Reform pledges to scrap Online Safety Act over free speech concerns
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Reuters
14 minutes ago
- Reuters
Bangladesh vows democratic renewal on first anniversary of Hasina's overthrow
DHAKA, Aug 5 (Reuters) - Thousands of exultant Bangladeshis gathered in Dhaka on Tuesday to mark the first anniversary of mass protests that toppled Sheikh Hasina, as the interim government unveiled a road map for democratic reform with a national election next year. Rallies, concerts, and prayer sessions were held in the capital as people celebrated what they called a "second liberation". The events culminated with Nobel peace laureate Muhammad Yunus reading out the "July Declaration", which seeks to give constitutional recognition to the 2024 student-led uprising in response to repression and economic hardship that forced Hasina, then prime minister, to flee to India on August 5. "The people of Bangladesh express their desire that the student-people uprising of 2024 will get proper state and constitutional recognition," said Yunus, who heads the interim government installed after Hasina's fall, as representatives of political parties looked on. "The July Declaration will feature in the schedule of the reformed constitution as framed by the government formed through the next national election,' he said. Supporters see the charter as a foundation for institutional reform; critics say its impact could be largely symbolic in the absence of a legal framework or parliamentary consensus. Yunus said he would ask the election commission to organise national elections to be held in February 2026. "We must ensure that no future government can become fascist again. The state must be repaired in such a way that whenever signs of fascism are found anywhere, it can be eradicated immediately," he said. Political parties, particularly the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) led by former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, have urged that elections be held before the end of 2025 to avoid a political vacuum. Yunus said next year's election could be peaceful, fair and transparent. While Hasina's Awami League remains suspended, many believe it should be allowed to participate — despite its top leadership facing prosecution for alleged human rights violations during last year's protests. "Fallen autocrats and their self-serving allies remain active,", Yunus said, urging unity to protect the gains of the uprising while his government holds talks with political parties and civil society. His government had already launched sweeping reforms while trials for those responsible for the "July killings" of 2024 were progressing swiftly, he said. Crowds waving flags, holding placards, and chanting slogans gathered near parliament, including some who had been injured in the protests. "On this day in 2024, the tyrant Sheikh Hasina fled the country," said Ahmedul Hasan. was here last year too. I've come again to remember that moment and join the celebrations." Others were less exuberant. "Even after all the bloodshed and sacrifice, a truly liberal democracy in Bangladesh still feels like a distant dream," said Sabbir Ahmed, a college student who joined the protests last year. Police were on alert throughout the capital, with armoured vehicles on patrol to deter any attempt by the Awami League to disrupt events. "Let this anniversary not be a day of retrospection, but a rallying cry for a brighter tomorrow," Hasina said in an open letter to the people of Bangladesh, adding that she had never resigned as prime minister. "Bangladesh has overcome adversity before, and we will rise again, stronger, more united, and more determined to build a democracy that truly serves its people," she said.
South Wales Argus
43 minutes ago
- South Wales Argus
Former Monmouth Conservative candidate defects to Reform UK
Hannah Jarvis, a former deputy chairman of Monmouthshire Conservatives who has stood for the Welsh Conservatives in two general elections and two Police and Crime Commissioner elections, announced her switch to Reform UK, citing the party's commitment to veterans and national priorities. Ms Jarvis, a veteran and mother of two who recently returned from delivering medical supplies to troops in Ukraine, said: "It's time to put country first, and Reform UK are the only party that recognise the concerning state our nation is in and that are serious about tackling the issues that matter to the people of Wales and the UK." She highlights the amount of support for Reform UK that is growing across Monmouthshire. Ms Jarvis said: "I have been overwhelmed at the amount of support for Reform across Monmouthshire, reflecting the strength of feeling of the need for a real change in the county and country – as the polling shows. "The Conservatives have ignored the concerns of the membership for too long and the diminishing party shows just how far they've fallen." She believes Reform UK is the only party prioritising the needs of the armed forces and veterans, pointing to its proposals for a dedicated veterans ministry and an Armed Forces Justice Bill. Her defection follows those of South East Wales MS Laura Anne Jones and former Monmouthshire Conservative chairman Barrie O'Keefe. Ms Jones said: "It's clear with every day that passes that Reform has all the momentum in Welsh politics. "It is great to hear that Hannah is now coming on board too, with her experience and tenacity. "Reform Wales have only just got started, and over the coming months we intend to show everyone our made-in-Wales plans to Reform Wales." She says that Reform is the 'only party' offering 'real change' from what she calls the 'failures of establishment parties at both end of the M4.'
Sky News
an hour ago
- Sky News
Police should be 'more transparent' over suspects, says home secretary
Police should reveal the ethnicity and immigration status of criminal suspects, Yvette Cooper has said. The home secretary told Sky News there needs to be "greater transparency" about people arrested and charged, with the Law Commission conducting a review of guidance in this area. The issue has been the subject of debate in a series of high-profile cases, including recently over the charging of two men - reported to be Afghan asylum seekers - over the alleged rape of a 12-year-old girl in Nuneaton. The suspects' ethnicities have not been confirmed. Asked if she thought police should routinely reveal this detail, as Reform UK leader Nigel Farage has called for, Ms Cooper said: "We want more information, more transparency, and more information to be provided. "We've said this for some time, and it's why we asked the Law Commission to accelerate their review into the issues around contempt of court, because that's about what information can be released once there are legal proceedings underway, once there's a trial process under way." Contempt of Court rules restrict the information that police can put out on the basis that it could prejudice a suspect's right to a fair trial. Speaking later to BBC Radio Four, Ms Cooper said that while it is an operational decision for police and the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) to decide what information to reveal in individual cases, "we do think that the guidance needs to change". Mr Farage has argued that retaining details on ethnicity and immigration status helps fuel unrest, as seen in the riots last summer after the Southport stabbings, when false rumours spread online that killer Axel Rudakubana was a Muslim asylum seeker. "What caused unrest on our streets after Southport last year was us not being told the status of the attacker. That led to crazy conspiracy theories spreading online," the Clacton MP said at a news conference on Monday. Referring to the alleged rape in Nuneaton, Mr Farage said police should "spell out the basic and sober facts", calling the lack of detail about the suspects' ethnicity "a cover-up that in many ways is reminiscent of what happened after the Southport killings". The force has defended its decision not to release further details of the suspects, saying that once someone is charged with an offence they follow national guidance, which "does not include sharing ethnicity or immigration status". Asked about the case on Monday, the prime minister's official spokesman said the police and courts were operationally independent but "we should always be as transparent as possible when it comes to cases". A College of Policing spokesman said: "Media relations guidance for police is already under review and is looking at how forces can best balance their obligations under contempt of court legislation with their responsibility to prevent disorder.
