Big Ben's Palestinian flag protest lasted 17 hours before a cherry picker was brought in to end the stunt. AP
Big Ben's Palestinian flag protest lasted 17 hours before a cherry picker was brought in to end the stunt. AP
Big Ben's Palestinian flag protest lasted 17 hours before a cherry picker was brought in to end the stunt. AP
Big Ben's Palestinian flag protest lasted 17 hours before a cherry picker was brought in to end the stunt. AP

Protester appears in court after scaling Big Ben with Palestinian flag


Tim Stickings
  • English
  • Arabic

A man accused of causing a public nuisance by scaling Big Ben with a Palestine flag has appeared in court after a 17-hour protest on London's most famous landmark.

Prosecutors say Daniel Day, 29, climbed the Palace of Westminster's clock tower barefoot early on Saturday. A cherry picker was eventually brought in to end the protest, which had attracted shouts of "free Palestine" from a small group of supporters on the ground.

Mr Day is charged with intentionally or recklessly causing a public nuisance and trespassing on a protected site. He appeared at Westminster Magistrates' Court on Monday, speaking only to confirm his identity. He did not enter a plea.

Judge Annabel Pilling remanded Mr Day in custody until his next court appearance on March 17.

Pro-Palestinian protesters gathered outside Westminster Magistrates' Court as Daniel Day made his first appearance on Monday. PA
Pro-Palestinian protesters gathered outside Westminster Magistrates' Court as Daniel Day made his first appearance on Monday. PA

Paint stunt

Campaigners held another pro-Palestine protest on Monday, as insurance company Allianz had its offices sprayed with red paint. Activists from Palestine Action say the firm is linked to an Israeli defence manufacturer, Elbit Systems.

Protesters scaled the building in the City of London with a flag reading “Drop Elbit” in the latest of several stunts targeting Allianz. “By providing insurance, Allianz is directly enabling the production of Israeli weapons in Britain, which are ‘battle-tested’ on Palestinians," a Palestine Action representative said.

“As all companies who work with Elbit should know by now, Palestine Action’s direct action campaign against them will not cease until their links with the Israeli weapons trade does."

Supporters of Palestine Action sprayed red paint over the London offices of insurer Allianz, which they link to Israeli arms maker Elbit Systems. AP
Supporters of Palestine Action sprayed red paint over the London offices of insurer Allianz, which they link to Israeli arms maker Elbit Systems. AP

Allianz said it respected people's right to an opinion but "will not give in to threats and criminal behaviour that endanger the safety or security of our people, business and property". The company said it would be "taking independent legal action to address these threats”.

The Speaker of Britain's House of Commons, Lindsay Hoyle, ordered a security review after the Palace of Westminster protest. He said he wanted to ensure "lessons are learnt", as he thanked those involved in "helping to ensure Saturday’s incident was resolved safely".

Footage posted on social media showed a protester on a ledge telling negotiators he would come down “on his own terms”. Shouts of “free Palestine” and “you are a hero” could be heard from a small crowd behind a police cordon.

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Where to donate in the UAE

The Emirates Charity Portal

You can donate to several registered charities through a “donation catalogue”. The use of the donation is quite specific, such as buying a fan for a poor family in Niger for Dh130.

The General Authority of Islamic Affairs & Endowments

The site has an e-donation service accepting debit card, credit card or e-Dirham, an electronic payment tool developed by the Ministry of Finance and First Abu Dhabi Bank.

Al Noor Special Needs Centre

You can donate online or order Smiles n’ Stuff products handcrafted by Al Noor students. The centre publishes a wish list of extras needed, starting at Dh500.

Beit Al Khair Society

Beit Al Khair Society has the motto “From – and to – the UAE,” with donations going towards the neediest in the country. Its website has a list of physical donation sites, but people can also contribute money by SMS, bank transfer and through the hotline 800-22554.

Dar Al Ber Society

Dar Al Ber Society, which has charity projects in 39 countries, accept cash payments, money transfers or SMS donations. Its donation hotline is 800-79.

Dubai Cares

Dubai Cares provides several options for individuals and companies to donate, including online, through banks, at retail outlets, via phone and by purchasing Dubai Cares branded merchandise. It is currently running a campaign called Bookings 2030, which allows people to help change the future of six underprivileged children and young people.

Emirates Airline Foundation

Those who travel on Emirates have undoubtedly seen the little donation envelopes in the seat pockets. But the foundation also accepts donations online and in the form of Skywards Miles. Donated miles are used to sponsor travel for doctors, surgeons, engineers and other professionals volunteering on humanitarian missions around the world.

Emirates Red Crescent

On the Emirates Red Crescent website you can choose between 35 different purposes for your donation, such as providing food for fasters, supporting debtors and contributing to a refugee women fund. It also has a list of bank accounts for each donation type.

Gulf for Good

Gulf for Good raises funds for partner charity projects through challenges, like climbing Kilimanjaro and cycling through Thailand. This year’s projects are in partnership with Street Child Nepal, Larchfield Kids, the Foundation for African Empowerment and SOS Children's Villages. Since 2001, the organisation has raised more than $3.5 million (Dh12.8m) in support of over 50 children’s charities.

Noor Dubai Foundation

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum launched the Noor Dubai Foundation a decade ago with the aim of eliminating all forms of preventable blindness globally. You can donate Dh50 to support mobile eye camps by texting the word “Noor” to 4565 (Etisalat) or 4849 (du).

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The specs: Macan Turbo

Engine: Dual synchronous electric motors
Power: 639hp
Torque: 1,130Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Touring range: 591km
Price: From Dh412,500
On sale: Deliveries start in October

Tearful appearance

Chancellor Rachel Reeves set markets on edge as she appeared visibly distraught in parliament on Wednesday. 

Legislative setbacks for the government have blown a new hole in the budgetary calculations at a time when the deficit is stubbornly large and the economy is struggling to grow. 

She appeared with Keir Starmer on Thursday and the pair embraced, but he had failed to give her his backing as she cried a day earlier.

A spokesman said her upset demeanour was due to a personal matter.

ACL Elite (West) - fixtures

Monday, Sept 30

Al Sadd v Esteghlal (8pm)
Persepolis v Pakhtakor (8pm)
Al Wasl v Al Ahli (8pm)
Al Nassr v Al Rayyan (10pm)

Tuesday, Oct 1
Al Hilal v Al Shorta (10pm)
Al Gharafa v Al Ain (10pm)

Citadel: Honey Bunny first episode

Directors: Raj & DK

Stars: Varun Dhawan, Samantha Ruth Prabhu, Kashvi Majmundar, Kay Kay Menon

Rating: 4/5

Formula Middle East Calendar (Formula Regional and Formula 4)
Round 1: January 17-19, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
 
Round 2: January 22-23, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
 
Round 3: February 7-9, Dubai Autodrome – Dubai
 
Round 4: February 14-16, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
 
Round 5: February 25-27, Jeddah Corniche Circuit – Saudi Arabia
The Sand Castle

Director: Matty Brown

Stars: Nadine Labaki, Ziad Bakri, Zain Al Rafeea, Riman Al Rafeea

Rating: 2.5/5

Countries recognising Palestine

France, UK, Canada, Australia, Portugal, Belgium, Malta, Luxembourg, San Marino and Andorra

 

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.

The specs: 2019 Jeep Wrangler

Price, base: Dh132,000

Engine: 3.6-litre V6

Gearbox: Eight-speed automatic

Power: 285hp @ 6,400rpm

Torque: 347Nm @ 4,100rpm

Fuel economy, combined: 9.6L to 10.3L / 100km

Updated: March 10, 2025, 5:46 PM