FOUR men from Leeds are set to be sentenced on Friday (9) after being convicted for their involvement in recent disorder in West Yorkshire. The offences include affray, racially aggravated harassment, and inciting racial hatred.
Sameer Ali, 21, from West Park Drive and Adnan Ghafoor, 31, from Spen Bank were both convicted of affray and are currently in custody awaiting sentencing at Leeds Crown Court.
Jordan Plain, 30, from Broadway, Horsforth, was convicted of racially aggravated harassment, while Jordan Parlour, 28, from Brooklands Close, Seacroft, was found guilty of publishing material intended to incite racial hatred. Both men have been remanded in custody until their court appearance.
A 16-year-old boy from Leeds, whose name cannot be disclosed due to his age, has also been convicted of using threatening and abusive language likely to incite racial hatred. He will be sentenced on 4 September at Leeds Crown Court.
In another development, two men have been brought before the court in Leeds on Thursday (8) as part of ongoing investigations into recent disturbances in West Yorkshire.
Philip Hoban
Philip Hoban, 48, from Northcote Crescent was convicted at Leeds Magistrates Court for racially and religiously aggravated harassment.
Christopher Clayton, 66, from Station Cottages, Wakefield, also appeared at Leeds Magistrates Court. He has been charged with violent disorder in both Rotherham and Merseyside, as well as seven counts of possessing an offensive weapon and possessing an article of police uniform. Clayton has been remanded in custody.
They both are scheduled to appear at Leeds Crown Court next Thursday (15) for sentencing.
In related developments, West Yorkshire Police have charged 20-year-old Harvey Gardner from Kirkburton with encouraging violent disorder through social media posts related to unrest in Huddersfield. He remains in custody until his hearing on 28 August.
Three more men, including Kaden Smith, 19, from Manchester, and Joe Levitt, 30, from Bradford, are due to appear in court on 19 August for charges including assaulting an emergency worker and failing to comply with a police order.
West Yorkshire Police have arrested 20 people since 3 August in connection with these disturbances, and investigations are ongoing. Authorities have stated that all available resources will be used to ensure those involved face justice.
Several cars burn on North Los Angeles street during clashes between protesters and police on June 8, 2025 in Downtown Los Angeles, California, US. (Photo: Getty Images)
PROTESTERS set fire to vehicles and clashed with police in Los Angeles on Sunday after President Donald Trump sent National Guard troops to the city. Officers kept crowds away from the troops, who had been deployed as unrest entered a third day.
The protests were triggered by recent immigration raids carried out by federal officials, which have led to the arrest of dozens of people identified by authorities as undocumented migrants and gang members.
The raids began in broad daylight on Friday in a city with a large Latino population. The deployment of California’s National Guard — usually controlled by the state’s governor — was criticised by opponents who said Trump was escalating tensions. Trump has made strict immigration enforcement a central part of his second-term agenda.
"We didn’t have a problem until Trump got involved," California Governor Gavin Newsom wrote on X.
"This is a serious breach of state sovereignty — inflaming tensions while pulling resources from where they're actually needed. Rescind the order. Return control to California," he added.
At least three Waymo self-driving vehicles were set on fire on Sunday, and two others were vandalised as protesters moved through parts of downtown Los Angeles.
Traffic was stopped for over an hour on a major freeway while people gathered on the road. Officers from the California Highway Patrol dispersed them using flash-bangs and smoke grenades.
After a brief early confrontation outside a detention centre between Department of Homeland Security agents and a few dozen protesters, most clashes involved local police.
By early afternoon, Los Angeles Police Department officers set up containment lines away from federal buildings, keeping demonstrators from reaching armed National Guard troops from the 79th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, who were stationed in camouflage gear and helmets.
As night fell, groups of masked protesters remained in certain areas, with some throwing projectiles and fireworks.
The LAPD said 56 people had been arrested over two days, and three officers had sustained minor injuries.
‘Troops everywhere’
Trump defended the use of troops, suggesting more could be deployed in other parts of the country.
"You have violent people, and we are not going to let them get away with it," he told reporters. "I think you’re going to see some very strong law and order."
Asked if he would invoke the Insurrection Act, which allows the military to operate as domestic police, Trump said: "We’re looking at troops everywhere. We’re not going to let this happen to our country."
US Northern Command, part of the Department of Defense, said "approximately 500 Marines... are in a prepared-to-deploy status should they be necessary to augment and support" federal operations.
The National Guard is usually deployed for natural disasters or, occasionally, civil unrest, with the agreement of state officials.
Trump’s decision to send in the Guard without the governor’s consent is the first such move since 1965, during the civil rights era. Democrats, including former vice president Kamala Harris, criticised it. Harris called the move "a dangerous escalation meant to provoke chaos."
‘Intimidation’
Republicans supported Trump’s decision.
"I have no concern about that at all," said House Speaker Mike Johnson, accusing Newsom of "an inability or unwillingness to do what is necessary".
Protesters told AFP they believed the deployment was meant to deter dissent.
"I think it’s an intimidation tactic," said Thomas Henning. "These protests have been peaceful. There’s no one trying to do any sort of damage right now and yet you have the National Guard with loaded magazines and large guns standing around trying to intimidate Americans from exercising our First Amendment rights."
Marshall Goldberg, 78, said the presence of the troops made him feel "so offended."
"We hate what they’ve done with the undocumented workers, but this is moving it to another level of taking away the right to protest and the right to just peaceably assemble," he told AFP.
ICE raids in other US cities have led to smaller protests in recent months, but the unrest in Los Angeles is the most significant reaction to Trump’s immigration policies so far.
A CBS News poll conducted before the Los Angeles protests showed a slight majority of Americans supported the immigration crackdown.
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Siddiq stepped down from her role in the UK government after being accused of benefiting from the administration led by former Bangladeshi prime minister Sheikh Hasina. (Photo: Getty Images)
FORMER UK minister Tulip Siddiq has requested a meeting with Bangladesh’s chief adviser Muhammad Yunus in London to discuss what she called a “misunderstanding” related to corruption allegations against her.
In a letter dated June 4, Siddiq asked for a chance to meet Yunus during his visit to the UK from June 10 to 13. Yunus is expected to meet King Charles and visit Downing Street to meet Keir Starmer during the trip.
Siddiq said she hoped the meeting would “help clear up the misunderstanding perpetuated by the anti-corruption committee in Dhaka that I have questions to answer about my mother's sister, the former prime minister of Bangladesh, Sheikh Hasina”.
“I am a UK citizen, born in London and representing the people of Hampstead and Highgate in parliament for the last decade. I have no property nor any business interests whatsoever in Bangladesh,” she said.
“I have sought to clarify this to the ACC, but they refuse to engage with my lawyers in London and apparently keep sending correspondence to a random address in Dhaka,” she added.
Allegations linked to land plot in Bangladesh
Siddiq stepped down from her role in the UK government after being accused of benefiting from the administration led by former Bangladeshi prime minister Sheikh Hasina. Her aunt, Hasina, was put on trial in absentia last week over crimes against humanity during her 15-year tenure as prime minister.
The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) in Bangladesh alleged that Siddiq or her mother obtained a 7,200 sq ft plot of land through “abuse of power and influence”. Siddiq has denied the claim, and her legal team has called the accusations “politically motivated” and without basis.
Prothom Alo reported that Siddiq said she had not been contacted by authorities about the allegations.
Although she was cleared of any wrongdoing by the adviser on ministerial standards, Laurie Magnus, Siddiq resigned as economic secretary to the Treasury and city minister, saying the issue had become a “distraction” for Keir Starmer’s new government.
Arrest warrant issued in Bangladesh
Siddiq said she believed the accusations were part of a “politically motivated smear campaign” led by Hasina’s opponents.
She has yet to receive a reply from Yunus or his office, according to a source quoted by BD News. The source also said Siddiq did not understand why the ACC was pursuing her.
A warrant for Siddiq’s arrest was issued in Bangladesh last month. She said she was unaware of the warrant or of any court proceedings she was expected to attend.
Under the UK’s 2B extradition category, ministers and judges require clear evidence from Bangladesh before any arrest decision can be made.
Arrest warrants have also been issued for Siddiq’s mother, Rehana, and her siblings, who have all denied the allegations.
(With inputs from PTI)
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As part of this plan, £86bn will be directed towards 'turbo-charging our fastest growing sectors, from tech and life sciences, to advanced manufacturing and defence,' the government said in a statement. (Representational image: iStock)
THE UK government has announced plans to invest £86 billion in science, technology, and defence by 2030. The announcement comes days before it outlines its broader spending plan for the coming years.
Chancellor Rachel Reeves has already introduced cuts to public budgets in recent months, citing tight fiscal conditions. She has also approved more borrowing for investment, enabling a total of £113bn in investment by the end of the decade.
As part of this plan, £86bn will be directed towards "turbo-charging our fastest growing sectors, from tech and life sciences, to advanced manufacturing and defence," the government said in a statement.
According to The Times newspaper, Reeves is also expected to announce a funding increase of up to £30bn for the National Health Service on Wednesday, when she presents the government's full review of public spending.
The government said the £86bn investment will focus on "people's priorities: health, security and the economy."
The plan includes the development of "innovation clusters" across the country and will give local government leaders new powers to decide how their funding is used, it said.
Reeves aims to use this spending to boost growth, which remains slow and could be affected further by the trade war launched by US president Donald Trump.
Earlier this week, the government said the review would also include a proposal to double investment in public transport in urban areas of England to more than £15 billion by 2030.
The Ministry of Defence is expected to receive a budget increase as part of Wednesday's review. However, other departments will face more spending cuts, in addition to those announced in March.
Expected areas for cuts include support for disabled people and general government operating costs.
On Saturday, thousands of people gathered in central London to protest against the anticipated spending reductions. Many carried placards that read, "tax the rich, stop the cuts -- welfare not warfare."
(With inputs from agencies)
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Narendra Modi and David Lammy also exchanged views on regional and global issues. (Photo: X/@narendramodi)
INDIAN prime minister Narendra Modi on Saturday underlined the need for decisive international action against terrorism and those supporting it during a meeting with foreign secretary David Lammy. Lammy expressed support for India’s position and strongly condemned the Pahalgam terror attack.
According to a statement from the prime minister’s office, Modi expressed satisfaction at the successful conclusion of the India-UK Free Trade Agreement (FTA) and Double Contribution Convention. He appreciated the constructive engagement by both sides that led to this outcome.
Modi welcomed the growing momentum in bilateral ties and said he was satisfied with the deepening of the India-UK Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. He also welcomed continued collaboration under the Technology Security Initiative and noted its potential to shape trusted and secure innovation ecosystems.
Lammy conveyed the UK’s interest in further enhancing cooperation with India across key sectors, including trade and investment, defence and security, technology, innovation, and clean energy. He expressed confidence that the FTA will unlock new economic opportunities for both countries.
The two leaders also exchanged views on regional and global issues. The statement added, “The UK foreign secretary strongly condemned the Pahalgam terror attack and expressed support for India's fight against cross-border terrorism. PM Modi underscored the need for decisive international action against terrorism and those who support it.”
Thank you Prime Minister @narendramodi for your warm welcome to India. Building on the free trade agreement between our great countries, we will continue working together to deepen our partnership, celebrate our unique living bridge, and deliver growth and security. pic.twitter.com/UbPXRey4Wn — David Lammy (@DavidLammy) June 7, 2025
Separately, Lammy held talks with India's external affairs minister S Jaishankar. In his opening remarks, Jaishankar said India expects its partners to understand its “zero tolerance” policy against terrorism. “We will never countenance perpetrators of evil being put on par with its victims,” he said.
Lammy arrived in New Delhi on Saturday morning on a two-day visit aimed at reviewing various aspects of the strategic partnership between the two countries.
Speaking to Reuters after the meeting, Lammy said Britain and India discussed expanding their "counter-terrorism" collaboration following recent tensions between India and Pakistan. Lammy is the highest-profile western official to have visited both New Delhi and Islamabad since the two countries agreed to a ceasefire last month after their worst fighting in nearly 30 years.
The latest tensions began in April after the killing of 26 men in Indian Kashmir, which New Delhi blamed on terrorists backed by Pakistan. Islamabad denied the charges. India then attacked what it described as “terrorist infrastructure” in Pakistan, prompting escalation until a ceasefire was agreed on May 10.
“We want the situation to be maintained, but of course we recognise fragility, particularly in the backdrop of terrorism, terrorism designed to destabilise India,” Lammy said in an interview at the British high commissioner’s residence in New Delhi. “We are keen to continue to work with our Indian partners on counter-terrorism measures.”
He said he discussed the next steps with both Modi and Jaishankar but did not provide further details.
Last year, India and the UK discussed cooperation on combating the financing of terrorism, law enforcement and judicial collaboration, and information sharing.
Lammy also said the two countries discussed strengthening trade ties. The FTA negotiations were concluded early last month.
“I know that prime minister Keir Starmer is very much looking forward to coming to India very soon to sign the free trade agreement,” Lammy said. “There is so much that our two nations can continue to do together.”
(With inputs from agencies)
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Yusuf was appointed chair last year by party leader Nigel Farage, who asked him to help professionalise the party.(Photo: Getty Images)
ZIA YUSUF announced on Saturday that he is returning to Reform UK, just two days after stepping down as the party’s chair. He said his resignation had been the result of exhaustion from the role.
Yusuf, a businessman who does not hold elected office, resigned on Thursday following a disagreement with a Reform UK lawmaker over her call to ban the burqa, a full-length garment worn by some Muslim women.
Yusuf was appointed chair last year by party leader Nigel Farage, who asked him to help professionalise the party.
Although Reform UK has since overtaken prime minister Keir Starmer’s Labour Party in some polls, the departure of several senior members has raised concerns about Farage’s ability to maintain unity ahead of the next general election, expected in 2029.
"After 11 months of working as a volunteer to build a political party from scratch, with barely a single day off, my tweet was a decision born of exhaustion," Yusuf said on X, referring to the earlier post where he had announced his resignation.
He said he will now shift his focus to leading a new "UK DOGE team" within the party, inspired by Elon Musk. The team is expected to focus on reducing wasteful spending in councils where Reform UK gained control following last month’s local elections.
Senior exits have previously affected the party.
In March, Reform UK lawmaker Rupert Lowe was suspended following allegations including threats of physical violence against Yusuf. No charges were filed, and Lowe has denied the allegations.
In November, deputy leader Ben Habib stepped down, citing "fundamental differences" with Farage.
Farage said Yusuf will contribute to policy, fundraising, and media work, in addition to his role in overseeing council operations.
"Zia will continue to be an important part of the team we are building to fight and win the next general election," Farage wrote on X.