A statue of Margaret Thatcher was battered with eggs within hours of being erected in the former prime minister’s home town.
The statue of Britain’s first female leader was attacked after it was lowered into place in Grantham, Lincolnshire, amid boos from passing motorists.
A temporary fence erected around the monument failed to deter a protester who hurled four eggs in its direction.
Egg residue and a fragment of shell could be seen on the statue’s lower half.
Officers arrived at the scene within minutes of the incident and although no arrests were made, Lincolnshire Police said they had received a report of criminal damage.
“We have received reports of criminal damage to the Margaret Thatcher statue shortly after 10am this morning (May 15),” a spokeswoman for the force said.
“No arrests have been made.
“Inquiries are still ongoing.”
The statue was erected on a three-metre-tall granite plinth on Sunday morning. Its unveiling had been delayed by the Covid-19 pandemic.
A CCTV camera has been installed opposite the memorial to discourage vandalism, said South Kesteven District Council.
In February 2019, the local authority’s planning committee unanimously voted in favour of the £300,000 statue – which was originally intended for Parliament Square in Westminster, London.
Reports originally presented to the council showed the statue was moved to the area due to fears of a “motivated far-left movement… who may be committed to public activism”.
A £100,000 ($122,641) unveiling ceremony was approved by local politicians in 2020. But a Facebook group proposing an “egg-throwing contest” at the event attracted interest from more than 13,000 people.
About 2,400 people visited the Facebook page to say they would attend the event, at which “egg throwing … and potentially graffiti art” were said to be activities.
Thatcher died in 2013. The former Conservative party leader was prime minister of the UK from 1979 to 1990.
PREMIER LEAGUE TABLE
1 Man City 26 20 3 3 63 17 63
2 Liverpool 25 17 6 2 64 20 57
3 Chelsea 25 14 8 3 49 18 50
4 Man Utd 26 13 7 6 44 34 46
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5 West Ham 26 12 6 8 45 34 42
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6 Arsenal 23 13 3 7 36 26 42
7 Wolves 24 12 4 8 23 18 40
8 Tottenham 23 12 4 8 31 31 39
What is 'Soft Power'?
Soft power was first mentioned in 1990 by former US Defence Secretary Joseph Nye.
He believed that there were alternative ways of cultivating support from other countries, instead of achieving goals using military strength.
Soft power is, at its root, the ability to convince other states to do what you want without force.
This is traditionally achieved by proving that you share morals and values.
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Real estate tokenisation project
Dubai launched the pilot phase of its real estate tokenisation project last month.
The initiative focuses on converting real estate assets into digital tokens recorded on blockchain technology and helps in streamlining the process of buying, selling and investing, the Dubai Land Department said.
Dubai’s real estate tokenisation market is projected to reach Dh60 billion ($16.33 billion) by 2033, representing 7 per cent of the emirate’s total property transactions, according to the DLD.
Who's who in Yemen conflict
Houthis: Iran-backed rebels who occupy Sanaa and run unrecognised government
Yemeni government: Exiled government in Aden led by eight-member Presidential Leadership Council
Southern Transitional Council: Faction in Yemeni government that seeks autonomy for the south
Habrish 'rebels': Tribal-backed forces feuding with STC over control of oil in government territory
What sanctions would be reimposed?
Under ‘snapback’, measures imposed on Iran by the UN Security Council in six resolutions would be restored, including:
- An arms embargo
- A ban on uranium enrichment and reprocessing
- A ban on launches and other activities with ballistic missiles capable of delivering nuclear weapons, as well as ballistic missile technology transfer and technical assistance
- A targeted global asset freeze and travel ban on Iranian individuals and entities
- Authorisation for countries to inspect Iran Air Cargo and Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines cargoes for banned goods
Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
How to donate
Send “thenational” to the following numbers or call the hotline on: 0502955999
2289 – Dh10
2252 – Dh 50
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Despacito's dominance in numbers
Released: 2017
Peak chart position: No.1 in more than 47 countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia and Lebanon
Views: 5.3 billion on YouTube
Sales: With 10 million downloads in the US, Despacito became the first Latin single to receive Diamond sales certification
Streams: 1.3 billion combined audio and video by the end of 2017, making it the biggest digital hit of the year.
Awards: 17, including Record of the Year at last year’s prestigious Latin Grammy Awards, as well as five Billboard Music Awards
WISH
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