3 h. ago Great Barrier Reef’s Hamilton Island to be bought by US private equity firm in reported $1.2bn sale

Blackstone says it has agreed to buy popular Whitsundays island from Australian winemaking familyFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastHamilton Island, a popular tropical holiday destination on the Great Barrier Reef, has been sold to a US private equity firm, reportedly for $1.2bn.New York-headquartered Blackstone – which owns the casino-hotel chain Crown Resorts – released a statement on Tuesday night announcing it had entered into an agreement to acquire the Hamilton Island resort from the Oatley family, subject to customary regulatory approvals. Continue reading...

Economics

4 h. ago RUTH SUNDERLAND: Steel was my dad's life. He'd be appalled at Labour's abject failure to protect an industry so vital to our security

This Christmas Eve will be poignant for my family because it will be 30 years to the day since my father, Alan, died.

Events

5 h. ago Scandal of military homes unfit for heroes ending with improvements ahead of schedule

John Healey has now ordered a further 250 military properties to receive priority upgrades over the coming months – a 25% increase on the original target set out just eight months ago

Events

9 h. ago Coatbridge MP Frank McNally hosts Parliament event to highlight 'growing scandal' of people dying in poverty across the UK

Marie Curie’s Dying in Poverty 2025 report reveals that more than 100,000 people died in poverty in 2024, with working-age people now more likely to die in poverty than those of pension age.

Politics

9 h. ago Epstein files appear to show Andrew asking Ghislaine Maxwell for ‘inappropriate friends’

Documents give further insight into former royal’s ties to sex offender and raise fresh questions for Donald TrumpUS politics live – latest updatesAndrew Mountbatten-Windsor asked Jeffrey Epstein’s fixer Ghislaine Maxwell to arrange meetings with “inappropriate friends” while she sought “friendly and discreet and fun” girls on his behalf, the latest documents from the Epstein files appear to show.The largest release yet of files concerning the financier and convicted child sex offender – which also raise fresh questions for the US president, Donald Trump – include emails in the name of “A” exchanging detailed messages with Maxwell that appeared to identify the author as Andrew.Emails recording that Britain’s Metropolitan police contacted the FBI last month to inquire whether there were any ongoing investigations related to the disgraced former prince’s association with Epstein.Emails showing US lawyers claiming “various factual inaccuracies” in a statement provided on Andrew’s behal...

Politics

13 h. ago Jes Staley and Larry Summers made executors of Jeffrey Epstein’s estate, files reveal

Former Barclays boss and ex-US Treasury secretary named in versions of will of convicted child sex offenderThe former Barclays chief executive Jes Staley and the ex-US Treasury secretary Larry Summers were appointed as executors of Jeffrey Epstein’s estate, according to a newly released tranche of documents linked to the now-deceased child sex offender.Filings published on Tuesday by the US Department of Justice included various versions of Epstein’s last will and testament, which showed the financier intended to hand responsibility of managing his affairs to associates including the two high-profile men in the event of his death. Continue reading...

Politics

13 h. ago Epstein's sinister note to sex predator Larry Nassar days before his suicide: 'Our president also shares our love of young, nubile girls'

A newly released Epstein file has revealed one of the disgraced financier's last correspondences before he was found dead in his cell at New York's Metropolitan Correction Center in 2019.

Politics

13 h. ago The stunning Welsh getaway for two in a Grade II listed mansion for £99

Looking for a fairytale stay in Wales that won't financially ruin you? Château Rhianfa offers epic views, and you can stay there from just £99 this holiday season

Economics

14 h. ago Jes Staley and Larry Summers were made executors of Jeffrey Esptein’s estate, files reveal

Ex-Treasury secretary and former Barclays chief are named in versions of will belonging to deceased child sex offenderThe former Barclays chief executive Jes Staley and the ex-US Treasury secretary Larry Summers were appointed as executors of Jeffrey Epstein’s estate, according to a newly released tranche of documents linked to the now-deceased child sex offender.Filings published on Tuesday by the US Department of Justice included various versions of Epstein’s last will and testament, which showed the financier intended to hand responsibility of managing his affairs to associates including the two high-profile men in the event of his death. Continue reading...

Politics

15 h. ago My family has never believed in Father Christmas – I don't want to hurt my kids if the money ever runs out | Matt Taylor

I would never want them to feel that they had been naughty if I couldn’t afford their gifts one yearIn my house, Christmas Day looks very normal. My boys will wake me up at the crack of dawn then tumble downstairs, falling over each other, to find presents under the tree. As the tearing of wrapping paper cross-fades into screams of excitement, for a moment, everything feels exactly as it should. Except for one subtle difference: my children have never believed in Santa.This isn’t the result of an “I don’t want to lie to my children” ideology or some Scroogist attempt to be different. It’s a deliberate choice I have made, one that is rooted in fear. Behind the fairy lights and goodwill of Christmas lurk financial demands that many families cannot meet. According to a YouGov poll for debt charity Step Change earlier this month, about one in three adults with children will struggle to afford Christmas this year. For many, the festive season brings anxiety, overdrafts and guilt rather t...

Politics

16 h. ago Britain's best paid woman Bet365 boss Denise Coates sees income soar to £261m

This was an increase of the £150million she was paid for the previous financial year - but is short of her record pay deal in 2021.

Economics

16 h. ago The latest ruse for MrBeast to get your cash with a 'bank': From crypto to credit cards and even loans, our financial experts reveal just what he's planning... and the very real risks

YouTube megastar MrBeast's business has announced the launch of a new financial firm as the popular social media personality expands his sprawling empire.

Economics

17 h. ago Email ‘from Balmoral’ asking Ghislaine Maxwell for ‘inappropriate friends’ & signed ‘A xxx’ revealed in new Epstein docs

A FRESH batch of bombshell Jeffrey Epstein files includes an email "from Balmoral" asking Ghislaine Maxwell for "inappropriate friends" - with the chilling message signed "A xxx". The new trove of docs related to the disgraced financier have shed more light on Epstein and his former accomplice Maxwell's hidden life. The files, released on Friday,...

Politics

17 h. ago Government confirms major pension boost for almost 40,000 workers

£2.3 billion in reserves will be transferred to provide a financial boost to workers just in time for Christmas

Economics

17 h. ago Evri Christmas parcel chaos backlash grows: Moment courier 'delivers' parcel before picking it up and driving off

Footage shows the man walking up to a house with a box but then tucking it under his arm and walking away. The homeowner received a delivery notification.

Events

18 h. ago Epstein files live: Trump traveled on financier’s jet ‘more times than previously reported’, new documents claim

DOJ briefly released more files on Monday before withdrawing them while President Donald Trump warned the transparency effort could ‘ruin’ the reputations of innocent people

Politics

18 h. ago Welsh council slow in making decisions according to a panel of experts

There is 'significant pride within the organisation' but also some big financial challenges

Politics

19 h. ago Tesla sales fall across Europe again as BYD surges; Ryanair to appeal €256m fine from Italy’s competition authority – business live

Rolling coverage of the latest economic and financial newsStocks are sneaking up a little in London this morning, but we can’t really call it a Santa Rally yet.The FTSE 100 share index has gained 14 points, or 0.14% to 9880, back towards last Friday’s near-record closing high of 9,897 points.Ryanair, Europe’s No.1 airline, today (Tues, 23 Dec) instructed its lawyers to immediately appeal both the bizarre/unsound ruling and the €256m fine, unjustly levied by the Italian Competition Authority (AGCM), which seeks to ignore – and overturn – the Jan 2024 Precedent Ruling of the Milan Court, which declared that Ryanair’s direct distribution model “undoubtedly benefits consumers” and leads to “competitive fares”. Continue reading...

Economics

19 h. ago Martin Lewis' 'powerhouse move' to always win a game of Monopoly

The financial expert has top tips for board game success

Politics

19 h. ago Andrew and Fergie at Christmas: Scandal, humiliation and isolation like no other

Bewildered and humiliated, it will be a festive season like no other for the royal pariahs, writes Tanya Gold

Politics