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16 May Briefing Read full brief

Saturday's public-order strain runs from Westminster's march to a Birmingham hospital bed

Met officers arrested a 44-year-old at Euston near the "Unite the Kingdom" march on suspicion of wounding over Thursday's Stirchley van collision that broke a pedestrian's leg, with a second man held at the march for encouraging an attack on a police officer. Husam Zomlot told the Guardian that British Palestinians fear speaking openly about Gaza for the first time in years. UK insurers said they are reluctant to cover Chinese EVs such as Jaecoo, and Westminster confirmed traffic and Tube disruption around the central-London march.

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Met officers arrest 44-year-old at Euston near "Unite the Kingdom" march meeting point over Stirchley van collision

Met Police on Saturday morning arrested a 44-year-old man at Euston station near the meeting point of the "Unite the Kingdom" march on suspicion of wounding after a van ran over a pedestrian in the Birmingham suburb of Stirchley on Thursday night, West Midlands police said. A man in his 30s was struck on Mayfield Road after flags had been removed from lamp-posts, suffering a broken leg that required surgery, and remains in hospital. A second man was arrested at the march on suspicion of encouraging people to attack a police officer; the van failed to stop at the scene but was recovered on nearby Prince Road and is being examined.

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British Palestinians fear speaking openly about Gaza war, campaigner says

British Palestinians feel unable to speak openly about the war in Gaza and fear hostility over displays of Palestinian identity, according to Sara Husseini, director of the British Palestinian Committee. Speaking ahead of Saturday’s Nakba commemoration march in London, Husseini told the Guardian that some people were afraid to wear keffiyehs, Arabic jewelry or Palestinian symbols at work and in public. The annual march marks the 78th anniversary of the Nakba, when hundreds of thousands of Palestinians were displaced during the creation of Israel in 1948.

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UK insurers reluctant to cover Chinese EVs, research finds

UK insurers are more hesitant to cover some Chinese hybrid and electric vehicles (EVs), including models like the Jaecoo 7, than equivalent petrol cars or EVs from Europe, the US and South Korea, according to research. Some drivers may face higher premiums or limited insurance options when buying Chinese-made cars. The findings highlight growing challenges for Chinese automakers expanding into the UK market.

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Farming family fined £19,000 for damaging rare flowers on protected Welsh site

A farming family in Ceredigion, Wales, was fined £9,000 and ordered to pay £10,000 in costs and penalties for repeatedly damaging a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) by spreading fertiliser, slurry, and weed killer without permission over eight years. The actions caused a serious decline in rare arable plants. The family must also comply with a 10-year restoration order.

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A farming family in Ceredigion, Wales, was fined £9,000 and ordered to pay £10,000 in costs and penalties for repeatedly damaging a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) by spreading fertiliser, slurry, and weed killer without permission over eight years. The actions caused a serious decline in rare arable plants. The family must also comply with a 10-year restoration order.

Frequently Asked

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What happened at the Unite the Kingdom march in London?
Met police detained a 44-year-old man at Euston station on suspicion of wounding after a van ran over a pedestrian in Birmingham's Stirchley suburb. A second man was held on suspicion of encouraging attacks on a police officer.
What injuries did the pedestrian in Birmingham suffer?
The victim, a man in his 30s, suffered a broken leg requiring surgery after flags were removed from lamp-posts on Mayfield Road. The van failed to stop but was recovered on nearby Prince Road.
How did the march affect London traffic?
Westminster City Council confirmed planned demonstrations caused traffic restrictions and Underground disruption, with Met police directing crowd flow around Whitehall and Trafalgar Square.
What did Husam Zomlot say about British Palestinians?
Senior Palestinian campaigner Husam Zomlot told the Guardian that British Palestinians fear speaking openly about the Gaza war, describing self-censorship in schools, workplaces and political circles.
Why are UK insurers reluctant to cover Chinese EVs?
UK insurers are hesitant to cover Chinese-made EVs like Jaecoo without fresh underwriting evidence, citing concerns about repair-cost data, parts availability and cybersecurity standards.