Latest news with #BritishIntelligence
South China Morning Post
5 days ago
- Politics
- South China Morning Post
Russia identifies, warns university teachers over British Council ‘collaboration'
Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) accused British intelligence on Thursday of using the British Council as cover to undermine Russia and said it had identified teachers at leading universities who cooperated with the London-based charity. Advertisement With the war in Ukraine intensifying more than three years since President Vladimir Putin ordered troops into the country and amid a tentative rapprochement between Moscow and Washington, Britain is now considered 'enemy number one' by Russian officials. The British Council, which calls itself 'the UK's international organisation for cultural relations and educational opportunities', said in 2018 that it had been told to cease operations in Russia. The British Council did not immediately respond to a request for comment outside usual London business hours on the Russian accusations. British intelligence could not be reached for immediate comment. The British Council ceased operations in Russia in 2018. File photo: Reuters The disparate and divided Russian opposition, which is now mostly abroad, accuses Putin of building an increasingly repressive and autocratic regime in Russia as Moscow faces off against the West over Ukraine.
Washington Post
30-05-2025
- General
- Washington Post
Former Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams wins libel lawsuit against BBC
LONDON — Former Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams won his libel suit against the BBC on Friday over a claim he authorized the killing of an informant. A jury at the High Court in Dublin ruled in Adams' favor and he was awarded 100,000 euros ($113,000) in damages. Adams sued Britain's public broadcaster over a claim in a documentary and online article that he sanctioned the killing of Denis Donaldson, a long-serving Sinn Fein official who acknowledged in 2005 that he had worked for British intelligence. He was shot dead at his cottage in rural Ireland four months later.
Time Out
15-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time Out
A spy-themed immersive experience is coming to Covent Garden this month
Reckon you'd make a good 007? Always thought you'd ace that bit in Mission Impossible where Tom Cruise abseils into the CIA headquarters? Then you'll welcome the opportunity to test out your espionage skills at a new immersive experience arriving in London later this month. Opening on Friday May 30, SPYSCAPE London is described as a 'pioneering interactive museum and social gaming experience' where visitors are able to take part in a range of challenges designed with the help of experts from the fields of intelligence and espionage. The Covent Garden location will be the first overseas outpost for SPYSCAPE, which originally launched in New York in 2018, where it has welcomed over one million visitors to date. Designed specifically for London audiences, the 25,000 square foot venue promises to offer 'a new take on immersive activities, seamlessly blending the history, the art, and science of espionage and psychology in the modern world.' Created with the help of real life spy trainers from British Intelligence, psychology professors from Imperial College London and specialists from the CIA and Special Ops, the venue offers two experiences featuring a range of high-tech challenges designed to test players' mental and physical capabilities. SPYSCAPE is a narrative-led challenge where players get to crack codes, run surveillance and conduct lie detection tests all while learning about real hackers and spies throughout history and exploring rare gadgets. At the end of the 90-minute experience, those taking part will leave with a 40-page profile detailing their strengths across a range of everyday skills including empathy, perception, observation, analysis and risk-taking. Alternatively, visitors can opt for the 50-minute SPYGAMES experience, in which teams of two to five players compete across a series of cutting-edge gaming zones, with the chance to unlock some exclusive rewards along the way. Both experiences are located at 45 Wellington Street on the corner of Covent Garden Piazza, with tickets starting at £23. Feel like giving Jason Bourne a run for his money? Find out more and book your tickets on the SPYSCAPE website here. They've been expecting you.
Metro
02-05-2025
- Politics
- Metro
Vladimir Putin gives rare glimpse inside his gilded Kremlin apartment
To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Vladimir Putin has finally given us a tour around his Kremlin crib after only being seen by his inner circle. The Russian president has taken Russian journalist Zarubin around for a glimpse in his plush apartment, revealing what is inside. Speaking to the camera, Putin invites his new guest in before gilded walls, large gold-framed mirrors, gold chandeliers and exotic-looking plants come into view. He said: 'Yes, this is the apartment. As you can see it's not far away [from the Kremlin].' A portrait of Russian Emperor Alexander III is also placed prominently on a table. A white grand piano is sat by the window, which the Kremlin leader sadly admitted he rarely gets time to play. The apartment also includes a wood-lined library, two bedrooms, and even a small 'home church'. Formal negotiations with China's Xi Jinping took place in the apartment. Putin said after the talks in March 2023: 'We had a working lunch, and then I invited the chairman, as a friend, to move to another room. 'I have an apartment here [in the Kremlin], where I have been spending a lot of time lately, I work here and spend the night very often, so we moved there and, sitting by the fireplace and drinking tea, talked about everything slowly.' So far only small extracts of the interview has been released, with the longer version due to be released on Sunday. It comes as millions of Russians are suffering, with British Intelligence claiming the country has suffered the largest loss of troops in Ukraine since World War Two, standing at around 250,000. Despite this, Putin has undertaken a number of architectural projects inside his many homes. Last year leaked footage revealed he revamped his clifftop palace worth £1 billion, getting rid of his pole-dancing boudoir and replacing it with a church with a throne. He also got rid of the gold ornaments and decorations, and instead furnished the place with religious icons and images. More Trending One depicts canonised Prince Vladimir the Great, who more than one thousand years ago was credited with uniting Ukraine and Russia. Paintings of historical war scenes have appeared showing a heroic Russia. One includes part of a prominent Kremlin painting called 'Whoever comes to us with a sword will die by the sword!' Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@ For more stories like this, check our news page. MORE: Everything we know about the US and Ukraine minerals deal MORE: Minerals for peace? Trump strong-arms Ukraine into controversial deal MORE: 'Ukrainian spy' tried wiping out Putin's pilots by poisoning cake and Irish whiskey
Daily Mirror
28-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
House fans must watch Hugh Laurie's 'edge of your seat' thriller now streaming for free
The Night Manager was a huge hit when it was first broadcast on the BBC back in 2016 and now fans can watch the whole series for free. It also stars Tom Hiddleston and Olivia Colman Hugh Laurie fans will be thrilled to learn they can now binge-watch another one of his shows. In the highly acclaimed BBC series The Night Manager, Laurie shares the screen with an all-star cast of British talent, including Tom Hiddleston, Olivia Colman, Tom Hollander, David Harewood, and Elizabeth Debicki. With such an impressive lineup, it's no wonder the show boasts an impressive 91% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes. One reviewer expressed their enthusiasm by stating: "From start to finish, perhaps the best show ever made." Although it's a relatively short miniseries, the industry seems to agree, having awarded it both an Emmy and multiple Golden Globes. Since its initial airing in 2016, The Night Manager has had viewers sitting on the "edge of their seats" across its six episodes. One review praises it as: "One of the best miniseries ever produced, if not the best of recent years. "It's no surprise, given LeCarre as the source material. An edge-of-the-seat thriller with great pacing and an exceptionally well-cast lineup, particularly Laurie and Holland, who are fantastic." This miniseries has received widespread acclaim and captivated audiences with its gripping storyline and stellar performances, making it a must-watch. Jonathan Pine, portrayed by Hiddleston, is the night manager of a Cairo hotel and becomes romantically involved with a local woman who is also the girlfriend of a notorious gangster. Her connection to the criminal underworld provides her with damning information implicating an English billionaire, played by Hugh Laurie, in illicit arms dealing, reports Surrey Live. Tragically, she is soon found dead, prompting Pine to fear for his safety and escape to a hotel in Switzerland. Four years on, when the billionaire visits the Swiss establishment, Pine is recruited to surveil Roper for British Intelligence. The narrative plunges into a perilous web of deceit as Pine seeks vengeance. After watching the series, one viewer commented: "It's got wit, intensity, and deep human emotion. 10/10," while another declared: "I think this show is perfect." Fans of House will be captivated by Laurie's departure from his iconic role as he embodies a villain in The Night Manager, a performance that earned him a Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actor in a limited series and garnered widespread acclaim. A critic noted: "The storyline was interesting and moved right along, and the cast was great. Who knew Hugh Laurie would be such a great bad guy?" Another viewer hailed his portrayal in the series as "fabulous". Thriller enthusiasts have been on the edge of their seats awaiting a sequel, and earlier this year, their prayers were answered with an announcement that a second series is en route. The big reveal came from none other than BBC's Chief Content Officer, Charlotte Moore, who broke the news in April. Enthusiastically sharing the details, they said: "After years of fervent speculation, I'm incredibly excited to confirm that The Night Manager is returning to the BBC for two more series. The multi-award-winning show was lauded by audiences and critics and catapulted British drama onto the global stage in 2016." Discussing the impact of the show, they added: "Glamorous and sophisticated, it had the nation hooked. Bold storytelling and a stellar lineup up in front of and behind the camera made it unmissable viewing, and the scale and ambition behind the new season will take it to even greater heights."
