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    Banks, energy and water companies are on maximum alert over the threat of a serious cyber attack from Moscow as concern continues over the safety of Russian exiles in the UK. Fears that Russia will target Britain’s critical national infrastructure have prompted round-the-clock threat assessments by the UK’s financial sector, energy firms and GCHQ, the UK’s largest intelligence agency, along with the security services MI5 and MI6. The Bank of England, major financiers, including Lloyds, and organisations such as Water UK are working with the government’s National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) to assess the next move from Moscow following the murder of Nikolai Glushkov, 68, and the Salisbury chemical attack. Scotland Yard on Saturday issued a renewed appeal for inform...

    Theresa May has used her party conference speech to warn Russia that the UK will never tolerate a threat to the life of British citizens, as the crisis around the Salisbury nerve attack deepens. The Prime Minister said Moscow was in flagrant breach of international law over the incident which saw a Russian-made nerve agent release in the city. She said: Many Russians have made this country their home. And those who abide by our laws and make a contribution to our society will always be welcome. But we will never tolerate a threat to the life of British citizens and others on British soil from the Russian Government. Saying that she had anticipated the move, the Prime Minister went on: The rule of law. Freedom of speech. The toleration of dissenting and minority vi...

    few issues carry the contentions of the great scone debate: should the cream or the jam be spread first? Cream tea has been served in the UK since the 11th century and arguments surrounding the order of spreading the scone’s traditional toppings have ruminated ever since. While those in Devon typically spread the clotted cream first followed by jam, the Cornish tradition is to spread jam first followed by cream. Finally, we have some clarity on the issue, as it’s revealed how the Queen takes her scones. Jam first at Buckingham Palace garden parties Darren McGrady wrote on Twitter. The Queen always had homemade Balmoral jam first, the chef and author added in a subsequent tweet, with clotted cream on top at Buckingham Palace garden parties in the royal tea tent an...

    Editorial Millions of National Lottery players were being told to change their passwords on Friday after accounts were hacked. Up to 150 accounts were attacked, with a handful falling victim to some limited activity, according to Lotto operator Camelot. The firm insisted no players had lost money. Cyber spooks were tonight probing the incident, which has been referred to the information watchdog. A Camelot spokesman said: ​​As part of our online security monitoring, we became aware of suspicious activity on a very small proportion of our players’ online National Lottery accounts. We reported this matter to the police and the Information Commissioner’s Office, and are liaising with the National Cyber Security Centre. We would like to make clear that there has been...

    The marriage of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle has received formal consent from the Queen. Her Majesty's declaration, given at a meeting of the Privy Council on Wednesday, refers to her "most dearly beloved grandson Prince Henry" and "Rachel Meghan Markle". Henry is actually Harry's first name. If Harry had failed to get the Queen's approval, he and his future descendants would have been disqualified from succeeding to the Crown. Interviewed by Newsweek magazine last June, he said: "Is there any one of the Royal Family who wants to be king or queen? I don't think so, but we will carry out our duties at the right time." Under the Act, the first six people in line to the throne require the Sovereign's approval to marry. The other five are Prince Charles, Prince Wi...

    Jeremy Corbyn has again refused to directly blame Russia for the Salisbury nerve agent attack, urging the Government not to rush ahead of the evidence. In an article for The Guardian, he says Theresa May must remain calm and measured in what is, he says, a fevered parliamentary atmosphere. Mr Corbyn writes: Labour is of course no supporter of the Putin regime, its conservative authoritarianism, abuse of human rights or political and economic corruption. But he adds: That does not mean we should resign ourselves to a new cold war of escalating arms spending, proxy conflicts across the globe and a McCarthyite intolerance of dissent. His words will spark further fury among some of his backbenchers who openly disagreed with their leader after his comments in the Commo...

    Crown prince Mohammed bin Salman: Saudi Arabia does not want to acquire any nuclear bomb, but without a doubt, if Iran developed a nuclear bomb, we will follow suit as soon as possible. Saudi crown prince Mohammed bin Salman has set out plans for Saudi Arabia to develop nuclear weapons if Tehran makes the same move in the event of a collapse of the international nuclear deal signed in 2015. The prospect of a Middle East nuclear arms race will unnerve European leaders who are urging Donald Trump to retain the Iran nuclear deal which imposed strict curbs on the Iranian nuclear programme in return for sanctions relief. The Saudi crown prince is due in Washington on Monday, and is pressing the US to give it the reserved right to enrich uranium in return for Saudi Arab...

    Earlier this month, Egyptian student Maryam Mustafa Abdel Salam was beaten, dragged 20 meters in public, and severely assaulted by 10 British girls in Nottingham, UK. Managing to escape, Maryam was helped on a bus by a young man, but was tracked down by the girls and beaten again until she lost consciousness. Maryam was rushed to the hospital and remained in a coma for a week. After brutal abuse, Maryam did not survive the attack and sadly died. We offer severe condolences to Maryam’s family back in Cairo, may she rest in peace. We still await a response from the Egyptian Embassy in London.

    Dreams of a spaceport for Britain will be a step closer to reality with new laws to cash in on the commercial opportunities of outer space. The Space Industry Bill, due to be given Royal Assent later, will enable launches from UK spaceports to help British companies enjoy quicker and cheaper access to outer space. Currently, satellites must be launched into orbit from spaceports abroad, exposing British firms to substantial cost, delay and bureaucracy. The legislation aims to present new opportunities in the commercial space race, increasing Britain's share of the global space economy from 6.5% to 10% by 2030. The Government predicts it will create hundreds of jobs, bring in billions of pounds and increase the scope for scientific research. The creation of spacep...