Downtown rally for Ukraine

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WHIO

Friday, a rally was held in Downtown Dayton for Ukraine, marking the one year since Russia invaded Ukraine.

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  • Macron 'humiliated' over King Charles visit as France braces for fresh violence

    Emmanuel Macron has been blamed for the “humiliation” of postponing King Charles III’s state visit during violent pension protests.

  • New violent clashes rock France in water protest

    French police again clashed with protesters Saturday as campaigners sought to stop the construction of reservoirs in the southwest, the latest in a series of violent standoffs as social tensions erupt nationwide.The violent scenes in Sainte-Soline in western France came after days of violent protests nationwide over President Emmanuel Macron's pension reform that prompted the cancellation of a visit by King Charles III of the UK.The protest movement against the pension reform have turned into the biggest domestic crisis of Macron's second mandate, with daily clashes in the streets of Paris and other cities between police and protesters.Several protesters and members of security forces were wounded in the clashes around Saite-Soline as campaigners sought to stop the construction of reservoirs for the agricultural industry, according to the authorities. A long procession set off late morning, comprising at least 6,000 people according to local authorities and around 25,000 according to the organisers.More than 3,000 members of the security forces were deployed, with "at least 1,000" potentially violent activists, including some from Italy, present, officials said.Around the construction site, defended by the police, violent clashes quickly broke out between the security forces and radical militants, AFP correspondents said.- 'Simultaneously stand up' -Multiple projectiles and improvised explosives were thrown by protesters, with police responding with tear gas and water cannon.Two protesters were seriously wounded, including one who was hospitalised with a brain injury, the authorities said.Sixteen members of the security forces were wounded, six of whom were hospitalised regionally and one of whose injuries were so serious he was evacuated by helicopter."While the country is rising up to defend pensions, we will simultaneously stand up to defend water," said the organisers gathering under the banner of "Bassines non merci" ("No to reservoirs, thank you").Eleven people were detained after police seized cold weapons, including petanque balls and meat knives, as well as explosives.While not directly related to the anti-pensions reform campaign, the clashes over the water reservoir construction have added to tensions in an increasingly challenging situation for the government.The cancellation of Charles' state visit -- which was to be his very first abroad as monarch -- was a major embarrassment for Macron and acknowledgement of the seriousness of the situation.After the worst clashes yet of the three-month movement on Thursday night, protest activity has been less intense in the last 24 hours.But the government is bracing for another torrid day on Tuesday when unions are due to hold another day of strikes and protests.This would have been the second full day of Charles' visit, which now must find a new date in his packed calendar. Instead, Germany will be his first foreign destination as monarch.The scenes in France have sparked astonishment abroad. "Chaos reigns in France," said the Times of London above a picture of rubbish piling up. "Macron surrenders to the mob," said the mass-circulation Daily Mail over the cancellation of the king's visit.- 'I will not give up' -Uproar over legislation to raise the retirement age from 62 to 64 was enflamed when Macron exercised a controversial executive power to push the plan through parliament without a vote last week.The streets of the capital have also been strewn with rubbish because of a strike by waste collectors.But there has also been controversy over the tactics used by the French security forces to disperse the protests.The Council of Europe -- the continent's leading human rights watchdog -- warned that sporadic acts of violence "cannot justify excessive use of force by agents of the state" or "deprive peaceful protesters of their right to freedom of assembly".Macron has defiantly refused to offer concessions, saying in a televised interview Wednesday that the changes needed to "come into force by the end of the year".The Le Monde daily said Macron's "inflexibility" was now worrying even "his own troops" among the ruling party.It remains unclear how the government will defuse the crisis, four years after the "Yellow Vest" demonstrations rocked the country, with Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne under particular pressure."I will not give up seeking to convince," Borne told a conference on Saturday. "I will not give up on building compromises. I will not give up on acting. I am here to find agreements and carry out the transformations necessary for our country and for the French."bur-sjw/giv

  • Kenya police misleadingly use old protest photos in online hunt for March 2023 rally participants

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  • In pictures: Bordeaux town hall set alight as protests in France erupt into violence

    Dramatic pictures show violence erupting in parts of France during nationwide protests against pension reforms being pushed through by President Emmanuel Macron.

  • Macron under pressure as hundreds injured in French protests

    French President Emmanuel Macron faced mounting pressure on Friday after violent demonstrations that left more than 400 security forces injured and the centre of major cities shrouded in tear gas and smoke.More than 450 people were arrested Thursday during the most violent day of protests since the start of the year against Macron's bid to raise the retirement age to 64.  The French presidency announced Friday that King Charles III's visit next week had been postponed after unions declared another day of strikes and protests on Tuesday, during what would have been the British monarch's trip."Given the announcement yesterday of another national day of protests against pension reform on Tuesday March 28, the visit of Charles III, initially scheduled from 26-28 March, has been postponed," it said.The decision was "in order to be able to welcome His Majesty King III in conditions which reflect our friendly relations," it added. "There were a lot of demonstrations and some of them turned violent, notably in Paris," Interior Minister Darmanin told the CNews channel while giving figures for the number of arrests and injured.More than 900 fires were lit around the capital on Thursday, he said, with radical anarchist groups blamed for setting uncollected rubbish ablaze and smashing shop windows, leading to frequent clashes with riot police.In southwestern Bordeaux, protesters set fire to the entrance to city hall, briefly raising fears for the whole building until firefighters arrived to extinguish it."Why would you make a target of our communal building, of all people of Bordeaux? I can only condemn it in the strongest possible terms," the mayor of Bordeaux, Pierre Hurmic, told RTL radio on Friday. - Over a million -More than a million people marched nationwide on Thursday, with the protest movement reinvigorated by Macron's tactics and statements over the last week.Uproar over legislation to change the retirement age -- which Macron pushed through parliament without a vote last week -- has created another huge domestic crisis for the president just 10 months into his second term in office.But Darmanin, a hardliner in Macron's centrist government, dismissed calls from political opponents and protesters to withdraw the pensions reform."I don't think we should withdraw this law because of violence," he said."If so, that means there's no state. We should accept a democratic, social debate, but not a violent debate." Turnout in Paris and other cities on Thursday were higher than last week when momentum appeared to be waning.Macron's decision to force the legislation through parliament and his refusal to back down in a television interview on Wednesday appeared to have energised many opponents."There's the substance -- the reform of the pension system -- and then there's the other issue of how democracy functions," 21-year-old student Judicael Juge told AFP during the protests.- Trash -"I think that is more of a source of anger now than the substance."Commentators are questioning how the crisis will end, just four years after the "Yellow Vest" anti-government demonstrations rocked the country. "No one knows where the way out lies. There's not an easy one," political scientist Bastien Francois from the Sorbonne University in Paris told AFP."Everything depends on one man who is a prisoner of the political situation."The leader of the moderate CFDT union, Laurent Berger, said Friday that he had spoken to an aide to the president and suggested a pause on implementing the pensions law for six months."It's the moment to say 'listen, let's put things on pause, let's wait six months'," Berger told RTL radio. "It would calm things down."Rubbish is still gathering in the streets of Paris due to a rolling strike by garbage collectors, while blockades of oil refineries by striking workers are beginning to create fuel shortages around the country.- Clashes - The ministry of energy transition on Thursday warned that kerosene supply to the capital and its airports was becoming "critical".More flights were cancelled this weekend at airports around the country due to a strike by air traffic controllers.Union leaders expressed satisfaction that the protest movement had gathered a second wind, while condemning the violence, most of it carried out by anarchist groups known as "black blocs".Some 1.089 million people demonstrated across France on Thursday, the interior ministry said, putting Paris turnout at 119,000, the highest for the capital since the movement started in January.The nationwide figure still fell short of the 1.28 million people who marched on March 7, according to government figures.Unions claimed a record 3.5 million people had protested across France, and 800,000 in the capital.Clashes between police and protesters also took place in the cities of Lille, Nantes, Rennes and Toulouse.bur-adp/ah/jm

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  • Protests in London as Israel's Netanyahu meets UK PM

    Hundreds of protesters rallied Friday outside Downing Street in central London to heckle the arrival of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for a meeting with his British counterpart Rishi Sunak.Netanyahu has faced weeks of escalating protests in Israel over his government's judicial reform programme, which would increase politicians' power over the courts and critics argue is a threat to democracy.Demonstrators in the UK capital, many holding Israeli flags and placards critical of the country's veteran leader, shouted "shame" in Hebrew as he greeted Sunak at the door of 10 Downing Street.They erected the letters of the word "democracy" on Whitehall opposite the entrance to the gated street, while wielding signs accusing Netanyahu of dragging Israel towards "dictatorship"."It's important to be here because maybe at some point they won't have the right to protest in Israel," Dana Drori, a mother-of-two in her 30s, told AFP at the protest, alongside her young daughters."It's anger, it's sadness," she said of her emotions. "It's just hard to believe it's becoming a dictatorship."In a televised address hours before departing for London, Netanyahu pledged to restore unity within his increasingly fractured country, but gave little away about how he would do that while still pursuing the reforms.- 'Strategic ties' -Some of Israel's allies abroad, including the leaders in the United States and Germany, have raised concerns about the controversial overhaul.However, Sunak and his ministers have not commented on it. The UK government released few details about the two-day visit, but Netanyahu's office said in a statement his meeting with the British leader will "focus on the Iranian issue".The pair will discuss "the need to formulate a united international front against Iran in order to stop its nuclear program", it added.They are also expected to talk about strengthening bilateral "strategic ties" as well as issues including the war in Ukraine and developments in the Middle East, the statement noted.Netanyahu is also set to meet hardline interior minister Suella Braverman -- who has herself faced stinging criticism over contentious UK plans to deter asylum-seekers -- to discuss countering global terrorism.Further protests by pro-Palestinian groups are expected in central London later Friday, with some Palestinians attending the morning rally."As Palestinians from the diaspora we see ourselves at the front line of the fight for a free Palestine and when Netanyahu comes to visit in our backyard we have to protest it," said one 24-year-old protester, who gave her name only as Yasmine.  jj/phz/imm

  • French police clash with reservoir protesters

    STORY: One police officer and a protester were seriously injured in France on Saturday – this time in clashes during an unauthorized demonstration against the construction of a water reservoir for farm irrigation in western France.In the rural town of Sainte-Soline, at least 6,000 protesters had joined the march – according to the prefect of the surrounding region – defying a ban on protests at the site where a similar demonstration last October also turned violent.Police fired tear gas to repel some protestors who threw fireworks and other projectiles as they crossed fields to approach the construction area.At least three police vehicles were set on fire.Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin condemned the violence, which he blamed on far-left activists.He added that one police officer and one protestor were in critical condition and said, altogether, seven protesters and 24 police officers were injured.Around 3,200 police officers, some in helicopters and on quad bikes, were deployed for the demonstration, authorities said.Disturbances had started in nearby areas on Friday ahead of Saturday's violence.The irrigation project protest comes after weeks of anti-pension reform demonstrations that have turned violent since the French government pushed through the legislation without a final parliamentary vote.France's worst drought on record last summer sharpened the debate over water resources in the European Union's biggest agricultural sector.Supporters say artificial reservoirs are a way to use water efficiently when needed, while critics – who call them "mega-basins" – argue they are outsized and favor large farms.

  • Israelis protest ahead of crunch week for justice reforms

    Thousands of Israelis rallied in Tel Aviv Saturday against a controversial judicial overhaul by the hard-right government, ahead of a key week expected to see more legislative steps and mass protests.The latest demonstration to hit Israel's commercial hub came days after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to press on with the changes despite mounting international alarm."We're here today to show up and add our voice to the hundreds of thousands, if not millions of Israelis that support the values that this country was founded on," said high-tech worker Daniel Nisman, mentioning democracy and tolerance."This is all we can hope for, that he (Netanyahu) brings us back from the edge of the abyss," the 36-year-old told AFP.Demonstrations erupted in January after the coalition announced its reform package, which the government says is necessary to rebalance powers between lawmakers and the judiciary.Rallies have repeatedly drawn tens of thousands of protesters, according to Israeli media estimates, and an AFP journalist saw thousands already gathering in Tel Aviv early on Saturday evening."More Israelis are waking up," said Josh Drill, a spokesman for the Umbrella Movement of protests. "We're not going to live in a dictatorship. Even if they do pass the judicial coup, this protest is not going anywhere," the 26-year-old told AFP ahead of the rally.- 'End the rift' -Plans to hand more control to politicians and diminish the role of the Supreme Court have been questioned by Israel's top allies including the United States. US President Joe Biden has expressed "our concerns over these proposals, these proposed judicial reforms", White House spokeswoman Karine Jean-Pierre said on Wednesday.Netanyahu was also met by hundreds of protesters in London, where he met his British counterpart Rishi Sunak on Friday.During the talks, the British premier "stressed the importance of upholding the democratic values that underpin our relationship, including in the proposed judicial reforms", a spokesperson said.Israeli lawmakers are due to vote on a central part of the government's proposals next week, which foresees changing the way judges are appointed. Netanyahu said Thursday that the legislation "does not take control of the court but balances and diversifies it".A parliamentary committee has amended the draft law with the aim of making it more palatable to opponents, but the opposition has ruled out backing any part of the reform package until all legislative steps are halted.In response, demonstrators have announced a "national paralysis week", including countrywide rallies, protests outside ministers' homes and on Wednesday outside parliament.In his televised address on Thursday, Netanyahu said he would do everything "to calm the situation and end the rift in the nation".Even so, the premier said his administration remained "determined to correct and responsibly advance the democratic reform that will restore the proper balance between the authorities" by ploughing on with the overhaul.Netanyahu came under fire a day later from Israel's attorney general, Gali Baharav-Miara, who said his public intervention was "illegal" due to his ongoing corruption trial.The top legal official cited a previous court ruling that an indicted prime minister has no right to act on a matter that could place him in a conflict of interest. rsc/kir

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  • New violent clashes in France in water protest: AFP

    French security forces again clashed with protesters Saturday as campaigners sought to stop the construction of reservoirs for the agricultural industry in the southwest of the country, AFP correspondents said.Around the construction site, defended by the police, violent clashes quickly broke out between the security forces and radical militants, AFP correspondents said.

  • Protesters greet Netanyahu as he meets UK leader in London

    British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak held talks with Benjamin Netanyahu in London on Friday as protesters shouting “Shame!” in Hebrew demonstrated against the Israeli leader’s right-wing policies and his plans to overhaul the country’s judiciary. Netanyahu had to pass by hundreds of protesters waving Israeli flags and waving signs calling for the defense of Israeli democracy as he arrived at 10 Downing St. for discussions that focused on the war in Ukraine and concerns about Iran’s nuclear program. Sunak also raised Netanyahu's proposed judicial reforms, which have sparked mass protests in Israel and beyond.

  • UK's Sunak raises concerns over Israel's judiciary with Netanyahu

    LONDON (Reuters) -British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak stressed the importance of upholding democratic values when he received Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu for talks on Friday, referring to a move to overhaul Israel's judiciary that has stirred mass protests. Netanyahu has faced weeks of uproar over his religious-nationalist coalition's pursuit of changes to the judiciary that would give the government sway in choosing judges and limit the Supreme Court's power to strike down laws.

  • France's Macron says will not yield to pension protests

    PARIS (Reuters) -President Emmanuel Macron on Friday said he would press ahead with reforms, dodging a union leader's call to suspend a new pension law amid some of France's worst street violence in years. There were violent clashes across the country on Thursday evening on the fringes of otherwise peaceful protests that have for weeks gathered huge crowds against a rise in the pension age by two years to 64. Against this backdrop, Britain's King Charles' state visit to France, due to start on Sunday, has been postponed.

  • Colorado State Senators Join Demonstrators at State Capitol to Protest Gun Violence

    Colorado state senators joined demonstrators at the Colorado State Capitol in Denver to protest gun violence on Friday, March 24.Local news reported that the rally was held two days after a shooting at East High School injured two faculty members.Footage posted to the Colorado State Senate Democratic Caucus Twitter page shows demonstrators holding signs and cheering outside the Colorado State Capitol.Denver Public Schools said schools and offices were closed on March 24 for a Mental Health Day. Credit: Colorado State Senate Democratic Caucus via Storyful

  • France protests draw 1M, force King Charles to delay visit amid anger over retirement changes

    King Charles III will not be visiting France in the coming days, French President Emmanuel Macron's office said Friday, as protests over pension reform continue to rock the country.

  • Dozens injured in violent clash between French police, demonstrators at anti-reservoir protest

    More than two dozen people were reportedly injured on Saturday as police clashed with environmental activists protesting a giant agricultural irrigation reservoir being built in rural western France. Thousands of protesters gathered in the district of Sainte-Soline to demonstrate against the construction of "mega-basins" used for agricultural irrigation. Video footage from the demonstration showed protesters advancing toward a construction area in clouds of tear gas, as police vehicles burned and people hurled projectiles.

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  • Protesters in Suriname demand president resign

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