News of the Day From Around the World
1 Lebanon unrest: Protesters dug in behind roadblocks they had set up in and outside the capital of Beirut on Saturday as security forces struggled to drag them out of the way. The campaign of civil disobedience was aimed at reinforcing their calls for the government to step down as nationwide protests entered their 10th day. The demonstrations were sparked by proposals for new taxes that came on the heels of recently passed austerity measures. The protests escalated into a call for the overthrow of the post-civil war political system, seen by many as corrupt and incompetent. The protests have paralyzed the country, which is already grappling with a severe fiscal crisis. Banks, universities and schools have been closed since last week.
2 Hong Kong protests: Authorities won a temporary court order banning anyone from posting personal details or photos of police officers online, in their latest effort to clamp down on the city’s protest movement. The government said Saturday that the High Court granted the Department of Justice’s request for the interim injunction to “restrain doxing and harassment of police officers and their families.” At a rally Saturday night, some protesters jeered and cursed several police officers observing from a footbridge. Medical workers organized the event to oppose what they called “violent repression” by police in response to protesters. The protests erupted in June over an extradition bill and snowballed into wider calls for full democracy and an inquiry into alleged police brutality. Police have responded with tear gas, pepper spray and water cannons. On a few occasions they have also fired live rounds from their pistols, wounding a teenager in the chest.
3 Russian agent: The woman convicted of being a covert Russian agent...