Massive protests rock Lebanon

Beirut - Public anger flared on Thursday over plans to tax calls on messaging applications such as WhatsApp.

Hundreds of protesters blocked major highways in Lebanon on Friday, after thousands angry at proposed tax increases thronged the streets overnight demanding the government's resignation in the largest demonstrations in years.
Public anger has simmered since parliament passed an austerity budget in July to help trim a ballooning deficit and flared on Thursday over plans to tax calls on messaging applications such as WhatsApp, prompting the government to withdraw the deeply unpopular proposal.
The government is weighing a raft of new belt-tightening measures it hopes will shore up its finances.

• MENA