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…

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…

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…

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.…

Tensions between the United Kingdom and Israel have escalated after Israeli authorities detained and deported two British Members of Parliament who sought to visit the occupied West Bank. The incident has prompted sharp criticism from UK officials and renewed scrutiny of British Israeli relations under the Labour government. The MPs, Abtisam Mohamed and Yuan Yang, were stopped upon arrival at Israel’s Ben Gurion International Airport. They were questioned and subsequently…

David Lammy has attacked Kemi Badenoch over “cheerleading” for Israel after it denied entry to two Labour MPs. Yuan Yang and Abtisam Mohamed were deported on Saturday, after the Israeli immigration ministry said they planned to spread “anti-Israel hatred.” The decision was labelled “unacceptable” by Mr Lammy, the Foreign Secretary, who said he had raised it with his Israeli counterparts. But Mrs Badenoch defended Israel’s right to deny the MPs…

U.K. prime minister promises to “turbocharge” plans to improve the U.K.’s competitiveness this week. U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer said his government is ready to use industrial policy to mitigate the impact of the tariffs that the Trump administration just imposed, adding that all options are being considered in Britain’s response. “We stand ready to use industrial policy to help shelter British business from the storm,” Starmer wrote in an…

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…

Sneaky fees estimated to cost consumers £2.2 billion a year are to be banned from today (Sunday) under new UK consumer protection laws. Businesses, including travel websites, ticket agencies and food delivery apps, will be required to include any mandatory fees in the headline price. Research has found these fees can be more than 25% of the product price. The ban comes into force under reforms in the Digital Markets,…

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…

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…

Anti-abortion campaigner Livia Tossici-Bolt was convicted for protesting outside a Bournemouth clinic, despite support from the White House A pro-life activist backed by the White House has said she is fighting for free speech. Livia Tossici-Bolt, 64, was convicted on Friday for protesting outside an abortion clinic by holding a sign that read: “Here to talk if you want to.” The mother of three was handed a two-year conditional discharge and ordered…