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Indian Express
2 hours ago
- Business
- Indian Express
US raises security concerns over China's planned London embassy
The United States has voiced concern over China's plan to build a new embassy in London, saying it could give Beijing access to sensitive communications near one of Britain's key financial centres. The comments, reported by The Guardian, have stirred uncertainty over whether the embassy project will go ahead. The site in question, Royal Mint Court, lies close to the City of London and Canary Wharf areas connected by underground data cables. Security officials fear the location could pose a risk, and the UK government is now reviewing the plan. Campaigners who have opposed the embassy for years say the issue has become more political since Washington got involved. 'They seem to be struggling to make the right decision,' Dave Lake, a local resident and head of the campaign against the embassy, told The Guardian. 'It was a straightforward inquiry but because of this, that and the other, particularly the Americans getting involved, it's made it all up in the air.' The UK government rejected planning permission for the embassy two years ago due to security concerns. But it has since taken over the decision from local authorities and is expected to make a final call by September 9. China bought the 2-hectare site in 2018 for £255 million. Demonstrations against the plan have continued, with fears that a Chinese embassy in the area would increase surveillance and draw further protests. Lake added: 'We know there are cables running underground, and we know the capabilities of the Chinese. In the early conversations, it was just about our security.' Former British diplomat Charles Parton, who advised Parliament's foreign affairs committee, said the matter depends on what kind of data passes through those cables. Speaking to The Guardian, he said: 'There are two ways to look at it. One is to say you can't use the site; the other is to say reroute the cables. How difficult is it to reroute them? I don't know.' Parton said embassy upgrades are normal in diplomacy, but added that 'if the security issue is resolved satisfactorily, then why shouldn't both countries go ahead and build new embassies?' The White House raised its concerns shortly after the US and UK signed a trade deal during the G7 summit in Canada this week. A US official told The Sunday Times, as quoted by The Guardian, 'The United States is deeply concerned about providing China with potential access to the sensitive communications of one of our closest allies.' The Dutch parliament has also flagged worries over the site's location. Uyghur activist Rahima Mahmut, who lives in the UK, told The Guardian, 'It is really unbelievable when not only the US government but also the Dutch government express their concerns.' Simon Cheng, a former Hong Kong consulate worker now in the UK, said the site could increase surveillance risks for people in exile. 'The UK government needs to think twice,' Cheng said. 'It's not only the closest ally that has given a warning but also others. We have concerns about our security here.' The Chinese embassy defended its proposal, saying it had followed UK rules and listened to all stakeholders. A spokesperson told The Guardian the embassy would help China carry out its diplomatic duties and deepen cooperation. The spokesperson added, 'Anti-China forces are using security risks as an excuse to interfere with the British government's decision. This is a despicable move that is unpopular and will not succeed.'
Daily Mirror
3 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Emma Raducanu parents' boyfriend ban & Carlos Alcaraz's girlfriend difficulties
Tennis stars seemingly live a life of luxury, but there are certain aspects of the sport that can prove difficult, as Emma Raducanu, Carlos Alcaraz and Andy Murray know all too well Life as a top tennis player may appear luxurious, but the demanding lifestyle can come at a significant cost. Achieving success on the international stage requires more than talent - it takes an incredible amount of time and dedication to training. As a result, elite tennis players face challenges in their private lives, sacrificing leisure activities and precious time with loved ones, while forging romantic connections can also prove difficult - something that Emma Raducanu, Carlos Alcaraz and Andy Murray know all too well. During an interview with The Sunday Times last year, Alcaraz acknowledged the pressures of maintaining a love life, saying: "I am single. I am looking for someone. It can be difficult as a tennis player to meet the right person because you are travelling all the time." Just a year earlier, he told Vogue:"It's complicated, never staying in one place. It's hard to find the person who can share things with you if you're always in different parts of the world." Whether Alcaraz's personal circumstances have since shifted remains to be seen, but the tennis pro has yet to go public with a relationship. British sensation Raducanu, meanwhile, told The Times about a boyfriend ban in her household during her formative years as a player. She said: "My parents were very much against [boyfriends] as it interfered with training. When I was younger, I wasn't even allowed to hang out with my girl friends. A lot of the time I was very resentful, but it made me very confident and comfortable in my own company." After reaching adulthood, Raducanu went public with her relationship with Carlo Agostinelli in 2023. Sadly, insiders told The Sun the next year that they had split and that the relationship had "run its course". Even tennis veterans like Murray can recount the clash between professional life and personal affairs. Murray recently told GQ about the effect his career had on his honeymoon with Kim Sears after their 2015 wedding. He said: "When we got married, our honeymoon was in Barcelona, and I was doing a training block. "Essentially, we got to spend a couple of nights with each other, but I was practising during the day, training and going to the gym and doing all my physio work. [A honeymoon] is very important for most couples. "Maybe for her it was too, but she was willing to sacrifice that to allow me to chase my goals. She's super important to everything I achieved, so now I'm trying my best to make up for all that." He added: "She's been a huge support and a massive, massive part of my career. When you're playing, you don't always appreciate that. I think a lot of individual athletes - me included - would be selfish at times. You think a lot about yourself and your own performance, and your mood is reflective of whether you've had a good match. Say, I won. I'm in a good mood. I lost, I'm in a bad mood. "It's not really fair on the people around you. But even at the end, when I was struggling physically and was not winning many matches, and we had young children, Kim was always so supportive of me continuing to play because she knew I loved the sport and loved playing."
Wales Online
4 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Wales Online
Carlos Alcaraz's difficult girlfriend problem and Emma Raducanu's 'boyfriend ban'
Carlos Alcaraz's difficult girlfriend problem and Emma Raducanu's 'boyfriend ban' Carlos Alcaraz and Emma Raducanu are among the top tennis stars in the world, but their search for glory has had its setbacks in other departments Carlos Alcaraz and Emma Raducanu have had problems with relationships (Image: Tim Clayton, Corbis via Getty Images ) Life as an elite tennis player is not without its sacrifices. While innate talent is undoubtedly essential for success, it alone cannot propel athletes to the pinnacle of their sport. The demands of rigorous training regimens can be all-consuming, leaving little time for leisure activities, nurturing relationships or simply spending time with loved ones. And no one knows this better than Carlos Alcaraz. The 22-year-old has five Grand Slam titles under his belt as well as a world No. 2 ranking, and his dedication to his craft is evident. However, his intense training schedule and constant travel have taken a toll on his personal life, particularly when it comes to romantic relationships. In an interview with The Sunday Times last year, Alcaraz said: "I am single. I am looking for someone. It can be difficult as a tennis player to meet the right person because you are travelling all the time." He also echoed similar sentiments in a conversation with Vogue a year earlier, saying: "It's complicated, never staying in one place. It's hard to find the person who can share things with you if you're always in different parts of the world," reports the Express. Whether Alcaraz's relationship status has changed since then remains unknown, but there have been no public reports linking him to anyone romantically as of late. Alcaraz is not alone in suggesting that the sport puts constraints on personal relationships. Article continues below Emma Raducanu, who has signed up to play mixed doubles with Alcaraz at the US Open later this year, has shared how her parents once forbade her from having a boyfriend during her early career. Recounting her parents' strictures, Raducanu told The Times: "My parents were very much against [boyfriends] as it interfered with training. When I was younger, I wasn't even allowed to hang out with my girl friends. A lot of the time I was very resentful, but it made me very confident and comfortable in my own company." Carlos Alcaraz has opened up about finding love as a tennis player (Image: Getty ) In her adulthood, Raducanu briefly dated Carlo Agostinelli, taking their relationship public in 2023. Yet, by the following year, the romance had come to a conclusion, with The Sun claiming that their time together had "run its course". Moreover, tennis veterans like Andy Murray have also experienced romantic complications due to the demands of the sport. Murray recently disclosed the significant influence his career had on his honeymoon with Kim Sears. After their 2015 wedding at the beautiful Dunblane Cathedral, the couple scarcely managed to escape to Barcelona before sporting commitments came calling. Regretful over the brief honeymoon caused by an intensive training schedule, Murray told GQ: "When we got married, our honeymoon was in Barcelona, and I was doing a training block. "Essentially, we got to spend a couple of nights with each other, but I was practising during the day, training and going to the gym and doing all my physio work. [A honeymoon] is very important for most couples. Andy Murray has been married to Kim Sears since 2015 (Image: Getty ) "Maybe for her it was too, but she was willing to sacrifice that to allow me to chase my goals. She's super important to everything I achieved, so now I'm trying my best to make up for all that." He added: "She's been a huge support and a massive, massive part of my career. When you're playing, you don't always appreciate that. I think a lot of individual athletes - me included - would be selfish at times. You think a lot about yourself and your own performance, and your mood is reflective of whether you've had a good match. Say, I won. I'm in a good mood. I lost, I'm in a bad mood. Article continues below "It's not really fair on the people around you. But even at the end, when I was struggling physically and was not winning many matches, and we had young children, Kim was always so supportive of me continuing to play because she knew I loved the sport and loved playing."
Daily Tribune
5 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Tribune
Arnold Schwarzenegger reveals why he would never ‘complain' about his fame
Bang Showbiz | Los Angeles Arnold Schwarzenegger has no reason to 'complain' about his fame. The 77-year-old bodybuilder-turned-Hollywood star has been known around the world for decades and claimed that the desire to 'get attention' is what most celebrities have, but he has no problem with fans approaching him because he is aware of the advantages that come with his status. When it was suggested to him that he has no 'hostility' towards being famous, he told The Sunday Times: 'You're absolutely right. What people miss the most is to get attention. 'That someone knows them, is aware of them, that they're somebody. And so they go to a shrink. They lie on the couch and someone is listening to them. 'But I go out anywhere to a crowd and they all listen. And they love to listen to my s***, right? 'I'm having fifty thousand shrinks sitting out there, and I don't pay a penny. I get paid! So how can I complain about that? 'OK, yes, there are times when you go to a restaurant and someone comes up and says, can I take a picture of you? 'But I can walk into this restaurant at any time, I can sit at any table I want, I make no reservation. For that I take a picture with someone. It takes three minutes. So why would I complain?' Meanwhile, the Terminator star is father to Katherine , 35,Christina, 33, Patrick, 31, and Christopher, 27, with his ex-wife Maria Shriver as well as 27-year-old Joseph with Mildred Patricia Baena and his oldest son has become something of a household name himself through his role as Saxon Ratliff in the hit HBO series The White Lotus. Arnie admitted that 'everything has changed' now with his son's newfound celebrity status, but he will actually be very pleased if Patrick has 'outdone' him in the long run. He said: 'All of a sudden, everything has changed around. I walk into the gym now and it used to be the girls would come up and give me their contact. And then after White Lotus comes out, the girl comes up and says, 'Here's my contact, give it to Patrick.' So it's wonderful. If I go to my grave and know that my son has outdone me, I'm in heaven.'
Daily Record
a day ago
- Business
- Daily Record
Euromillions £208m winner comes forward to claim jackpot
The winner of this week's huge EuroMillions jackpot has come forward to claim the prize. It is the 18th Irish winner and the largest ever Irish win of the Euromillions jackpot The winner of the colossal £208m (€250m) EuroMillions jackpot has stepped forward to claim their staggering prize. The winning ticket was bought in a shop in Co Cork, Ireland, and following an appeal for the ticketholder to come forward, one individual has now claimed the life-altering sum. This marks the 18th Irish win and the biggest ever Irish victory in the EuroMillions jackpot history. The previous Irish EuroMillions jackpot win occurred in February 2022, when a lucky player scooped up €30.9 million with a quick pick ticket from a service station in Ballina, Co Tipperary. Tuesday's draw saw the numbers 13, 22, 23, 44 and 49 emerge victorious, along with lucky stars 3 and 5. Cian Murphy, the chief executive of the Irish National Lottery, had earlier advised the winner to "stay calm" as the "massive" win might be overwhelming. The EuroMillions jackpot is capped at €250 million - equivalent to £208 million. This particular jackpot hit its cap on Friday June 6 after multiple rollovers. The EuroMillions prize fund is limited to €250m (or £208m), giving players five draws to win the life-changing amount, reports the Mirror. Despite the single fortunate winner, other players are being reminded to check their tickets for potential smaller wins. The new multimillionaire now finds themselves wealthier than footballer Harry Kane and pop sensation Dua Lipa, who have net worths of £115 million and £110 million respectively, and could rub shoulders with individuals featured in The Sunday Times Rich List 2025. "The EuroMillions jackpot of 250 million euro has been won in Ireland," announced the Irish operator on X on draw night. More than 92,000 players across Ireland scooped prizes in both EuroMillions and Plus games during this recent draw. The €250 million (£208 million) jackpot has made one Munster resident's dreams a reality. Speaking to RTE Radio, National Lottery spokesperson Emma Moaghan revealed: "Someone in Ireland is a quarter of a billion euro richer this morning." Whether the new multimillionaire will remain under wraps or step into the spotlight is yet to be determined. Moaghan confirmed that the "eye-watering" prize-winning ticket was procured from a shop rather than through an online purchase or a mobile application. She advised: "If at all possible stay calm, I know that might be easier said than done. Have a cup of tea and let it sink in." This monumental win equals the record set by an Austrian player back in March who bagged the first-ever €250 million EuroMillions jackpot. Since jackpots are currently capped at this figure, the record is expected to stand for the foreseeable future. Munster lottery participants are urged to double-check their tickets. Cian Murphy, CEO of the Irish National Lottery, expressed excitement about the historic win: "We are absolutely thrilled to see this incredible and record win for an Irish EuroMillions player." Lottery players are being urged to double-check their tickets and if they've hit the jackpot, to sign the back of their ticket, keep it secure, and get in touch with National Lottery HQ for further assistance. "We are advising our players to check their tickets and if they are the winner, sign the back of the ticket, keep it safe, and contact National Lottery HQ and we will guide you through the claims process," officials noted. The UK's Millionaire Maker Selection victor for Tuesday night's draw was confirmed as XPCD66044. Marking a record for a British ticket holder, one lucky individual scooped an astounding £195.7 million on July 19 2022, remaining anonymous. In light of the enormous €250 million jackpot prize, accredited financial planner Eoin McGee has cautioned the winning ticket holder to proceed with caution regarding their windfall. McGee offered his guidance to the Irish Mirror: "My advice is do absolutely nothing, except sign the back of the ticket. Ring the Lotto and confirm you have the winning ticket, but then sit back and tell nobody apart from your inner circle. "Don't make any big decisions now. This is life-changing. I tell Lotto winners to remember that the things which made you happy before this win are the same things that are going to make you happy afterwards. "Life will be different, but if you do not manage this properly, it can ruin you. This €250m can ruin you. Be careful about your decisions and any promises you're making. "Even be careful about telling your children how much they're going to get. Make no promises. It is a time of celebration and joy and being happy about it, but in the first six months, do not spend more than €10,000 on any one item."
