Political news

• Priti Patel forced to resign over meetings with Israeli officials – Politics live

  08-11-2017 23:44
  International development secretary becomes second cabinet minister in a week to quit 10.44pm GMTThe headlines keep coming. The Mirror has gone with “It’s Priti shambolic.”Thursday's MIRROR: it's Priti shambolic #tomorrowspaperstoday pic.twitter.com/Wip1YtcmdcFrom thetimes : Fears government will collapse as Patel quits #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/i2aFprLOR9Thursday's SUN: £25m winner ladies #tomorrowspaperstoday pic.twitter.com/d03h5gotxa 10.30pm GMTAfter a dif
  
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• ‘The Apprentice’: Fired Candidate Sarah-Jayne Clark Reveals Last-Minute Boardroom Decision Change

  08-11-2017 23:02
  Sarah-Jayne Clark, the latest ‘Apprentice’ candidate to be fired be Lord Alan Sugar, has revealed that she changed her mind at the last-minute when deciding who to bring back into the boardroom. The 25-year-old shop owner was project manager for Team Vitality in Wednesday’s (8 November) episode, leading the team as their (sub-par…) Brussels city tour failed to impress tourists. And while the whole team made it mistakes, it seemed as though Anisa could be in the firing li
  
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• Priti Patel resigns: What went wrong

  08-11-2017 22:24 via bbc.co.uk
  The BBC's Diplomatic Correspondent James Landale explains the controversy that led to her resignation.
  
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• Gut Bacteria And The Obesity Epidemic - The Gut Microbiome Weight Loss Diet

  08-11-2017 22:23
  The global obesity epidemic is growing at a staggering rate and shows no sign of slowing; 1 in 3 people in the UK will be obese by 2034 and 1 in 10 will develop Type 2 diabetes.Prevention remains the most effective treatment strategy for addressing this unprecedented public health catastrophe. The solution requires changes in health policy and eating behaviours. But, one scientific question remains unanswered: why are some of us susceptible to weight gain while others can eat anything with impun
  
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• Steve Bell on the Conservative party sack race – cartoon

  08-11-2017 22:20
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• Priti Patel's Resignation Was A 24-Hour Social Media Rollercoaster

  08-11-2017 22:04
  The moon landing. The JFK assassination. Lilith the lynx escaping from Borth Wild Animal Kingdom. Everyone says they knows where they were during these seismic moments in human history.While the resignation of Conservative minister Priti Patel probably won’t live as long in the memory, those who do remember it will know precisely where they were. They were on Twitter.So how did we get to the stage where a politician’s downfall was so absorbing it probably dented Britain’s GDP?P
  
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• Priti Patel's Resignation Sent Social Media Wild

  08-11-2017 22:04
  The moon landing. The JFK assassination. Lilith the lynx escaping from Borth Wild Animal Kingdom. Everyone says they knows where they were during these seismic moments in human history.While the resignation of Conservative minister Priti Patel probably won’t live as long in the memory, those who do remember it will know precisely where they were. They were on Twitter.So how did we get to the stage where a politician’s downfall was so absorbing it probably dented Britain’s GDP?L
  
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• Priti Patel's Resignation Sent Sent Social Media Wild

  08-11-2017 22:04
  The moon landing. The JFK assassination. Lilith the lynx escaping from Borth Wild Animal Kingdom. Everyone says they knows where they were during these seismic moments in human history.While the resignation of Conservative minister Priti Patel probably won’t live as long in the memory, those who do remember it will know precisely where they were. They were on Twitter.So how did we get to the stage where a politician’s downfall was so absorbing it probably dented Britain’s GDP?L
  
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• Priti Patel forced to resign over unofficial meetings with Israelis

  08-11-2017 21:57
  Theresa May loses second cabinet minister in a week as pro-Brexit international development secretary departs• Priti Patel’s resignation letter and Theresa May’s response – in fullTheresa May’s government was rocked on Wednesday by a second cabinet resignation in a week after Priti Patel was forced to step down as international development secretary.
  The minister quit after being summoned back from a trip to Uganda and Ethiopia by Downing Street after it emerged she
  
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• Boris Johnson: Priti Patel was 'first class' development secretary

  08-11-2017 21:53 via bbc.co.uk
  The foreign secretary reacts to Priti Patel's resignation after controversy over her meetings with Israeli officials.
  
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• Theresa May loses second minister as Priti Patel resigns

  08-11-2017 21:23
  Scandal over undisclosed meetings with Israeli politicians
  
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• Priti Patel scandal turns spotlight on Stuart Polak

  08-11-2017 21:20
  Longtime head of Conservative Friends of Israel personally arranged minister’s meetings
  
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• Priti Patel leaves Downing Street back entrance

  08-11-2017 21:15 via bbc.co.uk
  The former UK international development secretary is filmed after meeting Prime Minister Theresa May.
  
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• Why Tax Dodging Is Fundamentally Unpatriotic

  08-11-2017 21:02
  Following the Paradise Papers leak, countless documents have shown the scale of what is a thriving tax dodging industry, involving leading figures from the Queen, Lewis Hamilton to Bono. Amidst the public furore, a more fundamental point about tax avoidance is lost. Shirking your tax-paying responsibilities is completely unpatriotic.The paradise papers show how companies and individuals use tax havens in British crown dependencies and overseas territories to hide their wealth. A BBC Panorama inv
  
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• Who is Priti Patel?

  08-11-2017 20:56 via bbc.co.uk
  The prominent Brexiteer rose swiftly to the cabinet after being elected as an MP in 2010, but has now resigned from the cabinet.
  
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• Our Planet Is Choking On Trash And We Are All To Blame

  08-11-2017 20:45
  Many people don't think about how their daily habits and actions impact the planet. I am lucky enough to live in a place where those impacts are visible.I was born and raised in London but have spent the last 11 years working for a marine conservation organisation on a tiny island in the Caribbean.I wanted to be a marine biologist since I can remember; I was raised by parents who cared about protecting the environment and recycled long before it was fashionable.One of the programs I work on is a
  
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• Priti Patel Forced To Quit By Theresa May After Admitting To Secret Meetings With Israeli Officials

  08-11-2017 20:34
  Priti Patel has effectively been sacked by Theresa May after it was revealed she held undisclosed meetings with Israeli officials.Downing Street confirmed on Wednesday evening that after a 33-minute meeting the international development secretary had ‘resigned’, though she had been forced to tender her resignation by the PM.Patel, 45, was ordered by the prime minister this morning to abandon an official trip to Africa and return home.At one point, 22,000 people were tracking her Keny
  
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• Analysis: Priti Patel's Long 'Walk Of Shame' May Not Be Enough To Restore Theresa May's Authority

  08-11-2017 20:30
  It was surely the longest ‘walk of shame’ in British political history.  Priti Patel’s 4,200-mile journey from Nairobi to Heathrow, followed by further 28-mile car-ride from Heathrow to Downing Street, was undeniably humiliating.Part-OJ Simpson televised chopper chase, part online planespotter frenzy, the International Development Secretary’s long, long trek to No.10 was a punishment all of its own.Even though Patel was allowed the polite fiction of a ‘resignat
  
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• Bumpy landing for Priti as pot plants help Maybot take control | John Crace

  08-11-2017 20:19
  Maybot’s green advisers plug her back in and tell her to act before anyone else in her cabinet does something stupidTheresa May had sat motionless at her desk for more than 10 minutes, her eyes staring blankly into the void. The Pot Plants sighed. They could tell it was going to be another bad day. “Say something,” said Pot Plant One eventually. Continue reading...
  
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• How To Avoid Doing More Harm Than Good As A Tourist In Thailand

  08-11-2017 20:09
  Many parts of the world are now so accessible that we are able to travel to places on a reasonable budget and take part in incredible experiences that, decades ago, would have been only available for a lucky few. But as exciting new experiences are offered by the tourism industry, it is incumbent upon us not to take advantage of the areas we visit.I recently returned from a holiday to Thailand. I went there to volunteer with an animal charity that I support. But arriving in Bangkok and walking d
  
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• Paradise Papers shake Britain’s offshore tax havens

  08-11-2017 19:53
  Europe’s politicians urge London ‘to clean up its act’ in wake of revelations
  
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• Victoria Beckham Is Designing A Fitness Wear Collection For Reebok... Yes, Really

  08-11-2017 19:25
  Victoria Beckham may not be the first person who springs to mind when looking for someone to front a sportswear campaign, but Reebok has decided to do just that - hitting up the designer for a collaboration.Her love of heels in renowned - she even once wore stilettos on a treadmill - but recent years have seen VB adding more trainers to her wardrobe.In fact Beckham wants us to know that she has “long incorporated sportswear into [her] wardrobe and daily life”.“To
  
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• MP apologises after secretary sex toy allegations

  08-11-2017 19:11 via bbc.co.uk
  Wyre Forest MP Mark Garnier said his secretary's allegations have been "reported out of context".
  
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• Brexit and Britain’s fraught democratic experiment

  08-11-2017 18:39
  Questions about the UK’s future may be uncomfortable, but they are also necessary
  
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• Parents Advised To Make Themselves Aware Of These 106 Codes Teens Use On Social Media

  08-11-2017 18:23
  Parents are being advised to make themselves aware of social media codes used by teenagers.Groups of numbers and letters - such as 420 or NIFOC may look innocuous when mixed in with the likes of BRB.But they actually mean marijuana and “nude in front of the computer” (respectively) and are on a list of text codes given to Youth Offending Team staff in Waltham Forest by the police.The HM Inspectorate of Probation, which reports on work with children, young people and adults who have c
  
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• Priti Patel’s Downing Street ambitions cut short

  08-11-2017 18:20
  Colleagues say pro-Brexit MP has not been shy about her desire to be prime minister
  
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• How Your Pet Can Help You Live More Ethically

  08-11-2017 18:20
  They're your best friend. Your (probably reluctant) cuddle buddy. A regular on your Instagram page. Now, your pet can slot perfectly into your mission to live more sustainably. We've rounded up the cutest ethical pet treat projects that you need to get involved with.***1. Treats that give back to pets in needFriends Vicky and Jonathan founded handmade dog treat brand Beautiful Joe's to make tasty treats that can contribute to animal welfare on a wider scale.Every time you buy your pooch some of
  
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• Facebook Messenger Payments And Apple Pay Cash Explained

  08-11-2017 18:17
  Splitting the tab is always a delicate subject, especially if some of you are paying on card, some on cash.The inevitability is that sometimes, someone forgets and then you have to go through the awkwardness of asking them and finally swapping bank details.All-in-all, it’s not a pleasant process. Now while there are great apps out there that focus solely on solving this problem two tech giants have decided to integrate it directly into their ecosystems.Facebook MessengerFacebook announced
  
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• Tax avoidance – Politics Weekly podcast

  08-11-2017 18:16
  Heather Stewart is joined by Juliette Garside, Hilary Osborne, Phillip Inman and Nicholas Shaxson to discuss the industrial-scale tax avoidance revealed in the Paradise Papers leak. Plus Mark Wallace of ConservativeHome on the government’s latest week from hellAfter another leak from an offshore law firm, tax avoidance is back on the political agenda this week. The Paradise Papers investigation by the Guardian and others has shone a light on the vast offshore industry based in many of the
  
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• No deal Brexit fears overblown, says JD Wetherspoon boss

  08-11-2017 18:11
  Tim Martin takes a swipe at Sainsbury’s and Whitbread claiming British firms are not facing a ‘cliff edge’ and his pub chain is ready to leave the EU nowJD Wetherspoon is ready to leave the EU without a transition deal and the idea that firms are facing a dangerous “cliff edge” is overblown and untrue, according to the pub chain’s chairman.Tim Martin said warnings from companies such as Sainsbury’s and Whitbread about the risks of a “no deal”
  
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• These Are The Issues With The ONS's Use Of Mobile Data

  08-11-2017 17:54
  Adding yet another facet to our surveillance society, the government has been quietly running a creepy and intrusive experiment in tracking our movements using mobile phone data as an alternative to traditional census data collection methods.This opportunistic data grab offers a deeply disturbing glimpse into a not-too-distant future where the tracking device in your pocket is routinely used to amass detailed data about your behaviour, privacy be damned.The use of mobile phone data in this way n
  
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• 'RIP her mentions': Priti Patel flies back into perfect social media storm

  08-11-2017 17:51
  Minister’s flight from Kenya to the prospect of the sack in Downing Street was accompanied by flurry of Twitter jokesTens of thousands of people spent Wednesday afternoon engrossed in political drama at 40,000ft as Priti Patel flew back from Nairobi, with the expectation she would be sacked by Theresa May upon her arrival.Flight Radar 24 went public with the number of people tracking her flight – 22,000 – and the social media jokes soon followed.Continue reading...
  
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• Christmas Party Dresses 2017: Curve, Petite, Tall And All The Styles That'll Get You Noticed

  08-11-2017 17:44
  There’s nothing like a great party dress to blow away the winter blues, especially as we start to prep for the onslaught of Christmas dos.We’ve trawled your favourite high street brands for the hottest styles and of course, this go-to list would not be complete without the addition of curve, petite and tall options. While it may be true that you won’t exactly be spoiled for choice on the high street in those departments, the options are (thankfully) on
  
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• Ryanair Blames The Media - Does The Fourth Estate Deserve Such Criticism?

  08-11-2017 17:29
  There are plenty of reasons to be frustrated with the media.Depending on your political affiliations, whatever you watch or read can appear biased or skewed, reporting only one side of the story.I recall unscrupulous colleagues making up quotes and filing them to the news desks before a press conference took place, so that they could leave quickly. These were the days before social media or the internet, so the race to be first did not exist in quite the same way.The cut in advertising budgets h
  
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• Woman Threw Acid At Ex-Lover Shouting 'If I Can't Have You No One Can' Murder Trial Hears

  08-11-2017 17:25
  The 29-year-old also lost a leg, his left eye, and most of the sight in his right eye following the attack, Bristol Crown Court heard on Wednesday.The civil engineer was left wanting to end his life and successfully applied for euthanasia, dying 15 months after the attack.Wallace carried out the attack out of jealousy after the couple split up and van Dongen began seeing another woman, the court was told.In the weeks before the attack Wallace carried out internet searches including “can I
  
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• Antonio Carluccio Dead: Celebrity Chef And Restauranteur Dies Aged 80

  08-11-2017 17:24
  Celebrity chef and restaurateur Antonio Carluccio has died at the age of 80, his agent has confirmed.One of Italy’s greatest food ambassadors, Carluccio founded his namesake restaurant chain in 1999.A statement from Carluccio’s said: “It isn’t just Antonio’s name above our doors, but his heart and soul lives and breathes throughout our restaurants... He was regarded as the Godfather of Italian cooking.“Antonio has been a huge inspiration to many of us and his
  
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• How To Spot The Difference Between Fake And Real Fur

  08-11-2017 17:18
  Lush cosmetics has partnered with the Humane Society International UK (HSI) in a nationwide campaign with the hashtag #WhatTheFur. The HSI has provided a guide on how to spot real fur - especially when it is moonlighting as fake, on products that have been mislabelled as faux, or that carry no label at all.Lush customers can find pocket size guides and at till points in all the stores nationwide.But for those on the go, here’s the low-down. 1. Check The Ends Of The Fur 
  
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• NASA And Uber Announce Flying Taxi Partnership

  08-11-2017 17:14
  Uber and NASA have unveiled a partnership that will see the two companies work together to create the software that will power these innovative new vehicles.Acting in much the same was as conventional air traffic control systems, it would allow UberAir pilots safe routes throughout what would be very crowded airspace.For Uber, the focus has been on creating electric aircraft that can travel short distances at high speeds without causing any unwanted noise disturbance to the public below.Earlier
  
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• Tory Minister Mark Garnier Breaks Silence Over Sex Toy Scandal

  08-11-2017 17:13
  The Tory minister who sent his former aide to buy sex toys has broken his silence to apologise.Mark Garnier, International Trade Minister, called his ex-assistant “sugartits” in front of others in a bar in 2010 and asked her to buy two sex toys from Soho.The married 53-year-old father-of-three claims he was friends with the woman and the incidents have been taken “outside the context”.Speaking to The Shuttle, Garnier said: “The events of 2010 concerning myself 
  
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• Go From Flat To Focussed In Five Steps

  08-11-2017 16:53
  Life got tough? Feel stuck? Lacking direction? Here is how to wipe life's shit out of your eyes and get the clarity and drive back in your game. Or alternatively, as I'd prefer to put it, find your arsehole.Self-development can sometimes amount to a load of old flannel. The person writing with the so called knowledge perceives that their target audience probably be less than 'fine', so should therefore approach with a degree of sensitivity, or heaven forbid, they might be responsible for making
  
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• Lidl's Christmas Ad Features Double Dipping Food, But Is It Really That Bad For Health?

  08-11-2017 16:46
  A Foods Standards Agency (FSA) spokesperson said double dipping food if you’re the only person eating it is not the biggest crime, but is “not recommended”, especially if you’re putting leftovers in the fridge to save for later.“While double dipping if you are the only person using the jar is fine in theory - as you are the only person being exposed to any bacterial/viral cross contamination between your mouth and the jar contents - it is poor hygienic practice,&rdq
  
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• 'Tubby And Terrified': Why This Is The Sad Reality Facing Today's Teenage Girls (And How We're Combatting It)

  08-11-2017 16:34
  At This Girl Can, we've spoken to thousands of women about their relationship with sport. One piece of feedback which has repeatedly reared its head is: "PE scarred me for life."Many of us bear the scars of the forgotten gym kit - and the horror of being forced to run about in your pants. Despite tackling triathlons over the last few years I wasn't the most natural of athletes at school and P.E. for me, was an exercise in not being as good as everyone else. Most women seem to have painful memori
  
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• Ways To Help With Postnatal Depression: Be Involved

  08-11-2017 16:18
  On my blog's Postnatal Depression Toolkit page, I mention that not everything being covered is going to be applicable to everyone. This is one of those suggestions that is aimed more at the fathers who are suffering from PND than the mothers. So if you are a mother in all this, then feel free to pick another option. Or you may be concerned about your partner, in which case, there may be something here for you to read.I will also note before I continue, that I'm probably making some assumptions h
  
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• Night Blindness? On A Dark, Dark Night...

  08-11-2017 16:16
  (Does anyone else find it impossible to drive in the dark? )I had a hair-raising drive home last Thursday in one of the worst rainstorms in the UK for years. However, I have driven in rain storms before, and it shouldn't have been such an inordinate problem. But it was.It was the end of October, and it was dark around 5/5.30pm. I left around 7.30pm, so there was no remaining day light. As I left the lights of the town and joined the dual carriageway, I overtook a lorry. I was only doing 50 miles
  
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• General Ben Hodges warns Britain over armed forces cuts

  08-11-2017 16:07 via bbc.co.uk
  Britain's role as a US ally and leading Nato member could be under threat, says Lt-Gen Ben Hodges.
  
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• These Antidepressant Pillows Have Divided Mental Health Campaigners

  08-11-2017 16:06
  A range of cushions replicating medication used to treat depression and anxiety have divided mental health campaigners.The pillows, by interiors brand Jonathan Adler, come in three styles: Xanax (sometimes prescribed for anxiety), Prozax (a common antidepressant) and Quaalude (an illegal sedative). While some campaigners believe the pillows “turn a serious issue into a gimmick”, others claim they could help mental ill health become “an accepted part of everyone’
  
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• Police Officer Marcus Beale To Face Court Over Sensitive Documents Stolen From Unmarked Police Car

  08-11-2017 16:00
  A top police officer is due to appear in court accused of an offence under the Official Secrets Act after he allegedly failed to safeguard sensitive documents which were stolen from an unmarked police car.Assistant Chief Constable Marcus Beale, of West Midlands Police, has received a court summons over the alleged offence in May, the Press Association reported.The Metropolitan Police, which was tasked to independently investigate the case on behalf of West Midlands Police, said Beale will appear
  
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• Wild Words

  08-11-2017 15:52
  Over the centuries, words have a played a special part in shaping and defining our relationship with the natural world, from the carefully crafted wildlife notebooks of Gilbert White to the intense beauty of Helen Macdonald. They have given us the tools to find ways of describing the magic of those moments of wonder when we watch a bird of prey hovering as it hunts for prey or taking a walk through a colour-rich haymeadow in the summer.Importantly these books have also been vital in capturing ou
  
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• Paradise Papers: Harvey Weinstein, Madonna And Nicole Kidman Among A-Listers Implicated In Latest Tax Haven Leak

  08-11-2017 15:50
  Some of the biggest stars in the entertainment industry have been named in the latest Paradise Papers leak.Madonna, Justin Timberlake and Nicole Kidman, as well as disgraced Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein, have been identified in the latest leak, The Guardian reported on Wednesday.Millions of documents have been released as part of the so-called Paradise Papers, which reveals how the wealthy have secretly invested large sums in offshore tax havens.On Tuesday, heir to the throne Prince
  
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• Welsh Labour Politician Carl Sargeant 'Not Afforded Natural Justice', Say Heartbroken Family

  08-11-2017 15:45
  The family of Welsh politician Carl Sargeant have said he was not afforded “natural justice” before his death.His loved ones have released correspondence indicating that he faced allegations of “unwanted attention, inappropriate touching or groping” - which he denied.They added the Labour Party did not reveal full details of the complaints and he was therefore denied “common courtesy, decency or natural justice”.The former Welsh Communities Secretary was found
  
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