2 Men Deny Carrying Out Surveillance for Iran of Israeli Embassy in UK

FILE PHOTO: Armed police officers stand guard on a road outside the perimeter of the RAF Fairford airbase, in Fairford, Gloucestershire, Britain, September 28, 2026. REUTERS/Toby Shepheard/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: Armed police officers stand guard on a road outside the perimeter of the RAF Fairford airbase, in Fairford, Gloucestershire, Britain, September 28, 2026. REUTERS/Toby Shepheard/File Photo
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2 Men Deny Carrying Out Surveillance for Iran of Israeli Embassy in UK

FILE PHOTO: Armed police officers stand guard on a road outside the perimeter of the RAF Fairford airbase, in Fairford, Gloucestershire, Britain, September 28, 2026. REUTERS/Toby Shepheard/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: Armed police officers stand guard on a road outside the perimeter of the RAF Fairford airbase, in Fairford, Gloucestershire, Britain, September 28, 2026. REUTERS/Toby Shepheard/File Photo

Two Iranian nationals accused of being tasked by Iran to carry out hostile surveillance on the Israeli Embassy in London, Britain's oldest synagogue and other Israeli or Jewish targets pleaded not guilty on Friday.

Nematollah Shahsavani, 41, and Alireza Farasati, 22, appeared at London's Old Bailey court and denied a single offence under the National Security Act.

They were remanded in custody ahead ⁠of their trial, ⁠which is due to begin in April, Reuters reported.

The pair are among several individuals who have been charged in separate cases with acting on behalf of Iran in Britain.

Britain has recently accused Iran of being ⁠behind a suspected plot targeting the US-linked RAF Fairford military base, with seven men arrested and then released on bail.

Iran has denied any involvement in hostile activity in Britain, including the alleged RAF Fairford plot, after which the US removed its B-1 bombers from the base.

Shahsavani, a dual Iranian-British national, and Iranian national Farasati are alleged to have gathered ⁠information ⁠and undertaken reconnaissance in July and August 2025 on behalf of the Iranian intelligence services.

Their list of alleged targets included the Israeli Embassy, the Israeli Consulate and London's Bevis Marks Synagogue. Judge Bobbie Cheema-Grubb said one alleged target also included an unnamed individual "of intelligence interest" to Iran.

After they were charged in March, Britain's Foreign Office said it had summoned Iran's ambassador to the UK.



Le Pen and Melenchon Ahead in 2027 French Presidential Race, Poll Shows

Jean-Luc Melenchon, leader of French far-left opposition party La France Insoumise (France Unbowed - LFI) and candidate for the 2027 French presidential election, delivers a speech during a political rally to present LFI's government program for the presidential election, in Le Bourget near Paris, France, November 7, 2026. (Reuters)
Jean-Luc Melenchon, leader of French far-left opposition party La France Insoumise (France Unbowed - LFI) and candidate for the 2027 French presidential election, delivers a speech during a political rally to present LFI's government program for the presidential election, in Le Bourget near Paris, France, November 7, 2026. (Reuters)
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Le Pen and Melenchon Ahead in 2027 French Presidential Race, Poll Shows

Jean-Luc Melenchon, leader of French far-left opposition party La France Insoumise (France Unbowed - LFI) and candidate for the 2027 French presidential election, delivers a speech during a political rally to present LFI's government program for the presidential election, in Le Bourget near Paris, France, November 7, 2026. (Reuters)
Jean-Luc Melenchon, leader of French far-left opposition party La France Insoumise (France Unbowed - LFI) and candidate for the 2027 French presidential election, delivers a speech during a political rally to present LFI's government program for the presidential election, in Le Bourget near Paris, France, November 7, 2026. (Reuters)

French ‌far-right leader Marine Le Pen and hard-left rival Jean-Luc Melenchon consolidated their lead in voting intention ahead of next year's presidential election, a poll showed on Monday, as political polarization in the country intensifies.

Le Pen would top the first-round vote with between 34% and 36% ‌depending on ‌the scenarios tested by ‌pollster ⁠Toluna Harris Interactive in ⁠a survey carried out between November 3 and 5.

A similar poll last month showed her at between 35% and 37%.

Melenchon, the candidate of the ⁠far-left France Unbowed (LFI) party, ‌is seen ‌reaching a run-off in all five scenarios polled, ‌with either 18% or 19%.

Le Pen is seen beating Melenchon easily in a run-off.

As Macron's second and final five-year term ‌comes to an end, the unpopular president leaves behind a ⁠hollowed-out political ⁠center and weak economy, creating an opening for hardline parties.

Melenchon has already run three times for president in 2012, 2017 and 2022, but never managed to reach the second round. Le Pen also ran in those same three elections and lost in the second round in 2017 and 2022 to Macron.


Eight Dead in Migrant Boat Sinking off Greece

A dinghy transporting dozens of refugees and migrants is pulled towards Greece's Lesbos island after being rescued by a war ship during their sea crossing between Türkiye and Greece on February 29, 2020. Aris Messinis, AFP/File picture
A dinghy transporting dozens of refugees and migrants is pulled towards Greece's Lesbos island after being rescued by a war ship during their sea crossing between Türkiye and Greece on February 29, 2020. Aris Messinis, AFP/File picture
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Eight Dead in Migrant Boat Sinking off Greece

A dinghy transporting dozens of refugees and migrants is pulled towards Greece's Lesbos island after being rescued by a war ship during their sea crossing between Türkiye and Greece on February 29, 2020. Aris Messinis, AFP/File picture
A dinghy transporting dozens of refugees and migrants is pulled towards Greece's Lesbos island after being rescued by a war ship during their sea crossing between Türkiye and Greece on February 29, 2020. Aris Messinis, AFP/File picture

Eight people have died after a boat carrying migrants sank off the coast of the island of Crete during the weekend, Greece's coast guard said Monday.

Maritime police launched an emergency rescue late Saturday after a boat issued an alarm signal, with strong winds making sea conditions difficult, the coast guard said.

Around 28 survivors and one body, all Sudan nationals, were picked up by another boat sailing nearby, then transferred to a police vessel and taken to Crete, authorities had said on Sunday.

During the night from Sunday to Monday, "a coast guard rescue vessel located the boat 10 nautical miles" south of Crete with "seven bodies were still on board", the coast guard said.

Crete has become one of the main entry points into the European Union for migrants departing from Libya and attempting the dangerous crossing to Greece.

Many of the attempted crossings turn deadly when the vessels sink.


China Says It Is Talking with Relevant Parties on China-Russia-US Leaders’ Meeting

Chinese President Xi Jinping waves during a welcoming ceremony for Gabonese President Brice Oligui Nguema at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on November 6, 2026. (AFP)
Chinese President Xi Jinping waves during a welcoming ceremony for Gabonese President Brice Oligui Nguema at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on November 6, 2026. (AFP)
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China Says It Is Talking with Relevant Parties on China-Russia-US Leaders’ Meeting

Chinese President Xi Jinping waves during a welcoming ceremony for Gabonese President Brice Oligui Nguema at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on November 6, 2026. (AFP)
Chinese President Xi Jinping waves during a welcoming ceremony for Gabonese President Brice Oligui Nguema at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on November 6, 2026. (AFP)

China is maintaining communication with relevant parties on a meeting of the heads of state of China, ‌Russia and ‌the US, ‌China's ⁠foreign ministry spokesperson Guo ⁠Jiakun said on Monday.

On Sunday, US President Donald ⁠Trump said he ‌thought ‌he would meet ‌Chinese President ‌Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin at an ‌APEC leaders' summit in China ⁠next ⁠week and discuss ending the US-Israeli war on Iran, as well as denuclearization.