Hong Kong police arrest dozens of protesters
The Hong Kong government's headquarters were temporarily closed due to protests by thousands of pro-democracy demonstrators on Monday. Areas surrounding the Admiralty Centre, which holds offices and retail outlets, witnessed a tense stand-off between the police and protesters. Consequently, central government offices and the legislature were forced to close in the morning along with many shops. Police officials have said that 40 protesters have been arrested, adding that authorities would not let the area remain blocked. It has been two months since these demonstrators stepped onto the streets to protest Beijing's decision to vet potential candidates for the 2017 civic polls in Hong Kong.
University students in Egypt protest court ruling that absolved Mubarak
On Sunday, university students throughout Egypt protested a court ruling that absolved former dictator Hosni Mubarak from all criminal charges pertaining to his role in the death of 239 protesters in the 2011 Arab Spring uprising. The uprising had resulted in Mubarak's ouster and raised hopes of a new era of democratic rule. After he was overthrown in 2011, Egypt held its first free elections. The winner, Mohamed Morsy, was eventually ousted last year by then-army-chief Abdel Fattah al-Sisi in a coup, following protests against Morsy's rule.
Tabare Vazquez wins Uruguayan presidential polls
Tabare Vasquez and his leftist coalition, the Broad Front, won Uruguay's presidential polls comfortably with 52.8% of the support, while his center-right challenger Luis Lacalle Pou trailed on 40.5%, per official results on Sunday night. Extending the decade-long rule of a leftist coalition, Vasquez's victory will allow the government to roll out a revolutionary law that legalizes the production and sale of marijuana, besides continuing its mix of welfare programs and addressing key concerns over rising crime.
Kabul police chief quits following deadly Taliban attacks
Kabul's police chief General Zahir Zahir quit on Sunday, following a third wave of deadly Taliban-led attacks in the city that killed three aid workers. All three, who were working out of foreign guest houses in Kabul, were reportedly South African nationals. In the past 10 days, three compounds used by foreign organisations have been hit by armed Taliban attackers. On Saturday, the militant organisation said that it had attacked the foreign guesthouse because it was a center of Christian faith.
Imran Khan threatens to shut down Pakistan by December 16
Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf chief Imran Khan on Sunday threatened to shut down the entire country by December 16 if the Nawaz-Sharif-led government failed to initiate an impartial probe into alleged rigging during the 2013 general elections. The elections saw Sharif’s Pakistan Muslim League win by a landslide. "On Thursday (December 4), I will go to Lahore and shut it down," Khan said. "On December 8 I will shut down Faisalabad, on December 12 I will go to Karachi and shut it down. By December 16 I will shut down all of Pakistan if the poll inquiry is not initiated."
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The Hong Kong government's headquarters were temporarily closed due to protests by thousands of pro-democracy demonstrators on Monday. Areas surrounding the Admiralty Centre, which holds offices and retail outlets, witnessed a tense stand-off between the police and protesters. Consequently, central government offices and the legislature were forced to close in the morning along with many shops. Police officials have said that 40 protesters have been arrested, adding that authorities would not let the area remain blocked. It has been two months since these demonstrators stepped onto the streets to protest Beijing's decision to vet potential candidates for the 2017 civic polls in Hong Kong.
University students in Egypt protest court ruling that absolved Mubarak
On Sunday, university students throughout Egypt protested a court ruling that absolved former dictator Hosni Mubarak from all criminal charges pertaining to his role in the death of 239 protesters in the 2011 Arab Spring uprising. The uprising had resulted in Mubarak's ouster and raised hopes of a new era of democratic rule. After he was overthrown in 2011, Egypt held its first free elections. The winner, Mohamed Morsy, was eventually ousted last year by then-army-chief Abdel Fattah al-Sisi in a coup, following protests against Morsy's rule.
Tabare Vazquez wins Uruguayan presidential polls
Tabare Vasquez and his leftist coalition, the Broad Front, won Uruguay's presidential polls comfortably with 52.8% of the support, while his center-right challenger Luis Lacalle Pou trailed on 40.5%, per official results on Sunday night. Extending the decade-long rule of a leftist coalition, Vasquez's victory will allow the government to roll out a revolutionary law that legalizes the production and sale of marijuana, besides continuing its mix of welfare programs and addressing key concerns over rising crime.
Kabul police chief quits following deadly Taliban attacks
Kabul's police chief General Zahir Zahir quit on Sunday, following a third wave of deadly Taliban-led attacks in the city that killed three aid workers. All three, who were working out of foreign guest houses in Kabul, were reportedly South African nationals. In the past 10 days, three compounds used by foreign organisations have been hit by armed Taliban attackers. On Saturday, the militant organisation said that it had attacked the foreign guesthouse because it was a center of Christian faith.
Imran Khan threatens to shut down Pakistan by December 16
Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf chief Imran Khan on Sunday threatened to shut down the entire country by December 16 if the Nawaz-Sharif-led government failed to initiate an impartial probe into alleged rigging during the 2013 general elections. The elections saw Sharif’s Pakistan Muslim League win by a landslide. "On Thursday (December 4), I will go to Lahore and shut it down," Khan said. "On December 8 I will shut down Faisalabad, on December 12 I will go to Karachi and shut it down. By December 16 I will shut down all of Pakistan if the poll inquiry is not initiated."