Page 9 - Protest

Violent protests against Waqf Act in Bengal leave 10 policemen injured

Protests against the Waqf Act rocked parts of West Bengal on Friday, as agitators set ablaze vehicles, disrupted vehicular and rail movement, with a few policemen suffering injuries while trying to control the mob, officials said. The demonstrations took a violent turn in Suti in Murshidabad district when the protesters assembled despite prohibitory orders and blocked roads, hurled stones at security personnel, torched police vans and public buses during processions, they said. According to a senior police officer, trouble started when Muslims gathered after Friday prayers and staged protests against the Waqf Act, blocking a stretch of National Highway-12 from Dakbanglo More in Shamsherganj to Sutir Sajur More. "The protests turned violent after the agitators hurled stones at a police van, resulting in a clash in which around 10 policemen were injured," he said. Police had to lathi-charge to bring the unruly mob under control, and later use tear gas shells when some protesters thre

Belgrade braces for pro-president rally amid rising tensions in Serbia

Chanting patriotic songs, thousands of supporters of Serbia's populist President Aleksandar Vucic gathered in downtown Belgrade on Friday, a day ahead of what authorities expect to be a huge rally in his support. Belgrade was on edge, with authorities preparing for large crowds and potential counter-demonstrations in different parts of Serbia, including an anti-government rally in a southern Muslim-populated part of the country. The rally in the Serbian capital is expected to be a significant moment in Serbia's ongoing political crisis after more than five months of student-led anti-corruption protests triggered by a rail station canopy collapse that killed 16 people in the north of the country on November 1. In Belgrade on Friday, Vucic unveiled a Serbian red blue and white flag which the state-run media said is the largest in the history of the Balkan state. In the central parts of the capital in front of the parliament building, dozens of tents were erected to house Vucic's ...

Le Pen supporters rally in Paris, making it a populist show of force

Convicted of embezzling public funds and banned from running for office, far-right politician Marine Le Pen stood unshaken before a sea of French flags in Paris on Sunday. For 30 years I have fought against injustice, she told the crowd. And I will continue to fight. Thousands of supporters gathered at Place Vauban, near the golden dome of Les Invalides and the tomb of Napoleon, for what was billed as a protest but observers said it had all the markings of a campaign rally. The National Rally, Le Pen's party, organized the event in response to what it calls a politically motivated verdict. But with chants of Marine Prsidente! and They won't steal 2027 from us, the message was clear: this was more than a protest. It was a show of populist defiance aimed squarely at France's institutions. At the heart of that charge stood Jordan Bardella, Le Pen's 29-year-old protg and president of the National Rally. His speech was fiery, accusing France's judges of trying to silence the ...

Nationwide 'Hands Off!' protests target Trump, Musk over policy moves

Opponents of President Donald Trump and billionaire Elon Musk plan to rally across the US on Saturday to protest the administration's actions on government downsizing, the economy, human rights and other issues. More than 1,200 Hands Off! demonstrations have been planned by more than 150 groups, including civil rights organizations, labor unions, LBGTQ+ advocates, veterans and fair-elections activists. The protests are planned for the National Mall in Washington, DC, state capitols and other locations in all 50 states. The White House did not return an email message seeking comment about the protests. Trump has promoted his policies as being in the best interest of the US. Protesters are assailing the Trump administration's moves to fire thousands of federal workers, close Social Security Administration field offices, effectively shutter entire agencies, deport immigrants, scale back protections for transgender people and cut federal funding for health programs. Musk, a Trump advis

Microsoft employees protest at 50th anniversary party over Israel contract

A pro-Palestinian protest by Microsoft employees interrupted the company's 50th anniversary celebration Friday, the latest backlash over the tech industry's work to supply artificial intelligence technology to the Israeli military. The protest began as Microsoft AI CEO Mustafa Suleyman was presenting product updates and a long-term vision for the company's AI assistant product, Copilot, to an audience that included Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates and former CEO Steve Ballmer. Mustafa, shame on you, shouted Microsoft employee Ibtihal Aboussad as she walked toward the stage and Suleyman paused his speech. You claim that you care about using AI for good but Microsoft sells AI weapons to the Israeli military. Fifty-thousand people have died and Microsoft powers this genocide in our region. Thank you for your protest, I hear you, Suleyman said. Aboussad continued, shouting that Suleyman and all of Microsoft had blood on their hands. She also threw onto the stage a keffiyeh scarf, which h

Police halt Hyderabad University's protest rally against land development

A protest rally by students and faculty of the University of Hyderabad (UoH) against the Telangana government's plans to develop a 400-acre land parcel in Kancha Gachibowli bordering the varsity, was stopped by the police here on Wednesday. The UoH Teachers Association led a rally from Ambedkar auditorium to East Campus in solidarity with the agitating students. According to students, the police barricaded the entire East Campus area while heavy machinery was deployed to clear the site. As the protesters attempted to advance, the police stopped and dispersed them using "mild force". The demonstrators raised slogans such as "police go back". A protesting student told media that the police resorted to lathi-charge on students and faculty. However, a police official denied the claims and said, "They were prevented from taking out the rally." The University of Hyderabad Students' Union (UoHSU) and other unions and parties aligned with it have launched an indefinite protest and annou

Trump admin to award women student leaders from Bangladesh protests

The Bangladeshi women will be receiving the 'Madeleine Albright Honorary Group Award'. The names of the individual honourees have not been disclosed by the US State Department

Mass protests erupt outside Israel Parliament before key judicial vote

Tens of thousands of Israelis flocked to Jerusalem on Wednesday to protest a bill that would change the way judges are selected. It's the latest in a series of anti-government demonstrations that have rocked the country in recent weeks. The proposed bill is up for a final vote overnight and is expected to pass. Critics say the changes would dangerously politicise the process of judicial appointments. An earlier version of the bill was a cornerstone of the sweeping overhaul of the judiciary launched by Prime Minister Netanyahu's government in early 2023. That process touched off months of mass protests that only ground to a halt after the October 7 attack triggered the war in Gaza. Israelis have taken to the streets for several days to protest the government's failure to secure a deal to free hostages held in Gaza and its recent moves to fire top legal and security officials, which many view as further steps that threaten the balance of powers in Israel.

Protest by Ghazipur residents against 32-year-old man's murder chokes NH-24

Rohit Chawda was shot dead near Phool Mandi on National Highway-24 late Sunday night. Protesters accused the police of inaction and demanded the immediate arrest of those responsible

Trump threatens to cut federal funding over 'illegal protests' in schools

The US government recently announced that it was reviewing over $50 million in federal contracts with Columbia University amid concerns that the institution failed to protect Jewish students

Going dark: 296 internet shutdowns witnessed across 54 countries in 2024

Shutdowns were imposed 103 times due to conflict and 74 times across 24 countries during domestic protests

Labour minister assures swift action on EPS-95 pensioners' demands

Pensioners' body EPS-95 Agitation Committee on Saturday said that Union Labour Minister Mansukh Mandaviya has assured swift action on its demands. Labour Minister Mansukh Mandaviya has taken a positive stance on the long-pending demands of 78 lakh EPS- 95 pensioners across the country, a statement by the pensioners body said. According to the statement, these demands include an increase in the minimum pension, provision of free medical facilities for pensioners and their spouses, and rectification of errors in applications for higher pension benefits. The minister assured the delegation of a swift resolution to these issues, it said. Commander Ashok Raut, National President of the EPS-95 National Agitation Committee (NAC), which has been advocating for pensioners' rights for several years, revealed that recent discussions with both the Labour Minister and the Finance Minister provided assurances of an imminent increase in the minimum pension. However, the absence of any such ...

Striking Samsung India workers call for massive protests on March 8

This comes a day after the management suspended 14 more union members

Samsung India vs union: High-stakes showdown in small factory town

Crucial negotiations tomorrow; workers threaten to lock factory gates

Samsung India plant standoff set to intensify amid worker protests

The employees' demands mainly include the reinstatement of three suspended workers, who are key members of the newly formed Samsung India Workers' Union, backed by the CITU

Sheikh Hasina's ousted regime carried out extrajudicial killings: UN report

The findings, drawn from a probe into events between July and August 15, estimate that approximately 1,400 demonstrators were fatally shot, with children accounting for 12-to-13% of casualties

Protesters attack stall with Nasrin's book in B'desh, Yunus orders probe

A group of protesters stormed a book stall in Dhaka over the display of books by exiled Bangladeshi writer Taslima Nasrin, prompting Bangladesh's Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus to order a probe into the "disorderly behaviour", according to a media report The incident took place on Monday at the publishing house Sabyasachi Prokashoni stall at the Amar Ekushey Book Fair, Bdnews24 reported. The incident unfolded on the 10th day of the fair when a group under the banner of Towhidi Janata stormed the Sabyasachi Prokashoni stall at Suhrawardy Udyan over the display of books by exiled Bangladeshi writer Taslima Nasrin, the report added. The group surrounded the publisher and chanted slogans, prompting police to intervene and take Sabyasachi publisher Shatabdi Vobo into their control room to restore order, it said. However, the protesters then encircled the police control room, keeping tensions high. Following widespread criticism, Chief Adviser Yunus ordered authorities on Monday evening t

Over 1,000 arrested in Bangladesh after vandalism at Sheikh Hasina's house

Bangladesh's security forces arrested 1,308 people under Operation Devil Hunt, launched overnight amid nationwide vandalism as unrest gripped the country for the past four days, with the interim government vowing to continue the crackdown until all devils were uprooted. Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus-led interim government ordered "Operation Devil Hunt" on Saturday after student activists were injured during vandalism at the house of an Awami League leader on the outskirts of Dhaka. Major media outlets including the Daily Star said on Sunday that joint forces comprising army troops, police and their specialised units arrested 274 people majorly in metropolitan cities and others in different parts of the country in the 24 hours since the operation was launched. The operation will target those who are desperate to destabilise the country . . . it will continue until all devils are rooted out," Home Affairs Adviser Lt Gen (Retd) Jahangir Alam Chowdhury said. According to mainstream medi

News updates: Govt making all efforts to restore peace in Manipur, says CM

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Leaders of Imran Khan's PTI arrested as party marks 'Black Day' across Pak

The PTI has planned its main rally in Swabi, the capital of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, where the party is in power. It has also asked its workers and supporters to protest across the country