Thames Valley Police are investigating an allegation, reported by the Sunday Times, that Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor behaved inappropriately towards a woman at Royal Ascot in 2002, the year of Queen Elizabeth II's Golden Jubilee, as the force widens its inquiry to cover sexual misconduct alongside an existing probe for misconduct in public office. The king's brother, who denies all wrongdoing, was arrested on his 66th birthday in February after the release of US Department of Justice documents that alleged he had passed information to Jeffrey Epstein; TVP is also assessing a separate claim from a US-resident woman that she was taken to a Windsor address in 2010 for sexual purposes. UK forces still only hold printouts from the US DoJ website, with US authorities declining to release originals and telling British police that a formal international legal request "could take months, if it is agreed to at all".

The average price of a box of six supermarket own-brand free-range eggs has risen from £1 in 2022 to £1.80 today, while four pints of semi-skimmed milk increased from £1.29 to £1.65 and a loaf of basic white bread from 65p to 74p, according to market researchers Assosia. The increases are attributed to the UK's worst avian flu outbreak between 2021 and 2023, Russia's invasion of Ukraine driving up grain and energy costs, and ongoing Middle East conflict. Producer input prices rose 7.7% in the year to April, the biggest increase in over three years, while factory gate prices rose only 4%.

Nigel Farage is under mounting pressure to provide evidence for his claim that a state-sponsored Russian hack led to the disclosure of a £5m gift from crypto billionaire Christopher Harborne. Labour and the Conservatives have called on him to hand any evidence to Britain's security services, while the National Cyber Security Centre is not aware of a report from Farage related to the alleged hack. The Guardian, which revealed the undeclared gift, described Farage's claim as an attempt to deflect attention from legitimate scrutiny of his financial affairs.

Nearly 60,000 arrest warrants were issued for defendants who failed to appear in court in England and Wales last year, a nearly 50% increase since 2020, according to data obtained by Channel 4's Dispatches. More than 30,000 warrants remain outstanding, including over 7,000 issued before 2020, with more than a quarter relating to category A offences such as rape, armed robbery and manslaughter. Former justice secretary Alex Chalk KC described the situation as a "horror show" and said delay in the system gives defendants more opportunity to disappear.

Scottish Deputy First Minister and Finance Secretary Jenny Gilruth stated that cuts are 'undoubtedly' necessary to address a projected £4.7 billion funding shortfall by 2029-30. She emphasized protecting frontline services and vulnerable populations while pursuing public sector reform. The SNP government also plans to bring forward a vote on Scottish independence at Holyrood, seeking a mandate for a second referendum, which the UK government opposes.

New financial reforms are expected to deliver a £1.6 billion boost to the City of London, aiming to strengthen its position as a leading global financial hub following Brexit. The reforms target regulatory changes to enhance competitiveness and attract investment.

The UK Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has launched an examination of the childcare market to assess competition and affordability issues that impact families. The investigation aims to identify barriers to access and potential market failures. Subsequently, the CMA has announced a formal investigation into the childcare market to evaluate competition and affordability issues affecting families.

Background: British Army paratroopers from 16 Air Assault Brigade parachuted onto Tristan da Cunha earlier in May to provide emergency medical support for a suspected Hantavirus case. Today: The Royal Navy patrol ship HMS Medway arrived off the island to deliver critical supplies and relieve the paratroopers, dropping off six civilian medics and retrieving the army specialists. The UK Ministry of Defence announced the Medway would remain in the area for several days.