Russell Brand Is Charged With Rape and Sexual Assault in U.K.
Prosecutors in Britain have charged Russell Brand, the comedian and actor, with multiple counts of sexual assault, including two counts of rape. The country’s Crown Prosecution Service announced the charges on Friday. Jaswant Narwal, a prosecutor, said in the statement that Mr. Brand, 50, would appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court in London for a first hearing on May 2. Ms. Narwal added that the charges “relate to reported non-recent offenses between 1999 and 2005, involving four women.”The British police began investigating Mr. Brand’s past behavior in September 2023, after The Sunday Times, The Times of London and the TV network Channel 4 published a joint investigation into allegations against him.
Source:The Times
April 04, 2025 14:57 UTC
There’s a whale in Long Beach Harbor. Scientists helped it escape. It turned around and came back
A minke whale, one of which swims near the Channel Islands above, has been swimming for days in Long Beach Harbor. Marine wildlife experts on Thursday attempted to help direct a young minke whale out of Long Beach Harbor where it has been swimming for the last few days, according to authorities. “Usually they find their way out on their own.”In 2017, a 20-foot gray whale made its way to the shallow waters of Belmont Shore. That sighting occurred a day after an 18-foot gray whale swam in the shallow waters from 1st Place to 72nd Place. Helicopters with local news stations hovered over the Catalina Express Landing in downtown Long Beach, where the whale could be seen swimming as a small crowd gathered to take photos and record videos with their cellphones.
Source:The Times
April 04, 2025 14:18 UTC
Russell Brand denies allegations after U.K charges him with rape and sexual assault
British comedian Russell Brand has been charged with rape and assault by authorities in the U.K. The 49-year-old actor, known for his work in R-rated comedies including “Forgetting Sarah Marshall” and “Get Him to the Greek,” was charged with single counts of rape, indecent assault, oral rape and two counts of sexual assault, the Metropolitan Police Service announced in a statement. The charges are connected to alleged attacks on multiple women between 1999 and 2005. He is scheduled to face charges before the Westminster Magistrates’ Court on May 2. A month later, Brand was interviewed “under caution by detectives in relation to a further six, non-recent, sexual offenses,” the Associated Press reported.
Source:The Times
April 04, 2025 13:46 UTC
Kevin De Bruyne announces end to Manchester City tenure after decade-long contract with the club
De Bruyne shared the heart-breaking news through an Instagram post, leaving all fans shocked. The departure comes after de Bruyne shared a decade-long successful stint with Manchester City. De Bruyne was straight in his approach, as he wrote that he is playing his final few months with the team now. His tenure with Manchester City began in 2015 when he joined the club for £54 million, setting up a record at the time. With the career he had with the club, it is safe to call him one of the greatest teammates for Manchester City.In a press release announcing the news, the club shared the long illustrious career that Kevin de Bruyne had with the side.
Source:The Times
April 04, 2025 13:29 UTC
Football gossip, paper talk and transfer rumours: Arsenal target Nico Williams could become one of club's top earners
THE SUNUdinese striker Lorenzo Lucca is rising to the top of the Manchester United shortlist as the new Old Trafford regime seeks a substantial rebuild. Manchester United will have to hand Sunday's derby rivals Manchester City a windfall of around £5m if they land Ipswich forward Liam Delap this summer. Kyle Walker admits he was almost in tears after his "sad" Manchester City exit. Manchester City star Erling Haaland has been pictured free from his protective boot but still using a crutch as he attempts to recover from his ankle injury. US Soccer is forging new relationships with the Trump administration to ensure preparations for the 2026 World Cup run smoothly, its chief executive has said.
Source:The Times
April 04, 2025 11:12 UTC
Donald Trump Reciprocal Tariffs: Best memes and jokes
The world reactsBest social media memes and jokesAs predicted before, US President Donald Trump celebrated Liberation Day on April 2nd, 2025 by announcing a series of reciprocal tariffs against trade partners of the US. About 60 countries will be facing individual tariffs, supposedly half the tariffs and barriers that they charge the US. "The Trump administration have put a 10 percent tariff on the Island of Svalbard which has a higher polar bear population than human," wrote an X user. Also Trump: slaps tariffs on everything, including imported toothpicks. “the only two countries on earth exempt from Trump’s tariffs are, no joke, Russia and North Korea” wrote a social media user.
Source:The Times
April 04, 2025 09:41 UTC
Newspaper headlines: 'Tariff turmoil' and 'bland American cheese'
"Donald Slump" is the Metro, external's headline as it reports on the falls on global stock markets in response to the new US import taxes. It says the market turmoil has lead to a "calamity" - including for the investments and pensions of millions of British savers. The i Paper splashes on the retaliatory measures being considered by the government here - including possible tariffs on American cars, alcohol and clothing, external. The Sun says there's "no lav lost" with Britain considering targeting US toilet seats, external - among eight thousand possible American products. "Britain must copy Singapore" is the Daily Telegraph's headline, quoting an editorial written for the paper by the former chancellor, external, Jeremy Hunt.
Source:The Times
April 04, 2025 09:01 UTC
UK’s most rare 50ps including Kew Gardens coin worth up to 1,400 times its face value – key details to spot
Interest can change among coin collectors so it's worth keeping up to date with the latest scarcity index. The 2023 Salmon 50p is the rarest 50p in circulation, with just 200,000 minted. The rare coin was struck to highlight the plight of the salmon, whose population is in decline. It is considered the second rarest Olympic 50p coin after the Football one. Remember, though, a rare coin is only worth what someone is willing to pay for it.
Source:The Times
April 04, 2025 08:31 UTC
Times letters: Imposition of US tariffs on ‘liberation day’
Write to letters@thetimes.co.ukSir, The government expresses relief that UK exports are to be the subject of “only” 10 per cent US tariffs (“Trump piles on the tariffs”, Apr 3). But like most statistics, the proposal can be interpreted in more than one way. President Trump says that the new tariffs will be half what individual countries impose on the US, with a minimum level of 10 per cent. As he claims that the UK imposes an average of 10 per cent tariffs on US exports, rather than being the recipient of his beneficence, we are actually being discriminated against. Isn’t the obvious response to double all tariffs on
Source:The Times
April 04, 2025 06:34 UTC
Bird Group’s Roseate Hotels acquires property in UK
Poll Should luxury hotels focus more on unique historical experiences? No, modern amenities are more important Yes, it's a major attractionNEW DELHI: Bird Group , the promoter and operator of Roseate Hotels & Resorts, has acquired Beechfield House , Wiltshire in the UK. This will be Bird Group’s eighth hotel and a part of the luxury collection of Roseate Hotels & Resorts.Bird Group executive director Gaurav Bhatia said: “We are beyond delighted to welcome Beechfield House and its exceptionally talented team into the Bird family. Keeping aligned with the vision behind our existing portfolio of distinguished hotels & resorts, we look forward to delivering immaculate hospitality and exemplary guest experiences at Beechfield House.”Set in eight acres, the 24-room Beechfield House was built in 1878 and it remained a family home for 90 years until it was converted into a hotel in the late 1960s.Bird Group is a conglomerate in diverse businesses including IT, travel & aviation services, hospitality, luxury retail and education, across India, UK and the Middle East.
Source:The Times
April 04, 2025 06:26 UTC
E.U. Prepares Major Penalties Against Elon Musk’s X
The penalties are set to include a fine and demands for product changes, said the people, who declined to be identified discussing an ongoing investigation. These are expected to be announced this summer and would be the first issued under a new E.U. European authorities have been weighing how large a fine to issue X as they consider the risks of further antagonizing Mr. Trump amid wider trans-Atlantic disputes over trade, tariffs and the war in Ukraine. officials said their investigation into X was progressing independently from tariff negotiations after Mr. Trump announced major new levies this week. The investigation began in 2023, and regulators last year issued a preliminary ruling that X had violated the law.
Source:The Times
April 04, 2025 05:53 UTC
UK court orders Donald Trump to pay $821,000 legal bill over 'Steele dossier' lawsuit
She ruled that the lawsuit had no real prospect of success, partly because of the significant delay in bringing the case. Steyn’s ruling did not address the veracity of the allegations themselves but concluded that the case was “bound to fail.”Trump had argued that Orbis breached U.K. data protection laws and that the contents of the Steele dossier were fictitious. His legal team described the allegations as “shocking and scandalous claims” that had caused significant harm to his reputation.Following the dismissal of the lawsuit, Trump was initially required to pay an instalment of 290,000 pounds toward Orbis’s legal expenses. After failing to make that payment, a separate hearing was held to determine the full costs.On Thursday, Judge Jason Rowley concluded that Trump must pay 626,058.98 pounds, with interest on the amount accruing daily at a rate of 12%. Trump's legal team had earlier criticized the legal fee demand, claiming it had been set “absolutely outrageously high.”
Source:The Times
April 04, 2025 02:34 UTC
F1 2025 EXACT UK start times for every race, qualification and sprint session this season as Norris makes quick start
FORMULA ONE is back and has made a brilliant start to the season - and SunSport can reveal the dates and times of EVERY race! Lewis Hamilton looks to make history with an eighth world title at Ferrari, as fellow Brits Lando Norris and George Russell look for their first title. Races are set to go round the world, but what time will all of the races start? Each F1 weekend will consist of five sessions, with every weekend usually consisting of three practice sessions, a qualifying session and the race. This is not the format every weekend, as in 2021 F1 introduced a "sprint weekend," with those weekend's consisting of one practice, two qualifying sessions and two race sessions.
Source:The Times
April 04, 2025 02:07 UTC
Viewpoint with Andrew Brown: Loss of habit, not belief, drives secularisation
It’s one of those things so obvious that everyone has to ignore it if the conversation is to remain civilised. The fading of Christianity in these terms is usually described as a loss of faith or of belief. One rather discouraging answer is “in Silicon Valley”. [but] much of the faith’s central traditions run counter to the aspirations of this new Christ-curious class.”Faith, in Silicon Valley, is a way to stand out from the crowd. It is the gentle scorn and occasional hostility of outsiders which keep Black Christianity and Brown Islam alive in this country.
Source:The Times
April 03, 2025 23:54 UTC
Prince Harry Expresses ‘Relief’ Over Charity Commission’s Sentebale Investigation
Following days of silence after he was accused of bullying and harassment, Prince Harry said on Thursday that he welcomed an announcement that the bitter dispute at the charity he co-founded is to be examined by the Charity Commission, an independent watchdog that regulates charities in England and Wales. The charity, Sentebale, has been engulfed in a public relations crisis since last week, when Harry and his co-founder, Prince Seeiso of Lesotho, announced they were resigning as patrons in solidarity with five trustees over a damaging rift with the chair of the board, Sophie Chandauka. Ms. Chandauka has since gone on television in Britain to level a series of incendiary claims against the former trustees and Prince Harry, including allegations of sexism, harassment and bullying, which they have strongly denied. “On behalf of the former trustees and patrons, we share in the relief that the Charity Commission confirmed they will be conducting a robust inquiry,” Harry said in a statement issued with Prince Seeiso. He added: “We fully expect it will unveil the truth that collectively forced us to resign.”
Source:The Times
April 03, 2025 20:48 UTC