Author: Fatimah Idera

A serving Metropolitan Police officer has been charged with multiple sex offences including rape. Pc Dion Arnold was charged with four counts of rape, two counts of assault by penetration and one count of sexual assault following an investigation by Surrey Police. The charges relate to a report made earlier this year and to offences that allegedly happened while Arnold, who is attached to South West Command Unit, was off duty. Arnold, who was arrested by the Surrey force on March 29, attended Guildford magistrates’ court on March 31 and was remanded in custody to next appear at Guildford…

UK-based kitchen and joinery supplier Howden Joinery said on Tuesday that Jackie Callaway will succeed Paul Hayes as the company’s new chief financial officer. Callaway, currently serving as the CFO of British thread manufacturer Coats Group is also set to join Howden as its board director on June 2. Hayes, who took on the role of Howden’s finance chief in late December 2020, will step down from both his position and his role as executive director on May 30. In February, the company reported disappointing annual profit and outlined plans to reduce its cost base in order to achieve profitability…

On Tuesday, April 8, the Duke of Sussex, 40, was seen arriving at the Royals Courts of Justice in central London for a two-day hearing as he appeals a High Court ruling regarding his security arrangements in the U.K. — a long-running legal battle that has contributed to ongoing tensions with his father, King Charles. Prince Harry, King Charles’ younger son, arrived at the Court of Appeal around an hour before the hearing started and looked relaxed and smiled briefly, giving a small wave to some of those looking on along the side of the court building. He entered the…

Donald Trump imposed tariffs on islands mostly inhabited by penguins so that countries could not use them as loopholes, an official revealed. Trump announced a 10% baseline tariff for all countries and reciprocal tariffs against approximately 60 countries that he says contribute most to the U.S. trade deficit. The decision to place levies on the Heard and McDonald Island, which have no human inhabitants, raised eyebrows last week as countries such as Russia, North Korea and Belarus were all spared by the US president. The US commerce secretary, Howard Lutnick told CBS: “What happens is, if you leave anything off…

Britain said it could consider closing hundreds of arms-length government agencies, as it looks to reform the state to cut costs and improve productivity in what it called “a new era of global instability”. Britain has over 300 hundreds of quangos, or quasi-autonomous non-governmental organizations which are taxpayer-funded but not controlled by ministers, and include public bodies such as the Health and Safety Executive, Network Rail and the Migration Advisory Committee. The government said in a statement on Monday that “every quango across government will be reviewed, with a view to close, merge or bring functions back into (government) departments…

UK house prices have suffered their steepest decline in a year as the market cools after a buyer rush to beat changes to stamp duty changes in England and Northern Ireland. The average price of a property fell by 0.5% last month to £296,699, the steepest decline in value since March last year, according to Halifax. It is the second consecutive month that house prices have fallen, as Britain’s biggest mortgage lender revised February’s decline from 0.1% to 0.2%. However, prices in March this year compared with the same month last year were up by 2.8%, the same pace of…

Britain has moved the Hartlepool nuclear power station in northeast England operated by France’s EDF into enhanced regulatory attention for safety, the Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR) said on Monday. In a statement relayed the ONR said the station remained safe to operate, the decision was made after areas for improvement were identified. EDF is seeking to extend the life of the plant by a further year to March 2027. The ONR said the higher scrutiny did not relate to EDF’s decision to extend the operating lifetime, which was subject to ongoing safety standards being demonstrated. The ONR’s Superintending Inspector…

British police on Friday charged Russell Brand with rape and sexual assault following an 18-month investigation sparked when four women alleged they had been assaulted by the controversial comedian. London’s Metropolitan Police force said Brand, 50, faces one count of rape, one of indecent assault, one of oral rape and two of sexual assault. Brand denied engaging in “non-consensual” sexual activity. The alleged offenses involve four women and took place between 1999 and 2005 — one in the English seaside town of Bournemouth and the other three in the Westminster area of central London. Brand, who was once one of…

Britain has completed a successful test of a new engine for hypersonic missiles in what marks a critical step for defence in Europe. The latest UK hypersonic research, which could see weapons travelling at several thousand miles per hour, has reached a landmark moment after it was established that the new engine would power a cutting-edge hypersonic cruise missile, covering greater ranges than a conventional rocket. The engine, which successfully demonstrated the performance of high-speed air-breathing – using air for combustion rather than a separate onboard oxygen device – is set to greatly advance the UK’s hypersonic weapon capabilities. The…

Russian sensors suspected of trying to spy on British nuclear submarines are reported to have been found hidden in the seas around the UK. The British military made the discovery after a number of them washed ashore and were located by the Royal Navy, minehunter ships. They are being seen as a potential threat to national security. The situation has not previously been made public but it has been reported and was looking to try and collect intelligence on the UK’s four Vanguard class submarines, which carry nuclear missiles. At least one of the submarines is at sea as part…