#foreign-interference

#foreign-interference

Though the impetus for this investigation follows grave concerns about the extent of Russia's penetration of our political system, we must be clear-eyed too about the threat of interference now posed by the United States. In his recent national security strategy, President Trump outlined the US's new policy of cultivating resistance' within Europe. This reflects nothing less than an explicit call for interference in European politics including our own.

Jonathan Hall KC, an independent reviewer appointed by the home secretary, said the 2023 law had to be monitored against misuse and overreach because it could extend into politics, journalism, protest and other day-to-day activity. It is unavoidable that national security legislation hoists a flag for police involvement in broad reaches of human endeavour, with the risk of damaging mistakes by investigators and unjustified suspicion being cast on lawful activity, Hall wrote in a report laid before parliament.

The government must stop dragging its heels over whether to add China to the enhanced tier of its threat regime, the parliamentary intelligence watchdog has warned. The Intelligence and Security Committee (ISC) made up of senior MPs and peers flagged several areas of the National Security Act where there are unresolved issues in its annual report. The Foreign Influence Registration Scheme (FIRS) came into force in July

What we cannot accept is the threat to interfere in European politics.

In December 2024, when United States president-elect Donald Trump started making implicit threats of annexation, Canadians became suspicious of the outside world. It's not just America that put us on edge. We used to be friends with everyone. Who didn't like Canada? We were peaceful, funny, and everyone's pal. Everyone wanted to sit with us at the United Nations cafeteria.

Four Bulgarians went on trial in France Wednesday accused of desecrating a Jewish memorial with red handprints last year, which prosecutors think may have been foreign interference linked to Russia. The vandalism was staged during heightened tensions in France over the war between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas that broke out in October 2023. The trial is the first of its kind in France, one of a series of similar cases suspected of having been orchestrated by a foreign power

The Paris criminal court gave two-year sentences to Georgi Filipov and Kiril Milushev, described as the perpetrators, and four years and three years respectively to Nikolay Ivanov and Mircho Angelov, considered the operation's masterminds. Angelov is still at large. All four were also banned from entering French territory for life. The trial was the first of its kind in France, one of a series of similar crimes suspected of having been orchestrated by a foreign power with the aim to destabilise.

The arrests came days after French prosecutors said foreign interference was probably to blame for a spate of provocative acts that had targeted Jewish and Muslim sites in France in recent years, as tensions run high over the war in Gaza. French officials have previously said they were investigating Russia's role in destabilising operations that have stoked social tensions and sown division in France. On Monday, Serbia's interior ministry said the 11 people arrested were Serbian nationals.

The first complaint was filed by centrist MP Eric Bothorel, warning of algorithm changes and interferences in management since Elon Musk's acquisition, posing risks to democracy.

The assassination of Hardeep Singh Nijjar signifies a dangerous escalation in India's campaign against dissent and highlights the threat posed by transnational practices of foreign interference.