London police arrest more than 200 people as pro-Palestinian protesters defy new law
Parliament in early July passed a law banning Palestine Action and making it a crime to publicly support the organization. That came after activists broke into a Royal Air Force base and vandalized two tanker planes to protest against Britain's support for Israel's offensive against Hamas in the Gaza Strip.
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Globe and Mail
7 hours ago
- Globe and Mail
UK police arrest nearly 500 at protest supporting banned Palestine Action group
London's Metropolitan Police arrested more than 466 people at a protest on Saturday against Britain's decision to ban the group Palestine Action, the force said. British lawmakers banned Palestine Action under anti-terrorism legislation in July after some of its members broke into a Royal Air Force base and damaged planes as part of a series of protests. The group accuses Britain's government of complicity in what it says are Israeli war crimes in Gaza. Protesters, some wearing black and white Palestinian scarves and waving Palestinian flags, chanted 'hands off Gaza', and held placards with the message 'I oppose genocide. I support Palestine Action', video taken by Reuters at the scene showed. Israel has faced accusations of genocide at the International Court of Justice and from human rights groups over its devastating military assault in Gaza. Israel denies the accusations and casts its offensive as self-defense after a deadly October 2023 attack by Palestinian Hamas militants. The Reuters video showed demonstrators who had gathered in Parliament Square by the Houses of Parliament being carried away by police. The crowd chanted 'shame on you' at the police. In a post on X, the police force said it had arrested 466 people for supporting a proscribed organisation. It also arrested eight people for other offences including five arrests for assaults on officers. The police said no one was seriously injured. The ban makes it a crime to be a member of Palestine Action, carrying a maximum sentence of 14 years in prison. The co-founder of the group, Huda Ammori, last week won a bid to bring a legal challenge against the ban.
Globe and Mail
9 hours ago
- Globe and Mail
BC Hydro says Site C dam is fully operational ahead of schedule
B.C.'s minister of energy and climate solutions Adrian Dix said Site C won't be the last major energy project in the province after becoming fully operational ahead of schedule. The dam in northern B.C. is now able to generate 1,100 megawatts of electricity – enough to power half a million homes per year – after the sixth and final power-generating turbine came online. The first of the six turbines started to generate power in October 2024. BC Hydro's challenge: Powering province through surging demand, drought and trade war Dix said this development means that generations of British Columbians will benefit from reliable and affordable clean electricity, with more clean energy projects under way. 'We need to increase the energy we produce,' he said, adding this new energy needs to be clean, so the province can meet its economic and environmental goals. 'So this is a really important time, and Site C is a key part of that.' In December 2024, BC Hydro awarded nine wind energy projects, following its first call for new power supply in 15 years. Last month, it launched another call for power, also with a focus on clean or renewable energy sources. Dix said this decade will be as important in the history of developing clean energy as the 1960s were, when asked about the historic significance of Site C. With a final price tag of $16 billion, nearly double its initial price tag, the dam is considered B.C.'s most expensive infrastructure project. Construction of the controversial dam started in July 2015 under former B.C. Liberal premier Christy Clark, and continued under late NDP premier John Horgan, following a review of the project's economics. Dix acknowledged that Horgan was not in favour of the project, which also drew opposition from local residents and environmentalists. 'He was a critic of the project,' Dix said. 'He was looking at the contract. He'd given a lot of thought to the project over a long period of time.' BC Hydro's Site C dam project on shaky ground Horgan announced in December 2017 that the project would continue. While Site C 'should never have been started,' cancellation would have added billions of dollars to the provincial debt, Horgan said at the time. 'I think ultimately that was the right decision,' Dix said. 'You have to look at things, and make the right decision for the public interest.' Charlotte Mitha, BC Hydro president and chief executive officer, said in a press release that Site C will serve customers for next 100 years and 'play a critical role in ensuring a stable and reliable electricity system.'
Global News
10 hours ago
- Global News
Canada joins international partners condemning Israel's plan to take over Gaza City
Canada is joining international partners Saturday in panning Israel's plan to take control of Gaza City approved this week. In a joint statement, foreign ministers from several countries including Canada, Australia, France, Germany and the United Kingdom said they reject a decision taken by the Israeli security cabinet on Friday to launch an additional large-scale military operation in Gaza. 'It will aggravate the catastrophic humanitarian situation, endanger the lives of the hostages, and further risk the mass displacement of civilians,' the statement reads. 'The plans that the Government of Israel has announced risk violating international law.' Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "The plans that the Government of Israel has announced risk violating international law." Israel's cabinet approved a plan Friday to take control of Gaza City, and the country's Foreign Ministry said the plan is not to hold Palestinian territory long-term but rather to rout Hamas. Story continues below advertisement The decision to intensify its 22-month war with Hamas has renewed international pressure pressing for an end to the conflict. 3:29 'There's nothing left to occupy': Palestinians condemn Netanyahu's decision to take control of Gaza The United Nations has called the move a dangerous escalation and warns it likely would require a large ground invasion and the displacement of tens of thousands of civilians. Get daily National news Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. Sign up for daily National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy Hamas-led militants triggered the war when they stormed into Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, killing around 1,200 people and abducting 251 people. Most of the hostages have been released in ceasefires or other deals but 50 remain inside Gaza. Israel believes around 20 of them to be alive. Israel's retaliatory campaign has killed more than 61,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza's Health Ministry, which does not say how many were fighters or civilians. The ministry is part of the Hamas-run government and staffed by medical professionals. Story continues below advertisement 0:46 Israel's plan to take over Gaza City is 'wrong,' puts lives of hostages at 'greater risk': Carney The UN Security Council is scheduled to hold an emergency meeting Sunday to discuss Israel's plans for a new ground operation. A meeting planned for Saturday afternoon was postponed. The UN Mission of Panama, which holds the council presidency this month, provided no details, but Saturday is the Jewish Sabbath and Israel is certain to want to speak at the meeting. The foreign ministers urge efforts to bring the conflict to an end 'through an immediate and permanent ceasefire.' That would enable humanitarian assistance to enter in ravaged area as famine is unfolding in Gaza. View full screen View full screen View full screen View full screen View full screen View full screen View full screen View full screen View full screen View full screen View full screen View full screen View full screen View full screen View full screen Previous Image Next Image Close Modal Gallery The statement said Hamas must release all hostages without further delay and must ensure they are humanely treated and not subject to cruelty and humiliation. Story continues below advertisement 'The humanitarian situation in Gaza remains catastrophic,' the statement adds, calling on Israel to amend a recently implemented registration system of international humanitarian organizations to make sure they can distribute aid. On Friday, Prime Minister Mark Carney delivered a similar message, but stopped short of saying whether Canada would consider sanctions against Israel. 'We are working on multiple fronts to try to bring a level of stability to the region, then security, then peace to the region,' Carney told a news conference in Trenton, Ont. — with files from The Associated Press
