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  • PRESS RELEASE : Change of British High Commissioner to Fiji – Kanbar Hossein-Bor [May 2025]

    PRESS RELEASE : Change of British High Commissioner to Fiji – Kanbar Hossein-Bor [May 2025]

    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 13 May 2025.

    Mr Kanbar Hossein-Bor has been appointed British High Commissioner to the Republic of Fiji, non-resident British High Commissioner to the Republic of Kiribati and His Majesty’s non-resident Ambassador to the Federated States of Micronesia and the Republic of the Marshall Islands, in succession to Dr Brian Jones who will be transferring to another Diplomatic Service appointment.  Mr Hossein-Bor will take up his appointment during July 2025.

    Curriculum Vitae

    Full name: Kanbar Hossein-Bor

    Year Role
    2021 to 2025 FCDO, Deputy Director Democratic Governance and Media Freedom Co-ordinator
    2018 to 2020 Dhaka, Deputy High Commissioner
    2015 to 2015 Monrovia, Chargé d’Affaires
    2012 to 2015 FCO, Head, Libya Team
    2009 to 2012 The Hague, Head of International Tribunals and UK Agent to the International Court of Justice
    2006 to 2007 Baghdad, Legal Adviser and Head of Justice and Human Rights Section
    2006 to 2009 FCO, Legal Directorate
    2002 to 2005 Barrister, Private Practice
  • NEWS STORY : Sentence Increased for Dangerous Sexual Predator, Keith Edun, Following Solicitor General’s Intervention

    NEWS STORY : Sentence Increased for Dangerous Sexual Predator, Keith Edun, Following Solicitor General’s Intervention

    STORY

    The Court of Appeal has boosted the sentence of Keith Edun, a 48-year-old from Croydon, after Solicitor General Lucy Rigby KC MP referred his case under the Unduly Lenient Sentence scheme. Edun was convicted of encouraging another man to rape and sexually assault a baby, and of sharing videos depicting the sexual abuse of infants, via the messaging app Kik. He was identified following a separate investigation into the March 2020 rape of a baby, which led police to search his devices and uncover numerous indecent images of children. Officers also discovered that Edun had deleted the Kik app in an attempt to conceal his online activities.

    Originally sentenced at Croydon Crown Court on 14 February 2025, Edun received an extended sentence totalling 21 years and six months—13 years and six months in custody, followed by an eight-year extended licence. On 13 May 2025, the Court of Appeal quashed that sentence and imposed a new extended term of 24 years and two months, comprising 16 years and two months behind bars and the same eight-year licence.

    Solicitor General Lucy Rigby KC MP said:

    “Keith Edun is a dangerous sexual predator who poses a serious risk to children. His crimes were deeply disturbing, and I would like to thank the police for their thorough investigation of this matter. The court has rightly decided to increase Edun’s sentence which I hope sends a strong message that this government will take robust action to keep dangerous sex offenders off our streets.”

    The Unduly Lenient Sentence scheme allows the Solicitor General to challenge sentences considered too low. Since its inception, it has been used to ensure serious offenders receive terms that reflect the gravity of their crimes.

  • NEWS STORY : UK Trade Remedies Authority Proposes Country-Specific Steel Import Quotas to Protect Domestic Industry

    NEWS STORY : UK Trade Remedies Authority Proposes Country-Specific Steel Import Quotas to Protect Domestic Industry

    STORY

    The UK’s Trade Remedies Authority (TRA) has recommended the implementation of country-specific quota caps on certain steel imports to safeguard the domestic steel industry from global overcapacity and oversupply. Effective from 1 October 2025, the proposed measures would limit tariff-free imports from countries such as Vietnam, South Korea, and Algeria to 40% of the residual quota in specific steel categories, including metallic coated sheets, non-alloy and other alloy quarto plates, and rebar. Imports exceeding these caps would incur a 25% tariff.

    Additionally, the TRA has suggested eliminating the “carry-over” provision, which currently allows unused quarterly import quotas to roll over into the next quarter. This change is set to take effect from 1 July 2025.

    TRA Chair Nick Baird stated, “The TRA has listened to the concerns of the UK’s steel industry and worked at pace to recommend changes to steel import quota allocations to help protect the UK steel industry from the destabilising impact of global overcapacity.” However, industry group UK Steel has criticised the proposals as insufficient. Director-General Gareth Stace commented, “It is now time for government to step up and swiftly replace ineffective steel safeguards with a robust trade defence mechanism of quotas designed to suit the reality of the market and the world today.”

  • PRESS RELEASE : Dangerous sexual predator, Keith Edun, has sentence increased following intervention by Solicitor General [May 2025]

    PRESS RELEASE : Dangerous sexual predator, Keith Edun, has sentence increased following intervention by Solicitor General [May 2025]

    The press release issued by the Attorney General’s Office on 13 May 2025.

    A dangerous predator who encouraged another man to rape and sexually assault a baby has had his sentence increased after the Solicitor General intervened.

    Keith Edun, 48, from Croydon, London, has had his sentence increased after the Solicitor General Lucy Rigby KC MP referred his case to the Court of Appeal under the Unduly Lenient Sentence scheme.

    The court heard that Edun was a member of a group chat interested in the sexual abuse of babies on the social media platform ‘Kik’.

    In March 2020, Edun communicated with another member of the group and in those discussions encouraged the rape and sexual assault of a child. Edun also shared videos of babies being sexually abused.

    A separate investigation led to the conviction of a male for offences including the rape of a baby which occurred in March 2020, which led police to Edun.

    After police seized Edun’s devices, officers found multiple indecent images of children and that he had deleted the app to hide his online activity.

    Solicitor General Lucy Rigby KC MP said:

    Keith Edun is a dangerous sexual predator who poses a serious risk to children. His crimes were deeply disturbing, and I would like to thank the police for their thorough investigation of this matter.

    The court has rightly decided to increase Edun’s sentence which I hope sends a strong message that this government will take robust action to keep dangerous sex offenders off our streets.

    On 14 February 2025, Keith Edun was sentenced at Croydon Crown Court to an extended sentence of 21 years and 6 months comprising 13 years and six months custodial term and an eight year extended licence.

    On 13 May 2025, Edun’s original sentence was quashed and substituted with an extended sentence of 24 years and 2 months, comprising 16 years and 2 months custodial term and an eight year extended licence, after it was referred to the Court of Appeal under the Unduly Lenient Sentence Scheme.

  • NEWS STORY : Sentences Increased for Ibrar Hussain, Imtiaz Ahmed and Fayaz Ahmed Following Solicitor General’s Intervention

    NEWS STORY : Sentences Increased for Ibrar Hussain, Imtiaz Ahmed and Fayaz Ahmed Following Solicitor General’s Intervention

    STORY

    Three men convicted of raping a vulnerable teenager in the 1990s have had their prison sentences significantly increased after the Solicitor General, Lucy Rigby KC MP, referred their cases to the Court of Appeal under the Unduly Lenient Sentence scheme. The victim, who moved to Keighley, Yorkshire, as a teenager in the early 1990s, was subjected to repeated sexual abuse by Ibrar Hussain (47), Imtiaz Ahmed (64) and Fayaz Ahmed (45). The court heard that the men exploited her vulnerability, supplying her with money, drugs, and alcohol in exchange for sex. Many of the assaults occurred in flats above the Ahmed family’s grocery shop. Initially, on 17 January 2025, Hussain was sentenced to six years and six months for two counts of rape; Imtiaz Ahmed received nine years for one count of rape; and Fayaz Ahmed was given seven years and six months for two counts of rape.

    Following the Solicitor General’s referral, the Court of Appeal increased their sentences on 13 May 2025: Hussain’s to 10 years, Imtiaz Ahmed’s to 11 years, and Fayaz Ahmed’s to 10 years. In a victim impact statement, the survivor described enduring flashbacks and ongoing trauma nearly 30 years after the abuse, stating it left her unable to trust people, including those meant to protect her. The Solicitor General commented, “This case involved the shocking and hideous abuse of a vulnerable teenager by these three sexual predators. I referred these sentences to the Court of Appeal because, in my view, they were unduly lenient. I very much welcome the Court of Appeal’s significant increases to these sentences.”

  • PRESS RELEASE : Child sex abusers sentences increased following intervention by Solicitor General [May 2025]

    PRESS RELEASE : Child sex abusers sentences increased following intervention by Solicitor General [May 2025]

    The press release issued by the Attorney General’s Office on the Attorney General’s Office on 13 May 2025.

    Three child sex abusers have had their sentences increased for historic offences after the Solicitor General Lucy Rigby KC MP intervened.

    Three men who raped a vulnerable teenager in the 1990s have had their sentences increased by a total of eight years, after the Solicitor General referred the case to the Court of Appeal under the Unduly Lenient Sentence scheme.

    The court heard that the victim moved to Keighley, Yorkshire, in the early 1990s when she was a teenager, where she met Ibrar Hussain (47) and brothers Imtiaz (64) and Fayaz Ahmed (45).

    The victim was vulnerable and was supplied with money, drugs and alcohol in return for sex. She was taken to various places where she was raped over several years, including by Hussain and the Ahmed brothers.

    Ibrar Hussain and Fayaz Ahmed were 18 and 17 respectively when they carried out their offences, while Imtiaz Ahmed was in his 30s.

    Many of the offences took place in the flats above the brothers’ family’s grocery shop.

    In a Victim Impact Statement read to the court, the victim said that almost 30 years after the abuse, she still suffered flashbacks and the trauma left her unable to trust people, including the services there to protect her.

    The court also learnt that Ibrar Hussain had prior drug convictions, while Fayaz Ahmed had been convicted of conspiracy to defraud and driving offences.

    The Solicitor General Lucy Rigby KC MP said:

    This case involved the shocking and hideous abuse of a vulnerable teenager by these three sexual predators.

    I referred these sentences to Court of Appeal because in my view they were unduly lenient.

    I attended court today for the hearing and I very much welcome the Court of Appeal’s significant increases to these sentences.

    On 17 January 2025, Ibrar Hussain was sentenced to six years and six months for two counts of rape, Imtiaz Ahmed was sentenced to nine years for one count of rape, and Fayaz Ahmed was sentenced to seven years and six months for two counts of rape.

    On 13 May 2025, Hussain’s sentence was increased to 10 years, Imtiaz Ahmed’s to 11 years, and Fayaz Ahmed’s was increased to 10 years after their sentences were referred to the Court of Appeal under the Unduly Lenient Sentence Scheme.

  • PRESS RELEASE : New ‘engine for growth’ package announced as Defence Secretary closes London Stock Exchange [May 2025]

    PRESS RELEASE : New ‘engine for growth’ package announced as Defence Secretary closes London Stock Exchange [May 2025]

    The press release issued by the Ministry of Defence on 13 May 2025.

    Industry, innovators and investors will benefit from a new partnership with UK Defence, making it easier and more attractive to do business than ever before.

    • New partnership with business launched in the heart of City of London to unlock innovation, create skilled jobs and boost investment, as part of the Government’s Plan for Change.
    • John Healey MP becomes first Defence Secretary to close the day’s market at London Stock Exchange, announcing new Defence ‘Tech Scaler’ initiative to drive innovations from idea to frontline.
    • New report shows small and medium enterprises funded by the Ministry of Defence have attracted nearly £600 million private equity investment, supporting over 1,000 new jobs across the UK.

    Launching this new partnership with a package of measures including a new ‘Tech Scaler’ pilot, John Healey MP will today become the first Defence Secretary to close the day’s market at the London Stock Exchange, underlining the government’s backing for the defence industry as an engine for national renewal and economic growth.

    Speaking to business leaders, military personnel and private financiers, he called for an end to prejudice against defence investment and outlined how defence is driving economic growth, boosting British jobs and national security, underpinning the Government’s Plan for Change.

    Defence Secretary John Healey MP said:

    The war in Ukraine confronts us with the truth that a military is only as strong as the industry which stands behind it.

    I’m here today – at this most crucial time – to help forge a new partnership between industry, innovators and investors.

    UK Defence is open for business and together we can make Britain secure at home and strong abroad.

    National security is at the heart of our Plan for Change, and is essential for economic security, investor confidence and social stability.

    The Defence Secretary set out a package of measures to foster easier access to the defence market, including:

    • Defence Tech Scaler: A new Ministry of Defence Marketplace to drive innovations from idea to front line, with Enterprise Agreements for software, data and AI suppliers, to make it easier for innovative businesses, of all sizes, to do business with defence. As part of this, the Ministry of Defence has signed four Enterprise Agreements with firms including Adarga, Haedean, Oxford Dynamics and WhiteSpace – to a total value of up to £50 million.
    • Procurement Reform: A new segmented approach and radically faster targets for procurement in three areas: 1) major equipment – planes, tanks, ships – will go from an average of six to two years to get on contract; 2) upgrades to communications and weapons systems will go from an average of three to one year to get on contract, and 3) purchases of off-the-shelf kit – such as drones and software – will run in three-month cycles. For Armed Forces, this will mean they will get what they need when they need it, and for investors, it will mean a timelier return on investment.
    • Defence Innovation: A new innovation organisation, UK Defence Innovation, will help deliver cutting-edge technology to the Armed Forces and will be up and running by July this year, with a ring-fenced budget of £400 million this financial year.
    • Defence Industrial Joint Council, led by the Defence Secretary, will host its first meeting next month, and help co-ordinate public-private investment strategies – boosting investment into UK defence and delivering new jobs across Britain.

    These measures come as a new report shows the value of the defence industry to the wider UK economy. The report, published today, found that funding from the MoD’s Defence and Security Accelerator (DASA) to 461 small and medium enterprises (SMEs) resulted in nearly £600m in private investment and created 1,842 new jobs across the UK. £174 million was raised in 2024 alone, demonstrating defence as an engine for UK economic growth and delivering on the government’s Plan for Change. DASA continues to fund and support SMEs developing defence technology innovations, particularly dual-use technologies serving both civilian and military needs.

    Daniel Maguire, Group Head, London Stock Exchange Group said:

    The defence industry plays a vital role in the wider UK economy, supporting jobs and creating long-term value alongside ensuring our national security. We welcome the Government’s new measures and hope that LSEG can support in initiatives designed to help unlock capital for companies, boost growth, and promote innovation.

    Last month, the Government welcomed the launch of a new UK Defence and Economic Growth Task Force – led by the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) CEO and consulting firm Oliver Wyman, and jointly chaired by the Chancellor and Secretary of State for Defence. The Task Force will meet for the first time this month to unlock the potential of the UK’s defence sector to drive long-term national growth, innovation, and economic resilience.

  • NEWS STORY : Conservative MP Patrick Spencer Charged with Sexual Assault Over Alleged Incidents at London’s Groucho Club

    NEWS STORY : Conservative MP Patrick Spencer Charged with Sexual Assault Over Alleged Incidents at London’s Groucho Club

    STORY

    Patrick Spencer, the Conservative MP for Central Suffolk and North Ipswich, has been charged with two counts of sexual assault relating to alleged incidents involving two women at the Groucho Club in Soho, central London, in August 2023. The Metropolitan Police confirmed that Spencer, 37, voluntarily attended a police interview on 13 March 2025. Following a review of the evidence, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) authorised the charges. Frank Ferguson, head of the CPS’s special crime and counter-terrorism division, emphasised the importance of avoiding any reporting or commentary that could prejudice the legal proceedings.

    In response to the charges, the Conservative Party has suspended Spencer and withdrawn the party whip with immediate effect. A party spokesperson stated “We have taken immediate action. Patrick Spencer MP has been suspended from the Conservative Party, and the whip withdrawn, with immediate effect.”

    Spencer, who was elected to Parliament in July 2024, is the son of billionaire businessman and former Tory party treasurer Lord Michael Spencer. He is scheduled to appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on 16 June 2025. The Groucho Club, founded in 1985 as a progressive alternative to traditional gentlemen’s clubs, is known for its cultural significance and notable membership.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Keir Starmer call with Taoiseach Martin of Ireland [May 2025]

    PRESS RELEASE : Keir Starmer call with Taoiseach Martin of Ireland [May 2025]

    The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 13 May 2025.

    The Prime Minister spoke to the Taoiseach Micheál Martin this morning.

    The pair discussed the productive Coalition of the Willing meeting on Saturday and agreed good progress had been made in support of Ukraine. They agreed to continue working with international partners and put pressure on Putin to accept the ceasefire deal on the table without conditions.

    The Prime Minister updated the Taoiseach on his ongoing discussions with the European Union, ahead of the first UK-EU summit next week. Both leaders agreed that there was an ambitious package on the table that would serve to benefit hard-working people and businesses across Europe.

    Finally, the Prime Minister and Taoiseach reflected on the constructive bilateral discussions held recently at the British Irish Intergovernmental Conference in April on a joint approach to dealing with legacy issues of the past in Northern Ireland. They agreed that their respective teams would continue these discussions at pace.

  • NEWS STORY : Dame Melinda Simmons Appointed UK Ambassador to Poland

    NEWS STORY : Dame Melinda Simmons Appointed UK Ambassador to Poland

    STORY

    The UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office has announced the appointment of Dame Melinda Simmons DCMG as His Majesty’s Ambassador to the Republic of Poland. She will succeed Ms Anna Clunes CMG OBE, who is transitioning to another role within the Diplomatic Service. Dame Melinda is set to assume her new position in August 2025.

    Dame Melinda brings a wealth of diplomatic experience to her new role. From 2019 to 2023, she served as the UK Ambassador to Ukraine, where she played a pivotal role during a period marked by significant geopolitical challenges. Prior to that, she held various senior positions, including Director of the Joint Funds Unit at the National Security Secretariat and Deputy Director roles at both the Foreign & Commonwealth Office and the Department for International Development. Her extensive career has focused on conflict resolution, humanitarian response, and international development.

    In preparation for her upcoming assignment in Warsaw, Dame Melinda has been engaged in full-time language training since 2024. Her appointment comes at a time when UK-Poland relations are increasingly significant, particularly concerning European security and collaborative efforts in response to regional conflicts.