| Pompeo denounces 'harassment' after Democrats subpoena White House Posted: 05 Oct 2019 08:27 PM PDT  The Trump administration complained Saturday of harassment by Democratic lawmakers who issued subpoenas for documents regarding President Donald Trump's alleged pressuring of Ukraine for political favors. The latest explosive turns in the impeachment investigation against Trump came as Secretary of State Mike Pompeo accused Democratic-led congressional committees leading the probe of having "harassed and abused" State Department employees by contacting them directly for documents rather than going through department lawyers.
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| Spanish police arrest drug traffickers who saved their lives in high speed boat chase Posted: 05 Oct 2019 04:53 AM PDT ![Spanish police arrest drug traffickers who saved their lives in high speed boat chase]( "Spanish police arrest drug traffickers who saved their lives in high speed boat chase") Spanish police arrested four drug traffickers who stopped to save their lives after the officers were thrown overboard during a high speed boat chase off the coast of Malaga on Friday. The three police officers fell into the sea following a collision with the trafficking boat during the chase, a Guardia Civil statement said. A police helicopter hovering overhead appealed to the speedboat via megaphone to stop and help the officers after their boat "span out of control", and the traffickers did so, pulling the agents to safety unharmed. However, when police found three tonnes of hashish in the waters nearby, the rescue did not appear to work in the traffickers' favour. The four on board were arrested regardless. "They were arrested for drug trafficking," a police statement said, indicating that more than 80 bundles of hash had been recovered from the sea. In a video posted by the Guardia Civil, the boats can be seen zooming across the open ocean before the semi-inflatable trafficking boat turns into the path of the police vessel, forcing it to turn sharply, throwing the three officers overboard. The video taken from the police helicopter then shows the officers bobbing around in the water below, before a wide shot shows the drug bundles floating nearby. High speed chases are not unusual off the coast of Malaga and the Costa del Sol, a known drug smuggling route from Africa to Europe. Morocco, just across the water, is the world's largest exporter of cannabis resin or hashish, according to the United Nations. A dramatic chase at the end of last year saw police ram a suspected drug boat in the open water, before officers from the chasing helicopter managed to intercept the fleeing suspects on land. The Spanish government has even moved to ban the high-speed semi-inflatable boats, known as RIBs, that are commonly used by traffickers to bring both drugs and more recently migrants from North Africa to Spain.
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| Teachers suspended after unsupervised toddlers escape preschool, wander into traffic Posted: 06 Oct 2019 12:08 PM PDT  A woman reported seeing a group of toddlers wandering the streets near Little Sunshine's Playhouse & Preschool in Gilbert, Arizona, on Friday morning.
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| FEATURE-What's in a name? India's citizenship drive hits women hardest Posted: 05 Oct 2019 04:01 PM PDT ![FEATURE-What's in a name? India's citizenship drive hits women hardest]( "FEATURE-What's in a name? India's citizenship drive hits women hardest") Abanti Deka had no idea when she married her husband that taking his name would jeopardise her Indian citizenship. When the register was published at the end of August, the names of nearly 2 million of the state's about 33 million people were missing, plunging them into a bureaucratic nightmare that human rights experts fear could render some stateless. Abanti was one of the unlucky ones.
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| Protesters in Ukraine rally against election in rebel east Posted: 06 Oct 2019 11:05 AM PDT  Thousands rallied in Ukraine's capital Sunday against the president's plan to hold a local election in the country's rebel-held east, a move seen by some as a major concession to Russia. Ukraine, Russia and Russia-backed separatists on Tuesday signed a tentative agreement on guidelines for holding a local election in eastern Ukraine, where a five-year conflict between the rebels and Ukrainian troops has killed more than 13,000 people. France and Germany, which help broker the talks, hailed the agreement.
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| Republicans Embrace New Talking Point: Trump Wasn't ‘Serious’ About China Investigating Bidens Posted: 06 Oct 2019 10:29 AM PDT  During the Sunday talk shows, two prominent Republican lawmakers circled around an emerging talking point about President Donald Trump's public request that China investigate former Vice President Joe Biden and his son Hunter: The president was just joking around.Last week, amid an impeachment inquiry into the Ukraine scandal in which the president allegedly held up military aid to pressure the country to investigate his political rivals, the president stood on the White House lawn and said: "China should start an investigation into the Bidens, because what happened in China is just about as bad as what happened with Ukraine."The remarks predictably caused widespread outrage, with even some moderate Republicans such as Sens. Susan Collins and Mitt Romney saying it was a "big mistake" for Trump to publicly urge an authoritarian regime to open a probe into his political opponents. Trump, meanwhile, revealed during private remarks that he raised the Hunter Biden issue with an intermediary to China.Even though Trump has privately pushed China to look into a 2020 presidential hopeful and his personal attorney Rudy Giuliani and other allies have been using China to slime Biden for a while now, some GOP lawmakers have attempted to claim that Trump isn't serious about wanting China to look into the former vice president.Asked by a reporter on Friday—who also noted that he was one of the loudest critics of China and its human rights abuse—if he thought it was okay for the president to publicly ask China to probe the Bidens, Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) said he didn't think it was a "real request.""I think he did it to gig you guys. I think he did to provoke you to ask me and others, and get outraged by it," the Florida senator added. "Like I said, he plays it like a violin and everybody falls right into it. It's not a real request."During an appearance on ABC's This Week on Sunday, meanwhile, Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH)—one of the president's most vocal supporters in Congress—embraced Rubio's defense of Trump's China remarks.Repeatedly refusing to answer host George Stephanopoulos' question as to whether he believes it's appropriate for the president to publicly call for the Chinese to look into the Bidens, Jordan laughed and asked the host: "George, you really think he was serious about thinking that China's going to investigate the Biden family?"Jordan also claimed that Rubio had it "exactly right" when the Florida lawmaker said Trump's "getting the press all spun up about this." After Stephanopoulos questioned him on whether we're supposed to take Trump at his word, Jordan replied that the press still hasn't "figured out" how the president speaks.Over on CBS News' Face the Nation, Sen. Roy Blunt (R-MO) took the same tack, latching onto Rubio's excuse. Asked by anchor Margaret Brennan if he was "comfortable" with the president calling for foreign governments to investigate his political opponents, Blunt brushed off the China request."Well, I doubt if the China comment was serious, to tell you the truth," Blunt replied.Brennan then wondered why the Missouri lawmaker wasn't taking the president at his word on this, prompting Blunt to sayt Trump just "loves to bait the press" and does it every day to see what the media will "talk about." "So you don't believe the president," the CBS host noted. "Is that appropriate to ask for a foreign government to interfere?""I don't imagine that's what he's doing," Blunt responded.While these Republicans are running interference for the president and rallying around a defense that revolves around not taking the president seriously or literally, Trump has spent the past two days unleashing on Romney for condemning his actions and remarks on China, calling the 2012 Republican presidential nominee a "pompous ass."Read more at The Daily Beast.Got a tip? Send it to The Daily Beast hereGet our top stories in your inbox every day. Sign up now!Daily Beast Membership: Beast Inside goes deeper on the stories that matter to you. Learn more.
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| Recall alert: 1.1 million pocketknives recalled for posing 'laceration hazard' Posted: 05 Oct 2019 04:58 AM PDT  About 1.1 million Gordon Folding Knives are being recalled for "posing a laceration hazard." The knives were sold at Harbor Freight Tools stores.
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| Five murdered in Austrian ski town of Kitzbuehel: police Posted: 06 Oct 2019 04:26 AM PDT  Austrian police are investigating the suspected murder of five people in the ski town of Kitzbuehel, police said on Sunday. The suspected perpetrator had been detained, Austrian press agency APA reported, citing police. The police spokesman declined comment to Reuters on the local media reports.
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| Is Iran's Regime Really Be About To Collapse? Posted: 05 Oct 2019 06:00 PM PDT  The signs point to no, but it could happen.
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| APNewsBreak: Evers issuing 1st Wisconsin pardons in 9 years Posted: 06 Oct 2019 04:03 PM PDT  Democratic Gov. Tony Evers will issue Wisconsin's first pardons in nine years, invoking his constitutional power to grant clemency to four people. Evers plans to issue the pardons Monday, the first he's making as governor after he re-started the pardons board in June. Evers' predecessor, Republican Scott Walker, never issued a single pardon over his eight years as governor.
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| Johnson to Challenge the Queen to Fire Him, Sunday Times Reports Posted: 05 Oct 2019 05:17 PM PDT ![Johnson to Challenge the Queen to Fire Him, Sunday Times Reports]( "Johnson to Challenge the Queen to Fire Him, Sunday Times Reports") (Bloomberg) -- U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson is prepared to challenge Queen Elizabeth II to dismiss him rather than resign as he attempts to push through Brexit by the Oct. 31 deadline, the Sunday Times reported, citing senior aides.Johnson would not step aside if his Brexit proposals were rejected by the European Union, and even if members of the U.K. Parliament declare no confidence in his government and agree to a caretaker prime minister to replace him, according to the report.Failure to reach a deal would set the U.K. on a course for constitutional showdown with few precedents: Johnson has promised to pull the country out of the EU on Oct. 31 whether the talks succeed, while Parliament has already legislated to prevent him from taking U.K. out of the European bloc without a withdrawal agreement."Unless the police turn up at the doors of 10 Downing Street with a warrant for the prime minister's arrest, he won't be leaving," one senior Conservative said in the report.The last time a British monarch fired a prime minister was in 1834, it said.To contact the reporter on this story: Dominic Lau in Hong Kong at dlau92@bloomberg.netTo contact the editors responsible for this story: Shamim Adam at sadam2@bloomberg.net, Linus Chua, Naoto HosodaFor more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.com©2019 Bloomberg L.P.
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| Climate activists occupy Paris mall as global Extinction Rebellion protests begin Posted: 05 Oct 2019 04:53 PM PDT  Hundreds of climate activists barricaded themselves into a Paris shopping centre on Saturday as security forces tried to remove them, ahead of a planned series of protests around the world by the Extinction Rebellion movement. Campaigners faced off against police and some inconvenienced shoppers as they occupied part of the Italie 2 mall in southeast Paris. The protest comes ahead of planned disruption to 60 cities around the world from Monday in a fortnight of civil disobedience, from Extinction Rebellion (XR), which is warning of an environmental "apocalypse".
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| Increased intrigue for Mormon conference in Utah Posted: 05 Oct 2019 09:41 AM PDT  The president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has rolled out a number of policy changes during his first two years at the helm of the faith, leading to increased anticipation for what he may announce at this weekend's church conference in Salt Lake City.
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| Pelosi tells South Carolina Democrats Trump impeachment probe 'a very sad time for our country' Posted: 05 Oct 2019 11:18 AM PDT  House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, at a Democratic Party fundraiser in South Carolina, said Trump impeachment inquiry is "a very sad time for our country."
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| Judge shoots himself in court in Thailand Posted: 05 Oct 2019 08:28 AM PDT ![Judge shoots himself in court in Thailand]( "Judge shoots himself in court in Thailand") A judge in southern Thailand shot himself in court after delivering a not guilty verdict in the case of five Muslim suspects charged with murder in the predominantly Buddhist country's restive south. Khanakorn Pianchana shot himself in the chest after acquitting the suspects charged with murder, illegal association and gun-related offences on Friday afternoon because of insufficient evidence. On Saturday, people laid flowers in front of the court in Yala, one of the three Muslim-majority southern provinces at the heart of the insurgency that has claimed more than 7,000 lives since 2004.
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| Germany could face refugee influx bigger than 2015 if EU does not agree quota system, interior minister warns Posted: 06 Oct 2019 08:48 AM PDT  Germany's interior minister warned on Sunday that the country could soon face a refugee influx bigger than the one it dealt with in 2015, as he sought support for his plans for an EU quota system for rescued migrants. "We need to do more to help our European partners with controls at the EU's external borders. We've left them alone for too long," Horst Seehofer told Bild newspaper. "If we don't do this, we'll experience a wave of refugees like in 2015 - or perhaps an even larger one." Mr Seehofer, a member of the conservative CSU party, was one of the most critical voices in the German government towards Angela Merkel's decision to open the country's borders in 2015. But his new plan has surprised many by committing Germany to taking in a quarter of the asylum seekers that arrive in the EU via the sea crossing from North Africa to Italy. He has not committed to accept any of those entering the EU via Greece or Spain. In a trip to Turkey and Greece which was spurred by a sharp rise in migrant crossings in the Aegean over the past year, the veteran politician said he would push for increased EU funds to be assigned to Turkey, while offering more technical support for Greece's coast guard. An agreement signed with Ankara in 2016 was key in turning the tide on a surge of migration which saw over a million asylum seekers arrive in Germany. Ever since the crisis peaked in 2015 Berlin has been pushing in Brussels for a binding quota system, but these efforts have foundered in the face of resistance from eastern Europe. Mr Seehofer's quota proposals have proven unpopular inside his own party. Ralph Brinkhaus, CDU/CSU faction leader in the Bundestag, suggested over the weekend that the plan would encourage smugglers to increase their activities. "This is the interior minister's initiative, it does not come from the CDU/CSU faction in the Bundestag. We will have to take a very close look at his plans," Mr Brinkhaus said.
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| Former President Jimmy Carter 'feels fine' after fall Posted: 06 Oct 2019 02:38 PM PDT  Former President Jimmy Carter fell Sunday at his home in Georgia and needed some stitches above his brow, but "feels fine," his spokeswoman said. Deanna Congileo said in an email that the 39th president fell Sunday in Plains, Georgia, and received stitches. Carter turned 95 on Tuesday, becoming the first U.S. president to reach that milestone.
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| Ohio University suspended all 15 fraternities on-campus after National Hazing Prevention Week was followed by 7 hazing allegations Posted: 06 Oct 2019 02:49 PM PDT  After OU sororities and fraternities held National Hazing Prevention Week events, 7 allegations against separate fraternities were brought forward.
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| India clampdown hits Kashmir's Silicon Valley Posted: 04 Oct 2019 11:31 PM PDT  The coffee machines have been cold, computer screens blank and work stations empty for two months in Kashmir's Silicon Valley as an Indian communications blockade on the troubled region takes a growing toll on business. The dozen software development companies in the Rangreth industrial estate on the edge of Srinagar bring tens of millions of dollars of crucial revenue into the region each year. Pakistan also claims Kashmir which the two neighbours divided when they became independent in 1947 and have squabbled over ever since.
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| Israel Working on Non-Aggression Pacts With Gulf States Posted: 06 Oct 2019 05:31 AM PDT ![Israel Working on Non-Aggression Pacts With Gulf States]( "Israel Working on Non-Aggression Pacts With Gulf States") (Bloomberg) -- Israel is working on an "historic" non-aggression pact with Arab Gulf states, Foreign Minister Israel Katz said on Sunday.Such an agreement would make it possible to cooperate on civilian matters, Katz said on Twitter, confirming an earlier report by Israeli media. He said he'd presented a plan to Arab foreign ministers and to U.S. envoy Jason Greenblatt at his recent visit to the United Nations."I will continue to work to strengthen Israel's standing in the region and around the world," Katz said. While Israel has formal peace agreements with Egypt and Jordan, most Arab countries have resisted establishing ties. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has sought to leverage a shared fear of Iran to gradually improve relations with the Gulf, and U.S. President Donald Trump has promoted this rapprochement.Netanyahu made a surprise visit to Oman a year ago to meet with the country's foreign minister, and several Israeli ministers have since attended conferences in the region. Israel said in April that it will take part in next year's World Expo in Dubai.Katz said in a speech to the UN in late September that Israel is seeking to normalize ties with the Arab Gulf states "as we did with Egypt and Jordan." He named technology, agriculture and water as areas in which these countries could benefit from relations with Israel. (Updates with comment in third paragraph, background from fourth.)To contact the reporter on this story: Alisa Odenheimer in Jerusalem at aodenheimer@bloomberg.netTo contact the editors responsible for this story: Shaji Mathew at shajimathew@bloomberg.net, Ian Fisher, Ros KrasnyFor more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.com©2019 Bloomberg L.P.
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| 'Completely inappropriate': Trump condemned by third Republican senator as impeachment momentum grows Posted: 06 Oct 2019 08:12 AM PDT  A third Republican senator has broken from their party to publicly criticise Donald Trump over the president's calls for foreign governments to investigate Joe Biden.Mr Trump has publicly asked China and Ukraine to launch investigations into Mr Biden, his main 2020 election rival, over unsubstantiated corruption allegations.
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| Fringe group claims it planned 'eat the babies' stunt at AOC town hall Posted: 04 Oct 2019 06:37 PM PDT  The woman is from LaRouchePAC, who claimed responsibility for the outburst on twitter.
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| Four killed, five wounded in shooting at Kansas bar Posted: 06 Oct 2019 08:16 AM PDT  Authorities believe the suspects had been at Tequila KC Bar, a private club, earlier in the night and left before returning around 1:30 a.m. with at least one handgun and started shooting, Kansas City Police Department spokesman Thomas Tomasic told a news conference on Sunday. "We do not have any specific suspect information yet," Tomasic said.
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| Nazi Germany Had A Plan To Win World War II: Kill These 3 People Posted: 05 Oct 2019 07:22 PM PDT  A wild plan.
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| US researchers on front line of battle against Chinese theft Posted: 06 Oct 2019 05:48 PM PDT  As the U.S. warned allies around the world that Chinese tech giant Huawei was a security threat, the FBI was making the same point quietly to a Midwestern university. In an email to the associate vice chancellor for research at the University of Illinois-Urbana-Champaign, an agent wanted to know if administrators believed Huawei had stolen any intellectual property from the school. The FBI has been reaching out to colleges and universities across the country as it tries to stem what American authorities portray as the wholesale theft of technology and trade secrets by researchers tapped by China.
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| Lifers: Stories of non-violent incarceration in federal prison Posted: 04 Oct 2019 06:55 PM PDT  Multi-platform series on non-violent offenders who are in for life despite the First Step Act.
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| Trump unloads on Romney as Ukraine crisis deepens Posted: 05 Oct 2019 07:53 AM PDT  President Donald Trump tore into Sen. Mitt Romney in a series of tweets Saturday, renewing their on-again, off-again feud as Trump tries to fend off criticism from the Ukraine scandal threatening his presidency. "Mitt Romney never knew how to win. Hours later, Trump turned his fire on Romney again, tweeting that he had heard that Utah voters regretted electing Romney to the Senate.
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| UAW official who is charged in corruption probe placed on leave Posted: 05 Oct 2019 05:58 PM PDT ![UAW official who is charged in corruption probe placed on leave]( "UAW official who is charged in corruption probe placed on leave") Vance Pearson, who heads a 17-state UAW region and is charged with embezzling union money, wire fraud and money laundering, began the leave on Friday.
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| North Korea breaks off nuclear talks with U.S. in Sweden Posted: 05 Oct 2019 02:24 AM PDT  Working-level nuclear talks in Sweden between officials from Pyongyang and Washington have broken off, North Korea's top negotiator said late on Saturday, dashing prospects for an end to months of stalemate. The talks, at an isolated conference center on the outskirts of Stockholm, were the first such formal discussion since U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un met in June and agreed to restart negotiations that stalled after a failed summit in Vietnam in February.
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| Santa Ana Winds to target Southern California late this week Posted: 05 Oct 2019 08:22 AM PDT  With dry weather set to continue in California, windy conditions will spark concern for high fire danger this week."An elevated fire danger is expected with locally breezy to windy conditions in the mountains and upper deserts," said AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Dan Pydynowski.The American Fire, a grass fire that started in the hills of American Canyon around 3 p.m., has already caused the American Canyon road to close and possibly burned a structure 50 minutes after starting, according to CBS San Francisco.As of 4 p.m. PDT, the fire had grown to 20-30 acres, fire officials told the news outlet. Bulldozers were sent to the area and Cal Fire air support was called in to attempt to contain the fire.With windy conditions, there is the threat of the spreading of the fire to become wind-driven. As of Sunday, the fire has a moderate rate of spread.This week, a cold front set to unleash more snow in the northern Rockies will bring a windy set up for California for the middle of the week. "Windy conditions and the low humidity, combined, will bring a more enhanced fire threat across not just California, but much of the West, including Nevada, Utah and Arizona," said AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Eric Leister.The greatest fire threat, however, will be confined to the usual spots in the Sacramento Valley and parts of the L.A. Basin. In Northern California, winds will come from the northeastern corner into the Sacramento Valley.Depending on how strong the high in the Rockies gets, this could lead to a Santa Ana wind event for parts of Southern California, with wind gusts of 50 to 60 mph. Winds of this speed would be capable of producing downed trees and power lines. Sparks from downed lines and transformers could spark a fire as well.Throughout the week, people should exercise extreme caution with potential ignition sources, such as outdoor campfires, power equipment and cigarette butts.A small spark fueled by a strong wind could quickly become an uncontrollable inferno in just a few minutes.Having an emergency bag on hand can save valuable time should a rapidly spreading fire force a quick evacuation of your property.Download the free AccuWeather app to see the forecast for your location. Keep checking back for updates on AccuWeather.com andstay tuned to the AccuWeather Networkon DirecTV, Frontier and Verizon Fios.
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| When India's Aircraft Carrier Caught Fire, China Thought It Knew Why Posted: 05 Oct 2019 11:45 PM PDT  Terse words between rivals.
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| The Latest: Morning arraignment expected in homeless attack Posted: 05 Oct 2019 07:16 PM PDT  The suspect in the New York City attacks that killed four sleeping homeless men and left another critically injured has been taken to a hospital for evidence collection. Twenty-four-year-old Randy Rodriguez Santos was escorted out of a Manhattan precinct house late Saturday by two uniformed police officers who put him in an unmarked car. Detectives at the scene told journalists Santos was being taken to a hospital to gather DNA evidence.
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| For US banks skittish about marijuana, a proposal to ease worries Posted: 05 Oct 2019 06:15 PM PDT  Most US banks shun people like Hope Wiseman, who runs a dispensary that sells marijuana for medical use. Wiseman, who operates a dispensary called Mary and Main, in Capitol Heights, Maryland, just outside Washington, serves patients who suffer from migraine headaches, chronic illnesses or depression. Marijuana for medical use is legal in 33 states and the US capital of Washington, 12 of which have also legalized it for recreational use.
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| Teacher suspended for suggesting Confederate flag is a sign 'that you intend to marry your sister' Posted: 05 Oct 2019 07:32 AM PDT  A secondary school teacher in Georgia has been suspended from school for calling the confederate flag a sign that an individual plans to marry their own sister.The Richmond County School System launched an investigation after a teacher put a photo of the confederate flag on the board with a message saying: "A sticker you put on the back of your pickup truck to announce that you intend to marry your sister. Think of it like a white trash 'Save the Date' card."
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| Second Whistleblower Has Given Evidence to IG on Ukraine Call Posted: 06 Oct 2019 06:12 AM PDT  Yuri Gripas/ReutersA second whistleblower with first-hand knowledge of the allegations that sparked the impeachment inquiry into President Donald Trump has already given evidence to Michael Atkinson, the head of the intelligence community's internal watchdog office. Mark Zaid, the attorney for the first whistleblower, confirmed to The Daily Beast, that he represents both people. ABC News first reported that the second whistleblower had spoken to the inspector general. It is not clear if the second whistleblower is the same person described in a New York Times article published last week, or if this is a new, third, whistleblower prepared to collaborate with the impeachment investigation. That person was reported to have spoken with Atkinson, but he or she had not yet asked for protection under the official whistleblower program. Zaid told ABC that his newest whistleblower client, also described as an intelligence official, had first-hand knowledge of alleged wrongdoing by the president in his dealings with Ukraine over investigating Joe Biden's son, Hunter.The attorney later told CNN's Jake Tapper that his client has "not filed own complaint" and does not need to, and Zaid confirmed that his client has "first-hand knowledge that supports the first whistleblower."On Sunday, Zaid confirmed on Twitter that his new client had first-hand knowledge of the call. "They also made a protected disclosure under the law and cannot be retaliated against," he wrote on Twitter. "This WBer has first hand knowledge."Read more at The Daily Beast.Got a tip? Send it to The Daily Beast hereGet our top stories in your inbox every day. Sign up now!Daily Beast Membership: Beast Inside goes deeper on the stories that matter to you. Learn more.
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| Chinese military issues warning to Hong Kong protesters amid clashes as tens of thousands defy face mask ban Posted: 06 Oct 2019 04:37 AM PDT  The Chinese military issued an unprecedented warning amid another night of chaos and violence in Hong Kong on Sunday, as masked protesters risked tear gas and arrest to march in defiance of an emergency ban on face coverings. As the initially peaceful mass protest on Hong Kong island and in Kowloon spiralled into violent clashes with riot police, the Chinese People's Liberation Army warned protesters they could be arrested for targeting its barracks with laser lights. The warning, the first of its kind during four months of escalating unrest in the global financial hub, was displayed on a yellow flag as hundreds of demonstrators shone laser pens at troops in fatigues. The soldiers responded with spotlights as they filmed the scene. The nearby Kowloon Tong metro station was trashed, its windows smashed into tiny pieces. The entire mass transit rail system, which has been targeted by protesters who believe it has colluded with the government and police against them, was suspended on Sunday evening. Wildcat protests sprang up and disappeared quickly around the city as bands of protesters played a game of cat and mouse with the riot police. The most radical among them threw Molotov cocktails at advancing officers, who responded with tear gas and arrests. A journalist was struck on the head, briefly setting his helmet on fire. An emergency law has criminalised protesters wearing face masks Credit: Nicolas Asfouri/AFP/Getty Images In one isolated moment of brutality, a taxi driver was badly beaten by protesters after he drove into them. It is not clear what sparked the incident. The day had started out peacefully as tens of thousands of protesters - including families with children and elderly people - attended two large unsanctioned rallies. It was a sign of the widespread public anger at a move by Carrie Lam, the city's chief executive, to use a sweeping Emergency Regulations Ordinance to enforce a face mask ban that many believe impairs their freedoms. "We are suppressed by the strong government. They suppress us through a law to threaten the people to stay at home. That's why we have to come out to voice our opinions," said a woman called Mrs Mak, as she sheltered under her husband's umbrella. "I have to come out to fight for the youngsters, because I am nearly 60. I come out because I have to support them. The future belongs to them. I want the government to hear what people are saying," she said. The crowd was visibly nervous, at times stopping and running backwards, after months of angry confrontations between police and protesters that have resulted in over 2,000 arrests, two live shootings and the firing over more than 4,000 tear gas canisters. Some protesters lit fires to block traffic in the city centre Credit: Vincent Thian/AP By mid-afternoon the police had launched tear gas at protesters erecting barricades along major routes, before pushing demonstrators back and making multiple arrests in the shopping district of Causeway Bay. Ms Lam had justified the ban as necessary to end the turmoil that began with a controversial mainland extradition bill but has since spiralled into a wider call for democratic rights. However, many in Hong Kong believe the move has only fuelled mounting public anger. On Sunday morning a group of pro-democracy lawmakers failed in a high court bid to seek an emergency injunction against the ban, arguing that emergency powers bypassed the legislature and contravened the city's mini-constitution. Sharron Fast, a law expert at the University of Hong Kong, warned that the use of the emergency regulation had given the chief executive an "unlimited amount of power, in which she alone can enact laws". She added that Ms Lam could use it to enact more draconian measures including censorship laws. Protesters who marched in torrential rain voiced their anger that the mask ban would not also be applied to the police. Demonstrators have included an independent investigation into police brutality as one of their key demands. Ms Fast said that granting that demand could help to calm the situation. "I think it is still not too little too late. It would take some time, but it would have a pacifying effect."
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| UPDATE 1-Abu Dhabi crown prince, top Saudi defense official discuss military, defense matters Posted: 06 Oct 2019 03:00 PM PDT ![UPDATE 1-Abu Dhabi crown prince, top Saudi defense official discuss military, defense matters]( "UPDATE 1-Abu Dhabi crown prince, top Saudi defense official discuss military, defense matters") The de facto ruler of the United Arab Emirates held talks with Saudi Arabia's deputy defence minister in Abu Dhabi on Sunday on military and defence matters and regional security at a time of heightened tensions with common foe Iran. Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed al-Nahyan and Saudi Vice Minister of Defence Prince Khalid bin Salman discussed "challenges facing the Gulf Arab region and repercussions on the stability and security of its countries ... and efforts to confront them", state news agency WAM reported. Tensions with Iran have risen after attacks on Saudi oil facilities on Sept. 14 that Washington and Riyadh blamed on Tehran, raising fears that a direct confrontation could lead to a new war in the Middle East.
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