Russian warship fires warning shots near UK-registered yacht in Channel 37 minutes ago Share Save Add as preferred on Google Rachel Flynn , Matt Murphy , BBC Verify and Paul Adams , diplomatic correspondent Ministry of Defence The incident on Tuesday involved a Russian frigate, the Admiral Grigorovi…

Dan Jarvis was asked by the shadow defence secretary why the Smyrtos had been boarded when other suspected shadow fleet vessels in British waters had not. Photograph: Anadolu/Getty Images View image in fullscreen Dan Jarvis was asked by the shadow defence secretary why the Smyrtos had been boarded w…

Back to G7, Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelenskyy has taken to social media to hail a good G7-Ukraine discussion in France , thanking fellow leaders for their time this morning and “for the strong ideas on how to force Russia into peace.” “Priorities are clear: more air defense missiles along with licences …

Dan Jarvis was asked by the shadow defence secretary why the Smyrtos had been boarded when other suspected shadow fleet vessels in British waters had not. Photograph: Anadolu/Getty Images View image in fullscreen Dan Jarvis was asked by the shadow defence secretary why the Smyrtos had been boarded w…

Roman Lavrynovych and Stanislav Carpiuc were found guilty at the Old Bailey. Composite: Counter Terrorism Policing/PA View image in fullscreen Roman Lavrynovych and Stanislav Carpiuc were found guilty at the Old Bailey. Composite: Counter Terrorism Policing/PA Handler with ties to Russia appears to have directed arson attacks on Starmer-linked property Roman Lavrynovych and Stanislav Carpiuc appear to have operated under instruction of online handler ‘El Money’ Two men found guilty of conspiring to carry out arson attacks on property connected to Keir Starmer appear to have operated under the instruction of an online handler with links to Russia. Roman Lavrynovych, 22, from Ukraine, and Stanislav Carpiuc, 27, from Romania, were found guilty at the Old Bailey on Monday. Another Ukrainian man, Petro Pochynok, 35, was cleared of the same charge. Lavrynovych was also convicted of damaging two properties by fire, being reckless as to whether life was endangered, on 11 and 12 May last year. He was acquitted of two counts of committing arson with intent to risk life. During a months-long trial, the jury heard that the three men had been offered payment to set fire to a car and two houses linked to Starmer by a mysterious Russian-speaking figure named El Money, or “Hroshi” in Ukrainian. Reports in the Financial Times and BBC on Monday suggested that the attacks had been coordinated through Telegram messages from an account with links to a network based in Russia. The BBC reported that a 23-year-old Russian diplomat, Evgeny Lyukshin, had masterminded the attacks. But others cautioned that no such charges had been brought. Prosecutors in the case did not disclose information about the identity of Lavrynovych’s handler, other than to reveal that they had used the “El Money” handle on Telegram and communicated in Russian and Ukrainian. Investigators indicated that establishing clearcut connection to Moscow in such cases was complex, which was why Lavrynovych was indicted with arson and not national security offences. Commander Helen Flanagan, the head of counter-terrorism policing London, said there was “no ideological motivation” for the defendants and “no evidence to suggest that they knew who they were targeting, and that that was the prime minister or properties linked to the prime minister”. She added: “However, clearly the intention from the online tasker was to create fear, both for the victim and the prime minister, and cause uncertainty, unrest, for the UK.” Mr Justice Garnham remanded the defendants into custody, to be sentenced at the Old Bailey on Friday. Jurors had deliberated for seven hours and 26 minutes before reaching their unanimous verdicts. The police recovered more than 320 messages between El Money and Lavrynovych on Telegram, dating back to September 2024. The anonymous contact, who communicated in Russian, offered Lavrynovych £3,000 in cryptocurrency if he set the fires, filmed them, and got them on the news. Pochynok, who was asked

A large-scale Russian attack killed 5 rescuers in Kharkiv, wounded 20 in the capital Kyiv, set apartment buildings ablaze and sparked a fire at one of Ukraine's most significant religious landmarks.

UK forces face operational cuts without more cash, defence chief warns 2 hours ago Share Save Add as preferred on Google Brian Wheeler Political reporter PA Media Sir Richard Knighton was put in charge of UK forces last September The UK's armed forces will have to "dial back" training and operations if they do not receive more cash than is currently being offered, the chief of the defence staff has warned. Air Chief Marshal Sir Richard Knighton said the government's Defence Investment Plan (DIP) did not include enough funding to support "day-to-day activities" in the short term. John Healey resigned as defence secretary last week, claiming the proposed cash settlement "would reduce the readiness of our Forces and increase the risk to personnel on operations". In a Commons statement earlier on Tuesday, he said his resignation had been "necessary in securing the future of Britain's armed forces and our alliances". "My decision last week was about our country, not career," he told MPs. And in a swipe at Chancellor Rachel Reeves, whom he has said was "unwilling" to provide adequate funds to meet the threats facing the nation, he warned that "our adversaries do not follow timetables set by the Treasury". The government has committed to increasing defence spending to 3.5% of national income by 2035, in line with allies in the Nato military alliance. The defence investment plan was due to be published last week but has been delayed further following Healey's resignation. New defence secretary Dan Jarvis is currently reviewing how the money will be spent - but there has been no suggestion from No 10 that extra cash will be found. Healey says the UK needs to be spending 3% of gross domestic product (GDP) on defence by 2030. Watch: Healey says government spending plans for armed forces fall 'well short' In his Commons resignation statement, he told MPs: "At this dangerous time, I see the current defence investment plans falling well short of what is required, a rise at 0.08% from next year to 2030, no date for reaching 3%, no path to 3.5%. "By 2030, well over half of Nato members will be spending 3% or more. And when allies are looking for British leadership, we must not fall behind." In his scathing resignation letter last week , Healey warned that the 10-year DIP plan "backloaded" spending increases, when the UK's forces needed to "to speed up readiness to fight is in the first two years". Sir Richard Knighton echoed Healey's concerns in evidence to the Lords International Relations and Defence Committee on Tuesday morning. "The thing that I'm most concerned about is the level of day-to-day activity funding, the resource departmental expenditure limit, because that funds operational activity and drives exercises and training," he told peers. "Those are the things that make sure the men and women of our armed forces are as ready as they can be with the equipment that they have got today, and without changes to the settlement, as John Healey set out, then

US slackliner Andy Lewis balances on a slackline in Bangkok, Thailand, on 23 July 2014. Photograph: Sakchai Lalit/AP View image in fullscreen US slackliner Andy Lewis balances on a slackline in Bangkok, Thailand, on 23 July 2014. Photograph: Sakchai Lalit/AP Extreme athlete known for performance wit…

From left to right: Keir Starmer, Yvette Cooper, John Healey and Rich Knighton during a virtual meeting to discuss Ukraine in November last year. Photograph: Jaimi Joy/EPA View image in fullscreen From left to right: Keir Starmer, Yvette Cooper, John Healey and Rich Knighton during a virtual meeting…

Police in NSW and Victoria have arrested two men as investigations continue into Dezi Freeman ’s movements following the Porepunkah shooting of two police officers last year. Victoria police said in a statement: double quotation mark Police have executed seven warrants this morning at properties across Victoria and New South Wales as part of the ongoing investigation by Taskforce Summit into the movements of Desmond Freeman after he fatally shot two on-duty police in Porepunkah last year. Warrants were executed by Victoria Police at three rural properties in Buckland, Stanley and Lucyvale from just after 6.20am on Tuesday, 16 June. At the same time, warrants were executed by NSW Police as part of Strikeforce Namberta, in coordination with Taskforce Summit investigators, at four residential properties in Greenwich Park, Tarlo, Wombeyan Caves and Umina Beach. Searches of those properties remain underway, and police have seized a range of electronic devices from the addresses. A 64-year-old Lucyvale man was arrested in Wodonga and will be interviewed by police. A 47-year-old Wombeyan Caves man was also arrested in Greenwich Park on unrelated outstanding warrants. There are no further arrests at this time, however police are speaking with a number of occupants at the various premises.

Police in NSW and Victoria have arrested two men as investigations continue into Dezi Freeman ’s movements following the Porepunkah shooting of two police officers last year. Victoria police said in a statement: double quotation mark Police have executed seven warrants this morning at properties across Victoria and New South Wales as part of the ongoing investigation by Taskforce Summit into the movements of Desmond Freeman after he fatally shot two on-duty police in Porepunkah last year. Warrants were executed by Victoria Police at three rural properties in Buckland, Stanley and Lucyvale from just after 6.20am on Tuesday, 16 June. At the same time, warrants were executed by NSW Police as part of Strikeforce Namberta, in coordination with Taskforce Summit investigators, at four residential properties in Greenwich Park, Tarlo, Wombeyan Caves and Umina Beach. Searches of those properties remain underway, and police have seized a range of electronic devices from the addresses. A 64-year-old Lucyvale man was arrested in Wodonga and will be interviewed by police. A 47-year-old Wombeyan Caves man was also arrested in Greenwich Park on unrelated outstanding warrants. There are no further arrests at this time, however police are speaking with a number of occupants at the various premises.

Dan Jarvis was asked by the shadow defence secretary why the Smyrtos had been boarded when other suspected shadow fleet vessels in British waters had not. Photograph: Anadolu/Getty Images View image in fullscreen Dan Jarvis was asked by the shadow defence secretary why the Smyrtos had been boarded w…

Dan Jarvis was asked by the shadow defence secretary why the Smyrtos had been boarded when other suspected shadow fleet vessels in British waters had not. Photograph: Anadolu/Getty Images View image in fullscreen Dan Jarvis was asked by the shadow defence secretary why the Smyrtos had been boarded w…

Dan Jarvis was asked by the shadow defence secretary why the Smyrtos had been boarded when other suspected shadow fleet vessels in British waters had not. Photograph: Anadolu/Getty Images View image in fullscreen Dan Jarvis was asked by the shadow defence secretary why the Smyrtos had been boarded w…

Dan Jarvis was asked by the shadow defence secretary why the Smyrtos had been boarded when other suspected shadow fleet vessels in British waters had not. Photograph: Anadolu/Getty Images View image in fullscreen Dan Jarvis was asked by the shadow defence secretary why the Smyrtos had been boarded w…

Dan Jarvis was asked by the shadow defence secretary why the Smyrtos had been boarded when other suspected shadow fleet vessels in British waters had not. Photograph: Anadolu/Getty Images View image in fullscreen Dan Jarvis was asked by the shadow defence secretary why the Smyrtos had been boarded w…

Dan Jarvis was asked by the shadow defence secretary why the Smyrtos had been boarded when other suspected shadow fleet vessels in British waters had not. Photograph: Anadolu/Getty Images View image in fullscreen Dan Jarvis was asked by the shadow defence secretary why the Smyrtos had been boarded w…

Dan Jarvis was asked by the shadow defence secretary why the Smyrtos had been boarded when other suspected shadow fleet vessels in British waters had not. Photograph: Anadolu/Getty Images View image in fullscreen Dan Jarvis was asked by the shadow defence secretary why the Smyrtos had been boarded w…

Roman Lavrynovych and Stanislav Carpiuc were found guilty at the Old Bailey. Composite: Counter Terrorism Policing/PA View image in fullscreen Roman Lavrynovych and Stanislav Carpiuc were found guilty at the Old Bailey. Composite: Counter Terrorism Policing/PA Handler with ties to Russia appears to …

Dan Jarvis was asked by the shadow defence secretary why the Smyrtos had been boarded when other suspected shadow fleet vessels in British waters had not. Photograph: Anadolu/Getty Images View image in fullscreen Dan Jarvis was asked by the shadow defence secretary why the Smyrtos had been boarded w…