Latest news with #securityconcerns
South China Morning Post
7 days ago
- General
- South China Morning Post
Aerial shots of Taiwan's key Hualien airbase spark concern after appearing on social media
Aerial shots and detailed analysis of a key Taiwanese military base on mainland Chinese social media have sparked security concerns on the self-ruled island, where officials are seeking to reassure the public. Advertisement The images of Hualien Air Base were part of a video lasting less than seven minutes that emerged last week on RedNote , or Xiaohongshu, the mainland-based lifestyle platform that is also popular in Taiwan, especially among young users. The video was uploaded by a military blogger from an IP address in Beijing on May 21 – one day after Taiwanese leader William Lai Ching-te made a speech to mark his first year in office. It was widely reposted and shared on other platforms, including WeChat and YouTube. While the original link on RedNote disappeared, the reposted video was still available on the other platforms. The video included close-ups of the base's 2,851 metre (9,353 feet) runway, with details of operating procedures, as well as its 46 hardened aircraft shelters, along with their size measurements. Advertisement It also gave deployment details of the three squadrons stationed in the airbase, the locations of its F-16V and F-5E fighters, as well as the base's sports facilities and even hotel buildings.
The Independent
25-05-2025
- Automotive
- The Independent
Kemi Badenoch has questions to answer over use of unofficial car, say Labour
Kemi Badenoch has questions to answer about her use of a car and driver that were not part of an official government service, Labour has said. The Conservative leader has denied there were security concerns about a private car hire arrangement she had when she was a senior minister, first reported by the Sunday Times. According to the newspaper, Mrs Badenoch had access to a black Jaguar XJ and a driver throughout her time as business secretary through a car hire firm in her constituency at the time, Saffron Walden. Officials wrote to her and said the arrangement was 'not recommended', and repeatedly warned her of the security risks of not using a car and driver provided by the Government Car Service (GCS), the Sunday Times said. Civil servants were said to be wary the car could be bugged, and were concerned it was not maintained in a Government garage. Mrs Badenoch was asked about the story as she appeared on the BBC's Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg. She told the BBC: 'I never ignored security advice – the driver was security cleared. Actually, recommended by GCS. 'It was a contract that had been in place for about five years, and I renewed that contract. 'A memo was sent by someone who was unfamiliar with the contract asking about security concerns, and other civil servants said there were no security concerns, and that's the end of the matter,' Ms Badenoch said. Leaking of the memo from civil servants warning of the security concerns was 'destructive', she said, adding: 'It's a nonsense story.' But a Labour party spokesperson suggested the opposition leader still had questions to answer. They said: 'Kemi Badenoch must explain why she hired a private chauffeur at taxpayers' expense rather than relying on the Government Car Service like other ministers. 'The Tory leader cannot just dismiss the security concerns that were raised at the time and hard working families deserve to know how much this extravagant arrangement cost. 'Kemi Badenoch has no plan for our country. The Tories have not listened and have not learned from their defeat last year.'
Yahoo
25-05-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
‘Badenoch has questions to answer over car hire security concerns'
Kemi Badenoch has questions to answer about her use of a car and driver that were not part of an official government service, Labour has said. The Conservative leader has denied there were security concerns about a private car hire arrangement she had when she was a senior minister, first reported by the Sunday Times. According to the newspaper, Mrs Badenoch had access to a black Jaguar XJ and a driver throughout her time as business secretary through a car hire firm in her constituency at the time, Saffron Walden. Officials wrote to her and said the arrangement was 'not recommended', and repeatedly warned her of the security risks of not using a car and driver provided by the Government Car Service (GCS), the Sunday Times said. Civil servants were said to be wary the car could be bugged, and were concerned it was not maintained in a Government garage. Mrs Badenoch was asked about the story as she appeared on the BBC's Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg. She told the BBC: 'I never ignored security advice – the driver was security cleared. Actually, recommended by GCS. 'It was a contract that had been in place for about five years, and I renewed that contract. 'A memo was sent by someone who was unfamiliar with the contract asking about security concerns, and other civil servants said there were no security concerns, and that's the end of the matter,' Ms Badenoch said. Leaking of the memo from civil servants warning of the security concerns was 'destructive', she said, adding: 'It's a nonsense story.' But a Labour party spokesperson suggested the opposition leader still had questions to answer. They said: 'Kemi Badenoch must explain why she hired a private chauffeur at taxpayers' expense rather than relying on the Government Car Service like other ministers. 'The Tory leader cannot just dismiss the security concerns that were raised at the time and hard working families deserve to know how much this extravagant arrangement cost. 'Kemi Badenoch has no plan for our country. The Tories have not listened and have not learned from their defeat last year.'
The Guardian
25-05-2025
- Automotive
- The Guardian
Kemi Badenoch has questions to answer over use of unofficial car, says Labour
Kemi Badenoch has questions to answer over her use as a minister of a car and driver that were not part of the official government car service (GCS), Labour has said. The Conservative leader denied there were any security concerns on Sunday, saying there was full clearance for the driver and he was recommended by the government service. Memos obtained by the Sunday Times found officials had warned it was not recommended for her to have a contract with a car service in her constituency. The paper said that when she was secretary of state for business, Badenoch renewed a contract with the private firm but the department's commercial director wrote a memo asking to see 'justification for continued use of [the company] and to accept the security risks in doing so'. Badenoch reportedly clashed with her original appointed driver and blamed him for a late arrival for her first cabinet meeting. Asked about the memos on the BBC's Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg programme, Badenoch said: 'I never ignored security advice. The driver was security cleared, actually recommended by GCS, it was a contract that had been in place for about five years, and I renewed that contract. 'A memo was sent by someone who was unfamiliar with the contract, asking about security concerns, and other civil servants said there were no security concerns, and that's the end of the matter.' The Conservative party leader said it was 'destructive' that someone would leak the memo out of context. 'I've never, ever, ever put myself in a situation where security was reduced,' she said. 'And also, it would not have been allowed in the first place. There is no way that the department would have allowed me to be carrying official secret documents in a car that wasn't security cleared. It's a nonsense story.' Labour said Badenoch had still failed to explain why she did not use the government car service like other ministers. 'The Tory leader cannot just dismiss the security concerns that were raised at the time and hard-working families deserve to know how much this extravagant arrangement cost,' a party spokesperson said. Sign up to First Edition Our morning email breaks down the key stories of the day, telling you what's happening and why it matters after newsletter promotion The Guardian reported last year that Badenoch had asked officials to pay for a holiday flight to the US with taxpayers' money while in government but was rebuffed by her former department's top civil servant. Officials at the Department for Business and Trade ended up booking her travel to Texas for a family holiday in February last year, though Badenoch covered the cost.
Yahoo
18-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Poles vote for a new president as security concerns loom large
WARSAW, Poland (AP) — Poles are voting Sunday in a presidential election at a time of heightened security concerns stemming from the ongoing war in neighboring Ukraine and growing worry that the U.S. commitment to Europe's security could be weakening under President Donald Trump. The top two front-runners are Warsaw Mayor Rafał Trzaskowski, a liberal allied with Prime Minister Donald Tusk, and Karol Nawrocki, a conservative historian with no prior political experience who is supported by the national conservative Law and Justice party. Recent opinion polls show Trzaskowski with around 30% support and Nawrocki in the mid-20s. A second round between the two is widely expected to take place on June 1. The election is also a test of the strength of other forces, including the far right. Sławomir Mentzen, a hard-right candidate who blends populist MAGA rhetoric with libertarian economics and a critical stance toward the European Union, has been polling in third place. Ten other candidates are also on the ballot. With such a crowded field and a requirement that a candidate receive more than 50% of the vote to win outright, a second round seemed all but inevitable. Polling stations opened at 7 a.m. (0500GMT) and close at 9 p.m. (1900GMT). Exit polls will be released when voting ends, with results expected by Tuesday, possibly Monday. Polish authorities have reported attempts at foreign interference during the campaign, including denial-of-service attacks targeting parties in Tusk's coalition on Friday and allegations by a state research institute that political ads on Facebook were funded from abroad. Although Poland's prime minister and parliament hold primary authority over domestic policy, the presidency carries substantial power. The president serves as commander of the armed forces, plays a role in foreign and security policy, and can veto legislation. The conservative outgoing president, Andrzej Duda, has repeatedly used that power over more than the past year to hamper Tusk's agenda, for example blocking ambassadorial nominations and using his veto power to resist reversing judicial and media changes made during Law and Justice's time in power from 201 to late 2023. A Trzaskowski victory could be expected to end such a standoff. He has pledged to support reforms to the courts and public media, both of which critics say were politicized under Law and Justice. Tusk's opponents say he has also politicized public media. Nawrocki, who leads a state historical institute, has positioned himself as a defender of conservative values and national sovereignty.
