Latest news with #bodyguards
Telegraph
09-07-2025
- Politics
- Telegraph
Bodyguards ‘compromised Swedish PM's security' after uploading runs to Strava
Bodyguards for Sweden's prime minister have been accused of putting his security at risk after revealing his location by uploading their workouts on the fitness app Strava. The security service officers shared details of their runs and cycling routes on at least 35 occasions, exposing Ulf Kristersson's whereabouts, including where he goes jogging, his overnight trips and his private address, which is supposed to be secret. Strava shows a map that a person can post showing the route run or walked or the public location where they exercise. The Dagens Nyheter newspaper tracked more than 1,400 workouts carried out by seven bodyguards who were protecting people in government over the last year. The posts were made from locations around the world, including military bases in Mali, close to the Ukrainian border in Poland and New York's Central Park. On one occasion, a bodyguard posted details of a run in Norway when Mr Kristersson was meeting with Jonas Gahr Støre, the prime minister of Norway, and Alexander Stubb, the president of Finland. The Swedish bodyguard later posted a picture of the three leaders running together on social media. Another post revealed that the Mr Kristersson was in Åland, an autonomous region of Finland, on a private family trip in October last year. Dagens Nyheter linked other information uploaded to Strava to the Swedish royal family, a former prime minister and Jimmie Åkesson, the leader of the Sweden Democrats party. Sweden is plagued by gang violence and has the highest gun crime death rate in the European Union. Sweden's security service, Säpo, said it was taking the findings 'very seriously' and taking measures to prevent it happening again. A spokesman said: 'This is information that could be used to map the activities of the security service. In what way it could have had an impact we are now investigating. 'In this context it is also important to know that protection of our protected people is comprised of several layers, of which bodyguard protection is one. In our work we assume that certain information can be known in advance and measure protection based on that.' A government office spokesman said they 'do not comment on security surrounding current or former prime ministers or cabinet ministers'. Earlier this year, the newspaper Le Monde revealed that crew members of French nuclear submarines had given away their patrol schedules by sharing their workouts on Strava. Another Le Monde investigation in October found the whereabouts of Joe Biden, the then US president, and Emmanuel Macron, his French counterpart, could be traced because their agents used the app while on duty. In 2023, a Russian submarine commander was shot dead on his morning run after logging his route with Strava. Stanislav Rzhitskiy was found with four bullet wounds in his back near the Olimp sport complex in Krasnodar, southern Russia. The 42-year-old had commanded the Krasnodar submarine, named after the city, which forms a core part of Russia's Black Sea fleet.
The Guardian
08-07-2025
- Politics
- The Guardian
Swedish PM's private address revealed by Strava data shared by bodyguards
Secret service bodyguards have been accused of jeopardising the Swedish prime minister's safety over several years by sharing details of their running and cycling routes on the fitness app Strava. Ulf Kristersson's bodyguards appear to have inadvertently revealed his location, routes and movements – including details of hotels and his private addresses – by uploading their workouts to the app, making them publicly available. The Dagens Nyheter newspaper tracked more than 1,400 training activities carried out by seven bodyguards who have protected people in government positions over the past year. Their findings covered locations across the world – including close to the Ukrainian border in Poland, the seafront in Tel Aviv, ski slopes in the Alps, Central Park in New York, military bases in Mali and an island in the Seychelles. At least 35 times bodyguards shared information that directly linked to the prime minister and his regular locations including his private home, which is supposed to be kept secret. The routes also reportedly revealed Kristersson's own running routes and locations of overnight trips abroad, including a private family trip to Åland, an autonomous region of Finland, in October 2024. Movement patterns are understood to show how bodyguards move around the government offices in Stockholm and Harpsund, the prime minister's country retreat in Sörmland. The latest run from Harpsund was reportedly shared by a bodyguard just a few weeks ago. In June 2024, when Kristersson visited Bodø in Norway for a meeting with Jonas Gahr Støre, the Norwegian prime minister, and Alexander Stubb, the Finnish president, one of the bodyguards reportedly posted a run on Strava. A few months later, Kristersson posted a picture on Instagram of the three leaders running together. The sensitive information leaked on Strava was also found to involve other high-profile members of Swedish society, including the royal family, the leader of the Social Democrats and former prime minister Magdalena Andersson and the Sweden Democrats leader, Jimmie Åkesson. It is the latest in a string of security scandals faced by Kristersson's government after high-profile issues involving its attempts to hire a national security adviser. Open profiles on Strava have been a problem for security forces across the world. In 2023 a former Russian submarine commander was killed reportedly with the help of his open Strava profile and last year it was revealed bodyguards to several world leaders were sharing confidential information on the app. In 2017, Strava was accused of giving away the location and staffing of military bases and spy outposts around the world by publishing a map that showed all of its users' activity. Sweden's security service, Säpo, said they were taking the findings 'very seriously' and were investigating. A Säpo spokesperson said: 'This is information that could be used to map the activities of the security service. In what way it could have had an impact we are now investigating. 'In this context it is also important to know that protection of our protected people is comprised of several layers, of which bodyguard protection is one. In our work we assume that certain information can be known in advance and measure protection based on that.' They added: 'The security service is taking measures to prevent this from happening again.' The prime minister's office and the government office declined to comment. A government office spokesperson said they 'do not comment on security surrounding current or former prime ministers or cabinet ministers', referring all questions to Säpo. Strava did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The Guardian
08-07-2025
- Politics
- The Guardian
Swedish PM's safety jeopardised by Strava data shared by bodyguards
Secret service bodyguards have been accused of jeopardising the Swedish prime minister's safety over several years by sharing details of their running and cycling routes on the fitness app Strava. Ulf Kristersson's bodyguards appear to have inadvertently revealed his location, routes and movements – including details of hotels and his private addresses – by uploading their workouts to the app, making them publicly available. The Dagens Nyheter newspaper tracked more than 1,400 training activities carried out by seven bodyguards who have protected people in government positions over the past year. Their findings covered locations across the world – including close to the Ukrainian border in Poland, the seafront in Tel Aviv, ski slopes in the Alps, Central Park in New York, military bases in Mali and an island in the Seychelles. At least 35 times bodyguards shared information that directly linked to the prime minister and his regular locations including his private home, which is supposed to be kept secret. The routes also reportedly revealed Kristersson's own running routes and locations of overnight trips abroad, including a private family trip to Åland, an autonomous region of Finland, in October 2024. Movement patterns are understood to show how bodyguards move around the government offices in Stockholm and Harpsund, the prime minister's country retreat in Sörmland. The latest run from Harpsund was reportedly shared by a bodyguard just a few weeks ago. In June 2024, when Kristersson visited Bodø in Norway for a meeting with Jonas Gahr Støre, the Norwegian prime minister, and Alexander Stubb, the Finnish president, one of the bodyguards reportedly posted a run on Strava. A few months later, Kristersson posted a picture on Instagram of the three leaders running together. The sensitive information leaked on Strava was also found to involve other high-profile members of Swedish society, including the royal family, the leader of the Social Democrats and former prime minister Magdalena Andersson and the Sweden Democrats leader, Jimmie Åkesson. It is the latest in a string of security scandals faced by Kristersson's government after high-profile issues involving its attempts to hire a national security adviser. Open profiles on Strava have been a problem for security forces across the world. In 2023 a former Russian submarine commander was killed reportedly with the help of his open Strava profile and last year it was revealed bodyguards to several world leaders were sharing confidential information on the app. In 2017, Strava was accused of giving away the location and staffing of military bases and spy outposts around the world by publishing a map that showed all of its users' activity. Sweden's security service, Säpo, said they were taking the findings 'very seriously' and were investigating. A Säpo spokesperson said: 'This is information that could be used to map the activities of the security service. In what way it could have had an impact we are now investigating. 'In this context it is also important to know that protection of our protected people is comprised of several layers, of which bodyguard protection is one. In our work we assume that certain information can be known in advance and measure protection based on that.' They added: 'The security service is taking measures to prevent this from happening again.' The prime minister's office and the government office declined to comment. A government office spokesperson said they 'do not comment on security surrounding current or former prime ministers or cabinet ministers', referring all questions to Säpo. Strava did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The Australian
15-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Australian
P Diddy trial: Lawyer for Sean ‘Diddy' Combs grills star witness Cassie Ventura over ‘freak offs'
A lawyer for Sean 'Diddy' Combs on Thursday argued that singer Cassie Ventura was so deeply in love with the music mogul that she willingly participated in days-long, drug-fuelled sex parties. During the cross examination of Ventura, who is prosecutors' star witness, Combs lawyer Anna Estevao and the singer read for the jury a series of BlackBerry messages exchanged by the couple. In one 2009 message, Combs asks Ventura when she wanted to have a 'freak off,' or sex session during which Combs would watch her have sex with a male escort. 'I'm always ready to freak off, LOLOL,' said Ventura, 38 years old, reading her reply from the witness stand. The pair then discussed scheduling the freak off, with Ventura saying that a Friday night would be best so they could recover for the workweek. Combs's lawyer then displayed an explicit message Ventura wrote to Combs. 'I can't wait to watch you,' said Estevao, reading a message from Combs. 'I want you to get real hot.' Ventura, who is eight-and-a-half months pregnant, then asked the judge for a break. Thursday was the third day on the stand for Ventura. Prosecutors have accused Combs of running a criminal enterprise for two decades with the help of his bodyguards and other high-ranking employees. They said that he physically abused and sexually exploited Ventura for years, and forced her to have sex with male escorts during elaborately choreographed group sex sessions. Under questioning by a prosecutor earlier this week, Ventura told jurors that Combs used threats and violence to control her. Lawyers for Combs have acknowledged his 'swinger' lifestyle and violent behaviour, but said his alleged victims were adults who chose to take part in the sexual activity. Combs, 55, has pleaded not guilty to sex trafficking and other offences. Thursday's cross-examination is key to the defence's argument that the sexual activity was consensual, not coerced. Defence attorneys are also expected to highlight a $20-million settlement of a lawsuit Ventura filed against Combs in 2023. Earlier Thursday, defence lawyer Estevao showed jurors a series of messages Combs and Ventura exchanged in the early years of their relationship. Ventura told the jury that Combs was sweet and attentive, and she wanted to make her boyfriend happy. 'You and Sean Combs were in love for 11 years, right?' Estevao asked Ventura. 'Yeah,' replied Ventura softly. Some of the messages showed she craved more time with Combs, whom she calls 'Pop pop.' 'I haven't talked to you at all,' she wrote in 2010. 'I know you can take three minutes out of your day to talk to me and you don't even try.' The Wall Street Journal Iran had said after last weekend's talks there were still significant differences between the two sides. The Wall Street Journal The major US retailer, which counts 90pc of Americans as customers, plans to raise prices this month with other retailers likely will follow.
Daily Mail
14-05-2025
- Daily Mail
How the world's most dangerous country attracts 90,000 tourists every year due to worrying TikTok trend
A worrying new travel trend has seen thousands of thrill-seekers heading to one of the most dangerous countries on Earth - all in the name of fresh, trailblazing TikTok content. Libya, a country in North Africa torn apart by years of political unrest and armed conflict, is now attracting around 90,000 tourists every year. While most Brits are happy lounging on beaches in Spain or Turkey, a growing group of adventurous travellers are swapping poolside cocktails for 'undiscovered ruins' and local culture - with a side of bodyguards and military checkpoints. Fuelled by viral videos on social media showing off an aesthetic of rustic desert landscapes and 'hidden gem' UNESCO sites, so-called danger tourists are ignoring official advice - and heading straight into one of the globe's most unstable nations. Hudson and Emily are a travel-obsessed couple among those who've made the trip. On a mission to visit every country in the world, with only two countries left before they hit their 198 target, the pair ticked off Libya in 2024 and described their experience as surprisingly safe. Speaking to the Mirror, they said: 'Our bodyguard was very serious about his job; he would even follow us to the bathroom. I honestly never would have imagined we'd get to see some of these countries and I just feel so grateful.' The couple praised the stunning ruins of Leptis Magna, the 'beautiful' streets of Tripoli, and the friendliness of the locals they met. But despite photos and videos across the internet shining a spotlight on the Maghreb nation's overlooked traditions, architecture and culinary scene, not everyone is convinced it's a good idea to organise a getaway just yet. The UK Foreign Office currently advises against all travel to most of Libya, warning of terrorist attacks, kidnappings, and fighting between armed groups. In some parts of the country, they say violence can break out without warning - and British travellers are also told not to expect much help if things go wrong, as the nearest embassy support is in Tunisia. The FDCO warned on the Gov UK site: 'Attacks could be indiscriminate, including in places visited by foreigners. 'British people and nationals of other western countries are considered high-value hostages. Government buildings and security checkpoints have also been targeted in recent years, leading to deaths.' In recent years, there have been several bombings and deadly clashes, such as in 2022, when three people were injured in a car bombing by Islamic State. The year before, two separate attacks killed four people in Libya's south, and in 2023, fighting in Tripoli killed 55 people and shut down the capital's airport. Since the fall of dictator Muammar Gaddafi in 2011, Libya has been stuck in a power struggle. Despite photos and videos across the internet shining a spotlight on the Maghreb nation's overlooked traditions, architecture and culinary scene, not everyone is convinced it's a good idea to organise a getaway just yet Even now, there are rival governments, foreign fighters on the ground, and regular clashes that make the country anything but stable. However, for some tourists, the risk is part of the appeal, as thousands of travellers share videos showing dramatic desert landscapes, ancient cities and 'hidden' tourist spots that rack up millions of views on TikTok. Some travellers say these places are misunderstood, insisting that if you're careful, Libya is safe - but experts have warned tourists to keep in mind the nation is an active conflict zone before planning a trip. Read here for more information on the risks of travelling to Libya as a British national.
