HARARE, Zimbabwe (AFP) — Zimbabwe President Emmerson Mnangagwa has landed back in Harare, state television said Tuesday, after cutting short a foreign tour over nationwide protests that were met with a brutal security crackdown. Police and soldiers launched a large-scale operation against suspected protestors, activists and organizers of the strike last week, which was triggered by a sharp rise in fuel prices. At least 12 people were killed and 78 treated for gunshot injuries, according […]
Tag: Protest
Thousands protest in Berlin against industrialised agriculture
BERLIN, Germany (AFP) — Thousands of protesters, backed by a procession of farm tractors, marched in Berlin Saturday for environmental protection and against the industrial agriculture lobby. Police put the number of demonstrators at over 12,000, while organizers said 35,000 turned out. While the “Grune Woche” international agricultural fair was taking place in the German capital, the protesters took aim at government policy which prioritized large-scale farming, deemed damaging to health and the environment, to […]
Macron’s debate put to test as ‘yellow vests’ stage tenth protest
by Clare BYRNE Agence Franc Presse PARIS, France (AFP) — France’s “yellow vests” took to the streets on Saturday for a 10th straight weekend of anti-government protests, defying attempts by President Emmanuel Macron to channel their anger into a series of town hall debates. A police source said the authorities expected the protests to be “at least as big as last week” when over 80,000 people demonstrated over inequality, the privileges enjoyed by senior public […]
Striking teachers march in LA as talks held to end walkout
LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — Tens of thousands of striking teachers and supporters marched in Los Angeles on Friday, as talks to end the crippling walkout offered hope of a settlement between the union and school district officials. Some 30,000 teachers walked off the job on Monday, after two years of contract negotiations on salaries, class sizes and more staffing failed. The strike is affecting about 500,000 students and has cost the district — […]
‘Total internet shutdown’ in Zimbabwe: provider
HARARE, Zimbabwe (AFP) — Zimbabwe imposed a “total shutdown” of the internet on Friday, a major provider told customers, after protests early this week triggered a ruthless security crackdown. The internet had been partially restored after a first shutdown started on Tuesday. “We were served with another directive for total shutdown of the internet until further notice,” Econet, the country’s biggest provider, said in a text message on Friday. “Our lawyers advised we are required […]
Skepticism in France as Macron launches ‘great national debate’
by Clare BYRNE Agence France Presse PARIS, France (AFP) — French President Emmanuel Macron faced a battle Monday to convince skeptical French of his latest move to quell “yellow vest” anger as he kickstarted a two-month national debate on his policies. Struggling to end the biggest crisis of his presidency, Macron on Sunday set out over 30 questions to be debated in towns and villages across the country from January 15 to March 15. “We […]
Three protesters dead in Omdurman demonstration: Sudan police
KHARTOUM, Sudan (AFP) — Three protesters died after police broke up an anti-government demonstration with tear gas in Omdurman, the twin city of Khartoum, Sudanese police said on Thursday. “An illegal gathering was held in Omdurman and police dispersed it with tear gas,” police spokesman Hashim Abdelrahim said in a statement. “Police later received reports that three protesters had died and several injured. We are now investigating,” he said without specifying how the protesters had […]
French women reclaim ‘yellow vest’ protests with peaceful demo
PARIS, France (AFP) — Hundreds of women on Sunday marched in Paris to reclaim France’s “yellow vest” movement from violent activists, a day after protesters smashed their way into a government ministry. The women, wearing yellow vests, turned out after 50,000 people returned to the streets of France on Saturday amid violent clashes with police. Some of the women waved yellow balloons and pushed prams. Protests were also held in other French cities. “All the […]
Taiwan New Year tax protesters cite French ‘yellow vest’ success
TAIPEI, Taiwan (AFP) — A Taiwanese tax reform campaign whose activists dress in yellow ramped up its protests Tuesday, interrupting a New Year flag-raising ceremony attended by the president, partially inspired by the recent success of France’s “yellow vests”. France has been severely rattled by six weeks of often violent demonstrations from “gilets jaunes” protesters, named after the high-visibility vests supporters have adopted. The movement forced French President Emmanuel Macron to jettison his controversial fuel […]
Strike call, protests in DR Congo after new election delay
BENI, DR Congo (AFP) — A DR Congo opposition bloc called Thursday for a nationwide stoppage and police clashed with demonstrators in two eastern cities after upcoming elections were placed on hold in their region. Lamuka, a coalition of parties supporting opposition candidate Martin Fayulu, called for cities to be brought to a standstill on Friday, two days before polling day. A diplomatic storm with the European Union meanwhile erupted into the open as the […]
S. Korea cab drivers protest Uber-like ride share app
SEOUL, South Korea (AFP) — Tens of thousands of taxi drivers in South Korea went on a nationwide strike Thursday, snarling up traffic in Seoul, in the latest protest at a planned Uber-like ride-sharing service. An estimated 50,000 taxi drivers, wearing headbands, chanting slogans and waving banners, rallied outside the parliament, calling for the car-pooling app to be banned, AFP photographers at the scene said. Drivers say the service being introduced by KakaoTalk — the […]
Protesters march against Italy’s tough new anti-migrant law
ROME, Italy (AFP) — Several thousand people marched in Rome Saturday in protest at Italy’s tough new anti-migrant law which makes it easier to expel new arrivals. The protesters waved flags and donned yellow vests emblazoned with the slogan “Get up! Stand Up! for your right” in a reference to the famous Bob Marley song. The new law would “only increase the number of people without papers in Italy and force people underground”, protester […]





