BBC insists it is not Shamima Begum’s ‘useful idiot’

The BBC denies handing Islamic State bride Shamima Begum an “unchallenged platform”. It comes after a leading strategist branded broadcasters “useful ­idiots” for giving her airtime. A court judgment last week saw Begum’s bid to restore her British citizenship fail. During the

MP to crackdown on graffiti and vandalism in ‘levelling up’ bid

A crackdown on graffiti and vandalism plaguing communities is in the pipeline. Levelling Up Secretary Michael Gove is working with the Home Office, Education Department and Ministry of Justice on an “anti-social behaviour action plan” designed to cut low-level crime and restore

Putin plans new assault to disrupt gas flows to Europe

Desperate Russia is planning a new assault to disrupt gas flows to Europe, ­intelligence sources have warned. Vladimir Putin has sanctioned the training of Armenian troops to strike pipelines which carry natural gas from Azerbaijan. But the move is unlikely to please