Clashes broke out in central London on Saturday as far-right activist Tommy Robinson led one of the largest far-right protests in Britain. The Metropolitan Police said they were assaulted with kicks, punches, bottles, flares, and other projectiles as some protesters attempted to enter so-called “sterile areas” near counter-protesters. Elsewhere, China hit back at US President Donald Trump after he threatened massive tariffs linked to Russian oil sales. Beijing said it had no plans for war and criticised Washington for rallying Nato against it. In India, the Asia Cup match between India and Pakistan sparked fierce controversy, with opposition leaders calling it a betrayal of martyrs. The government responded by saying cricket and national security are separate issues.
Here are the top five stories of the evening:
Far-right London rally draws record crowds
Clashes broke out in central London on Saturday as far-right activist Tommy Robinson led one of the largest far-right protests in Britain. Police said up to 150,000 people attended the “Unite the Kingdom” rally, making it one of the largest demonstrations of its kind in recent years. Read more
‘We don’t plan wars’: China hits back at Trump’s tariff threat
China hit back strongly at Washington after the US called on its Nato allies to impose major sanctions on Beijing over its alleged role in funding Russia’s war in Ukraine. Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi reiterated that China is committed to promoting peace talks, saying, “wars cannot solve problems, and sanctions would only complicate them.” Read more
India-Pakistan match draws ire: Opposition calls it betrayal to martyrs
The India-Pakistan Asia Cup match in Dubai has become a political battlefield even before the first ball is bowled, with opposition parties condemning the match while the government defends it as a sporting necessity. Shiv Sena (UBT) workers staged “sindoor” protests in Maharashtra and urged citizens to boycott the game, calling it an insult to soldiers and victims of the Pahalgam terror attack. Read more
Assam: PM Modi accuses Congress of backing terrorists over Army
PM Modi, campaigning in Assam, lashed out at Congress and Nehru, accusing them of prioritising terrorists over soldiers. “Wounds inflicted by Jawaharlal Nehru during the Chinese aggression of 1962 on the people of Assam are yet to heal,” PM Modi said. Read more
‘Won’t stay for more than six months’: Nepal PM Sushila Karki ’s first address
As she took charge as Nepal’s interim prime minister on Sunday, Sushila Karki’s first act was to define the limits of her own power. Karki promised a short tenure of six months and honoured slain protesters as martyrs. Read more