Latest news with #Iran-linked
Business Mayor
20-05-2025
- Politics
- Business Mayor
UK to proscribe state-backed groups such as Iran's Revolutionary Guards
Ministers will draw up new laws to ban state-backed groups such as Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps in the face of growing 'complex' threats from foreign powers, Yvette Cooper said on Monday. The home secretary made the announcement after three Iranian nationals were charged on Saturday with spying in the UK. It also comes after Jonathan Hall KC, the government's independent reviewer of terrorism legislation, on Monday called for new legislation needed to combat foreign actors who exploit 'freedom and openness' in the UK to sow division. Cooper told MPs the charges had come against a 'backdrop of rising numbers of Iran-linked operations on UK soil where there have been repeated warnings by ministers, the police and our security and intelligence agencies'. State-backed groups are exploiting the activity of criminals and terrorists to undermine the UK and its laws, she said. 'As well as growing, those threats are becoming more interconnected, and the old boundaries between state threats, terrorists and organised criminals are being eroded. 'We have seen malign foreign state organisations seek to exploit any vulnerability from criminal networks, to our cybersecurity, to our borders to do us harm,' she added. In her Commons statement, Cooper said the government would create a new power of proscription that is 'stronger than current National Security Act powers in allowing us to restrict the activity and operations of foreign state-backed organisations in the UK, including new criminal offences'. Cooper said Hall had reported there were 'gaps in a series of areas, including on proscribing legislation where he identifies a series of legal difficulties in using powers that were designed to deal with terrorist groups for state and state-backed organisations, such as the IRGC'. In Monday's review, Hall concluded that the Terrorism Act 2000 was never intended to regulate the behaviour of state actors, and said looking at that law as a way to proscribe state bodies is 'quite simply shopping in the wrong department'. The security services said in October that the police and MI5 had responded to 20 Iran-backed plots presenting potentially lethal threats. The Liberal Democrat home affairs spokesperson, Lisa Smart, said cuts to the official development assistance (ODA) budget would enable malign states to use 'their soft power to influence events overseas'. 'We know we live in a perilous world with war on our continent and we welcome the increase in defence spending. However, the decision to take this money from the ODA budget will leave a vacuum in some of the most vulnerable places,' she said.
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Harvard University's alleged ties to Chinese paramilitary group, Iran-backed research spark GOP probe
Harvard University is facing demands from key House Republicans to explain allegations it trained members of a Chinese paramilitary group and worked with Iran-linked researchers. In a letter sent this week, Reps. John Moolenaar, R-Mich., chairman of the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party; Tim Walberg, R-Mich., chairman of the Education and the Workforce Committee; and Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., requested internal documents and communications from Harvard officials detailing the university's partnerships with foreign adversaries. The lawmakers raised alarm over Harvard's repeated hosting and training of members of the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps (XPCC) — a paramilitary organization sanctioned by the U.S. government for its role in the Chinese Communist Party's genocide against Uyghur Muslims. According to the letter, Harvard allegedly used Department of Defense funding to partner with Chinese universities on research with potential military applications. Harvard Updates Lawsuit After Trump Cancels Additional $450M In Funding Between 2020 and 2024, Harvard researchers also collaborated on at least four projects funded by an agent of the Iranian regime, raising concerns about violations of U.S. sanctions laws. Read On The Fox News App Harvard's China Health Partnership reportedly hosted healthcare policy training sessions that included XPCC officials, a fact highlighted by Chinese government outlets. "We are deeply concerned the services and resources provided through these events may violate U.S. law and could have been deployed by XPCC to further repress the Uyghur people and other ethnic minorities in China," the lawmakers wrote. Harvard replied to a request for comment: "We can confirm receipt and will respond to the Chairs' letter." Harvard President Claims 'Unfounded Retaliation' Amid Trump Funding Feud The letter points to several specific research collaborations: In one case, Harvard researchers received DARPA funding to work with Tsinghua University faculty on zero-indexed materials — technology that could advance artificial intelligence systems. In another, a Harvard researcher partnered with a Zhejiang University professor on polymer science research funded by the U.S. Air Force, which could be applied to aircraft construction. A third project involved shape memory alloys, materials with aerospace applications, researched alongside faculty from Huazhong University, also under Air Force funding. "Harvard researchers should not be contributing to the military capabilities of a potential adversary," the letter stated. The lawmakers also noted that Harvard researchers have routinely worked with Chinese military-linked institutions on dual-use technologies, including microelectronics, AI, and quantum science. Additionally, the lawmakers raised concerns over Harvard's organ transplant research involving China-based collaborators, citing growing international scrutiny of China's forced organ harvesting practices. "Harvard trained members of a sanctioned Chinese paramilitary group responsible for genocide, and its researchers partnered with Chinese military universities on DoD-funded research and worked with researchers funded by the Iranian regime," said Moolenaar. "These are not isolated incidents — they represent a disturbing pattern that puts U.S. national security at risk. The Select Committee's investigation will deliver answers, expose the truth, and hold Harvard accountable to the American article source: Harvard University's alleged ties to Chinese paramilitary group, Iran-backed research spark GOP probe
Daily Mirror
04-05-2025
- Politics
- Daily Mirror
Terror raid arrests 'linked to ongoing campaign against Iranian dissidents'
Eight men, seven of which have been identified as Iranian nationals, were arrested after a series of raids were carried out by counter terrorism police, beleived to have been aided by special forces It is believed the arrests made after a string of counter terrorism raids were all related to an ongoing terror campaign against Iranian dissidents. The target or targets are thought to be people and possibly organisations who have spoken out against the Iranian regime, including an Iran-linked media outlet. It is also believed UK special forces were involved in the raids acting as liaison between their secretive Hereford-base and counter terror police. MI5 chief Ken McCallum last year revealed his intelligence agency and police have since 2022 smashed 20 Iran-backed terror plots against UK- based dissidents who are against the Tehran regime. His counter terror officers are working round-the -clock to stop attacks from Islamic State and plots launched by Russia. But in recent years Tehran has hugely increased its campaign to quieten Iranians living abroad and who are outspoken campaigners against it. The Mirror understands these arrests relate to investigations into a threat or threats which had reached a late stage. SuAnd it is also believed other investigations into similar alleged threats are ongoing, possibly running into double figures. Eight men, including seven Iranian nationals, were arrested in raids by counter terror cops after two separate investigations, it was confirmed today. Five raids were held at various locations around England as part of a "pre-planned" probe into a plot to target "specific premises", the Metropolitan Police said. The Met's Counter Terrorism Command (CTC) led the operation. It did not give details of the targeted premises but said those affected had been 'made aware' of the arrests. Four of those held, two aged 29, one aged 40 and another aged 46, are Iranian nationals. Police said the nationality and age of the fifth was still being established. Three other men, all Iranian, were arrested in London on Saturday under national security legislation as part of a separate investigation by the CTC. The two operations were not connected. Home Secretary Yvette Cooper thanked police and security services for the action to "keep our country safe". All of the five were arrested on suspicion of preparation of an act of terrorism. They were detained in Swindon, west London, Stockport, as well as Rochdale and Manchester, and remain in police custody. One witness to the Rochdale raid, which was captured on video, said the suspect 'was dragged out in his underpants.' He said: 'I saw all the black cars that came down. They all jumped out with guns. One of them said 'get back in your house' and I thought 'okay I'm going to do what I've been told'." He added that there "must have been about 30" officers involved in the raid, describing the moment a "massive, loud explosion" was heard. He went on to say: "I then heard someone shouting 'get down on your knees.' "Then they dragged someone out from round the back to the front. I didn't see his face but he was in his underpants and he had his hands tied behind his back. And that was it. It was over really quickly." Commander Dominic Murphy, head of CTC, said: "The investigation is still in its early stages. We are exploring various lines of enquiry to establish any potential motivation as well as to identify whether there may be any further risk to the public linked to this matter. We understand the public may be concerned and as always, I would ask them to remain vigilant and if they see or hear anything that concerns them, then to contact us." His officers have responsibility for leading counter terrorism-related probes including investigations into espionage and state threats. In the operation in which five men were arrested, four were detained under the Terrorism Act. The fifth man was arrested under the Police and Criminal Evidence (Pace) Act. A Met Police spokesperson said of the five arrests: "All were arrested on suspicion of preparation of a terrorist act, contrary to section 5 of the Terrorism Act (TACT), 2006. Four men are Iranian nationals and were detained under TACT. The nationality of the fifth man is still being established and he was detained under the Police and Criminal Evidence Act (PACE). "All five men currently remain in police custody. As part of the investigation, officers are also carrying out searches at a number of addresses in the Greater Manchester, London and Swindon areas in connection with this investigation. The investigation relates to a suspected plot to target a specific premises. "Officers have been in contact with the affected site to make them aware and provide relevant advice and support, but for operational reasons, we are not able to provide further information at this time." The raids involved the CTC, Greater Manchester and Wiltshire Police, as well as counter-terrorism officers from across the country. In the separate operation, the Met said three men - aged 39, 44 and 55 - were arrested under the National Security Act at three separate addresses in north-west London and west London, and had been taken into custody while searches continued.
Hindustan Times
04-05-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Not USA, Iran shocks West with secret plan inside UK after Britain attacks Houthis? 'Plot exposed'
British anti-terror police arrested several men on terror suspicion on May 04, across the United Kingdom. Four of the five nationals arrested belonged to Iran. Iranian embassy in London did not immediately comment on the arrests. The alleged Iran-linked plot was uncovered days after UK bombed Iran proxy Houthis in Yemen. Is Iran exacting its revenge via a new secret plan? Watch the video to know more.
Qatar Tribune
03-05-2025
- Politics
- Qatar Tribune
War-torn Yemen's PM Ahmed bin Mubarak resigns amid economic hardships
Sana'a: Yemen's Prime Minister Ahmed bin Mubarak said on Saturday he had resigned, a symbolic step signalling rifts inside the internationally recognized government amid economic hardships in the war-torn country. Bin Mubarak said on the social media platform X that he had handed his resignation to Rashad al-Alimi, the head of the Presidential Leadership Council, a Saudi-backed body holding the reins of power in the government-controlled areas in the divided country. Yemen has been embroiled in a disastrous power struggle since 2014, between government forces, supported by a Saudi Arabia-led alliance, and the Iran-linked Houthi rebels. (DPA)
