Case involves tycoon's alleged failure to declare 400m worth of overseas assets to HMRCFormer Formula One boss Bernie Ecclestone has pleaded guilty to fraud at Southwark crown court after failing to declare more than 400m of overseas assets to the UK government.Ecclestone had pleaded not guilty to the charges in August, but changed his plea at a case management hearing on Thursday. Continue reading...
Cases are rising in many parts of the country and critics are blaming chronic water shortages and poor sanitation systemsThe Zimbabwean government has banned large gatherings in parts of the country and increased surveillance at ports of entry in an effort to contain a rise in cholera cases.With 100 suspected deaths, most of them in September, and nearly 5,000 possible cases of the water-borne disease in more than 41 districts, including Harare, authorities fear a repeat of the 2008 epidemic where 4,000 people died. Continue reading...
In today's newsletter: Rachel Reeves delivers and Keir Starmer shows he's ready to lead at an event that both literally and figuratively sparkled Sign up here for our daily newsletter, First EditionAfter 13 years, is Labour finally ready for power? Sir Keir Starmer certainly believes so - and not just for one term but two. As the glittery Labour conference in Liverpool comes to a close today, we take stock of four key moments and what they tell us about the party's chance of winning the next general election.The atmosphere was completely different to the previous week at the Tory conference," says Peter Walker, the Guardian's deputy political editor, who is finally hanging up his lanyards after three consecutive weeks of covering party conferences. The place was packed, it was full of energy, it felt vigorous. They felt as if they weren't just trying to look like they are ready for power - but that they really are."Israel-Hamas war | Joe Biden has condemned the attack by Hamas militants on Israel at the weekend as the deadliest day for Jews since the Holocaust", as Israeli jets continued to strike Gaza, an enclave running desperately low on medical supplies, according to the World Health Organization.Weather | Freezing temperatures could be about to blast the UK, putting an end to the unseasonably warm October, and heavy rainfall is expected in parts of England. Northern Ireland and parts of Scotland could reach as low as -3C and the south of England and Wales could see about two inches of rain on Thursday and Friday.Conservatives | Anna Soubry, the former Conservative business minister, has announced she will be voting for Labour at the next general election. The former MP, now a criminal barrister, said on social media that with Keir Starmer, Labour has the values and competence to deliver the change our country desperately needs."Captain Tom | The daughter of Captain Sir Tom Moore has admitted to keeping 800,000 from books that the late army veteran had written. Hannah Ingram-Moore said the family kept the sum from three books because Captain Tom had wanted them to retain the profits.UK news | The Sycamore Gap tree is being removed from its spot on Hadrian's Wall after it was cut down by vandals two weeks ago. On Thursday a crane will lift the 50-foot sycamore off the wall in Northumberland and it will be put into storage at a National Trust property - the location of which is not being disclosed for security reasons. Continue reading...
The day after Cheng arrived back in Australia after three years' detention in China, Penny Wong says she had vowed to do everything I could to bring her home'
New Zealander had been in Sydney's Royal Prince Alfred hospital for a month before her death at 53, management says, as tributes flow for shining soul'
Organisers say they will still be loud and proud' on Sunday but have changed plans after premier Chris Minns vowed to stop any protestsA planned pro-Palestine march through the streets of Sydney on Sunday has been scrapped in favour of a static demonstration" at Hyde Park after the premier, Chris Minns, vowed to stop any protests.Event co-organiser Amal Naser said the decision had been made to avoid dealing with legal issues related to obtaining police protection for a march. Continue reading...
After breakdancing debuted at the games in China, members of the Thai national team say they needed support for hair treatmentA member of Thailand's national breakdancing team has spoken about one of the lesser known challenges of the sport - hair loss.At the Asian Games in Hangzhou, China, where breaking - known in the media as breakdancing - debuted this year, Thailand's national team was asked about the kinds of support performers need. They said there was a lack of facilities for training in Thailand, meaning people have to practise in parks or shopping malls. Continue reading...
by Haroon Siddique Legal affairs correspondent on (#6FGAH)
Decision to release Robert Brown halfway through 26-year sentence for killing Joanna Simpson referred to Parole BoardThe early automatic release of a man who bludgeoned to death his estranged wife has been blocked by the UK justice secretary.Robert Brown was due to be released at the beginning of next month after serving half of his 26-year sentence for killing Joanna Simpson in October 2010. Continue reading...
Co-founder of Change UK who opposed Brexit praises Keir Starmer as having the values and competence' Britain desperately needs'Anna Soubry, the former Conservative business minister, has announced she will be voting for Labour at the next general election.The former MP, now a criminal barrister, said on social media that she will be voting for Keir Starmer. On Wednesday, she wrote on X, formerly Twitter: I will be voting #Labour. Continue reading...
Emergency meeting of Arab League calls for serious negotiations between the PLO and Israel'Arab foreign ministers have urged Israel to meet its international obligations as an occupying power and return to negotiations on a two-state solution that provides a viable state for Palestine.At an emergency meeting of the Arab League in Cairo on Wednesday, ministers underlined the importance of resuming the peace process and starting serious negotiations between the Palestine Liberation Organization and Israel". Continue reading...
After Mladenov's appointment, Latham aired further accusations that his former party misused electoral funds by spending thousands on unnecessary merchandise'
The standup, writer and actor, who co-hosted The Great Australian Bake Off and appeared as a guest on Thank God You're Here, died after a short illness in SydneyCal Wilson, the New Zealand standup comedian who became a mainstay on Australian television over a 20-year career, has died at the age of 53.Her death was confirmed in a statement released by her artist management agency. She died on Wednesday surrounded by family and friends after a short illness at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital in Sydney", the statement read. Continue reading...
Part two of the Netflix historical drama will follow in DecemberThe final season of The Crown will be released in two parts later this year, Netflix has announced.The first instalment of the historical TV drama's sixth season will be released on 16 November with part two to follow on 14 December. The series, broadly based on historical events, depicts a fictionalised version of the British royal family. Continue reading...
Yvette Cooper will announce scheme that will also offer mental health supportYvette Cooper will set up a 100m tough love" youth programme to help tackle a knife crime epidemic and a mental health crisis among UK teenagers if Labour is elected, she will announce.On Tuesday, the shadow home secretary will tell the Labour party conference in Liverpool that the young futures" programme will target 92 communities under a Keir Starmer-led government that are blighted by youth crime and violence. Continue reading...
by Kalyeena Makortoff Banking correspondent on (#6FE3J)
Odey Asset Management was thrown into turmoil after allegations of sexual misconduct against its founderThe wealth management arm of Crispin Odey's investment group will be wound down months after the hedge fund tycoon was accused of sexual misconduct by junior female members of staff.The City regulator, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), said it was working closely with the firm, as it prepares to shut its operations in the UK and Guernsey. It is expected to return any remaining money to investors. Continue reading...
Home Office brings fresh legal challenge after court of appeal ruled UK's deportation policy unlawfulRwanda is a country that imprisons, tortures and murders" its opponents, including those who have already fled the country, the UK's supreme court has heard.Raza Husain KC, representing asylum seekers challenging the Rwanda policy, told five senior judges of human rights breaches in the east African country. He said opponents of the Rwandan government were at risk of police violence and absolute repression". Continue reading...
World's first museum devoted to the female organ moves to bigger premises after more than 2,500 people donatedThe world's first vagina museum will reopen next month with a new exhibition thanks to a public fundraising drive after it was forced to close for months and relocate.The museum was forced to shut its east London premises in February this year when its property guardianship came to an end. Continue reading...
Concern as significantly lower level of the Rhine could have big impact on transportationRiver levels in parts of Europe have once again reached significant lows after conditions that were drier and warmer than normal across central and western parts of Europe through September and the first week of October.In Germany, levels for the River Rhine have been steadily lowering since the end of September and are now running well below the normal level of 1.75m or so, with the key chokepoint of Kaub recorded at 90cm on 8 October. Continue reading...
Report says many aspects make companies uncompetitive, as chancellor Jeremy Hunt is urged to make reformsBritain's manufacturers are urging the chancellor, Jeremy Hunt, to announce a major MOT" of the UK's uncompetitive" business tax and regulatory system in his autumn statement next month.Many aspects of the system are not fit for purpose", the business group Make UK said in a report published in the middle of the political party conference season, and called for major reform as part of an industrial strategy. Continue reading...
In today's newsletter: Thousands of Israelis and Palestinians have been wounded and killed since Saturday morning, with Israel's prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu warning of a long and difficult war' after Hamas attack Sign up here for our daily newsletter, First EditionGood morning.At about 6:30am local time on Saturday, Hamas, the Palestinian para-military group, launched an unprecedented, surprise attack by land, air and sea, firing thousands of rockets from Gaza and launching an incursion into southern Israel taking over several Israeli towns. The offensive, which Hamas have called Operation Al-Aqsa Flood", took place a day after the 50th anniversary of the 1973 Yom Kippur war and caught the Israeli government and military completely off guard. It has been described as an intelligence failure for the ages".Germany | Germany's opposition conservatives have held ground in the key states of Hesse and Bavaria in elections that highlighted discontent with Olaf Scholz's centre-left government amid worries about economic slowdown and migration.Labour | Rachel Reeves will announce today that a Labour government would create a powerful Covid corruption commissioner to help recoup billions of pounds of taxpayers' money that has been lost to waste, fraud and flawed contracts during the pandemic.Health | Mental healthcare in England has become a national emergency", with overwhelmed" services unable to cope with a big post-Covid surge in people needing help, NHS bosses say.Conservatives | Working-class people who were a key part of the coalition of voters that delivered the Conservatives' 2019 general election win have been deserting the party in droves under Rishi Sunak's leadership, polling by YouGov has found. Only 44% of working-class voters who voted for the Tories in 2019 say they will back the party next time.Spain | Tens of thousands of people have joined conservative and far-right Spanish political leaders in Barcelona to protest against the Socialist party's decision to consider an amnesty for those involved in the failed, unlawful and unilateral push for Catalan independence six years ago. Continue reading...
Arif Ahmed pledges to remain politically neutral in his role and to ensure academic freedoms are maintainedEngland's newly appointed university free speech tsar says his role is not to conduct culture wars" and has pledged to be politically neutral in his efforts to combat threats to academic freedom.Arif Ahmed, a former philosophy professor at Cambridge University, said he would measure his success or failure by surveys of students and by the number of complaints made under procedures being created by the Office for Students (OfS), England's higher education regulator. Continue reading...
Shadow chief secretary to the Treasury says multinationals are crying out for stability and competence'Businesses are crying out for stability and competence" and are turning in droves to Labour after losing hope with the government the shadow chief secretary to the Treasury has said.Speaking to the Guardian before a speech by his boss, Rachel Reeves, at the Labour conference, Darren Jones said the scale of renewed corporate interest in Labour meant he was spending almost the entire event meeting business leaders. Continue reading...
But report says Labour lead is much narrower among working-class voters than electorate as a whole and urges focus on fairnessWorking-class people who were a key part of the coalition of voters that delivered the Conservatives' 2019 general election win have been deserting the party in droves under Rishi Sunak's leadership, polling has found.Only 44% of working-class voters who voted for the Tories in 2019 say they will back the party next time, according to research by YouGov released as Keir Starmer prepares to make what will probably be his last pitch for support at a Labour conference before a general election. Continue reading...
Political stakes are high for ministers but refugees say their lives are at risk if policy is greenlitThe UK government's plans to send asylum seekers to Rwanda had generated controversy even before the former home secretary Priti Patel signed a deal with the east African country in April last year sealing the deal. Ministers claimed the plan would deter people from making the dangerous journey across the Channel on small boats.On Monday, a case examining the legality of the policy reaches the UK's highest court, the supreme court. The political stakes for ministers are high but the asylum seekers threatened with being forcibly removed to Rwanda say their lives are at stake if the policy is greenlit. Continue reading...
Coalition talks to begin on Monday after full results show previous Liberal-led coalition no longer has majorityThe coalition government of Luxembourg's Liberal prime minister Xavier Bettel has lost its parliamentary majority in Sunday's general election, which also saw the Greens routed.That leaves the way open for the biggest single party, the conservative Christian Social People's party (CSV). The CSV came out on top, as it did at the last elections in 2018, with 29% of the vote, up 0.9 percentage points, according to the full results published on Sunday evening. Continue reading...
by Dan Sabbagh Defence and security editor on (#6FDFR)
Public inquiry into alleged actions of SAS units to begin amid victims' families pleas for truth to be uncoveredA public inquiry into allegations that 80 Afghans were summarily killed by members of three different British SAS units begins on Monday amid pleas from victims' families to uncover the truth behind the deaths.Mansour Aziz, whose brother and sister-in-law were shot and killed while sleeping by British elite forces during a night raid on 6 August 2012, said he hoped the inquiry would establish why his home had been targeted. Continue reading...
Exclusive: Rachel Reeves announces plans for powerful watchdog to recover taxpayer cash lost to waste and fraudA Labour government would create a powerful Covid corruption commissioner to help recoup billions of pounds of taxpayers' money that has been lost to waste, fraud and flawed contracts during the pandemic, Rachel Reeves is to announce.The new commissioner would be given the power to bring together public agencies including HMRC, the Serious Fraud Office and the National Crime Agency to pursue at least 2.6bn of lost" public funds. They would examine contracts line by line and would have to update parliament on their progress in clawing back money. Continue reading...
Staffing difficulties worst in hospitality sector, finds BCC poll, with separate research showing recruitment intentions falling in UKThree-quarters of UK firms are still struggling to recruit staff, research has found, but the post-pandemic jobs boom" appears to be in decline, with hiring intentions continuing to fall last month.A survey by the British Chambers of Commerce found that 73% of the almost 5,000 companies it polled had faced hiring difficulties in the July to September quarter - a nine percentage point drop from the record high of 82% in the final three months of 2022. Continue reading...
Worries about the economy and migration pushed up share for far-right AfD in Hesse and Bavaria, while coalition parties did worseGerman chancellor Olaf Scholz's fractious centre-left coalition has received a sharp rebuke from voters in the key states of Bavaria and Hesse, with economic woes and immigration fears boosting the opposition conservatives and the far right.At the elections on Sunday the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party burst out of its post-industrial eastern strongholds to score its best ever result in a western state. Polls showed it on course to be the second largest party in Hesse, home to the financial capital Frankfurt. Continue reading...
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