Latest news with #protestors
BBC News
4 days ago
- Politics
- BBC News
Sheffield Council offers apology to more tree campaigners
Sheffield City Council has accepted an independent review's recommendation for a full apology for its "heavy-handed" legal threats against four tree 2017, several protestors were threatened with injunctions which would have stopped them from disrupting the council's controversial tree-felling programme, or encouraging others to do council issued a full apology for its failings over the scandal after an independent review in 2023, but the complaints of the four campaigners were not considered in that said it accepted the recommendations of the latest investigation "in full" and had issued apologies. The review said the council issued legal letters to some Sheffield residents setting out their intention to obtain injunctions preventing them from continuing to protest against its £2.2bn street improvement who received the letters were given the opportunity to agree to stop campaigning in terms set out by the authority as an alternative to not proceeding to court."In broad terms, it meant the complainants would not have to risk the granting of an injunction and the costs consequences for them personally of proceeding to a contested hearing in the High Court," the report new information about the scandal came to light in 2020 and 2021, the individuals made several complaints about the council's "intimidating" legal threats, which they said went "further than was reasonably necessary". 'Bunker mentality' Several complaints were upheld following the independent investigation by legal firm VWV that concluded in February, with its findings published ahead of a meeting on report described the legal basis against the complainants as "sound", but concluded the authority's action "was a result of the bunker mentality at the council at the time and the desire to 'get the job done'."It also labelled the authority's approach as "heavy-handed".It said the impact on the complainants "cannot be underestimated" and criticised the delay."The handling of the complaints means there are four residents who have been let down," the report added."It will not be enough to simply apologise again."The council admitted the process had "taken longer than necessary, and an external investigator should have been commissioned earlier".As well as calling for "full and complete apologies", the report's other recommendations related to governance, how the council's legal team works, and the authority's have advised councillors to accept its findings in full and endorse an action plan when they meet on Monday.A previous independent review of the council's behaviour during dispute, known as the the Lowcock Inquiry, said there had been a "failure of strategic leadership".In response, the authority acknowledged its "poor" behaviour towards campaigners and residents and issued personal apologies to some individuals. Listen to highlights from South Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North
The Independent
09-07-2025
- Business
- The Independent
Indian workers go on a daylong nationwide strike against Modi's economic reforms
Hundreds of thousands of workers across India went on a nationwide strike on Wednesday in opposition to Prime Minister Narendra Modi 's efforts to privatize state-run companies and other economic reforms, partially disrupting public services and manufacturing. A coalition of 10 major trade unions that represent laborers and several other groups that speak for farmers and rural workers called for the one-day industrial action, dubbing it Bharat Bandh,' Hindi for 'Shut Down India.' The strikes pose fresh challenges for Modi's efforts to attract foreign companies by easing labor laws to streamline business operations and boost productivity. Unions that helped organize the strikes say that coal mining operations were halted in several states while some trains came to a grinding halt as protestors blocked the network, and that banks, insurance companies and supermarkets were disrupted. An Associated Press photographer in the eastern city of Kolkata saw protestors walking in a rally at a local railway station, some shouting slogans against the government and burning an effigy of Modi. Another, in the financial capital Mumbai, witnessed bank employees shouting slogans against the privatization of state-run banks. The Press Trust of India reported traffic in eastern India's Odisha state was halted in some areas, while in the southern state of Kerala, shops, offices and schools remained closed, with roads looking deserted. The government hasn't formally commented on the workers' strike. It usually dismisses assertions made by these unions. The workers' demands include higher wages, halting privatization of state-run companies, withdrawal of new labor laws and filling vacancies in the government sector. The farmers' groups also want the government to increase the minimum purchase price for crops such as wheat and rice. Modi's government has opened some sectors of the Indian economy to foreign direct investments and offered billions of dollars in financial incentives to attract local manufacturing. It has also aimed to bridge the budget deficit with a drive to privatize loss-making state-run companies and unveiled new labor laws that promise workers higher statutory minimum wages, social security and healthcare. However, the trade unions aren't convinced and want the new laws to be scrapped. 'The government intends to suppress workers in the name of ease of doing business through labor reforms,' said Amarjeet Kaur, general secretary of All India Trade Union Congress, a prominent union taking part in the strike. Tapan Sen, general secretary of the Centre of Indian Trade Unions, or CITU, which is aligned with a communist party and a key trade union that is part of the group that called for the strike, said he got reports of protesting workers blocking several national highways and rail routes. "Coal mining operations in most states have come to a halt. Services in banking, insurance, manufacturing and petroleum refineries are impacted too,' said Sen. A. Soundararajan, a prominent trade union leader in the southern state of Tamil Nadu said the police detained around 30,000 protesting workers on Wednesday. Manufacturing activities at several companies have also been hit, he said.
Yahoo
26-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
From inflatable crocodiles to the celebrity guest list: What we know — and don't know — about Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez's Venice wedding
It might be the most anticipated, and controversial, wedding of the year: Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez are getting married this week in a multiday event that is set to bring Hollywood stars and power players to Venice, Italy. At the same time, the billionaire Amazon founder and the former journalist's wedding has brought out protestors from different activist groups, some of whom are using the moment to hit back against Bezos's politics and environmental impact, as well as issues that arise with mass tourism. With the couple already arriving in Venice for the event, there's still much we don't know about the celebration, including when the pair will actually tie the knot. Here's what we've been able to figure out from news reports, and what we still don't know. So far, all we know is that Bezos and Sánchez will likely tie the knot some time between Thursday and Sunday — and that it will not be held at the Venice City Hall, per the New York Times, due to Venice's rules around marriage rites. (George and Amal Clooney got married at the venue in 2014.) Outside of Venice, it's not clear where the actual 'I dos' will take place. Luca Zuin, spokesperson for Venice Mayor Luigi Brugnaro, suggested the ceremony would be held on Bezos's superyacht, per CNN, while some outlets have reported that the two will marry on the private island of San Giorgio Maggiore. We also don't know whether Bezos and Sánchez have signed a prenup. Experts told Yahoo this week that it's a good idea for the ultra-wealthy couple, who both have kids from previous relationships, to do so. Mayor Brugnaro confirmed that the couple was hosting their event in the floating city in a statement back in March. In the statement, a translation of which was made available by Good Morning America, Brugnaro shot down critics, saying that the wedding would be a manageable affair with only 200 guests and insisted there would be no 'disruption whatsoever to the city, its residents and visitors.' Those 200 guests, per People, will include Ivanka Trump and her husband, Jared Kushner, who reportedly arrived in Venice on Tuesday. Jared's brother Josh Kushner and his wife, Karlie Kloss, are also reportedly on the guest list. Designer Diane von Fürstenberg, who previously threw the couple an engagement party in 2023, was also spotted arriving in Venice, seemingly to attend the festivities. While details of who else is invited are scarce, there has been some speculation based on the couple's social circle. For example, Sánchez recently took a high-profile, all-women Blue Origin space trip with Katy Perry, Gayle King, Aisha Bowe, Amanda Nguyễn and Kerianne Flynn, so they could potentially be on the guest list. Sánchez is also friends with Kris Jenner and Kim Kardashian, both of whom attended her Paris bachelorette party in May, so they may make the cut as well. Others who were in attendance for the bachelorette party include actress Eva Longoria, as well as Lydia Kives, who is married to Hollywood power broker Michael Kives; Veronica Grazer, wife of Oscar-winning producer Brian Grazer; and October Gonzalez, who is married to former NFL star Tony Gonzalez — who also happens to be the father of Sánchez's son, Nikko. Tony himself is also expected to attend, per People. In addition, Leonardo DiCaprio's name is also floating around as a potential guest of the high-profile couple. TMZ reported that the wedding guests will stay at the swanky Aman Hotel in Venice, which ranges from $2,000 to more than $10,000 per night. Bezos and Sánchez may be staying there as well: On Wednesday, they were seen arriving in Venice on a helicopter and, later in the day, made their way to the Aman Hotel. Multiple groups are protesting the Venice wedding, each with a shared frustration over billionaire excess and its impact on the city. No Space for Bezos, a local coalition of housing advocates, student groups and anti-cruise activists, argues that the wedding symbolizes how Venice is being turned into a playground for the ultrarich while the city's residents face a housing crisis. Meanwhile, environmental group Greenpeace Italy teamed up with Everyone Hates Elon, a U.K.-based activist collective, to stage a demonstration in St. Mark's Square on June 23 with a massive banner that read: 'If you can rent Venice for your wedding you can pay more tax.' Together, these groups are using the wedding to spotlight broader issues like over-tourism, inequality and climate injustice, and to call for more taxation for billionaires like Bezos. Some protesters have even threatened to use inflatable crocodiles in an effort to disrupt the nuptials, forcing the couple to rearrange some of their plans for the event, per reporting from the Guardian. According to protest group No Space for Bezos, Venice residents stated they planned to throw the blow-up reptiles into the canals to block celebrity guests from arriving by gondola or water taxi for the wedding. Out of caution, the Guardian reports, the couple moved the wedding reception from Scuola Grande della Misericordia to Arsenale, a complex of shipyards surrounded by fortified walls. As the Guardian notes, local press reports have also cited security concerns due to the current conflict between Iran and Israel as a reason for the change of venue, particularly in light of the fact that President Trump's daughter, Ivanka, is among the expected guests. Still, local activists are taking it as a win. 'We feel as if we scored a victory,' one activist, who chose to remain anonymous, told the Guardian. 'The crocodile initiative would have given a bad impression of the city — this is why the venue was changed, even if the authorities might try to claim it was because of the war.'
Yahoo
15-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Transgender activists and allies call for 'basic human rights' at protest
Crowds of protestors have taken to the streets in Swindon to demand 'basic human rights' for the transgender community. The protest, which took place on Sunday morning, June 15, comes after a recent ruling by the UK Supreme Court means that transgender women, even those with Gender Recognition Certificates, are not legally recognised as women in the context of the Equality Act. Transgender activists and allies gathered outside Regent Circus in Swindon from 10.30am to make their stance on the decision clear, in a call for 'basic human rights'. Max Downey, who was among the protestors, told the Swindon Advertiser: "It should be a basic human right to have access to health care. Wiltshire Police 101 line now responds faster to incoming calls Anger after burst pipe leaves families without water for over 12 hours Highworth care home rated 'Good' by inspectors, but management must still improve "As a trans man, I have been struggling just to get the basic hormones. I'm now on my second GP and still having the same argument." Andrea Downey added: "I used to be a GP and so I can say with confidence that it's difficult to find trans-friendly GPs. We need more services that support trans individuals and more support in healthcare." Ash, Danni and Carmen were also among those who attended the Regent Circus protest dressed in pride colours and wrapped in transgender flags. Ash told the Adver: "We're here today because we can't let our rights continue to be infringed. "Whatever happens to the trans community affects everyone. You think it won't happen to you, but once they start taking away human rights, everybody is at risk. "That's why we have to keep standing up for what's right and living authentically." Joining crowds of protestors were famous Swindon twins Billy and Louie, who represented Swindon in the final of The Voice UK and have openly supported the Pride movement at various events. The twins have previously performed at Swindon and Wiltshire Pride, the group behind this recent protest. A spokesperson for Swindon and Wiltshire Pride said: "We have amazing speakers, a trans wall of support in our Pride hub, and we are ready to make our voices heard. "Now, more than ever, our trans family need our voices to show support, solidarity, and create change. "We have seen too much in the recent news about our rights being stripped away, for simply existing. "Pride started as a protest, and that is what we shall be doing. We are using our voices."
Yahoo
14-06-2025
- Yahoo
Heading to a Protest This Weekend? Lock Down Your Phone First
PCMag editors select and review products independently. If you buy through affiliate links, we may earn commissions, which help support our testing. This week, people are protesting all across America. Before you head out to join them, take a few minutes to assess your digital safety. Your phone is a treasure trove of information about you. Even if you have nothing to hide, you don't want to accidentally give law enforcement officials any information you didn't intend to share. Follow these tips to lock down your phone before a protest or other peaceful assembly. When we tell people that their best defense at a protest is just to turn off their phones, they always seem disappointed. But it's true. The best way to keep from being surveilled is never to be on the grid in the first place. Unfortunately, this isn't practical advice. For one thing, mobile phones are useful for staying safe and coordinating with your friends and fellow protestors. For another, protestors document events and amplify their message by sharing photos, videos, and live streams in the moment. While shutting your phone off will certainly make you harder to track, it could also leave you without important tools to protect yourself. Your phone is powerful because it combines cellular, GPS, and Wi-Fi information. That great power is also a weakness: they're highly trackable. For example, federal and local law enforcement use Stingrays and other IMSI catchers to track and identify protestors. These devices can trick your phone into connecting with them instead of a cell tower, then intercept information (such as SMS messages) without you necessarily realizing it. They can also extract information from your phone and track your movements. Even without fancy devices, though, law enforcement may be able to obtain information on your movements and activities from your wireless provider. Even Apple and Google may be willing to give up information about you. The companies have cooperated with law enforcement by handing over customer data in the past, though both companies typically challenge or reject information requests that are legally objectionable. Keep in mind that you probably won't know that you're being monitored or tracked until much later, if at all. Intercepting and processing individual messages from hundreds of thousands of people is doable, but not easy. Law enforcement or government agencies want to know who is at an event, who they are with, and what information can be extracted to monitor them later. Many smart devices track your location through multiple means. This is useful for getting directions and finding things nearby, but it can also allow law enforcement to extract your movements after the fact. For example, pictures you take with a smartphone frequently include their physical locations, and Google Maps maintains records of your movements in its Your Timeline section. Shut off Wi-Fi. Disable location services until you absolutely need them. Ditto Bluetooth. If you don't need to use your data connection, switch it off, too. However, this may hamper your ability to use encrypted communications. Again, if you can, leave your phone at home. If not, at least shut it down. You can also be tracked without your phone, even in a large crowd. Facial-recognition technology coupled with AI-powered detection can pick out and track individuals in groups. Airborne surveillance using anything from conventional aircraft to small radio-controlled quadcopters to military-style drones can monitor the movements of individuals and track them over time. The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) maintains an excellent primer on identifying those surveillance systems, which can include police bodycams, automated-license-plate-reader cameras, and more. Over the years, social media has played a large role in organizing protests and amplifying demonstrators' messages. However, the information posted to these platforms can also be used as open-source intelligence for anyone trying to track who attends demonstrations. Sharing photos and videos from protests can amplify the message, but this information could also be used to implicate you or others. The EFF recommends taking steps to remove metadata from images. Remember that even if you are comfortable being identified in images, others may not be. Consider framing your camera to show as little of people's faces as possible or blurring faces when you share photos or videos. And it never hurts to ask before sharing someone's face online. If you're concerned about being identified for any reason, consider covering identifiable tattoos and wearing inconspicuous clothing. Obscuring your own face can be useful as well. If you bring a phone to a protest, know that it could be confiscated by law enforcement or stolen by someone in the crowd. Either way, once it's is out of your hands, it could be unlocked, and its contents dumped for future analysis. Most modern devices unlock with biometrics (such as facial recognition or thumbprint scanning). Biometric systems may put you at a disadvantage, though, when you're dealing with law enforcement. In its guide for protestors, the EFF writes: "Under current US law—which is still in flux—using a memorized passcode generally provides a stronger legal footing to push back against a court order of compelled device unlocking/decryption." It's better to disable biometrics and enable password or PIN logins before a protest. You may also want to do this when traveling, too. Modern Apple and Android devices support modes that temporarily disable biometrics. However, once you unlock your phone, it reverts to using biometrics. If you don't have the time to fully disable biometrics beforehand, on Android, hold the power button and select lockdown. On an iOS phone, hold the power and volume up buttons for a few seconds until you see the power off, medical ID, and Emergency SOS screen. Tap cancel, and the phone will require your passcode to unlock instead of biometric authentication. Disable biometric logins and enable a passcode. Enable encryption. Most Android and Apple devices will do this automatically when you enable a passcode or biometrics, but double-check in the Settings menu. Remove unnecessary apps and reinstall them later. Even when not in use, some apps can send and receive data. This can slow down an already spotty connection and could be used to monitor your activity. Log out of any apps you won't need. By default, you usually need to log in to an app only once to use it, which can be a problem when you're not in control of your phone. If you back up your phone (and you should), make sure that your backups are secure with a complex, unique password and multi-factor authentication. This may require making changes to your Apple or Google accounts. To help you get started, see our guides to backing up iPhones and Android devices. Enable the remote-control features built into Android and iOS so you can wipe or disable a lost or confiscated phone remotely. Use secure messaging, and set text messages to delete automatically. (More on this below.) Whether you're protesting or just chatting with your family, use encrypted communications whenever possible. These systems ensure that if your messages are intercepted, they will be unreadable except to the intended recipients. Our top recommendation for secure messaging is Signal. We recommend it because the app and its protocol are open-source, so it has been carefully examined for potential flaws and endorsed by security experts. The app looks and works just like your existing messaging client. You can also use it to make encrypted VoIP and video calls. One particularly useful feature of Signal is that your messages can be set to expire. This way, there's little trace of your previous conversations in the app. Other secure messaging apps have similar features. WhatsApp is particularly notable, as it has wider adoption than Signal but uses the same technology to secure messages. Both WhatsApp and Signal have powerful tools for group chats that also make them useful for organizing protests. In most cases, the iPhone uses end-to-end encryption when sending messages between you and other iPhone users. So whenever you see the blue bubble around text, you can rest assured that if the message is intercepted, it cannot be read. Keep in mind that iPhones don't always send encrypted messages. With poor connectivity, iPhones sometimes fail over to unsecured SMS messages, and messages sent to Android users are not encrypted. It's also possible, no matter what secure messaging platform you use, that screenshots of your messages could be shared with people you did not intend. As always, consider that someone might see your messages, even when they're sent securely. If you have the means to do so, consider purchasing a completely different phone for the protest and leaving your personal devices at home. Several affordable Android phones are available, and many wireless carriers can provide a prepaid service for your device. There are also low-cost plans from smaller carriers. If you haven't used a so-called "dumbphone" in a while, take this opportunity to try one out. When I wanted to experience life with a flip phone again, I purchased a Nokia 2780 to bring on camping trips. I haven't had trouble using it for calls and texting. If you opt to go this route, remember to secure the new one as you would your regular phone. If it's not going to be used for other activities, you can lock it down even more. Here are some ideas: Don't install non-essential apps. Don't connect the new phone to any of your cloud services, like your Google account. If you must log into an app to use it, see if you can enable a secondary PIN on the app itself. Signal offers the ability to require a PIN to unlock the app. Store only information in your Contacts app for people who are absolutely essential. Consider not using real names in your address book. There are a lot of methods you can use to lock down your phone, but the best advice we can give is to leave any devices with location-gathering capabilities (including your smartwatch) at home. You should also take a few minutes today to lock down your online presence. Read our guide to completely disappearing online, and lock down your family's home network using our cybersecurity checklist.
