The amount of explosives discovered in Serbia last week would not have been enough to destroy the Balkan Stream gas pipeline, prompting an expert to conclude it was probably a Russian intelligence plot aimed at influencing Hungary’s impending election.

A former Ukrainian major general and a munitions specialist told the Guardian calculations made by his company showed the 4kg of explosives recovered by Serbia’s military security agency in Kanjiža could not have seriously ruptured the pipe.

Experts from his firm, Andromeda, analysed the steel and polypropylene connection, which carries Russian gas to Hungary, passing through Turkey, Bulgaria and Serbia, and calculated the amount of explosive they believed to cause serious damage.

To succeed, a significantly greater amount would have been required, Mykola Zentsev said, supplying an estimate in private. “Four kilograms is not sufficient to put the gas pipeline to a standstill,” said Zentsev.

Even if optimally placed, 4kg of plastic explosive “would likely result only in localised damage or limited penetration, which could be repaired within a few days without causing long-term disruption of supply,” he added.

“This does not align with the objective of a classical act of sabotage, which aims to disable infrastructure for weeks or months,” Zentsev concluded, supporting “the conclusion that the incident was likely a provocation”.

On Sunday, Hungary’s prime minister, Viktor Orbán, said he had been informed by Serbia’s president, Aleksandar Vučić, about the discovery of the explosives. Hungary’s foreign minister, Péter Szijjártó, hinted that Ukraine could be responsible in what he described as “an attack on our sovereignty”.

The incident was picked up widely in the media before Hungary’s election on Sunday in which the pro-Russian Orbán is lagging in the polls and fighting for his political survival.

Péter Magyar, the leader of Hungary’s opposition, accused Orbán of “attempting to instil fear in his own people through false-flag operations” and following “the advice of Russian agents”. Ukraine denied being involved, a conclusion endorsed by the chief of Serbia’s Military Security Agency, responsible for the investigation.

Zentsev argued that, in his opinion, “the primary beneficiaries are likely the current Hungarian government, which gains an additional political advantage ahead of elections, and Russia, which seeks to use such incidents to discredit Ukraine in the eyes of the civilised world”.

Under Orbán, Hungary is one of the few EU countries that has chosen to remain close to Russia, buying its gas and oil. Budapest also blocked the approval of a €90bn loan to Ukraine in March after a dispute with Kyiv over repairs to the separate Druzhba oil pipeline, a section of which runs through Ukraine into eastern Europe.

Serbia’s Vučić said last Sunday that the explosives could have “endangered many lives” and caused significant damage to the Balkan Stream pipeline. They were found in two backpacks in Kanjiža, “a few hundred metres from the gas pipeline”.

However, Zentsev said from the public evidence it did not appear any effort had been made to place the explosives on the pipeline itself – and the Ukrainian, close to the country’s security services, said he believed that the incident was probably a false-flag operation conducted by Russia’s GRU military intelligence.

“This meets the standards of the GRU,” said Zentsev, reflecting the incident’s military dimension. Last month, Magyar accused Orbán of inviting GRU agents to help him with his attempted re-election. The Russian embassy in Budapest denied this, describing suggestions of GRU involvement as “openly false information”.

California Republicans this weekend will vote to endorse their pick for California governor in the race to succeed term-limited Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom.

The vote, this Sunday in San Diego at the California GOP’s annual convention, comes a week after President Donald Trump took sides between the two major Republican candidates in the race, backing conservative commentator and former Fox News Channel host Steve Hilton over Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco.

Trump, whose endorsements are extremely influential in GOP primaries, argued in his endorsement statement that California had “gone to hell” and that “Steve can turn it around, before it is too late, and, as President, I will help him to do so!”

The president’s support for Hilton is expected to pay immediate dividends at the state GOP convention.

HERE’S WHO TRUMP IS BACKING IN THE GOLDEN STATE GUBERNATORIAL SHOWDOWN

Republican governor candidate Steve Hilton speaks to press during Huntington Beach City Attorney Michael Gates press event at Huntington Beach on Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2026, in Huntington Beach, California. Huntington Beach City Attorney Michael Gates announced his run for California attorney general. (Kayla Bartkowski/Los Angeles Times)

“I think it definitely can help rally the base behind a candidate and generate some noise and some enthusiasm,” California Republican Party chairwoman Corrin Rankin told Fox News Digital.

Bianco is a loyal Trump supporter who has plenty of friends and support among California Republican insiders. But Trump’s endorsement of Hilton, a top adviser to then-British Prime Minister David Cameron a decade and a half ago before moving to the U.S. and becoming an American citizen in 2021, may boost him at the GOP convention, where backing from 60% of delegates is needed to land the party’s endorsement.

But Bianco, the sheriff who recently grabbed plenty of national attention for seizing ballots in Riverside County, appeared defiant.

“For too long, politicians and insiders from Sacramento to Washington have tried to pick our leaders for us. That’s not leadership, that’s a coronation, and it’s exactly how we ended up with the failed leadership Californians are living with today,” he said in a social media video. “This election belongs to the people, not the political class.”

TOUGH ON CRIME REPUBLICAN SHERIFF LAUNCHES BID FOR CALIFORNIA GOVERNOR

Sheriff Chad Bianco of Riverside County speaks during a news conference at the U.S. Capitol on May 15, 2024, in Washington, DC. This week marks National Police Week, which sees thousands of police officers from departments across the country coming to Washington DC to honor law enforcement who died in the line of duty. (Kent Nishimura/Getty Images)

Trump’s endorsement may have another unintended consequence.

Candidates from both major political parties appear on the same ballot in the left-leaning state’s June primary, with the top two finishers advancing to November’s general election.

Some Democrats were concerned that with nine candidates in the race, support among Democratic voters would be so badly divided in the primary that no contender would reach the general election. Hilton and Bianco had been the top two candidates in some public opinion polls, giving some in the GOP hope of a final face-off between two Republicans.

That scenario may be less likely now, as Hilton’s support is expected to rise and Bianco’s drop in light of the president’s endorsement. Polling in the past week gave a hint of a Hilton surge.

“Trump kills any GOP hopes of an R vs R runoff in the California governor’s race,” Rob Pyers of California Target Book, which describes itself as a non-partisan and unbiased political almanac, wrote last week in a social media post.

MEDIA PERSONALITY STEVE HILTON ENTERS CALIFORNIA GUBERNATORIAL RACE

Trump’s endorsement of Hilton has sent shock waves through California’s Republican Party.  (Alex Brandon/AP)

But Hilton dismissed as a pipe dream talk of shutting out the Democrats from the general election ballot.

“That scenario of two Republicans [making the general election ballot], I’ve been saying this for months, was always a fantasy,” Hilton said on Fox Business’ “The Bottom Line.” “The idea that the Democrat machine in California was just going to hand over the state to two Republicans was never serious. It was never, never going to happen.”

He further argued, “What was more likely was actually…you were going to have two Democrats in the top two and then we’ll have no chance of change. So this really makes sure that we have a Republican in the top two.”

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No Republican has won a statewide election in California since then-Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s 2006 re-election victory.

And with the president’s approval rating in California hovering in the 30s, Trump’s endorsement will likely do Hilton no favors if he makes it onto the November ballot.

Here are the three best places to live outside Cambridge

Cambridge was recently named as one of the best places to live in the UK by the Sunday Times. While Cambridge is a beautiful city to live in thanks to its many restaurants on offer and independent shops to explore, there are plenty of other areas in the county that could battle for the title of best place to live.

Whether you are looking for a smaller city to call home or a village surrounded by the countryside, Cambridgeshire has options for whatever you need. Outside Cambridge, there are so many places to see with cafés to relax in, outdoor spots to enjoy, great schools for kids, and activities to get involved in.

CambridgeshireLive asked our readers to share where they think is the best place to live in the county aside from Cambridge. These three places came out on top as the best places to live outside Cambridge.

3. St Ives

Unlike its coastal counterpart, St Ives in Cambridgeshire is not next to the sea but many people still love living there. People who live in the town or are just visiting love the historic centre and the beautiful views of the River Great Ouse you can enjoy.

St Ives also has an impressive range of restaurants including the Teller’s Table and the Whisky Café with a new Sushi and Salad location coming in June. If you want to live in St Ives, the average house price in the area is £319,989, according to Rightmove.

2. Ely

In second place is the city of Ely. The city is steeped in as much history as Cambridge, as the foundations of the area date back to 673. It was once the home of Oliver Cromwell between 1636 to 1646 after he inherited St Mary’s vicarage.

Ely has plenty of things to see and do such as taking a trip to the market, where you can find a range of fresh produce and homemade gifts, and visiting the historic Ely Cathedral. Rightmove says houses in the city cost an average of £382,047.

1. Waterbeach

In the top spot is a village not too far away from Cambridge. Waterbeach is an easy 30-minute drive or nine-minute train ride away from the city, offering people a quieter place to live while still being close to the action in Cambridge.

The village has a few different pubs including the Bridge, which is known for its riverside views and Sunday roasts, and Boswell Bakery where you can pick up a range of pastries and rolls. Properties in Waterbeach are slightly more expensive at an average cost of £451,447.

Putin’s shadow fleet sailors may be able to claim asylum if Britain seizes their ships in the English Channel, ministers have warned.

Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper and Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood are understood to have raised concerns to this effect, according to The Telegraph.

It is feared apprehending the Russian tankers could allow sailors brought ashore by British forces to make use of the UK asylum system, according to Whitehall sources. 

Many of the seamen onboard are mercenaries hired by the Kremlin who could argue they were at risk of persecution if they returned to Russia or their home country.

Foreign nationals arriving in Britain are eligible to claim asylum if they are at risk of persecution, including because of the ‘political situation’ where they come from. 

These rules also apply to small boat migrants, who are often rescued by the RNLI or Border Force in the Channel and brought ashore to have asylum claims processed. 

If the shadow fleet sailors had their claims rejected, they could appeal the decision under the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR), which can take years. 

It is thought Russia may have placed spies on the tankers in hopes the vessels will be intercepted and the agents brought onto UK shores. 

It is feared apprehending the Russian tankers could allow sailors brought ashore by British forces to make use of the UK asylum system, according to Whitehall sources. Pictured: The US Coast Guard pursues and seizes Russian tanker Bella 1 in January 

Many of the seamen onboard are mercenaries hired by the Kremlin who could argue they were at risk of persecution if they returned to Russia or their home country. Pictured: The US Coast Guard shadows runaway Russian tanker Bella 1 earlier this year 

It is thought Russia may have placed spies on the tankers in hopes the vessels will be intercepted and the agents brought onto UK shores. Pictured: File photo of a tanker 

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has faced increasing pressure in recent days to tackle sanctioned Russian naval traffic passing through British waters. 

He promised last month to ‘go after’ the ships, insisting special forces and officers from the National Crime Agency would board and impound the vessels. 

But despite his assurances, it has been revealed this week a shadow fleet tanker was able to travel through the Channel, escorted by a Russian frigate. 

Three more sanctioned tankers then sailed through the British waterway the following day. 

The Royal Navy has not yet seized any ships, on the legal advice of the Attorney General, Lord Hermer, who warned it could breach international human rights law. 

Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch said: ‘A legal system, defended by our lawyer-in-chief Keir Starmer, that allows asylum claims from Russian mercenaries is simply not fit for purpose.

‘We need to put our national interest first and that means leaving the ECHR, because we know, having tried everything else, that nothing else will work to make our borders stronger.’ 

Ms Cooper and Ms Mahmood are understood to be working on a solution to the legal loophole to allow the navy to seize ships without letting crews remain in Britain. 

They first raised concerns in January, when the US seized Russian tanker Bella 1 in UK waters. 

American authorities arrested the captain and first mate – but 26 other sailors were briefly sent to an army reserve centre in Inverness.

The men, variously from Russia, Ukraine, Chile and Bulgaria, were processed by Border Face at the base before being flown out of the UK. 

But officials and government lawyers are concerned any similar arrivals could find a way to legally remain in Britain under immigration laws. 

The US faced claims the capture was illegal – but the White House insisted the seizure was legitimate. No legal action has been brought over the incident. 

British authorities are also understood to be examining how France has dealt with the issue when apprehending tankers in the Mediterranean. 

Government insiders said the Ministry of Defence would need to meet a high legal threshold to be able to start a raid in the Channel. 

Without this, officials would likely face legal action at an international maritime tribunal. 

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer (pictured, on a tour of the Gulf this week) has faced increasing pressure in recent days to tackle sanctioned Russian naval traffic passing through British waters 

The Russian frigate Admiral Grigorovich (pictured, file photo) was seen accompanying two ‘shadow fleet’ vessels past Britain’s south coast on Wednesday 

Defence Secretary John Healey (pictured in January) confessed on Thursday there was ‘more we can do’ to stop the shadow fleet 

Opponents have claimed Labour has been too slow to act, allowing Russian president Vladimir Putin to transport oil and gas for selling to allies including China and Iran. 

Defence Secretary John Healey confessed on Thursday there was ‘more we can do’ to stop the shadow fleet. 

But he said the Kremlin’s decision to escort tankers with warships showed Britain had successfully diverted Russian resources away from the war in Ukraine. 

A Ministry of Defence spokesman said: ‘We will not comment on specific operational planning or give a running commentary as this could compromise our ability to successfully take action against these ships, only benefitting our adversaries.

‘In general terms, any target ship will be individually considered by law enforcement, military and energy market specialists before an operation is executed.’

It comes after the Russian frigate Admiral Grigorovich was seen accompanying two ‘shadow fleet’ vessels past Britain’s south coast on Wednesday. 

The ‘senior service’ was only able to rustle up a support ship to watch them head for the Black Sea.

Last month, Sir Keir gave approval for Britain’s commandos to board and halt shadow fleet vessels as they pass through UK waters. 

The move came as part of his commitment to pursuing the sanction-breaking ships ‘even harder’.

But according to The Telegraph, RFA Tideforce, an auxiliary tanker armed with only light defensive weapons, simply followed the flotilla past Dover without intervening.

It came as the prime minister was branded ‘all mouth and no trousers’ on defence by Tory leader Mrs Badenoch.

She accused the PM, who went on a tour of the Gulf this week, of posturing on the world stage over the Middle East war while failing to rearm Britain.

Fears have been raised in recent weeks about the state of the Navy, after Iran hit an RAF base in Cyprus in retaliatory strikes following attacks by the US and Israel. 

Officials were only able to rustle up a single ship to send to the Mediterranean to protect the country – and it arrived three weeks late.

Mrs Badenoch said: ‘At a time of war in Europe and war in the Middle East, at a time when those conflicts are affecting every family across Britain, at a time when Britain’s place in the world is in flux, our Government literally doesn’t have a plan.’

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Two teenagers have died in a crash after the car they were travelling in left a road bridge and crashed into a minibus on the motorway below.

Emergency services were called to the scene of the crash at 1.33pm on Friday after a report that a blue car travelling on Gilmorton Lane towards Lutterworth, Leicestershire, had fallen off the road bridge onto the M1 carriageway.

A spokesperson for Leicestershire Police said the car had also collided with a white Fiat Ducato that was travelling southbound on the M1.

The two people in the blue car, both teenagers, were pronounced dead at the scene.

Four people in the minibus, including the driver and three women, were taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

The driver has since been discharged and the women remain in hospital, officers said on Friday.

Leicestershire Police have asked anyone who was driving on Gilmorton Lane or on the M1 in the area of junction 20 at about 1.30pm on Friday to get in touch.

Anyone with dashcam footage or who saw either vehicle before the collision is asked to contact the police.

You can contact the force on 101, quoting incident number 308 of 10 April or visit Making a road traffic incident report | Leicestershire Police

Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service and East Midlands Ambulance Service also attended the scene.

The UK government has been forced to shelve its legislation to hand the Chagos Islands back to Mauritius, after the US dropped its support for the agreement.

On Friday, UK government officials acknowledged that they had run out of time to pass legislation within the current parliamentary session, which ends in the coming weeks.

The latest setback in the UK’s push to hand the Chagos Islands back to Mauritius, which hosts a joint US-UK Diego Garcia military base, is a sign of the worsening US-UK relations after Donald Trump’s heavy criticism of Keir Starmer over his handling of the Iran war.

The US president has previously criticised the plan, which is backed by the US state department, telling Starmer he was “making a big mistake” by handing sovereignty of the islands to Mauritius in exchange for the UK and US being allowed to continue using their airbase.

However, earlier in February Trump had described it as the “best” deal the prime minister could make in the circumstances. The US president also endorsed the handover when Starmer visited the White House last year.

Under the deal, the UK would cede sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius, and lease the largest island of the achipelago, Diego Garcia, for 99 years to continue operating the joint military base there.

The US had not formally exchanged letters to amend a 1966 British-American treaty on islands that is understood to have forced the UK to drop its bill.

Now, a new Chagos bill is not expected to feature in the king’s speech in May, where the government’s agenda for the coming parliament is revealed.

In February, the Guardian reported Trump changed his mind on supporting the deal because the UK would not permit its airbases to be used for a pre-emptive US strike on Iran.

Last month, Iran struck the joint military base after warning British lives were in danger, after Starmer authorised the US to carry out further strikes from British bases.

At the time, Hamish Falconer, a Foreign Office minister and former diplomat, had told MPs that discussions with American counterparts were paused and that the ongoing process through parliament in relation to the treaty would be brought back at an appropriate time.

Starmer has allowed US forced to use UK bases, such as Diego Garcia, only for defensive missions against Iran. This month, he faced increase pressure to limit access after Trump threatened “a whole civilisation” would die if Iran ignored his demands, before a ceasefire was later agreed.

In an effort to contain the confusion surrounding Falconer’s comments, the Foreign Office said there was no pause or set deadline, and timings would be announced “in the usual way”.

The government has been approached for comment.