Latest news with #UKParliament
The Guardian
6 hours ago
- Business
- The Guardian
Britain must stand ready to recognise Somaliland
Given that Somaliland is such a beacon of democracy in Africa, your article seems to be unduly negative about the prospect of its recognition, saying that this will 'infuriate' Somalia (Exclusive: Somaliland president says recognition of state 'on the horizon' following Trump talks, 30 May). The former British Somaliland was given its independence in 1960 and chose to join with the former Italian Somaliland to form Somalia, while the former French Somaliland wisely chose to sit it out as Djibouti. Its reward, during the rule of the dictator Siad Barre, was death and destruction in the 'hidden war', a period when many were resettled to Britain (particularly Cardiff, where the first Somalis had arrived in the 1850s) from refugee camps, mainly in Ethiopia. It is now 34 years since Somalilanders pushed back Barre's army and reasserted its independence. Since then, we have seen several peaceful transitions from one president and party to another following elections. In 2007, I led a UK parliamentary delegation, supported by the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, to Somaliland and we also visited the African Union in Addis Ababa to ask why it had not yet recognised Somaliland. The answer was that an internal report recommending recognition was gathering dust because some of its members feared that recognition might encourage breakaway provinces in other countries. But Somaliland is not a breakaway province – it's a nation that reasserted its independence and has shown a capacity for building its own democratic institutions, pursuing peace and security, and fostering economic growth. In the same period that Somaliland has been a successful democracy, Somalia (the residual south) has been a failed state. Why should those who currently run Somalia not be told to focus on imitating the peace, democracy, cohesion and economic success of Somaliland, instead of being encouraged in a land grab? Understandably perhaps, Foreign Office officials are reluctant to recognise Somaliland before any nation in the region does so, but Britain should stand ready to come second with recognition. Or have we forgotten the enormous contribution made by soldiers from British Somaliland during the second world war and that of Somaliland's seamen since the middle of the 19th century, as well as the contribution that Somalilanders make nowadays in the UK?Alun MichaelMP for Cardiff South and Penarth (1987–2012); former chair, all-party parliamentary group for Somaliland and Somalia
South Wales Argus
a day ago
- Politics
- South Wales Argus
Two activists convicted of harassing justice minister over Israel-Hamas conflict
Ayeshah Behit, 31, and Hiba Ahmed, 26, were found guilty of the charge against Alex Davies-Jones, the Labour MP for Pontypridd, following a trial at Cardiff Magistrates' Court on Monday. They had filmed a confrontation with Ms Davies-Jones, a justice minister, who had been campaigning in the village of Treforest, Rhondda Cynon Taf, in the lead-up to the general election, on June 26 last year. Senior District Judge Paul Goldspring found both defendants guilty of harassment and sentenced them to a conditional discharge and fine. Giving evidence during the trial, Ms Davies-Jones told the court she was 'terrified' after being confronted by the two activists. As she made her way to the campaign meeting place, she saw Behit and Ahmed with leaflets describing her as a 'full-blown supporter of this genocide' – referring to the Israel-Hamas conflict. Ms Davies-Jones said: 'They asked me about the ceasefire and why I had abstained. I clarified I hadn't abstained, I wasn't in the country, I was paired in that vote. 'It was escalating in terms of passion and intensity. We walked off in the opposite direction. We felt scared and intimidated, and we wanted to leave the situation. 'I had a number of young members with me. They already felt uncomfortable, I didn't want them to feel more at risk. 'They began to follow us. They were shouting and bellowing down the street at us – 'why do you support genocide, why are you murdering babies, Alex Davies-Jones, do you support genocide?'' Alex Davies-Jones is the Labour MP for Pontypridd (Roger Harris/UK Parliament/PA) Later in the day, Behit and Ahmed put posters on the Labour office in Pontypridd – the base of Ms Davies-Jones' campaign for the general election – that referred to politicians 'enabling genocide'. They also placed stickers in black capital letters reading 'Alex Davies-Jones how many murdered children is too many?' on the office and a poster reading 'Alex Davies-Jones supports genocide' on a bus stop, while a video of the confrontation was uploaded onto social media describing Ms Davies-Jones as racist. Asked about how their actions made her feel, the politician, who was first elected as MP for Pontypridd in 2019, told the court: 'I was terrified. 'I was worried because of the risk to my team and supporters, and my reputation given it was the general election and what that would mean.' Sentencing, Mr Goldspring told Ahmed and Behit: 'This was part of a deliberate and sustained campaign targeting the complainant. 'This course of conduct was clearly designed to cause alarm and distress to her and she did experience alarm and distress. She stopped canvassing. 'It was not reasonable and it was oppressive.' The judge said the defendants did have rights to freedom of speech but this case went 'beyond the boundaries' of this protection and was 'beyond robust scrutiny or political process'. He sentenced Ahmed, a final year architecture student at Cardiff University with no previous convictions, to a 12-month conditional discharge. Behit, who has a conviction relating to a protest in Cardiff last year, received an 18-month conditional discharge. Ayeshah Behit received an 18-month conditional discharge (Claire Hayhurst/PA) They were both ordered to pay £650 costs and a £26 court surcharge, at a rate of £20 per month. Mr Goldspring added: 'I would love to say you are remorseful. I suspect you are not. 'I suspect your views will be held until something happens very differently in that area of the world.' Ahmed, giving evidence, said she and Behit lived in Treforest and had wanted to raise awareness of Ms Davies-Jones' actions on Palestine ahead of the election. She said the defendants, both of Treforest, had planned to hand out and post leaflets that afternoon when they saw their MP coming towards them. Hiba Ahmed, centre, leaving Cardiff Magistrates Court (Claire Hayhurst/PA) Ahmed said: 'I was genuinely really surprised when I saw her. I've lived in Treforest for a couple of years, I've never seen her. 'It was like seeing a celebrity almost, like a unicorn in the wild.' Ahmed said the action taken against Ms Davies-Jones 'wasn't really about her, it was about Palestine'. Behit told the court: 'She was running for MP and where I lived there were posters everywhere. It was constant, everywhere you looked was pro-Alex. 'My intention was to show a different perspective, to get people to do their own research. It was never about Alex as a person. 'Part of her job as an MP is having people look at her policies, her opinions and how she voted.' Speaking outside court, Behit confirmed that both defendants would appeal against their convictions.
The Herald Scotland
a day ago
- Politics
- The Herald Scotland
Two activists convicted of harassing justice minister over Israel-Hamas conflict
They had filmed a confrontation with Ms Davies-Jones, a justice minister, who had been campaigning in the village of Treforest, Rhondda Cynon Taf, in the lead-up to the general election, on June 26 last year. Senior District Judge Paul Goldspring found both defendants guilty of harassment and sentenced them to a conditional discharge and fine. Giving evidence during the trial, Ms Davies-Jones told the court she was 'terrified' after being confronted by the two activists. As she made her way to the campaign meeting place, she saw Behit and Ahmed with leaflets describing her as a 'full-blown supporter of this genocide' – referring to the Israel-Hamas conflict. Ms Davies-Jones said: 'They asked me about the ceasefire and why I had abstained. I clarified I hadn't abstained, I wasn't in the country, I was paired in that vote. 'It was escalating in terms of passion and intensity. We walked off in the opposite direction. We felt scared and intimidated, and we wanted to leave the situation. 'I had a number of young members with me. They already felt uncomfortable, I didn't want them to feel more at risk. 'They began to follow us. They were shouting and bellowing down the street at us – 'why do you support genocide, why are you murdering babies, Alex Davies-Jones, do you support genocide?'' Alex Davies-Jones is the Labour MP for Pontypridd (Roger Harris/UK Parliament/PA) Later in the day, Behit and Ahmed put posters on the Labour office in Pontypridd – the base of Ms Davies-Jones' campaign for the general election – that referred to politicians 'enabling genocide'. They also placed stickers in black capital letters reading 'Alex Davies-Jones how many murdered children is too many?' on the office and a poster reading 'Alex Davies-Jones supports genocide' on a bus stop, while a video of the confrontation was uploaded onto social media describing Ms Davies-Jones as racist. Asked about how their actions made her feel, the politician, who was first elected as MP for Pontypridd in 2019, told the court: 'I was terrified. 'I was worried because of the risk to my team and supporters, and my reputation given it was the general election and what that would mean.' Sentencing, Mr Goldspring told Ahmed and Behit: 'This was part of a deliberate and sustained campaign targeting the complainant. 'This course of conduct was clearly designed to cause alarm and distress to her and she did experience alarm and distress. She stopped canvassing. 'It was not reasonable and it was oppressive.' The judge said the defendants did have rights to freedom of speech but this case went 'beyond the boundaries' of this protection and was 'beyond robust scrutiny or political process'. He sentenced Ahmed, a final year architecture student at Cardiff University with no previous convictions, to a 12-month conditional discharge. Behit, who has a conviction relating to a protest in Cardiff last year, received an 18-month conditional discharge. Ayeshah Behit received an 18-month conditional discharge (Claire Hayhurst/PA) They were both ordered to pay £650 costs and a £26 court surcharge, at a rate of £20 per month. Mr Goldspring added: 'I would love to say you are remorseful. I suspect you are not. 'I suspect your views will be held until something happens very differently in that area of the world.' Ahmed, giving evidence, said she and Behit lived in Treforest and had wanted to raise awareness of Ms Davies-Jones' actions on Palestine ahead of the election. She said the defendants, both of Treforest, had planned to hand out and post leaflets that afternoon when they saw their MP coming towards them. Ahmed said: 'I was genuinely really surprised when I saw her. I've lived in Treforest for a couple of years, I've never seen her. 'It was like seeing a celebrity almost, like a unicorn in the wild.' Ahmed said the action taken against Ms Davies-Jones 'wasn't really about her, it was about Palestine'. Behit told the court: 'She was running for MP and where I lived there were posters everywhere. It was constant, everywhere you looked was pro-Alex. 'My intention was to show a different perspective, to get people to do their own research. It was never about Alex as a person. 'Part of her job as an MP is having people look at her policies, her opinions and how she voted.' Speaking outside court, Behit confirmed that both defendants would appeal against their convictions.
Daily Mirror
27-05-2025
- Automotive
- Daily Mirror
DfT update expected over 'dazzling' headlight rules
UK motorists have raised concerns about the high intensity of modern car headlights claiming they cause undue glare UK drivers may soon experience a major shift in driving conditions due to possible law changes around "dazzling" headlights. The government is set to reveal the outcomes of a study investigating LEDs and road safety this summer. Following a survey from late 2023 that indicated a huge percentage of UK motorists have raised concerns about the high intensity of modern car headlights, the research aims to delve into the factors causing headlight glare and explore ways to reduce its blinding impact on drivers. Former roads minister Lilian Greenwood had previously acknowledged the ongoing study, noting it was "due to deliver in summer 2025" which aligns with a current update on the UK Parliament website. Lilian Greenwood said: "All types of road vehicle headlamps are designed, tested, and approved to internationally recognised standards to help prevent undue glare and ensure safety on a broad range of roads and environments. However, noting increased public concern about headlamp glare, Government has commissioned independent research to better understand the root causes and develop potential countermeasures.", reports Lancs Live. The issue has also gained traction with the United Nations international body focusing on vehicle lighting and additional measures are expected to be taken by September 2027. A spokesperson for the Department for Transport (DfT) stated that this separate analysis will be important in pinpointing the primary causes of driver glare issues and creating "appropriate mitigations". An RAC study from December 2023 showed that an overwhelming 85% of drivers think the problem of blinding headlights is getting worse. The survey, which canvassed 2,000 motorists, found that 89% think at least some car headlights are "too bright", with 28% believing "most are". Among those disturbed by intense headlights, a startling 91 % claimed they felt "dazzled" while driving, with 74% experiencing it "regularly". In addition, 64% expressed concerns that bright headlights could result in crashes. Five per cent of these participants revealed near misses due to headlight glare. While 7% claimed the glare was so intense they shunned driving at night, and this number climbs to 14% among drivers aged 65 or older. The Department for Transport keeps a log of incidents where police have reported "dazzling headlights" as a factor in road accidents. The figures show that the year 2013 saw the highest number of accidents related to this issue at 369, while the numbers plunged to their lowest in 2020 with just 196, likely influenced by the Covid measures. LED (light emitting diode) headlights are significantly brighter than traditional halogen bulbs. The issue is worsened if the headlights are not properly aligned, and with the increasing popularity of taller vehicles like SUVs, which can direct the light beam straight into the eyes of drivers in smaller cars.
Jordan Times
15-05-2025
- Politics
- Jordan Times
Israel Targets UNRWA schools in occupied East Jerusalem
OCCUPIED JERUSALEM — "Israel must immediately reopen UNRWA-run schools and restore access for Palestinian refugees to UNRWA services in the West Bank", MP Sarah Champion, Chair of the International Development Committee in the British Parliament said. The Chair of the Committee, , has written to UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy on 9 May , about the continued Israeli harassment and undermining of UNRWA and that Israeli armed guards forced UNRWA into closing three schools that it operates across East Jerusalem and another three within the Shu'fat refugee camp. On 8 May, heavily armed Israeli Forces stormed three UNRWA schools in Shu'fat Camp in occupied East Jerusalem, enforcing the illegal closure orders issued on 8 April 2025, forcing over 550 children out of their schools. The Israeli Security Forces harassed UNRWA teachers and detained one UNRWA staff member, ordering them to dismiss the students. As a result, UNRWA was forced to evacuate all children across the six schools it runs in East Jerusalem. UNRWA, runs a range of critical services for Palestinians in East Jerusalem, the occupied West Bank and Gaza Strip. Since the 1950s, UNRWA has run schools and medical clinics in East Jerusalem, which Israel seized during the Arab-Israeli war of 1967. The agency is the second biggest provider of education in the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPT) after the Palestinian Authority (PA), operating 96 schools in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and serving nearly 50,000 students from the first to the ninth grades. "These closures represent simply the latest in a long line of actions intended to undermine the work of UNRWA across the Occupied Palestinian Territory," she wrote. "UNRWA also operates health centres across East Jerusalem that meet the needs of 40,000 citizens. We have no guarantees that these will not be the next targets of the Government of Israel." Sarah said. "Access to education is a basic human right. Removing that right by force is not only traumatic for the children who will lose out on vital learning; it demonstrates that the Government of Israel appears prepared to commit serious breaches of international humanitarian law. ..." Sara commented . This latest provocation is just the latest in a string of actions to undermine the work of the agency. Will health centres be next?, "Sara said. The agency said the closures will affect around 800 children, with no alternatives yet announced for them to continue their education. "This is an assault on children. An assault on education," UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini said in a statement. "Storming schools and forcing them shut is a blatant disregard of international law." "These schools are inviolable premises of the United Nations. UNRWA schools must continue to be open to safeguard an entire generation of children," Lazzarini added. The development follows two bills passed by the Israeli Knesset last year, prohibiting UNRWA from conducting activities within Israel's borders and making it illegal for Israeli officials to have any contact with UNRWA. Those measures have been in effect since late January. Israel has accused UNRWA employees of involvement in the Hamas-led attacks on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, a charge vehemently denied by the UN. On his part, Roland Friedrich, Director for UNRWA Affairs in the West Bank, warned that the Palestine refugee children are at an "immediate risk" of losing their access to education. "Israel's actions today are a grave violation of its obligations as a UN Member State under international law," he said in a social media post. "So here, Israel is acting in contravention of its own obligations and commitments as a party to the so-called general convention." In the short term, UNRWA's students will be left scrambling to finish their school year, which ends in June. In the longer term, Friedrich warned that the effects of the closures will be far reaching. "This is going to have a psychological impact, and an economic impact on the families. It will create a host of humanitarian issues," he said. He also warned that, more broadly, the closures have political implications, tightening Israeli control over areas that are internationally recognised as occupied. "We at UNRWA are bound by international law, we're also bound by the UN General Assembly Resolution last September on ending the occupation," he said. "It states very clearly that no UN agency or member state should undertake any steps that further reinforce the illegal occupation." On her part, Al Jazeera correspondent Nour Odeh said that the closure of the UNRWA schools is "extremely problematic" because children would likely end up at Israeli institutions run by the Jerusalem Municipality and Israeli schools do not teach the Palestinian curriculum. "It is an Israeli-run curriculum that Palestinians say ignores and erases Palestinian identity," Odeh said. That move, is likely to have a "crippling effect" on UNRWA's operations "in 19 other refugee camps" across the occupied West Bank, affecting "Palestinians who rely on the agency, not just for education but also for health services, for psychosocial support" Odeh added. UNRWA has long faced attempts by the Israeli authorities to curtail its activities in East Jerusalem and bring all services, including education, under Israeli oversight, a part of its comprehensive war against the Palestinian presence and identity. The Israeli campaign against the UNRWA has escalated in January as it ordered UNRWA to vacate all premises in the neighbourhood of Sheikh Jarrah in occupied East Jerusalem, where the Agency has had an established presence for more than 70 years and its headquarters is the centre of operations of the Agency's work in the occupied West Bank including East Jerusalem. An order which is in contradiction to international law obligations of UN member states including Israel, which is bound by the General Convention on Privileges and Immunities of the United Nations. Israel effectively annexed East Jerusalem in 1980 in a move not recognised by most of the international community, and sees the whole city as its capital. Palestinians see East Jerusalem as the capital of their hoped-for future state. Speaking to an advisory committee in Geneva, UNRWA Commissioner-General Lazzarini said the agency has been the target of a "global disinformation campaign" led by Israel that is "premised on the misguided belief that if UNRWA disappears, so will the issue of Palestine refugees."
