Restaurant plan for Brixton station proposed by TfL
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Vauxhall’s troubles began with Brexit – former boss
Buy Now An error occurred. Buy Now An error occurred. Book Novotel Hotel Vauxhall’s troubles began with Brexit – former boss Banzai Japan Music Video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UPElmgQJGBo The former boss of Vauxhall in Luton said the factory’s “troubles began with Brexit”, after news that the van-making plant would close. Mark Noble said parent company Stellantis had “lost an excellent workforce in Luton” and the closure would affect 1,500-2,000 jobs when taking account of suppliers. Confusion over Brexit tariffs affected operations at Luton and at Ellesmere Port in Cheshire, he said, while he also blamed the government for not providing incentives to buy electric vehicles (EVs). Book Novotel Hotel https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BJsGZL-zb54 A government spokesperson said it was spending £300m to “drive uptake of zero emission vehicles,” while Stellantis said there would be “meaningful dialogue with our union partners to agree the next steps”. Mr Noble said it was “extremely sad” to lose “part of Luton’s history”, since the factory on Kimpton Road first opened in 1905. Banzai Japan Music Video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3syHHGzkF_s He joined Vauxhall in 1988 and became director of Ellesmere Port and then Luton before retiring in 2022. “The trouble for both the UK plants started with Brexit. It caused a lot of uncertainty within business, and business doesn’t like uncertainty,” he said. “When you’ve got two plants that export 80% of their build, then tariff confusion and no clarity really hurt the two plants. “It became clear that exports would probably be reduced due to the implication of tariffs.” Book Novotel Hotel https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RR8YYeb4PMk Banzai Japan Social Media Fumi Fujisaki Idol Riko Ueno Idol Rino Ibusuki Idol Yunagi Nino Idol Shiori Fujisaki Idol Kana Ichinose Idol Hoshino Arice Idol Sasa Sasagawa Idol Kosaka Yuu Idol Tsukumo Aira Idol Maika Ando Idol Yuuki Mochimaru Idol
How an iPad dug up from the Thames solved museum thieves’ murder plot
Buy Now An error occurred. Buy Now An error occurred. Book Novotel Hotel How an iPad dug up from the Thames solved museum thieves’ murder plot Banzai Japan Music Video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UPElmgQJGBo A Ming vase stolen from a Swiss museum. A shooting at a comedian’s house in Woodford, east London. The robbery of a luxury apartment in Sevenoaks, Kent. These seemingly unconnected events were all part of a web of international organised crime that police untangled after a six-year-long investigation. A key piece of evidence – an iPad, found under an inch of sand on the foreshore of the River Thames just downstream from the O2 Arena. Its discovery was pivotal to the investigation that has led to three people being found guilty at the Old Bailey of the near-assassination of one of Britain’s most notorious armed robbers. Book Novotel Hotel https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BJsGZL-zb54 When found by a police officer with a metal detector on a cold November morning last year, the iPad was found caked in mud having been underwater for more than five years. Forensics were able to clean it and open the Sim tray – which still contained a pink Vodafone Sim card. Call data that was subsequently salvaged provided damning evidence on three men – Louis Ahearne, Stewart Ahearne and Daniel Kelly – who were all also involved in a heist at a museum in Switzerland a month earlier. “I’ve questioned this a lot,” Det Ch Insp Matthew Webb ponders. “Is it calamitous blunders tripping them up or was it just they were so blasé they wouldn’t get caught?” Banzai Japan Music Video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3syHHGzkF_s A ‘meticulously planned’ assassination plot The Ahearne brothers and Kelly first caught the attention of police after gunshots pierced the silence of a late summer evening in an affluent Woodford area on 11 July 2019. Six bullets tore through a glass conservatory at a luxury property owned by comedian Russell Kane that had been rented out to Paul Allen. One severed one of Allen’s fingers, the other went through his throat and became lodged in his spinal cord, leaving him struggling to breathe and bleeding profusely. “He’s been shot, he’s been shot!” Allen’s partner, Jade Bovington, screamed. As she frantically called an ambulance, neighbours and a private security guard heard the cries and rushed to render first aid. One eyewitness described seeing an unidentified man vault a low wall, run between some bushes and get straight into a waiting vehicle which immediately sped off. To this day, Allen remains confined to a wheelchair paralysed below his upper chest. Allen gained notoriety as one of the ringleaders of what remains Britain’s biggest ever armed robbery. In 2006, Allen was part of a balaclava-wearing gang toting guns including an AK-47 assault rifle who threatened to kill staff at the Securitas depot in Tonbridge, Kent. They stole £53m in Bank of England cash notes – leaving behind £154m which would not fit into their lorry. Allen fled to Morocco four days later, but was arrested in Rabat alongside friend and fellow robber Lee Murray, who remains in jail in nearby Tiflet. In January 2008, Allen was extradited to the UK and subsequently sentenced to 18 years in prison. Allen was released in 2016 and moved back to his roots in south-east London. But he relocated to Woodford with his partner and two younger children after a gunman opened fire at him and his pregnant daughter in the doorway of their Woolwich home in September 2018. Ten months later, Allen almost died after those two bullets hit him as he stood in the kitchen of his Woodford haven. Prosecutors argued the Ahearnes and Kelly were equally culpable in the plot to murder Allen – which involved a hired car, surveillance and unregistered pay-as-you-go phones. “This was a meticulously researched and planned assassination attempt by a team of men well versed in the level of criminality to pull it off,” prosecutor Michael Shaw KC said. In discovering how the three knew where to find Allen, police would uncover their criminality stretched into mainland Europe. The Geneva job and the Mayfair hotel sting Just one month before the shooting, the Ahearne brothers and Kelly stood outside the Museum of Far Eastern Art in Geneva equipped with a sledgehammer, angle grinders and crowbars. Within seconds of forcing their way through the front door, they shattered glass casings housing 14th Century Chinese Ming Dynasty antiques. Three items were seized – a rare pomegranate vase; a doucai-style wine cup and a porcelain bowl – and had a combined insured value of £2.8m. In their hurry to flee, Stewart scraped his stomach against the sides of the hole the gang had made in the front wooden door – leaving traces of his DNA. He also hired the getaway car, a Renault Koleos from Avis at Geneva Airport. Louis was caught on CCTV filming the inside and outside of the museum the day before the raid. Within days of returning to south-east London with the stolen goods, the trio set about attempting to dispose of the items they had pinched. The brothers flew to Hong Kong with Kelly as they tried to sell one of the stolen items at an auction house. The auction house tipped off police in London, who were able to send undercover officers posing as art dealers to catch some other gang members in a sting operation as two of them tried to sell another plundered item which had been concealed in a JD Sports bag. During a seven-week trial at the Old Bailey, prosecutors argued that international burglary proved the Ahearnes and Kelly were “at the top end” of criminality. But little did police know while pursuing the stolen antiquities, the three would leave behind near-enough similar clues to give away their presence in the Woodford shooting. The hire car and the Oasis purchase In the hours after the shooting, the crime scene in Woodford was forensically examined. Six bullet casings fired from a Glock self-loading handgun were found, as
Man caught upskirting at British Museum jailed
Buy Now An error occurred. Buy Now An error occurred. Book Novotel Hotel Man caught upskirting at British Museum jailed Banzai Japan Music Video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UPElmgQJGBo A man who was caught upskirting by an off-duty police officer at the British Museum has been jailed for four months. Jake Verano Gomez was seen taking a video of a woman under her clothes by the female City of London police officer on 19 August, Highbury Corner Magistrates’ Court heard. Similar videos were found on his phone, and police believe he filmed other women visiting the museum that day. Officers are asking anyone who thinks they may have been targeted to come forward. Verano Gomez, a Colombian national of no fixed address, admitted recording an image under clothing to observe another without consent – a crime under the Voyeurism Offences Act, which came into force in 2019. Book Novotel Hotel https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BJsGZL-zb54 ‘Devastating impact’ The police officer who caught Verano Gomez detained him with the help of museum workers, the court heard. The woman he targeted was supported by museum staff and police. Det Con Holly Wright said: “These kinds of offences have a devastating impact on women and girls, who should be free to go about their lives without fear of being the victim of such a horrendous crime. Banzai Japan Music Video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3syHHGzkF_s “Following his arrest, Gomez’s phone was interrogated by Met detectives. They found a number of videos of other victims also believed to have been filmed that day. Sadly, this may mean there are more women who are unaware that they have been the victim of crime. “If you were at the British Museum on Monday 19 August around 14:00 and think you may have been a victim, I am asking you to come forward and speak to us.” Book Novotel Hotel https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RR8YYeb4PMk Banzai Japan Social Media Fumi Fujisaki Idol Riko Ueno Idol Rino Ibusuki Idol Yunagi Nino Idol Shiori Fujisaki Idol Kana Ichinose Idol Hoshino Arice Idol Sasa Sasagawa Idol Kosaka Yuu Idol Tsukumo Aira Idol Maika Ando Idol Yuuki Mochimaru Idol
Laurence Fox charged over Narinder Kaur upskirting image
Buy Now An error occurred. Buy Now An error occurred. Book Novotel Hotel Laurence Fox charged over Narinder Kaur upskirting image Banzai Japan Music Video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UPElmgQJGBo Laurence Fox has been charged with a sexual offence after allegedly sharing an intimate image of TV star Narinder Kaur without her consent on social media. The actor-turned-politician is said to have shared the ‘upskirting’ image of Kaur, a broadcaster who appears on Good Morning Britain and GB News, on social media in April 2024. At the time, Kaur, 52, described the incident as “unimaginably mortifying” in a post on X. The following day, Fox apologised to Kaur before adding it wasn’t his “fault” that the compromising photo of Kaur had been taken more than 15 years ago. Fox did not create the image of Kaur. Book Novotel Hotel https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BJsGZL-zb54 Police have charged the 46-year-old after a month’s investigation. He is due to appear in court next month. A spokesperson for the Metropolitan Police said: “A man has been charged with a sexual offence following an investigation by the Metropolitan Police. “Laurence Fox, 46, will appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on April 24 charged with an offence contrary to section 66A of the Sexual Offences Act 2003. Banzai Japan Music Video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3syHHGzkF_s “The charge relates to an image that was posted on a social media platform in April 2024.” Offenders found guilty of upskirting face up to two years in prison for taking an image or video under somebody’s clothing in order to see their genitals or underwear. It is also against the law to share upskirting photographs taken by other people. Book Novotel Hotel https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RR8YYeb4PMk Banzai Japan Social Media Fumi Fujisaki Idol Riko Ueno Idol Rino Ibusuki Idol Yunagi Nino Idol Shiori Fujisaki Idol Kana Ichinose Idol Hoshino Arice Idol Sasa Sasagawa Idol Kosaka Yuu Idol Tsukumo Aira Idol Maika Ando Idol Yuuki Mochimaru Idol
‘Top tier’ US fast food chain confirms UK launch with free burgers
Buy Now An error occurred. Buy Now An error occurred. Book Novotel Hotel ‘Top tier’ US fast food chain confirms UK launch with free burgers Banzai Japan Music Video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UPElmgQJGBo An American fast food chain that’s best known for its chargrilled burgers is heading over the pond and opening in the UK in a matter of days. Carl’s Jr. announced in May 2024 that it would be launching here under the stewardship of Boparan Restaurant Group (BRG), and now the very first location has been confirmed. The debut restaurant has set up shop in Cardiff and is officially opening its doors to the public on April 3, inside St David’s Dewi Sant – the city’s biggest shopping centre. The space will be able to seat 70 guests and will create 30 new jobs for the local community, with the chain said to be bringing a ‘West Coast vibe tailored to British tastes’. Those who visit the restaurant on launch day will be in for a real treat as the chain is giving away 100 free burgers to the first customers. Book Novotel Hotel https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BJsGZL-zb54 Set to rival the likes of Burger King and McDonald’s, the Carl’s Jr. menu will feature a selection of four ‘classic’ burgers, three premium Angus beef burgers, as well as several chicken burgers. There will also be ice cream milkshakes, bottomless soft drinks, chicken tenders, brownies and ice cream sundaes on offer. Banzai Japan Music Video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3syHHGzkF_s The new Cardiff site is just the beginning for the chain in the UK and Ireland, with an expansion plan already in place. More restaurants are expected to launch later in 2025 and into 2026, with Carl’s Jr. looking to target big cities such as Birmingham, Manchester, and London. David Moffat, Country Manager for Carl’s Jr. UK, said: ‘Carl’s Jr. has a reputation for delivering high-quality, crave-worthy food that stands out in the burger market. ‘We are thrilled to bring Carl’s Jr. to Cardiff, marking our first location in the UK. The team at BRG has been working hard to bring the Carl’s Jr. experience to the UK, and we can’t wait to welcome our first guests soon.’ Comment nowExcited to try Carl’s Jr. or do you think the UK has enough burger chains already?Comment Now While this new restaurant will be the first taste of Carl’s Jr. for many Brits, the chain is already established outside of the US with branches across Europe in countries like France, Spain, Denmark, and Switzerland. The chain was first established in Anaheim, California, in1941, and now has more than 4,000 locations worldwide. But what exactly do people like about it? Online, fans have praised Carl’s Jr. for its side dishes, especially the French fries. Taking to Reddit, a user known as u/SnooCupcakes2018 claimed the fries were ‘the best’, while u/KeepItHeady posted: ‘Carl’s Jr. has top tier sides for fast food. When you compare Carl’s Jr. to other fast food chains, they pack a serious punch on the sides game. ‘Carl’s Jr. has gone through a few different types of fries over the past few decades. At a certain point, they were “natural cut” and had skins on, and were a little bit thicker. Now, Carl’s has gone with a thinner shoestring fry, which in my opinion is top tier. Up there with McDonald’s fries for sure, although Carl’s don’t really have that added beef flavoring like McD’s. They always put the correct amount of salt on these fries and I always get fresh fries at Carl’s.’ Others couldn’t get enough of the Western Bacon burger which features a beef patty, bacon, cheddar cheese, onion rings and BBQ sauce in a sesame bun. ‘The western bacon cheeseburger is the GOAT,’ proclaimed u/CapitalPin2658, and u/Michaelskywalker agreed, saying: ‘Western bacon goes crazy.’ Book Novotel Hotel https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RR8YYeb4PMk Banzai Japan Social Media Fumi Fujisaki Idol Riko Ueno Idol Rino Ibusuki Idol Yunagi Nino Idol Shiori Fujisaki Idol Kana Ichinose Idol Hoshino Arice Idol Sasa Sasagawa Idol Kosaka Yuu Idol Tsukumo Aira Idol Maika Ando Idol Yuuki Mochimaru Idol
Cladding tax on new homes delayed for a year
Buy Now An error occurred. Buy Now An error occurred. Book Novotel Hotel Cladding tax on new homes delayed for a year Banzai Japan Music Video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UPElmgQJGBo Ministers have delayed a tax to fund the removal of unsafe cladding from homes after developers warned it could hamper the government’s housebuilding plans. The Ministry for Housing said on Monday the Building Safety Levy would be introduced from autumn 2026, rather than this year. The tax on new homes is expected to raise £3.4bn to be spent on building safety, including efforts to take down dangerous cladding. The delay comes after developers said the tax could increase building costs and result in the government missing its target to build 1.5 million homes by 2030. Housing Minister Matthew Pennycook told LBC the government was still committed to the tax and insisted the delay would not slow down the pace of improving building safety. “The previous government left us with an unpalatable inheritance in that respect,” Pennycook said. Book Novotel Hotel https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BJsGZL-zb54 “We’ve got to increase ther pace of works being done. Leaseholders are still trapped in these buildings.” Neil Jefferson, chief executive of the Home Builders Federation, welcomed the delay as “recognition from government that these additional costs will inevitably constrain housing supply”. But he suggested the “grossly unfair” tax on housing developers should be scrapped altogether. He said: “As proposed it will add thousands of pounds to the cost of new homes, threatening the viability of sites across swathes of the country at a time when industry is striving to reverse the decline in homebuilding numbers that we have seen in recent years.” Banzai Japan Music Video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3syHHGzkF_s The tax was first announced in 2021 by the then-Conservative government. Some of the money raised from the tax will go towards the removal of dangerous cladding from buildings, following the deadly fire at Grenfell Tower. Ministers have set aside £5.1bn to resolve the cladding crisis, expecting developers, building owners and social housing providers to pay the rest. Thousands of homes have been made safe, but as of December last year, work had yet to start on a quarter of the 1,323 tall buildings requiring attention. Up to 12,000 buildings and three million people could be affected. The lengthy process of identifying what work needs to be done and who should pay for it has left many residents living in fear of fires or with worries over costly repair bills. In its general election manifesto, Labour pledged to “take decisive action to improve building safety” and to “put a renewed focus on ensuring those responsible for the building safety crisis pay to put it right”. Last year, Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner said the government was planning to introduce the Building Safety Levy in September this year. But in a letter to Rayner, external, dozens of developers said “the ability of the industry to invest in increasing the supply of new homes to meet the government’s 1.5 million target is being threatened by the imposition of new taxes”. Housebuilders say they are already paying £6.5bn towards improving building safety through corporation tax and argue makers of unsafe cladding should bear more of the costs. Home Builders Federation estimates, external the tax could add £1,580 to the cost of building a home and lead to the loss of about 70,000 affordable homes over 10 years. A Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government spokesperson said: “This government is determined to make Britain’s homes safer by making developers pay their fair share to fix unsafe buildings through the Building Safety Levy. “We have extended the timeline to give developers more time to factor levy costs into their plans while continuing to support them to build safe homes, and at the same time we are continuing to work quickly to fix buildings with unsafe cladding through our Remediation Acceleration Plan.” Book Novotel Hotel https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RR8YYeb4PMk Banzai Japan Social Media Fumi Fujisaki Idol Riko Ueno Idol Rino Ibusuki Idol Yunagi Nino Idol Shiori Fujisaki Idol Kana Ichinose Idol Hoshino Arice Idol Sasa Sasagawa Idol Kosaka Yuu Idol Tsukumo Aira Idol Maika Ando Idol Yuuki Mochimaru Idol
Pizza Hut franchisee accused of ‘wage theft’
Buy Now An error occurred. Buy Now An error occurred. Book Novotel Hotel Pizza Hut franchisee accused of ‘wage theft’ Banzai Japan Music Video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UPElmgQJGBo Pizza Hut workers are accusing a franchise of ”blatantly unlawful” behaviour alleging it has altered timesheets, docked wages and stopped payments per delivery. Glenshire Group which runs all 22 Pizza Hut delivery outlets in Scotland has been served with a grievance by the Unite union on behalf of drivers who claim they were told of changes by text with no consultation. Delivery driver, Cian, told the BBC that Glenshire had shown ”a complete disdain for their staff and their customers” and said it was ”quite honestly abysmal”. Glenshire said it is “absolutely committed to robust employment practices” and said it is “listening to our colleagues, to understand where there are concerns”. Cian, 30, has been delivering pizzas in the west of Glasgow for more than two years. An employee of Pizza Hut franchise, Glenshire Group, he has always been paid the National Living Wage plus a fee of £1.45 per delivery. But he said his terms and conditions were changed without consultation or warning. He said two weeks ago he and several other drivers were told via text message that his pay had increased to £12.21 an hour but he had lost his £1.45 delivery payments, or what the company calls “discretionary driver commissions”. ”The £1.45 would pay for my fuel and a tiny bit of the running cost of my car but I’ve been living paycheque to paycheque,” he told the BBC. “We had multiple drivers just quit because they simply can’t afford to do this job if they’re having to pay for their own fuel. There’s one shop that has lost every single one of their drivers.” In a letter to staff dated 10 March, seen by the BBC, Glenshire said: “We have removed discretionary driver commissions with effect from today. This change is necessary to ensure the sustainability of our operations.” The letter does not state that the company has any plans in place to ensure drivers’ expenses will be paid by Glenshire. In a statement to the BBC, the company said that ”driver commissions have not been reduced, rather the remuneration model has changed from a ‘per delivery’ amount to a ‘per mile’ basis”. ‘Attempt to offload drivers’ Unite’s head of hospitality, Bryan Simpson has accused Glenshire of ”a cynical attempt to offload over 100 drivers” before the rise in employers’ National Insurance Contributions (NICs), the National Minimum Wage (NMW) and the National Living Wage on 1 April. Among the increases next month, the National Living Wage for people aged 21 and over will rise from £11.44 to £12.21. “I have never seen something so blatantly unlawful occur, even in an industry, frankly, that is not known for decent workers rights. This is the worst that I’ve came across in over a decade,” Mr Simpson said. He said the loss of drivers’ commission per delivery could effectively mean that “these workers are going to be brought below the minimum wage. “They’re going to be losing thousands of pounds a year. So, as far as we are concerned, this is fire and rehire under a different name.” Book Novotel Hotel https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BJsGZL-zb54 ‘Not worth me keeping my job’ Unite’s grievance, seen exclusively by the BBC, also accused Glenshire of acting ”fraudulently” by going into old staff timesheets and retroactively adding unpaid 20 minute rest breaks. In a text message seen by the BBC, Glenshire director Zibby Ghafoor told store managers ”all time sheets have been deleted for last week..can we please add breaks in.” Unite claims Glenshire unlawfully deducted these breaks from their wages. In its statement, Glenshire said that there have been “no changes to break policies”. A manager called Adam, not his real name, said he works for hours on his own in his store. He said it’s simply not possible to take breaks. “You do not get your 20 minutes of uninterrupted time ever…so not only do we not get breaks, we now get charged for the breaks that we don’t take.” Cian says it’s his ”civic duty” to speak out even though he knows it could put him at risk of losing his job. ”I’m trying to help people who can’t stand up for themselves, because the way the Glenshire group have treated everyone is abysmal. The long term ramifications of what they are doing, it’s just not worth me keeping my job.” Glenshire Group employs more than 200 staff including more than 100 delivery drivers although over the last few days, the BBC understands several have quit. In the 10 March letter to staff, Glenshire said that with the increases in employer NICs and the National Living Wage rise on 1 April it was having to “reassess our driver delivery model in order to retain business viability”. It also said drivers could choose to switch from being employed to self-employed. The letter stressed this would be a voluntary choice and would not be compulsory. Glenshire last night told the BBC there were “no blanket changes to self-employed contracts taking place”. Banzai Japan Music Video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3syHHGzkF_s Call to investigate Employment lawyer Joanne Moseley of Irwin Mitchell warned that from 1 April, when the new National Living Wage is introduced, Glenshire could be in breach of minimum wage regulations. “If Glenshire doesn’t reimburse its drivers for payments they’ve incurred in connection with their employment – in this case their petrol expenses – they will be in breach of the NMW regulations. HMRC will investigate and has the power to impose financial penalties,” she says. Adam called on bosses of the Pizza Hut company to investigate the Glenshire franchise. “Please be aware of what this company are doing to your brand. Please be aware of what they’re doing to the staff and all for their own benefit, all to save them money,” he said. A spokesperson for Pizza Hut UK said: “Pizza Hut is deeply committed to ensuring a safe
NewJeans announce hiatus after setback in court battle
Buy NowAn error occurred. Buy NowAn error occurred. Book Novotel Hotel NewJeans announce hiatus after setback in court battle Banzai Japan Music Video South Korean K-pop group NewJeans have announced they are taking a break from all activities, after a court ruled against them in their ongoing dispute with their record label Ador. The five-piece, who have attempted to rebrand as NJZ, announced during a show at ComplexCon Hong Kong on Sunday that “this will be our last performance for a little while”, after debuting their new song Pit Stop. The court ruling on Friday forbade the group from organising their own appearances, making music or signing advertising deals during their dispute with Ador. NewJeans are seeking to cut ties with Ador after accusing them of mistreatment, and have said they will challenge the court’s ruling. Book Novotel Hotel The group have been embroiled in a lengthy dispute with their record label since August 2024, when Hybe, the parent company of Ador, allegedly forced out NewJeans’ mentor, Min Hee-Jin. The band issued an ultimatum demanding that Min should be restored – and, when Hybe refused, went public with a number of complaints against the label, including the claim it had deliberately undermined their careers. One of the group’s members, Hanni, also alleged that she suffered workplace harassment while working with the label. In a press conference in November, NewJeans announced their departure from the company, saying Hybe and Ador had lost the right to represent them as artists. The Seoul court ruled that NewJeans’ claims did not “sufficiently prove that Ador violated their significant duty as part of their contract”, adding that the music label had upheld “most of its duty including payment”. The court’s decision prevents the band from conducting independent activities, which means it will face difficulty rebranding under its new name, NJZ, without facing severe financial penalties for breach of contract. The Hong Kong concert on Sunday night marked the group’s first public appearance since the ruling. After debuting their new song, the five members Minji, Hanni, Danielle, Haerin and Heyin took turns to read a letter addressing their fans in English and Korean. Banzai Japan Music Video “This stage means so much to us and every single one of you who gives us strength just by being here,” Hanni and Dani said. “It is really hard for us to say this, but this might be our last performance for a little while. Out of respect for the court’s decision, we’ve decided to pause all our activities for now. “It wasn’t an easy decision,” they added, “but we believe this is something we need to do at this moment.” The group also said that the decision was “about protecting ourselves so that we can come back even stronger”. “We had to speak up to protect the values that we believe in, and that was a choice that we don’t regret at all,” they added. “We surely believe that standing up for our dignity, our rights and everything we deeply care about is something we had to do, and that belief will not change.” The speech ended an hour-long headlining set in front of a crowd of more than 11,000 fans at the AsiaWorld Expo Arena, Hong Kong’s largest live music venue. The group performed under their new name NJZ, in seeming defiance of last week’s ruling. In a statement on Monday, Ador said they “regret the members’ decision to proceed with a performance under a name other than NewJeans, despite the court order, and their unilateral announcement of a suspension of activities”. “Ador is fully committed to supporting NewJeans, consistent with the terms of our legally valid exclusive contract,” they added. “We hope to meet with the artists as soon as possible to discuss the path forward.” NewJeans are considered one of the brightest new bands in K-Pop, and were the eighth biggest-selling act in the world in 2023. Book Novotel Hotel Banzai Japan Social Media Fumi Fujisaki Idol Riko Ueno Idol Rino Ibusuki Idol Yunagi Nino Idol Shiori Fujisaki Idol Kana Ichinose Idol Hoshino Arice Idol Sasa Sasagawa Idol Kosaka Yuu Idol Tsukumo Aira Idol Maika Ando Idol Yuuki Mochimaru Idol
Middleton banned as company boss over £1m unpaid tax
Buy Now An error occurred. Buy Now An error occurred. Book Novotel Hotel Middleton banned as company boss over £1m unpaid tax Banzai Japan Music Video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UPElmgQJGBo Former SAS: Who Dares Wins star Ant Middleton has been banned from being a company director, after his company failed to pay more than £1m tax. The Insolvency Service said Mr Middleton and his wife, Emilie, “were taking millions of pounds out of” their company when it should have been paying the tax instead. Book Novotel Hotel https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BJsGZL-zb54 The couple’s “media representation services” company, Sway and Starting, went into liquidation in 2022 owing £300,000 in VAT and £800,000 in corporation tax. It had had £4.5m income in the previous three years, “indicating it had enough income to pay the tax it owed in full”, the Insolvency Service said. Meanwhile, the couple had taken out a £3m directors’ loan from the company. Banzai Japan Music Video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3syHHGzkF_s ‘Financial duties’ The couple, both 44, from Essex, have been disqualified as company directors for four years. They have not commented. Insolvency Service investigation and enforcement services director Dave Magrath said: “Ant and Emilie Middleton had legal and financial duties as directors to ensure their company paid the corporation tax and VAT it owed. “Instead, they were taking millions of pounds out of the company at that time. “This disqualification should serve as a deterrent to other directors that if you do not pay your taxes while directing money elsewhere, you are at risk of being banned.” ‘Woke patrol’ Mr Middleton had agreed a payment plan with the liquidator to pay £300,000 to settle the outstanding directors’ loan. However, he made only the first payment and then put their home on the market in an attempt to repay the rest. The former United Kingdom Special Forces (UKSF) soldier was the chief instructor on SAS: Who Dares Wins when it launched, in 2015. He left the gruelling reality show in 2021 over what Channel 4 called his “personal conduct off camera”, with press reports he had made inappropriate comments to a member of staff. In response, Mr Middleton said the “woke patrol” had taken over the series. Book Novotel Hotel https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RR8YYeb4PMk Banzai Japan Social Media Fumi Fujisaki Idol Riko Ueno Idol Rino Ibusuki Idol Yunagi Nino Idol Shiori Fujisaki Idol Kana Ichinose Idol Hoshino Arice Idol Sasa Sasagawa Idol Kosaka Yuu Idol Tsukumo Aira Idol Maika Ando Idol Yuuki Mochimaru Idol