Chinese embassy: ‘Alarm bells’ over security fears for London mega-site January 16, 2025 MPs have warned of “serious alarm bells” for the UK’s security over reports senior cabinet ministers have intervened on a Chinese planning application for a huge new London embassy. Foreign secretary David Lammy, who visited China last year, and home secretary Yvette Cooper have indicated their support for the proposed new 20,000 square metre mega-site [...]
UK Athletics faces £20m blow after manslaughter charge January 8, 2025 UK Athletics is staring down the barrel of a huge £20m fine after the cash-strapped track and field governing body was charged with corporate manslaughter. The Crown Prosecution Service charged UK Athletics over the death of Abdullah Hayayei, a Paralympian from the United Arab Emirates, after a metal throwing cage fell on him while training [...]
Civil servants to take indefinite industrial action after being ordered back to office January 8, 2025 Indefinite industrial action is to be taken by thousands of civil servants working at the Land Registry in a dispute over office attendance. Around 4,000 members of the Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS) based in 14 offices across England and Wales will take part in the action from 21 January. The union said its [...]
Man arrested on suspicion of attempted murder after car hits pedestrians in London’s West End December 25, 2024 A man has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder after pedestrians were hit by a car in London’s West End in the early hours of Christmas Day. The Metropolitan Police said officers were called at 00.45am following reports of a collision and a car driving on the wrong side of the road on Shaftesbury [...]
Fraud watchdog makes arrest in collapsed Arena Television probe December 17, 2024 The Serious Fraud Office (SFO) has arrested a man in connection to its investigation into the collapsed broadcaster Arena Television
UK takes down multibillion-dollar Russian crypto laundering network December 4, 2024 The UK’s National Crime Agency (NCA) has smashed a multibillion-dollar Russian money laundering scheme which operated in Britain and had ties to the Kremlin. Investigators said on Wednesday that uncovering the Russian-speaking network, run out of London, Moscow and Dubai, marked the NCAs biggest money laundering case for a decade. The investigation was given the [...]
Mohamed Al Fayed ‘manipulated’ Harrods managers to hide alleged sexual abuse November 30, 2024 A former Harrods director, who worked in Al Fayed’s private office for 18 months, told BBC News the former boss would sack those he could not control.
Louise Haigh quits as transport secretary after admitting to fraud conviction November 29, 2024 Louise Haigh has resigned as transport secretary after admitting pleading guilty to a criminal offence tied to her incorrectly telling police that a work mobile phone was stolen in 2013. Downing Street said Swindon South MP Heidi Alexander had been appointed to replace her. Haigh said in a letter to prime minister Keir Starmer on [...]
Police carry out ‘controlled explosion’ at US embassy in London’s Nine Elms November 22, 2024 A “controlled explosion” has been carried out by Metropolitan Police officers outside the US embassy in Nine Elms, London. It followed reports of a suspicious package outside the embassy. The police said in a statement: “We’re aware of speculation online about an incident in the vicinity of the US Embassy in Nine Elms. “Cordons are in place in the area as a [...]
Tractors circle Westminster as farmers protest inheritance tax rise November 19, 2024 Thousands of farmers marched on Westminster today in protest against the government’s plans to impose inheritance tax on farms. The Chancellor Rachel Reeves has been urged to meet with representatives from the industry after she unveiled plans in the Budget to impose inheritance tax (IHT) on farms worth more than £1m from April 2026. The [...]