We know what you are doing, and in ministers' words today we "won't stand for it". But in the wake of the collapsed China spying case last month, the security services also want to reestablish a badly dented sense of deterrence. Politics latest: China responds to MI5's spy warning to MPs That case against two British men accused of spying for Beijing fell apart because officials would not use the words "enemy" or "national security threat" to describe China. The failure projected a sense of weakness in the face of Chinese espionage efforts, something the government is keen to dispel. Those efforts remain persistent and dangerous, security officials insist. China has always aggressively sought the official and commercial secrets of Western nations. It regards that mission as a patriotic duty, an essential part of a national project to catch up with and then overtake the West. In the words of Britain's security minister, Dan Jarvis, on Tuesday, China seeks "to interfere in our sovereign affairs in favour of its own interests". Read more:Parliamentarians warned of spying attempts from China agents Indeed, much of China's technological and economic progress was, until recently, built on intellectual property stolen from rival nations. Its private sector has been notorious for ripping off and reverse engineering Western know-how, pilfered from joint venture partners or through commercial espionage. 👉 Click here to listen to Electoral Dysfunction on your podcast app 👈 Intelligence agencies say the Chinese have also hoovered up vast amounts of personal data from all of us through social media platforms like TikTok and other methods, collecting in bulk for now, for sifting and harvesting later. Officially, the Chinese government denies all these allegations. It has to be said that Western spies are also hard at work snooping on China. But critics say Western nations have been naive and too trusting of the Chinese threat. While the British government remains unsure whether to identify China as an enemy or simply a commercial rival, an ambivalence remains, which Beijing will continue doing its best to exploit.

Prosecutors told a jury that Sharaz Ali was "motivated by jealousy and fuelled by drink and drugs" when he set fire to Bryonie Gawith's home early on 21 August last year. Jurors heard that Ali went to the property, on Westbury Road, Bradford, aiming to "take revenge" on his ex, Antonia Gawith, who was staying there after ending their "abusive" seven-year relationship earlier that month. Ali and his associate, Calum Sunderland, forced their way into the home before Ali poured petrol around inside and set it alight, Doncaster Crown Court was told. Antonia Gawith managed to escape, but Bryonie Gawith, 29, and her children Denisty Birtle, nine, Oscar Birtle, five, and 22-month-old Aubree Birtle died in the fire. Ali, 40, of no fixed address, and Sunderland, 26, of Keighley, are charged with murdering the family as well as attempting to murder Antonia Gawith. Mohammed Shabir, 45, who had been due to go on trial with them, died of a heart attack last month after collapsing in jail. Prosecutor David Brooke KC said the men drove from Keighley to Bradford just before 2am, stopping to buy a seven-litre can of petrol on the journey. He told jurors that Ali was captured on ring doorbell footage telling Sunderland, who was carrying the petrol and a lighter, to "kick the door in", which he did before running back to the car. Read more from Sky NewsSnow falls in Cumbria after 'shocking' drop in temperatureWhat does Trump's Gaza peace plan look like? Mr Brooke said Ali went inside the house and poured petrol on Antonia Gawith. Antonia saw Bryonie, who had woken up, kick Ali as he was walking up the stairs, the court heard. Mr Brooke said: "She (Antonia) managed to wrestle the container from him but he lit the lighter and a fire started including himself, the stairs and her sister. "She ended up outside the closed front door and was then unable to get back inside. "She ran around the back of the house but the back door had been jamming and she couldn't get it open despite her kicking it." Footage played in court showed Shabir and Sunderland driving away before the fire "exploded into life". The court heard that as Antonia was at the back of the house, her sister called 999. The trial was told that when police arrived six minutes later, flames were engulfing the front of the house, and it was too late to save Bryonie and the children. Mr Brooke said: "Sharaz Ali was himself caught by his own actions and was later pulled out of the house by the police badly injured." The prosecutor also said: "The main mover in what happened was plainly Sharaz Ali. "Motivated by jealousy and fuelled by drink and drugs it is obvious that he decided to take revenge on his ex-partner Antonia regardless of the potential consequences for others." Ali and Sunderland deny the charges and the trial continues.

The drone attack hit a car parked outside a mosque in the Ein el-Hilweh camp, near the southern Lebanese city of Sidon, according to the state-run National News Agency. The ministry said 13 people died and several others were injured. It was the deadliest strike on Lebanon since a ceasefire in the Israel-Hezbollah war a year ago. The Israeli military said it had struck militants operating in a Hamas training compound within the camp, alleging that Hamas was using the facility to carry out attacks on Israel. Hamas condemned the strike, saying: "The claims and allegations of the Zionist occupation army that the targeted location is a 'training compound belonging to the movement' are pure fabrication and lies, aimed at justifying its criminal aggression." It said the strike targeted an open sports field used by residents of the camp, adding there were no military establishments in refugee camps in Lebanon. 👉 Tap here to follow The World with Richard Engel and Yalda Hakim wherever you get your podcasts 👈 The Israeli army said it would continue to act against the group wherever it operated. Scores of officials from the Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah and Palestinian factions have been killed over the past two years by Israeli airstrikes. Israel and Hezbollah agreed to a ceasefire in 2024 that required Hezbollah not to have any weapons in the south and for Israeli forces to fully withdraw from Lebanon. Read more:What is Hezbollah and how powerful is its military?Israel strikes Beirut for first time since ceasefire deal Hamas led the deadly attack on southern Israel that killed about 1,200 people on 7 October 2023. Some 251 others were taken hostage. In the war that followed, when Israel invaded the Gaza Strip, more than 69,000 Palestinians were killed, according to the Hamas-run Gaza health ministry. The ministry does not distinguish between civilians and combatants but says the majority of deaths were women and children.

They have written an open letter to the government asking ministers to consider reforming SATs (standard assessment tests) to accommodate the youngsters' needs. The 22 parent groups say the system is damaging for children with SEND and they want to see a more inclusive approach which incorporates the needs of the individual child. The letter to Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said the current system "actively harms" children with SEND, leaving them often disengaged from school as they move on to secondary school. Maxwell Martin, who has starred in TV comedy Motherland and police drama Line Of Duty, said: "The government needs to look much harder at how to make things better for children in schools, particularly children with SEND. "This is a systemic failing within our assessment system, not the fault of any individual teacher or headteacher." What has research found? Research by the SEND parent group said only 24% of SEND children passed the SATs, and 67% of SEND children did not want to attend school because of them. Half of the parents questioned also said their child's self-esteem was damaged, and they believed SATs would have a lasting negative impact. 'Change the system' The letter to Ms Phillipson said: "Forcing children into a system that actively harms them is not the answer. Changing the system so that our children want to attend is." But some think SATs do not serve any child. Lee Parkinson MBE, a primary school teacher and education consultant from Manchester, said SATs are a negative process for all children, not just children with SEND. He told Sky News: "SATs don't serve any child, let alone those with SEND. They were never designed to support learning." He called the tests a "blunt accountability tool, a stick to beat schools with, rather than something that helps teachers understand children". 'Speed rewarded over understanding' Mr Parkinson claimed SATs were "built to catch pupils out. They reward speed over understanding and memorisation over genuine thinking". "That alone disadvantages huge numbers of children, but for pupils with SEND the gap becomes a chasm. Processing speed, anxiety, sensory needs, working memory difficulties, language disorders… none of these are accounted for in a system that measures every child by the same stopwatch and mark scheme." Mr Parkinson added: "For many SEND pupils, success in school looks like communication gains, emotional regulation, confidence, independence and steady academic growth in a way that matches their needs. "SATs don't measure any of that. Instead, they label, limit and distort the reality of what progress actually looks like for the children who need thoughtful, personalised provision the most." The open letter also said children with SEND who failed SATs "spend their entire year 6 convinced they are not clever enough". Read more:How children with SEND from poorer families left behindMPs want overhaul of school support for special needs pupils 'Urgent need for rethink' Sarah Hannafin, head of policy at school leaders' union NAHT, said there is an "urgent need" for the government to rethink the value of SATs. "If statutory tests are here to stay, they must be designed to be accessible for the vast majority of pupils, they should recognise the attainment and progress of all children, and they should not damage children's confidence or cause distress," she said. What does the government say? A Department for Education spokesperson said: "Primary tests and assessments play a vital role in helping schools ensure every pupil can achieve and thrive, while also identifying those who need additional support." "The government's independent, expert-led Curriculum and Assessment Review panel shaped key recommendations aimed at improving our national curriculum, and included key insights from SEND experts. "We are actively working with parents and experts to improve support for children with SEND, including through more early intervention to prevent needs from escalating and investing £740 million to encourage councils to create more specialist places in mainstream schools."

The new Cambridge Dictionary word of the year for 2025 has been revealed: "parasocial" - defined as involving or relating to a connection that someone feels between themselves and a famous person they do not know. Psychologists have studied how the rise of one-sided parasocial relationships has redefined fame, fandom and celebrity. For example, when pop star Taylor Swift and American footballer Travis Kelce announced their engagement, many fans felt a strong connection to them despite most not having met them. The parasocial relationships between people and online influencers and AI chatbots is a growing phenomenon. Many people even value parasocial relationships more than some real ones. A 2024 study revealed that while people found their emotional needs were still best met by friends and family, parasocial relationships with YouTubers were valued more than relationships with "real" acquaintances or colleagues. Colin McIntosh of the Cambridge Dictionary said: "What was once a specialist academic term has become mainstream. "Millions of people are engaged in parasocial relationships; many more are simply intrigued by their rise." He added that the Cambridge Dictionary website had seen a spike in the number of people searching for the word parasocial. Read more: What are parasocial relationships? The rise of parasocial relationships The term parasocial dates to 1956, when two University of Chicago sociologists observed that television viewers engaged in parasocial relationships with on-screen personalities, resembling those they formed with 'real' family and friends. They observed how the flourishing television industry brought the faces and on-screen personalities of actors into viewer's homes. Simone Schnall, professor of experimental social psychology at the University of Cambridge, said: "We've entered an age where many people form unhealthy and intense parasocial relationships with influencers. "This leads to a sense that people 'know' those they form parasocial bonds with, can trust them and even to extreme forms of loyalty. "Yet it's completely one-sided." She went on to say that as trust in mainstream media breaks down, people turn to individual personalities as authorities. After spending so many hours consuming content from these personality authorities, consumers end up developing parasocial bonds, seeing them more as friends, family or even cult leaders. She added that AI tools like ChatGPT, which many people treat as a friend, is adding a new dimension to parasocial relationships. She warned that: "This is an illusion of a relationship and group think, and we know young people can be susceptible for this." Parasocial relationships also carry other risks. Following someone else's experiences day in, day out, inevitably leads to social comparison - and can risk people developing unhealthy ideals or expectations. Other new words this year Other new words in this year's Cambridge Dictionary include "delulu", a play on the word delusional, gibberish word "skibidi" and "tradwife", short for traditional wife. Other words noted as having an impact this year include "slop"; content on the internet that is of very low quality, especially that created by AI. Another is "memeify", meaning to turn an event, image or person into a meme - an idea, joke, image or video that is quickly shared on the internet.

Miles Cross, 33, admitted four counts of intentionally doing an act capable of encouraging or assisting the suicide of another.Cross provided chemicals to Shubhreet Singh on 22 August last year, Wrexham Magistrates' Court heard during an October hearing.Ms Singh, 26, died in West Yorkshire last year.The three other counts relate to three victims who are alive and cannot be named due to reporting restrictions.The incidents are said to have happened in August and September 2024.Police are also investigating a second death in connection with the packages Cross sold online. Cross had set up a business selling the chemical via an internet discussion forum and interacted with others on the forum under a pseudonym.He joined the site in July 2024 and posted a QR code, which allowed people to order the chemical directly from him and pay via his bank account.Cross received payments of £100 from four people and sent them the chemical through the post.Cross, from Wrexham, was arrested in January following a police investigation into sales via the forum to assist with suicide. Officers found the chemical and other paraphernalia at his address.His devices were seized, which linked Cross to the forum, social media profiles and the bank account. "Miles Cross preyed on four people in a distressed state and knowingly provided a substance intended to end their lives," Alison Storey, specialist prosecutor with the CPS Special Crime Division, said. "His actions were purely for financial gain, and he made the process of ordering the chemical online easy and accessible." She said the case was a "stark reminder of the dangers posed by those who aim to exploit vulnerable individuals online", adding that the CPS hopes that Cross pleading guilty brings "some measure of justice" to the victims and their families. North Wales Police's Detective Superintendent Chris Bell said: "Cross took advantage and exploited his victims in their most desperate moments, profiting off their vulnerability and mental illnesses. "I hope today's admission provides the victims and their families with some peace of mind and relief that they are now spared the ordeal of a trial. My thoughts, and those of the whole investigation team, remain with them today." Read more from Sky News:Calls for reconstructive surgery for FGM on the NHSNumber of Britons leaving the UK higher than thought He added: "This has been a highly complex and sensitive investigation over the past 10 months, and I want to acknowledge the courage of the witnesses who played an integral part in the investigation during such difficult circumstances." Cross will be sentenced at Mold Crown Court on 7 January. If you've been affected by this story and want to talk to someone, you can call Samaritans free on 116 123 anytime day or night. You can also email jo@samaritans.org or visit www.samaritans.org to find support online.

Scott McTominay's spectacular third-minute bicycle kick had given the hosts a half-time lead. Rasmus Hojlund equalised for the Danes in the 57th minute shortly before Rasmus Kristensen was sent off, but Lawrence Shankland restored Scotland's advantage. When Patrick Dorgu brought Denmark level for the second time with nine minutes remaining, it seemed they would claim the point needed to top the group and book their place at next year's tournament in the US, Canada and Mexico. However, Tierney fired an unstoppable shot past Kasper Schmeichel in the third minute of stoppage time and then, with the Denmark goalkeeper up in attack at the other end of the pitch, McLean unleashed a long-range effort from his own half to spark delirious scenes. The victory saw Scotland top Group C and secure automatic qualification for the 2026 World Cup. Scotland captain Andy Robertson dedicated the victory to his former Liverpool teammate Diogo Jota, who died earlier this year in a car accident. He told BBC Sport: "We certainly put the country through it, but I'm sure it will be worth it. "I knew the age I'm at this would be my last chance to get to the World Cup. "I couldn't get my mate Diogo Jota out of my head today. We spoke so much together about the World Cup. When he missed out in Qatar through injury and I missed out when Scotland never went. "We always discussed what it would be like going to this World Cup. I know he'll be somewhere smiling over me tonight." The draw for the 2026 World Cup will take place in Washington on 5 December.

Content warning: this article contains references to suicide Munich officers said in a statement on Tuesday that Alice and Ellen Kessler had died by "joint suicide" at their shared home in Grunwald. They were 89. The German Society for Humane Dying, a group in support of assisted dying, told Sky's US partner network NBC News that the sisters had "been considering this option for some time". It added they had been members for more than a year and that "a lawyer and a doctor conducted preliminary discussions with them", and said: "People who choose this option in Germany must be absolutely clear-headed, meaning free and responsible. "The decision must be thoughtful and consistent, meaning made over a long period of time and not impulsive." In an interview last year with the Italian news outlet Corriere della Sera, the sisters said they wished to die together on the same day. Read more: Why is assisted dying so controversial - and where is it already legal? A ban on assisted dying in Germany was overturned by the country's federal court in 2020. While the practice is not explicitly permitted, judges said at the time the previous law outlawing it infringed on constitutional rights. Alice and Ellen were born in 1936 and trained as ballet dancers in their youth. They began their entertainment careers in the 1950s after their family fled from East Germany to West Germany. Professionally known as The Kessler Twins, they were then discovered by the director of the Lido cabaret theatre in Paris in 1955, launching their international career. In 1959, the sisters also represented a now-unified Germany at the Eurovision Song Contest, held in Cannes, France. Read more from Sky News:Widow who helped husband 'die with dignity' won't face chargesMI5 also trying to send signal to China with spying warningTicket resales to be capped at face value Throughout the 1960s, Alice and Ellen toured the world, moved to Rome, and performed with singers Fred Astaire, Frank Sinatra and Harry Belafonte. Both sisters continued to perform together into later life, appearing on stage in a musical at 80 years old. Anyone feeling emotionally distressed or suicidal can call Samaritans for help on 116 123 or email jo@samaritans.org in the UK. In the US, call the Samaritans branch in your area or 1 (800) 273-TALK

Hanan Khashoggi's comments to Sky News come after Donald Trump dismissed US intelligence findings that Saudi crown prince Mohammed bin Salman likely had some culpability. The US president made the remarks after warmly welcoming the de-facto ruler of Saudi Arabia for his first visit to the White House in seven years. Responding to Mr Trump's remarks in defence of the crown prince, where he derided Mr Khashoggi as "extremely controversial" and said "a lot of people didn't like that gentleman", his wife told Sky News she was "disappointed" to hear the president's description. Trump latest: Key Epstein files bill passes US House almost unanimously Speaking during an interview on The World With Yalda Hakim, Ms Khashoggi demanded financial compensation from the crown prince for her husband's death. Addressing Mr Trump directly, Ms Khashoggi said she would be willing to meet the US president to tell him about her husband, who she said was "a great man, and a professional, and he was a brave man as well". She said her husband was not controversial or unlikable, but even if he was, "it doesn't justify the action of kidnapping him, torturing him, killing him and dismantling his body". She also said she would meet the crown prince and "ask him to retrieve Jamal's body, so I can bury him in a decent, good way", as well as ask for financial compensation. "They killed my husband, they destroyed my life," she added. "They have to compensate me." Khashoggi killed by Saudi agents Mr Khashoggi, a strident critic of the kingdom, was killed by Saudi agents during an operation targeting him in Istanbul. US intelligence agencies concluded the crown prince approved the capture or killing of Mr Khashoggi at the Saudi consulate in the Turkish capital. The crown prince has denied ordering the operation, but acknowledged responsibility as the de-facto ruler of the kingdom. Trump defends MBS But Mr Trump, asked about the murder, defended his guest, saying: "Whether you like him or didn't like him, things happen. But he knew nothing about it, and we can leave it at that. You don't have to embarrass our guest by asking a question like that." The crown prince said Saudi Arabia "did all the right steps" to investigate Mr Khashoggi's death, adding: "It's painful and it's a huge mistake." President praises Saudi human rights record Mr Trump even celebrated the Saudi leader for the kingdom's human rights record, without providing specific details. "I'm very proud of the job he's done," he said. "What he's done is incredible in terms of human rights and everything else." Human rights groups say Saudi authorities continue to harshly repress dissent by arresting human rights defenders, journalists and political dissidents. They also highlight a surge in executions in Saudi Arabia they connect to an effort to suppress internal dissent. The crown prince announced that Saudi Arabia was increasing its planned investments in the US to $1trn, up from the $600bn the Saudis announced they would pour into the US they would pour into the US when Mr Trump visited the kingdom in May.

Stephen McAulay, 35, stabbed James Duncan "multiple times" to the head and body during the incident outside their homes in the Carntyne area of Glasgow on 13 May 2024. It came after bus driver McAulay sustained a minor facial injury during an earlier confrontation over a parking space on their road, with the attacker later returning armed with a blade. Judge Lord Young told McAulay: "Whatever the rights and wrongs of that dispute, you would not let the matter rest." Crane operator Mr Duncan required emergency surgery to a chest wound, while injuries to his head resulted in "significant" loss of vision to one eye. The judge described the injuries as "life-changing", adding: "This appears to be an attack caused more by intoxication and loss of face than anything else." McAulay last month pleaded guilty to attempted murder at the High Court in Glasgow. He was sentenced to seven-and-a-half years in prison at the High Court in Edinburgh on Tuesday. Lord Young dismissed McAulay's claim that he had taken the knife with him in "self-defence". The judge said: "You went looking for your victim to continue the argument, and you took a knife with you that you were prepared to use." Lord Young highlighted Mr Duncan's victim impact statement, noting: "He will struggle to return to work. These were truly life-changing injuries that you have inflicted." Read more from Sky News:Fresh appeal in search for missing teenagerLouvre closes gallery just weeks after jewel heist Earlier, defence solicitor Ross Yuill described his client's decision to "arm himself with a knife" and confront his neighbour as "inexplicable". The lawyer said McAulay has now had his first experience of custody which he found challenging. He added: "The consequence for him will be a period of custody but also he will miss the birth of his child." Mr Yuill said McAulay was "sorry" for the incident and he "wishes again to offer his apologies to the complainer having had significant time to reflect on his actions".