China’s embassy guards in London have been accused of brandishing electroshock weapons at protesters to intimidate them.
The London and Beijing are now embroiled in a diplomatic row over the incident, which is also being investigated by police.
UK Government officials warned China that actions by a foreign state to intimidate or harm individuals on British soil would not be tolerated, The i Paper has been told.
Security workers allegedly pointed the weapons towards protesters during heightened tensions outside the embassy in Portland Place on 3 July.
Uefa prepares criminal complaint against Infantino – what we know
The president of Fifa, Gianni Infantino, may face legal action by European football’s governing body Uefa over his now-scrapped plans to sell stakes in the World Cup to private investors.
Uefa request access to evidence
The body has applied for documents to be made available to them to bring legal actoin against Infantino in Switzerland.
In court documents Uefa accuses him of “criminal mismanagement” over the sale plan, claiming it was a “vehicle” for Infantino and others to “profit from Fifa’s most valuable assets”.
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What does Uefa say Infantino did wrong ?
- Pushed through the plan “hastily” with “limited” member involvement.
- Gave Fifa a “fraudulently off-market price” for his “own benefit”.
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What happens now?
Uefa has applied to a court in Florida to gain access to files held by two Fifa businesses – Fifa Americas and FWC2026 . These would be used in a court case in Switzerland.
Uefa says it may persue charges against other Fifa officials, claiming the plan would have harmed the 55 member nations of Fifa, who it says were not consulted.
More on this from The i Paper
Exes could get rights to your assets under law change
Unmarried romantic partners could be entitled to part of their ex’s assets if a break-up leaves them unable to meet their basic needs.
Some believe the proposals being considered by the Government would tackle “completely outdated and inadequate” laws governing relationships, Sky News reported.
What is being proposed?
- Unmarried romantic partners could ask a court to get involved if distributing the couple’s assets based on who owns what is not enough to meet the needs of each partner or their children.
- The court would distribute them in a way that ensures everyone can afford housing and living costs.
- Children’s needs would come first so the primary caregiver has enough resources for them.
- The courts would look at each partner’s earning capacity, financial resources, age, any disabilities and the length of relationship.
Who would the rules apply to?
The rules would apply to adults in romantic relationships who have lived together for at least three years or who share a child and lived together for any period. They would apply automatically, with the option for couples to opt out if they mutually agree. The rules are intended to benefit financially exposed women who sacrificed their careers to care for their children or victims of domestic abuse.
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The expert view
Many people consciously choose not to remarry because they value both companionship and financial independence. They should remain free to make that choice, and the law should respect – not undermine – it
Baroness Ruth Deech, former law professor and chair of the Bar Standards Board
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The tactic that could protect your pension from inheritance tax raid – and the risks
There has been an increase in people looking to use a new tactic to avoid their pension wealth being subjected to high inheritance tax after their death, experts say.
What are people doing?
Experts say more parents are asking whether they could use a lifetime annuity, which provides a guaranteed income for life, to pass on their wealth to an adult child after their passing. Here’s what you need to know.
- The move would avoid the usual high inheritance tax bill for recipients, although it is currently an option only offered by two providers and there are several risks to be aware of.
- A lifetime annuity is a retirement product, bought from an insurer, that turns your pension into a guaranteed income for life.
- A joint annuity can be used to continue paying an income to a nominated person – in this case, potentially an adult child – after, for example, a parent dies in order to avoid a high IHT bill.
What are the risks?
The annuity is generally irreversible, suitable choices are limited and the income paid to the child may itself be taxable depending on the father’s age at death. Financial adviser Zoë Dagless said the insurer is pricing the annuity on the basis that it could continue for the child’s lifetime, so you are likely to be giving up a fair amount of income compared with an annuity based on the client’s life only.
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More on money from The i Paper
Men ‘hate diets’ and struggle to lose weight on them
Men struggle to lose weight on diets because they are mainly aimed at women and seem too restrictive, research has found.
Avoiding the word “diet” in weight-loss programmes could help men because it is seen as feminine, reported.
What the research found
- Framing weight-loss programmes as competitions or challenges could help men, scientists said.
- Researchers at Anglia Ruskin University found that men felt dieting was associated with being denied food they enjoyed and were reluctant to commit to programmes if significant sacrifices were involved.
- Men were more likely to lose weight when dietary changes were designed by their partners or when they were supported by them.
- Having a buddy or mentor was also beneficial.
What was the study based on?
The study, published in the journal was based on interviews with 24 men aged 30 and over about their experiences of weight-loss programmes.
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The expert view
For weight-loss programmes to appeal to men, they should involve quick wins, early rewards and a degree of social competitiveness around aesthetic gains, ahead of health-specific requirements. This could involve sport or physical challenges, perhaps focused on strength or stamina
Justin Roberts, the colead author and a professor of nutritional physiology
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Top Gear to return to BBC – everything we know
The BBC has confirmed is returning to the broadcaster. The show has been on hiatus since presenter Andrew “Freddie” Flintoff was almost killed during filming in December 2022.
What we know so far
The BBC’s director of entertainment Ed Havard confirmed the news of the return at the Edinburgh TV Festival on Thursday. He said: “There has been a lot of speculation about this and we can confirm that is coming back.”
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What happened to Flintoff?
Following the crash, the BBC announced would not be returning “for the foreseeable future”, explaining it had “decided to rest the UK show”.
Who will host now?
- Havard declined to comment on reports that Jimmy Carr is being lined up as the show’s new host.
- However, reports claim talks are underway with the comedian.
- Joe Marler, a former rugby player who appeared in last year, is also being eyed by the BBC, according to Deadline.
- No deals are thought to be in place.
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The back story
- It enjoyed a second life when Chris Harris, Paddy McGuinness and Flintoff took over hosting duties from Matt LeBlanc and Chris Evans, before the crash involving Flintoff occurred.
Liver disease cases linked to obesity up five-fold
Cases of a linked to obesity and type 2 diabetes have risen five-fold in a decade, a study has found.
Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) happens when in the liver and is left undiagnosed, researchers said.
What are the symptoms?
- Symptoms include feeling very tired or generally unwell, and pain in the abdomen.
- People who are overweight or not active are more likely to develop MASLD.
- Those who have type 2 diabetes, are over 50, or have high blood pressure are also more at risk.
- New diagnoses doubled from 2012 to 2022, and those diagnosed with the condition were three times as likely to have type 2 diabetes, analysis of GP records found.
A closer look at the findings
The study by researchers at Queen Mary University of London and the University of Glasgow found that 2.4 per cent of adults – 283,762 people had the disease in 2022, up from 0.02 per cent (1,300 people) in 2003.
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The expert view
The diagnostic gap remains large compared to expected rates. At-risk groups such as those living with type 2 diabetes and obesity should be identified and -finding actively pursued
researchers at Queen Mary University and University Glasgow
More on health from The i Paper
Thunderstorms expected across England and Wales
Flooding has hit part of the West Midlands as are expected across large areas of England and Wales.
A yellow thunderstorm has been issued from 5am until 10pm on Thursday.
What the warning says
The yellow warning covers swathes of the country, from Norwich and London to Cardiff and Manchester.
Some areas could see 50-75mm of rainfall on Thursday, as well as lightning and hail, which could cause disruption.
Warm temperatures with highs of 27°C or 28°C are expected, and there is a small chance some areas could see more than 75mm of rainfall.
Where the warning is in place
What happened in Birmingham?
There has been significant flooding in Birmingham. A flood warning was issued for the Perry Barr area on Wednesday night due to rising river levels.
The Environment Agency has issued 22 flooding alerts – meaning flooding is possible – in the Midlands and South East.
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The forecast for the rest of the week
- Further heavy rain and thunderstorms are expected on Friday across the UK.
- Further rain will move in on Saturday, followed by a mix of sunshine and showers on Sunday and Monday.
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Dozens of Britons missing in deadly Nepal flood
More than 160 people have died and hundreds are missing, including , after a devastating flash flood on the Nepal–Tibet border.
What happened?
- Floodwater swept along the Bhote Koshi river in Rasuwa region, in the Himalayas, at around 8.30am local time on Wednesday, destroying roads and washing away houses and bridges.
- More than 40 people were injured in the tragedy and are receiving treatment in hospital.
- Nepali officials said a further 826 people are missing, the majority of them tourists, including 33 Britons.
- Around 2,000 military personnel have been deployed by the Nepali army to assist with search and rescue operations.
What is known about the missing Britons?
Among the 33 Britons missing, 12 were with one tour company. Ram Kumar Adhikari, manager of Alpine Eco Trek, said the group included a 13-year-old girl, with the oldest member aged 65.
He said they had passed Chinese border controls to enter Tibet.
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The flood in pictures
UK officials have raised the matter directly with the embassy, a Government source said, while a Metropolitan Police investigation remains ongoing.
“Any attempts by a foreign state to coerce, intimidate, harass, or harm individuals on UK soil will never be tolerated,” the source added.
The diplomatic row is likely to raise fresh questions over China’s conduct and its alleged attempts to silence dissidents in the UK. While ministers will await the outcome of the police investigation, the insider said: “Where there is evidence of a crime, we will not hesitate to act.”
Scotland Yard confirmed to this newspaper that enquiries into the alleged incident were ongoing, with officers reviewing video footage from the protest.
The i Paper has seen footage which appears to show two embassy workers waving what look like stun batons towards protesters who are approaching the embassy gates.
Campaigners allege that embassy security personnel pointed electroshock weapons at them when tensions boiled over during a candlelit vigil for Lobga Rangzen, a Tibetan activist who died after setting himself on fire outside the United Nations headquarters in New York. Rangzen was a prominent Tibetan independence activist who accused China of repression of Tibet.
Electroshock weapons are prohibited under Section 5 of the Firearms Act 1968.
A Metropolitan Police spokesperson said: “On Friday, 3 July at around 6pm, police were called to reports of a protest outside the Chinese Embassy on Portland Place, W1B.
“Officers attended the scene. Two protesters alleged that embassy staff had pointed a taser towards them. No injuries were reported and officers left the area once the protestors had dispersed on their own accord.”
No arrests have been made. The force added: “The investigation continues as officers review evidence, including video footage supplied by witnesses.”
Although the police statement refers to a “taser”, witnesses said the embassy guards appeared to be brandishing stun batons.
The investigation comes as nearly 20 human rights organisations, including Free Tibet, Hong Kong Watch and Stop Uyghur Genocide, wrote to the Prime Minister last week calling on the Government to seek a waiver of diplomatic immunity from the Chinese embassy so that the police investigation “may proceed unobstructed”.
According to the letter, seen by The i Paper, the organisations argue that every plausible route by which prohibited weapons could have entered the embassy – whether in diplomatic baggage that is exempt from customs searches, or through a purchase made in the UK – would raise questions of potentially unlawful conduct.
They also question what assurance the public can have “that nothing else prohibited under UK law is held there”.
The letter points to violence against a protester at the Chinese Consulate General in Manchester in 2022 as an earlier example of the difficulties faced by British authorities when allegations involve diplomatic personnel.
The Manchester confrontation took place during a demonstration against the Chinese government and was filmed by those at the scene. A protester was pulled through the consulate gates and into the grounds, where he was beaten, as other demonstrators attempted to intervene.
The Foreign Office summoned China’s most senior representative and demanded an explanation. Six Chinese diplomats subsequently left the UK after the Government requested that they be made available for questioning – meaning no charges were brought.
The episode became a test of how far diplomatic immunity could frustrate a UK police investigation.
Luke de Pulford, founder and executive director of the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China, said: “Again, China shows shocking contempt for our laws. Carrying stun sticks is illegal in the UK, but Chinese Communist Party (CCP) guards have them. The video footage is unequivocal.”
He warned that the police would struggle to exercise their powers because the embassy site is inviolable land, meaning authorities cannot enter without the ambassador’s permission.
“Those responsible must be prosecuted immediately, or named persona non grata and expelled,” de Pulford said.
The row over the Portland Place incident comes weeks after the High Court dismissed a separate legal challenge brought by residents of Royal Mint Court against the granting of planning permission for China’s vast new embassy near the Tower of London.
In a ruling handed down on 31 July, Lord Justice Dingemans and Mrs Justice Lieven found that the housing secretary under the Starmer government had lawfully considered national security and other risks in approving the scheme in January.
Royal Mint Court Residents’ Association, whose case argued that blacked-out rooms in the approved plans, and the site’s inaccessibility to emergency services under diplomatic inviolability, posed an unmanageable fire risk, is expected to seek to take the case to the Court of Appeal.
Conservative MP Tom Tugendhat, a former security minister, said: “The Government claims that China will obey planning rules for their new mega-embassy but even their guards aren’t obeying our laws, they’re carrying illegal weapons.”
The Chinese embassy were approached for comment.