Another weekend; another protest in Hong Kong. The Chinese government is beginning to turn the screws on protesters, as it uses a number of techniques to identify them, such as through bus passes. There were more reports of Molotov cocktails and other acts of vandalism as the protesters also try to escalate the pressure. There is one more weekend before the 70th anniversary of the Revolution in China. Beijing would much prefer that the anniversary not be marked by protests, and if there is to be a crackdown, it would likely occur soon.
Protests are also occurring in Egypt, despite a six-year ban on demonstrations. The protesters are opposed to the continued rule by General Abdel-Fatah al-Sisi who has ruled as a dictator since overthrowing the government of Mohamed Morsi in 2013. The Egyptian government responded harshly to the protests which caught many by surprise. The protests occurred in the context of a serious economic slowdown which was caused, in part, by an austerity program enforced by the International Monetary Fund. The protests appear to be spontaneous and there does not seem to be any single group coordinating them.
World Politics News 
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