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WORLD NEWS Thursday 17 November 2022

MI5 spy chief says Russia, China, Iran top threat list to UK

By JILL LAWLESS
Associated Press
LONDON (AP) — Britain
faces major security threats
from the trio of Russia, Chi-
na and Iran, which all use
coercion, intimidation and
even violence on foreign
soil to pursue their interests,
the U.K.’s domestic intelli-
gence chief said Wednes-
day.
Ken McCallum, director-
general of MI5, added to
mounting warnings from
British authorities about Rus-
sia’s aggression and Chi-
na’s growing assertiveness.
But he singled out Iran as MI5 Director General, Ken McCallum, gives a speech at Thames House in central London,
the state “which most fre- Wednesday Nov. 16, 2022.
quently crosses into terror- Associated Press
ism,” saying U.K authorities U.K-based Farsi-language about the tactics they de- tacks, disinformation, espi-
have uncovered at least 10 satellite news channel Iran ploy,” he said. He said Rus- onage and interfering with
“potential threats” this year International said British po- sia’s espionage capabilities democracy.
to “kidnap or even kill Brit- lice had warned two of its had been dealt a “signifi- “The U.K. must be ready for
ish or U.K.-based individuals journalists about “an immi- cant strategic blow” since Russian aggression for years
perceived as enemies of nent, credible and signifi- the invasion of Ukraine from to come,” he said.
the regime.” He said Iran’s cant risk to their lives and the expulsion of more than McCallum cast China as
intelligence services “are those of their families.” 400 spies working under an even longer-term prob-
prepared to take reckless In a speech outlining the diplomatic cover at Russian lem, saying “the activities
action” against opponents, major threats to the U.K. missions in Europe. He said of the Chinese Communist
both on Western soil and by from both hostile states and Britain has expelled 23 in re- Party pose the most game-
luring people to Iran. terror groups, McCallum cent years, and has refused changing strategic chal-
Last week, the U.K. gov- said there is a risk Russia, visas for more than 100 oth- lenge to the U.K.”
ernment summoned Teh- China and Iran could help er suspected Russian spies Using a sports analogy,
ran’s top diplomat in Lon- one another, “amplifying posing as diplomats.But, McCallum said “Russia
don for a dressing-down, their strengths.” he said, British spies are still thinks nothing of throwing
accusing the Islamic re- “We are facing adversar- facing a “Russian covert an elbow in the face and
public of threatening jour- ies who have massive scale toolkit” that includes assas- routinely cheats to get its
nalists working in Britain. and are not squeamish sination attempts, cyberat- way.” q

Kenya’s president dismisses suggestions of unlimited terms

By EVELYNE MUSAMBI try’s constitution, dismissing two terms, and many Ke- denied there was a plan
Associated Press comments by a legislator nyans have been eager to to amend the constitution
NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — that there should be no hear Ruto’s position since in favor of Ruto after heavy
Kenyan President William such limits on a capable talk of removing term limits criticism from the opposi-
Ruto urged lawmakers not leader. started last week. tion parties.
to remove presidential Kenya’s constitution says a Ruto succeeded former Kenya’s democracy has
terms limits from the coun- president can only serve for president Uhuru Kenyatta evolved over the years
after winning hotly contest- since the former British col-
ed elections. He was inau- ony became independent
gurated in September. in 1963. For several years it
Ruto’s party, the United was a de-facto one-party
Democratic Alliance, on state and then was officially
Wednesday held a meet- a one-party state from 1982
ing of its lawmakers during until 1992, when multiparty
which the president urged democracy was adopted.
them to focus on laws that Term limits on the presiden-
could improve the lives of cy are widely considered
ordinary Kenyans. sacrosanct, contributing
He asked them to stop to the view of Kenya as a
“pushing for selfish and beacon of stability in the
self-serving legislation like East African region. Many
changing the Constitution countries in the region and
to remove term limits,” ac- other parts of Africa have
South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa, left, shakes hands cording to local media out- abolished presidential
with Kenya’s President William Ruto, right, after his arrival for a lets. term limits, allowing lead-
bilateral visit at State House in Nairobi, Kenya Wednesday, Nov. The ruling party’s chairper- ers to stay in power for long
9, 2022.
Associated Press son, Johnstone Muthama, periods.q