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Security in the United States will be at risk if Vladimir Putin succeeds in Ukraine, the head of Britain's secret intelligence service has said in a warning for Donald Trump.Sir Richard Moore said Russia would not stop at Ukraine's borders and he said China would "weigh the implications, North Korea would be emboldened and Iran would become still more dangerous". The spy chief offered warm words to the incoming US administration though, using an annual public speech to say he had worked successfully with the first Trump White House and that he is "looking forward to doing so again".As well as talking about Ukraine, the head of MI6 - or Secret Intelligence Service (SIS) - also raised the alarm about:• A "staggeringly reckless campaign of Russian sabotage in Europe"• The potential for terror...

A cryptocurrency entrepreneur has kept his promise and eaten a banana he bought for $6.2m (£4.9m). Justin Sun snapped up viral art piece Comedian - consisting of a single banana duct-taped to a white wall - in an auction at Sotheby's in New York last week. The Chinese-born businessman immediately revealed his plan to destroy the artwork by enjoying the fruit as a snack and at a news conference today, he delivered on his word.At a Hong Kong hotel, the 34-year-old took a bite and told reporters: "It's much better than other bananas. It's really quite good."After purchasing Comedian, Mr Sun previously said the piece "represents a cultural phenomenon that bridges the worlds of art, memes, and the cryptocurrency community". "Additionally, in the coming days, I will personally eat the banana as ...

A small number of young Israelis are refusing national service, and being jailed as a result.In Israel, young people are conscripted into the army for at least 24 months but a small number are objecting due to Israel's actions in Gaza and the West Bank.They are supported by Mesarvot, a small group supporting conscientious objectors whose name means 'we refuse'.Three of Israel's young objectors spoke to Sky News ahead of refusing to sign up to serve on Wednesday.They followed in the footsteps of Tal Mitnick who became the first person since the 7 October attack to be jailed for refusing to enlist.He spent 185 days in jail in total, before receiving an exemption in June. Image: Tal Mitnick previously spoke to Sky News about objecting to joining ...

As the world-famous Notre-Dame cathedral burned in a devastating 2019 fire, Parisians watched on in tears.Now, after more than five years of frenetic reconstruction work, the world has been given a first glimpse inside the revived 12th-century landmark. Today, President Emmanuel Macron is visiting the site to see the restored interiors for himself before the Gothic cathedral reopens for its first worship next month.The televised visit is set to usher a series of events leading up to the reopening of the cathedral - the reconstruction of which has been hailed as a symbol of national unity and French can-do spirit. Image: Brigitte Macron (2R) greets Paris' archbishop Laurent Ulrich, (C) next to Paris' mayor Anne Hidalgo (L), Ile-de-France's Pres...

Violent protests have erupted in Georgia over its ruling party's decision to put talks on the country's longstanding bid to join the EU back until 2028. Police in riot gear used a water cannon, tear gas and pepper spray as they ordered crowds of protesters on the streets of Georgia's capital, Tbilisi, to disperse. Pictures show masked protesters clashing with police and being dragged away, while some of the demonstrators tossed fireworks at officers shouting "Russians" and "Slaves!".Three police officers were injured, the country's interior ministry said. It comes after tens of thousands protested last month against the results of parliamentary elections which they claimed had been rigged with the help of Russia. Image: Police try to push out ...

The election in Ireland offers a great opportunity for observers of elections, parties and public opinion.Members of the Irish Dail are selected using the Single Transferable Vote (STV). Invented in the mid-19th century it requires voters to make an ordered choice across candidates, marking 1 against the most preferred, 2 against the next, and so on.It is a voting system that actively avoids wasting votes and in the process offers amazing insight into voting choices and competition both within and between parties.Counting votes won't be quick but watching that process unfold might bring its own rewards. Image: Ballot papers in Cork in the 2020 election. Pic: Yui Mok/PA Wire Ireland, which votes on Friday to elect a new par...

Polling stations have opened across Ireland this morning after a three-week election campaign.Fine Gael's Simon Harris, Fianna Fail's Micheal Martin and Sinn Fein's Mary Lou McDonald are all battling it out to become Ireland's next taoiseach - though no party has put forward enough candidates for a majority, meaning a coalition will be inevitable. Fianna Fail and Fine Gael, both centre-right parties, have said they will not enter a coalition with the left-wing Sinn Fein.Sinn Fein has never been in government, despite winning the highest number of votes in 2020.Fianna Fail and Fine Gael - traditional rivals stemming from the aftermath of Ireland's civil war - have ruled together with the Green Party since 2020. There are 174 seats across 43 constituencies in this year's election, with more ...

Sweden has formally asked Beijing to help clarify what happened when two data cables were damaged in the Baltic Sea where a China-flagged vessel had been sighted.Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson said the request has been made as one of the cables, which connects Sweden and Lithuania, came back online after its operator Arelion said it had been repaired. The second cable runs from Finland to Germany and is expected to be working again in the next couple of days following repair work by its Finnish owner Cinia.Both cables were damaged in Swedish waters in less than 24 hours between 17 and 18 November. The China-flagged bulk carrier Yi Peng 3, which is currently moored in international waters between Sweden and Denmark, was seen in the area at the time the cables were damaged.Meanwhile,...

Five-time Grand Slam champion Iga Swiatek has said being given a one-month doping ban from the sport was the "worst experience of my life".The Polish player was ranked world number one when she provided a sample containing the angina medication trimetazidine in an out-of-competition test on 12 August. The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) accepted the result was caused by contamination of the regulated non-prescription medication melatonin, manufactured and sold in Poland, which Swiatek took for jet lag and sleep issues.Her level of fault was therefore considered to be at the lowest end of the range for "No Significant Fault or Negligence".Swiatek was provisionally suspended from 22 September until 4 October but the suspension was not made public. Instead, the three tournaments ...

Two female Russian spies in a love triangle were to be used as "honeytraps" in a surveillance operation on targets across Europe, run from the UK, a court has been told.Katrin Ivanova, 33, a lab assistant, and Vanya Gaberova, 30, a beautician, were intended to be "in direct contact" with targets "as sexual bait to capture more information", the Old Bailey heard. They were allegedly assisted by Tihomir Ivanchev, 39, a painter and decorator from Enfield who had previously been in a relationship with Gaberova.Bizer Dzhambazov, 43, a medical courier who has pleaded guilty to the spying conspiracy, lived with Ivanova in Harrow, northwest London, but was also having a relationship with Gaberova, who had a flat in Euston. Image: Bizer Dzhambazov. Pic...