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The day after U.K. police charged three men with assisting Hong Kong’s intelligence service, China’s ambassador to Britain was summoned for an official reprimand by the British foreign ministry in the latest sign of growing tension between London and Beijing. The British government said that it had called the ambassador, Zheng Zeguang, to its Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office after the three men appeared in court on Monday. The Foreign Office said in a statement that it had been “unequivocal in setting out that the recent pattern of behavior directed by China against the U.K.” was not acceptable. It cited cyberattacks, alleged espionage and the issuing of bounties for information leading to the prosecution of dissidents who fled Hong Kong after its crackdown on the pro-democracy movement and resettled in Britain. The three men who appeared at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Monday have been charged with gathering intelligence for Hong Kong, a former British colony which is a special administrative region of China, and of forcing entry into a U.K. residential address.

Persons: Hong, Zheng Zeguang, ”, cyberattacks Organizations: Foreign, Commonwealth, Development, U.K, ’ Locations: Britain, British, London, Beijing, China, Hong Kong, Westminster

Hong Kong CNN —Hong Kong’s leader responded on Tuesday after three people were charged by British police for allegedly spying on behalf of the city’s intelligence services. Relations between Hong Kong and its former colonial ruler Britain have soured in recent years following mass pro-democracy protests in the Chinese city in 2019 and 2020. The British government has criticized Hong Kong’s Beijing-backed crackdown on almost all opposition in the years following the protests, while Hong Kong authorities have bristled at Britain providing a safe haven for pro-democracy leaders sought by the Hong Kong police. Hong Kong leader Lee noted in his Tuesday news conference that one of the men charged was the office manager of the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in London but did not directly address a question over whether it was involved in surveillance of Hong Kong dissidents in the UK. Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee is speaking at a press conference on April 30, 2024.

Persons: Hong, Chi Leung, Peter, Wai, Matthew Trickett, Chung Biu Yuen, Hong Kong’s, John Lee, ” Lee, Chi Leung Wai, Yui Mok, Jonathan Brady, Yuen, Louisa Cieciora, Lee, Vernon Yuen, ”, Dominic Murphy Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, British, Hong, city’s Metropolitan Police, Hong Kong, Embassy, Westminster Magistrates, Administrative, Police, Hong Kong Economic, Trade Office, . Hong, Economic, Trade, Metropolitan Police, UK National Security, Crown Prosecution Service, Command, Met Police Locations: Hong Kong, Westminster, London, city’s, Britain, Hong Kong’s Beijing, . Hong Kong, England

☆ U.K. Police Charge 3 Men With Aiding Hong Kong Intelligence Service
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-13 | by ( Stephen Castle | More About Stephen Castle | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: 1 min

Three men have been charged with assisting the Hong Kong intelligence service, the London Metropolitan Police said on Monday, following an investigation in which arrests and searches were carried out across England. The three people charged under Britain’s National Security Act were identified as Chi Leung (Peter) Wai, 38, of Staines-upon-Thames, Matthew Trickett, 37, of Maidenhead, and Chung Biu Yuen, 63, of Hackney, East London. “The foreign intelligence service to which the above charges relate is that of Hong Kong,” the police said in a statement. All three men were to appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Monday. As court proceedings are now active, Britain’s reporting restrictions apply, preventing speculation about the case.

Persons: Chi Leung, Peter, Wai, Matthew Trickett, Chung Biu Yuen Organizations: Hong, London Metropolitan Police, Britain’s National Security, ’ Locations: Hong Kong, England, Staines, Maidenhead, Hackney, East London, Westminster

CNN —Three people in Germany have been arrested under suspicion of spying for China, while two people have been charged in the United Kingdom for espionage offenses. “Allegations suggest the suspects have had ties to a Chinese secret service since before June 2022,” the German prosecutor’s office said in a statement. The couple are accused of buying and exporting a specialized laser to China without authorization, violating European Union regulations. Germany’s justice minister Marco Buschmann congratulated the prosecutor’s office in a post on social media platform X, writing that the arrests highlighted the need to stay vigilant. Separately in the UK, Britain’s Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) announced charges against two men who allegedly breached the UK’s Official Secrets Act on behalf of China.

Persons: Thomas R, Thomas, Herwig, Ina F, Marco Buschmann, Nick Price Organizations: CNN, Federal Prosecutor’s Office, Foreign Trade, Ministry of State Security, Britain’s, Prosecution Service, CPS, Terrorism, Crown Prosecution Service, Metropolitan Police, ’ Locations: Germany, China, United Kingdom, Westminster, London

BUCHAREST, Romania (AP) — Online influencer Andrew Tate was detained in Romania and handed an arrest warrant issued by British authorities, his spokesperson said Tuesday. Tate, 37, and his brother Tristan Tate were detained Monday evening for 24 hours on allegations of sexual aggression in a U.K. case dating back to 2012-2015, spokesperson Mateea Petrescu said. But four years later we were told the U.K. authorities would not prosecute him,” they state on their campaign page. Romanian prosecutors formally indicted all four in June last year and they have denied the allegations. After their arrest in Romania, the Tate brothers were held for three months in police detention before being moved to house arrest.

Persons: Andrew Tate, Tristan Tate, Mateea Petrescu, Tate, “, ”, ” Petrescu, Tristan Organizations: British, Tate, Court, Crown Prosecution Service Locations: BUCHAREST, Romania, Bucharest, ’, Westminster, Bucharest Municipality, Ilfov County

☆ ‘Beginning of the End’ as Assange Case Returns to Court
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-20 | by ( Megan Specia | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: 1 min

Since 2019, Julian Assange, the founder of WikiLeaks, has been held in a high security prison in southeast London while his lawyers fight a U.S. extradition order. Now, that particular battle may be nearing its end. On Tuesday, Mr. Assange’s case returned to a British court for a two-day hearing that will determine whether he has exhausted his right to appeal within the U.K. and whether he could be one step closer to being sent to the United States. Image Julian Assange leaving Westminster Magistrates Court in London in 2020. A High Court hearing this week will determine whether he has exhausted his right to appeal in the U.K. Credit... Henry Nicholls/ReutersMr. Assange did not appear before the court, declining to attend virtually because of ill health, according to his lawyers, but dozens of protesters gathered outside, demanding his release.

Persons: Julian Assange, Assange’s, Henry Nicholls, Assange Organizations: WikiLeaks, Court, Credit, Reuters Locations: London, U.S, United States, Westminster

☆ Julian Assange makes last-ditch attempt in UK court to avoid extradition to the US
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-20 | by ( Lauren Said-Moorhouse | Claudia Rebaza | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +14 min

LEON NEAL/AFP/Getty Images Assange attends a seminar at the Swedish Trade Union Confederation in Stockholm on August 14, 2010. LEON NEAL/AFP/Getty Images Assange and his bodyguards are seen after a news conference in Geneva, Switzerland, in November 2010. FABRICE COFFRINI/AFP/Getty Images Assange, on the balcony of the Ecuadorian Embassy, holds up a United Nations report in February 2016. Carl Court/Getty Images Assange speaks to the media in May 2017, after Swedish prosecutors had dropped their investigation of rape allegations against Assange. Jack Taylor/Getty Images Assange was seen for the first time in months during a hearing via teleconference in Quito, Ecuador, in October 2018.

Persons: London CNN — Julian Assange’s, Priti Patel, Assange, Julian Assange, Jack Taylor, LEON NEAL, BERTIL ERICSON, FABRICE COFFRINI, Carl Court, Geoff Caddick, Oli Scarff, CARL COURT, Leon Neal, Philip Toscano, Ricardo Patino, Frank Augstein, David Paul Morris, John Stillwell, Mike, Pompeo, Maria Sol Borja, Chelsea Manning, Alastair Grant, Daniel Leal, Elizabeth Cook, Assange’s, Edward Fitzgerald, ”, “, ” Fitzgerald, Fitzgerald, Assange “, ” Mark Summers, Stella, Julia Hall, Rebecca Vincent, ” Vincent, Nick Vamos, “ It’s, Vamos Organizations: London CNN, WikiLeaks, European, of Human Rights, Ecuadorian, Guardian, Getty, Swedish Trade Union Confederation, St, Paul's, Court, British, Ecuadorian Embassy, Oxford Union Society, Ecuadorian Foreign, Southwest Festival, Bloomberg, United Nations Human Rights, United, United Nations, CIA, CNN, Army, Ecuador, Southwark Crown, Metropolitan Police, US Justice Department, Eastern, of, Department, US, UK’s, Media, Foreign Press Association, Amnesty, International Campaigns, US Espionage, Peters & Peters, Prosecution Service Locations: United States, British, Belmarsh, Queensland, Australia, Westminster, London, Afghanistan, AFP, Stockholm, Iraq, Geneva, Switzerland, Sweden, Ecuador, Austin , Texas, Ecuadorian, United Nations, United Kingdom, Quito, Southwark, America, of Virginia, Guantanamo, Australian, Europe, UK’s

☆ Climate activist Greta Thunberg cleared of public order offense during London oil protest
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-02 | by ( Sam Meredith | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

LONDON — Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg on Friday was cleared of a public order offense over a protest at an oil and gas conference in October. Oil executives had been meeting inside the hotel on the first day of the Energy Intelligence Forum, formerly known as the Oil and Money conference. Thunberg appeared at London's Westminster Magistrates' Court this week alongside two Fossil Free London protesters and two Greenpeace protesters. All five defendants pleaded not guilty after being accused of breaching Section 14 of the Public Order Act 1986 by failing to move their protest to a designated area. The judge in the London court ruled she had no case to answer, and also acquitted the other defendants.

Persons: Greta Thunberg, Thunberg, John Law Organizations: LONDON, InterContinental, Lane, Fossil Free, Greenpeace . Oil, Energy Intelligence Forum, Westminster, Greenpeace, Reuters Locations: Fossil Free London, London

LONDON (AP) — Climate activist Greta Thunberg was acquitted Friday of refusing to follow a police order to leave a protest blocking the entrance to a major oil and gas industry conference in London last year. “The conditions imposed on the protest were unclear, uncertain and unlawful,” defense lawyer Raj Chada said outside court. Thunberg and other climate protesters have accused fossil fuel companies of deliberately slowing the global energy transition to renewables in order to make more profit. Thunberg rose to prominence after staging weekly protests outside the Swedish Parliament starting in 2018. Last summer, she was fined by a Swedish court for disobeying police and blocking traffic during an environmental protest at an oil facility.

Persons: Greta Thunberg, John Law, Thunberg, Law, Raj Chada's, Raj Chada, Matthew Cox, ” Cox, “, ” Thunberg, Luke Staton Organizations: —, ’, Energy Intelligence Forum, Metropolitan Police, Swedish Locations: London, Swedish, Westminster, North, Scotland, Sweden

LONDON (AP) — Climate activist Greta Thunberg went on trial Thursday for refusing to leave a protest that blocked the entrance to a major oil and gas industry conference in London last year. She and four Fossil Free London protesters have pleaded not guilty. Thunberg and other climate protesters have accused fossil fuel companies of deliberately slowing the global energy transition to renewables in order to make more profit. They also oppose the U.K. government’s recent approval of drilling for oil in the North Sea, off the coast of Scotland. Last summer, she was fined by a Swedish court for disobeying police and blocking traffic during an environmental protest at an oil facility.

Persons: Greta Thunberg, Thunberg, Matthew Cox, ” Cox, Cox, Luke Staton, ” Organizations: —, Energy Intelligence Forum, ’, Free, InterContinental, Swedish Locations: London, Swedish, Westminster, North, Scotland, Sweden

☆ Climate activist Greta Thunberg set for London court appearance
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-15 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/2] A police officer speaks to Swedish climate campaigner Greta Thunberg during an Oily Money Out and Fossil Free London protest in London, Britain, October 17, 2023. REUTERS/Clodagh Kilcoyne/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsLONDON, Nov 15 (Reuters) - Climate activist Greta Thunberg will appear at London's Westminster Magistrates Court on Wednesday charged with a public order offence over an environmental protest in central London last month. Thunberg has become famous as the face of climate activism since she started staging weekly protests in Sweden in 2018, and she now travels around the world addressing crowds at marches and protests. Before her arrest in Britain, she has this year been detained by police or removed from protests in Sweden, Norway and Germany. ($1 = 0.8145 pounds)Reporting by Sarah Young; Editing by Alex RichardsonOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Greta Thunberg, Clodagh, Thunberg, Sarah Young, Alex Richardson Organizations: REUTERS, London police, Thomson Locations: Swedish, London, Britain, Westminster, Sweden, Norway, Germany

☆ Climate Activist Greta Thunberg Set for London Court Appearance
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-14 | by ( Nov. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +1 min

LONDON (Reuters) - Climate activist Greta Thunberg will appear at London's Westminster Magistrates Court on Wednesday charged with a public order offence over an environmental protest in central London last month. Thunberg has become famous as the face of climate activism since she started staging weekly protests in Sweden in 2018, and she now travels around the world addressing crowds at marches and protests. She was charged by London police on Oct. 18 and released on bail, and if found guilty on Wednesday she could face a fine of up to a maximum of 2,500 pounds ($3,069). Before her arrest in Britain, she has this year been detained by police or removed from protests in Sweden, Norway and Germany. ($1 = 0.8145 pounds)(Reporting by Sarah Young; Editing by Alex Richardson)

Persons: Greta Thunberg, Thunberg, Sarah Young, Alex Richardson Organizations: London police Locations: Westminster, London, Sweden, Britain, Norway, Germany

☆ Fact Check: London protester arrested for racist comments, not for holding Union Jack
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-16 | by ( Reuters Fact Check | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

A video of London’s Metropolitan Police arresting a man holding a Union Jack has been falsely described online as showing him being arrested for unveiling the flag at a pro-Palestinian rally. The police force said he was arrested for making racially aggravated comments and was later charged. Cops drag away a man who unveiled his Union flag amidst the sea of Palestinian flags in central London. This was in no way the reason for his arrest and forms no part of the charges against him,” the spokesperson said. The man was arrested after shouting racial abuse and was later charged, according to the police.

Persons: Jack, ”, Read Organizations: London’s Metropolitan Police, Reuters, Twitter, Facebook, Metropolitan Police, Thomson Locations: London, Gaza, Whitehall, Westminster

☆ British police charge recaptured terrorism suspect with unlawful escape
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-10 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/2] A general view of Wandsworth prison, where Daniel Abed Khalife, a former soldier who is suspected of terrorism offences, escaped, in London, Britain, September 7, 2023. Daniel Abed Khalife, 21, who worked in the kitchen of Wandsworth prison, slipped out on Monday morning by strapping himself to the underside of a food delivery truck, authorities say. "Daniel Abed Khalife, 21, will appear in custody at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Monday, 11 September." Khalife, who was discharged from the British army in May, was charged with escaping "contrary to common law" while being remanded in custody. He had been held pending trial on offences relating to terrorism and the Official Secrets Act.

Persons: Daniel Abed Khalife, Anna Gordon, strapping, Khalife, Alistair Smout, Peter Graff Organizations: REUTERS, British, Metropolitan Police, ’, BBC, Thomson Locations: Wandsworth, London, Britain, HMP Wandsworth, Westminster, England, Iran

☆ UK police officers admit sending racist messages about Meghan, royals
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-07 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Britain's Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, Meghan, Duchess of Sussex attend the 2022 Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Ripple of Hope Award Gala in New York City, U.S., December 6, 2022. REUTERS/Andrew Kelly/File photo Acquire Licensing RightsLONDON, Sept 7 (Reuters) - Five former London police officers on Thursday admitted sending grossly offensive racist messages to each other on WhatsApp, which included references to Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, and other members of the royal family. Three of the messages featured racist comments about Meghan, the wife of King Charles' younger son, Prince Harry. The former officers, aged in their 60s, pleaded guilty to sending offensive messages at a hearing at London's Westminster Magistrates' Court. Its new chief, Mark Rowley, has promised to rid it of unsuitable individuals among its more than 43,000 officers and staff.

Persons: Britain's Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, Robert F, Kennedy, Andrew Kelly, King Charles, Prince Harry, Meghan's, Queen Elizabeth, Prince Philip, Charles, Prince William, Kate, Rishi Sunak, Britain's, James Harman, Mark Rowley, Michael Holden, Sam Tobin, Nick Macfie Organizations: REUTERS, London, Westminster, Metropolitan, Command, Diplomatic Protection Group, Thomson Locations: New York City, U.S, London

LONDON (AP) — Five retired British police officers on Thursday admitted sending offensive and racist social media messages about Prince Harry's wife, the Duchess of Sussex, and others. The charges say messages posted in a closed WhatsApp group referred to Harry and wife Meghan, as well as Prince William and his wife, Kate, and the late Queen Elizabeth II and her late husband, Prince Philip. Robert Lewis, Peter Booth, Anthony Elsom, Alan Hall and Trevor Lewton pleaded guilty at London’s Westminster Magistrates’ Court to sending by public communication grossly offensive racist messages. The biracial American actress Meghan Markle married Prince Harry, the queen's grandson, at Windsor Castle in 2018. In early 2020, they stepped away from royal duties and left the U.K., citing what they said were the unbearable intrusions and racist attitudes of the British media.

Persons: Prince Harry's, Duchess of Sussex, Harry, Meghan, Prince William, Kate, Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Philip, Rishi Sunak, Priti Patel, Sajid Javid, Robert Lewis, Peter Booth, Anthony Elsom, Alan Hall, Trevor Lewton, Michael Chadwell, Meghan Markle, Prince Harry Organizations: BBC, London’s Westminster, London’s Metropolitan Police, Windsor Castle Locations: London’s, American, Windsor

☆ Pret a Manger was fined $1 million after an employee was trapped in a freezer for more than 2 hours and thought she was going to die
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-31 | by ( Grace Dean | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

A Pret a Manger worker was stuck in a freezer at a London store for over two hours in just jeans and a t-shirt. The worker was "in a state of distress and believing she was going to die," Westminster City Council said. She was "in a state of distress and believing she was going to die," the Council said. The worker was then taken to hospital where she was treated for suspected hypothermia, the Council said. A spokesperson for Pret told Insider that the employee was discharged from hospital the same day.

Persons: Pret Organizations: Westminster City, Service, Pret's London Victoria Coach, Victoria Coach Station, Westminster Magistrates Locations: London, Westminster, Wall, Silicon, Pret, Victoria, France, Dubai, Hong Kong

Nigeria's Petroleum Minister Diezani Alison-Madueke (C) attends the flag-off for Nigeria's President Goodluck Jonathan's campaign for a second term in office, in Lagos January 8, 2015. REUTERS/Akintunde Akinleye/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsSummary Ex-minister was arrested in London in 2015Police allege lavish lifestyle came from corruptionAssets frozen in UK, seized in U.S., NigeriaLONDON, Aug 22 (Reuters) - British police said on Tuesday they had charged former Nigerian oil minister Diezani Alison-Madueke with bribery offences, saying they suspected she had accepted bribes in return for awarding multi-million pound oil and gas contracts. Alison-Madueke, 63, served as petroleum minister from 2010 to 2015, under former President Goodluck Jonathan. A London lawyer who was acting for her in 2015 did not immediately respond to a request for comment. News of the British charges comes a month after a London court ordered the confiscation of $130 million from a former Nigerian oil state governor, James Ibori, in an unrelated but equally high-profile case involving political corruption in Nigeria.

Persons: Diezani Alison, Goodluck Jonathan's, Akintunde, Alison, Madueke, Goodluck Jonathan, Andy Kelly, St John’s Wood, Cartier, Louis Vuitton, James Ibori, Michael Holden, Estelle Shirbon, Giles Elgood Organizations: Nigeria's Petroleum, Nigeria's, REUTERS, Police, Nigeria LONDON, British, Organization of, Petroleum, NCA, Westminster Magistrates, Louis, U.S . Department of Justice, Thomson Locations: Lagos, London, U.S, Nigeria, Africa's, Britain, United States, St John’s, Westminster

CNN —Nigeria’s former oil minister Diezani Alison-Madueke has been charged with bribery offenses following an investigation by the UK’s National Crime Agency, which alleges she accepted bribes in exchange for multimillion-pound oil and gas contracts while in government. The agency said that Alison-Madueke, who currently resides in London, will appear at Westminster Magistrates Court on October 2. “Bribery is a pervasive form of corruption, which enables serious criminality and can have devastating consequences for developing countries. Alison-Madueke also served as the first female president of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC). Nigeria, Africa’s most populous country and biggest oil producer, is one of 13 countries in OPEC.

Persons: CNN —, Diezani Alison, Madueke, “, Cartier, ” Alison, Goodluck Jonathan, Alison, ”, Andy Kelly Organizations: CNN, Crime Agency, National Crime Agency, Louis Vuitton, Organization of, Petroleum Locations: London, Westminster, Nigeria, Africa’s

REUTERS/John Sibley/File PhotoLONDON, June 15 (Reuters) - Odey Asset Management is in advanced talks to move funds and staff to other asset managers as it grapples with the fallout of sexual misconduct allegations against its founder Crispin Odey. A spokesperson for the hedge fund declined further comment on Thursday. Hedge funds such as OAM rely on leverage from prime brokerage service providers to make their market bets. Without a prime broker, a hedge fund which needs to borrow stocks cannot function. A spokesperson for OAM also declined to comment on whether the moves signalled that the hedge fund would close.

Persons: Crispin Odey, John Sibley, Odey, Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, JP Morgan, James Hanbury, Harriett Baldwin, Nell Mackenzie, Sinead Cruise, Dhara Ranasignhe, Alexander Smith Organizations: REUTERS, Odey, Management, Financial Times, Tortoise Media, Reuters, UBS, Authority, Asset Management, FCA, Treasury, Thomson Locations: Westminster, London, Britain

☆ China's Guangzhou R&F co-chief agrees to be extradited to U.S.
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-14 | by ( Sam Tobin | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

LONDON, June 14 (Reuters) - The billionaire co-chairman and CEO of Chinese developer Guangzhou R&F Properties Co Ltd on Wednesday agreed to be extradited from London to the United States, where he is facing bribery charges. Zhang Li, who co-founded Hong Kong-listed R&F (2777.HK), is wanted on a provisional warrant issued in the Northern District of California that accuses him of participating in a scheme to bribe public officials between 2015 and 2020. The 69-year-old, who is currently worth $1.6 billion, according to Forbes magazine, is alleged to have paid kickbacks to obtain permits for a construction project in San Francisco. In December, Zhang was granted bail on the condition that he pay a security of 15 million pounds ($19 million), the joint-largest security that an English court has ever accepted. Reporting by Sam Tobin; editing by Sarah YoungOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Zhang Li, Zhang, Sam Tobin, Sarah Young Organizations: F Properties Co, HK, Northern District of, Forbes, Westminster, Lawyers, U.S, F's U.S, Properties, San, Thomson Locations: Guangzhou, London, United States, Hong Kong, Northern District, Northern District of California, San Francisco, China

☆ Serving member of UK armed forces charged under Officials Secrets Act
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-22 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

LONDON, April 22 (Reuters) - A serving member of Britain's armed forces has been charged with offences under the Official Secrets Act after an investigation by counter-terrorism police, London's Metropolitan police said on Saturday. The Met said 36-year-old Thomas Newsome was initially arrested on April 18 and was charged late on Friday. He will appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court later on Saturday. Newsome was charged with offences contrary to the Official Secrets Act 1989, which covers the unauthorised disclosure of information by government employees. Reporting by Kylie MacLellan Editing by Mark HeinrichOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Companies Guangzhou R&F Properties Co Ltd FollowLONDON, Dec 12 (Reuters) - The billionaire co-founder of Guangzhou R&F Properties Co Ltd (2777.HK) is wanted in the United States accused of paying kickbacks to obtain permits for a construction project in San Francisco, a court in London heard on Monday. The 69-year-old – who is worth $2.3 billion, according to Forbes magazine – offered to pay a security of 15 million pounds ($18.4 million). Mark Summers, representing Zhang, said 10 million pounds of the security would be provided by R&F. Zhang would provide the other 5 million pounds, Summers said. The judge also said Zhang must be handcuffed to a member of his court-appointed private security team when he left his house for the purposes of attending court.

☆ Kevin Spacey charged with seven more sexual offenses in the UK
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-16 | by ( Hafsa Khalil | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

London CNN —Oscar-winning actor Kevin Spacey has been charged with seven more sexual offenses, UK police have said. The 63-year-old actor was charged on Tuesday with a number of sexual offenses against the same man between 2001 and 2004, London’s Metropolitan Police said in a statement to CNN on Wednesday. Spacey is due to appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court in London on December 16. In July, Spacey pleaded not guilty in a London court to four charges of sexual assault and one count of causing a person to engage in penetrative sexual activity without consent. Spacey has won two Academy Awards for his roles in “The Usual Suspects” and “American Beauty,” and was artistic director of London’s Old Vic theater from 2003 to 2015.

☆ UK police charge two women after soup thrown at van Gogh's 'Sunflowers'
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-15 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

LONDON, Oct 15 (Reuters) - Two women have been charged with criminal damage after climate change protesters threw soup over Vincent van Gogh’s painting "Sunflowers" at London's National Gallery, British police said on Saturday. The gallery said the incident had caused minor damage to the frame but the painting was unharmed. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com RegisterPolice said two women, aged 21 and 20, would appear later at Westminster Magistrates’ Court charged with "criminal damage to the frame of van Gogh’s Sunflowers painting". Another activist will also appear in court accused of damaging the sign outside the New Scotland Yard police headquarters in central London. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com RegisterReporting by Michael Holden; Editing by Emelia Sithole-MatariseOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

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