Author: Loveworld UK

The high street billionaire Sir Philip Green has sparked a legal battle with regulators over a probe into the audit of BHS’s accounts during the year before the now-collapsed chain was sold for £1. Sky News can exclusively reveal that Sir Philip’s company Taveta Investments has made an urgent application for a judicial review aimed at forcing the Financial Reporting Council (FRC) to amend its report on the issue.A hearing is understood to have been scheduled to take place at the High Court on Friday, but has been postponed after lawyers for the FRC requested more time to prepare their…

EDF Energy will pay £350,000 after missing its target to install smart meters for customers last year, regulator Ofgem said. Ofgem found that EDF failed to meet its annual installations target for 2017, although it was achieved almost a month after the deadline in January this year.Suppliers are required by law to take “all reasonable steps” to deliver smart meters to all homes and small businesses by the end of 2020.They set annual targets and Ofgem monitors their achievement, although the target remains commercially confidential.The energy regulator said it is “closely monitoring suppliers’ approach to the roll-out of smart meters…

Nearly 60 bank and building society branches are closing every month, according to research. Between the start of 2015 and the end of 2018, 2,868 branches have closed or are scheduled to do so and the numbers are getting worse.Consumer group Which? said that so far this year 670 branches have closed or been scheduled for closure, already close to the total for 2017, when 879 branches closed.Mobile banking trucks, online banking and phone apps may be promoted as suitable substitutes but they are not convenient or accessible to everyone.They can also be unreliable, as TSB’s recent IT meltdown has…

Children as young as 12 have been physically abused, detained and forcibly returned to Italy by French border guards in a breach of international standards, Oxfam has claimed. A report from the charity says children complained about being “physically and verbally abused, and detained overnight in cells without food, water or blankets and with no access to an official guardian” – all contrary to French and EU law.It says French police routinely stop unaccompanied children and put them on trains back to Italy after altering their paperwork to make them appear older, or to make it appear that they want…

Tennis legend Boris Becker is claiming diplomatic immunity from bankruptcy proceedings in the UK. Mr Becker has been appointed as sports attache to the Central African Republic.Last year bankruptcy proceedings were brought against the former tennis ace over money he allegedly owes to a London-based private bank, Arbuthnot, Latham and Co.An application to the High Court had been made to prolong Mr Becker’s period of bankruptcy in order to release more assets.But Mr Becker’s lawyers have told the court that their client has been appointed as ambassador to the Central African Republic.This role gives the individual diplomatic immunity and so,…

Taking a photo under a person’s clothes without their consent could result in two years in jail, as upskirting is set to become a specific criminal offence. The Ministry of Justice has said it will back the ban which will form part of the Voyeurism (Offences) Bill, which is expected to pass through the Commons on Friday.Upskirting victim Gina Martin, 26, who faced rape threats and abuse after launching her campaign to make it a criminal offence, said: “This is obviously great news, and it’s thanks to everyone who’s listened to us along the way.”I want to hug every woman…

The captain of a charter boat says he was “shocked” after a 23-stone porbeagle shark was caught and then washed onto his vessel. It was believed to be one of the biggest of its kind caught off Welsh waters.Following what was described as a “long, epic battle”, angler Matthew Burrett reeled in the 324lb fish, which was around 8ft-long, during a trip off the coast of Milford Haven, Pembrokeshire.Skipper Craig Deans said: “I’ve never seen anything that big before, although I’m sure there are bigger fish out there.”When I saw the size of it, I was pretty shocked. We didn’t…

The Queen and Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, are opening the Mersey Gateway Bridge as they attend their first joint engagement. Meghan, 36, is passing another royal milestone, days after her first balcony appearance on Buckingham Palace on Saturday, during Trooping the Colour.She and the Queen cut the ribbon to open the bridge over the Mersey and unveiled a plaque to commemorate the event. Image: This is the first joint engagement for Meghan with the Queen Image: The Queen appeared to go green for Grenfell during the visit The opening took place at the Catalyst Museum, which offers a bird’s…

Donald Trump has been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize by two Norwegian politicians after his historic meeting with Kim Jong Un. Christian Tybring-Gjedde, an MP, and former justice minister Per-Willy Amundsen said Mr Trump “had taken a huge and important step in the direction of the disarmament, peace and reconciliation between North and South Korea”.Both men are politicians with the anti-establishment Progress Party.A group of US Republican politicians nominated Mr Trump for the prize in May.The process of considering candidates for the honour is carried out in Norway, and nominations must be sent to the Nobel committee before February.Mr…

UK retail sales soared for the second month in row in May, beating expectations, thanks to the royal wedding and warmer weather. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said retail sales volumes rose by 1.3% from a revised 1.8% in April.Economists polled by Reuters expected sales to rise by 0.5%.The latest numbers will offer a little relief to retailers who have had a torrid time of late and may give the Bank of England opportunity to raise interest rates. Sterling rose almost half a cent against the dollar to $1.3430.”Retailers suggested that a sustained period of good weather and Royal…