News 09/08/25

Police have made 466 arrests in London after crowds turned out for a Palestine Action demonstration.

The Metropolitan Police say those detained were held under the Terrorism Act for showing support for a banned group. Eight more people were arrested for other offences, including five for assaulting officers.

The force says it is the highest number of arrests made in relation to a single operation in at least the past decade.

A major incident has been declared as around 100 firefighters tackle a blaze at Holt Heath near Wimborne in Dorset.

The public have been urged to stay away, while crews work to protect nearby properties by surrounding the fire. Twenty homes have been evacuated as a precaution, and residents have been told to keep windows and doors closed.

Images from the scene, just north of Bournemouth, show smoke billowing high into the sky.

Scotland’s former First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has rejected claims of a conspiracy to destroy her mentor, Alex Salmond.

In a new extract from her memoir, published in the Sunday Times, she accuses Salmond of failing to show contrition for what she describes as his “inappropriate” behaviour towards women. In 2020, Salmond was cleared of 13 sexual offence charges, including attempted rape, though his lawyer admitted he could “have been a better man.”

The ex-SNP leader and founder of the Alba Party died of a heart attack in North Macedonia last October at the age of 69.

Police have made 365 arrests in London after crowds turned out for a Palestine Action demonstration, despite the group being banned.

The Metropolitan Police said there were also seven other arrests for offences including five for assaulting officers, although none were seriously injured.

Organisers Defend Our Juries had earlier claimed up to 700 people were at the event in Parliament Square and that police were preparing for what they called “the largest mass arrest in their history.”

Police have made 200 arrests in London after crowds gathered for a Palestine Action demonstration despite the group being banned.

Organisers Defend Our Juries said around 700 people attended the event in Parliament Square and claimed police were preparing for the “largest mass arrest in their history.” The group said those arrested included former Guantanamo Bay detainee Moazzam Begg, NHS workers, Quakers, and a blind wheelchair user.

The Metropolitan Police said many were seen displaying placards supporting Palestine Action, which is a proscribed organisation.

A 37-year-old man has been jailed after threatening to gang rape an air stewardess during a flight.

Salman Iftikhar, from Iver in Buckinghamshire, was travelling with his wife and three children on a Virgin Atlantic flight from London Heathrow to Lahore, Pakistan. According to reports, he hurled death threats and racist abuse at cabin crew during the eight-hour journey.

Iftikhar admitted making threats to kill and racially aggravated harassment at Isleworth Crown Court earlier this month and was sentenced to 15 months in prison.

More than 50 people have been arrested in London after crowds gathered for a Palestine Action demonstration despite the group being banned.

Organisers Defend Our Juries claimed up to 700 people attended the event in Parliament Square and said police were preparing for what they called the “largest mass arrest in their history.”
The Metropolitan Police said many in the crowd were displaying placards supporting the proscribed group.

Officers confirmed on social media that more than 50 arrests had been made and that their operation was continuing.

A further 11 deaths linked to malnutrition have been reported in Gaza, according to the Hamas-run health ministry.

That brings the total number of malnutrition-related fatalities to 212, including 98 children. The ministry also says at least 38 people have been killed and 491 injured in Israeli military activity in the past 24 hours.

The rise in casualties comes amid reports of a 7 October 2025 deadline for residents to leave Gaza City, following Israel’s controversial plan to take control of the area.

Police have made arrests in central London after large crowds gathered for a Palestine Action demonstration despite the group being banned.

The Metropolitan Police posted a picture from Parliament Square, saying many people in the crowd were displaying placards supporting the proscribed organisation. Palestine Action was outlawed on 5 July, making it a criminal offence to show support for the group.

The offence carries a maximum sentence of up to 14 years in prison.

Slough Borough Council has issued 29 fines of £1,000 each in a month to people leaving belongings near charity bins at Everett’s Corner in Cippenham.

The council says that even if items are intended for donation, leaving them outside a bin is classed as fly-tipping. Special CCTV and number plate recognition cameras have been monitoring the area, leading to the penalties.

The fine is reduced to £500 if paid within 10 days.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says Ukraine will not give up any territory to what he calls the “occupier.”

His comments appear to respond to Donald Trump’s announcement that he and Vladimir Putin will meet in Alaska on Friday. Zelenskyy repeated that any peace talks must include Kyiv and insisted Ukraine will not reward Russia for its actions.

He said the Ukrainian people deserve peace, but not at the cost of surrendering land.

A second man has been arrested after a body was found on a bench near the canal in Northampton.

Police say 57-year-old Robert Brown was discovered with a fatal arm injury near the River Nene in the town centre at around 6.30am on August 1. A 41-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of murder on Friday and remains in custody.

A 38-year-old man was previously arrested on suspicion of the same offence and is currently on bail.

Wembley Stadium is investigating reports that up to 200 people got into Oasis concerts without tickets.

The band played five sold-out nights between 25 July and 3 August as part of their Live 25 reunion tour, their first in 16 years. Tickets sold out in hours, with prices soaring amid controversy over dynamic pricing.

The Sun reports some people paid £350 each to be smuggled in through a disabled entrance across all five shows.

Donald Trump has confirmed his meeting with Vladimir Putin will take place on Friday in the US state of Alaska.

The two leaders are expected to discuss the war in Ukraine, with hopes the talks could lead to a breakthrough in Mr Trump’s push to end the conflict. However, there’s no guarantee it will stop the fighting, as Moscow and Kyiv remain far apart on their conditions for peace.

Speaking earlier, the US president told reporters “we’re getting very close to a deal” that would end the war.

The UK and four allies have condemned Israel’s decision to launch a major military operation in Gaza.

In a joint statement, Britain, Australia, Germany, Italy and New Zealand warned it will worsen the already catastrophic humanitarian crisis, endanger hostages, and risk breaching international humanitarian law. The announcement came a day after Israel’s security cabinet approved plans to take military control of Gaza City, concluding a full takeover of the enclave is necessary to end the conflict.

It’s the latest escalation in the war triggered by the Hamas attack on 7 October 2023.

Hundreds have been arrested in a week-long crackdown on asylum seekers suspected of working illegally for delivery firms.

Between 20 and 27 July, 1,780 people were stopped and spoken to. Of those, 280 were arrested in locations including Hillingdon in northwest London, Dumfries, and Birmingham. Eighty-nine have been detained pending removal from the UK, while 53 could lose asylum support entirely.

Slough Borough Council has removed 23 vehicles from the streets in the first week of a new enforcement policy.

The council says it targets drivers who repeatedly flout parking rules despite receiving multiple tickets, forcing them to pay outstanding fines or risk losing their cars permanently. Vehicles were taken from areas including Chalvey, the Diamond Road estate and the High Street.

The Department for Work and Pensions will launch an independent review into its role in the Horizon IT scandal.

Around 100 prosecutions were brought by the DWP between 2001 and 2006 against Post Office staff. The review will not examine individual cases and has yet to be commissioned.