News
Hundreds Arrested in London Protest Supporting Banned Palestine Action Group
British police arrested 466 people on Saturday during a central London protest in support of the recently banned pro-Palestinian activist network, Palestine Action. The Metropolitan Police confirmed the arrests took place in Parliament Square, with an additional eight people detained for unrelated offences, including five accused of assaulting officers.
The protest came less than a month after the UK Parliament passed legislation making it a criminal offence to publicly support Palestine Action. The ban followed a June incident in which activists broke into a Royal Air Force base and damaged two tanker planes in protest against Britain’s backing of Israel’s military campaign in Gaza.
Palestine Action, known for targeting Israeli defence companies and UK sites linked to the Israeli military, has condemned the ban as an attack on free speech. Supporters say they will challenge the government’s decision in court, arguing the move wrongly classifies the group as a terrorist organisation.
Amnesty International had urged police ahead of Saturday’s protest not to arrest peaceful demonstrators. More than 500 people gathered in Parliament Square, many carrying placards reading “I oppose genocide. I support Palestine Action.” The Metropolitan Police, however, stated that anyone openly expressing support for the group was “either arrested or in the process of being arrested.”
Protest organisers Defend Our Juries disputed the police account, claiming most detainees were quickly released and accusing the government of “undermining the credibility” of the new law. They described the arrests as a “major embarrassment” and said many participants had intended to be arrested to draw attention to their cause.
Police noted that not everyone present in the square was part of the demonstration, with bystanders, journalists, and passers-by also in the area. Officers described the protest as unusual because of the number of people deliberately seeking arrest to challenge the law.
The weekend’s protests were part of a broader wave of political demonstrations in London linked to the war in Gaza and immigration. Earlier on Saturday, pro-Palestinian marchers rallied outside Downing Street, accusing the government of failing to act to end the conflict. Prime Minister Keir Starmer has pledged to recognise a Palestinian state later this year.
On Sunday, separate marches are planned in the capital, including demonstrations calling for the release of Israeli hostages held in Gaza and protests outside hotels housing asylum seekers. Police say these events, some of which have seen recent clashes between anti-immigration activists and counter-protesters, will place significant strain on resources.
Deputy Assistant Commissioner Ade Adelekan warned that the scale of planned demonstrations over the weekend would “put pressure” on policing operations across the city.
News
Investigation Underway After Goa Nightclub Fire Kills at Least 25
Authorities in the Indian state of Goa have opened an investigation into a nightclub fire that killed at least 25 people, including several tourists, in one of the region’s most popular party districts. Six others were injured in the blaze, which broke out shortly after midnight in Arpora, a nightlife hub about 25 kilometres from the state capital, Panaji.
Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant confirmed the death toll in a statement posted on X, saying the victims included many of the club’s kitchen staff and a small number of visiting tourists. He added that all the injured were in stable condition and receiving medical treatment. Rescue teams recovered all bodies from the site.
Early reports from local police, cited by the Press Trust of India, indicated that a gas cylinder explosion triggered the fire. Witnesses, however, told the agency that the blaze appeared to start on the club’s first floor, where nearly 100 tourists were dancing at the time. As smoke and flames swept through the building, many people ran toward the lower floor, where they became trapped along with staff members.
Sawant said a formal inquiry would determine the exact cause and whether the club complied with fire safety regulations. He pledged strict action against anyone found responsible, writing on X that any negligence uncovered by investigators would be “dealt with firmly”.
Eyewitnesses described scenes of panic as patrons attempted to flee the burning building. “We rushed out of the club only to see that the entire structure was up in flames,” said Fatima Shaikh, who was inside when the fire began.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi offered condolences in a message on X, calling the incident “deeply saddening” and wishing the injured a swift recovery.
Local media reported that the club’s location along the Arpora River backwaters posed challenges for emergency crews. A narrow approach road forced fire engines to park about 400 metres from the entrance, slowing their response. Reports also revealed that the building had previously received a demolition notice after officials found it lacked a construction permit. That order was later withdrawn by senior state authorities, according to Arpora councillor Roshan Redkar.
Incidents involving gas cylinders and electrical faults are not unusual in India and often lead to heavy casualties, prompting renewed calls for stronger enforcement of safety standards. Opposition leader Rahul Gandhi criticised the tragedy as a “criminal failure of safety and governance” and urged a transparent investigation to establish accountability and prevent future disasters.
The probe into the fire is expected to assess structural safety, emergency exits and compliance with existing regulations as authorities work to piece together how the late-night gathering turned into one of the deadliest incidents in the state in recent years.
News
White House Unveils “Media Hall of Shame” Portal as Attacks on Press Intensify
News
Russia Launches Massive Overnight Barrage on Ukraine as Peace Talks With U.S. Continue
-
Entertainment1 year agoMeta Acquires Tilda Swinton VR Doc ‘Impulse: Playing With Reality’
-
Business2 years agoSaudi Arabia’s Model for Sustainable Aviation Practices
-
Business2 years agoRecent Developments in Small Business Taxes
-
Home Improvement1 year agoEffective Drain Cleaning: A Key to a Healthy Plumbing System
-
Politics2 years agoWho was Ebrahim Raisi and his status in Iranian Politics?
-
Business1 year agoCarrectly: Revolutionizing Car Care in Chicago
-
Sports1 year agoKeely Hodgkinson Wins Britain’s First Athletics Gold at Paris Olympics in 800m
-
Business1 year agoSaudi Arabia: Foreign Direct Investment Rises by 5.6% in Q1
