More than 40 people have been arrested after violent protests erupted in Sweden against a far right group’s plan to burn the Quran
The outrage was sparked by Danish-Swedish politician, Rasmus Paludan’s organised series of rallies during the month of Ramadan.
Paludan who is also the leader of the anti-immigration and anti-Islam group Hard Line says he has already burnt a copy of the holy book and wants to do it again.
The protests that started in the cities of Linköping and Norrköping turned violent as clashes between the protesters and the police broke out.
Since then, the protests have also spread out to other cities like Orebo, Rinkeby and Malmo.
In Malmo, a school and some vehicles were set on fire by an angry crowd.
Sweden’s national police chief, Anders Thornberg says he has never witnessed such violent clashes happening in Norrkoping, 160 km south-west of Stockholm.
The police says 26 police officers and 14 members of the public were injured in the violence with more than 20 vehicles destroyed.
“Some 200 participants were violent and the police had to respond with arms in legitimate self-defence,” Thornberg says.
Saudi Arabia has also condemned the events conspiring in Sweden calling it a “deliberate abuse of the holy Quran by some extremists”.
Iraq’s foreign ministry has also summoned Sweden’s charge d’affaires, saying the events could have “repurcussions” on “relations between Sweden and Muslims”.
William is an Executive News Producer at TICKER NEWS, responsible for the production and direction of news bulletins. William is also the presenter of the hourly Weather + Climate segment.
With qualifications in Journalism and Law (LLB), William previously worked at the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) before moving to TICKER NEWS. He was also an intern at the Seven Network's 'Sunrise'.
A creative-minded individual, William has a passion for broadcast journalism and reporting on global politics and international affairs.
In a closed-door vote, Senator Thune takes on a pivotal leadership role as Senate Republicans look to the future.
In a significant shift within Senate Republican leadership, Senator John Thune of South Dakota has been elected as the new Senate GOP leader, taking over from long-time leader Senator Mitch McConnell.
The decision came after a secret ballot vote among GOP members, marking the end of McConnell’s influential tenure.
Thune, who has served as Senate Minority Whip, is widely recognized for his strategic acumen and steady approach to party leadership.
His appointment signals both continuity and potential change as Senate Republicans prepare to navigate a challenging legislative environment and upcoming elections.
With McConnell stepping back, questions arise about how Thune’s leadership will shape GOP strategies on key issues, from fiscal policy to judicial appointments.
Analysts note that his leadership style is expected to maintain unity while possibly adopting fresh tactics to strengthen the party’s legislative influence.
As Thune steps into this prominent role, Republicans and observers alike will watch how his leadership influences the Senate’s dynamics and the broader political landscape.
The transition reflects a pivotal moment for the GOP as it positions itself for future electoral and legislative battles.
The Wall Street Journal is experimenting with AI to summarise its articles.
Readers will see a “Key Points” box at the top of select stories, featuring AI-generated summaries that are checked by editors. This new feature is being tested to assess reader engagement, offering bullet points that highlight key information.
The box includes a note explaining the use of AI, as WSJ explores new ways to add value for subscribers. Other news outlets, like USA Today, are also testing similar AI tools, though some caution readers to consult full articles due to potential AI errors.