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Evening briefing: Today's essential headlines Surging migration | More than one million foreign nationals have been allowed to live in the UK for the first time in modern history as the Government was accused of breaking its Brexit promises. The data also showed that three-quarters of the initial asylum applications are being granted, the highest rate for 30 years , despite the Government's claims to be cracking down on illegal arrivals and bogus claims. Kevin Spacey | Star charged with four counts of sexual assault in UK Bernie Ecclestone | Arrested for 'carrying gun while boarding plane' How to Murder Your Husband | Author guilty of murdering husband Daily toll | Drivers over bridge face charges under privatisation plans Home video | Queen shown in her youth in never before seen footage The big story: Rishi Sunak announces windfall tax Tory MPs have warned Rishi Sunak that his windfall tax on oil and gas giants could stifle economic growth as … [Read more...] about Thursday evening UK news briefing: Rishi Sunak ‘throwing meat to socialists’

Rishi Sunak and Akshata Murty have made the Sunday Times Rich List for the first time with their joint £730million fortune. It comes as the number of billionaires in the UK swells to a record high, as the country is gripped by a cost of living crisis. Sunak, 42, is the first frontline politician to appear on the rich list since it began in 1989. The Chancellor and his wife’s finances came under intense scrutiny last month after it was revealed Ms Murty had non-dom status. This allowed her to avoid paying UK tax on foreign earnings as she one day planned to return to live in India. It has been estimated Ms Murty’s non-dom status could have saved her £20million in taxes on dividends from her shares in Indian IT company Infosys. Questions were also raised over the pair’s tax arrangements after it emerged that Sunak and his wife had kept hold of their US green cards after returning to Britain. Ms Murty later agreed to pay UK taxes on her worldwide income, while … [Read more...] about UK’s wealthiest people revealed in new Rich List

Britain risks losing the next potential Paul McCartney or David Bowie because it is too expensive for many children to get a foothold in the music industry, a superstar record producer has warned. Paul Epworth , who has worked with stars such as Adele , Rihanna and McCartney, said youngsters without either financial backing or existing connections in the industry are being excluded from a career in music. He has now thrown his weight behind a new two-year diploma in Creative Entrepreneurship for students aged 19 years and over launched this week by the Ivors Academy. The diploma will offer means-tested bursaries for students from modest and underprivileged backgrounds and few formal qualifications to study all aspects of the industry, including music, technology and culture; live music; personal development; entrepreneurship and branding. Mr Epworth, who won an Academy Award for Best Original Song for ‘Skyfall’, along with seven Grammys, and will be a tutor and mentor … [Read more...] about Adele producer: Poor children have ‘no hope’ of breaking into music industry

Live Updates As Russia's invasion continues for a 57th day, President Joe Biden announced an additional $800 million in security assistance to Ukraine and established a new program to streamline Ukrainians seeking to enter the U.S. Biden said Russian President Vladimir Putin has failed to achieve his "grand ambitions" as Ukraine continues to fight. Putin reportedly canceled an assault on the Azovstal steel plant in Mariupol, where hundreds of civilians were sheltering, over concerns of Russian casualties. Ukraine is calling for "urgent" humanitarian corridors to evacuate civilians who remain in the besieged Mariupol, describing the situation as "desperate." While 79 people were able to evacuate Mariupol to Zaporizhia Thursday, Ukraine Deputy Prime Minister said "everything is going very slowly." Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has asked foreign allies for more weapons as Ukrainian forces continue to defend their cities against Russian bombardment. … [Read more...] about Ukraine War: Pentagon details Phoenix Ghost drones sent to Ukraine

Workers at telecoms giant BT are to be balloted for industrial action in a dispute over pay. Members of the Communication Workers Union (CWU) at BT Group, which includes BT, Openreach and EE, will start voting in mid-June, with the result expected by the end of the month. CWU members have unanimously rejected the offer of a £1,500 flat rate pay rise, the union said. CWU deputy general secretary Andy Kerr said: “When the cost of everything is skyrocketing, nobody can expect our key worker members to accept such insulting treatment. Recommended What Rishi Sunak announced to tackle the cost of living crisis More Tory MPs withdraw support from PM over ‘shameful’ parties “While those at the top are enjoying better profits than even they expected, some of the workers who made that profit for them are having to choose between heating or eating. “They more than deserve an adequate reward for their contributions, and this is why they will be … [Read more...] about BT workers to be balloted for industrial action over pay

The council that admitted it failed to prevent the murder of toddler Star Hobson has a serious staff retention problem in its children's services, according to data uncovered by a Sky News freedom of information request. Bradford Council spent £12.3m on agency staff in the last year - representing a doubling of its spend since the 16-month-old girl died on 22 September 2020. It also has the highest spend in the country. The council is almost unique in paying more for part-time replacements than the £9m it spends on permanent staff costs. Star's mother Frankie Smith is serving a 12-year sentence for causing or allowing her daughter's death. Advertisement Smith's girlfriend Savannah Brockhill was found guilty of Star's murder and handed a life term with a minimum of 25 years in prison. The Independent Review of Children's Social Care criticised social workers who too often "disregarded" the views of wider family members and friends who five … [Read more...] about Star Hobson: Council that failed to prevent toddler’s death has high turnover of social workers