Protests erupted for a third consecutive night in Tbilisi on Saturday following the Georgian government’s announcement to suspend negotiations for European Union membership, leaving 44 people hospitalized, including 27 protesters, 16 police officers, and one journalist. Thousands of demonstrators gathered outside the Georgian Parliament, voicing anger over the decision. The protests turned violent, with participants throwing stones, setting off fireworks, and burning an effigy of Bidzina Ivanishvili, the founder of the ruling Georgian Dream party. Police responded with water cannons and tear gas to disperse the crowd. Government’s Defense Amid Growing Tensions Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze dismissed allegations that Georgia had abandoned its European integration efforts. “The only thing we have rejected is the shameful and offensive blackmail,” he said during a briefing on Sunday. Kobakhidze blamed opposition politicians for orchestrating the unrest and warned of strict legal repercussions for any law violations. Kobakhidze also downplayed the U.S. State Department’s announcement of suspending its strategic partnership with Georgia, describing it as an attempt by the outgoing administration to complicate the transition for the incoming U.S. leadership. EU and U.S. Criticism The EU issued a joint statement Sunday, with foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas and enlargement commissioner Marta Kos condemning Georgia’s decision. They described the move as a departure from the pro-European aspirations of most Georgians, urging authorities to respect democratic freedoms and the right to peaceful assembly. The protests come in the wake of the EU’s decision to withhold financial support for Georgia earlier this year following the passage of a controversial “foreign influence” law, which critics argued undermines democratic freedoms. Read: Georgian protesters clash with police for second night after EU talks suspended The U.S. State Department also criticized the suspension of EU talks, expressing concerns about democratic backsliding in Georgia and supporting protesters’ rights to express dissent peacefully. Opposition Calls for Elections Opposition leaders have accused the Georgian Dream party of rigging the October 26 parliamentary elections with alleged support from Russia. They claim the elections undermined Georgia’s aspirations to join the EU, leading to widespread protests and an opposition boycott of parliament. Georgia’s pro-Western President Salome Zourabichvili, in an interview with The Associated Press, accused the government of steering the country toward becoming a “quasi-Russian” state. “We are asking for new elections, but in conditions that will ensure that the will of the people will not be misrepresented or stolen again,” she said. European Aspirations at Stake Georgia was granted EU candidate status in December 2023, contingent on meeting the bloc’s recommendations. However, the country’s accession talks were paused earlier this year amid concerns over democratic backsliding. Protesters continue to demand a renewed commitment to EU membership and democratic reforms, highlighting the growing divide between the government and a population largely supportive of European integration. Read more: Georgia's ruling party picks former soccer player as its presidential candidate As tensions persist, the Georgian government faces mounting international and domestic pressure to address the crisis and reassert its commitment to democratic principles. Source: With inputs from agencies 

Thousands of demonstrators gathered outside the Georgian parliament and clashed with police for the second consecutive night on Friday, protesting the government's decision to halt talks about joining the European Union. The previous night, police used water cannons, tear gas, and pepper spray to disperse protesters in Tbilisi, the capital, after Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze of the ruling Georgian Dream party announced the suspension. The Interior Ministry reported that 43 people were arrested during the protests. On Friday evening, demonstrators again gathered near the parliament, with some attempting to break through metal gates. Riot police used water cannons to push the crowd back and continued to move them further away from the building along Rustaveli Avenue, the city’s main street. Some protesters built barricades using garbage bins and benches. Georgia's ruling party picks former soccer player as its presidential candidate Protests also erupted in Batumi, a port city on the Black Sea, late on Friday. The contested victory of Georgian Dream in the October 26 election, which many saw as a referendum on the country’s EU aspirations, triggered large protests and an opposition boycott of parliament. The opposition claimed the vote was rigged, alleging Russian interference to keep Georgia within its sphere of influence. President Salome Zourabichvili joined the protesters on Thursday, accusing the government of waging “war” on its own people. In a Friday address, Zourabichvili urged the police to avoid using force against the demonstrators. Although Zourabichvili holds a largely ceremonial role, she declared the election was manipulated with Russia’s help, citing Georgia’s historical ties to Russia. The government’s decision to suspend EU negotiations came shortly after the European Parliament condemned the October vote as neither free nor fair, reflecting Georgia’s ongoing democratic decline, which it attributed to the ruling party, Georgian Dream. European election observers described the election as divisive, marked by bribery, double voting, and violence. In December 2023, the EU granted Georgia candidate status, contingent upon meeting specific requirements. However, the EU later suspended progress on Georgia’s membership and reduced financial aid due to the passage of a “foreign influence” law seen as undermining democratic freedoms. European lawmakers have called for a new parliamentary election within a year under international supervision and an independent election administration. They also suggested imposing sanctions and limiting formal interactions with the Georgian government. In response, Prime Minister Kobakhidze dismissed the European criticisms, accusing EU politicians of launching a “cascade of insults” and turning the European Parliament into a tool of blackmail. He asserted that Georgia would continue its path to EU membership but would not tolerate disrespect or manipulation from European politicians. Kobakhidze also announced that Georgia would reject any EU budgetary grants until 2028. Critics of Georgian Dream, which was founded by billionaire Bidzina Ivanishvili, claim the party is growing more authoritarian and pro-Russian. The party has recently passed laws resembling those in Russia that restrict free speech and target LGBTQ+ rights. In June, the EU suspended Georgia’s EU membership application indefinitely after the parliament passed a law requiring organizations receiving significant foreign funding to register as “pursuing the interest of a foreign power,” similar to a Russian law used to discredit opposition groups.      

At least 10 people were injured in a clash between students of Dhaka College and City College at Science Lab area in the capital on Wednesday. Witnesses said the clash started around 3:00 pm and both sides chased each other with sticks and iron rods and threw bricks and stones. At one point, the army perssonel and police attempted to control the situation by chasing the students. The clash disrupted traffic movement in Science Lab area, triggering traffic chaos on roads in the adjacent areas. Police were deployed to maintain law and order at the scene, and army personnel were also seen controlling the situation. Sakib Hasan, a Geography student from Dhaka College's 2022-23 session, said, "Today was the 184th founding anniversary celebration of Dhaka College. After the event, around 2:30 PM, all students left one by one by bus. When three buses reached the Science Lab area, City College students stopped the buses, vandalised them, and physically assaulted many students." Sakib further mentioned earlier there was some conflict between Dhaka College's HSC students and City College students and the conflict led them to vandalism of our buses.    

Two policemen sustained injuries during a clash with traders when Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) conducted an eviction drive at Khilgaon rail gate kitchen market on Sunday. The injured were identified as Inspector (Operation) Mahidul Islam of Shajanpur Police Station and constable named Mehedi Hasan (24) of Public Order and Management (POM) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police. Dhaka calls for solidarity, unity, strong South-South cooperation to achieve sustainable development Among them, Inspector Mahidul received injuries on his head, while Constable Mehedi Hasan sustained bullet injuries at his leg. The incident took place between 2:00 pm and 2:30 pm when the DSCC authority went to the spot to conduct an eviction drive, said Officer-in-charge of Shahjahanpur police station Sujit Kumar Shaha. The DSCC has conducted the eviction drive in the kitchen market as the authority will build a multistoried market there. They had earlier issued several notices to the existing traders of the market to shift their belongings but did not comply with the order, the OC said. Plot-to-Plot BDS map set to start in February: Land Minister When the DSCC along with a large number of police went there, local traders swooped on them with brick bats. The police resorted to baton charge, hurled sound grenade and fired rubber bullets to disperse the unruly people.  During the clash, Inspector Mahidul received head injuries due to hitting of brick bats and Constable Mehedi might have received bullet injuries accidentally at his leg from the bullets fired by other police members, the OC added. PM visits Walton Mega Stall at Dhaka Int’l Trade Fair This incident took place on Sunday (January 21) around 2 o'clock. Injured policeman Mehedi Hasan is being treated at Dhaka Medical and Inspector (Operation) Mahidul Islam at Rajarbagh Police Lines Hospital. Injured policeman Mehedi Hasan is being treated at Dhaka Medical College Hospital and Inspector (Operation) Mahidul Islam at Rajarbagh Police Lines Hospital.

Deadly clashes between rival militias in Libya’s capital killed at least 27 people and left residents trapped in their homes on Tuesday,unable to escape the violence,medical authorities said. The fighting appears to be the most intense to shake Tripoli this year. There were at least four people dead but it was not immediately clear if they were militiamen or civilians, an official said.The clashes erupted late on Monday between militiamen from the 444 brigade and the Special Deterrence Force, according to local media reports. Tensions flared after Mahmoud Hamza, a senior commander of the 444 brigade, was allegedly detained by the rival group at an airport in Tripoli earlier in the day, the reports said. Read also:Bangladesh climbs 5 spots in latest passport ranking, still behind Sri Lanka and Libya Over 100 people were injured in the fighting, Libya's Emergency Medicine and Support Center, a medical body that is deployed during humanitarian disasters and wars, said early Wednesday.It is unclear how many of the dead were militiamen or civilians. The Red Crescent did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Throughout the fighting Tuesday, the Health Ministry urged the warring sides to allow ambulance and emergency teams to enter the affected areas, primarily in the south of the city, and for blood to be sent to nearby hospitals. Read also:Italy agrees to lift ban on flights from conflict-stricken Libya after 10 years OPSGroup, an organization for the aviation industry, said late Monday that a large number of aircraft departed from Tripoli due to the clashes. Inbound flights were being diverted to the nearby city of Misrata, it said. The escalation follows months of relative peace after nearly a decade of civil war in Libya, where two rival sets of authorities are locked in a political stalemate. Longstanding divisions have sparked several incidents of violence in Tripoli in recent years, although most have been over in a matter of hours. Read also:Don’t want US foreign policy failures in Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria, and Libya repeated in Bangladesh: Elected Bangladeshi-American officials, activists write to Biden In a statement Tuesday, the U.N. mission in Libya said it was following with concern "the security incidents and developments" and called for an immediate end to the ongoing clashes.Both of Libya's rival administrations also condemned the fighting in separate statements Tuesday. The House of Representatives, which is based in the eastern city of Benghazi, blamed its rival, the Tripoli-based government, for the violence. The U.S. and British embassies in Libya issued statements expressing concerns over the violence. The United States called for an "immediate de-escalation in order to sustain recent Libyan gains toward stability and elections," the American Embassy said. The oil-rich country has been divided since 2014 between rival administrations in the east and the west, each supported by an array of well-armed militias and different foreign governments. The North African nation has been in a state of upheaval since a 2011 NATO-backed uprising toppled and later killed longtime dictator Moammar Gadhafi.

At least 50 people were injured in a clash among the leaders and activists of BNP and Awami League and police duirng BNP’s march programme at Islampur road in Feni district town on Tuesday. Witnesses said, hundreds of BNP leaders and activists led by former MP VP Joynal brought out a procession as part of their party’s central march rally from Daudpur area in the district town. When the procession reached at Islampur road around 4 pm, police obstructed them. A chase and counter-chase took place among them. The BNP activists also hurled brick chips targeting police. BNP’s march: 50 hurt in clash with police in Bogura At one stage, a group of Awami League leaders and activists appeared there who were holding a peaceful rally near Feni Shaheed Minar, engaged into the clash. The whole area turned into a battle field. Later, police fired bullets and lobbed tear gas shells to disperse them. 50 people including 25 BNP leaders and activists were injured during the clash, said Sheikh Farid Uddin Bahar, convener of Feni District unit BNP. Police-BNP activists clash in Kishoreganj; several activists, journalists injured Four journalist including Mohona TV correspondent and Manabjamin correspondent were injured in the clash while taking footage of the clash. Zakir Hossain, superintendent of Feni police said, officer-in-charge of Feni Model Police Station and some policemen were injured during the clash. BNP activists, police clash in Pirojpur Additional police have been deployed in the area to avert further trouble.

A 75-year-old man was killed in a clash over “sale of rotten mangoes” at Sirajul Market in Kakina union of Kaliganj upazila under Lalmonirhat district around 10 pm on Tuesday (July 12, 2023). The deceased was identified as Azizar Rahman, a resident of Ichlir Char village under Laxmitari union of Gangachara upazila in Rangpur. Read: Hit by bus, on-duty traffic police constable dies in Ctg Locals said the incident took place when a clash broke out over selling rotten mangoes at Sirajul Market on Tuesday night.Habibur Rahman, officer-in-charge (investigation) of Kaliganj police station, said Azizar Rahman was killed in the clash between two groups. Read: Body of a man found near CUET gate Legal action in this regard is under process, he added.

Four people were killed and 20 others injured in a clash between two groups of villagers over a trifling matter at Hasnabaz village in Shantiganj upazila of Sunamganj district on Monday. The deceased were identified as Babul Mia, 58, son of Sufi Mia,  Nurul Islam, 42, Nurul Haque, 32 and Md Shahjahan, 36, son of Abdul Basit of the village. Khaled Chowdhury, officer-in-charge of Shantiganj Police Station, said a man from Hasnabaz village donated a jackfruit to a local mosque. Later, Dwin Islam and his supporters locked into an altercation with Sunu Mia and Junab Ali over an attempt to sell the jackfruit. Read: 3 killed in clash over land dispute in Rajshahi They attacked each other with sharp weapons, leaving two dead on the spot and 21 others injured. Of the injured Shahjahan died on the way to hospital. Read: 15 injured during BCL-Jubo League clash in Barishal Later, another injured victim Nurul succumbed to his injuries at Sadar Hospital in the afternoon, said Rafiqul Islam, resident medical officer of the hospital. On information, police rushed to the spot and brought the situation under control. Police also arrested three people from the spot. Read more: At least 10 injured in clash between two groups in Kushtia

Several supporters of mayoral candidates backed by Awami League (AL) and Islami Andolon Bangladesh were injured in a clash over entering a polling centre, as Barishal City Corporation election is underway today (June 12, 2023). Islami Andolon candidate Mufti Syed Muhammad Faizul Karim, who is contesting the election with the ‘hand fan’ symbol, alleged that several of his supporters as well as he were injured in an attack by AL men when they were about to enter the Kawnia Secondary Girls School centre. He said voters and his agents were forced to leave the Kawnia centre and Manik Miah centre. “Activists of the AL mayoral candidate barred me from entering the Kawnia centre when I tried to lodge a complaint with the presiding officer,” the Islami Andolon candidate told UNB Barishal correspondent. “I, along with several of my supporters, was injured in the attack,” he said. Read: Barishal city polls: Voters being barred from coming to polling stations, say 2 mayoral candidates Denying the allegation made by the Islami Andolon candidate and supporters, AL activist Biddyut said they only told them that they "should not enter the polling centre with such a big crowd." “Rather they (Islami Andolon activists) carried out an attack on us with knives, leaving several men injured,” he said.

At least 10 people were injured when a clash broke out between ready-made garments (RMG) workers and law enforcers in Ashulia area of Savar upazila on Tuesday (May 23, 2023) as the workers blocked Baipail-Abdullahpur highway, police said. According to the workers, the authority of Fashion Forum Limited Garment declared the garment closed indefinitely as they went on a strike and stopped working from Monday on various demands. Read more: Bangladesh-Australia have huge opportunities to expand trade: BGMEA President  Observing the notice put at the gate last night, the workers started to block the Baipail-Abdullahpur highway and police intercepted them. Ashulia Police Station Officer-in-Charge Kamruzzaman confirmed the matter and said that additional police have been deployed in front of the factory to avoid any untoward incident. Read more: Dip in US market fails to dent apparel sector's growth momentum.