All news by author Thomas Brown

677
Woman suspected of spying for Moscow interrogated over kidnapping plot
Katrin Ivanova, giving evidence in UK court, pressed by prosecutor over her response to partner’s message.
688
Betrayed allies: The Afghan Taliban’s defection against Pakistan and the rising threat of a new war
The Taliban has officially accused Pakistani authorities of supporting ISIS — this at a time when armed clashes along the Afghan-Pakistani border are escalating rapidly.
757
200 UK companies commit to a permanent four-day working week
More than 5,000 workers to benefit from reduced hours with no loss of pay.
938
Bulgarian police ’hindered rescue’ of teenage migrants who succumbed to freezing temperatures
Report by rights groups alleges border police refused to rescue boys and blocked activists’ efforts to save them.
651
Trump and Starmer have their first phone call since the inauguration, agreeing to meet soon
Sir Keir Starmer shared his first phone call with President Donald Trump on Sunday, almost a week after he entered office.
658
Search for missing British sailor off French coast ends
The search for a British sailor missing in the Bay of Biscay off the coast of France has been suspended.
730
Sinead O’Connor’s will disclosed her estate left to her children, along with her unique burial requests and wishes for her ashes
Singer Sinead O’Connor left her children £1.7million — and urged them to “milk” sales of her music.
691
Azim Roy and Pavel Te: How the Kyrgyz businessman helps the Russian developer evade sanctions
“CrossPointe Management” of Azim Roy is part of the CrossPointe Group of companies, which funnels money out of Russia, helping to bypass sanctions.
753
Ledger co-founder David Balland abducted and tortured; suspects arrested
French authorities have detained seven individuals following the violent abduction of David Balland, co-founder of cryptocurrency security firm Ledger.
738
Israeli soldiers reunited with families after being freed from Hamas captivity
IDF releases pictures of Liri Albag, Daniella Gilboa, Naama Levy and Karina Ariev being reunited with their families
744
Man sentenced to 21 years for assaulting baby, leaving the infant profoundly disabled
A man who carried out a ‘monstrous’ attack on an eight week old baby, leaving the infant with profound disabilities, has been jailed for 21 years.
686
Teenagers killed in Wakefield car accident: Police urge public for dashcam footage
Three teenagers, one aged 18 and two aged 19, have died after a car hit a tree near Wakefield on Friday evening, West Yorkshire Police said
706
Belgium arrests 14-year-old with far-right links for alleged mosque attack plot
A 14-year-old, reportedly influenced by far-right movements, was arrested in Brussels on Friday for allegedly planning an attack on a mosque.
828
Rudakubana faces isolation and risk as "No.1 target" in notorious UK prison
Axel Rudakubana has been detained at the 900-capacity HMP Belmarsh in southeast London, where he will wear a paper jumpsuit to prevent self-harm in his small cell.
773
Saudi Arabia’s purchase of Russian air defense system continues despite sanctions
Russia has been exporting arms to countries including Saudi Arabia, bolstering its economy after a barrage of sanctions followed its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
941
The Holme in Regent’s Park sells for £139m, well below £250m asking price
The Holme in Regent’s Park, which has 40 bedrooms, was put on the market two years ago for £250m
704
Hamas names four more Israeli hostages set for release under Gaza ceasefire deal
Hamas has released the names of the latest hostages expected to be freed as part of the first phase of the Gaza ceasefire deal.
833
"Soho has lost its vibrancy": G-A-Y Bar owner Jeremy Joseph sells after battles with local opposition
An iconic LGBTQ+ London venue is up for sale after the owner has said he is fed up with Nimbys and licensing restrictions ‘ruining Soho’.
597
Exclusive $300 million doomsday bunker to open in 2026 for the ultra-wealthy
A luxurious members-only ’doomsday’ bunker featuring swimming pools, AI-driven healthcare and glamorous suites is set to open in 2026.
925
UK government signs £9 billion deal with Rolls-Royce to power nuclear submarines
A deal worth around £9 billion has been struck with Rolls-Royce by the Government to help power Britain’s nuclear submarines.
781
Ukraine arrests armed forces psychiatrist for illegal enrichment, seizing over $1 million in assets
Ukraine arrests psychiatrist who amassed wealth while deciding whether individuals were fit for military.
850
Colombian special forces deployed amid deadly clashes over cocaine province
Special forces deployed to province engulfed in a war between armed groups over control of cocaine province. Dozens of civilians have been killed and thousands forced to flee.
898
EU trade chief suggests UK could join Pan-Euro-Mediterranean convention
The European Union’s new trade chief responsible for post-Brexit negotiations has told the BBC that a "pan-European [customs] area is something we could consider" as part of "reset" discussions between the UK and EU.
701
UK government borrowing hits £17.8bn in December, well above forecasts
Increase to £17.8bn is well above City forecasts and is highest December figure for four years
791
Donald Trump issues ultimatum to Putin over Ukraine war: ’It will only get worse’
US President Donald Trump has threatened Russia with steep tariffs and sanctions if the war in Ukraine does not come to an end soon.