UK, US, and International News in Brief: Tax Lists, Mineral Alliances, and North Korean Exploitation
London - A diverse range of news emerged from the UK and abroad, encompassing tax contributions from celebrities, international mineral alliances, and historical exploitation by North Korea.
In the UK, Fred and Peter Done, the billionaire brothers behind Betfred, topped the Sunday Times Tax List, having paid an estimated £400.1 million in tax over the past year, according to BBC Business. The list also featured prominent figures such as Harry Styles, Anthony Joshua, and JK Rowling. Manchester City's Erling Haaland, at number 72, was the youngest person on the list with a projected £16.9 million tax payment, while Liverpool's Mo Salah was believed to have a £14.5 million bill. The release of the tax list coincided with the impending self-assessment tax deadline, with HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) extending phone line and webchat services to assist those filing at the last minute. BBC Business reported that approximately 1.1 million people missed the deadline the previous year.
Across the Atlantic, US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick faced scrutiny over planned visits to Jeffrey Epstein's island. Emails released by the US Department of Justice (DOJ) indicated that Lutnick planned a trip to Little Saint James in 2012 with his family, years after he claimed to have severed ties with the convicted paedophile. According to BBC Business, these emails contradicted statements Lutnick made in October, where he vowed in 2005 to "never be in a room" with Epstein again. A Commerce Department spokesperson stated that Lutnick had not been accused of any wrongdoing in connection to Epstein.
In Washington, ministers from the US, EU, UK, Japan, Australia, and New Zealand were scheduled to meet to discuss a strategic alliance over critical minerals, The Guardian reported. The summit aimed to repair transatlantic ties and establish alliances to reduce reliance on China for rare earth elements. The meeting included discussions on the US potentially guaranteeing a minimum price for these minerals.
In Japan, the "living hell" endured by individuals lured from Japan to North Korea under the promise of a "paradise on Earth" was brought back into focus, according to The Guardian. Eiko Kawasaki, who left Japan at the age of 17, was among tens of thousands of people with Korean heritage who were exploited for labor and cut off from their families for generations. A Japanese court ordered North Korea to pay each plaintiff 20 million yen in compensation.
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