Day: August 9, 2025
In a statement challenging claims made by organizers of the protest, the Met said, “We are confident that anyone who came to Parliament Square today to hold a placard expressing support for Palestine Action was either arrested or is in the process of being arrested.”
The claim that only a fraction of those who violated the law were apprehended “simply isn’t true,” police continued.
While around 500 to 600 people attended the rally, many were onlookers, media or people not holding placards in support of the banned group, the statement continued.
Those apprehended were taken to Prisoner Processing Points in Westminster area, while those whose details could be confirmed were released on bail, “with conditions not to attend any further protest in support of Palestine Action,” the statement concluded.
Defend Our Juries, an NGO supportive of anti-Israel initiatives that organized Saturday’s protest, tweeted that “The police are struggling to arrest everyone, as there are too many of us!”
In a subsequent tweet, the group said: “Mass arrests under the Terrorism Act are ongoing at Parliament Square. [Protesters are] being arrested for holding signs in opposition to genocide and the ban of Palestine Action.”
Palestine Action was outlawed on July 2 after its followers vandalized two aircraft at a Royal Air Force base on June 20, according to Reuters.
British Home Secretary Yvette Cooper had sought the proscription under section 3 of the Terrorism Act 2000. The measure, passed by a significant majority in the House of Commons (385 to 26), makes it a crime to belong to or support Palestine Action, placing it on the same legal footing in the U.K. as groups such as Al-Qaeda and Islamic State.
The House of Lords also backed the initiative, and the Court of Appeal in London rejected an appeal to block the ban.
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More than 150 family, friends, and public figures gathered to remember, honor and lay to rest on Saturday a Brooklyn security guard killed in last month’s Midtown mass shooting.
Aland Etienne, 46, was working as a security officer, employed by McLane Security, at 345 Park Ave. on July 28 when he was one of four people murdered in the rampage. He was stationed at the front desk of the high-profile building, the first face so many visitors see in this home to high-profile companies such as Blackstone and the NFL.
Etienne’s friends and family packed a room at the Guarino Funeral Home in Canarsie on Saturday for his funeral. A large Haitian contingent, many Canarsie residents, friends, and family from Florida and elsewhere attended. A flat screen hanging from the ceiling showed pictures of him and his family during the solemn, sorrowful service.
Mayor Eric Adams and House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries paid their respects to the family, and Queens Assembly Member and mayoral candidate Zohran Mandami paid his respects and attended the funeral service.
The slain guard’s son, Ralandy Lucien Etienne, was among the pallbearers who helped carry Aland Etienne’s casket to the black hearse for the final journey in a life that brought him from Haiti to the United States.
He was engaged to Rachelle Paoli, with whom he had been together since teenagers and lived with for eight years, since his arrival in the United States.
Etienne was born in Haiti on May 3, 1979 and emigrated to the United States in July, the same month that his life ended, in 1997. The obituary that his family provided said he “found purpose and pride in his work, becoming a respected security officer in one of Manhattan’s most prominent buildings.”
Many described him as a Haitian immigrant who made his new home in Canarsie, with a large Haitian community. Some said he planned to marry and buy a house.
“Aland was Haitian immigrant who came here and contributed to this country in small and big ways,” 32BJ SEIU President Manny Pastreich said; Etienne was a member of the labor union. “He represents what immigrants do every single day in this country.”
The obituary described him as a “dreamer and storyteller at heart” who “loved music, laughter, meaningful conversation and good food.”
He is the father of four children, Naika Jean Charles, Christna Dwinelande Etienne. Ralandy Lucien Etinee, and Jareen Yennifer Lourdes Etienne.
The obituary noted that he had a” deep love of film and once aspired to become a filmmaker,” and that his younger brother, Smith Etienne, now “honors that legacy through his own work in cinema.”
Esther Valsaint, who grew up with him, attending the same high school and church, in Haiti, came to the funeral from Montreal. She called him her best friend who consoled her and helped with assignments.
“When I was late for school, he would pass by and take me to school on his bicycle,” she said. “He was the most amazing father his kids could have. He worked very hard to take care of them. He’s a father figure to his brothers, his sister and to me.”
Brooklyn State Senator Roxanne Persaud called the event a “tragedy,” while City Council Member Farah Louis said many New Yorkers, including those of Haitian descent, also were heartbroken.
“There’s a very large Haitian community from Canarsie to East Flatbush,” said Louis, whose father is Haitian. “The Haitian community is upset about the incident. There’s no justice. The shooter took his own life.”
She said there needs to be a conversation regarding mental health and called for stricter nationwide gun safety laws.
“We’ve been trying to reform gun control laws,” she said. “We need stronger gun control laws for the nation.”
Others said it’s important to provide technology, assistance and any type of possible support to help security guards.
Mike Gaynor, a former NYPD detective and licensed security guard instructor and security school director, said security guards get 24 hours of training in their first three months and then eight hours a year.
“Security guards protect people and property. They act in conjunction with the police,” he said. “They can make arrests.”
Gaynor said shootings like this are “rare, but it happens,” and that technology such as metal detectors can help, although that wouldn’t have made a difference in this case. Bulletproof vests can also provide an added layer of protection.
“Some security guards are armed and some aren’t,” Gaynor said, noting unarmed guards initially need to protect themselves as well as seeking to do the same for others. “If you’re an unarmed security guard, you’re supposed to take cover.”
Some talked of the need to do whatever can be done to protect buildings, workers and security guards.
“We want to make sure our frontline security officers feel fully supported when it comes to active shooter event,” Patreich said.” And we want to find ways to help keep experienced officers in the industry.”
Efforts have been made to help Etienne’s family. A GoFundMe campaign for the family, done with the help of 32BJ, has thus far raised close to $200,000. Patreich said Etienne had a small 401(k) and life insurance.
“He was a steady presence in a noisy world, measured, thoughtful and strong,” the obituary noted. “He carried himself with humility and honor, speaking volumes without raising his voice. His impact was felt not just in words, but in action, loyalty, and love.”
The obituary also described Etienne as someone who now is “a guardian in spirit, guiding with the same quite strength that defined his life.” The funeral service, including a violin prelude, psalms, invocations and memories of Aland Etienne, ended with music.
“It was emotional, very touching,” George Romero, a security officer who came here to offer his respects, said of the somber ceremony. “Everybody was strong through the whole service.”
(TJV NEWS) Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich declared Saturday that he no longer believes Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is committed to securing a decisive victory in the Gaza war, The Times of Israel reported. Smotrich’s remarks came after the security cabinet, on Thursday, approved what he called a “half-measure” — a plan to seize Gaza City — which he argued falls short of the full military and political campaign needed to defeat Hamas.
In a strongly worded video statement, cited by The Times of Israel, Smotrich said he had “worked intensively” with Netanyahu in recent weeks to create a plan combining military force and political pressure to dismantle Hamas and secure the release of all hostages. Initially, he believed Netanyahu supported the plan, but then “he made a U-turn,” opting instead for an operation aimed at pushing Hamas toward a partial hostage deal.
According to The Times of Israel, Smotrich accused the prime minister and the cabinet of succumbing to “weakness” and “emotion over reason,” claiming that the current approach gives Hamas the opportunity to recover and rearm. “This is not how you win a war,” he said, arguing that the Israel Defense Forces would “move tepidly” when pursuing partial deals, which he described as an “immoral and illogical folly” that risks soldiers’ lives and international condemnation.
While Smotrich stopped short of threatening to quit the coalition — something he has previously said he would do if the war was not conducted to his satisfaction — he told The Times of Israel that, for the first time since the war began, he could not “stand behind this decision” in good conscience.
The finance minister urged Netanyahu to change course, reject partial agreements, and commit to total victory, either by forcing Hamas to surrender and release all hostages at once or by fully defeating and destroying the group. He also reiterated his controversial stance in favor of annexing large parts of Gaza and opening them for voluntary migration.
As The Times of Israel noted, Smotrich, along with National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, voted against the Gaza City plan. Smotrich reportedly objected to Netanyahu’s willingness to halt the operation if Hamas agreed to a deal, while Ben Gvir opposed the inclusion of aid provisions for Palestinians evacuating the city.
Netanyahu’s government depends on both Smotrich and Ben Gvir, who advocate permanent Israeli control over Gaza, the displacement of Palestinians, and the rebuilding of Jewish settlements in the enclave, The Times of Israel reported.
The proposal to take over Gaza City — despite warnings from IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir that it could endanger remaining hostages and cause a humanitarian disaster — has faced fierce opposition from hostage families. Demonstrations erupted in Tel Aviv on Thursday and Saturday, with protesters blocking roads and clashing with police.
Hamas and other terror factions in Gaza continue to hold 50 hostages, including the bodies of at least 28 confirmed dead, according to the IDF. Twenty are believed to be alive, with grave concerns for two others. Hamas is also holding the remains of an IDF soldier killed in 2014, The Times of Israel reported.
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Рафаэль Мантессо. Фен и Бетмен.
Рафаэль Мантессо. Фен и Бетмен. pic.twitter.com/JYC7h1YVvB
— Художники и Поэты (@Xudozhnikipoeti) August 9, 2025
(TJV NEWS) A Harvard astronomer is once again raising the possibility that an interstellar object approaching Earth might be artificially engineered rather than naturally formed — echoing similar claims he made in 2017 and 2023. Avi Loeb, chair of Harvard’s astronomy department, told CNN on Thursday that the interstellar object 3I/ATLAS, detected by the Deep […]
(Breitbart) President Donald Trump announced he will hold a press conference at the White House on Monday outlining a plan to “essentially stop violent crime” in Washington, D.C., following a recent federal law enforcement surge in the city.
President Donald Trump said in a Truth Social post Saturday morning that he will host a White House press conference Monday to detail actions aimed at addressing violent crime in Washington, D.C.
“On Monday a Press Conference will be held at the White House which will, essentially, stop violent crime in Washington, D.C. It has become one of the most dangerous cities anywhere in the World. It will soon be one of the safest!!! Thank you for your attention to this matter. President DJT,” Trump wrote.
The announcement comes after a series of recent federal actions in response to violent incidents in the city. On August 7, Trump ordered federal law enforcement agencies — including the U.S. Park Police, FBI, DEA, ATF, and divisions of Immigration and Customs Enforcement — to patrol D.C. for seven days. The move followed the assault of Edward Coristine, a 19-year-old software engineer and member of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), who is known online by the name “Big Balls.”
Coristine was attacked in early August by a group of ten individuals outside his car in an upscale neighborhood less than two miles from the White House. Two 15-year-old suspects from Maryland were arrested and charged with unarmed carjacking, according to authorities, while additional suspects are still being sought.
Trump has repeatedly raised the possibility of taking federal control of Washington, D.C., citing concerns about youth crime and calling for changes to city law to allow minors as young as 14 to be prosecuted as adults for certain violent offenses. The District has operated under home rule since 1973, with limited self-governance granted by Congress.
White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller stated Thursday that the administration would take “the action necessary to secure the city of Washington,” adding that further announcements would be made by the president.
In April, Mayor Muriel Bowser created a special police unit to address juvenile crime in the city. The mayor has noted overall crime has declined, while the city’s attorney general, Brian Schwalb, is handling the case against the two teenage suspects in Coristine’s assault.
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“We are not going to occupy Gaza—we are going to free Gaza from Hamas,” said Netanyahu.
“Gaza will be demilitarized, and a peaceful civilian administration will be established, one that is not the Palestinian Authority, not Hamas, and not any other terrorist organization,” he continued. “This will help free our hostages and ensure Gaza does not pose a threat to Israel in the future.”
The Israeli Security Cabinet overnight Thursday decided by a “decisive majority” to approve Netanyahu’s plan to defeat Hamas, including controlling Gaza City.
The Israel Defense Forces will prepare for “taking control of Gaza City, while distributing humanitarian assistance to the civilian population outside the combat zones,” the Prime Minister’s Office said on Friday.
The statement noted that the forum voted on five principles: disarming Hamas, returning all 50 hostages, demilitarizing Gaza, Israeli security control of the Strip and creating an alternative civil administration.
“Ultimately, what Israel needs to do for Israel’s security will be determined by Israel,” U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Thursday, adding that as long as Hamas remains armed, there will never be peace in Gaza.
“Hamas is not going to suddenly change and go into another line of work,” said Rubio. “Their reason for existing is they want to destroy Israel. They want to drive every Jew out of the Middle East. That’s their goal. And as long as a group like that has weapons and the ability to fight, they’re a threat to peace.”
Earlier on Thursday, Netanyahu confirmed that Israel intends to take control of the entire enclave to eliminate Hamas and transfer authority to non-hostile “civilian governance.”
“We want to liberate ourselves and liberate the people of Gaza from the awful terror of Hamas,” the prime minister told Fox News. He stressed that the Israeli government does not “want to keep it” after taking control of the 26-mile-long coastal enclave.
“We want to have a security perimeter,” Netanyahu said. “We don’t want to be there as a governing body. We want to hand it over to Arab forces that will govern it properly, without threatening us, and giving Gazans a good life.”
The U.S. military is not a part of the newly announced plan, including taking Gaza City, Kingsley Wilson, the Pentagon press secretary, told an Associated Press reporter during a Defense Department briefing on Thursday.
“I’ll just echo what the president has said. He wants to alleviate the suffering for the people of Gaza. He wants to see peace in the Middle East and in that region in particular,” Wilson said. “We are in full support of that. The department does not at this time have a direct role, but if we are asked to support, we of course stand ready at the president’s direction.”
U.S. Ambassador to Jerusalem Mike Huckabee said on Friday that Hamas needs to listen to exactly what President Donald Trump says, “they need to disarm, leave and never think they have a future in Gaza again.”
Describing Hamas’s position as “absurd,” the envoy noted that “these are the people that raped women in front of their families, that beheaded babies and put them in ovens, that mutilated the bodies of their victims” during the Oct. 7, 2023, massacre.
“They have the audacity to think that anyone is to blame but them,” Huckabee continued. “It’s why, frankly, Israel has made the decision they’ve made. They cannot let this continue to go on. We saw the videos last weekend of hostages—you want to talk about starvation and hunger, the hostages are starving.
“It’s a tough situation and Israel did not start it, but it looks like they’re the only ones who are going to be able to finish it,” he said.
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