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More than 100 arrests over Palestine Action ban protests

BBC Police arrest a woman in Parliament Square, LondonBBC
Police made more than 50 arrests in Parliament Square in central London

Dozens of people have been arrested at protests across the UK against the decision to proscribe Palestine Action as a terror group.

Arrests have been reported in London, Edinburgh, Manchester, Bristol and Truro, all places where demonstrations in support of the pro-Palestine action group took place on Saturday.

The Met Police said 55 people were arrested on suspicion of terrorism offences in Westminster for displaying placards in support of Palestine Action. Eight were arrested in Truro in Cornwall.

The government proscribed the group earlier this month under the Terrorism Act of 2000, making membership of or support for the group a criminal offence, following a break-in at an RAF base.

Across the country, protesters held placards with the words: "I oppose genocide. I support Palestine Action."

In London, arrests were made near the Mahatma Gandhi statue in Parliament Square, where as many as 20 police vans attended.

Officers moved in swiftly to arrest those holding the placards, many of whom appeared to be over the age of 60.

One woman claimed to be in her 80s and was walking with a stick. Some were led away while others had to be carried.

Devon and Cornwall Police said two men and six women were arrested on suspicion of terrorism offences after protesters gathered near Truro Cathedral.

The force said around 30 people were involved in the peaceful demonstration, organised by campaign group Defend Our Juries.

Earlier, the campaign group said that one of those arrested near the cathedral was an 81-year-old former magistrate.

It also said 16 people were arrested in Manchester.

Police forces in the other locations where protests took place have not yet confirmed the number of arrests they made.

EPA Police officers carry a person in handcuffs away from Parliament SquareEPA
Some demonstrators in London were led away while others had to be carried by officers

Saturday's protests came ahead of a High Court hearing on Monday at which the co-founder of Palestine Action, Huda Ammori, will ask for permission to challenge the decision to ban the group.

Last Saturday, 71 arrests were made across the UK at similar protests against the decision.

Palestine Action has engaged in activities that have predominantly targeted arms companies since the start of the current war in Gaza.

MPs voted to proscribe the group after activists broke into RAF Brize Norton in June, spraying two Voyager aircraft with red paint and causing £7m worth of damage. Palestine Action took responsibility for the incident at the time.

Four people have since been remanded in custody, charged with conspiracy to commit criminal damage and conspiracy to enter a prohibited place knowingly for a purpose prejudicial to the safety or interests of the UK.

The incident also prompted a security review across all UK military bases.

Usyk blows Dubois away to reclaim undisputed crown

Usyk blows Dubois away to reclaim undisputed crown

Oleksandr Usyk lands a left hand on Daniel DuboisImage source, Queensberry
Image caption,

Oleksandr Usyk (right) has won all four fights as a professional on UK soil

Oleksandr Usyk further cemented his place as one of boxing's greats by stopping Daniel Dubois in round five to become a two-time undisputed heavyweight champion.

The Ukrainian put on a masterclass in front of 90,000 fans at Wembley Stadium to dash Dubois' dreams of being the first Briton to unify the division in the four-belt era.

Usyk, 38, put Dubois down twice in the fifth and the Londoner was unable to return to beat the count the second time round.

He also stopped Dubois in 2023 and extends his perfect record as a professional to 24 victories.

"I'm sorry [Dubois], it's sport. My people wanted this win," Usyk told DAZN.

"Nothing is next. It's enough. Next, I want to rest. My family, my wife, my children, I want to rest now. Two or three months, I want to just rest."

Dubois – who beat Anthony Joshua to defend his IBF title in September – tastes defeat for the third time in 25 contests as a professional, with each of those losses coming inside the distance.

Usyk reclaimed the IBF title, which was stripped from him just weeks after unifying the division in 2023, and added it to his WBA (Super), WBO and WBC belts.

"I have to commend him on the performance, I gave everything I had. Take no credit away from that man, I'll be back," Dubois told DAZN.

"I was just fighting, trying to pick up round by round. It is what it is."

Usyk still top of the heavyweight pile

Daniel Dubois on the canvas with Oleksandr Usyk standing over himImage source, Queensberry
Image caption,

Usyk has now won all 13 of his world title fights across two divisions

The great and good of the boxing world turned out to watch the momentous occasion, with Roy Jones Jr and Frank Bruno among those at ringside.

WBO interim heavyweight champion Joseph Parker was also keeping a close eye on proceedings as he seeks a date with Usyk next.

Usyk, who has called the UK his second home, was welcomed warmly after Dubois had also been cheered to the ring.

It took no time for the fight to spark into life as Dubois doubled up on his jab but it was clear that Usyk wasn't going to be a sitting target. The former undisputed cruiserweight champion was far too slick, ducking under the jab and punishing Dubois regularly.

Southpaw Usyk punctuated each of the opening two rounds with a counter left and had Dubois looking a little unsteady in the second.

Dubois looked out of the ring to his father Stan between rounds for some advice but he still found it difficult to pin down the 2012 Olympic gold medallist.

Usyk unloaded in the fifth and sent Dubois tumbling to the canvas with a crisp left.

Dubois showed incredible spirit to beat the count but the writing was already on the wall.

Another trusty left hook landed clean on Dubois' chin and his corner threw in the towel as the referee reached the count of nine.

Dubois left with another rebuilding job

Oleksandr Usyk holds his four world titlesImage source, Getty Images
Image caption,

Usyk has now beaten Anthony Joshua, Tyson Fury and Daniel Dubois twice

A third career defeat leaves Dubois in a difficult position and requiring another rebuild.

Dubois, 27, has not beaten a champion to claim a world title – he won the interim IBF belt and was subsequently elevated to full world champion before making one defence against Joshua.

Following his last defeat by Usyk, Dubois re-emerged with a newfound confidence but this loss will knock him back several steps.

He will have no shortage of options with the likes of interim WBC champion Agit Kabayel, WBA 'Regular' champion Kubrat Pulev or even the likes of Deontay Wilder to go after.

Usyk, meanwhile, is the A side in boxing's glamour division and has his pick of the bunch.

"Maybe it's Tyson Fury. Maybe we have three choices, Derek Chisora and Anthony Joshua, maybe Joseph Parker," Usyk told DAZN.

Dubois' team raised concerns over Usyk's age during fight week but he looked as good as ever.

As he has done in all previous rematches – against Fury and Joshua – Usyk used the data he had downloaded from the first encounter to his advantage.

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More boxing from the BBC

Sewage discharges to halve by 2030, minister pledges

PA Media Environment Secretary Steve Reed. He is smiling and wearing a navy blue suit jacket with a white collared shirtPA Media

The number of times sewage is discharged by water companies will be halved by 2030, the environment secretary has pledged.

Steve Reed's vow marks the first time ministers have set a clear target on the issue, following public outcry over the pollution incidents.

It comes after data published by the Environment Agency on Friday showed serious pollution incidents by water companies in England rose by 60% in 2024 to the highest number on record.

Reed said families had "watched their local rivers, coastlines and lakes suffer from record levels of pollution" - but the Conservatives said Labour had "done nothing to stop water bill rises" despite "big promises" to reform the system.

The pledge forms part of wider government plans to improve the water sector, ahead of a landmark Water Commission review of the industry due to be published on Monday.

The plans announced on Sunday will also include a commitment to work with devolved governments across the UK to ban wet wipes containing plastic, among other measures.

Reed is also expected to confirm aims to cut phosphorus pollution from treated wastewater - which causes algae blooms that are harmful to wildlife - in half by 2028, compared to 2024 levels.

There has been widespread scrutiny of water companies over the increasing number of sewage discharges into UK waterways amid rising bills - all while the firms have paid out millions to executives and shareholders.

The Environment Agency said water companies recorded 2,801 pollution incidents in 2024, up from 2,174 in 2023.

Of those, 75 were considered to pose "serious or persistent" harm to fisheries, drinking water and human health - up from 47 last year.

At the same time, water bosses in England were paid £7.6m in bonuses, according to the government. In June, it barred them from being paid out at six firms that had fallen foul of environmental and consumer standards.

The Water Commission's chair will lay out his recommendations on how to improve the environmental and financial performance of the sector. The government will respond in Parliament.

Several UK media outlets reported on Friday that the report would suggest scrapping the regulator, Ofwat, altogether. A government spokesperson said it would not comment on speculation.

England has a combined sewage system, which means both rainfall and sewage are processed through the same system. Last year, rainfall levels were up, which could have overwhelmed some water company infrastructure.

However, despite variations in rainfall, discharges that result in serious pollution are a breach of their permits and legal obligations.

Many incidents are reported to the Environment Agency by the companies themselves, but of 4,000 inspections carried out last year by the regulator, nearly a quarter of sites were in breach of their permits.

A record £104bn is due to be invested into the water sector over the next five years to improve its infrastructure.

As a result, consumer bills are expected to rise on average by £123 annually - though for Southern Water customers this could be as much as £224.

The Environment Agency has also received £189m to support hundreds of enforcement offices to inspect and prosecute water companies, with the fines retroactively paying for this.

Conservative shadow environment secretary Victoria Atkins said the government "must be transparent about where the £104bn investment is coming from as some will come through customer bill rises".

She said plans "must also include credible proposals to improve the water system's resilience to droughts, without placing an additional burden on bill payers and taxpayers".

Rain and thunderstorm alerts bring flash flood threat

Getty Images Woman walking in heavy rain holding a jacket over her head.Getty Images

Parts of the UK are braced for potentially dangerous flash flooding as thunderstorms and torrential rain are set arrive over the weekend.

The Met Office has issued an amber weather warning for south-east England as more than a month's worth of rain is forecast to fall in a matter of hours on Saturday morning.

It says fast-flowing and deep floodwaters are likely, leading to road and transport disruption, as well as power cuts.

The torrential downpours come days after a third UK heatwave of the year that parched swathes of the UK and led to several hosepipe bans being declared.

This will make flooding more likely and severe as the dry ground will not be able to absorb as much water.

The amber warning covers a stretch of the south coast, London and Cambridge, and is in force from 04:00 BST to 11:00 on Saturday.

Between 20 and 40mm of rain could fall within an hour in this area, the Met Office has warned, which could accumulate to 70-100mm in just a few hours.

It said homes and businesses are likely to be flooded, which will happen "quickly", while this amount of surface water will make driving difficult and may lead to road closures.

Lightning strikes, hail and strong winds may also cause train and bus cancellations.

Yellow weather warnings will cover the rest of eastern, central and northern England and a portion of eastern Scotland. A yellow warning is already in force for parts of eastern England.

Amber warnings indicated there is an increased chance severe weather could affect people's day-to-day lives, including a potential danger to life. Yellow warnings are less severe.

The last amber warning over London was in January 2024, when Storm Henk hit parts of central England and Wales, according to the Met Office.

After arriving on Friday night, the storm is forecast to move inland, pushing northwards across England on Saturday morning before arriving in Scotland by midday.

Yellow warnings for rain cover parts of England and Scotland on Sunday and Monday as residual parts of the storm linger.

Last weeks heatwave brought travel disruption, a number of water-related deaths and hosepipe bans being declared for millions living in Yorkshire, Kent and Sussex.

One might think a heavy dose of rainfall would help reduce these drought conditions - but because the rain will be very heavy in localised areas, it will run off the dry, baked earth rapidly, perhaps overwhelming local sewers and waterways.

A substantial recovery in reservoir and groundwater aquifer levels would require a more sustained spell of wet weather.

Yorkshire's hosepipe ban is expected to last until winter.

Thunderstorms following a heatwave in the summer of 2022 brought flash flooding to London and the surrounding areas, flooding roads and Tube stations.

The rainfall also caused cancellations and delays at Gatwick Airport.

【重温】NGOCN|丁家喜律师:“我爱你们,但我不能放弃理想和信念”

CDT编辑注:人权律师丁家喜是“新公民运动”的主要活动人士之一。在投身人权事业之前,他曾任北京航空工业总公司工程师,并被评为北京市十佳知识产权律师。自2010年起,丁家喜推动“随迁子女就地高考”等教育平权活动;2012年,他与“新公民运动”发起人许志永等人联名向习近平等中央领导人发表公开信,呼吁官员公示财产。2013年4月17日,丁家喜被当局以“非法集会”罪名刑事拘留,罪名随后先后变更为“寻衅滋事”和“聚众扰乱社会秩序”。2016年刑满出狱后,丁于2019年再度因“煽动颠覆国家政权罪”被捕。2023年4月,他被中国当局以“颠覆国家政权罪”判处有期徒刑12年。本文作者苑敏安采访了丁家喜的妻子罗胜春。

丁家喜被宣判12年重刑的前一天,美国时间恰逢复活节,罗胜春买了十二支玫瑰放在美国家中,以此表达过去十年中,每年十二个月她对爱人的思念,也借此期盼他早日归来。

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2022年7月28日,罗胜春在美国家中抱着丁家喜照片的合影。图片来自自由亚洲

CDT 档案卡
标题:丁家喜律师:“我爱你们,但我不能放弃理想和信念”
作者:苑敏安
来源:NGOCN
发表日期:2023.4.19
主题归类:丁家喜
CDS收藏:人物馆
版权说明:该作品版权归原作者所有。中国数字时代仅对原作进行存档,以对抗中国的网络审查。详细版权说明

12年重刑,这是一场拖延已久的判决,被告人已被关押三年零四个月。罪名是“颠覆国家政权”,获刑者丁家喜,是一名中国律师。与他同一日被宣判重罪的是许志永,中国新公民运动的发起人,组织者,他被判处14年有期徒刑。这一天是2023年4月10日。

这个刑期超出了许多人的预期,引起了巨大轰动。CNN、纽约时报等各大国际媒体纷纷报道,国际社会也表示了强烈的谴责。

作为中国新公民运动的重要组织者之一,丁家喜不是第一次坐牢。早在2011年,他就加入了许志永等人发起的“新公民运动”。追随该运动“自由、公义、爱”的精神,他参与推动教育平权,组织公民聚餐,呼吁官员财产公示等行为。也正因为参加这些活动,2013年4月13日,丁家喜从家中被警方带走,并于次年4月8日被以“聚众扰乱公共场所秩序罪”判刑3年6个月。而同样被捕的许志永,也被以同样罪名判处有期徒刑4年。

出狱后,丁家喜与许志永没有停止行动,仍然奔走中国大地。2019年12月26日,因为在厦门的一场朋友聚会而再度入狱。

与大学就学法律、早早参与社会运动的许志永不同,理工科出身的丁家喜介入公共领域甚晚。2003年,当身为法律学者的许志永因“孙志刚案”发起三博士上书,要求废除收容遣送制度,并进入公共视野时,丁家喜才刚创立他的律师事务所。而在此后许志永创立公盟、探访“黑监狱”、调查城市新移民子女受教育权、推动北京律协民主选举的几年里,丁家喜是一名成功的商业律师,过着众人眼中“上流社会”的生活:打高尔夫、住五星级宾馆、吃鲍参燕翅。

虽然人生经历不同,但最终,因共同的信仰与追求,他们殊途同归。是什么原因促使丁家喜放弃原有的生活,投身社会运动?又是什么让他在饱受牢狱之灾后仍不放弃,成为中国近十年来社会运动的标志人物?回望丁家喜一路走来的历程,会发现,一切皆有来路。

1 “我发现只有律师职业可以改变社会”

1986年,丁家喜考上北京航空航天学院,学习航空发动机设计。当时“文革”结束刚十年,中国社会环境相对开放,各种思潮朝气蓬勃。上了大学后,丁家喜阅读了大量关于“文革”的书籍和文章。这些资料对于初出湖北宜昌一座小县城的他而言,十分新鲜,也让他开始反思“文革”。1989年,他曾和同学们一起到天安门广场游行和静坐。在2017年接受《改变中国》主编曹雅学采访时,他曾表示,“我对当时(学潮)的主张从内心深处是非常认同的,比如反官倒、反腐败、要求民主、打倒老人政治。”

然而,与许多八九一代的政治活动家不同,丁家喜此后并未继续投身社会运动。本科毕业后,他到中国航发沈阳发动机研究所(代号六〇六所)工作了两年,接着又回北航继续读研究生。也是在读研究生时,他结识了妻子罗胜春。

据罗胜春介绍,她们第一次见面是在北航的热学实验室。“当时他穿着沈阳606所的工作服走进来,满面笑容,对我叫了声’师姐’。那一刻我一辈子都忘不了,(他的笑)让房间充满了阳光。”自那以后,两人一见钟情,不久后便开始恋爱。互为初恋的她们,总是形影不离。恋爱后的那个春季学期,丁家喜常骑自行车载着罗胜春穿行校园。罗胜春熬夜写论文时,他也会陪伴左右。

在罗胜春眼里,那时的丁家喜是一个喜欢阅读的文艺青年。 “他喜欢读书,大学时读了很多文学书籍,陀思妥耶夫斯基、托尔斯泰的作品他都读过,目标是读遍诺贝尔文学奖的所有作品。还没完没了地和我讲。好像他什么都能回答。”

那是浪漫的日子。丁家喜和她一起看《日瓦戈医生》的小说,也去看改编的电影。记忆中,他还会聊文革带给人的扭曲,谈及产权私有制的必要性。这对中学时就开始迷恋罗素的自由思想、熟读梁晓声伤痕文学的罗胜春来说,很容易就激起了共鸣。在她记忆中,他和当时的许多大学生一样,有一段时间还迷恋上了写诗,在一个本子上写满了给她的情诗。

“当时他把所有钱都花在了买书上,只有两套工作服。但他还是觉得自己特别富有,有时他也会送我玫瑰花。”一直到今天,罗胜春都记得这些往事。

在罗胜春看来,除了喜欢阅读,丁家喜还是一个关怀他人、阳光乐观的人,他总是笑眯眯的。只有一次,他的妹妹因为婚姻不幸而自杀,这让丁家喜哭了好久,自责没有好好关心妹妹。在罗胜春看来,他是那种把身边人放在首位的人。工作后,他也总借钱给朋友,哪怕常常有借无还。

也许正是丁家喜的这份热心让他选择转行做了律师。研究生时,他就因厌倦专业课程产生了转型的想法,并在业余时间考取律师资格。1995年研究生毕业后,他在北京的中国航天科工三院三〇四所工作了一年多,随后辞职,转行做了律师。据罗胜春回忆,她一开始不理解为何喜欢文学的丁家喜会选择做律师,但他告诉她,“我经过了两年思考,发现只有律师这个职业可以替人说话,为受不公正对待的人说话。这是个可以改变社会的职业。”

对此,丁家喜的朋友吕先生也补充,丁家喜多年后向他透露,自己的兴趣本来是做研究,但他觉得当年要在技术上取得突破没有未来。因为体制内大部分人的心思不在做研究上,而是赚钱、往上爬。

2 商业律师再次转型:投入新公民运动

与许多热心公义的人权律师不同,转行做律师后,丁家喜接触的大多数是商业案子。

2017年,在接受《改变中国》网站主编曹雅学采访时,丁家喜曾说,他在做律师助理时接触过一些刑事案件,但当时因为法庭不采纳辩护方提供的证据,感到伤心与失望,逐渐远离刑辩领域,转而专注他更擅长的技术领域——知识产权。

代理商业案子让丁家喜得以接触社会各界人士。罗胜春回忆,当时丁家喜经常去打高尔夫,去茶馆,和不同人聊天。“大学教授、企业家、政府官员,各种各样的人都有。”用丁家喜自己的话说,广泛社交让他有了“更宽的视野来看待社会”。另一方面,他也在工作中接触到更多不公平的案例。“他当时帮很多企业家应对过政府不合理的规定,帮他们讨回过钱。”罗胜春说。

这些都促使丁家喜思考社会不公背后的共性,以及如何从制度上去解决问题。为了将自己对社会问题的看法直接反映给相关部门,2002年,他加入了中国的民主党派民盟(“中国民主同盟”的简称)。在民盟期间,他曾写过大量提案:在三聚氰胺事件爆发的三个月前,要求加强奶粉质量监管;要求精简二手车的过户手续;要求设立网站公开全国的执行案件。然而,如罗胜春所说,这些提案或石沉大海,或在他提议多年后才正式被纳入政策执行。

屡屡没有回音的提案让他对加入民主党派感到失望,也促使他另寻社会改革的出路。

真正让他决心投身社会运动的是他于2011年2月份的一次赴美访学。据罗胜春描述,当时他在做缅甸、伊朗等国家民主进程的比较研究,几乎每天都在看文献、上网查资料、思考研究问题。陪他一同访学的女儿沙沙曾形容,“每天就看见老爸背着手在房间里走来走去”。另一方面,当时正值国内“茉莉花运动”爆发之际,外面的资讯让他第一次看到原来国内还有这么多抗争的人。这七个月的查阅信息、探索思考,解答了长久以来困扰丁家喜的问题,也仿佛点燃了他对社会运动的热情。

这些研究令他意识到文明(民主)发展的趋势不可逆转。(在那之后)他想要直接推动中国的民主进程,用非暴力不合作的方式。他说只有这样,老百姓才能说话。”罗胜春如此解释那次访学对他的影响。

2011年10月1日回国后,丁家喜开始了他的社会运动之路。经朋友搭线,他在当年的10月10日第一次与许志永见面,并于10月下旬参与了许志永与滕彪等人组织的宪法研讨会。自那以后,他开始加入这个圈子,帮忙组织宪法研讨会和公民聚餐,再到后来,他和许志永、赵常青等人推出要求205位部级以上官员财产公示的活动。从联络各地公民、订场地、到整理通讯录、印制公民文化衫,再到后来要求官员财产公示时,组织倡议书的签名、发放传单、张打横幅,丁家喜几乎事事亲力亲为。多年的律师事务所管理经验,加上他的组织能力,令他很快成了联络组织的核心。

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许志永与丁家喜的合影。图片来自网络

“新公民运动”的另一位核心参与者李先生回忆,他和丁家喜就是在2012年认识的。当时,丁家喜通过微博私信他,邀请他参加同城聚餐。在那次见面中,丁家喜给他留下的印象非常深刻。“那次聚会我很早就去了,但是老丁比我去得更早。他拿着电脑,记录到会人员的联系方式,还教大家罗伯特议事规则。非常有亲和力,什么都懂,又是律师,自然引起了我的好感和信任。”他说。正是在丁家喜的邀请与介绍下,李先生开始协助联络公民聚会,结识许志永等人,后来一起组织和参与官员财产公示的活动。

除了组织公民聚会,丁家喜也开始关注弱势群体。他为北京拆迁户齐月英提供法律援助,在她“消失”后发表文章为她声援;支持北京南站的上访者,为他们提供经济资助;与律师伙伴一同去青海,为被拘留的异议人士与警方交涉。据罗胜春回忆,丁家喜律师事务所的同事曾在他被捕后告诉她,丁家喜回国后开始将事务所的所有事务交由他人打理,自己只专注维权相关的案子。同事说,“他办公室抽屉里全是访民的诉状。”

面对数量庞大的访民,丁家喜曾向罗胜春表示,“想要让那么多访民每个人都能有声音,不能让访民上访,而是要让当地有人帮他们说话,解决问题。这些最终都归结到:老百姓要权利,要选票。”

尽管丁家喜在家中甚少与她说起他在新公民运动中具体做的事,但她也能明显感受到他的变化。她记得,有一次,丁家喜一边上网,一边大骂:“一定要拆了这个防火墙!”。就连大女儿豆豆也把回国后的爸爸形容作“老愤青”。在2012年六四那天,他还在家中身着黑衫,绝食一天,悼念六四死难者。之后每年六四他都会绝食,甚至包括后来在看守所、监狱。

丁家喜和同伴的活动很快引起了当局的注意。罗胜春至今对丁家喜第一次被国保带走约谈的场景记忆犹新:“当时他被带走谈了十几个小时,我浑身发抖,一直在给他发短信。他短信回复我别担心。”在那次之后,国保开始频繁约谈丁家喜,甚至连家里接送孩子都造成了影响。

当局的举措让罗胜春开始担心丈夫的安危,也担心家庭会受到波及。她表示,当时家人都劝他减少活动。面对家人的劝说,丁家喜一方面坚持,“怎么不去劝坏人别做坏事,而是劝好人别做好事?”另一方面,他也意识到了风险,敦促罗胜春带孩子办签证去美国。

巧合的是,2013年4月13日,就在丁家喜辞去律所主任、陪妻子去申请签证的第二天,他被警方从家中带走。同年4月17日,他被以“非法集会”罪名拘留。2014年4月8日,丁家喜因“聚众扰乱公共场所秩序罪”被判三年半。

那次开庭,他在海淀法庭上陈述时,对自己推动改革的梦想如此总结:“我要做一个有态度、有声音的中国公民。我要做一只蝴蝶。蝴蝶不停扇动翅膀,一定会引发社会变革的飓风。

2016年刑满出狱后,丁家喜对社会运动的热诚不减。

同样因“新公民案”被判了刑的李先生回忆,丁家喜在2016年出狱不久来找过他,说想去美国探访太太及两个女儿。当时正是“709”大抓捕不久,当局对民间力量的打压比新公民运动前更为严厉。因此,李先生不止一次劝丁家喜,去美国后就不要回来。丁家喜却表示不甘心,希望回来继续推动中国的政治改革,落实公民权利、民主自由。在李先生看来,执着的丁家喜难免显得过于理想主义,他也直觉感到他这次探亲后还会回国。

这次赴美探亲并不容易。丁家喜出狱后仍处于当局的严密监视下,不知能否顺利出境。罗胜春回忆:“他以为当局不会放他出来,当时根本没有心理准备,来的时候,他只拿了个特别小的包,装了几件换洗的衣服。”

来到美国后,丁家喜全心全意陪伴家人。在《丁家喜与阿尔弗雷德》一文中,罗胜春曾如此回忆她们十年来仅有的两个月团聚:

“他在阿尔弗雷德这两个月,我大部分时间在上班,很忙。孩子们也都在上学。他每天做饭、洗衣服、看书,跟朋友聊天、听各种各样的新闻频道。他跟我一块去散步,去会朋友,去教堂。他很愿意认识我所认识的所有人。他还跟我一块去跳民间舞,看艺术展,听音乐会,甚至早起和我去练瑜伽。”

“他做饭、做菜、洗衣服做得非常棒。连女儿都说’爸爸来之前,我们家的小屋子从来都没有焕发过如此的光芒’。”2023年4月,在丈夫被宣判12年重刑之后,罗胜春向NGOCN回顾起自己的丈夫,依然不吝惜对他的欣赏。

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2017年,丁家喜赴美探亲时拍的全家福。图片来自网络

在一家人难得相守的日子,唯一让他们发生分歧的就是丁家喜是否回国这件事。罗胜春在文中写到,一心想要留在中国投身社会运动的丁家喜在行前就让她买了来回票。“他告诉我,只计划在阿尔弗雷德呆两个月。我非常伤心。我说我等了你四年,你只给我两个月的时间,太过分了。”那段时间,一家人每天都在茶余饭后谈起他该留下还是回去,甚至在美国的所有朋友也劝他不要回去。尽管罗胜春反复和他说起各种风险,也揶揄中国不是没了他就不能改变,但丁家喜一直很平静,坚持要回国。

罗胜春记得,丁家喜曾对她说:“我们要有最坏的打算,也要有最好的期待。极权专政就是不合理,我就是要出一份力量。哪怕没有能力建设,见证变革也是一大幸事。”为此,罗胜春感到无奈。甚至一度“恨不得中国政府不让他回国”。但她也是矛盾的。她说:“我本来就没打算说服他留下来,甚至只是想让他待六个月。(就算这样)他都觉得会耽误他回中国做事。”

丁家喜的坚决也在他的行动中有所体现。为了便于回国后继续参与运动,他在国外选择保持低调,没有参加公开活动,仅仅是私下见了几个朋友。哪怕是在他回国前几天,曹雅学邀请他采访时,他最初也不太愿意,担心会引起注意,妨碍他的工作。

罗胜春曾在文中写到,住了一个多月后,丁家喜开始有一种急着回中国的焦躁。她形容,“他对中国老百姓的苦难了解得太多。他觉得本来中国老百姓都可以享受到自由,但他现在却一个人在这里享受,有负罪感,很痛苦。所以他只能在美国享受安逸的生活一段时间,但两个月之后,他可能就会想着访民。那是他骨子里质朴的东西。”

由于不忍看着丁家喜煎熬,罗胜春最终选择了妥协。身为基督徒的她只能安慰自己:也许这就是神赋予他的使命。

在丁家喜回国的那天,罗胜春一人送他去水牛城坐飞机。背着小背包,转身飞吻,灿烂微笑——这就是丈夫留给她的身影。她形容,送走丈夫后,”心里像刀割一样难受,甚至都不知道怎么把车开回来的”。

如今,她还清楚记得,回国的前一晚,丁家喜在沙发上抱着她和小女儿的样子。他说:“我很爱你们。但我只能以常人无法理解的方式爱。我也很想两全。但在常人无法理解的时候,我希望你们能支持一下。我不愿放弃理念和理想。”

没人想到,这次见面成了丁家喜第二次被捕前的最后一次家人团聚。

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罗胜春与丁家喜的信件往来。图源:罗胜春推特

3 曾经给妻子的“十年之诺”

2018年5月,丁家喜带着给孩子们的礼物和一行李箱的家庭照片,再次赴美参加女儿的毕业典礼,计划留美六个月,好好陪伴家人。但这次,他却遭到了限制出境。

那次对两个人的打击极大。罗胜春形容,“那一个星期我都很难受,基本上觉得以后团聚无望。之前他保证每年都会来看我们,每次都待半年以上。但现在,婚姻、家庭都破灭了。内心只有绝望。”甚至,她一度闪过和丁家喜分手的念头,认为那样彼此就都不会再痛苦了。而丁家喜也因这次出境受限而备受打击。回到家中后,他将原本要带给家人的照片一张一张拍下,传到USB里。这个USB后来被朋友带到美国交给了罗胜春,一直保存在美国的家中。

罗胜春记得,绝望中的她对丁家喜说:“家喜,你总要给我一点活下去的希望吧?”对此,丁家喜恳请妻子给他十年时间。他承诺,从他第一次出狱后算起,如果十年内他没有看到中国发生改变,就会安心将事业交给下一代更有能力的人去做,来美国和家人团聚。

这个十年承诺也为丁家喜的多位朋友所知。老友吕先生回忆,他大概在2019年5月的一场饭局上和丁家喜相识。之后,他曾和丁家喜有过一次彻夜长谈。在那次深聊里,丁家喜笑着说起曾经的牢狱岁月,也说到自己与爱人的“十年之约”。他对此既深感震惊,也敬佩不已。他表示,“对很多从事社会运动的中国人来说,由于受过政治迫害,如果有机会去到一片自由的土地,他们大多都会选择留下。他非常清楚自己面对的风险。他选择回国其实就是选择了为信仰受难。尽管他是轻描淡写,但在我看来这是很悲壮的。”尽管丁家喜并未皈依宗教,但他的献身精神却让吕先生将他视作“基督的门徒”。

背负着这样的承诺,丁家喜四处奔走,组织公民聚会,与大家讨论对社会和政治的看法。另外,他也利用自己此前积累的人脉和资源,调解公民圈内的隔阂矛盾,声援维权人士,资助良心犯及其家属。他梦想着能用十年的时间联结各领域的活动人士,建立公民社会,推动中国的社会变革。

不光是联络以前相熟的伙伴,他也默默帮助着年轻的同道。据吕先生回忆,2019年的一天,丁家喜带了一名刚出狱不久、对前途感到迷茫的政治犯来找他,希望有过相似经历的他能予以帮助和开导。

朋友小河(化名)注意到,再度投身社会运动的丁家喜比之前更加直面问题的根本——专制和极权。她表示,丁家喜的这一变化轨迹也是近十年社会运动演变的缩影。丁家喜参与公民运动的起点正值胡温当政的末年。当时,社会运动的空间还相对宽松,大多数维权运动也因此采用去政治化的策略,例如呼吁官员财产公示、教育平权等新公民运动的主要活动。然而,2012年,习近平当政后,中国更极权化,维权运动也遭到了前所未有的大规模、系统性打压:NGO、维权律师、宗教团体及异议人士几乎被扫荡绞杀。这让很多人更加意识到,无论是女权运动、劳工运动还是环保运动,要想走得长远,最后都殊途同归:反极权。在她看来,这也是他要联结同温层里不同光谱、不同领域的行动者的原因。

能做到这点并不容易。常年从事社会运动的林先生(化名)表示,在他与丁家喜的相处中,他发现丁家喜拥有卓越的行政管理、人际交往和组织能力。加上谦卑、亲和的品质,丁家喜得以将公民圈内不同光谱的人凝聚在一起。“大家一般都很坚持自己的观点,希望得到认可,所以能让大家坐到一起、和平相处,十分难得。”

然而,也许正如林先生所说,能力越突出,越容易被当局视为威胁。回国后,国保一直对丁家喜保持严密监控。据丁家喜的朋友王安娜撰文回忆,丁家喜位于北京的房子楼下长期停有国保的车。为了便于工作,他不得不四处借住朋友家。她回忆,2017年至2018年期间,丁家喜曾几次借住她家。2018年夏天,在丁家喜最后一次借住期间,有一天有几名身着便衣、疑似警察的人非要进门查看。出于对丁家喜的担忧,她让他赶紧换地方。不幸的是,这次见面也成了丁家喜被捕前两人的最后一次见面。

2019年12月7日,丁家喜、许志永及多位来自全国各地的朋友到厦门聚会。聚会上,他们聚餐、唱歌、打台球,讨论公民社会培育和时政事件。一场看似普通的聚会,却在同年12月26日,让参会的丁家喜、戴震亚、李英俊、张忠顺分别从四地被捕。随后,参会的近二十人相继被约谈、传唤、逮捕、刑事拘留。甚至连没有参会的李翘楚也仅因声援男友许志永而遭到了逮捕。这一系列的抓捕被称为“12.26大抓捕”,也是2015年“709大抓捕”以来,中共当局对活动人士最大规模的打压。

这次丁家喜受到了严酷的报复。据丁家喜通过律师透露出来的消息,在长达六个月的指定居所监视居住期间,他曾遭遇酷刑:包括被连续7天的24小时剥夺睡眠、疲劳审讯,以及半个月内每天半个馒头、600毫升饮水,还有长达6个月见不到阳光,有8天被绑在“老虎凳”上。

据已曝光出来的信息,这些酷刑曾让丁家喜脚踝肿得像馒头,还令他身体极度虚弱,两度昏阙。除了酷刑,他被限制与律师会见、仅能通过律师与家人传信。经历了秘密庭审、秘密宣判,他的胡子白了,看起来苍老了很多。身体出现种种问题。被捕至今的近三年四个月里,他的经历让罗胜春时时揪心。

在大洋的彼岸,罗胜春也比丁家喜第一次被捕后更加积极声援。她在社交媒体发声,给丁家喜写信。她向各国政府游说,去联合国发言,接受各方媒体采访,要求跟踪报道,呼吁国际社会予以关注和支持。对中国当局,她写了大量投诉信给各级政府和司法机关,投诉丁家喜被捕后长期被剥夺律师会见与通信权。另一方面,她动员其他12.26案被捕者的家属,共同声援被捕者,在患难中相守。

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第二次被捕后,罗胜春寄给中国各级政府和司法机关的投诉信。图片来自网络

审判的前一天,美国时间恰逢复活节,罗胜春买了十二支玫瑰放在美国家中,以此表达过去十年中,每年十二月对爱人的思念,也借此期盼他早日归家。

2023年4月10日,丁家喜被控“颠覆国家政权罪”、被判有期徒刑12年。他在不公开宣判的法庭上如此陈述:

面对很多质疑,遇到很多困难,遭受很多挫折,以及个人被酷刑折磨,都不会改变我坚守的理念。所有关心民族前途的中国人,都需要担起我们这一代人的历史责任,这个责任就是根除专制,建设美好中国。这需要我们克服心中的恐惧,大声地发出正义的呐喊,坚决地反对独裁者,坚决地反对特权利益集团,拒绝他们的专制统治。只要我们一起努力,自由之光,民主之光和法治之光一定会照亮神州大地!

后记

判决下达的当天,罗胜春就一直在索要判决书。然而迫于当局的压力,没有人敢提供判决书给她。她对当局连判决书都不敢公开的行为感到无比气愤。宣判后的一个星期里,她接受了各大国际媒体的采访。后续,她计划继续向各国政府呼吁关注中国人权状况,并发布家属声明,要求律师会见和家属探望,追踪丁家喜和许志永入狱后的所有情况。她也加入了一些其它的社会运动,希望与更多的人一起推动中国的社会变革。她形容,与丁家喜此前被捕时相比,自己现在感受到更多的是——“力量、希望、信心”。

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审判前一天,罗胜春新买的放在家中的12支玫瑰。图片来自罗胜春推特

“这一个星期以来,我是重生了一次。他们选择复活节(宣判),我买这束玫瑰,正是庆祝我自己的复活。朋友打电话过来都以为我崩溃了,但我没有任何的忧伤、恐惧和难受。我有的只是我眼前看到要做的事情和我的力量。我要让所有人都知道丁家喜和许志永的名字。我要让所有人都看看这个国家还有没有救。我有信心,因为神和我在一起。”她说。

我要在我先生被监禁的时候把他没完成的事业完成,而且会比他做得更好。”这是罗胜春的决心与信心。

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Sectarian clashes erupt in Syria despite ceasefire announcement

Getty Images Syrian military and security forces in Suweida. Photo: 15 July 2025Getty Images
Syrian military and security forces in Suweida. Photo: 15 July 2025

The Syrian presidency says it will deploy a new force to halt the deadly sectarian clashes between Bedouin and Druze fighters in the south of the country.

Syrian interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa's office urged "all parties to exercise restraint", amid reports of renewed fighting near the city of Suweida on Friday.

Almost 600 people are reported to have been killed since the violence erupted on Sunday. Government troops deployed to the area were accused by residents of killing Druze civilians and carrying out extrajudicial executions.

Israel later struck targets in Syria to force the troops to withdraw from Suweida province. On Friday, the US ambassador to Turkey said that Israel and Syria had agreed a ceasefire.

In a post on X, ambassador Tom Barrack said that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Sharaa "have agreed to a ceasefire" embraced by Syria's neighbours Turkey and Jordan.

"We call upon Druze, Bedouins, and Sunnis to put down their weapons and together with other minorities build a new and united Syrian identity in peace and prosperity with its neighbours," the envoy said.

Israel and Syria have not publicly commented on the reported ceasefire agreement.

Shortly before Sharaa's office announced its planned military deployment to the south, an Israeli official said Israel had agreed to allow the limited entry of Syrian Internal Security Forces personnel into Suweida for 48 hours to protect Druze civilians "in light of the ongoing instability".

Suweida's predominantly Druze community follows a secretive, unique faith derived from Shia Islam, and distrusts the current jihadist-led government in Damascus.

The BBC correspondent in the Syrian capital says that sectarian hatred of the Druze is now spreading across the country.

The Druze are a minority in Syria, as well as in neighbouring Lebanon and Israel.

Earlier this week, the UN human rights chief, Volker Türk, said his office had received credible reports indicating widespread violations and abuses, including summary executions and arbitrary killings in Suweida.

Among the alleged perpetrators were members of the security forces and individuals affiliated with the interim government, as well as local Druze and Bedouin armed elements, Türk said in a statement.

"This bloodshed and the violence must stop," he warned, adding that "those responsible must be held to account".

The BBC has contacted the Syrian government and security forces about allegations of summary killings and other violations.

In a televised address early on Thursday, Sharaa vowed to hold the perpetrators accountable and promised to make protecting the Druze a "priority".

"We are eager to hold accountable those who transgressed and abused our Druze people because they are under the protection and responsibility of the state," he said.

He went on to blame "outlaw groups", saying their leaders "rejected dialogue for many months".

Sectarian clashes erupt in Syria despite ceasefire announcement

Getty Images Syrian military and security forces in Suweida. Photo: 15 July 2025Getty Images
Syrian military and security forces in Suweida. Photo: 15 July 2025

The Syrian presidency says it will deploy a new force to halt the deadly sectarian clashes between Bedouin and Druze fighters in the south of the country.

Syrian interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa's office urged "all parties to exercise restraint", amid reports of renewed fighting near the city of Suweida on Friday.

Almost 600 people are reported to have been killed since the violence erupted on Sunday. Government troops deployed to the area were accused by residents of killing Druze civilians and carrying out extrajudicial executions.

Israel later struck targets in Syria to force the troops to withdraw from Suweida province. On Friday, the US ambassador to Turkey said that Israel and Syria had agreed a ceasefire.

In a post on X, ambassador Tom Barrack said that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Sharaa "have agreed to a ceasefire" embraced by Syria's neighbours Turkey and Jordan.

"We call upon Druze, Bedouins, and Sunnis to put down their weapons and together with other minorities build a new and united Syrian identity in peace and prosperity with its neighbours," the envoy said.

Israel and Syria have not publicly commented on the reported ceasefire agreement.

Shortly before Sharaa's office announced its planned military deployment to the south, an Israeli official said Israel had agreed to allow the limited entry of Syrian Internal Security Forces personnel into Suweida for 48 hours to protect Druze civilians "in light of the ongoing instability".

Suweida's predominantly Druze community follows a secretive, unique faith derived from Shia Islam, and distrusts the current jihadist-led government in Damascus.

The BBC correspondent in the Syrian capital says that sectarian hatred of the Druze is now spreading across the country.

The Druze are a minority in Syria, as well as in neighbouring Lebanon and Israel.

Earlier this week, the UN human rights chief, Volker Türk, said his office had received credible reports indicating widespread violations and abuses, including summary executions and arbitrary killings in Suweida.

Among the alleged perpetrators were members of the security forces and individuals affiliated with the interim government, as well as local Druze and Bedouin armed elements, Türk said in a statement.

"This bloodshed and the violence must stop," he warned, adding that "those responsible must be held to account".

The BBC has contacted the Syrian government and security forces about allegations of summary killings and other violations.

In a televised address early on Thursday, Sharaa vowed to hold the perpetrators accountable and promised to make protecting the Druze a "priority".

"We are eager to hold accountable those who transgressed and abused our Druze people because they are under the protection and responsibility of the state," he said.

He went on to blame "outlaw groups", saying their leaders "rejected dialogue for many months".

US tech CEO resigns after Coldplay concert embrace goes viral

Awkward moment for couple on screen at Coldplay gig

A US tech company says its chief executive has quit after he was reportedly caught on a big screen at a Coldplay concert embracing a woman, in a clip that went viral.

Astronomer said in a statement: "Andy Byron has tendered his resignation, and the Board of Directors has accepted."

The clip showed a man and a woman hugging on a giant screen at the arena in Foxborough, Massachusetts, before they abruptly ducked and hid from the camera.

The pair were identified in US media as Andy Byron, a married chief executive of Astronomer, and Kristin Cabot, the firm's chief people officer. The BBC has been unable to independently confirm the identities of either person in the video.

The company statement said on Saturday: "As stated previously, Astronomer is committed to the values and culture that have guided us since our founding.

"Our leaders are expected to set the standard in both conduct and accountability, and recently, that standard was not met."

The firm said its board would begin a search for the next leader and their chief product officer would keep serving as interim CEO.

The video of the pair swaying to music at Wednesday night's concert and quickly trying to hide gained millions of views.

After seeing the pair duck, Coldplay lead singer Chris Martin said to the crowd: "Either they're having an affair, or they're just very shy."

Astronomer announced it was launching an investigation into the relationship and placed the CEO on leave shortly after the video went viral.

US tech CEO resigns after Coldplay concert embrace goes viral

Awkward moment for couple on screen at Coldplay gig

A US tech company says its chief executive has quit after he was reportedly caught on a big screen at a Coldplay concert embracing a woman, in a clip that went viral.

Astronomer said in a statement: "Andy Byron has tendered his resignation, and the Board of Directors has accepted."

The clip showed a man and a woman hugging on a giant screen at the arena in Foxborough, Massachusetts, before they abruptly ducked and hid from the camera.

The pair were identified in US media as Andy Byron, a married chief executive of Astronomer, and Kristin Cabot, the firm's chief people officer. The BBC has been unable to independently confirm the identities of either person in the video.

The company statement said on Saturday: "As stated previously, Astronomer is committed to the values and culture that have guided us since our founding.

"Our leaders are expected to set the standard in both conduct and accountability, and recently, that standard was not met."

The firm said its board would begin a search for the next leader and their chief product officer would keep serving as interim CEO.

The video of the pair swaying to music at Wednesday night's concert and quickly trying to hide gained millions of views.

After seeing the pair duck, Coldplay lead singer Chris Martin said to the crowd: "Either they're having an affair, or they're just very shy."

Astronomer announced it was launching an investigation into the relationship and placed the CEO on leave shortly after the video went viral.

Ukraine seeks new round of talks with Russia

Reuters A close up of Volodymyr Zelensky speaking during a conference in Italy. He's wearing a black suit and is standing in front of a blue backdrop.Reuters

Ukraine has proposed a new round of peace talks with Russia, President Volodymyr Zelensky has said, in a move aimed at restarting negotiations that halted last month.

Senior security official Rustem Umerov has offered to meet the Russian side next week, Zelensky said in his evening address, adding that everything had to be done to get a ceasefire.

Zelenksy also repeated his readiness to meet Russia's Vladimir Putin face-to-face. "A meeting at the leadership level is needed to truly ensure peace," he said.

The proposal came hours after Ukraine was hit with another widespread air bombardment by Russia, which killed three people.

Ten regions of Ukraine, including several cities, were hit in the night between Friday and Saturday, Zelensky said earlier on Saturday.

Ukraine's military said more than 340 explosive and dummy drones and 35 cruise and ballistic missiles had been used, but many were downed.

Earlier this week, President Donald Trump said the US would send "top-of-the-line weapons" to Ukraine via Nato countries, while also threatening Russia with severe tariffs if a deal to end the war is not reached within 50 days.

Trump also warned that the US would impose 100% secondary tariffs targeting Russia's remaining trade partners if a peace deal with Ukraine was not reached by his deadline.

Two rounds of talks in Istanbul between Moscow and Kyiv have so far failed to result in any progress towards a ceasefire, but large-scale prisoner exchanges and deals to return the bodies of killed soldiers were agreed.

After the last round, which ended in early June, Ukrainian negotiators said Russia had again rejected an "unconditional ceasefire" - a key demand by Kyiv and its allies in Europe and the US .

Russia also outlined a list of demands, including calls for Ukraine to cede more territory and to reject all forms of Western military support.

At the time, Zelensky accused Moscow of "doing everything it can to ensure the next possible meeting is fruitless".

Russian President Vladimir Putin launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

Russia currently controls about 20% of Ukraine's territory, including the southern Crimea peninsula Moscow annexed in 2014.

明天真的会更好吗|天水,难说再见

CDT 档案卡
标题:天水,难说再见
作者:张传林
发表日期:2025.7.19
来源:微信公众号“明天真的会更好吗”
主题归类:甘肃天水幼儿园铅中毒事件
CDS收藏:公民馆
版权说明:该作品版权归原作者所有。中国数字时代仅对原作进行存档,以对抗中国的网络审查。详细版权说明

七月流火,甘肃天水铅中毒事件在舆论场骤然冷却。233名幼童血铅异常的数据定格在官方通报里,而家长们手中的西安医院检测单却沉默诉说着另一种真相:同一患儿,天水检测值56μg/L尚属“正常”,西安结果却高达342μg/L,相差六倍不止。当媒体追问止步于“彩绘颜料污染”的结论,那些蜷缩在病床上的幼小躯体,已成为沉默的问号。

01

褐石培心幼儿园的铅中毒事件,被官方归咎于园长“为扩大生源”而使用工业颜料制作三色发糕。但这纸通告未能驱散疑云:

一名幼童在天水检测结果为219μg/L,赴西安复检却飙升到466μg/L;另一名孩子本地结果“正常”(56μg/L),异地检测竟达342μg/L。数据鸿沟揭露的不仅是技术误差,更是系统性遮掩的阴影。

荒诞的动机:若为吸引生源而美化食品,食用色素成本与工业颜料相当且效果更佳。家长质疑:“买颜料染食物”的解释违背商业逻辑,更像为转移视线编织的托词。

铅矿的幽灵重现:幼儿园不远处,“白银有色集团”的铅锌矿转运站静静矗立。而历史如轮回般叩问:2006年天水麦积区甘泉镇,铅锌冶炼厂污染致211名村民血铅超标,当地疾控中心却声称“仅1人临界”。当年村民被迫远赴西安求医的旧伤,如今在200多名幼儿身上重新撕裂。

风波未平,舆论已寂。当热搜撤下、报道停更,233个家庭面对的不只是病童的治疗困境,更是对真相被永久尘封的恐惧。

image

02

天水并非孤例。向南千里,湖南的“有色金属之乡”光环下,重金属污染早已渗入水土肌理。

毒米:2013年,湖南攸县多批次大米被检出镉超标。湘江流域88.6%的土壤样本镉污染超标,重度污染占9.1%。衡东工业园周边稻米镉含量甚至超国标21倍,“鱼米之乡”沦为“镉米黑洞”。污染链条清晰:矿产开采→废水入江→灌溉稻田→镉富集于米→进入人体。

毒水:铊,在湘江隐秘流淌着……2025年3月,耒水郴州段铊浓度超标0.13微克/升。污染源竟是一家水泥厂——拆除旧生产线时,含铊灰尘随雨水入河。这仅是冰山一角:2020年以来,湘江22个饮用水源地中17个曾现铊异常,涉铊企业尾矿库如同定时炸弹。

尽管湖南省2012年启动湘江治理(投入505亿元关停千家企业),但2024年郴州污水处理厂仍被曝铊、砷超标数十倍。“运动式整治”难敌历史欠账:全省超千座尾矿库存废渣近10亿吨,雨水冲刷下,毒物源源不断注入河流。“重金属污染最重”的株洲河段,底泥沉积的镉、铅成为湘江的“毒基因”,随灌溉水浸入农田。

今年春节后的2月初,我从湖北到回广州,在永州的零陵、道县逗留时,当地一祥片祥和,完全不知道当时整个地区的水源正处在极其严重的笨污染的危险中。因为2025年1月31日,一辆过境罐车在永州零陵区侧翻,导致33.5吨粗苯泄漏。

当地整个抢险过程都是官方闷头作业,居民都是通过非官方渠道(如朋友圈视频)获知相关情况,48小时后官方通报仅强调“水质达标”,至于未充本次事故对当地空气、水污染和长期生态影响的公众担忧则一字不提。

image

03

2013年,律师董正伟申请公开全国土壤污染数据时,环保部曾断然拒绝 ,理由竟是“国家秘密” 。这组被封印的数据源自2006年启动的首次全国土壤污染普查:这个土壤调查检测跑遍了全国各省,耗费巨额经费、历时5年时间,调动数十万人员完成全国土壤“体检”,但最后的报告被封存。

环保部称数据涉密,却无法出示国家保密局的认定文件。而《政府信息公开条例》明文要求重点公开环保信息。公众仅能从零碎研究中拼图:湖南25%耕地重金属超标,珠三角部分城市50%农田镉污染。

当污染数据被锁进保险柜,治理沦为“盲人治污”。农民不知脚下土地是否含毒,居民难辨杯中水是否安全——保密主义正助长生态危机蔓延。

image

04

污染的影响早已越出国界。据中国新闻周刊报道,2012年,刊登在美国《移民与难民研究》杂志上的一份关于“纽约健康和营养检测调查报告”显示,来自中国大陆的移民血液中铅、镉、汞等重金属含量高于来自其他亚洲地区的移民。铅比其他亚洲新移民高出44%。

专家溯源指出:国人偏好食用鱼头、动物内脏、鸡爪等重金属富集部位的习惯是诱因之一。更深刻的根源则在国内环境,鱼头含铅量高与水体污染相关,动物内脏富集重金属源于饲料和土壤污染。当洛杉矶华人社区为当地铅泄露忧心时,他们体内早已携带着故土的“毒遗产”。

image

天水幼儿园的铅毒疑云未散,从甘肃到湖南,从国土保密数据到太平洋彼岸的移民体检单,重金属污染已织成一张沉默的巨网。当33.5吨粗苯在永州泄漏后官方“闷头处置”,当233名幼童的铅中毒归因于“颜料添错”,治理逻辑始终在封堵真相而非根除污染。

装睡的地方保护主义,终将被反噬。若继续将环境数据列为机密、将污染事件“冷处理”,还美其名曰:为了不制造社会恐慌。

今日的天水孩童、湖南“镉米”农民、乃至未来无数国民,都将成为发展祭坛上的牺牲品。

难说再见的,岂止天水?更是这片土地对清洁水土、透明治理的最后眷恋。

山河蒙尘时,没有一株稻穗能独善其身,

也没有一个孩子的健康应该成为发展的代价。

image

—– THE  END——

此刻写天水题材显然不识时务。但我还是忍不住让天水事件在网络多停留一会儿。个人的力量微不足道,需要大家一起努力,抵抗遗忘!我们毕竟不是鱼,我们的关注力应该超过“七秒”啊!

三观一致的朋友可以加下面的微信, 点赞和转发是最大的支持!你们让我更用心地写作。

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Ninety-six arrests at Palestine Action ban protests across UK

BBC Police arrest a woman in Parliament Square, LondonBBC
Police made more than 50 arrests in Parliament Square in central London

Dozens of people have been arrested at protests across the UK against the decision to proscribe Palestine Action as a terror group.

Arrests have been reported in London, Edinburgh, Manchester, Bristol and Truro, all places where demonstrations in support of the pro-Palestine action group took place on Saturday.

The Met Police said 55 people were arrested on suspicion of terrorism offences in Westminster for displaying placards in support of Palestine Action. Eight were arrested in Truro in Cornwall.

The government proscribed the group earlier this month under the Terrorism Act of 2000, making membership of or support for the group a criminal offence, following a break-in at an RAF base.

Across the country, protesters held placards with the words: "I oppose genocide. I support Palestine Action."

In London, arrests were made near the Mahatma Gandhi statue in Parliament Square, where as many as 20 police vans attended.

Officers moved in swiftly to arrest those holding the placards, many of whom appeared to be over the age of 60.

One woman claimed to be in her 80s and was walking with a stick. Some were led away while others had to be carried.

Devon and Cornwall Police said two men and six women were arrested on suspicion of terrorism offences after protesters gathered near Truro Cathedral.

The force said around 30 people were involved in the peaceful demonstration, organised by campaign group Defend Our Juries.

Earlier, the campaign group said that one of those arrested near the cathedral was an 81-year-old former magistrate.

It also said 16 people were arrested in Manchester.

Police forces in the other locations where protests took place have not yet confirmed the number of arrests they made.

EPA Police officers carry a person in handcuffs away from Parliament SquareEPA
Some demonstrators in London were led away while others had to be carried by officers

Saturday's protests came ahead of a High Court hearing on Monday at which the co-founder of Palestine Action, Huda Ammori, will ask for permission to challenge the decision to ban the group.

Last Saturday, 71 arrests were made across the UK at similar protests against the decision.

Palestine Action has engaged in activities that have predominantly targeted arms companies since the start of the current war in Gaza.

MPs voted to proscribe the group after activists broke into RAF Brize Norton in June, spraying two Voyager aircraft with red paint and causing £7m worth of damage. Palestine Action took responsibility for the incident at the time.

Four people have since been remanded in custody, charged with conspiracy to commit criminal damage and conspiracy to enter a prohibited place knowingly for a purpose prejudicial to the safety or interests of the UK.

The incident also prompted a security review across all UK military bases.

“山东入室抢婴案”不追诉买家,寻亲家属再呼吁“买卖同罪”

被害人家属一方已提起申诉。除了不认可已过追诉时效的结论,他们还认为,买家部分参与了拐卖行为。

当前,收买被拐卖的儿童罪最高法定刑为三年,追诉期限为五年。律师建议将最高法定刑提高至五年,则可将追诉期限延长至十年。

南方周末记者 李在磊

责任编辑:谭畅

2025年4月2日,“山东入室抢婴案”在泰安市中级人民法院开庭审理。视觉中国图

2025年4月2日,“山东入室抢婴案”在泰安市中级人民法院开庭审理。视觉中国图

近日,“山东入室抢婴案”再次引发外界关注。山东省肥城市人民检察院认定,该案中收买被拐卖儿童的刘某强夫妇,构成收买被拐卖的儿童罪,但因已过追诉时效,决定对二人不起诉。2025年7月18日,被害人家属的代理律师李圣向南方周末记者表示,他们对此结果不服,已经向检察院提交申诉,正在等待回应。

李圣表示,他与被害人家属一方不认可追诉时效已过的认定,同时还认为,除了“买家”身份以外,被告人还部分参与了拐卖的行为。

多年来,拐卖儿童案件受害者群体一直在呼吁拐卖儿童案件的“买卖同罪”,“山东入室抢婴案”再次让这一话题成为社会讨论的焦点。寻亲群体的代表人士孙海洋认为,法律一直有对买家的处罚规定,但是因为各种现实因素,他们往往能够逃脱制裁。

“已过追诉时效”

两份肥城市人民检察院不起诉决定书显示,因涉嫌收买被拐卖的儿童罪,刘某强夫妇二人于2024年1月18日被肥城市公安局取保候审,2024年7月8日移送检察院审查起诉,2025年1月17日被肥城市人民检察院取保候审。

此案之所以引发外界强

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Car ploughs into crowd outside LA nightclub, injuring 30

BBC Breaking NewsBBC

At least 20 people have been injured after a vehicle drove into a crowd on Santa Monica Boulevard in Los Angeles, according to the Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD).

Up to five people have been critically injured and up to 10 are in a serious condition, the emergency services said.

The incident happened at 02:00 local time (09:00 GMT) in East Hollywood.

Pictures from the scene show a grey car on a pavement with debris strewn on the ground, and a large police presence.

This breaking news story is being updated and more details will be published shortly. Please refresh the page for the fullest version.

You can receive Breaking News on a smartphone or tablet via the BBC News App. You can also follow @BBCBreaking on X to get the latest alerts.

James Gunn Didn’t Want to Make ‘Superman.’ What Changed His Mind?

His hit reboot is meant to kick off years of new projects from the rebranded DC Studios. But for a long time, Gunn couldn’t figure out the character.

© Alana Paterson for The New York Times

Taking on directing duties while helping oversee a studio has been a challenge for the filmmaker.: “I always want to do more. That’s been difficult, finding at least some boundaries.”

空瓶子|20年后,甘肃“铅中毒”再现,“血铅检测”造假才是提级调查的重点

CDT 档案卡
标题:20年后,甘肃“铅中毒”再现,“血铅检测”造假才是提级调查的重点
作者:朱文强
发表日期:2025.7.13
来源:微信公众号“空瓶子”
主题归类:甘肃天水幼儿园铅中毒事件
CDS收藏:公民馆
版权说明:该作品版权归原作者所有。中国数字时代仅对原作进行存档,以对抗中国的网络审查。详细版权说明

时隔20年,甘肃省天水市麦积区的孩子们又又又铅中毒了。

褐石培心幼儿园251名幼儿,血铅异常233人。这次老师也未能幸免。

官方通报显示,该园一份为早餐留样的三色红枣发糕,一份为晚餐留样的玉米卷肠包,两份留样铅含量分别为1052毫克/千克、1340毫克/千克,均超出食品安全国家标准中食品污染物限量0.5毫克/千克的标准。

超标2000多倍,可谓触目惊心。

毒源锁定为“彩绘颜料”,更是离了大谱。

按照官方的结论,幼儿园园长朱某琳、投资人李某芳同意该园后厨人员通过网络平台购买彩绘颜料,稀释后用于部分食品制作。

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不管你们信不信,我是不得不信。

这个结论诡异到无法用正常逻辑去考量。

彩绘颜料比食品添加剂更便宜?还是彩绘颜料的上色效果更好?

天水方面的通报不但没有解决公众的疑虑,反而加剧了公众的质疑。

毕竟,往食品里添加一些原料让食品看起来更好看以目前的选择实在太多,使用彩绘颜料这个选项简直是蠢出了天际。

当然,公众之所以对天水通报表达了极度不信任,除了结论诡异到无法用常理去理解外,更重要的是,当地再次对“血铅”化验结果的大面积“造假”。

天水当地医院的检查结果与西安相差十几倍,这绝对不是技术、设备误差的合理范围。

而当地医院拒绝对投资人李某芳名下4家幼儿园以外的幼儿实施检测,更加剧了公众不信任危机。

一个不能不忽视的事实是,20年前,同样在甘肃天水市,2005年天水市麦积区甘泉镇吴家河村发生小孩铅中毒事件。

2006年,甘肃徽县,水阳乡新寺村、单坝村、刘沟村共查出368人血铅超标。

同样的事,同样的剧情,当地官方采取了隐瞒,造假的应对措施。

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天水市麦积区甘泉镇铅中毒事件后,村民先后进行了三次铅检测。

第一次是兰州医学微量研究所麦积区分所为53个孩子进行了检测,结果无一例外铅超标。但麦积区政府有关部门认为,这个检测结果不具有权威性,政府不予认可。

第二次,当地官方邀请天水市疾病预防控制中心重新检测,吴家河村3到16岁的50名儿童参加了尿铅检测,结果与兰研所的结论截然不同,除1名儿童达到临界值外,其余49名儿童尿铅检测正常。

第三次检测来自西安市中心医院职业病科。检测了200余人,共有211人铅含量严重超标,其中68人被初步确定为铅中毒。

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据《瞭望东方周刊》报道,事件发生后,有当地村民带着孩子到徽县人民医院就医,化验结果是一切正常。而西安西京医院的检测结果是血铅含量高达440ug/L,为中度铅中毒。

最终的调查结果显示,此次铅中毒事件与当地一家有色金属冶炼公司有关。

时任国家环保总局环境监察局副局长熊跃辉表示:“我们的监管部门确实存在严重的监管不到位的问题”。

遗憾的是,两次“铅中毒”事件并未改变当地对此问题的足够重视,20年后,悲剧再现。

同样没有改变的是,当地依然在检测数据上不那么“诚实”。

来自天水当地的消息,距离麦积区褐石培心幼儿园最近的医院是天水市第二人民医院,很多幼儿园附近小学的家长带着孩子去检测,均被医院拒绝。

这就导致很多当地孩子的家长不得不考虑利用暑假期间带孩子到西安去检测。

这几天,当地派出所给部分学生家长致电,询问问孩子在哪个幼儿园上学。警察说上级有令,要把天水籍的人的孩子上学情况摸底清楚。

目前,我很难判断这个行为是出于什么目的,是要给所有孩子做作检测?还是要维稳?

7月12日,甘肃省成立省委省政府调查组,提级调查天水市麦积区褐石培心幼儿园幼儿血铅异常问题,并请生态环境部、国家卫生健康委等部委专家参与。国务院食安办派出工作组指导督办。

提级调查自然是为了搞清事实真相,回应公众质疑。

不但要解释清楚褐石培心幼儿园购买彩绘颜料的时间、渠道、购买量、使用范围等基本情况,还应该明确该幼儿园反常规使用这些颜料的目的。

如果最终的事实确如通报所述,233名孩子铅中毒的罪魁祸首,这些必要的解释无疑是不可获取的。

当然,我认为,此次提级调查的重点还应该放在当地官员的渎职行为上。

谁导致了天水当地的检测结果失常?如果有人为故意,必须严肃追究其责任。

官方应当采取一次针对当地公众全面的“血铅”检测,对当地环境也应当进行一次全面的排查。

20年了,同样的事情再现,如果还是重重拿起,轻轻放下,那么未来,当地孩子的生命健康依然无法获得保障。

这不是小事。

永远的大汉|官方数据的泄露,杭州“粪水”水一个月前已经爆发了

打开水龙头准备做饭,说时迟那时快一股黄水汹涌喷出,与此同时浓浓的屎味扑鼻而来。这是怎么回事?这不是隔壁拉稀,这是昨天杭州市民遇到的事。

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虽然我有朋友拍到了更恶心的画面,但本文以官方报道为根。总而言之,这水看起来像粪水,闻起来更像粪水。

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遗憾的是,当地通报了两次都始终未公布出现“粪水”的原因,并且一直强调“其他指标”均正常。

丞相特意查了当地公开数据,是月份水源水质报告,请注意是水源水水质。章是当地国企的,表明了权威性。不像某地至今不敢出具盖有公章的血铅报告。顺带说一句,感谢李先生,这些以前都是不公开的。

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这里有个指标叫粪大肠菌群,不是我故意恶心人,因为大肠菌群就是用来检测粪便污染的,国际通用。具体见下表,3月的数据还是很好的,除了四岭水库其他4个均未检出。

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4月的数据也不错,5个水源有2个未检出,其它3个也都不超过500。

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5月的数据只剩千岛湖一个未检出,苕溪永胜取水口和四岭水库的数值都飙到了6000以上。直接干到了三类水源。

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而到了6月,3个水源在15000以上,更有2个在20000以上。请注意这已经是四类水了,按国家规定不能作为饮用水水源。

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我特意对比了去年同期数据,相对来说都很正常。偶尔出现一次高值也会在治理后恢复正常。

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也就是说,今年肯定出现了某些事情,在5月时已经不正常了。这期间有关部门应该是有介入治理,但6月还是彻底爆了。遗憾的是有关部门一直没提前警示市民,于是不知不觉中又过了一个月,也就是7月的昨天喜提“粪水”。

文章是昨天夜里写的,刚刚当地发了最新通报,说是藻类厌氧降解所致。这个解释能说的过去,毕竟屁味就这玩意,这里更新一下。下面回到上文。

当然了,我想说的不是“粪水”,而是“粪水”两天前杭州某学校多名小学生流鼻血,当地回应:未发现排污超标。

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无论有没有超标,一个学校300多名学生,200多名都出现了流鼻血等症状,这是铁一般的事实。

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学生和家长都反应经常能闻到刺鼻气味,这也是铁一般的事实。

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而从去年开始,就陆续有孩子出现异常。那只有两个解释:要么新校区偷工减料有问题,要么环境有问题。

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CDT 档案卡
标题:官方数据的泄露,杭州“粪水”水一个月前已经爆发了
作者:曹侯
发表日期:2025.7.19
来源:微信公众号“永远的大汉”
主题归类:杭州自来水臭味事件
CDS收藏:公民馆
版权说明:该作品版权归原作者所有。中国数字时代仅对原作进行存档,以对抗中国的网络审查。详细版权说明

朋友们看看跟天水是不是一模一样?一开始假装什么都没发生,直到彻底爆发了,一个学校三分之二的学生异常了,然后应急。

重要的是,重要的是,这是杭州。国内牛逼声最大的城市,但你看在某些根本问题的处理上,一模一样,一模一样。

你哪怕提前知会一声市民,也不会“粪水”闹得人心惶惶。你哪怕去年就稍微介入,也不会搞到一个学校三分之二的孩子出现异常。不赔偿不负责高高在上。如此生活三十年,直到大厦崩塌。

本人言论与工作单位无关,一切责任自负。

以下评论由CDT辑自微信公众号:

战斗兔:请问你在哪里查到的这些数据?

永远的大汉:后台回复“数据”获取,相信当地不会删。

刘志辉:暖风熏得游人醉,直把杭州作便州。

1234:这可是杭州啊。很多都领先其他省,都这样。可想其他地方多少事情都被和谐了

敬:也体验了一把恒河水。

浪不够永胜:过分了!恒河水可没那么浓郁

mr long:那这些水,咱能拿去检测一下吗?

永远的大汉:你命硬吗?

秋寒儿:哈哈哈笑着笑着就哭了

常永恒:能捂则捂,捂不住就崩了[捂脸]

Democrats in South Carolina are barely pretending they're not already running for president

PAWLEYS ISLAND, South Carolina — Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear drew a standing ovation from Georgetown County Democrats Thursday night, after he shook hands and grinned for photos. California Gov. Gavin Newsom packed standing-room-only crowds into a two-day rural county tour of the state last week. California Rep. Ro Khanna kicked off his multi-day swing Friday to promote his populist message to Black voters.

The 2028 Democratic primary calendar isn’t set yet, but presidential hopefuls are already making bets that South Carolina will hold a powerful role in the nomination process — even if it doesn't keep its number-one spot. While Iowa and New Hampshire are drawing some big names, no other state has seen as much action as this small Southern state.

And while these top Democrats credited their appearances to local invitations — and in the case of Beshear, his son’s baseball tournament in Charleston — the 2028 implications are clear. Democratic hopefuls road-tested stump speeches and previewed their lines of attack against Republicans and President Donald Trump, all with an eye toward introducing themselves to a set of influential voters.

“I'm out there trying to be a common ground, common sense, get-things-done type of messenger for this Democratic Party,” Beshear told elected officials and party officials in Charleston Thursday morning. “Because I believe that with what we're seeing coming out of Washington, D.C., the cruelty and the incompetence, that the path forward is right there in front of us.”

Christy Waddil, a 67-year-old Democratic voter who waited to shake Beshear’s hand Thursday night, said she was “excited” to meet all these potential contenders. But it’s a lot of responsibility to be the first state in the presidential primary calendar, she said: “We have our work cut out for us now.”

In June, Arizona Sen. Mark Kelly spoke at an anti-gun event in Charleston to mark the grim anniversary of the Emanuel AME shooting. In May, Govs. Wes Moore of Maryland and Tim Walz of Minnesota headlined a pair of state party events to rub elbows with Rep. Jim Clyburn, the longtime South Carolina kingmaker whose nod helped anoint Joe Biden as the party’s nominee in 2020.

“It’s not a surprise,” said Clyburn when asked about the state’s revolving door of 2028 hopefuls nearly three years before the actual presidential primary. “Why argue with success? If it ain't broke, why fix it?”

South Carolina Democrats know their grip on the top spot is tenuous, with traditional early states like Iowa and New Hampshire eager to reclaim their lead-off position, and others —like North Carolina and Georgia — seeking to emerge as new states to consider. And it comes as there's been a major reshuffling on a powerful panel at the Democratic National Committee that has huge sway over the presidential nominating process.

“None of what those supposed candidates are doing right now is going to have any bearing on what the Rules and Bylaws Committee ultimately does for the calendar,” said Maria Cardona, a longtime member of the powerful panel. “That may or may not include all of the states that are in the early calendar now.”

Democrats haven't won the state in a general election since 1976, and President Donald Trump won it by 18 points last year.

Gov. Gavin Newsom gives remarks to a crowd at St. Paul First Baptist Church on July 9, 2025, in Laurens, South Carolina.

It's led more competitive neighbors to wonder whether they should get top billing instead.

“[National Democrats] have a lot of mobility to get power back at the federal level by investing early in North Carolina. And I think a lot of people will hear that message loud and clear, especially after we just got our asses kicked,”said state party chair Anderson Clayton, who is interested in usurping its neighbor to the south and angling for one of the open at-large slots on the RBC. “The future of the state of the Democratic Party also runs right through North Carolina too.”

Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker will deliver the keynote address at North Carolina's state party unity dinner on July 26, and state party leaders are in talks with Sens. Kelly of Arizona and Cory Booker of New Jersey about visits to the state later this year.

But moving the order of primary states is easier said than done. North Carolina is hamstrung by state law from moving its date, and Democrats would need the GOP-controlled legislature to agree to any changes. DNC members have also emphasized smaller states to allow lesser-known candidates to build followings.

“The most powerful force in the universe is inertia, so South Carolina is probably the favorite to stay just because of that,” said an incoming member of the committee granted anonymity to discuss internal dynamics. “Every state has a chance to be first, but I do think we have to come into this with a degree of realism.”

The DNC is attempting to remain neutral.

“The DNC is committed to running a fair, transparent, and rigorous process for the 2028 primary calendar. All states will have an opportunity to participate,” Deputy Communications Director Abhi Rahman said in a statement.

Iowa Democrats are also gearing up on a bid to restore their caucuses to their traditional spot as the nation's first presidential contest. Michigan replaced Iowa as the Midwestern early state in 2024.

Iowa Democratic Party Chair Rita Hart said she planned to have "tough and direct conversations" with the party in a statement, even as the DNC removed Iowa's only representative, Scott Brennan, from the Rules and Bylaws Committee this year.

Already, potential 2028 candidates have traveled there, including former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, who held a town hall in Cedar Rapids in May. Walz stopped by the Hawkeye State in March, and former Japan Ambassador Rahm Emanuel and freshman Arizona Sen. Ruben Gallego are both slated to visit the state in the coming months.

New Hampshire Democrats also openly clashed with top DNC officials last cycle — and plan to stick with their state law making it first primary in the nation. Pritzker went to an influential state party dinner there in April.

“The potential candidates on the Democratic side and, to some extent, the Republican side are coming through New Hampshire,” Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) said in a brief interview.

Gov. Andy Beshear (D-Ky.) speaks to voters in South Carolina.

The positioning at the national party over early states is already underway.

Party insiders are voting for the remaining open seats on the panel after DNC Chair Ken Martin named members to the governing body in recent weeks. Cardona said the goal of the committee is to ensure the strongest and most electable candidate emerges from what is expected to be a crowded field. Talks will begin on the next presidential primary calendar later this year, but will ramp up after the midterms.

South Carolina’s ascension was aimed at recognizing South Carolina’s significant Black electorate, long considered the backbone of the Democratic Party.

That’s partly why Khanna is there, he said in an interview on why he is focusing on reaching out to Black voters.

“I believe that’s critical for all the people who want to lead the Democratic Party, in whatever form, and to me it’s encouraging that people are going down to South Carolina” to reach them.

Beshear, too, expressed support for South Carolina’s representation, telling reporters that Democrats “need to make sure that the South is represented in the primary calendar” because “for too long, the investments haven't been made in places like Kentucky and in places like South Carolina.”

In defense of remaining in the early window, South Carolina Democrats are playing up the state’s diverse electorate and inexpensive media markets that could allow for the best presidential candidates — not just the best fundraisers — to emerge in a wide open presidential cycle in 2028.

“The Democratic primary for president is not based on the state's competitiveness in a general election,” said Parmley. “This is the same bullshit that loses us presidential elections, and we only play in eight competitive states.”

Lisa Kashinsky and Kelly Garrity contributed to this report.

© Timothy D. Easley, FileAP

At least 34 dead after tourist boat capsizes in Vietnam

BBC 'Breaking' graphicBBC

Twenty-eight people have died after a tourist boat capsized in Vietnam in bad weather, according to local reports.

At least 14 people are said to be missing following the incident in Halong Bay, a popular tourist destination in the north of the country, the reports say.

Most of the passengers were reportedly Vietnamese visiting from Hanoi.

Heavy rain has been hindering the search for survivors, rescuers say.

This breaking news story is being updated and more details will be published shortly. Please refresh the page for the fullest version.

You can receive Breaking News on a smartphone or tablet via the BBC News App. You can also follow @BBCBreaking on X to get the latest alerts.

Multiple arrests at Palestine Action ban protests

BBC Police arrest a woman in Parliament Square, LondonBBC
Police made more than 50 arrests in Parliament Square in central London

Dozens of people have been arrested at protests across the UK against the decision to proscribe Palestine Action as a terror group.

Arrests have been reported in London, Edinburgh, Manchester, Bristol and Truro, all places where demonstrations in support of the pro-Palestine action group took place on Saturday.

The Met Police said 55 people were arrested on suspicion of terrorism offences in Westminster for displaying placards in support of Palestine Action. Eight were arrested in Truro in Cornwall.

The government proscribed the group earlier this month under the Terrorism Act of 2000, making membership of or support for the group a criminal offence, following a break-in at an RAF base.

Across the country, protesters held placards with the words: "I oppose genocide. I support Palestine Action."

In London, arrests were made near the Mahatma Gandhi statue in Parliament Square, where as many as 20 police vans attended.

Officers moved in swiftly to arrest those holding the placards, many of whom appeared to be over the age of 60.

One woman claimed to be in her 80s and was walking with a stick. Some were led away while others had to be carried.

Devon and Cornwall Police said two men and six women were arrested on suspicion of terrorism offences after protesters gathered near Truro Cathedral.

The force said around 30 people were involved in the peaceful demonstration, organised by campaign group Defend Our Juries.

Earlier, the campaign group said that one of those arrested near the cathedral was an 81-year-old former magistrate.

It also said 16 people were arrested in Manchester.

Police forces in the other locations where protests took place have not yet confirmed the number of arrests they made.

EPA Police officers carry a person in handcuffs away from Parliament SquareEPA
Some demonstrators in London were led away while others had to be carried by officers

Saturday's protests came ahead of a High Court hearing on Monday at which the co-founder of Palestine Action, Huda Ammori, will ask for permission to challenge the decision to ban the group.

Last Saturday, 71 arrests were made across the UK at similar protests against the decision.

Palestine Action has engaged in activities that have predominantly targeted arms companies since the start of the current war in Gaza.

MPs voted to proscribe the group after activists broke into RAF Brize Norton in June, spraying two Voyager aircraft with red paint and causing £7m worth of damage. Palestine Action took responsibility for the incident at the time.

Four people have since been remanded in custody, charged with conspiracy to commit criminal damage and conspiracy to enter a prohibited place knowingly for a purpose prejudicial to the safety or interests of the UK.

The incident also prompted a security review across all UK military bases.

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