BANKING & FINANCELeave a comment

Ramón Fonseca: Panama Papers law firm founder dies

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The co-founder of the law firm at the centre of the Panama Papers tax scandal has died. Ramón Fonseca Mora, 71, had been suffering from ill health. He was among nearly 30 people who went on trial last month on charges linked to the so-called Panama Papers – a huge leak of secret financial documents in 2016. The leak exposed how some of the world’s richest and most powerful people hid their wealth. Mr Fonseca’s niece confirmed his death on X (formerly Twitter). “Rest in peace, dear uncle, you will always live in our hearts,” Carolina Fonseca wrote on Thursday. Mr … Continue reading Ramón Fonseca: Panama Papers law firm founder dies

POLICE BRUTALITYLeave a comment

US airman shot and killed by police in Florida

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Florida police have publicly released body camera footage from a deputy sheriff who fatally shot a US Air Force member at his home. Senior Airman Roger Fortson, who was 23 years old, was taken to a hospital where he died, officials said. A lawyer for the victim’s family, citing a witness, alleged the police burst into the wrong home. Police have disputed the claim and said the deputy reacted in self-defence after he saw Fortson armed with a gun. The airman was shot on 3 May at his home, located 5 miles (8km) from the Special Operations Wing at Hurlburt … Continue reading US airman shot and killed by police in Florida

HUMAN INTERESTLeave a comment

Free wine hidden in small print claimed after three months

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A free bottle of wine has finally been claimed after being hidden in the privacy policy of a tax-focused think tank’s website for three months. Tax Policy Associates added the clause in February as an experiment, to see if anyone would actually read the full terms. The non-profit organisation’s head Dan Neidle shared the story in a tweet on X, formerly Twitter, saying the first person to spot it would get sent a “bottle of good wine”. Mr Neidle – who has previously reported on high-profile tax cases, including that of former Chancellor Nadhim Zahawi – told the BBC it was his … Continue reading Free wine hidden in small print claimed after three months

ASIALeave a comment

Rat remains found in bread sparks Japan recall and refunds

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One of Japan’s most well-known bread brands is recalling thousands of packets and offering refunds after the remains of a rat was found in its products. Around 104,000 packs of sliced white bread made by the Pasco Shikishima Corporation have been pulled from shelves. Parts of the black rat had been discovered in at least two packets. Pasco bread is a staple in many Japanese households and a ubiquitous presence in supermarkets and convenience stores across the country. There have been no reports thus far of anyone falling sick as a result, Pasco said in a statement earlier this week. … Continue reading Rat remains found in bread sparks Japan recall and refunds

ENTERTAINMENTLeave a comment

Hailey and Justin Bieber announce pregnancy

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Hailey and Justin Bieber have announced they are expecting their first child. The couple shared a video and images of Hailey, 27, debuting her bump in a white lace dress. Famous faces including US reality star Kim Kardashian and model Gigi Hadid posted their congratulations under the announcement on Instagram. Hailey and Justin, 30, got married in a secret ceremony in New York in 2018. The couple announced the news on their respective Instagram pages with corresponding posts. Both begin with a short, romantic video clip of the couple kissing. Other shots zoom in on Hailey’s stomach, which are accentuated in … Continue reading Hailey and Justin Bieber announce pregnancy

GOVERNMENTLeave a comment

Former Fiji PM Frank Bainimarama jailed for a year

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Fiji’s long-serving former prime minister Frank Bainimarama has been sentenced to a year in prison for obstructing a police investigation into corruption. Bainimarama, 70, is one of the most high-profile politicians in the Pacific Islands, having led Fiji for more than15 years until he was voted out in 2022. On the international stage he was also a leading representative lobbying for climate change action for vulnerable Pacific countries. He was taken away in handcuffs after the high court’s ruling on Thursday. Last month he was convicted of perverting the course of justice during a police investigation into university fraud. Prosecutors alleged … Continue reading Former Fiji PM Frank Bainimarama jailed for a year

RACISM & HATE CRIMELeave a comment

US school board to vote on restoring Confederate names

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A Virginia school board could vote for two schools to revert to their original Confederate names in a debate that has bitterly divided a town. In 2020, the Shenandoah County School Board changed the names of Stonewall Jackson High and Ashby-Lee Elementary in Quicksburg. But community members have been pushing for a reversal, arguing the name change is unpopular. Thursday’s vote may mark the first such U-turn anywhere in the US. A large crowd, including residents on both sides of the issue, is expected to flock to the school board’s public meeting. Following the May 2020 murder of George Floyd … Continue reading US school board to vote on restoring Confederate names

ECONOMYLeave a comment

Argentines strike against spending cuts under Javier Milei

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A general strike against public spending cuts has affected most of Argentina, where schools, banks and many shops remained closed. Train and metro services were suspended on Thursday, with a limited bus service running. One of the main union leaders, Hector Daher, said the 24-hour strike was a wake-up call to President Javier Milei. Mr Daher urged him to review some of the cuts to subsidies and social programmes. Mr Milei, a right-wing economist, has begun implementing comprehensive austerity measures since coming into power in December. He says his measures are necessary to reduce Argentina’s public deficit and control the … Continue reading Argentines strike against spending cuts under Javier Milei

BUSINESSLeave a comment

Apple apologises after piano crushing ad backlash

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Apple has apologised after a backlash over an advert that showed objects, including musical instruments and books, being crushed by a hydraulic press. Apple said the advert fell short of its goal of empowering and celebrating creatives, in a statement released to marketing publication Ad Age. The video was meant to demonstrate how creativity has been compressed into the latest iPad. But celebrities including Hugh Grant and Justine Bateman reacted with horror to the destruction shown in the advert. “Our goal is to always celebrate the myriad of ways users express themselves and bring their ideas to life through iPad. … Continue reading Apple apologises after piano crushing ad backlash

CRIMELeave a comment

Undocumented migrant charged with killing a nurse in the US

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A Venezuelan has been charged with murdering 22-year-old Georgia nursing student Laken Riley. A grand jury in Georgia filed 10 charges against Jose Ibarra, 26, an undocumented migrant accused of killing Ms Riley in February. Her death became a flashpoint in the US immigration debate and was referred to by President Joe Biden in his State of the Union speech. Mr Ibarra is also accused of attempted rape and spying on another student. Ms Riley was killed while jogging at the University of Georgia on 22 February. Police have previously said that Mr Ibarra did not know Ms Riley and … Continue reading Undocumented migrant charged with killing a nurse in the US

POLITICSLeave a comment

German politician attacked in library as violence spreads

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A Berlin senator and former mayor of the German capital has been attacked by a man in a local library in the latest of a spate of assaults on German politicians. Franziska Giffey, a well known figure in Germany’s centre-left SPD, was briefly treated in hospital after she was hit on the head and neck with a bag “filled with hard contents”, police said. Politicians and campaign workers have been targeted in recent days, especially in eastern Germany. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said the attacks were “outrageous and cowardly… Violence does not belong in a democratic debate”. Last Friday, a … Continue reading German politician attacked in library as violence spreads

CLIMATE CHANGELeave a comment

Australia backs gas beyond 2050 despite climate fears

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Australia has announced it will ramp up its extraction and use of gas until “2050 and beyond”, despite global calls to phase out fossil fuels. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s government says the move is needed to shore up domestic energy supply while supporting a transition to net zero. But critics argue the move is a rejection of science, pointing to the International Energy Agency (IEA) call for “huge declines in the use of coal, oil and gas” to reach climate targets. Australia – one of the world’s largest exporters of liquefied natural gas – has also said the policy is … Continue reading Australia backs gas beyond 2050 despite climate fears