The former head of MI6 has warned MPs that China could “immobilise London” by switching off Britain’s traffic lights, due to Chinese companies controlling so much critical technology in the UK. Sir Richard Dearlove, the former chief of the Secret Intelligence Service, claimed that Chinese-made microchips embedded in UK infrastructure could be exploited to cause blackouts and bring the capital to a standstill. Dearlove and Charles Parton, a veteran diplomat, said Chinese companies dominate the microchip industry for devices embedded in technology known as the “internet of things” (IoT). These chips — known as Chinese-made cellular IoT modules (CIMs) —…

Marks & Spencer has today confirmed that personal customer data was stolen in the catastrophic cyber-attack that has paralysed the high street stalwart for more than two weeks and wiped over £1 billion off its market value. The retailer admitted that some shoppers’ contact details, dates of birth and order histories were accessed by cyber criminals in what is now understood to be a large-scale ransomware attack carried out by the DragonForce hacking cartel. Although M&S insists that no payment details, passwords or account credentials were compromised, the admission marks a major escalation in what is fast becoming one of…

A radar-jamming drone that will fly ahead of crewed fighters on missions to disable enemy air defences has been launched by Britain’s Royal Air Force. Drawing on lessons learned from the war in Ukraine, StormShroud has been introduced to the front lines at “an unprecedented pace” to meet the growing threat from Russia, the UK Ministry of Defence said. The weapon is based on the Tekever AR3 and AR5 drones, which have already seen combat in Ukraine, and has been fitted with a BriteStorm signal jammer that scrambles enemy radar at long ranges. In what the RAF described as “revolutionary new tactics”,…

The Israeli embassy in London was the target of an alleged Iranian terrorist attack, intelligence sources have revealed. Five men, including four Iranian nationals, were arrested at locations across England on Saturday in what the Home Secretary described as one of the biggest counter-terror operations in recent years. It is understood that the Israeli embassy in Kensington, west London, was the target of a planned attack. British Government sources say the suspected terror cell was hours from unleashing the attack when the men were arrested. The Israeli embassy in London declined to comment when approached, and the Metropolitan Police have…

A new book has revealed the untold story of an agent who spent years close to senior Nazis, providing key intelligence that helped Britain rearm and prepare for war against Germany. Author Tim Willasey-Wilsey’s book, The Spy and the Devil, charts the life of Bill de Ropp, who managed to infiltrate Nazi leader Adolf Hitler’s inner circle and obtained vital military secrets. De Ropp’s success helped transform MI6 from an often-overlooked arm of Whitehall into a vital part of the UK’s national security policy-making. As the author explains in the book, de Ropp was an unlikely spy. Born in modern-day Lithuania…

Britain and India have struck a landmark free trade deal that will slash tariffs with the world’s fifth-largest economy and ultimately boost growth by up to £5 billion a year — the equivalent of a 0.1 per cent rise in GDP. The agreement will also see Indian tariffs cut on cosmetics and medical devices and is expected to deliver a £4.8 billion boost to the UK economy, according to the government. In the long term, it is projected to increase bilateral trade by £25.5 billion, UK GDP by £4.8 billion, and wages by £2.2 billion annually. The agreement — the biggest…

Originally published by The Jerusalem Post Insights from the Israel-Africa Relations Institute show how strategic partnerships—not aid dependency—can unlock Africa’s vast potential. Africa stands at a pivotal juncture in its development journey. As the world’s second-largest continent, spanning more than 30 million square kilometers and home to nearly 1.4 billion people, Africa’s population is expected to double by 2050, presenting both extraordinary potential and formidable challenges. According to the African Development Bank, the continent’s economy is forecast to grow by 3.8 per cent in 2024 and 4.2 per cent in 2025, outpacing the global average. However, opportunity does not come…

Britain has sanctioned a Swedish gangster accused of working for Iran to carry out attacks on Jewish and Israeli targets in Europe. Rawa Majid, 39, known as the “Kurdish Fox”, has been linked to an attack on the Israeli embassy in Stockholm, Sweden, in January 2024. The attack was allegedly carried out on behalf of Iran using his “Foxtrot Network” of criminals. The sanctions were imposed just days before British police and members of the special forces arrested seven Iranian nationals allegedly involved in a suspected terrorist plot. The UK’s Foreign Secretary, David Lammy, said the sanctions imposed on Majid…

South Africa’s highest appeal court has ruled that a Turkish telecoms group claiming MTN bribed Iranian officials for a lucrative mobile phone licence may proceed its $4.2 billion damages claim.

Observers have expressed concern that a focus on strategic minerals could attract additional stakeholders and complicate negotiations.

The ANC has lost its exclusive control over public finances and will now have to collaborate with opposition parties in the GNU on policy decisions, including foreign affairs.

MTN’s partners, including the reputable firms Deloitte and Accenture, may face legal scrutiny if the telecoms company’s involvement in operations in Iran is deemed substantial.