Styles, Joshua Pay Big Tax; North Korea's "Paradise" Exposed

UK's Top Taxpayers Include Celebrities Alongside Business Leaders

The UK's highest taxpayers list, released annually by the Sunday Times, features familiar names from the worlds of business, sports, and entertainment. Fred and Peter Done, the billionaire brothers behind the gambling giant Betfred, topped the list for the first time, having paid an estimated £400.1 million in tax over the past year, according to BBC Business.

The list also included notable figures such as Harry Styles, Anthony Joshua, and JK Rowling, BBC Business reported. Styles appeared on the list for the first time. Manchester City's Erling Haaland, 25, was the youngest person to appear on the list, at number 72, with a projected £16.9 million tax payment. Liverpool's Mo Salah was believed to have a £14.5 million bill, BBC Business noted.

While the Sunday Times Tax List highlighted the contributions of the UK's highest earners, other financial matters were also in the news. HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) extended phone line and webchat services to assist individuals with the self-assessment tax deadline, which was approaching at the end of January, according to BBC Business. HMRC scaled up Saturday support for those leaving it to the last minute. Approximately 1.1 million people missed the cut-off a year prior. Reasonable excuses for avoiding fines include serious illness or a close family bereavement, BBC Business reported.

In other news, ministers from the US, EU, UK, Japan, Australia, and New Zealand were scheduled to meet in Washington to discuss a strategic alliance over critical minerals, The Guardian reported. The summit was seen as a step to repair transatlantic ties and help countries de-risk from China.

Meanwhile, in Japan, the "living hell" of North Korea's "paradise on Earth" scheme was back in the spotlight, according to The Guardian. Eiko Kawasaki, who left Japan for North Korea over six decades ago, was among tens of thousands of people with Korean heritage who had been lured to the communist state by the promise of a paradise. A court ordered North Korea to pay each plaintiff 20m yen in compensation.