Sainsbury’s-Asda merger in jeopardy
Customers could see higher prices and less choice as a result of the proposed merger between Sainsbury’s and Asda, the UK’s competition watchdog has said. The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) said it could block the deal or force the sale of a large number of stores or even one of the brand names.
Three Tory MPs join breakaway group
Three Tory MPs have resigned from the party to join an independent group, set up by former Labour MPs. Anna Soubry, Sarah Wollaston and Heidi Allen wrote a joint letter to Theresa May to confirm their departure. The PM said she was “saddened”, but her party would “always offer…
IS teenager’s family consider legal action
The family of Shamima Begum, who joined the Islamic State group in Syria aged 15, say they plan to challenge the move to strip her of UK citizenship. Her family’s lawyer, Tasnime Akunjee, said they were considering “all legal avenues” to contest the decision.
Billionaire Ambani risks jail over payments
Indian billionaire businessman Anil Ambani is facing a prison sentence after a deal between his cash-strapped firm Reliance Communications (RCom) and telecoms giant Ericsson collapsed. Ericsson is owed 5.5bn rupees (£59.3m) by RCom under the terms of an agreement to manage and operate its network.
Chinese former general jailed for life
A former high-ranking Chinese general has been sentenced to life in jail for corruption, state media reports. Fang Fenghui, ex-chief of joint staff of the People’s Liberation Army, was found guilty of bribery and having huge wealth that he had been unable to account for, according to Xinhua.
UBS fined €3.7bn in tax fraud case
Swiss banking giant UBS has been fined €3.7bn (£3.2bn; $4.2bn) in a French tax fraud case. A court in Paris found that the bank had illegally helped French clients hide billions of euros from French tax authorities between 2004 and 2012. UBS has denied any wrongdoing and a lawyer representing the firm said it would appeal against the ruling.
Could a defeated IS rebound?
In short: yes, but not in the same form. The jihadist terror group’s self-proclaimed “caliphate”, which once ruled over nearly eight million people across Syria and Iraq, has been all but eliminated. The temptation for triumphalism in Western capitals is overwhelming.
Civilians evacuated from last IS enclave
Lorries have begun evacuating civilians from the last village in Syria still held by the Islamic State (IS) group. Journalists on the front line saw at least 15 vehicles carrying men, women and children leaving Baghuz. The US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) alliance, which is besieging the area, said it did not yet know if any IS fighters were among the passengers.
Eleven held as stabbed man dies in hotel
Eleven people have been arrested after a man was stabbed several times in the street in London and collapsed and died in a hotel reception. The victim entered the Wesley Hotel on Euston Street, near London’s Euston Station, at about 22:45 GMT on Monday.
Eleven held as stabbed man dies in hotel
Eleven people have been arrested after a man was stabbed several times in the street in London and collapsed and died in a hotel reception. The victim entered the Wesley Hotel on Euston Street, near London’s Euston Station, at about 22:45 GMT on Monday.