By Sean Rayment Staff in Europe and North America have been told: “Stop reporting on Iran or you and your immediate relatives will die.” The campaign of systematic intimidation began shortly after Israel attacked Iran’s nuclear bases, with the Tehran authorities accusing journalists of being spies for Israel and providing information to its intelligence services. The TV news channel, whose headquarters are in London, has now filed an urgent appeal with UN experts asking for action against Iran. Iran International, which broadcasts in Farsi, said the situation had “deteriorated rapidly and there is now a real risk to the lives” of…

By Staff Writer The announcement that South Africa’s MTN Group, Africa’s largest telecoms operator, is under criminal investigation by the US Department of Justice (DoJ) grand jury should reverberate far beyond Johannesburg. It is more than another potential case of corporate misconduct. It is a test of whether multinationals that allegedly profited in conflict zones or colluded with terrorists for profit—while Americans and Israelis paid with their lives—can finally be held to account under US law. Grand jury scrutiny Grand jury investigations are not routine regulatory inquiries or civil litigation. They are among the most powerful tools of the American justice…

By Sean Rayment Rolls-Royce’s plan to power artificial intelligence (AI) with its nuclear reactors could make the corporation the UK’s most valuable company. The engineering firm has signed deals to provide small modular reactors (SMRs) to the UK and Czech governments. AI has boomed in popularity since 2022, but the technology consumes vast amounts of energy, raising both practical and environmental concerns. Rolls-Royce chief executive Tufan Erginbilgic has said the company has the “potential” to become the UK’s highest-valued business by overtaking the largest firms on the London Stock Exchange, thanks to its SMR agreements. “There is no private company…

The Reactor Pilot Program had been announced by the US DOE in June 2025. By Abhishek Bhardwaj The United States has picked 11 advanced reactor projects to begin President Trump’s Nuclear Reactor Pilot Program. The US Department of Energy (DOE) announced on Tuesday that it will work, alongside the industry, with these 11 projects to construct, operate, and achieve criticality of at least three test reactors using the DOE authorisation process by July 4, 2026. The selection is a major step towards streamlining nuclear reactor testing and opening a new pathway toward fast-tracking commercial licensing activities. “President Trump’s Reactor Pilot Program…

By Sean Rayment The US’s newly unveiled $175 billion Golden Dome missile defence programme is reshaping Pentagon spending priorities and expanding the role of the Space Force, according to a new report by the Aerospace Corporation’s Center for Space Policy and Strategy. The missile system is set to become a centerpiece of US defence spending and strategy. Golden Dome will be a multi-layer satellite defence system designed to protect the United States from a range of foreign threats, including ballistic, hypersonic, and cruise missiles. The system will rely on a global network of military satellites capable of identifying and neutralising…

By André Pienaar, Co-founder of the Directorate of Special Operations (DSO) also known as the Scorpions, an elite law enforcement and counter terrorist unit established by President Mandela in partnership with the DEA and the FBI. On 20 January 2025, President Donald J. Trump issued Executive Order 14157, “Designating Cartels and Other Organisations as Foreign Terrorist Organisations and Specially Designated Global Terrorists” (EO 14157). This unprecedented move targeted major Latin American drug cartels – including Mexico’s Sinaloa Cartel and Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), MS-13, Venezuela’s Tren de Aragua, and others – by formally classifying them as Foreign Terrorist Organisations (FTOs) and…

Members of the US Congress supporting the passing of the US–South African Bilateral Relations Review Act of 2025 (HR 2633) voiced their fears to National Security News about the subversion of press freedom in South Africa by the South African State Security Agency (SASSA). Congressional leaders from both the Republicans and Democrats expressed grave concern about several cases in which whistle-blowers are being targeted by SASSA, working hand in glove with journalists from News24, a digital media platform owned by Naspers and Prosus, listed in Amsterdam. The extent of this collusion was revealed in a landmark ruling this week when the South…

By Ben Farmer An ambitious offensive by Somali Islamists has taken a string of towns and swathes of territory, overturning years of gains by the country’s internationally backed security forces. The al-Qaeda-linked al-Shabaab group has won repeated victories over Somali forces since February, and in late July captured the strategic town of Maxaas after heavy fighting. An escalation in American air strikes has failed to stop the advance, and al-Qaeda is now urging its affiliate to “repeat in Somalia what the Taliban had achieved in Afghanistan,” according to a recent United Nations intelligence report. Ashley Jackson, of the Centre on…

By Sean Rayment Ukrainian spies claim to have stolen classified data on Russia’s newest nuclear missile submarine during a recent cyber operation. The secret Russian data allegedly includes details about the vessel’s vulnerabilities—likely to be highly valuable to Western navies. Cyber specialists working for Ukraine’s military intelligence agency, the HUR (Main Directorate of Intelligence), reportedly breached the Russian Navy’s systems and obtained internal documents concerning the new Project 955A Borei-A-class submarine Knyaz Pozharsky, which entered service less than two weeks ago. The HUR specialists reportedly obtained a list of the submarine’s crew, including information on their positions, fitness levels, and combat…

By Isabella Egerton Dame Stella Rimington, the first woman to lead MI5 and a pioneer in modern British intelligence, has died at the age of 90. Her family confirmed she died peacefully on Sunday, “surrounded by her beloved family and dogs and determinedly held on to the life she loved until her last breath.” Dame Stella made history in 1992 when she became Director-General of MI5, the UK’s domestic security agency. She was the first woman to lead a British intelligence service and the first head of MI5 to be publicly named. Her appointment marked a turning point in the…

By Isabella Egerton The United States, the United Kingdom, France and 11 other allied nations have issued a joint statement condemning what they describe as a surge in Iranian intelligence operations targeting individuals in Europe and North America. Austria, Albania, Belgium, Canada, Czechia, Denmark, Finland, Germany, the Netherlands, Spain and Sweden joined the three Western powers in accusing Tehran of attempted assassinations, kidnappings and harassment campaigns. The statement warns that Iranian intelligence agencies are increasingly using international criminal networks to target journalists, dissidents, Jewish citizens, and current and former officials. “We are united in our opposition to the attempts of…

By Isabella Egerton Diplomatic teams from Thailand and Cambodia are hoping to build on peace talks which led to a ceasefire between the two countries following the worst period of cross-border fighting in years. Cambodia has asked Thailand to release 20 of its soldiers captured during the clashes; one reportedly died in custody. Thai officials say the men will be freed once investigations are complete. Both nations have agreed to continue talks, with defence attaché-level discussions scheduled for 04 August under ASEAN guidance, aimed at reinforcing trust and avoiding renewed fighting. Despite the truce, both countries continue to maintain troop deployments…

By André Pienaar As war-weary Sudan approaches its third year of brutal civil conflict, President Donald J. Trump has launched an ambitious new initiative to bring peace to a nation that the Biden administration largely ignored. In a critical region that spans the Horn of Africa and the Middle East, increasingly dominated by foreign mercenaries, Islamist militias, and Iranian drones, Trump’s peace plan offers not only a diplomatic lifeline — but a moral reset. Let’s be clear: Sudan’s war is not just a local tribal dispute. It is the latest frontline in a broader global struggle between forces of authoritarian…

By Staff Writer In a commanding debut before the defence community, Gen. Michael A. Guetlein laid out an ambitious vision for the United States’ Golden Dome missile defence initiative, describing a whole-of-nation effort aimed at redefining strategic deterrence in the 21st century. Speaking on 22 July at the Space Foundation’s Innovate Space Global Economic Summit, Guetlein detailed the programme’s trajectory, technological readiness and acquisition philosophy — offering the clearest public insight yet into the future of space-based missile defence. A 60-day sprint towards strategic architecture Just five days after Senate confirmation, Guetlein revealed that his first task is to deliver…

By Sean Rayment A leading French defence company is investigating a potential cyberattack after hackers claimed to have obtained sensitive data relating to the country’s nuclear submarines. Naval Group, the state-owned shipbuilder that traces its origins back almost 400 years to the reign of Louis XIII, said it had “immediately launched technical investigations” after cybercriminals threatened to publish files on the dark web. The company builds and maintains key vessels for the French Navy, including aircraft carriers and nuclear-powered submarines. These include France’s Barracuda fleet of nuclear missile-armed submarines. In a post on a dark web forum, the hackers claimed…

By Sean Rayment President Donald Trump warned that he would order fresh attacks on Iran’s nuclear facilities should Tehran attempt to restart the sites bombed by the United States last month. Trump issued the threat during talks with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer at his Turnberry golf resort on the west coast of Scotland. Iran, which denies seeking to develop a nuclear weapon, has insisted it will not abandon domestic uranium enrichment despite the bombing of three nuclear sites. Trump told reporters that Iran had been sending out “nasty signals” and that any effort to restart its nuclear programme would…

By Staff Writer Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has strongly condemned the recent summit of “The Hague Group” convened in Bogotá, Colombia, as a politically motivated assembly orchestrated to advance an international campaign of delegitimisation against the Jewish state through lawfare and sanctions. At the centre of the controversy is South Africa’s President Ramaphosa, who played a leading role in convening and shaping the summit’s anti-Israel agenda. Described by the organisers as an “emergency conference,” the two-day meeting (15–16 July) brought together delegations from 32 countries, under the banner of opposing what the summit called Israel’s “impunity” in Gaza. The…

By Staff Writer As Sudan descends deeper into civil war, a dangerous new player has emerged behind the front lines: the Islamic Republic of Iran. Through a covert but growing alliance with Sudan’s regular army, Iran has injected advanced weaponry, deadly drones and strategic ambition into an already devastating conflict — with far-reaching consequences for the Red Sea region and beyond. A dangerous alliance resurrected After years of estrangement, Khartoum and Tehran rekindled diplomatic relations in late 2023. The timing was no accident: Sudan’s army, led by General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, was faltering against the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in…

By Isabella Egerton The UK government has imposed its first-ever sanctions targeting Kurdish-led smuggling cartels. The move is part of a sweeping new strategy to disrupt the sophisticated networks moving migrants across the Channel in small boats. But despite the recent arrests and expanded intelligence efforts, experts warn that without sustained pressure, the impact may be fleeting. The sanctions — announced jointly by the Foreign Office, Home Office, and Treasury this week — target key individuals allegedly behind thousands of irregular crossings each year. Those named face asset freezes and travel bans under the UK’s autonomous sanctions regime. The move…

By Staff Writer A rare and growing bipartisan coalition in the US Congress is coalescing around legislation that would impose targeted sanctions on senior officials of South Africa’s ruling African National Congress (ANC), citing allegations of support for Hamas, systemic corruption, and alignment with adversarial regimes such as Iran, China, and Russia. The House Foreign Affairs Committee sent a clear message this week by advancing H.R. 2633 — the US–South Africa Bilateral Relations Review Act of 2025, a bill authored by Rep. Ronny Jackson (R-TX), with a decisive 34–16 vote. While all 28 Republicans on the committee backed the bill, they…

By Isabella Egerton Bahrain and the United States have announced over $17 billion in agreements to boost economic and investment ties across key sectors including aviation, technology, industry, and energy. The deals were unveiled during a high-profile meeting between Bahrain’s Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa and US President Donald Trump at the White House. Facilitated by President Trump and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, the agreements are expected to create approximately 30,000 American jobs, according to a senior White House official. They signal Bahrain’s intent to deepen its economic partnership with Washington while diversifying its own economy. Bahrain’s strategic importance…

By Staff Writer A controversial draft law aimed at expanding Iran’s national security and espionage legislation has been returned to parliament for revision after the Guardian Council raised concerns over vague definitions, disproportionate penalties, and potential violations of Islamic and constitutional law. The pushback is notable within Iran’s hardliner-dominated establishment, even as authorities intensify a crackdown following the recent war with Israel. Passed in late June after the 12-day war, the bill — formally titled “Intensification of Punishment for Espionage and Cooperation with the Zionist Regime and Hostile States Against National Security and Interests” — proposes sweeping measures, including the death penalty,…

By Isabella Egerton Cyberattacks using stolen and fake identities have become one of the biggest threats facing national security, according to Constella Intelligence’s 2025 Identity Breach Report. Instead of “hacking into” systems, attackers are increasingly just “logging in” using real or fake credentials. In 2024 alone, more than 219,000 breaches exposed over 107 billion records worldwide — double the level of previous years. IBM’s X-Force team noted that stolen logins and exploiting public websites each accounted for about 30 per cent of how hackers first gained access last year. Constella Intelligence, a leading global digital risk protection company that helps organisations…

By Sean Rayment Laser weapons capable of shooting down drones will be fitted to military vehicles to help protect airfields from terrorist attacks, National Security News can reveal. Tanks, armoured personnel carriers, and reconnaissance vehicles will be equipped with lasers designed to blast drones out of the sky from distances of more than half a mile. Defence experts have said the laser-armed vehicles could be used to protect airfields, sensitive locations such as GCHQ, and other areas of critical national infrastructure from swarm drone attacks launched by terrorist groups or hostile nations. Details of the new laser capability emerged as Britain begins…