A senior US army officer has been arrested in the UK on suspicion of spying for Russia.

The 41-year-old man was detained on Tuesday. Counter-terrorism police said the soldier had been arrested under national security laws relating to obtaining or disclosing protected information and assisting a foreign intelligence service.

The BBC understands the soldier is based at Imjin Barracks in Gloucestershire, which is headquarters of Nato’s Allied Rapid Reaction Corps, a strategic operational base for the alliance.

The director of the FBI director Kash Patel said in a statement: “This important arrest involves allegations of espionage, which is of the utmost concern to the United States and our allies.”

He added: “While this investigation is continuing, I want to send a clear message – this FBI has no tolerance for anyone who breaks their oath to the United States and whose actions endanger our national security and that of our partners.”

Deputy Assistant Commissioner Vicki Evans, from Counter Terrorism Policing London, described the arrest as “significant”.
“The allegations are serious and our investigation is very much ongoing,” she said.

The unnamed soldier is currently in custody at a London police station where he can be held without charge for up to 14 days.

Brig Gen Sean Stinchon, commanding general of US Army Counterintelligence Command, said: “The alleged conduct of a senior soldier, entrusted with sensitive information, is a sobering reminder that insider threats are real and persistent.

Fiona Bruce presents BBC News at Ten reporting by Daniel Sandford.

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Warning: Viewers may find some images in this report distressing.

BBC News has gained access to institutions in Ukraine where widespread abuse and mistreatment of disabled people has been uncovered.

Around 100,000 children and young people live in these institutions, which pre-date the war with Russia.

Human rights investigators say Ukraine should not join the European Union until it closes these institutions.

The Ukrainian government has promised a series of reforms over the past few years, acknowledging that its system of institutionalisation needs to change.

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The board of tech giant Nvidia is considering whether to oust its CEO Jensen Huang after he admitted to an affair with a woman, reportedly from another company – who is also allegedly a Chinese spy.

Allegations of a second affair have since been reported by the New York Times with an executive at his own company.

Since then, Nvidia’s share price has plunged by nearly 8%, wiping hundreds of billions of dollars off the value of the AI chip giant.

Beijing has warned the US not to use the spying allegations as a pretext to once again restrict tech sales to China. Nvidia is investigating the affair Huang has admitted, as is the FBI.

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US tech giant Nvidia has begun an investigation following claims its CEO Jensen Huang had a relationship with a suspected Chinese spy.

Nvidia is one of the world’s largest companies making cutting-edge computer chips that power emerging AI technologies. The company said its board had no reason to believe that its secrets or national security had been compromised.

According to the New York Times, US intelligence officials believed that Chinese businesswoman Alice Huang, who had a close relationship with Jensen Huang, was a spy for China’s Ministry of State Security.

Jensen Huang has admitted to having been “unfaithful” to his wife and apologised for hurting her and their children. He said he took “full responsibility” for what he did and had fallen short of his responsibilities to Nvidia’s employees, board and shareholders. He said: “I was unfaithful to my wife. My actions hurt her and our children. There is no excuse for what I did. I am deeply sorry.”

His statement continued: “Regarding the national security concerns raised in news reports, Nvidia’s Board of Directors has initiated an independent investigation. I support the investigation and will cooperate fully. I love our country and our company. I am committed to protecting Nvidia and supporting America’s national security. I am proud and grateful to be an American.”

Nvidia’s board of directors said it would begin an investigation in “light of recent reporting that founder and CEO Jensen Huang has been the target of a foreign intelligence effort”. It continued: “The Board prioritises US national and economic security, which is paramount to the interests of Nvidia and its shareholders.

Alice Huang is linked to Singapore-based data centre firm Megaspeed. Nvidia is a central player in AI infrastructure, providing chips to leading AI model developers including OpenAI and Meta. The microchip manufacturer is worth some $4.5 trillion, making it one of the world’s most valuable companies.

China has previously rejected allegations of an espionage operation targeting Nvidia’s chief, describing the claims as “groundless speculation”.

However US intelligence agencies had been monitoring Alice Huang and concluded that she was acting on behalf of the Chinese government, according to unnamed sources cited by The New York Times. It remains unclear what information Alice Huang – who is also known as Huang Le – allegedly passed to Beijing, how valuable it was, or when she is believed to have begun gathering intelligence.

Reeta Chakrabarti presents BBC News at Ten reporting by Zoe Kleinman.

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Egypt is the only Arab country with legal provisions for gender identity disorder patients, but despite this they suffer from social stigma. Government officials said that it has become more acceptable to seek and receive treatment. Since 2011, 25 people have undergone sex change surgery. Ali Gamal reports.

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