24 h. ago China 'bugging PUBS around Parliament to get hold of state secrets' warn spy chiefs

Spy chiefs have warned unassuming pubs, hotels and even park benches have been targeted by Beijing in an operation to obtain British government secrets through a network of agents in the UK

Events

24 h. ago Spy chiefs say China is bugging St James’s Park benches to snoop on UK MPs

Senior officials in Westminster have been warned to avoid known ‘hotspots’ in the SW1 are

Politics

34 h. ago China are eavesdropping on UK politicians by bugging Whitehall pubs, hotels... and even benches in St James's Park, say spy chiefs

Amid mounting fears about the level of Beijing's intelligence activity in the UK, officials holding sensitive positions in Westminster have been warned about 'hotspots' to avoid in London.

Politics

2 w. ago Marine Le Pen ruling is fuel for the global right’s attacks on court authority

Rightwing and populist leaders are seizing on conviction to push narrative they are being silenced – but legal experts disagreeThe three-word message, launched minutes after the verdict came in, was succinct in its solidarity. “Je suis Marine!” Hungary’s Viktor Orbán posted on social media after France’s far-right leader, Marine Le Pen, was found guilty of embezzling European parliament funds and barred immediately from running for public office.Messages soon came tumbling in from Brazil to Belgium, hinting at how rightwing nationalist and populist leaders had seized on the ruling to push their own narrative. Continue reading...

Events

2 w. ago Beloved ITV series set to to return eight years after it was brutally axed as bosses 'hold secret talks'

Much loved ITV comedy series Benidorm could be set to return to screens, eight years after it was axed, it has been reported.

Culture

2 w. ago Canadian Parliament locked down as public told to stay away and 'lock all doors and hide'

People in the building and the immediate area were told to "seek shelter in the nearest room".

Politics

2 w. ago British and French military chiefs discuss plans to build on ‘formidable capabilities’ of Ukrainian army in peacekeeping talks

The defence secretary will hold further talks of the ‘coalition of the willing’ next week

Events

2 w. ago Could Marine Le Pen’s guilty verdict help fuel the far right? – podcast

The parliamentary leader of France’s far-right National Rally party, Marine Le Pen, has been banned from public office for five years for embezzlement, ruining her chance of a presidential run. Angelique Chrisafis reportsIt is a sentence that has prompted anger among rightwing leaders across the world and led to accusations that democracy is being threatened. This week, Marine Le Pen, the parliamentary leader of the National Rally (RN), the largest opposition party in the French parliament, was banned for five years from public office for embezzlement. Along with more than 20 others, she was found to have used money for European parliament assistants to pay party workers.The shock sentence could end Le Pen’s hopes of running for president in 2027. She is now appealing and has hit back furiously, as have her supporters and allies. Some of her support could hurt her more than it helps, however. The Kremlin spokesperson, Dmitry Peskov, said in response that “more and more European capi...

Politics

2 w. ago Marine Le Pen barred from running for French presidency in 2027

Far-right leader found guilty of embezzlement of European funds and immediately barred from running for officeEurope live – latest updatesThe French far-right leader Marine Le Pen has been barred from running for president in 2027 after a court found her guilty of a vast system of embezzlement of European parliament funds and banned her from running for public office with immediate effect.The decision was a political earthquake for Le Pen, the leader of the far-right anti-immigration National Rally (RN) party, who had hoped to mount a fourth campaign to become president. Continue reading...

Politics

3 w. ago Ayrshire roads campaigners hold 'constructive' meeting with Transport Secretary

Campaigners for both the A77 and A75 trunk roads say they held a "constructive and satisfactory" meeting with the Transport Secretary Fiona Hyslop last week.

Society

4 w. ago Key takeaway from idyllic Mediterranean island where 'residents live to 100'

Tourists may know Sardinia as an idyllic Italian paradise with stunning beaches and villages - but experts say it may also hold the secret to longevity

Politics