hope to resolve the problem soon, otherwise we may not be able to finish our project in time,&quot; said the official, who declined to be identified because he is not authorised to speak to the media.

Chinese banks are expected to provide 70 per cent of the projected investment, he added.

The plant will use the &quot;most sophisticated technology&quot; to reduce its environmental impact, said Masud Alam, chairman of the&nbsp;Bangladesh&nbsp;conglomerate, who offered to help with medical treatment for the injured.

Late last year, China signed 27 pacts worth billions of dollars with the south Asian nation, as it steps up a competition with India to build regional influence. It is also seeking to boost investment in another of India&#39;s neighbours, Sri Lanka.

&nbsp;

(Reuters)

The coal-fired plant being built 165 miles southeast of Dhaka, the capital, is a major draw for foreign investment in?Bangladesh

A protest against a $2.4-billion Chinese-backed power plant in Bangladesh turned violent, killing one person and injuring about a dozen, risking delay to a project seen as a symbol of warming ties between the two nations. The coal-fired plant being built 265 km (165 miles) southeast of Dhaka, the capital, is a major draw for foreign investment in Bangladesh, and is expected to begin power generation by the end of 2019. Police said security forces were guarding the site on Thursday to prevent disruption to construction work that villagers fear will force several evictions, disturb graveyards where relatives are buried, and damage the environment. "There is an uneasy situation, and police are patrolling the area to avoid any further clashes," said Alamgir Hussain, an official of the Banshkhali police station near the plant site. Protesters were chanting slogans on Wednesday when project supporters attacked them, said Nurul Mostafa, a leader of the group that wants the plant shifted. About a dozen people were injured in the clashes. A similar protest last year led to the deaths of four demonstrators, halting work on the plant. Such protests risk delaying the project and hamper fund-raising efforts, said a senior official of conglomerate S Alam Group, which has a deal with China's SEPCOIII Electric Power Construction Corp to build the 1,320-MW plant. "We hope to resolve the problem soon, otherwise we may not be able to finish our project in time," said the official, who declined to be identified because he is not authorised to speak to the media. Chinese banks are expected to provide 70 per cent of the projected investment, he added. The plant will use the "most sophisticated technology" to reduce its environmental impact, said Masud Alam, chairman of the Bangladesh conglomerate, who offered to help with medical treatment for the injured. Late last year, China signed 27 pacts worth billions of dollars with the south Asian nation, as it steps up a competition with India to build regional influence. It is also seeking to boost investment in another of India's neighbours, Sri Lanka. (Reuters)

Bangladesh: One killed in protest against Chinese-backed power plant

The Chennai police have come under fire after a video purportedly showing some police personnel setting an auto rickshaw ablaze went viral on on Twitter last evening. On Monday, the Jallikattu protests turned violent, demanding a permanent solution and not an interim stay on the ban.

The video, which was aired by a news channel, was also shared by several well-known personalties, including Kamal Haasan. Sharing a video clip on Twitter, Kamal Haasan asked, &quot;What is this. Please explain some one&quot;.

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
What is this. Please explain some one <a href="https://t.co/MMpFXHSOVk">pic.twitter.com/MMpFXHSOVk</a>
&mdash; Kamal Haasan (@ikamalhaasan) <a href="https://twitter.com/ikamalhaasan/status/823517213218877441">January 23, 2017</a></blockquote>
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According to the reports, the incident took place at Mylapore area, which is only a short distance away from the Marina Beach, the epicentre of the agitation which was vacated by late evening.

City Police Commissioner S George said the matter would be probed.

The Chennai Police said anti-social elements had &quot;crept&quot; into the pro-Jallikattu protests here, which turned violent and also asserted that it will not allow such persons to exploit the situation.

The Police used force only after stones were pelted at them, he claimed, adding that his police personnel had no intention to attack or harm the people.

As many as 94 cops sustained injuries while 51 police vehicles were damaged in violence.

(This report first appeared on DNA)

'What is this. Please explain some one,' Hassan asked

The Chennai police have come under fire after a video purportedly showing some police personnel setting an auto rickshaw ablaze went viral on on Twitter last evening. On Monday, the Jallikattu protests turned violent, demanding a permanent solution and not an interim stay on the ban. The video, which was aired by a news channel, was also shared by several well-known personalties, including Kamal Haasan. Sharing a video clip on Twitter, Kamal Haasan asked, "What is this. Please explain some one". What is this. Please explain some one pic.twitter.com/MMpFXHSOVk — Kamal Haasan (@ikamalhaasan) January 23, 2017 × According to the reports, the incident took place at Mylapore area, which is only a short distance away from the Marina Beach, the epicentre of the agitation which was vacated by late evening. City Police Commissioner S George said the matter would be probed. The Chennai Police said anti-social elements had "crept" into the pro-Jallikattu protests here, which turned violent and also asserted that it will not allow such persons to exploit the situation. The Police used force only after stones were pelted at them, he claimed, adding that his police personnel had no intention to attack or harm the people. As many as 94 cops sustained injuries while 51 police vehicles were damaged in violence. (This report first appeared on DNA)

Chennai police under fire after Kamal Haasan, others tweet video of cop setting auto ablaze

Security forces shot dead at least 26 protesters who had gathered in the streets of Kinshasa and other cities of Democratic Republic of Congo on Tuesday to demand that President Joseph Kabila step down after his mandate expired overnight.&nbsp;

Scattered protests started on Tuesday, and opposition leader Etienne Tshisekedi called on the Congolese people to peacefully resist Kabila, who has remained in power beyond his constitutional mandate with no election to pick a successor.

Human Rights Watch researcher Ida Sawyer said on Twitter that at least 26 people were killed by security forces.&nbsp;

The government spokesman could not be reached for comment and a police spokesman had no information on deaths.&nbsp;

Gunfire crackled in several districts of the capital, Kinshasa, a city of 12 million, as measures to thwart dissent raised fears of bloody repression.&nbsp;

With a ban on demonstrations in force and a heavy military presence, Kinshasa&#39;s normally busy main boulevards were mostly deserted as pockets of youths gathered in side streets only to be dispersed by volleys of teargas.

By sunset, the city was calm, although littered with debris from earlier rioting. Youths played football in the streets.

Scores of people were arrested, especially in the eastern city of Goma, rights groups said. Reuters witnesses saw more than a dozen young men who had been arrested seated in the back of a military truck near the university.&nbsp;

&quot;I&#39;m gravely concerned by the arrests of those who seek to express their political views,&quot; the head of the UN mission, Maman Sidikou, said in a statement, adding that UN staff had not been able to consistently gain access to jails to gather information on how many people had been arrested.

He called on Congo to end &quot;politically motivated detentions&quot;.&nbsp;

UN peacekeepers in armoured personnel carriers patrolled the streets, at one point cheered on by a crowd shouting: &quot;Kabila, know that your mandate is finished!&quot;&nbsp;

In Lubumbashi, in the heart of Africa&#39;s richest copper- mining area, police and Kabila&#39;s elite Republican Guard fired live bullets to prevent demonstrations, said Gregoire Mulamba, a local human rights activist.

Local activist Jean-Pierre Muteba reported at least one death, a 14-year-old boy shot by police.&nbsp;

A police spokesman said he did not have enough information to comment.&nbsp; 
The mayor of Lubumbashi, Jean Oscar Sanguza, told Reuters that security forces had intervened to stop looters.&nbsp;

In the city of Kananga, in central Congo, fighting between security forces and a local clan militia shut down the airport.

Kabila, who has ruled since his father, Laurent Kabila, was assassinated in 2001, rarely speaks about the issue in public, but his allies say the election was delayed because of logistical and financial problems.

The constitutional court has ruled Kabila can stay on until the vote takes place.

Fears of escalation

In a video posted on YouTube, opposition leader Tshisekedi called on people to &quot;not recognise the ... illegal ... authority of Joseph Kabila and to peacefully resist (his) coup d&#39;etat.&quot;Authorities have blocked most social media.&nbsp;

Western powers are nervous about a repeat of the conflicts between 1996 to 2003 that killed millions, drew in half a dozen neighbouring armies and saw rebel fighters rape women en masse. Congo has never experienced a peaceful transition of power.

The United States and European Union have called for Kabila to respect the constitution. Congo&#39;s former colonial master, Belgium, said on Tuesday it would &quot;re-examine&quot; relations with Kabila, and France urged the European Union re-examine its links with Congo.

(Reuters)

Protesters in several parts of the Congo are asking Kabila to step down after his mandate expired overnight

Security forces shot dead at least 26 protesters who had gathered in the streets of Kinshasa and other cities of Democratic Republic of Congo on Tuesday to demand that President Joseph Kabila step down after his mandate expired overnight. Scattered protests started on Tuesday, and opposition leader Etienne Tshisekedi called on the Congolese people to peacefully resist Kabila, who has remained in power beyond his constitutional mandate with no election to pick a successor. Human Rights Watch researcher Ida Sawyer said on Twitter that at least 26 people were killed by security forces. The government spokesman could not be reached for comment and a police spokesman had no information on deaths. Gunfire crackled in several districts of the capital, Kinshasa, a city of 12 million, as measures to thwart dissent raised fears of bloody repression. With a ban on demonstrations in force and a heavy military presence, Kinshasa's normally busy main boulevards were mostly deserted as pockets of youths gathered in side streets only to be dispersed by volleys of teargas. By sunset, the city was calm, although littered with debris from earlier rioting. Youths played football in the streets. Scores of people were arrested, especially in the eastern city of Goma, rights groups said. Reuters witnesses saw more than a dozen young men who had been arrested seated in the back of a military truck near the university. "I'm gravely concerned by the arrests of those who seek to express their political views," the head of the UN mission, Maman Sidikou, said in a statement, adding that UN staff had not been able to consistently gain access to jails to gather information on how many people had been arrested. He called on Congo to end "politically motivated detentions". UN peacekeepers in armoured personnel carriers patrolled the streets, at one point cheered on by a crowd shouting: "Kabila, know that your mandate is finished!" In Lubumbashi, in the heart of Africa's richest copper- mining area, police and Kabila's elite Republican Guard fired live bullets to prevent demonstrations, said Gregoire Mulamba, a local human rights activist. Local activist Jean-Pierre Muteba reported at least one death, a 14-year-old boy shot by police. A police spokesman said he did not have enough information to comment. The mayor of Lubumbashi, Jean Oscar Sanguza, told Reuters that security forces had intervened to stop looters. In the city of Kananga, in central Congo, fighting between security forces and a local clan militia shut down the airport. Kabila, who has ruled since his father, Laurent Kabila, was assassinated in 2001, rarely speaks about the issue in public, but his allies say the election was delayed because of logistical and financial problems. The constitutional court has ruled Kabila can stay on until the vote takes place. Fears of escalation In a video posted on YouTube, opposition leader Tshisekedi called on people to "not recognise the ... illegal ... authority of Joseph Kabila and to peacefully resist (his) coup d'etat."Authorities have blocked most social media. Western powers are nervous about a repeat of the conflicts between 1996 to 2003 that killed millions, drew in half a dozen neighbouring armies and saw rebel fighters rape women en masse. Congo has never experienced a peaceful transition of power. The United States and European Union have called for Kabila to respect the constitution. Congo's former colonial master, Belgium, said on Tuesday it would "re-examine" relations with Kabila, and France urged the European Union re-examine its links with Congo. (Reuters)

Congo forces kill at least 26 as protests against President Kabila continue

North Dakota officials on Tuesday moved to block supplies from reaching oil pipeline protesters at a camp near the construction site, threatening to use hefty fines to keep demonstrators from receiving food, building materials and even portable bathrooms.&nbsp;

Activists have spent months protesting plans to route the $3.8 billion Dakota Access Pipeline beneath a lake near the Standing Rock Sioux reservation, saying the project poses a threat to water resources and sacred Native American sites.&nbsp;

State officials said on Tuesday they would fine anyone bringing prohibited items into the main protest camp following Governor Jack Dalrymple&#39;s &quot;emergency evacuation&quot; order on Monday. Earlier, officials had warned of a physical blockade, but the governor`s office backed away from that.

Law enforcement would take a more &quot;passive role&quot; than enforcing a blockade, said Maxine Herr, a spokeswoman for the Morton County Sheriff&#39;s Department.&nbsp; 
&quot;The governor is more interested in public safety than setting up a road block and turning people away,&quot; Herr said by telephone.&nbsp;

Officers will stop vehicles they believe are headed to the camp and inform drivers they are committing an infraction and could be fined $1,000. These penalties should serve as a hindrance, according to Cecily Fong, a spokeswoman for the North Dakota Department of Emergency Services.

&quot;So that effectively is going to block that stuff (supplies), but there is not going to be a hard road block,&quot; Fong said by telephone.

A spokeswoman from the Standing Rock Sioux tribe was not immediately available for comment. North Dakota Governor-elect Doug Burgum, a Republican, declined to comment.&nbsp;

The 1,172-mile (1,885 km) pipeline project, owned by Texas-based Energy Transfer Partners LP , is mostly complete except for a segment planned to run under Lake Oahe, a reservoir formed by a dam on the Missouri River.

Thousands of people are protesting at camps located on US&nbsp;Army Corps of Engineers land, north of the Cannonball River in Cannon Ball, North Dakota. The main protest camp near Cannon Ball is called Oceti Sakowin, the original name of the Sioux, meaning Seven Council Fires.

Protest leaders said state officials and local law enforcement officers were &quot;bullying&quot; demonstrators with the threat of fines.&nbsp;

&quot;It&#39;s bogus and I don&#39;t know about the legality of it,&quot; said Kandi Mossett, an organizer with Indigenous Environmental Network. &quot;We`re not afraid. We`re moving in and out of the camp at will. So people shouldn`t be afraid of coming and supporting the water protectors. They`ve been bullying us since day one.&quot;

 
&#39;Harsh winter condition&#39; 
Dalrymple&#39;s evacuation order was issued on Monday due to the &quot;harsh winter conditions.&quot; Snow and wind gusts up to 45 mph (73 kph) were forecast for Tuesday, according to the National Weather Service.&nbsp;

Despite the sub-freezing temperatures, law enforcement on November 21 used water cannons to disperse protesters who had blockaded a highway.&nbsp;

Demonstrators and law enforcement have clashed over the months since protests began, with demonstrators claiming excessive use of force by law enforcement. 
On Tuesday, the National Lawyers Guild filed a class action in US&nbsp;District Court in North Dakota on behalf of injured protesters, claiming local authorities in Morton and Stutsman counties used excessive force.&nbsp;

The civil rights complaint said there were no orders to disperse or warnings issued before local police turned water cannons and tear gas on the protest. The lawsuit seeks compensatory damages.&nbsp;

Stutsman County Auditor Casey Bradley said the county sheriff&rsquo;s office was unaware of the lawsuit and unable to comment on the allegations.&nbsp;

Officers were justified in using water cannons because of the threat posed by demonstrators, Fong and Herr said. Law enforcement gave numerous warnings for protesters to disperse, they said.&nbsp;

North Dakota officials have issued several requests for additional help from federal law enforcement in light of the demonstrators. However, the Army Corps said Monday its order to evacuate the primary protest camp by December 5 would not include forcibly removing people from the land.

The Obama administration in September postponed final approval of a Army Corps&#39; permit required to allow tunnelling beneath the lake, a move intended to give federal officials more time to consult tribal leaders.&nbsp;

White House spokesman Josh Earnest said in a Tuesday news briefing that Obama believes law enforcement has &quot;an obligation&quot; to show restraint and protesters have a &quot;responsibility&quot; to protest peacefully.

In a related protest, prosecutors suspended charges against Deia Schlosberg, a documentary maker arrested while filming as environmental protesters attempted to shut down the flow of oil through pipelines carrying crude from Canada to the United States in October.

 
Reuters) 
&nbsp;

Officers will stop vehicles headed to the camp and inform drivers they are committing an infraction and could be fined $1,000

North Dakota officials on Tuesday moved to block supplies from reaching oil pipeline protesters at a camp near the construction site, threatening to use hefty fines to keep demonstrators from receiving food, building materials and even portable bathrooms. Activists have spent months protesting plans to route the $3.8 billion Dakota Access Pipeline beneath a lake near the Standing Rock Sioux reservation, saying the project poses a threat to water resources and sacred Native American sites. State officials said on Tuesday they would fine anyone bringing prohibited items into the main protest camp following Governor Jack Dalrymple's "emergency evacuation" order on Monday. Earlier, officials had warned of a physical blockade, but the governor`s office backed away from that. Law enforcement would take a more "passive role" than enforcing a blockade, said Maxine Herr, a spokeswoman for the Morton County Sheriff's Department. "The governor is more interested in public safety than setting up a road block and turning people away," Herr said by telephone. Officers will stop vehicles they believe are headed to the camp and inform drivers they are committing an infraction and could be fined $1,000. These penalties should serve as a hindrance, according to Cecily Fong, a spokeswoman for the North Dakota Department of Emergency Services. "So that effectively is going to block that stuff (supplies), but there is not going to be a hard road block," Fong said by telephone. A spokeswoman from the Standing Rock Sioux tribe was not immediately available for comment. North Dakota Governor-elect Doug Burgum, a Republican, declined to comment. The 1,172-mile (1,885 km) pipeline project, owned by Texas-based Energy Transfer Partners LP , is mostly complete except for a segment planned to run under Lake Oahe, a reservoir formed by a dam on the Missouri River. Thousands of people are protesting at camps located on US Army Corps of Engineers land, north of the Cannonball River in Cannon Ball, North Dakota. The main protest camp near Cannon Ball is called Oceti Sakowin, the original name of the Sioux, meaning Seven Council Fires. Protest leaders said state officials and local law enforcement officers were "bullying" demonstrators with the threat of fines. "It's bogus and I don't know about the legality of it," said Kandi Mossett, an organizer with Indigenous Environmental Network. "We`re not afraid. We`re moving in and out of the camp at will. So people shouldn`t be afraid of coming and supporting the water protectors. They`ve been bullying us since day one." 'Harsh winter condition' Dalrymple's evacuation order was issued on Monday due to the "harsh winter conditions." Snow and wind gusts up to 45 mph (73 kph) were forecast for Tuesday, according to the National Weather Service. Despite the sub-freezing temperatures, law enforcement on November 21 used water cannons to disperse protesters who had blockaded a highway. Demonstrators and law enforcement have clashed over the months since protests began, with demonstrators claiming excessive use of force by law enforcement. On Tuesday, the National Lawyers Guild filed a class action in US District Court in North Dakota on behalf of injured protesters, claiming local authorities in Morton and Stutsman counties used excessive force. The civil rights complaint said there were no orders to disperse or warnings issued before local police turned water cannons and tear gas on the protest. The lawsuit seeks compensatory damages. Stutsman County Auditor Casey Bradley said the county sheriff’s office was unaware of the lawsuit and unable to comment on the allegations. Officers were justified in using water cannons because of the threat posed by demonstrators, Fong and Herr said. Law enforcement gave numerous warnings for protesters to disperse, they said. North Dakota officials have issued several requests for additional help from federal law enforcement in light of the demonstrators. However, the Army Corps said Monday its order to evacuate the primary protest camp by December 5 would not include forcibly removing people from the land. The Obama administration in September postponed final approval of a Army Corps' permit required to allow tunnelling beneath the lake, a move intended to give federal officials more time to consult tribal leaders. White House spokesman Josh Earnest said in a Tuesday news briefing that Obama believes law enforcement has "an obligation" to show restraint and protesters have a "responsibility" to protest peacefully. In a related protest, prosecutors suspended charges against Deia Schlosberg, a documentary maker arrested while filming as environmental protesters attempted to shut down the flow of oil through pipelines carrying crude from Canada to the United States in October. Reuters)

North Dakota officials block supplies, hope to quell pipeline protests with fines

<a href="https://thinkprogress.org/thousands-of-low-wage-workers-will-strike-for-higher-pay-and-anti-racist-policies-4dc8547e1a90#.l9psusyi6">The &quot;Fight for 15&quot; campaign</a>, an American labour movement seeking the right to unionize and&nbsp;increase&nbsp;the country&#39;s national minimum hourly wage to $15, said they expect on Tuesday the &quot;largest, most disruptive protest&quot; in the movement&#39;s four-year history, Think Progress reported.

Anticipated is strikes by thousands of fast food workers in more than 340 US cities, as well as strikes and civil disobedience from workers at Chicago&#39;s O&#39;Hare airport&nbsp;and&nbsp;20 more of the&nbsp;country&#39;s largest airports.

Think Progress reports that in addition to fast food employees and airport workers,&nbsp;others risking arrest include childcare and home care employees and&nbsp;university graduates.

The workers prepping to protest are not just vowing for corporations to increase wages&nbsp;and to permit employees to unionize, but are also calling on politicians to support these rights, to demand that undocumented immigrants not be deported, to end police violence against African Americans, and to protect health care coverage.

November 29, the day marked for this protest action, marks the four-year anniversary of the launch of the &quot;Fight for 15&quot; movement, when&nbsp;fast food employees in New York went on a one-day strike to&nbsp;demand a $15- (about 1000&nbsp;Indian&nbsp;Rupees) hourly minimum wage. In the four years since, numerous&nbsp;cities in America have raised their minimum wage&nbsp;to $15&nbsp;and two states have as well, Think Progress reports.

(WION)

The 'Fight for 15' movement is promising its 'most disruptive' day of protests in the American movement's four year history

The "Fight for 15" campaign, an American labour movement seeking the right to unionize and increase the country's national minimum hourly wage to $15, said they expect on Tuesday the "largest, most disruptive protest" in the movement's four-year history, Think Progress reported. Anticipated is strikes by thousands of fast food workers in more than 340 US cities, as well as strikes and civil disobedience from workers at Chicago's O'Hare airport and 20 more of the country's largest airports. Think Progress reports that in addition to fast food employees and airport workers, others risking arrest include childcare and home care employees and university graduates. The workers prepping to protest are not just vowing for corporations to increase wages and to permit employees to unionize, but are also calling on politicians to support these rights, to demand that undocumented immigrants not be deported, to end police violence against African Americans, and to protect health care coverage. November 29, the day marked for this protest action, marks the four-year anniversary of the launch of the "Fight for 15" movement, when fast food employees in New York went on a one-day strike to demand a $15- (about 1000 Indian Rupees) hourly minimum wage. In the four years since, numerous cities in America have raised their minimum wage to $15 and two states have as well, Think Progress reports. (WION)

Low-wage workers to strike across US tomorrow

Authorities have arrested more than 11,000 people since Ethiopia declared a state of emergency in early October amid violent protests,the&nbsp;state TV said on Saturday.

Ethiopia has been in political crisis for around a year with frequent outbreaks of violence as authorities have brutally cracked down on anti-government demonstrators.

&quot;Some 11,607 individuals have so far been detained in six prisons, of which 347 are female, in connection with the state of emergency declared in the country,&quot; State of Emergency Inquiry Board chairperson Taddesse Hordofa said in a statement broadcast by EBC.

Hordofa reeled off a long list of offences ranging from serious crimes such as &quot;attacking security forces using firearms&quot; or &quot;killing civilians and members of security forces&quot; to the much more mundane &quot;denying provision of public services&quot; and &quot;disrupting movement of vehicles&quot;.

This figure is a huge increase on the 2,500 arrests that Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn&#39;s government had announced at the end of October.

The six-month state of emergency was declared on October 9, an unprecedented move by the current government, which has been in power for 25 years.

Unrest in the country had begun in the central Oromo region and then spread to Amhara in the north, causing hundreds of deaths, according to human rights organisations.

Those regions are where the majority of arrests have been made and make up 60 per cent of the country&#39;s population.

On October 31, Ethiopian defence minister Siraj Fegessa announced that 2,000 people who had participated in protests had been released, although today&#39;s announcement included no details on how many of the 11,000 remain in prison.

(AFP) 
&nbsp;

The six-month state of emergency was declared on October 9 following political instability and frequent violent outbreaks

Authorities have arrested more than 11,000 people since Ethiopia declared a state of emergency in early October amid violent protests,the state TV said on Saturday. Ethiopia has been in political crisis for around a year with frequent outbreaks of violence as authorities have brutally cracked down on anti-government demonstrators. "Some 11,607 individuals have so far been detained in six prisons, of which 347 are female, in connection with the state of emergency declared in the country," State of Emergency Inquiry Board chairperson Taddesse Hordofa said in a statement broadcast by EBC. Hordofa reeled off a long list of offences ranging from serious crimes such as "attacking security forces using firearms" or "killing civilians and members of security forces" to the much more mundane "denying provision of public services" and "disrupting movement of vehicles". This figure is a huge increase on the 2,500 arrests that Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn's government had announced at the end of October. The six-month state of emergency was declared on October 9, an unprecedented move by the current government, which has been in power for 25 years. Unrest in the country had begun in the central Oromo region and then spread to Amhara in the north, causing hundreds of deaths, according to human rights organisations. Those regions are where the majority of arrests have been made and make up 60 per cent of the country's population. On October 31, Ethiopian defence minister Siraj Fegessa announced that 2,000 people who had participated in protests had been released, although today's announcement included no details on how many of the 11,000 remain in prison. (AFP)

Ethiopia: 11,000 arrests under state of emergency, says state TV

Thousands of people across America took to the streets to riot in a show of protest against the thought of a Donald Trump presidency.&nbsp;

In California, at Berkeley High School, thousands of students left school to openly denounce the new president-elect.

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NOW: Thousands of students at Berkeley High School in CA walked out of class with their teachers, to say that he is not their president. <a href="https://t.co/vcKGKDPdE9">pic.twitter.com/vcKGKDPdE9</a>
&mdash; KING 5 News (@KING5Seattle) <a href="https://twitter.com/KING5Seattle/status/796405036532174848">November 9, 2016</a></blockquote>
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The LA Times reports that shortly after Trump gave his victory speech in New York, at about 3 am NY time, about 2,000 people rallied at UCLA, when two separate protests joined together, UCLA Seargeant Miguel Banuelos told the LA Times.

The UCLA protest peaked at 1 am local time, when a Trump pinata was set on fire in a trash can, the LA Times reports. There were five businesses who reported broken windows, and one incident of vandalism.&nbsp;&nbsp;

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Hundreds of students march from freshman dorms to I.V. chanting &quot;Fuck Donald Trump&quot; and &quot;Not my president.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/8wx7dU01GA">pic.twitter.com/8wx7dU01GA</a>
&mdash; Daily Nexus (@dailynexus) <a href="https://twitter.com/dailynexus/status/796270980456857600">November 9, 2016</a></blockquote>
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The Daily Nexus, the student paper at UC Santa Barbara,&nbsp;reports that students there&nbsp;waved Mexican flags and denouced&nbsp;Trump&nbsp;with profane language.

<a href="http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-11-10/us-protests-against-trumps-election/8011454">ABC </a>reports that about 100 protesters took to the Capital Hill neighbourhood of Seatle to block roads and set garbage bins on fire.&nbsp;ABC also reports that hundreds at the University of Pittsburgh marched through the streets, mostly&nbsp;calling for unity.&nbsp;

In Pennsylvania, hundreds of University of Pittsburgh students marched through the streets, with some in the crowd calling for unity,&nbsp;according to the student-run campus newspaper, the Pitt News.

The Pitt News&#39; Twitter account posted videos of peaceful protests that took place the morning after the election results were announced.

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New Protest going down Forbes sidewalk protesting &quot;hate.&quot; Sign in front says &quot;love trumps hate&quot; <a href="https://twitter.com/StephenJ_Caruso">@StephenJ_Caruso</a> <a href="https://t.co/1511Sayu2u">pic.twitter.com/1511Sayu2u</a>
&mdash; Stephen Caruso (@StephenJ_Caruso) <a href="https://twitter.com/StephenJ_Caruso/status/796412950965784576">November 9, 2016</a></blockquote>
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At least two protests are planned for Trump&#39;s hometown New York, one in Union Square and the other in Columbus Circle. Facebook events for demonstrations in Union Square and Columbus Circle were created on Wednesday morning, with more than <a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/177936919332882/">10,000&nbsp;Facebook</a> users responding that they would be present at the protests, <a href="http://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/Donald-Trump-New-York-City-Reaction-Protests-Union-Square-Columbus-Circle-NYC-400546271.html">NBC New York</a> reports.

The Union Square protest is hosted by a group called the Socialist Alternative, and they plan to march for over 40 blocks to picket outside the Trump Tower, NBC New York reports.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/2138893776334981/">The Columbus Circle</a> demonstration is hosted by the anti-racism group&nbsp;Answer Coalition, and so far about 1,000 people have indicated they plan to attend.

Some in New York didn&#39;t even wait for Trump to be declated winner, booing the Republican presidential candidate as he was on his way to cast his ballot.&nbsp;

<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Dwn2fxuzLww" width="560"></iframe>

Meanwhile,&nbsp;<a href="http://www.teenvogue.com/story/crisis-text-line-call-volume-doubled-since-trumps-win">Teen Vogue </a>reports that calls have doubled for a teen suicide hotline, many from the LGBTQ community, with &quot;election&quot; and &quot;Trump&quot; the two words cited most by testers.&nbsp;

This is by no means an exhaustive list of all the anti-Trump protests, or negative consequences,&nbsp;since the announcement was made&nbsp;that he will be the next American president.&nbsp;No doubt there will be more protests to come --&nbsp;it has not even been a full 24 hours.

But Trump pledged to be a president for &quot;all Americans&quot;, and&nbsp;many&nbsp;don&#39;t seem to believe that will come&nbsp;true.

While Trump led in the all-important&nbsp;electoral votes, defeating Clinton&nbsp;by a high margin of 279 to 228, Clinton led the popular vote&nbsp;with about&nbsp;200,000 more votes overall.

(WION)

'Not my president!' was a common refrain in protests and in hashtags, as Americans everywhere denounced the man who will be their president

Thousands of people across America took to the streets to riot in a show of protest against the thought of a Donald Trump presidency. In California, at Berkeley High School, thousands of students left school to openly denounce the new president-elect. NOW: Thousands of students at Berkeley High School in CA walked out of class with their teachers, to say that he is not their president. pic.twitter.com/vcKGKDPdE9 — KING 5 News (@KING5Seattle) November 9, 2016 × The LA Times reports that shortly after Trump gave his victory speech in New York, at about 3 am NY time, about 2,000 people rallied at UCLA, when two separate protests joined together, UCLA Seargeant Miguel Banuelos told the LA Times. The UCLA protest peaked at 1 am local time, when a Trump pinata was set on fire in a trash can, the LA Times reports. There were five businesses who reported broken windows, and one incident of vandalism. Hundreds of students march from freshman dorms to I.V. chanting "Fuck Donald Trump" and "Not my president." pic.twitter.com/8wx7dU01GA — Daily Nexus (@dailynexus) November 9, 2016 × The Daily Nexus, the student paper at UC Santa Barbara, reports that students there waved Mexican flags and denouced Trump with profane language. ABC reports that about 100 protesters took to the Capital Hill neighbourhood of Seatle to block roads and set garbage bins on fire. ABC also reports that hundreds at the University of Pittsburgh marched through the streets, mostly calling for unity. In Pennsylvania, hundreds of University of Pittsburgh students marched through the streets, with some in the crowd calling for unity, according to the student-run campus newspaper, the Pitt News. The Pitt News' Twitter account posted videos of peaceful protests that took place the morning after the election results were announced. New Protest going down Forbes sidewalk protesting "hate." Sign in front says "love trumps hate" @StephenJ_Caruso pic.twitter.com/1511Sayu2u — Stephen Caruso (@StephenJ_Caruso) November 9, 2016 × At least two protests are planned for Trump's hometown New York, one in Union Square and the other in Columbus Circle. Facebook events for demonstrations in Union Square and Columbus Circle were created on Wednesday morning, with more than 10,000 Facebook users responding that they would be present at the protests, NBC New York reports. The Union Square protest is hosted by a group called the Socialist Alternative, and they plan to march for over 40 blocks to picket outside the Trump Tower, NBC New York reports. The Columbus Circle demonstration is hosted by the anti-racism group Answer Coalition, and so far about 1,000 people have indicated they plan to attend. Some in New York didn't even wait for Trump to be declated winner, booing the Republican presidential candidate as he was on his way to cast his ballot. Meanwhile, Teen Vogue reports that calls have doubled for a teen suicide hotline, many from the LGBTQ community, with "election" and "Trump" the two words cited most by testers. This is by no means an exhaustive list of all the anti-Trump protests, or negative consequences, since the announcement was made that he will be the next American president. No doubt there will be more protests to come -- it has not even been a full 24 hours. But Trump pledged to be a president for "all Americans", and many don't seem to believe that will come true. While Trump led in the all-important electoral votes, defeating Clinton by a high margin of 279 to 228, Clinton led the popular vote with about 200,000 more votes overall. (WION)

US Election: Trump presidency sparks riots across United States

It wouldn&#39;t be an exaggeration to say that we live in an era of protests that are increasingly getting violent. The protests in Kashmir, the violent anti-government protests in Congo and the ones that erupted in Dallas are just a few to name. 
 
Resistance, however, does not always have to be violent to yield results. Here are some non-violent protests from across the world that have led to change in the past.
<h2>1. The Salt March</h2>
&nbsp;<img alt="" class="img-responsive" src="http://s.wionews.com/photos/marche_sel-20160921100523.jpg" />
<div class="media-description">
<div class="media-description">
Source: AFP
</div>
</div>
Objective of protest: Independence of India from the British empire 
 
Method adopted: The Salt march, also known as &lsquo;Dandi march&rsquo; or &lsquo;Salt Satyagraha&rsquo;, was a civil disobedience movement led by M K Gandhi. In 1930, Gandhi along with his followers embarked on a non-violent protest march against the British &lsquo;salt tax&rsquo; which went through a 241-mile trek and ended with the protesters breaking the salt law. 
 
Impact: Proved as a watershed event in the long run, although was not immediately successful.

<h2> 
2. Women&rsquo;s Suffrage Parade</h2>
<img alt="" class="img-responsive" src="http://s.wionews.com/photos/source_sliptalk%20(1)-20160920064004.jpg" />
<div class="media-description">
Source: Sliptalk
</div>
Objective of protest: To achieve voting rights for women in the&nbsp;US. 
 
Method adopted: The Woman Suffrage Procession of 1913, spearheaded by Alice Paul and Inez Milholland, was infused with allegory and symbolism. Clad in a white robe and astride a white horse, suffragist Milholland led the peaceful parade down Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington DC. More than 5,000 marchers accompanied her to make this demonstration one of the most important ones in the 82-year long struggle to achieve voting rights for women. 
 
Impact: Successful in drawing attention towards the cause. 
&nbsp;
<h2>3. Delano Grape Boycott</h2>
<img alt="" class="img-responsive" src="http://s.wionews.com/photos/cesar_chavez2-20160921110739.jpg" />
<div class="media-description">
Image by Joel Levine
</div>
Objective of protest: To achieve migrant farm workers&rsquo; rights in the&nbsp;US 
 
Method adopted: The walkout from the fields staged by US&rsquo; Filipino farm workers, demanding wages equal to federal minimum wage on September 8, 1965 marked the beginning of the grape strike. In an attempt to pressurise the grape growers and the government to give in to the demands of farm workers, civil rights activist and labour leader &lsquo;Cesar Chavez&rsquo; changed the focus from a strike to a complete boycott of California grapes in 1967. 
 
Impact: Five-year long movement ended in a significant victory. 
&nbsp;
<h2>4. Bed-in for Peace</h2>
 
<img alt="" class="img-responsive" src="http://s.wionews.com/photos/source%20www.gahetna.nl-20160920064210.jpg" />
<div class="media-description">
Source: www.gahetna.nl
</div>
Objective of protest: To promote world peace 
 
Method adopted: Beatles legend John Lennon and his wife Yoko Ono staged a peaceful protest against Vietnam war by holding a week-long bed-in in the Amsterdam Hilton hotel for the world media. During the protest, Lennon and Ono invited the press to their hotel room every day and talked about peace. The bed-in was staged during the couple&rsquo;s honeymoon between March 25 to March 31, 1969. 
 
Impact: Started a conversation and received attention&nbsp;as a work of art. 
&nbsp;
<h2>5. March on Washington</h2>
 
<img alt="" class="img-responsive" src="http://s.wionews.com/photos/march-20160921110124.jpg" />
<div class="media-description">
Source: commons.wikimedia.org
</div>
Objective of protest: To achieve civil rights for African-American people. 
 
Method adopted: Held on August 28, 1963 in Washington DC, the &lsquo;March on Washington&rsquo; was a political demonstration against racial discrimination. The march, led by Martin Luther King Jr, witnessed participation from over 2,00,000 people in the shadow of the Lincoln Memorial. It was one of the largest public protests of that time. 
 
Impact: Helped in the passage of 1964 Civil Rights Act. 
&nbsp;
<h2>6. Olympics Black Power salute</h2>
 
<img alt="" class="img-responsive" src="http://s.wionews.com/photos/source%20flickr%20newtown%20grafitti%20(1)-20160920063608.jpg" />
<div class="media-description">
Source: Flickr Newtown graffiti
</div>
Objective of protest: To end racial discrimination. 
 
Method adopted: African-American sprinters Tommie Smith (won gold) and John Carlos (won bronze) used the 1968 Olympic victories in Mexico City to show their opposition to the continued oppression of the African-American people in the US. Smith and Carlos stood atop the podium with their heads bowed and black-gloved fists raised in the air. 
 
Impact:&nbsp;Widely criticised at that time; seen as a great act of solidarity now. 
&nbsp;
<h2>7. Montgomery Bus Boycott</h2>
 
<img alt="" class="img-responsive" src="http://s.wionews.com/photos/source%20commondream.org-20160920064422.jpg" />
<div class="media-description">
Source: commondream.org
</div>
Objective of protest: To end racial segregation in public transit system. 
 
Method adopted: On December 1, 1955, an African-American woman named Rosa Parks refused to give her seat to a white man in Alabama. During that time, the African-Americans were allowed to sit only on the latter half of the bus seats as per law, while the seats on the front half were reserved for whites. Hence, this incident led to the arrest of Parks, which sparked off a 13-month long mass protest in the form of Montgomery (Alabama) bus boycott against the racial segregation policy. 
 
Impact: Led to the passage of a ruling in June 1956 which declared Alabama&rsquo;s racial segregation laws in public transit system as unconstitutional.

<h2> 
8. The Singing Revolution</h2>
 
<img alt="" class="img-responsive" src="http://s.wionews.com/photos/source_wikicommons_tobreatheasone-20160921113307.jpg" />
<div class="media-description">
Source: Wikicommons/ToBreatheAsOne
</div>
Objective of protest: Independence of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania from the erstwhile USSR. 
 
Method adopted: As a means of peaceful protest, the Singing Revolution involved thousands of people gathering publicly to sing patriotic songs, which were forbidden by the Soviet Union occupiers. In their effort to attain independence, the people from Estonia risked their lives by making protest speeches. 
 
Impact: The revolution finally became a success, after four years of protest, in 1991.

<h2> 
9.&nbsp;Orange Revolution</h2>
 
<img alt="" class="img-responsive" src="http://s.wionews.com/photos/morning_first_day_of_orange_revolution%20(1)-20160921095948.jpg" />
<div class="media-description">
Source: commons.wikimedia.org
</div>
Objective of protest: To reverse the alleged attempt of authorities to rig 2004 presidential elections in Ukraine 
 
Method adopted: During the Orange Revolution, Ukrainian protesters gathered at the Independence Square in Ukraine&rsquo;s capital &lsquo;Kiev&rsquo;. In a nation-wide non-violent protest, the demonstrators stayed out on streets, staged sit-ins and strikes. 
 
Impact: Ukraine&rsquo;s Supreme Court ordered revote.

<h2>10. #ThisFlag Movement</h2>
 
<img alt="" class="img-responsive" src="http://s.wionews.com/photos/pivic4ad-20160921114531.jpg" />
<div class="media-description">
Source: twitter.com/PastorEvanLive
</div>
Objective of protest: To highlight Zimbabwean government&rsquo;s failure to provide citizens a dignified life. 
 
Method adopted: A 39-year-old man, Pastor Evan, put a Zimbabwean flag around his neck and made a video decrying the state of economy in Zimbabwe. This digital activism also saw the involvement of other people from the country, subsequently. 
 
Impact: The video&nbsp;garnered thousands of hits on Facebook.

<h2> 
11. The Wall Street Movement</h2>
 
<img alt="" class="img-responsive" src="http://s.wionews.com/photos/occupy-20160921111955.JPG" />
<div class="media-description">
Source: commons.wikimedia.org
</div>

Objective of protest: To draw attention towards social and economic inequality and corruption. 
 
Method adopted: Inspired by Spain&#39;s anti-austerity protests, the 2011 Occupy Wall Street movement witnessed peaceful protests by people who claimed to be struggling economically. These people began sleeping in&nbsp;Zuccotti Park in Manhattan&rsquo;s financial district &#39;Wall Street&#39;. The movement, which was initiated by a few people, quickly grew significantly as more and more people were mobilised. 
 
Impact: Received extensive coverage by the media. 
 
Contributions by Shashwat Mittal &amp; Ashna Mishra

Resistance does not always have to be violent to yield results, these protests showed

It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that we live in an era of protests that are increasingly getting violent. The protests in Kashmir, the violent anti-government protests in Congo and the ones that erupted in Dallas are just a few to name. Resistance, however, does not always have to be violent to yield results. Here are some non-violent protests from across the world that have led to change in the past. 1. The Salt March Source: AFP Objective of protest: Independence of India from the British empire Method adopted: The Salt march, also known as ‘Dandi march’ or ‘Salt Satyagraha’, was a civil disobedience movement led by M K Gandhi. In 1930, Gandhi along with his followers embarked on a non-violent protest march against the British ‘salt tax’ which went through a 241-mile trek and ended with the protesters breaking the salt law. Impact: Proved as a watershed event in the long run, although was not immediately successful. 2. Women’s Suffrage Parade Source: Sliptalk Objective of protest: To achieve voting rights for women in the US. Method adopted: The Woman Suffrage Procession of 1913, spearheaded by Alice Paul and Inez Milholland, was infused with allegory and symbolism. Clad in a white robe and astride a white horse, suffragist Milholland led the peaceful parade down Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington DC. More than 5,000 marchers accompanied her to make this demonstration one of the most important ones in the 82-year long struggle to achieve voting rights for women. Impact: Successful in drawing attention towards the cause. 3. Delano Grape Boycott Image by Joel Levine Objective of protest: To achieve migrant farm workers’ rights in the US Method adopted: The walkout from the fields staged by US’ Filipino farm workers, demanding wages equal to federal minimum wage on September 8, 1965 marked the beginning of the grape strike. In an attempt to pressurise the grape growers and the government to give in to the demands of farm workers, civil rights activist and labour leader ‘Cesar Chavez’ changed the focus from a strike to a complete boycott of California grapes in 1967. Impact: Five-year long movement ended in a significant victory. 4. Bed-in for Peace Source: www.gahetna.nl Objective of protest: To promote world peace Method adopted: Beatles legend John Lennon and his wife Yoko Ono staged a peaceful protest against Vietnam war by holding a week-long bed-in in the Amsterdam Hilton hotel for the world media. During the protest, Lennon and Ono invited the press to their hotel room every day and talked about peace. The bed-in was staged during the couple’s honeymoon between March 25 to March 31, 1969. Impact: Started a conversation and received attention as a work of art. 5. March on Washington Source: commons.wikimedia.org Objective of protest: To achieve civil rights for African-American people. Method adopted: Held on August 28, 1963 in Washington DC, the ‘March on Washington’ was a political demonstration against racial discrimination. The march, led by Martin Luther King Jr, witnessed participation from over 2,00,000 people in the shadow of the Lincoln Memorial. It was one of the largest public protests of that time. Impact: Helped in the passage of 1964 Civil Rights Act. 6. Olympics Black Power salute Source: Flickr Newtown graffiti Objective of protest: To end racial discrimination. Method adopted: African-American sprinters Tommie Smith (won gold) and John Carlos (won bronze) used the 1968 Olympic victories in Mexico City to show their opposition to the continued oppression of the African-American people in the US. Smith and Carlos stood atop the podium with their heads bowed and black-gloved fists raised in the air. Impact: Widely criticised at that time; seen as a great act of solidarity now. 7. Montgomery Bus Boycott Source: commondream.org Objective of protest: To end racial segregation in public transit system. Method adopted: On December 1, 1955, an African-American woman named Rosa Parks refused to give her seat to a white man in Alabama. During that time, the African-Americans were allowed to sit only on the latter half of the bus seats as per law, while the seats on the front half were reserved for whites. Hence, this incident led to the arrest of Parks, which sparked off a 13-month long mass protest in the form of Montgomery (Alabama) bus boycott against the racial segregation policy. Impact: Led to the passage of a ruling in June 1956 which declared Alabama’s racial segregation laws in public transit system as unconstitutional. 8. The Singing Revolution Source: Wikicommons/ToBreatheAsOne Objective of protest: Independence of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania from the erstwhile USSR. Method adopted: As a means of peaceful protest, the Singing Revolution involved thousands of people gathering publicly to sing patriotic songs, which were forbidden by the Soviet Union occupiers. In their effort to attain independence, the people from Estonia risked their lives by making protest speeches. Impact: The revolution finally became a success, after four years of protest, in 1991. 9. Orange Revolution Source: commons.wikimedia.org Objective of protest: To reverse the alleged attempt of authorities to rig 2004 presidential elections in Ukraine Method adopted: During the Orange Revolution, Ukrainian protesters gathered at the Independence Square in Ukraine’s capital ‘Kiev’. In a nation-wide non-violent protest, the demonstrators stayed out on streets, staged sit-ins and strikes. Impact: Ukraine’s Supreme Court ordered revote. 10. #ThisFlag Movement Source: twitter.com/PastorEvanLive Objective of protest: To highlight Zimbabwean government’s failure to provide citizens a dignified life. Method adopted: A 39-year-old man, Pastor Evan, put a Zimbabwean flag around his neck and made a video decrying the state of economy in Zimbabwe. This digital activism also saw the involvement of other people from the country, subsequently. Impact: The video garnered thousands of hits on Facebook. 11. The Wall Street Movement Source: commons.wikimedia.org Objective of protest: To draw attention towards social and economic inequality and corruption. Method adopted: Inspired by Spain's anti-austerity protests, the 2011 Occupy Wall Street movement witnessed peaceful protests by people who claimed to be struggling economically. These people began sleeping in Zuccotti Park in Manhattan’s financial district 'Wall Street'. The movement, which was initiated by a few people, quickly grew significantly as more and more people were mobilised. Impact: Received extensive coverage by the media. Contributions by Shashwat Mittal & Ashna Mishra

11 peaceful protests from across the world

Thousands of socially-backward Dalits, also known as &quot;untouchables&quot;, protested in western India today against an attack on their members by cow protection vigilantes. 
 
Police surrounded the protesters in Ahmedabad, the main city in Prime Minister Narendra Modi&#39;s home state of Gujarat, to prevent any violence, as anger among Dalits mounts over the attack. 
 
Protest organiser Jignesh Mevani said Dalit youths were trying to kill themselves to protest attacks committed against their caste, which lies at the bottom of India&#39;s complex and entrenched social hierarchy system. 
 
&quot;Neither the BJP nor Congress will come to our help,&quot; Mevani said of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and main opposition party. 
 
&quot;Only our united strength will help us fight the age-old oppression,&quot; the dalit activist told the crowd which police put at 5,000-strong. 
 
Violent protests erupted this month after video footage emerged of an attack on four Dalit villagers who were taking a dead cow to be skinned.&nbsp;Cows are considered sacred by Hindus, and killing them is banned in Gujarat, but the villagers said the animal had died of natural causes. 
 
Dalits are commonly tasked with removing the corpses of dead cows from the streets of India, where the animals often roam freely.&nbsp;Dalit leaders told the rally that a 24-year-old man who had drank poison to protest against the attack died of his injuries in hospital today. 
 
A senior hospital official in Ahmedabad confirmed the death. 
 
Mevani said such suicides were signs of deep despair among low-caste Indians after years of discrimination and violence by those from higher castes who often went unpunished. 
 
&quot;This is the failure of the Gujarat development model, wherein youths have to consume poison to demand their rights,&quot; Mevani said. 
 
The video of the attack showed the four half-naked men tied to a car as the activists took turns to thrash them with belts and batons at a crowded marketplace.&nbsp;Two more Dalits were beaten up after they tried to save the other four. 
 
Attacks by vigilante groups on cow traders and smugglers have increased since Hindu nationalist premier Modi won power in 2014. 
 
(AFP)

Violent protests erupted after video footage emerged of an attack on four dalit villagers taking a dead cow to be skinned

Thousands of socially-backward Dalits, also known as "untouchables", protested in western India today against an attack on their members by cow protection vigilantes. Police surrounded the protesters in Ahmedabad, the main city in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's home state of Gujarat, to prevent any violence, as anger among Dalits mounts over the attack. Protest organiser Jignesh Mevani said Dalit youths were trying to kill themselves to protest attacks committed against their caste, which lies at the bottom of India's complex and entrenched social hierarchy system. "Neither the BJP nor Congress will come to our help," Mevani said of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and main opposition party. "Only our united strength will help us fight the age-old oppression," the dalit activist told the crowd which police put at 5,000-strong. Violent protests erupted this month after video footage emerged of an attack on four Dalit villagers who were taking a dead cow to be skinned. Cows are considered sacred by Hindus, and killing them is banned in Gujarat, but the villagers said the animal had died of natural causes. Dalits are commonly tasked with removing the corpses of dead cows from the streets of India, where the animals often roam freely. Dalit leaders told the rally that a 24-year-old man who had drank poison to protest against the attack died of his injuries in hospital today. A senior hospital official in Ahmedabad confirmed the death. Mevani said such suicides were signs of deep despair among low-caste Indians after years of discrimination and violence by those from higher castes who often went unpunished. "This is the failure of the Gujarat development model, wherein youths have to consume poison to demand their rights," Mevani said. The video of the attack showed the four half-naked men tied to a car as the activists took turns to thrash them with belts and batons at a crowded marketplace. Two more Dalits were beaten up after they tried to save the other four. Attacks by vigilante groups on cow traders and smugglers have increased since Hindu nationalist premier Modi won power in 2014. (AFP)

Thousands protest attack on low-caste Dalits in western India

Hong Kong&#39;s 2014 pro-democracy &quot;Umbrella Revolution&quot; was re-imagined as a zombie apocalypse by gamemakers who transformed politicians and protesters into the walking dead using virtual reality (VR) technology at a comic and games expo on Friday. 
 
Teenagers and video game enthusiasts packed the Ani-Com show at the city&#39;s harbourfront convention centre and queued for &quot;Hong Kong Infected&quot;, where they shot down protesters and police officers who had been afflicted by an unknown contagion. 
 
In late 2014, tens of thousands took part in a mass pro-democracy rally, dubbed the &quot;Umbrella Revolution&quot; which paralysed the city for more than two months, with residents calling on Beijing to allow fully free elections of future leaders. 
 
The rally exploded on September 28 of that year when police fired tear gas to disperse crowds.But in the virtual reality parallel universe, they were turned into zombies. 
 
&quot;(In the game) there is a mysterious gas released at that time when protesters are being dispersed,&quot; Elphonso Lam, art director for production house YYY Industry which created the game, told AFP. 
 
&quot;You can imagine how scary it would be as the protesters, police and even lawmakers turn into zombies,&quot; Lam said.&nbsp; 
 
&quot;We wanted to make a record of what Hong Kongers have experienced, so we used this topic,&quot; he said, adding that very few local productions would be willing to touch upon such a sensitive issue.&nbsp;The game was designed for the virtual reality platform and players got their first look at the show. 
 
Players also have to gun down &quot;the boss&quot;, an enlarged, zombified version of a pro-Beijing lawmaker, in a three-dimensional re-creation of the area near the government headquarters where the protests were held. 
 
The game is expected to be released next year along with a feature-length film and a comic series on the same storyline. 
 
Player Flan Lau, 24, who along with other players wore an Oculus VR headset and held up a mock gun to play the demo, said the experience was better than traditional video games. 
 
&quot;If you are unable to experience a three-dimensional environment... there is a difference,&quot; the subway technician told AFP. 
 
Sony also displayed their newest VR kit, which will launch in October with their PS4 gaming console, to the exhibition. 
 
&quot;Everybody is talking about VR...I believe this trend will totally change the gaming industry,&quot; Sony Marketing Communication for Hong Kong assistant general manager Jacqueline Chiu said. 
 
Players donning VR headsets at Sony`s Playstation booth beat up baddies as Batman in &quot;Batman: Arkham VR&quot;, while others carried out robberies in &quot;The London Heist&quot;. 
 
The Ani-Com show is one of the biggest of its kind in Asia, where teenagers and video game lovers go to buy limited editions of toy figures and wear costumes mimicking their favourite comic book heroes. 
 
(AFP)

A virtual reality game, featuring in this year's Ani-Com, intends to show what Hong Kong went through during the 2014 protests

Hong Kong's 2014 pro-democracy "Umbrella Revolution" was re-imagined as a zombie apocalypse by gamemakers who transformed politicians and protesters into the walking dead using virtual reality (VR) technology at a comic and games expo on Friday. Teenagers and video game enthusiasts packed the Ani-Com show at the city's harbourfront convention centre and queued for "Hong Kong Infected", where they shot down protesters and police officers who had been afflicted by an unknown contagion. In late 2014, tens of thousands took part in a mass pro-democracy rally, dubbed the "Umbrella Revolution" which paralysed the city for more than two months, with residents calling on Beijing to allow fully free elections of future leaders. The rally exploded on September 28 of that year when police fired tear gas to disperse crowds.But in the virtual reality parallel universe, they were turned into zombies. "(In the game) there is a mysterious gas released at that time when protesters are being dispersed," Elphonso Lam, art director for production house YYY Industry which created the game, told AFP. "You can imagine how scary it would be as the protesters, police and even lawmakers turn into zombies," Lam said. "We wanted to make a record of what Hong Kongers have experienced, so we used this topic," he said, adding that very few local productions would be willing to touch upon such a sensitive issue. The game was designed for the virtual reality platform and players got their first look at the show. Players also have to gun down "the boss", an enlarged, zombified version of a pro-Beijing lawmaker, in a three-dimensional re-creation of the area near the government headquarters where the protests were held. The game is expected to be released next year along with a feature-length film and a comic series on the same storyline. Player Flan Lau, 24, who along with other players wore an Oculus VR headset and held up a mock gun to play the demo, said the experience was better than traditional video games. "If you are unable to experience a three-dimensional environment... there is a difference," the subway technician told AFP. Sony also displayed their newest VR kit, which will launch in October with their PS4 gaming console, to the exhibition. "Everybody is talking about VR...I believe this trend will totally change the gaming industry," Sony Marketing Communication for Hong Kong assistant general manager Jacqueline Chiu said. Players donning VR headsets at Sony`s Playstation booth beat up baddies as Batman in "Batman: Arkham VR", while others carried out robberies in "The London Heist". The Ani-Com show is one of the biggest of its kind in Asia, where teenagers and video game lovers go to buy limited editions of toy figures and wear costumes mimicking their favourite comic book heroes. (AFP)

Zombies take over Hong Kong's Umbrella Revolution at gaming show

The public outrage over the recent flogging of youngsters from the Dalit community (placed at the bottom of India&#39;s caste system) by self-appointed cow vigilantes in Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi&#39;s home state of Gujarat refused to die down, a day after the Gujarat shutdown call. The reports of protests and violence from across the state kept on trickling in on Thursday too. 
 
Home minister Rajnath Singh condemned the attack in Gujarat and said Modi was committed to the protection of the Dalits. Rajnath informed that four police officials have been suspended in connection with the thrashing of dalits youngsters.&nbsp; 
 
Opposition lawmakers disrupted Parliament on Wednesday to protest against the floggings in Gujarat and demanded Modi apologise to the victims. 
 
&quot;The recent shocking incident in Gujarat where four&nbsp;Dalit&nbsp;youths were savagely beaten and humiliated publicly is just one example of the social terror this government condones,&quot; Sonia Gandhi, president of the opposition Congress party told supporters, Indian media reported. 
 
Critics say Modi&#39;s Bharatiya Janata Party&#39;s Hindu nationalist agenda empowers hardline activists to believe they can take matters into their hands and target minority groups like&nbsp;Dalits and Muslims involved in the cattle trade. 
 
Tensions mount ahead of Dalit rally on Friday&nbsp; 
 
Amid torching of buses and stone-throwing, police had to lob teargas shells at several places and impose prohibitory orders against assembly of four or more persons. 
 
A group of unidentified persons burnt three state transport buses in Mehsana district, about an hour`s drive from state`s capital Gandhinagar as well as commercial hub Ahmedabad. Blocking of buses on national highways, especially at Katariya village near Limbdi, connecting the Saurashtra region to central and south Gujarat, forced authorities to suspend services between Rajkot and Ahmedabad. 
 
The four members of the&nbsp;Dalit&nbsp;community were last week tied to a car, stripped and flogged with sticks by self-styled hardline Hindu cow protectors who then published a video of the attack as a &quot;warning&quot; to others. 
 
Tempers wore thin in the Saurashtra region with people coming out in hordes to protest against the July 11 atrocities in Una. 
 
The district collector of Surendranagar announced imposition of prohibitory orders, ahead of rally by Dalits community on Friday to protest the Una incident. 
 
Meanwhile, the Dholka town of Ahmedabad district saw a mob pelt stones at police, who fired teargas to disperse the crowd. The situation worsened as police allegedly entered houses of protestors, beat them and detained them. 
 
As many as 50 men were detained in a police station, which was later put under siege by women, who used utensils and rolling pins to seek immediate release of the detainees. A couple of women protesters fainted during the protest. 
 
In Surat, a group of protesters crowded the railway track at Udhna junction and disrupted train services before police dispersed them. 
Besides Saurashtra, rallies by Dalit community were also held in Vadodara and Patna cities. 
 
The beatings sparked the most serious protests by&nbsp;Dalits in years in Gujarat, with seven youths trying to kill themselves in protest by taking pesticide in different parts of the state, an act that further inflamed tempers. 
 
Cows are revered in Hinduism and their slaughter is banned in most states, including Gujarat, where Modi ruled as chief minister for a decade and spearheaded a 2011 ban. 
 
Dalits in the state, however, said they earn their livelihood from skinning cows that die naturally, buffaloes and other animals, and vowed to fight anyone trying to stop them from doing so. 
 
Police are investigating whether the flogged men killed the cow or whether it was already dead. 
 
Dalits are at the bottom of India&#39;s ages-old social hierarchy, making them vulnerable to attacks perpetrated by self-styled cow-protecting vigilantes. 
 
Several people accused of eating beef have also been attacked, including a Muslim man who was last year beaten to death by a mob in a town near New Delhi. 
 
(PTI, Reuters) 
 
&nbsp;

Four people from the lower caste were stripped and flogged by hardliner 'cow vigilantes' for skinning cows considered holy in Hinduism

The public outrage over the recent flogging of youngsters from the Dalit community (placed at the bottom of India's caste system) by self-appointed cow vigilantes in Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's home state of Gujarat refused to die down, a day after the Gujarat shutdown call. The reports of protests and violence from across the state kept on trickling in on Thursday too. Home minister Rajnath Singh condemned the attack in Gujarat and said Modi was committed to the protection of the Dalits. Rajnath informed that four police officials have been suspended in connection with the thrashing of dalits youngsters. Opposition lawmakers disrupted Parliament on Wednesday to protest against the floggings in Gujarat and demanded Modi apologise to the victims. "The recent shocking incident in Gujarat where four Dalit youths were savagely beaten and humiliated publicly is just one example of the social terror this government condones," Sonia Gandhi, president of the opposition Congress party told supporters, Indian media reported. Critics say Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party's Hindu nationalist agenda empowers hardline activists to believe they can take matters into their hands and target minority groups like Dalits and Muslims involved in the cattle trade. Tensions mount ahead of Dalit rally on Friday Amid torching of buses and stone-throwing, police had to lob teargas shells at several places and impose prohibitory orders against assembly of four or more persons. A group of unidentified persons burnt three state transport buses in Mehsana district, about an hour`s drive from state`s capital Gandhinagar as well as commercial hub Ahmedabad. Blocking of buses on national highways, especially at Katariya village near Limbdi, connecting the Saurashtra region to central and south Gujarat, forced authorities to suspend services between Rajkot and Ahmedabad. The four members of the Dalit community were last week tied to a car, stripped and flogged with sticks by self-styled hardline Hindu cow protectors who then published a video of the attack as a "warning" to others. Tempers wore thin in the Saurashtra region with people coming out in hordes to protest against the July 11 atrocities in Una. The district collector of Surendranagar announced imposition of prohibitory orders, ahead of rally by Dalits community on Friday to protest the Una incident. Meanwhile, the Dholka town of Ahmedabad district saw a mob pelt stones at police, who fired teargas to disperse the crowd. The situation worsened as police allegedly entered houses of protestors, beat them and detained them. As many as 50 men were detained in a police station, which was later put under siege by women, who used utensils and rolling pins to seek immediate release of the detainees. A couple of women protesters fainted during the protest. In Surat, a group of protesters crowded the railway track at Udhna junction and disrupted train services before police dispersed them. Besides Saurashtra, rallies by Dalit community were also held in Vadodara and Patna cities. The beatings sparked the most serious protests by Dalits in years in Gujarat, with seven youths trying to kill themselves in protest by taking pesticide in different parts of the state, an act that further inflamed tempers. Cows are revered in Hinduism and their slaughter is banned in most states, including Gujarat, where Modi ruled as chief minister for a decade and spearheaded a 2011 ban. Dalits in the state, however, said they earn their livelihood from skinning cows that die naturally, buffaloes and other animals, and vowed to fight anyone trying to stop them from doing so. Police are investigating whether the flogged men killed the cow or whether it was already dead. Dalits are at the bottom of India's ages-old social hierarchy, making them vulnerable to attacks perpetrated by self-styled cow-protecting vigilantes. Several people accused of eating beef have also been attacked, including a Muslim man who was last year beaten to death by a mob in a town near New Delhi. (PTI, Reuters)

Protests continue in India's Gujarat over attack on Dalit men

Scuffles broke out between opposing protesters in Cleveland on Tuesday on the second day of the Republican National Convention. 
 
A planned demonstration against police shootings of African-Americans devolved into mayhem, with punches thrown and shouting matches. 
 
Approximately 100 police officers separated the duelling groups and maintained a strict cordon, quickly defusing tensions between rival protesters - who also numbered around 100. 
 
There were no immediate arrests, according to Cleveland Police Chief Calvin Williams, who was at the scene. 
 
With calm restored, some of the protesters marched through one of downtown&#39;s busy thoroughfares, with police and media in tow. 
 
They carried a large banner with faces of African-Americans under the title &#39;Stop Murder by Police&#39;. 
 
&quot;Look at these faces, all of them people whose lives were stolen by law enforcement,&quot; said one protester over a loudspeaker. 
 
Joining the march mid-way was actor William Baldwin, who said he fully supported the work of police, but also shared the mounting concerns about fatal shootings of black Americans. 
 
&quot;The vast majority of the cops are good and are well trained,&quot; Baldwin said during the march, &quot;But I think police practices and procedures have to change. Have to. It doesn&#39;t work.&quot; 
 
As the protest was getting under way, witnesses said Alex Jones - a controversial radio show host who espouses various conspiracy theories - challenged the assembled crowd. A few protesters began shouting &#39;Nazi scum&#39; and at least one of them attacked Jones. 
 
The ensuing scuffle happened in front of Chief Williams, and police immediately moved in to separate the two sides. 
 
Another group of counter-protesters, with signs including one that said &#39;Every Real Muslim is a Jihadist&#39;, needled the crowd. 
 
They were met with a chorus of boos, and comments such as &quot;You&#39;re miserable&quot;. 
 
Other protesters were yelling: &quot;Indict! Convict! Send the killer cops to jail! The whole damn system is guilty as hell!&quot; 
 
The refrain has been a common one in various protests since Sunday. 
 
Media swarmed the scene - on alert for trouble between rival protesters since the opening of the party convention, which on Tuesday saw Donald Trump officially nominated as the Republican candidate for President. 
 
Officials have set up tight security zones and remain on heightened alert as groups with various messages plan protests. 
 
(AFP)

100 police officers separated the duelling groups and maintained a strict cordon, quickly defusing tensions. No arrests made

Scuffles broke out between opposing protesters in Cleveland on Tuesday on the second day of the Republican National Convention. A planned demonstration against police shootings of African-Americans devolved into mayhem, with punches thrown and shouting matches. Approximately 100 police officers separated the duelling groups and maintained a strict cordon, quickly defusing tensions between rival protesters - who also numbered around 100. There were no immediate arrests, according to Cleveland Police Chief Calvin Williams, who was at the scene. With calm restored, some of the protesters marched through one of downtown's busy thoroughfares, with police and media in tow. They carried a large banner with faces of African-Americans under the title 'Stop Murder by Police'. "Look at these faces, all of them people whose lives were stolen by law enforcement," said one protester over a loudspeaker. Joining the march mid-way was actor William Baldwin, who said he fully supported the work of police, but also shared the mounting concerns about fatal shootings of black Americans. "The vast majority of the cops are good and are well trained," Baldwin said during the march, "But I think police practices and procedures have to change. Have to. It doesn't work." As the protest was getting under way, witnesses said Alex Jones - a controversial radio show host who espouses various conspiracy theories - challenged the assembled crowd. A few protesters began shouting 'Nazi scum' and at least one of them attacked Jones. The ensuing scuffle happened in front of Chief Williams, and police immediately moved in to separate the two sides. Another group of counter-protesters, with signs including one that said 'Every Real Muslim is a Jihadist', needled the crowd. They were met with a chorus of boos, and comments such as "You're miserable". Other protesters were yelling: "Indict! Convict! Send the killer cops to jail! The whole damn system is guilty as hell!" The refrain has been a common one in various protests since Sunday. Media swarmed the scene - on alert for trouble between rival protesters since the opening of the party convention, which on Tuesday saw Donald Trump officially nominated as the Republican candidate for President. Officials have set up tight security zones and remain on heightened alert as groups with various messages plan protests. (AFP)

Group protesting police shootings of African-Americans clashes with rival at Cleveland

&nbsp;A Palestinian child aged 12 was killed by Israeli soldiers who fired rubber-coated bullets near Jerusalem today, said the Palestinian health ministry. 
 
&quot;Mohiyeh al-Tabakhi, 12, was killed by shots fired by occupation soldiers in the Al-Ram area near Jerusalem,&quot; it said in a statement. 
 
The Palestinian suburb in the occupied West Bank near Jerusalem is cut off from the Holy City by the &quot;separation wall&quot; built by Israel. 
 
The boy was hit in the chest by a rubber-coated bullet which caused cardiac arrest, medical sources were quoted by the Palestinian news agency WAFA as saying. 
 
Israeli police said tear gas grenades and sound bombs had been used against demonstrators in the area. 
 
&quot;After being pelted with Molotov cocktails, police used tear gas and stun grenades to disperse the protesters,&quot; police spokeswoman Luba Samri told AFP. 
 
&quot;There was no live fire,&quot; she added. 
 
Violence in the Palestinian territories and Israel since last October has killed at least 217 Palestinians, 34 Israelis, two Americans, an Eritrean and a Sudanese, according to an AFP count. 
 
Most of the Palestinians killed were carrying out knife, gun or car-ramming attacks, according to Israeli authorities. 
 
Others were shot dead during protests and clashes, while some were killed in Israeli air strikes on the Islamist-controlled Gaza Strip. 
 
(AFP)

The 12-year-old boy was reportedly hit in the chest by a rubber-coated bullet which caused cardiac arrest

A Palestinian child aged 12 was killed by Israeli soldiers who fired rubber-coated bullets near Jerusalem today, said the Palestinian health ministry. "Mohiyeh al-Tabakhi, 12, was killed by shots fired by occupation soldiers in the Al-Ram area near Jerusalem," it said in a statement. The Palestinian suburb in the occupied West Bank near Jerusalem is cut off from the Holy City by the "separation wall" built by Israel. The boy was hit in the chest by a rubber-coated bullet which caused cardiac arrest, medical sources were quoted by the Palestinian news agency WAFA as saying. Israeli police said tear gas grenades and sound bombs had been used against demonstrators in the area. "After being pelted with Molotov cocktails, police used tear gas and stun grenades to disperse the protesters," police spokeswoman Luba Samri told AFP. "There was no live fire," she added. Violence in the Palestinian territories and Israel since last October has killed at least 217 Palestinians, 34 Israelis, two Americans, an Eritrean and a Sudanese, according to an AFP count. Most of the Palestinians killed were carrying out knife, gun or car-ramming attacks, according to Israeli authorities. Others were shot dead during protests and clashes, while some were killed in Israeli air strikes on the Islamist-controlled Gaza Strip. (AFP)

Israeli soldiers shoot dead Palestinian child, says Palestinian ministry

Eleven-year-old Umar Ahmad Shah of Pulwama in the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir will probably not be able to see again out of one of his eyes. The sixth-standard boy was hit in one eye and the body by pellets in the latest round of clashes between Indian security forces and protesters in the troubled state.&nbsp; 
 
He lies in the emergency ward of a hospital here, his body bearing numerous entry marks where the pellets have pierced through his skin. 
&nbsp; 
Doctors say, given the nature of his injury, it is unlikely he will see out of his injured eye again.&nbsp; 
 
Umar&rsquo;s is not a stray case. About a 125 people across the state have received pellet injuries to the eyes. Doctors say a majority of them will suffer from some sort of vision impairment despite the best efforts of medical professionals. 
&nbsp; 
Thirty five people have died and some 1,300 have been injured since the unrest began last Friday when Hizbul Mujhadeen (branded a terrorist organisation by India, EU, and the US) commander Burhan Muzaffar Wani was killed in a gun battle in Kokarnag. 
&nbsp; 
&ldquo;We have conducted 90 initial eye surgeries on these patients. They need to be reoperated upon for restoration of their vision. There are 25 to 30 other patients who have suffered pellet wounds but are responding to conservative management. Majority will have some sort of vision impairment,&rdquo; Dr Sajad Khanday, senior assistant professor with the Department of Ophthalmology, Government Medical College, and an associate at Shri Maharaja Hari Singh (SMHS) Hospital, told WION. 
&nbsp; 
<img alt="" class="img-responsive" src="http://s.wionews.com/photos/ctresize-20160713020628.jpg" /> 
(Photo: CT scan of a shawl weaver hit by pellet gunfire. Courtesy: Immad Manzoor Shah) 
 
Pellet guns were first used in Kashmir by Britishers hunting ducks. The gun was introduced into the armoury of the security forces as a &#39;non-lethal weapon&#39; after 2010 when 120 people were killed in firing on protesters and stone pelters. 
&nbsp; 
The guns shoot a cartridge which disgorges tiny lead projectiles on the way to its target. The guns have not caused very many fatalities, but they have blinded a number of people ever since the security forces took it up in the Valley. 
&nbsp; 
The Hurriyat Conference leader Abdul Manan Bukhari -- who has authored &#39;Scars of Pellet Guns&#39;; the Hurriyat is a body of Kashmiri leaders working towards independence for Kashmir --&nbsp;&nbsp;had earlier&nbsp;discovered that two major hospitals in the state have treated about 63 civilians for pellet gun injuries in the past two years. 
&nbsp; 
The Public Information Officer (PIO) of SKIMS Medical College has revealed that 16 patients with pellet gun injuries were brought to the hospital last year. Nine of them had eye injuries. The records show that two of the patients were blinded, three of them lost sight in one eye, while one patient had partial eyesight restored. 
&nbsp; 
Forty seven people with pellet gun injuries were brought to SMHS Hospital, said its PIO.&nbsp; 
&nbsp; 
The Department of Ophthalmology, Government Medical College, Srinagar, said that 38 people with pellet gun injuries were admitted to the hospital between October 2014 and November 2015. 
&nbsp; 
An official communique from the Department of Ophthalmology, Government Medical College, Srinagar further states that 32 patients underwent surgery the same day they were brought in and were discharged a few days later. But the patients did not turn up for further check-ups. &ldquo;So the exact number of patients who lost their eyesight or whose eyesight was impaired is not known.&quot; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; 
&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; 
Bukhari told WION that some 1,600 people had been injured by pellet gunfire up to last month. 
 
 
 
 
&nbsp;

In five days of unrest, some 125 youths have been hit in the eye. Doctors say most will suffer 'some sort of vision impairment'

Eleven-year-old Umar Ahmad Shah of Pulwama in the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir will probably not be able to see again out of one of his eyes. The sixth-standard boy was hit in one eye and the body by pellets in the latest round of clashes between Indian security forces and protesters in the troubled state. He lies in the emergency ward of a hospital here, his body bearing numerous entry marks where the pellets have pierced through his skin. Doctors say, given the nature of his injury, it is unlikely he will see out of his injured eye again. Umar’s is not a stray case. About a 125 people across the state have received pellet injuries to the eyes. Doctors say a majority of them will suffer from some sort of vision impairment despite the best efforts of medical professionals. Thirty five people have died and some 1,300 have been injured since the unrest began last Friday when Hizbul Mujhadeen (branded a terrorist organisation by India, EU, and the US) commander Burhan Muzaffar Wani was killed in a gun battle in Kokarnag. “We have conducted 90 initial eye surgeries on these patients. They need to be reoperated upon for restoration of their vision. There are 25 to 30 other patients who have suffered pellet wounds but are responding to conservative management. Majority will have some sort of vision impairment,” Dr Sajad Khanday, senior assistant professor with the Department of Ophthalmology, Government Medical College, and an associate at Shri Maharaja Hari Singh (SMHS) Hospital, told WION. (Photo: CT scan of a shawl weaver hit by pellet gunfire. Courtesy: Immad Manzoor Shah) Pellet guns were first used in Kashmir by Britishers hunting ducks. The gun was introduced into the armoury of the security forces as a 'non-lethal weapon' after 2010 when 120 people were killed in firing on protesters and stone pelters. The guns shoot a cartridge which disgorges tiny lead projectiles on the way to its target. The guns have not caused very many fatalities, but they have blinded a number of people ever since the security forces took it up in the Valley. The Hurriyat Conference leader Abdul Manan Bukhari -- who has authored 'Scars of Pellet Guns'; the Hurriyat is a body of Kashmiri leaders working towards independence for Kashmir -- had earlier discovered that two major hospitals in the state have treated about 63 civilians for pellet gun injuries in the past two years. The Public Information Officer (PIO) of SKIMS Medical College has revealed that 16 patients with pellet gun injuries were brought to the hospital last year. Nine of them had eye injuries. The records show that two of the patients were blinded, three of them lost sight in one eye, while one patient had partial eyesight restored. Forty seven people with pellet gun injuries were brought to SMHS Hospital, said its PIO. The Department of Ophthalmology, Government Medical College, Srinagar, said that 38 people with pellet gun injuries were admitted to the hospital between October 2014 and November 2015. An official communique from the Department of Ophthalmology, Government Medical College, Srinagar further states that 32 patients underwent surgery the same day they were brought in and were discharged a few days later. But the patients did not turn up for further check-ups. “So the exact number of patients who lost their eyesight or whose eyesight was impaired is not known." Bukhari told WION that some 1,600 people had been injured by pellet gunfire up to last month.

First used to hunt ducks, Kashmir's pellet guns now blind protesters

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

&nbsp;Police arrested dozens more protesters in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, on Sunday after authorities warned they would not tolerate violence during street demonstrations over the fatal police shootings of two African-American men. 
 
Photos and video posted on social media by witnesses and journalists showed protesters being arrested in different parts of the city by police officers who told the crowds they were no longer holding peaceful demonstrations or that they were blocking major thoroughfares. 
 
Louisiana media, citing Baton Rouge police, reported that at least 48 people were taken into custody after demonstrators clashed with police on Sunday evening following an earlier peaceful march to the state capitol. 
 
The protests follow the shootings by police of Alton Sterling, 37, in Baton Rouge and Philando Castile, 32, in a suburb of St. Paul, Minnesota. 
 
Calls for demonstrations to remain peaceful in Louisiana and Minnesota came as authorities grappled with a wave of protests against police use of force that has swept the country in the past week. 
 
A US military veteran shot and killed five police officers at a spontaneous march in Dallas on Thursday, sending a chill through law enforcement as well as those involved in the mostly peaceful demonstrations. 
 
In Baton Rouge, police arrested 102 people on Saturday night and Sunday morning, mostly for misdemeanors for not leaving a major thoroughfare known as Airline Highway. Those arrested included DeRay Mckesson, an activist and former Baltimore mayoral candidate, officials said. 
 
Louisiana governor John Bel Edwards told a news conference earlier on Sunday that he was proud of how the police had handled the protests so far, saying law enforcement had responded in a &quot;moderate&quot; manner. He also said the vast majority of protesters had acted lawfully and non-violently. 
 
Protesters from Louisiana or out of state will not be allowed &quot;to incite hate and violence, to engage in unlawful activities,&quot; Edwards told a news conference. &quot;Now I want to be very clear. That will not be tolerated.&quot; 
 
Edwards also said that blocking traffic was cause for arrest. 
 
In Minnesota, state police said more than 200 protesters shut down Interstate 94 in St. Paul for hours on Saturday night to protest against Castile&#39;s killing. Officers were hit with rocks, bottles, concrete, construction materials and fireworks, police said. 
 
The city&#39;s mayor and a protest leader both decried the violence, which injured 21 officers and led to 102 arrests. St. Paul police said one officer suffered a broken vertebrae when a concrete block was dropped on his head during the protest on the interstate. 
 
&quot;We will not tolerate the kind of shameless violence we saw throughout the course of the night,&quot; St. Paul Mayor Chris Coleman told a news conference. &quot;This doesn&#39;t honor anyone&#39;s memory.&quot; 
 
Outside agitators&nbsp; 
 
In St. Paul, Rashad Turner, leader of the local chapter of the Black Lives Matter group, told WCCO-TV that the throwing of rocks and bottles at officers was disturbing. He blamed outside agitators for the violence, not the protesters on the freeway. 
 
&quot;It&#39;s ridiculous. It cannot happen. It&#39;s not what we do here in St. Paul,&quot; Turner said. &quot;It does not honor Philando Castile.&quot; 
 
Authorities said 50 protesters were arrested on the Minnesota interstate and 52 others later on a street near the governor&#39;s mansion, the site of most of the protests since Castile was shot on Wednesday. 
 
&quot;Protesters last night turned into criminals,&quot; St. Paul police chief Todd Axtell said. &quot;And I am absolutely disgusted by the acts of some, not all, but some.&quot; 
 
Some 300 people attended a peaceful protest on Sunday afternoon at the St. Anthony police department. St. Anthony police patrol the Falcon Heights suburb where Castile was shot. 
 
In Baton Rouge, the capital of Louisiana, police said protests outside their headquarters appeared to be becoming more violent as protesters arrived from out of town. 
 
After his arrest, Mckesson was booked on a misdemeanor charge of obstructing the highway and released from the East Baton Rouge Parish jail, according to the sheriff&#39;s website. 
 
Baton Rouge police confiscated three rifles, three shotguns and two pistols at Saturday night&#39;s protest and were wearing helmets, shields and body armor. 
 
Police said those arrested had ignored repeated orders to stay out of the street, while demonstrators said officers charged into the crowds seemingly without any obvious provocation. 
 
&quot;The only people who were violent last night were the Baton Rouge police department,&quot; Mckesson told reporters after his release. &quot;The protesters remained peaceful, both here and across the country.&quot; 
 
(Reuters)

Louisiana governor said protesters from Louisiana or out of state will not be allowed and blocking traffic will be a cause for arrest

Police arrested dozens more protesters in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, on Sunday after authorities warned they would not tolerate violence during street demonstrations over the fatal police shootings of two African-American men. Photos and video posted on social media by witnesses and journalists showed protesters being arrested in different parts of the city by police officers who told the crowds they were no longer holding peaceful demonstrations or that they were blocking major thoroughfares. Louisiana media, citing Baton Rouge police, reported that at least 48 people were taken into custody after demonstrators clashed with police on Sunday evening following an earlier peaceful march to the state capitol. The protests follow the shootings by police of Alton Sterling, 37, in Baton Rouge and Philando Castile, 32, in a suburb of St. Paul, Minnesota. Calls for demonstrations to remain peaceful in Louisiana and Minnesota came as authorities grappled with a wave of protests against police use of force that has swept the country in the past week. A US military veteran shot and killed five police officers at a spontaneous march in Dallas on Thursday, sending a chill through law enforcement as well as those involved in the mostly peaceful demonstrations. In Baton Rouge, police arrested 102 people on Saturday night and Sunday morning, mostly for misdemeanors for not leaving a major thoroughfare known as Airline Highway. Those arrested included DeRay Mckesson, an activist and former Baltimore mayoral candidate, officials said. Louisiana governor John Bel Edwards told a news conference earlier on Sunday that he was proud of how the police had handled the protests so far, saying law enforcement had responded in a "moderate" manner. He also said the vast majority of protesters had acted lawfully and non-violently. Protesters from Louisiana or out of state will not be allowed "to incite hate and violence, to engage in unlawful activities," Edwards told a news conference. "Now I want to be very clear. That will not be tolerated." Edwards also said that blocking traffic was cause for arrest. In Minnesota, state police said more than 200 protesters shut down Interstate 94 in St. Paul for hours on Saturday night to protest against Castile's killing. Officers were hit with rocks, bottles, concrete, construction materials and fireworks, police said. The city's mayor and a protest leader both decried the violence, which injured 21 officers and led to 102 arrests. St. Paul police said one officer suffered a broken vertebrae when a concrete block was dropped on his head during the protest on the interstate. "We will not tolerate the kind of shameless violence we saw throughout the course of the night," St. Paul Mayor Chris Coleman told a news conference. "This doesn't honor anyone's memory." Outside agitators In St. Paul, Rashad Turner, leader of the local chapter of the Black Lives Matter group, told WCCO-TV that the throwing of rocks and bottles at officers was disturbing. He blamed outside agitators for the violence, not the protesters on the freeway. "It's ridiculous. It cannot happen. It's not what we do here in St. Paul," Turner said. "It does not honor Philando Castile." Authorities said 50 protesters were arrested on the Minnesota interstate and 52 others later on a street near the governor's mansion, the site of most of the protests since Castile was shot on Wednesday. "Protesters last night turned into criminals," St. Paul police chief Todd Axtell said. "And I am absolutely disgusted by the acts of some, not all, but some." Some 300 people attended a peaceful protest on Sunday afternoon at the St. Anthony police department. St. Anthony police patrol the Falcon Heights suburb where Castile was shot. In Baton Rouge, the capital of Louisiana, police said protests outside their headquarters appeared to be becoming more violent as protesters arrived from out of town. After his arrest, Mckesson was booked on a misdemeanor charge of obstructing the highway and released from the East Baton Rouge Parish jail, according to the sheriff's website. Baton Rouge police confiscated three rifles, three shotguns and two pistols at Saturday night's protest and were wearing helmets, shields and body armor. Police said those arrested had ignored repeated orders to stay out of the street, while demonstrators said officers charged into the crowds seemingly without any obvious provocation. "The only people who were violent last night were the Baton Rouge police department," Mckesson told reporters after his release. "The protesters remained peaceful, both here and across the country." (Reuters)

Dozens more arrested in Louisiana after leaders warn against protest violence

President Barack Obama assured a shocked America on Saturday that the black army vet who shot dead five cops in Dallas was a lone wolf -- and that the country can overcome its racial divisions, as the groundswell of anger over police brutality surged on. 
 
Fresh protests were planned in at least half a dozen cities to demand justice for two African-Americans whose fatal shooting by police triggered the Dallas rampage of an angry radical bent on revenge. 
 
The nightmare scenes in Texas, where a peaceful protest turned to horror, left many fearing a new, dark chapter in America&#39;s troubled race relations. 
 
But as Dallas honoured its slain officers, Obama sought to cut short that narrative. 
 
&quot;I firmly believe that America is not as divided as some have suggested,&quot; he told a news conference at a NATO summit in Warsaw. &quot;There is sorrow, there is anger, there is confusion... but there is unity.&quot; 
 
Obama described the 25-year-old gunman, Micah Johnson, as a &quot;demented individual&quot; who in no way represented the African-American community at large. 
 
Dallas officials say they are now certain the atrocity was the work of a lone shooter -- killed in a showdown with police -- and not a group of co-conspirators as initially feared. 
 
At Dallas police headquarters, people flocked to leave flowers and messages of sympathy for the slain officers amid an outpouring of support that saw crowds in the city line up to hug police officers. 
 
After visiting the memorial Saturday, Mayor Mike Rawlings voiced hope that the shock from the killings could serve a purpose &quot;in a grander plan to make us a stronger country, a stronger city, and a stronger world.&quot; 
 
&#39;Dangerous to be black&#39;&nbsp; 
 
The Black Lives Matter activist movement, which has spearheaded months of nationwide protests over police brutality, has demanded an end to the violence -- not an escalation. 
 
As thousands marched in US cities overnight, there were nasty scenes in Phoenix, Arizona, where police used pepper spray to disperse stone-throwing protesters. And in Rochester, New York, 74 people were arrested over a sit-in protest. 
 
But elsewhere -- from Atlanta to Houston, New Orleans, Detroit and Baltimore -- protests held over the fatal shootings of Alton Sterling in Louisiana and Philando Castile in Minnesota passed off without trouble. 
 
Cities expecting new gatherings on Saturday included Seattle, Indianapolis and Philadelphia -- where organizers called for a &quot;Weekend of Rage.&quot; 
 
Obama is to visit Dallas early next week in the effort to chart a way forward, while a raft of US politicians sought to appear as unifiers after a week of violence graphically highlighted America&#39;s racial challenges. 
 
&quot;White Americans need to do a better job of listening when African Americans talk about the barriers they face,&quot; Democratic White House hopeful Hillary Clinton tweeted. 
 
That message was echoed by prominent members of the Republican Party, which has often jumped to defend law enforcement amid accusations of racial bias. 
 
&quot;It is more dangerous to be black in America,&quot; Newt Gingrich, a Republican former House speaker tipped as a possible White House running mate for Donald Trump, said in an interview on Facebook Live. 
 
&quot;Sometimes it&#39;s difficult for whites to appreciate how real that is. It&#39;s an everyday danger.&quot; 
 
Republican Florida senator Marco Rubio had a similar message. &quot;Those of us who are not African American will never fully understand the experience of being black in America,&quot; he said. 
 
Trump himself put out a video statement, seated presidential-style behind a large desk, in which he acknowledged the Louisiana and Minnesota shootings and spoke of &quot;how much work we have to do in order to make every American feel that their safety is protected.&quot; 
 
&nbsp;Police on edge&nbsp; 
 
The Dallas ambush marked the single biggest loss of life for law enforcement in the United States since the September 11, 2001 terror attacks. 
 
Police were set further on edge as it emerged that several officers had been targeted across the country by individuals apparently angered at the recent fatal shootings. 
 
In Bristol, Tennessee, a man opened fire Thursday on a hotel, killing a woman, wounding several others and grazing a police officer with a bullet. 
 
The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation said the gunman &quot;may have targeted individuals and officers after being troubled by recent incidents involving African-Americans and law enforcement officers.&quot; 
 
And in Racine, Wisconsin, police said a 43-year-old man was arrested over threatening social media posts that read: &quot;I encourage every Black man in America to strap up... I encourage every white officer to kiss there (sic) love ones goodbye.&quot; 
 
(AFP) 
&nbsp;

'There is sorrow, there is anger, there is confusion... but there is unity,' says the US President

President Barack Obama assured a shocked America on Saturday that the black army vet who shot dead five cops in Dallas was a lone wolf -- and that the country can overcome its racial divisions, as the groundswell of anger over police brutality surged on. Fresh protests were planned in at least half a dozen cities to demand justice for two African-Americans whose fatal shooting by police triggered the Dallas rampage of an angry radical bent on revenge. The nightmare scenes in Texas, where a peaceful protest turned to horror, left many fearing a new, dark chapter in America's troubled race relations. But as Dallas honoured its slain officers, Obama sought to cut short that narrative. "I firmly believe that America is not as divided as some have suggested," he told a news conference at a NATO summit in Warsaw. "There is sorrow, there is anger, there is confusion... but there is unity." Obama described the 25-year-old gunman, Micah Johnson, as a "demented individual" who in no way represented the African-American community at large. Dallas officials say they are now certain the atrocity was the work of a lone shooter -- killed in a showdown with police -- and not a group of co-conspirators as initially feared. At Dallas police headquarters, people flocked to leave flowers and messages of sympathy for the slain officers amid an outpouring of support that saw crowds in the city line up to hug police officers. After visiting the memorial Saturday, Mayor Mike Rawlings voiced hope that the shock from the killings could serve a purpose "in a grander plan to make us a stronger country, a stronger city, and a stronger world." 'Dangerous to be black' The Black Lives Matter activist movement, which has spearheaded months of nationwide protests over police brutality, has demanded an end to the violence -- not an escalation. As thousands marched in US cities overnight, there were nasty scenes in Phoenix, Arizona, where police used pepper spray to disperse stone-throwing protesters. And in Rochester, New York, 74 people were arrested over a sit-in protest. But elsewhere -- from Atlanta to Houston, New Orleans, Detroit and Baltimore -- protests held over the fatal shootings of Alton Sterling in Louisiana and Philando Castile in Minnesota passed off without trouble. Cities expecting new gatherings on Saturday included Seattle, Indianapolis and Philadelphia -- where organizers called for a "Weekend of Rage." Obama is to visit Dallas early next week in the effort to chart a way forward, while a raft of US politicians sought to appear as unifiers after a week of violence graphically highlighted America's racial challenges. "White Americans need to do a better job of listening when African Americans talk about the barriers they face," Democratic White House hopeful Hillary Clinton tweeted. That message was echoed by prominent members of the Republican Party, which has often jumped to defend law enforcement amid accusations of racial bias. "It is more dangerous to be black in America," Newt Gingrich, a Republican former House speaker tipped as a possible White House running mate for Donald Trump, said in an interview on Facebook Live. "Sometimes it's difficult for whites to appreciate how real that is. It's an everyday danger." Republican Florida senator Marco Rubio had a similar message. "Those of us who are not African American will never fully understand the experience of being black in America," he said. Trump himself put out a video statement, seated presidential-style behind a large desk, in which he acknowledged the Louisiana and Minnesota shootings and spoke of "how much work we have to do in order to make every American feel that their safety is protected." Police on edge The Dallas ambush marked the single biggest loss of life for law enforcement in the United States since the September 11, 2001 terror attacks. Police were set further on edge as it emerged that several officers had been targeted across the country by individuals apparently angered at the recent fatal shootings. In Bristol, Tennessee, a man opened fire Thursday on a hotel, killing a woman, wounding several others and grazing a police officer with a bullet. The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation said the gunman "may have targeted individuals and officers after being troubled by recent incidents involving African-Americans and law enforcement officers." And in Racine, Wisconsin, police said a 43-year-old man was arrested over threatening social media posts that read: "I encourage every Black man in America to strap up... I encourage every white officer to kiss there (sic) love ones goodbye." (AFP)

Yes, we can overcome our racial divisions, says Obama

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