Thames Water’s chief financial officer has quit his £1.3m-a-year job, the cash-strapped water company has announced. Alastair Cochran, who had also recently served as interim chief executive at Thames, will leave his role within days. His departure comes at a critical time for the UK’s largest water company amid close scrutiny of its fragile finances. … Read more
Donald Trump described a long-awaited call with Canadian prime minister Mark Carney as “extremely productive” amid a trade war between the two nations launched by the US president. The Friday morning call, requested by the White House, marks the first time the two leaders have spoken since Carney became prime minister on 14 March. In … Read more
The Chelsea FC owner and chair Todd Boehly is in talks over a bid for The Daily Telegraph, in a plan that has seen him team up with a Fleet St veteran. Boehly is understood to be talking with David Montgomery, the executive chair of National World and former boss of the parent of the … Read more
A Canadian deep-sea mining firm has revealed it has been negotiating with the Trump administration to bypass a UN treaty and potentially gain authorisation from the US to mine in international waters. The revelation has stunned environmentalists, who condemned the move as “reckless” and a “slap in the face for multilateralism”. It comes at a … Read more
Two people have been killed and dozens injured after protests in Kathmandu calling for the restoration of Nepal’s monarchy ended in clashes with police. Thousands of protesters rallied in Nepal’s capital on Friday to demand a return to the Hindu monarchy, which was abolished in 2008, and the re-establishment of the country as a Hindu … Read more
From one perspective, having a stand-up row with an organisation meant to advise the government on a key policy area is a bit unseemly. But it is fair to say that Downing Street is ready – you could even say happy – to take on the Sentencing Council. Therow over a review of sentencing guidelines … Read more
The former Liverpool mayor Joe Anderson and ex-Labour councillor Derek Hatton have appeared in court facing charges of bribery and misconduct in a public office. Anderson, 67, was one of 12 people charged as part of Operation Aloft, launched by police to look into the awarding of commercial and business contracts from Liverpool city council … Read more
Union leaders have accused Donald Trump of union busting in a “blatant” attempt to silence them after the president stepped up his attacks on government unions on Thursday, signing an executive order that attempts to eliminate collective bargaining for hundreds of thousands of federal workers. The order limits the departments and classifications of federal workers … Read more
Energy experts have expressed doubts the Coalition’s plans to force gas producers to sell more of the fossil fuel domestically could bring down prices or ease supply pressures, saying the move could also push up greenhouse gas emissions. In his budget-reply speech, delivered only 12 hours before Anthony Albanese announced a federal election for 3 … Read more
A woman in Pennsylvania has bought what is believed to be a rare Renoir charcoal drawing, potentially worth hundreds of thousands of dollars, for just $12 at a local art auction. ABC news reported that Heidi Markow, who owns an antiques business in the state, found the item at a collector’s auction in Montgomery county … Read more