International
General Strike in Hong Kong Paralyzes the City as Protests Enter Week 9
Published
4 years agoon

- Protest over the now-suspended extradition bill in Hong Kong have entered their ninth week, with demonstrators participating in a general strike across the city.
- The move forced the cancellation of over 200 flights, blocked several roads, and shut down train services, but also lead to violent clashes in the streets.
- Over 80 people were arrested on Monday alone, which is the most on any single day since the start of demonstrations on June 9.
- Hong Kong’s chief executive Carrie Lam said the city is “on the verge of a very dangerous situation,” and accused activists of using the extradition bill as a cover for other motives.
General Strike
Tens of thousands of protestors in Hong Kong brought parts of the city to a standstill on Monday during the city’s first general strike in over 50 years.
Workers from around 20 different sectors participated in the massive general strike and attended coordinated rallies held in seven different districts. Strikers included teachers, security workers, construction workers, and almost 14,000 people from the engineering sector.
The demonstrations left Hong Kong’s transportation systems in shambles. Strikes from more than 2,300 workers in the aviation sector forced over 200 flight cancellation at Hong Kong’s International airport, one of the busiest in the world.
In other places in the city, crowds of protestors set up barricades, blocking roads, and shutting down train services. Several police stations were also forced to close after they were surrounded by protestors who threw projectiles and started fires outside the buildings.
Authorities used more than 1,000 tear gas canisters and 160 rubber bullets while responding to the gatherings.
A clip showing riot police in action in Tin Shui Wai a few moments ago. Source: telegram groups pic.twitter.com/JBBFVuHKj7
— antiELAB (@anti_elab) August 5, 2019
For the second time since the start of the protests, demonstrators were attacked by armed mobs who rushed at them with wooden poles.
BREAKING – Fighting has broken out at North Point between Protesters and local residents. #HongKongProtests #HongKong pic.twitter.com/6MarDFjeAP
— Michael Zhang 張雨軒 (@YuxuanMichael) August 5, 2019
Pitch battle going on right now in North Point. This is getting out of hand. Both sides need to show restraint and open discourse. Protest is not a right to claw the city down into anarchy doesn’t matter your belief. #hongkong #riots #hongkongprotests #northpoint pic.twitter.com/k31Avgy1vb
— Sean Lee-Davies (@seanleedavies) August 5, 2019
One video circulating online showed a car in the district of Yuen Long rushing through a barricade set up by protestors, injuring at least one person.
#breaking: A video circulated online has showed a car rushing through the barricades set up by #antiELAB protesters in #YuenLong and hitting at least a man #HKstrike #Hongkongprotests pic.twitter.com/LH8NhVy8DW
— Jeffie Lam (@jeffielam) August 5, 2019
In another incident across town, a taxi ran through a group of protestors walking on the street, pushing at least one to the ground.
Hong Kong entered a period of wild unrest,Black-clad thugs illegally blocked roads and attacked passing vehicles,Forcing the driver to flee in panic,There's also a female thug yelling, "Remember the license plate!" Remember the license plate! "#hongkong #香港 #Crazyhongkong pic.twitter.com/VXr6EAiZyq
— 人型近防炮L (@LIANG_555) August 5, 2019
Monday marked the fifth straight day of protests in Hong Kong and was possibly the biggest day of protests so far. Police said that on Monday alone, they made over 80 arrests by 7:30 pm local time, which is the most on any single day since the start of demonstrations on June 9. That number is expected to rise as the clashes escalate.
What Launched the Protests?
In recent weeks, the demonstrations in Hong Kong have become increasingly violent. The protests, which started off peaceful, were initially prompted by anger over a controversial extradition bill, which would have allowed the transfer of criminal suspects to mainland China.
Opponents of the bill saw it as Bejing’s attempting to extend its authority over the people of Hong Kong and their personal freedoms.
Although the bill has been suspended, protestors want it completely withdrawn. They have also called for Lam’s resignation, an investigation into alleged police brutality, and amnesty for arrested protestors, among other demands.
Leaders in Hong Kong said that so far, 420 individuals have been arrested since the start of the protest on charges including rioting, unlawful assembly, possessing offensive weapons, assaulting officers, and obstructing police operations. Last week, more than 40 activists appeared in court for rioting charges. If convicted, they could be jailed for up to 10 years.
China has, for the most part, stayed out of the dispute, but China’s top policy office in Hong Kong previously condemned the protests, calling them “horrendous incidents” that have caused “serious damage to the rule of law.”
However, Beijing will announce ‘something new’ for Hong Kong on Tuesday according to the South China Morning Post which cited an anonymous source.
Lam Responds
Protests over the bill have now entered their ninth week, with Hong Kong’s chief executive Carrie Lam saying the city is “on the verge of a very dangerous situation.”
Lam made her first media address in two weeks on Monday, where she accused activists of using the extradition bill as a cover for other hidden agendas.
“We continue to allow these violent protesters to make use of the fugitive offender bill to conceal their ulterior motives,” she said. “Those ulterior motives are going to destroy Hong Kong.”
Lam further outraged many when she refused to resign and said it was not within her power to demand the release of those who had been arrested during protests.
However, she acknowledged that her attempting to move the extradition bill forward had been a “failure” and pledged to “engage more, listen more and do more to meet the wishes of Hong Kong.”
See what others are saying: (BBC) (The Guardian) (CNN)
International
95-Year-Old Woman Dies After Police Tases Her in Nursing Home
Published
1 week agoon
May 24, 2023By
Chris Tolve
The officer involved was suspended with pay and charged with assault.
A 95-year-old Australian woman whom police tasered in a nursing home last week has reportedly died from her injuries.
Clare Nowland, who had dementia and required a walking frame to stand up and move, was living at the Yallambee Lodge in Cooma in southeastern Australia.
At about 4:15 a.m. on May 17, police and paramedics responded to a report of a woman standing outside her room with a steak knife.
They encountered Nowland, then reportedly tried to negotiate with her for several minutes, but she didn’t drop the knife.
The five-foot-two, 95-pound woman walked toward the two officers “at a slow pace,” police said at a news conference, so one of them tasered her.
She fell to the floor and reportedly suffered a fractured skull and a severe brain bleed, causing her to be hospitalized in critical condition.
Nowland passed away in a hospital surrounded by her family, the New South Wales police confirmed in a statement today.
After a week-long investigation, the police force also said that the senior constable involved would appear in court next week to face charges of recklessly causing grievous bodily harm, assault occasioning actual bodily harm, and common assault.
NSW police procedure states that tasers should not be used against elderly or disabled people absent exceptional circumstances.
Following the incident, community members, activists, and disability rights advocates expressed bewilderment and anger at what they called an unnecessary use of force, and some are now questioning why law enforcement took so long to prosecute the officer involved.
See what others are saying: (Reuters) (The New York Times) (CNN)
International
U.K. Police Face Backlash After Arresting Anti-Monarchy Protesters
Published
3 weeks agoon
May 8, 2023
London Mayor Sadiq Khan said that some of the arrests “raise questions” and “investigations are ongoing.”
The Public Order Act
A controversial protest crackdown law in the U.K. is facing criticism after dozens of anti-monarchy protesters were arrested during the coronation ceremony in London over the weekend.
The law, dubbed the “Public Order Act” was passed roughly a week ahead of the coronation for King Charles III. It gives police more power to restrict protesters and limits the tactics protesters can use in public spaces. It was condemned by human rights groups upon its passing, and is facing a new round of heat after 52 people were arrested over coronation protests on Saturday.
In a statement, the Metropolitan Police said protesters were arrested for public order offenses, breach of the peace and conspiracy to cause a public nuisance. The group said it gave advance warning that its “tolerance for any disruption, whether through protest or otherwise, will be low and that we would deal robustly with anyone intent on undermining the celebration.”
It is currently unclear how many of those arrested were detained specifically for violating the Public Order Act, however, some of those arrested believe the new law was used against them.
I’m now out of the police station. Still waiting for my colleagues.
— Graham Smith 🇺🇦 🏳️🌈 (@GrahamSmith_) May 6, 2023
Make no mistake. There is no longer a right to peaceful protest in the UK.
I have been told many times the monarch is there to defend our freedoms. Now our freedoms are under attack in his name.
“Make no mistake. There is no longer a right to peaceful protest in the UK,” Graham Smith, the CEO of anti-monarchy group Republic tweeted after getting arrested. “I have been told many times the monarch is there to defend our freedoms. Now our freedoms are under attack in his name.”
An Attempt to “Diminish” Protests
During a BBC Radio interview, Smith also said he believes the dozens of arrests were premeditated.
“There was nothing that we did do that could possibly justify even being detained and arrested and held,” Smith claimed.
“The whole thing was a deliberate attempt to disrupt and diminish our protest.”
Yasmine Ahmed, the U.K. Director of Human Rights Watch, also tweeted that the arrests were “disgraceful.”
All the while people are being arrested on the streets of London for peacefully protesting against the monarchy. @RishiSunak ppl in 🇬🇧 also take pride in our democracy & democratic rights. These are scenes you’d expect to see in Russia not the UK. It’s disgraceful not dazzling! https://t.co/2Ukd4gIKPS
— Yasmine Ahmed (@YasmineAhmed001) May 6, 2023
“These are scenes you’d expect to see in Russia not the UK,” she wrote.
When asked about the controversy, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak told reporters officers should do “what they think is best” in an apparent show of support for the Metropolitan Police.
For his part, London Mayor Sadiq Khan said he is looking into the matter.
Some of the arrests made by police as part of the Coronation event raise questions and whilst investigations are ongoing, I've sought urgent clarity from Met leaders on the action taken. 2/2
— Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan (@MayorofLondon) May 7, 2023
“Some of the arrests made by police as part of the Coronation event raise questions and whilst investigations are ongoing, I’ve sought urgent clarity from Met leaders on the action taken,” Khan tweeted.
See what others are saying: (The Guardian) (CNN) (The Washington Post)
International
Foreign Nationals Make Mad Dash out of Sudan as Conflict Rages
Published
1 month agoon
April 24, 2023By
Chris Tolve
The conflict’s death toll has surpassed 420, with nearly 4,000 people wounded.
As the 10-day-long power struggle between rival generals tore Sudan apart, foreign governments with citizens in the country scrambled to evacuate them over the weekend.
On Sunday, U.S. special forces landed in the capital Khartoum and carried out nearly 100 American diplomats along with their families and some foreign nationals on helicopters.
An estimated 16,000 Americans, however, remain in the country and U.S. officials said in a statement that a broader evacuation mission would be too dangerous.
Christopher Maier, the assistant secretary of defense for special operations and low-intensity warfare, said in a statement that the Pentagon may assist U.S. citizens find safe routes out of Sudan.
“[The Defense Department] is at present considering actions that may include use of intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities to be able to observe routes and detect threats,” he said.
Germany and France also reportedly pulled around 700 people out of the country.
More countries followed with similar efforts, including the United Kingdom, Italy, Spain, the Netherlands, Canada, China, Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, and Indonesia.
Yesterday, a convoy carrying some 700 United Nations, NGO, and embassy staff drove to Port Sudan, a popular extraction point now that the airport in Khartoum has closed due to fighting.
Reports of gunmen prowling the capital streets and robbing people trying to escape, as well as looters breaking into abandoned homes and shops, have persuaded most residents to stay indoors.
Heavy gunfire, airstrikes, and artillery shelling have terrorized the city despite several proposed ceasefires.
Over the weekend, the reported death toll topped 420, with nearly 4,000 people injured, though both numbers are likely to be undercounted.
See what others are saying: (The Guardian) (The New York Times) (The Washington Post)

Amazon to Pay Over $30 Million for Alexa and Ring Privacy Violations

Debt Limit Bill Passes the House — Here’s What You Need to Know

Right-Wingers Are Turning Against Chick-fil-A

Texas State Senate Sets Date for AG Ken Paxton’s Impeachment Trial

Max to Agrees to “Properly” Credit Writers and Directors After Facing Backlash For Lumping Them in As “Creators”

95-Year-Old Woman Dies After Police Tases Her in Nursing Home

Survey and Census Data Shows Record Number of Americans are Struggling Financially

Bioré Apologizes For Referencing School Shooting in Mental Health Ad Campaign

Trump Lawyer Notes Indicate Former President May Have Obstructed Justice in Mar-a-Lago Documents Probe

Homeless Men Promised Money to Pose as Veterans in Anti-Immigrant Scheme, Sources Allege

Lawmakers Have 10 Days to Reach Debt Deal: Here’s How Failure Would Impact Americans

Influencer Coconut Kitty Accused of Editing Nude and Suggestive Photos To Make Herself Look Underage

Corinna Kopf Accused of Scamming Fans With OnlyFans Launch

Lil Nas X and Bella Poarch May Have Abandoned Plans To Participate In TikTok NFT Program

Influencers Exposed for Posting Fake Private Jet Photos

Belle Delphine Calls Out YouTube for Double Standards After It Terminated Her Channel

Tana Mongeau’s “Booty for Biden” Promotion Sparks Legal Concerns

Instagram Head Says Scammer, Not Facebook Employee, May Have Asked Julia Rose for $65K To Restore Her Accounts

Fans Defend Billie Eilish From Body Shamers After Paparazzi Photo Goes Viral

Charli D’Amelio’s Dunkin’ Partnership Proves Successful

Mark Rober Faces Backlash Over NEXT For Autism Fundraiser

Amouranth Says Twitch Suspended Ads on Her Channel Without Warning

Why The Internet Is Freaking Out About The Cringiest Man On The Internet & Today’s News

“She Is Evil!” What Addison Rae Religious Backlash Reveals, Joe Rogan, Jake Paul, Teacher Shortage

Alex Jones Was Just Exposed BY HIS OWN LAWYERS! lol WOW! Beyonce Backlash, GenZ Debt, & Today’s News

These Ninja Scamming Accusations Expose A Growing Problem & How Spiders Are Causing Massive Fires

The Problem With Will Smith’s Apology Video & Taylor Swift Climate Backlash, Taiwan, & Today’s News

PewDiePie Backlash Grows After Mocking Deaf TikToker, Jon Stewart Unloads on Cruel Cowards, & More

Leave Shawn Mendes Alone You Weirdos! He’s Not The One You Should Be Angry At… (And Today’s News)

The Logan Paul, Nope, Pink Sauce Backlash Really Exposed 4 Key Things…

Why Dave Chappelle Can’t Get Cancelled…Even After He Gets Cancelled & What FaZe Clan’s Flop Exposes

Get These People Off TV If They’re Going To Be This Dumb! Plus AOC Arrested, Student Loans, & More

HE IS A DRUGGED-OUT MAN BABY! Why People Are Talking About Joe Rogan, Zack Snyder, Climate Change, &

Dealers are Still Selling Theft-Vulnerable Kia and Hyundais Despite Insurance Companies Refusing to Cover Them

A Quarter of Young British Men Support Andrew Tate’s Thoughts on Women

Homeless Men Promised Money to Pose as Veterans in Anti-Immigrant Scheme, Sources Allege

ESPN Analyst Slammed After Body-Shaming Lizzo

Bioré Apologizes For Referencing School Shooting in Mental Health Ad Campaign

95-Year-Old Woman Dies After Police Tases Her in Nursing Home

U.K. Police Face Backlash After Arresting Anti-Monarchy Protesters

GOP Congressman George Santos Arrested for Lies, Theft, Fraud

Tucker Carlson Announces Post-Fox News Pivot: A Show on Twitter

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle Involved in “Near Catastrophic” Paparazzi Chase

Max to Agrees to “Properly” Credit Writers and Directors After Facing Backlash For Lumping Them in As “Creators”

Amazon to Pay Over $30 Million for Alexa and Ring Privacy Violations

Debt Limit Bill Passes the House — Here’s What You Need to Know

Right-Wingers Are Turning Against Chick-fil-A

Texas State Senate Sets Date for AG Ken Paxton’s Impeachment Trial

Max to Agrees to “Properly” Credit Writers and Directors After Facing Backlash For Lumping Them in As “Creators”

95-Year-Old Woman Dies After Police Tases Her in Nursing Home

Survey and Census Data Shows Record Number of Americans are Struggling Financially

Bioré Apologizes For Referencing School Shooting in Mental Health Ad Campaign

Trump Lawyer Notes Indicate Former President May Have Obstructed Justice in Mar-a-Lago Documents Probe

Homeless Men Promised Money to Pose as Veterans in Anti-Immigrant Scheme, Sources Allege

Lawmakers Have 10 Days to Reach Debt Deal: Here’s How Failure Would Impact Americans

Why The Internet Is Freaking Out About The Cringiest Man On The Internet & Today’s News

“She Is Evil!” What Addison Rae Religious Backlash Reveals, Joe Rogan, Jake Paul, Teacher Shortage

Alex Jones Was Just Exposed BY HIS OWN LAWYERS! lol WOW! Beyonce Backlash, GenZ Debt, & Today’s News

These Ninja Scamming Accusations Expose A Growing Problem & How Spiders Are Causing Massive Fires

The Problem With Will Smith’s Apology Video & Taylor Swift Climate Backlash, Taiwan, & Today’s News

PewDiePie Backlash Grows After Mocking Deaf TikToker, Jon Stewart Unloads on Cruel Cowards, & More

Leave Shawn Mendes Alone You Weirdos! He’s Not The One You Should Be Angry At… (And Today’s News)

The Logan Paul, Nope, Pink Sauce Backlash Really Exposed 4 Key Things…

Why Dave Chappelle Can’t Get Cancelled…Even After He Gets Cancelled & What FaZe Clan’s Flop Exposes

Get These People Off TV If They’re Going To Be This Dumb! Plus AOC Arrested, Student Loans, & More
