67 h. ago China’s power play: MI5 warns of relentless espionage attempts in Britain

Alert says Beijing trying to recruit British sources in parliament, even if potential gains may be unclearAn unexpected connection on LinkedIn. An offer of work from a headhunter, most likely a young woman, based in China. The chance to earn perhaps £20,000 part-time writing a handful of geopolitical reports for a Chinese company peppered with “non-public” or “insider” insights. Payment in cryptocurrency or cash preferred.It may seem obvious, on this telling, that something about this approach would be amiss. Nevertheless, China’s powerful ministry of state security (MSS) still considers it worthwhile to deploy recruitment consultants to try it – leading MI5 to warn repeatedly about their activity online. Continue reading...

Events

1 week ago Photos from the US to Europe of nations honoring their veterans

The U.S. celebrates Veterans Day on Nov. 11 while Canada, Great Britain and some European nations mark Armistice Day and Remembrance Day to commemorate the peace agreement between Germany and the Allies that ended World War I.

Culture

1 week ago King Charles III leads Britain's Remembrance Sunday ceremony for war dead

King Charles III has led Britain’s annual ceremony of remembrance for war dead in London

Events

1 week ago Thousands gather at the Cenotaph for Remembrance Sunday as Britain to fall silent in tribute to our war heroes

THOUSANDS have lined the streets around the Cenotaph as the nation prepares to pay tribute to our fallen war heroes. Veterans have also gathered in Whitehall for Remembrance Sunday to remember the 886,000 British personnel who died in the First World War. The King - who is Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces and...

Events

2 w. ago US and China seek to project power with huge and expensive aircraft carriers

China launches £5.4bn ship capable of carrying 60 aircraft that Beijing values as much for maintaining its global influence as for its use in warfare In port, the 80,000-tonne Fujian aircraft carrier would be impossible to miss. More than 300 metres long and capable of carrying about 60 aircraft, the £5.4bn super-vessel places China second among the world’s navies, with three aircraft carriers, though still a long way behind the global leader, the US, which has 11.Yet for all the great power projection of the new warship, nearly 5,000 miles away from its home port another conflict appears to suggest size may not matter. In the Black Sea, Ukraine achieved an extraordinary military success by inflicting a “functional defeat” on Russia’s naval fleet using swarms of skilfully targeted sea drones. Continue reading...

Transport

2 w. ago London WWII veteran, 100, says winning the war 'wasn't worth it' because of the state of the UK

The veteran made the comments on Good Morning Britain ahead of Remembrance Sunday this weekend

Events

3 w. ago Britain would do well to remember where its power over China lies | Simon Jenkins

It’s ridiculous for the government to splurge on defence while it slashes spending on its most valuable asset: cultureThe US has backed down in its tariff war with China. Thanks to Donald Trump’s egotistical diplomacy, rare earths can again flow one way, soya beans the other, and less of the chemicals used to make fentanyl in between. No matter that the war was Trump’s own idea and seems to have been a stunt. The stunt is over. Trump has played his favourite game of dealmaker, much to the discomfort of millions.Meanwhile Britain still cannot make up its mind if China is its enemy. In 2008 British officials visited the Beijing Olympics authorities to discuss the next games in London in 2012. The government told them to “raise” human rights issues, about which the British government was most concerned. I am told the Chinese reacted with sympathy at the Britons’ embarrassment at broaching the matter, and then everyone got down to business. Soon China was a friend, certainly to David Ca...

Politics

3 w. ago Donald Trump says rare earths dispute ‘settled’ after Xi Jinping meeting in South Korea – live updates

Summit on sidelines of Apec was the first between the leaders of US and China since 2019, and comes after tensions have been strained by Trump’s trade warIn the days leading up to the Trump-Xi meeting, American officials signalled that the US president did not intend to make good on a recent threat to impose an additional 100% import tax on Chinese goods.Also that China had shown signs it is willing to relax its export controls on rare earths as well as revive buying soybeans from the US.The relationship with China is very good.Because of the tremendous destructive power, I HATED to do it, but had no choice! Russia is second, and China is a distant third, but will be even within 5 years.Because of other countries testing programs, I have instructed the Department of War to start testing our Nuclear Weapons on an equal basis. That process will begin immediately. Continue reading...

Politics

3 w. ago Donald Trump speaks after Xi Jinping meeting in South Korea – live updates

Summit on sidelines of Apec was the first between the leaders of US and China since 2019, and comes after tensions have been strained by Trump’s trade war In the days leading up to the Trump-Xi meeting, American officials signalled that the US president did not intend to make good on a recent threat to impose an additional 100% import tax on Chinese goods.Also that China had shown signs it is willing to relax its export controls on rare earths as well as revive buying soybeans from the US.The relationship with China is very good.Because of the tremendous destructive power, I HATED to do it, but had no choice! Russia is second, and China is a distant third, but will be even within 5 years.Because of other countries testing programs, I have instructed the Department of War to start testing our Nuclear Weapons on an equal basis. That process will begin immediately. Continue reading...

Politics

3 w. ago Donald Trump and Xi Jinping hold meeting in South Korea amid hopes for trade deal – live updates

Summit on sidelines of Apec is the first between the leaders of US and China since 2019, and comes after tensions have been strained by Trump’s trade warIn the days leading up to the Trump-Xi meeting, American officials signalled that the US president did not intend to make good on a recent threat to impose an additional 100% import tax on Chinese goods.Also that China had shown signs it is willing to relax its export controls on rare earths as well as revive buying soybeans from the US.The relationship with China is very good.Because of the tremendous destructive power, I HATED to do it, but had no choice! Russia is second, and China is a distant third, but will be even within 5 years.Because of other countries testing programs, I have instructed the Department of War to start testing our Nuclear Weapons on an equal basis. That process will begin immediately. Continue reading...

Politics