Friday, November 6

United Kingdom

Jeremy Corbyn calls for Boris Johnson to be sacked over Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe blunder
ENGLISH, United Kingdom

Jeremy Corbyn calls for Boris Johnson to be sacked over Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe blunder

    Jeremy Corbyn has called for Boris Johnson to be immediately sacked as Foreign Secretary following his diplomatic blunder in the case of imprisoned British woman, Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe. Mr Corbyn accused Mr Johnson of undermining our country and putting UK citizens at risk after he said that Ms Zaghari-Ratcliffe, who has been in an Iranian jail for the past 18 months, was training journalists there. In a statement given to The Observer, the Labour leader lists a series of other diplomatic gaffes and poorly-chosen statements from Mr Johnson, who was appointed as Foreign Secretary by Ms May when she took over as Prime Minister last summer. Mr Corbyn said: We’ve put up with Johnson embarrassing and undermining our country with his incompetence and colonial throwback views...
Mr. Ben to be third child’s dad at 62
ENGLISH, United Kingdom

Mr. Ben to be third child’s dad at 62

    Mr. Ben who's real name Rowan Atkinson is to become a father for the third time. The 62-year-old comic who already has son Ben, 23, and 21-year-old daughter Lily from his marriage to Sunetra Sastry is expecting his first child with partner Louise Ford. The 33-year-old actress who has been dating Rowan since 2014 is said to be due to give birth in the next few weeks and the pair can't wait. A source told the Sunday People newspaper: Rowan and Louise are over the moon and can't wait for their new arrival. It's a very happy time for them both. Rowan first met The Windsors' star in 2012 when they starred together in West End production Quartermaine's Terms and they began dating after his 25-year marriage came to an end. And it was previously claimed Sunetra who cited irreconci...
The truth about Buy-to-Let property
ENGLISH, United Kingdom

The truth about Buy-to-Let property

    With gilt yields near historic lows and bank accounts paying next to nothing, investors have increasingly gravitated toward buy-to-let. In reality, though, buy-to-let has many drawbacks. With gilt yields near historic lows and bank accounts paying next to nothing, income-focused investors have increasingly gravitated toward buy-to-let in recent years. The concept seems simple: Find the right property, fund a deposit with your savings or pension pot, find tenants to cover your mortgage and then some, and reap regular cash flows and big returns when you eventually sell. Some buy-to-let investors even boast of annual yield as high as 20%i! In reality, though, buy-to-let has many drawbacks, and for many investors, the benefits don’t outweigh the costs. Tax Changes Trigger Trou...
What’s the reason to on hold Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s engagement
ENGLISH, United Kingdom

What’s the reason to on hold Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s engagement

    Prince Harry and Meghan Markle All signs indicate towards a royal engagement in the cards – from Meghan Markle's imminent shift of base to London to her introduction to the Queen over tea. Despite all this buzz, a new report suggests otherwise, even claiming that Prince Harry might delay a formal proposal to Markle until April when Kate has delivered her baby. Quashing rumours of a November engagement, The Daily Beast website further dished that Harry and Markle – who have been dating for close to 18 months now – might even want to live together for some time before making a public commitment. "There won't be any announcement until at least after Kate has had her baby in April," a source claiming to have "excellent contacts in the palace," told The Daily Beast. As per the ...
Big Ben’s bongs return for Remembrance Sunday
ENGLISH, United Kingdom

Big Ben’s bongs return for Remembrance Sunday

    The chimes of Big Ben will be heard for the first time in almost three months when Parliament’s historic bell is reconnected this morning, ahead of Armistice Day. After the resumption of chimes at 9am, Palace of Westminster clockmakers will work through the day adjusting the bells to ensure they strike at exactly the right time for Armistice Day commemorations at the 11th hour of the 11th month, followed by Remembrance Sunday events the following day. But people in Westminster are advised not to set their watches by the famous bongs, as parliamentary authorities expect slight inaccuracies following its 11-week break. It comes after the Sunday Telegraph revealed that parliamentary authorities ruled out allowing Big Ben's clock to chime at evenings and weekends because it wo...
Fresh evidence could secure release of British woman being held in Egypt on drugs charges
ENGLISH, United Kingdom

Fresh evidence could secure release of British woman being held in Egypt on drugs charges

    The husband of a British woman being held in an Egyptian jail accused of drug smuggling has claimed he has produced evidence that could prove her innocence. Laura Plummer, 33, from Hull, was arrested last month after being found with 300 tramadol tablets in her luggage. The painkiller is legal in the UK on prescription but illegal in Egypt. Held in a 15ft by 15ft cell with 25 other women for nearly a month, Ms Plummer faces a lengthy prison sentence if convicted of smuggling the drugs. However her husband, Omar Caboo, 34, is said to have shown the newspaper evidence that supports her defence the pills were for his bad back, The Sun reported. The entertainment worker told the newspaper: Hopefully now her nightmare will come to an end. These papers will prove she was telling...
Tesco Christmas advert criticized to Muslim family
ENGLISH, United Kingdom

Tesco Christmas advert criticized to Muslim family

    Just days after its release, Tesco’s Christmas advert has come under fire for featuring a Muslim family. In the supermarket’s one-minute long advert, families prepare Christmas dinner and cook a turkey in a variety of ways. As families meet and greet each other, one scene shows a Muslim family holding Christmas gifts and preparing to celebrate the festive holiday. Some haven’t taken too kindly to Tesco’s inclusive message, with one Twitter user claiming to be a devout Christian feeling very offended. Another user said @Tesco why are you showing Muslims celebrating Christmas in your advert. That’s just wrong, we all know they don’t!!!. Tesco hit back, arguing everybody should be able to enjoy the festivities. Everyone is welcome at Tesco this Christmas and we're proud to ce...
Commons staff spent hundreds of cinema trips claimed as office supplies
ENGLISH, United Kingdom

Commons staff spent hundreds of cinema trips claimed as office supplies

    Commons staff spent hundreds of pounds on cinema trips and football kits on government credit cards, it has been revealed. A total of £200 was spent on football kit and £140 was claimed for cinema visits under office supplies, according to a Freedom of Information request by the BBC. A Commons spokesman told the broadcaster that the items had followed purchasing policy as genuine business transactions. The Parlimentary authorities said there were 205 cards in circulation for Commons staff to make quick, simple and cost-effective purchases when they are either away from their workplace, on business or for very low value items. The documents revealed that a claim had been registered for a £30 book entitled Framing the Face: New perspectives on the History of Facial Hair. It ...
Diesel car tax rise in 2017 autumn budget as government plans
ENGLISH, United Kingdom

Diesel car tax rise in 2017 autumn budget as government plans

    The forthcoming Autumn Budget will see buyers of new diesel cars hit by tax rises, according to the Financial Times. The paper reports that Government aids have said the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Philip Hammond, sees increased levies on sales of new diesel cars as the best route to meeting budget requirements set out by the Clean Air Plan, a draft copy of which was published in May this year. Under the plan, the Government would ban the sale of exclusively petrol or diesel cars by 2040, so that every new car sold in the UK would be electric or hybrid. The fresh tariffs for diesel cars assuming they’re confirmed when the budget is announced on 22 November will signal a further blow to diesel fuel, following figures released this week that revealed sales of new diesel car...
UK set to make the day of Brexit crystal clear in amendment to repeal Bill
ENGLISH, United Kingdom

UK set to make the day of Brexit crystal clear in amendment to repeal Bill

    The date of Brexit will be written into law in an effort to placate MPs who are worried that the Government could attempt to delay the UK's break away from the European Union. Amendments to the repeal bill going through Parliament will spell out that the UK's membership of the EU will end at 11pm GMT, midnight in Brussels, on March 29 2019. Brexit Secretary David Davis said the change will make the UK's departure date crystal clear. The move comes as Mr Davis was set to meet the European Union's chief negotiator Michel Barnier in Brussels, where officials have been engaged in the latest round of Brexit talks. The amendment enshrining Brexit day in law will be considered by MPs when the European Union (Withdrawal) Bill returns to the Commons next week. Theresa May's fragile...