Israel arms embargo activists daub red paint on Labour's London HQ


Soraya Ebrahimi
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Live updates: Follow the latest on Israel-Gaza

A group of activists calling for an arms embargo on Israel covered Labour’s central London headquarters with red paint on Monday afternoon.

Twelve demonstrators from the Youth Demand group were arrested for criminal damage after targeting the building while calling for the government and opposition to commit to preventing the supply of weapons to Israel.

Labour has to date resisted backing an embargo, saying arms exports should be suspended only if ministers receive legal advice that Israel has breached international law in its war in Gaza.

The government has come under increased pressure in recent days to publish the advice it has been given following an attack which killed seven aid workers in Gaza, including three from Britain.

Labour Party HQ in London covered in red paint - in pictures

  • Police outside the Labour Party headquarters in London after red paint was thrown over the outside of the building. Picture date: Monday April 8, 2024. PA Photo. Photo credit should read: Aaron Chown/PA Wire
    Police outside the Labour Party headquarters in London after red paint was thrown over the outside of the building. Picture date: Monday April 8, 2024. PA Photo. Photo credit should read: Aaron Chown/PA Wire
  • The Youth Demand group covered the building in red paint to show support for Palestine. Reuters
    The Youth Demand group covered the building in red paint to show support for Palestine. Reuters
  • "Free Palestine" is written on the door of Labour headquarters in London. PA
    "Free Palestine" is written on the door of Labour headquarters in London. PA
  • Red handprints on the side of the building. Reuters
    Red handprints on the side of the building. Reuters
  • Youth Demand supporters sitting in Labour's headquarters after daubing the building with red paint. Reuters
    Youth Demand supporters sitting in Labour's headquarters after daubing the building with red paint. Reuters
  • A Youth Demand supporter sprays the building with red paint. Reuters
    A Youth Demand supporter sprays the building with red paint. Reuters
  • A Youth Demand supporter sprays red paint inside the building. Reuters
    A Youth Demand supporter sprays red paint inside the building. Reuters
  • A Youth Demand supporter is detained by police during the group's protest. Reuters
    A Youth Demand supporter is detained by police during the group's protest. Reuters
  • Labour headquarters in London after the building was covered in red paint by a pro-Palestinian protest group. PA
    Labour headquarters in London after the building was covered in red paint by a pro-Palestinian protest group. PA

Youth Demand, which is calling for an arms embargo as well as an end to oil and gas drilling in the North Sea, said three of its supporters had sprayed the outside of Labour’s head office while another painted the lobby.

Scotland Yard said officers were called to an incident in Rushworth Street at 2.18pm and arrived within two minutes, arresting 12 people on suspicion of criminal damage.

Need to know

The flights: Flydubai flies from Dubai to Kilimanjaro airport via Dar es Salaam from Dh1,619 return including taxes. The trip takes 8 hours. 

The trek: Make sure that whatever tour company you select to climb Kilimanjaro, that it is a reputable one. The way to climb successfully would be with experienced guides and porters, from a company committed to quality, safety and an ethical approach to the mountain and its staff. Sonia Nazareth booked a VIP package through Safari Africa. The tour works out to $4,775 (Dh17,538) per person, based on a 4-person booking scheme, for 9 nights on the mountain (including one night before and after the trek at Arusha). The price includes all meals, a head guide, an assistant guide for every 2 trekkers, porters to carry the luggage, a cook and kitchen staff, a dining and mess tent, a sleeping tent set up for 2 persons, a chemical toilet and park entrance fees. The tiny ration of heated water provided for our bath in our makeshift private bathroom stall was the greatest luxury. A standard package, also based on a 4-person booking, works out to $3,050 (Dh11,202) per person.

When to go: You can climb Kili at any time of year, but the best months to ascend  are  January-February and September-October.  Also good are July and August, if you’re tolerant of the colder weather that winter brings.

Do not underestimate the importance of kit. Even if you’re travelling at a relatively pleasant time, be geared up for the cold and the rain.

Company profile

Name: The Concept

Founders: Yadhushan Mahendran, Maria Sobh and Muhammad Rijal

Based: Abu Dhabi

Founded: 2017

Number of employees: 7

Sector: Aviation and space industry

Funding: $250,000

Future plans: Looking to raise $1 million investment to boost expansion and develop new products

The bio:

Favourite film:

Declan: It was The Commitments but now it’s Bohemian Rhapsody.

Heidi: The Long Kiss Goodnight.

Favourite holiday destination:

Declan: Las Vegas but I also love getting home to Ireland and seeing everyone back home.

Heidi: Australia but my dream destination would be to go to Cuba.

Favourite pastime:

Declan: I love brunching and socializing. Just basically having the craic.

Heidi: Paddleboarding and swimming.

Personal motto:

Declan: Take chances.

Heidi: Live, love, laugh and have no regrets.

 

Uefa Nations League: How it Works

The Uefa Nations League, introduced last year, has reached its final stage, to be played over five days in northern Portugal. The format of its closing tournament is compact, spread over two semi-finals, with the first, Portugal versus Switzerland in Porto on Wednesday evening, and the second, England against the Netherlands, in Guimaraes, on Thursday.

The winners of each semi will then meet at Porto’s Dragao stadium on Sunday, with the losing semi-finalists contesting a third-place play-off in Guimaraes earlier that day.

Qualifying for the final stage was via League A of the inaugural Nations League, in which the top 12 European countries according to Uefa's co-efficient seeding system were divided into four groups, the teams playing each other twice between September and November. Portugal, who finished above Italy and Poland, successfully bid to host the finals.

MATCH INFO

Uefa Champioons League semi-final, first leg:

Liverpool 5
Salah (35', 45 1'), Mane (56'), Firmino (61', 68')

Roma 2
Dzeko (81'), Perotti (85' pen)

Second leg: May 2, Stadio Olimpico, Rome

The bio

Favourite vegetable: Broccoli

Favourite food: Seafood

Favourite thing to cook: Duck l'orange

Favourite book: Give and Take by Adam Grant, one of his professors at University of Pennsylvania

Favourite place to travel: Home in Kuwait.

Favourite place in the UAE: Al Qudra lakes

Libya's Gold

UN Panel of Experts found regime secretly sold a fifth of the country's gold reserves. 

The panel’s 2017 report followed a trail to West Africa where large sums of cash and gold were hidden by Abdullah Al Senussi, Qaddafi’s former intelligence chief, in 2011.

Cases filled with cash that was said to amount to $560m in 100 dollar notes, that was kept by a group of Libyans in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.

A second stash was said to have been held in Accra, Ghana, inside boxes at the local offices of an international human rights organisation based in France.

England v West Indies

England squad for the first Test Cook, Stoneman, Westley, Root (captain), Malan, Stokes, Bairstow, Moeen, Roland-Jones, Broad, Anderson, Woakes, Crane

Fixtures

1st Test Aug 17-21, Edgbaston

2nd Test Aug 25-29, Headingley

3rd Test Sep 7-11, Lord's

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Updated: April 08, 2024, 8:37 PM