4 days agoUSA UpdateComments Off on 12 Best Christmas Movies to Stream on Netflix, Prime Video, and More This Holiday Season
The holiday season is the perfect time to indulge in some festive binge-watching, and what better way to enjoy the cozy atmosphere than by curling up with a classic or new Christmas movie? Whether you’re looking for a feel-good family film, a romantic holiday flick, or something a bit quirky, streaming services like Netflix, Prime ... Read more
And his mum Lisa is employed at a shop selling scented candles.
Speaking about Luke’s progression in the sport, Buckley told The Times: “He was a good footballer. He loved football. All kids do. But I said to him at nine, hang your boots up.
“Concentrate on darts. You can still play football here and there. But if there’s a darts comp on at the weekends, go to darts first.
“Make that your priority, because I thought he could make it at darts — and he has done.”
“When I said to him, you need to keep playing darts, he was OK with it. We put him in every competition that was online.
“Sometimes you’re getting up at 7am on a Saturday — my only day off — just to play darts. There were no lie-ins.”
What age are Luke Littler’s parents?
At the time of writing, Luke’s dad Anthony is 43 years old.
And his mum Lisa is currently 40 years old.
Her social media is like a shrine to her son’s incredible achievements at the oche.
When he first came as a kid you could see he was very special and he just got better and better. Every year he was a bit better than the last.
Karl Holden
Are his parents Anthony Buckley and Lisa Littler involved in his Darts career?
In December 2023 footage emerged of Littler as an 18-month-old toddler throwing darts at a magnetic board.
It was bought for him by his dad Anthony Buckley, who was also a casual darts player himself.
Littler’s technique was there for all to see — even as a nappy-wearing youngster.
Just over seven years later he began training at the famous St Helens Darts Shop — which has helped improve professional darts players including Michael Smith, Dave Chisnall and Stephen Bunting.
Luke has been playing darts since he was a nappy-wearing one-year-old
Luke’s boyhood coach Karl Holden, who trained him at the shop located northeast of Liverpool city centre, revealed he was obliterating his opponents from the age of nine.
He said: “He has been coming here since he was nine. We are all very proud.
“When he first came as a kid you could see he was very special and he just got better and better. Every year he was a bit better than the last.
“We put him up to the U14s when he was nine, but three months after that he was smashing all them to bits.”
He added: “At nine he was good. Before he was 11 he was extremely good.
“He’s a freak of nature, honestly, he really is. I’d say he’s the (Cristiano) Ronaldo of darts.
“He is one of the best players in the world at the age of 16.”
By the age of 11 he was playing against grown men and beating them.
The meeting came in November 2019 as Humphries, now 28, clinched the victory over Littler.
At the time, Littler posted: “Lost out in quarter-finals last night at Hayling Island competition to Luke Humphries, missed a few chances to go ahead and a bull for a 164 but gave him a great game.”
Discussing his remarkable success with the BBC, Littler said: “By the age of four I got on to the proper board. From 18 months on I have been non-stop.
“When we moved to Warrington when I was eight or nine we started going out to pubs four to five times a week.”
Responding to a post from Junior Darts Co on social media, Anthony wrote in 2017: “Watch out for 10-year-old Luke Littler this year!”
And Luke’s mum and dad were at Ally Pally supporting his astonishing run in the 2023/24 PDC World Darts Championship.
Speaking after his victory over Campbell, Littler said: “I started crying when I saw my mum in the crowd.
“She was nervous. I saw her with her head in her hands. I said to her: ‘The dream continues.’ She said the same thing.”
Littler is due to compete in the Darts Premier League 2024, having earned his spot in the lineup following his superb run at the World Championships at the start of the year.
4 days agoUSA UpdateComments Off on Brit girl, 15, killed by boat propeller while snorkelling on Maldives school trip as family reveal agony after her death
A BRITISH girl was killed by a boat propeller while on a school trip in the Maldives.
Jenna Chan, 15, died in the horror snorkelling accident while assisting the British registered charity, the Maldives Whale Shark Research Programme (MWSRP), in its research expedition.
Jenna Chan was killed last month in the horrific accident
British-Singaporean dual national Jenna was a student at St Joseph’s International Institution.
On November 8, Jenna was allegedly beckoned into the water but within minutes was “sucked under” when the engine was switched on.
Her parents have said that more than a month after the tragic incident they are “still waiting for answers”.
Alan Chan and Jennifer Liauw claim they had been able to contact their beloved daughter during the trip due to a school policy of removing phones during the expedition.
A report by the Maldives police service seen by The Times confirmed: “On 8th November 2024, during [an] excursion while snorkelling between Lux Maldives Resort and Dhidoo, an incident occurred and Miss Jenna [Chan] was struck by the boat’s propellers.”
Maldivian officials was unable to offer the family a post-mortem examination of the body.
The family also claim they have not been shown any witness statements from teachers and students who were with the 15-year-old at the time of her death.
They believe there was “no real investigation” into the accident, adding that there was a “chain of errors” throughout the excursion, they claim.
Jenna’s 17-year-old sister Alice has started a GoFundMe to raise awareness over the teen’s accident and help with legal fees while the family fight for answers.
The caption for the fundraiser reads: “My sister, 15 year old British-Singaporean Jenna Chan, was killed in a propeller accident during a school trip in the Maldives.
“There has been silence from the Maldivian government and all news about her has ceased.
“The circumstances leading to her sudden death and negligence of the company is truly shocking to our family and her teenage friends, who witnessed her death.
“Please help support us during this tough time for our family and loved ones, and spread the word about her case.
“All donations will go towards our fight for Jenna and protection of all future children and tourists, by providing our Maldivian lawyers with the legal fees and financial support to take more cases just like this one.”
So far, £4,600 of its £10,000 has been raised.
Jenna was laid to rest on November 15 in Singapore.
A Foreign Office spokesperson said: “We are supporting the family of a British national who died in the Maldives and are in contact with the local authorities.”
GoFundMeIt has been over a month since Jenna tragically died[/caption]
4 days agoUSA UpdateComments Off on How heroic doc saved thousands of mums from ‘Angel of Death’s’ vile experiments at Auschwitz – but at a horrifying cost
A DOCTOR saved thousands of women from certain death and the evil experiments of Dr Josef Mengele but her methods had catastrophic consequences.
Giora Giora Itzhak YardeniDr Gisella Perl was a Hungarian Jewish gynaecologist deported to Auschwitz concentration camp in 1944[/caption]
GettyThe arrival of Hungarian Jews in Auschwitz-Birkenau, in German-occupied Poland in June 1944, a couple of months after Dr Perl and her family arrived at the camp[/caption]
GettyJosef Mengele selected Dr Perl to be one of his doctors at the camp while he performed twisted experiments on inmates[/caption]
Mengele who became known as the “Angel of Death” infamously subjected prisoners of the camp to gruesome acts of torture through his twisted experiments that routinely ended in death.
Some of these included stitching two identical twins together, injecting people with diseases and chemicals, and experimenting with male and female genitalia.
Many of his sadistic experiments resulted in pregnancy with so-called patients being forced to have sex with each other in the name of science.
Prisoners had their teeth ripped out, organs removed, and their bone marrow extracted all without anaesthesia.
By his side for some of these horrors was Dr Perl who was living in Hungary and working as a gynecologist when Germany invaded in 1944.
Perl had been born into a Jewish family and was deported with her family to extermination camps – she arrived at Auschwitz in March 1944.
Her survival hinged on being forced to work as a doctor at the camp, under Mengele.
She treated inmates for a variety of issues including injuries from torture, diseases, broken bones, lice, starvation and infections.
But, there were no beds, bandages, drugs or instruments at her disposal.
Dr Perl later said, “I treated patients with my voice, telling them beautiful stories.”
The introduction to her 1948 book I Was a Doctor At Auschwitz states: “The tasks she was ordered to perform were unfathomable, defying every scientific and medical value, principle, and procedure.”
But, her work alongside Menegle in the day, led to her biggest acts of resistance at night.
Each night, Perl would sneak into barracks to secretly treat inmates to prevent them from being sent to the gas chambers or used for medical experiments.
She then took an even bigger risk after learning of the horrific truth about what Mengele did to pregnant women.
I decided that never again would there be a pregnant woman in Auschwitz.
Dr Gisella Perldoctor at Auschwitz
It was a decision that challenged her morals, her professional values and skills as well as her religious beliefs.
In her book, she recalled that after Dr Mengele ordered her to inform him of every pregnant woman in the camp,
Mengele had initially told Perl and other women that those who were pregnant would be sent to another camp for better nutrition and milk.
So, expectant mothers went to him to get help for their unborn children.
EPAA baby who was born at the extermination camp and photographed during the liberation[/caption]
GettyAt night, Dr Perl would risk her life to help the women in the barracks at Auschwitz with many of her surgeries and procedures taking place on the filthy floor[/caption]
AFPTwins Lia Huber and Judith Barnea, who were subjected to Mengele’s experiments stand in front of pictures showing the liberation of Auschwitz in 1945[/caption]
But, Perl quickly learned that they were “all taken to the research block to be used as guinea pigs, and then two lives would be thrown into the crematorium,” she said.
From that moment on, she “decided that never again would there be a pregnant woman in Auschwitz.”
The devout Jewish doctor resorted to doing whatever it took to try to save the lives of pregnant women in the camp, meaning she had to go against her beliefs and terminate pregnancies.
She was forced to do this by whatever means necessary, which saw the gynaecologist carry out abortions on the filthy floors and bunks of the barracks using only her hands and no pain relief.
Perl ended the lives of around 3,000 fetuses to try to see the mothers through the horrors of the extermination camp so they could perhaps one day bear children once they were free.
God, you owe me a life – a living baby.
Dr Gisella Perl
If a pregnancy was too far along, Perl manually induced labour meaning the premature baby would not survive.
It meant the women would be able to keep working in the camps and hope to delay or prevent their death sentences.
But, it was a sacrifice Perl lived with for the rest of her life and it hugely motivated her work after her liberation.
In her book, she stated: “No one will ever know what it meant to me to destroy those babies, but if I had not done it, both mother and child would have been cruelly murdered.”
She was transferred to Belsen which the British 11th Armoured Division liberated on April 15 1945.
AlamyChildren and medical personnel after the liberation by the Red Army[/caption]
Dr Perl would secretly treat inmates and night and would perform abortions with just her hands to save the lives of pregnant prisonersAlamy
The newly freed doctor soon learned that her husband had been killed just before the liberation.
Her teenage son who was ripped from her arms when she was deported from Hungary had died in a gas chamber.
Both of her parents had also perished in extermination camps.
In 1947, she moved to New York City but was interrogated after officials believed she was part of the SS and played a key role in Mengele’s experiments.
It was only the testimonies of survivors that freed her, though deportation efforts continued.
Ms B arrived at the camp in April 1944 and after a month in Barrack 10 her periods stopped, and like many female prisoners, she suffered from a horrific rash that they believe came from drugged food.
“First, pus-filled blisters appeared then turned into sores. In some cases, this rash [occurred] on both arms and my chest,” she recalled.
Every morning and night the women would be lined up and inspected with Dr Mengele making weekly visits to remove the weak and sick who would “never have been seen again.”
So, the women did their best to cover their bodies so their rashes and sores went unnoticed or “our life would be over,” Ms B recalled.
She said: “Dr. Gisella Perl assisted Dr. Mengele during the day.
“However, at night Dr. Perl came into the barrack and administered an ointment with a glue-like consistency to every sore in order to heal this horrific rash.
“Dr. Perl came periodically to Barrick No. 10 and also went to other barracks to administer this ointment.
“The rash needed several weeks to clear up; however, it would often return a few days later.”
“Without Dr. Perl’s medical knowledge and willingness to risk her life by helping us, it would be impossible to know what would have happened to me and to many other female prisoners,” she added.
AlamyFormer women prisoners on the wooden bunks that served as beds in Auschwitz which is often where Dr Perl carried out her procedures[/caption]
GettySurvivors of Auschwitz leaving the camp at the end of World War II[/caption]
GettyThe words Arbeit Macht Frei seen on the arch mean ‘work sets you free’[/caption]
OWE A LIFE
After securing her freedom in America, Perl befriended Eleanor Roosevelt, who urged her to return to medicine which saw her become a gynaecologist at Mount Sinai Hospital.
Over the following years, she delivered over 3,000 babies and always uttered the same words every time she entered the delivery ward: “God, you owe me a life – a living baby.”
In 1979 she moved to Herzliya, Israel with her daughter and grandson, whom she had reunited with.
She died aged 81 on December 16, 1988, and was remembered by The Jerusalem Post as “The Angel of Auschwitz.”
Olivia Marks-Woldman OBE, the Chief Executive of the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust told the Sun:
“What Dr Gisella Perl did during the Holocaust will forever be a reminder of the resilience of the human spirit and the power of compassion, even in the darkest of times.
“With extraordinary courage and selflessness, she used her medical expertise to save the lives of countless women, risking her own safety to bring hope where none seemed possible.
“In a vast and complex world, it is easy to feel powerless, question our ability to create change, or believe we lack the time or energy to make a difference.
“Yet, Dr Perl’s legacy reminds us that a single person can profoundly impact others, even in the face of unimaginable hardship.”
International Universities PressDr Perl wrote her book soon after the war, revealing the horrors of the extermination camp and the truth of Mengele’s work[/caption]
Yale Garber PublishersDr Perl continued her work as a gynaecologist after her liberation and helped deliver over 3,000 babies[/caption]
GettySix million Jews died in World War Two under Hitler’s regime[/caption]
4 days agoUSA UpdateComments Off on Who is darts star Luke Littler’s older sister Caitlin Littler?
LUKE LITTLER has a hugely supportive family around him including sister Caitlin – and she’ll be cheering him on at the World Darts Championship!
Here we take a look at his sister Caitlin, her social media presence and what she’s said about her younger brother.
FacebookCaitlin Littler regularly posts about her brother Luke’s darts achievements on social media[/caption]
FacebookCaitlin has amassed almost 30,000 followers on TikTok[/caption]
She can often be seen cheering Luke on at the darts tournaments he competes in, and her social media accounts are filled with content about her brother’s impressive accomplishments.
Caitlin has maintained a low profile and keeps personal information about herself out of the public spotlight, so very little is known about what she does for a career.
Luke and Caitlin also have two brothers, Leon and Harry, who have been spotted in the crowd cheering him on too.
Follow the darts LIVE and get all the latest news as it happens
What has Caitlin said about her brother Luke Littler?
Speaking after Littler’s heartbreaking defeat in the final of the 2023-24 PDC World Darts Championship, she wrote: “So unbelievably proud of what you have achieved, absolutely unreal.
“You went into this only wanting to win one game to then make it to the finals on your debut at 16 is the biggest achievement!
“We all love you so much, now time to chill and enjoy yourself.”
On her Instagram account, along with a video of Luke checking out against Darryl Pilgrim in style with two consecutive bullseyes in the Modus Super Series in May 2023, she posted: “Gutted I couldn’t be there but never been so proud of someone, so much love.”
And in August 2023 after Luke won his second Super Series, Caitlin said: “Speechless he’s done it again! Never EVER been more proud of someone, what a night!
“You just continue to amaze us all everyday we all love you so much, keep smashing it.”
Is Caitlin Littler on social media?
Yes, Caitlin is on social media.
Her handle on Instagram is @cait.littler, where she has over 11,000 followers.
On TikTok she goes by @caitlittlerx and has amassed 27,500 followers.
4 days agoUSA UpdateComments Off on Patrick Mahomes labeled ‘the Michael Jordan of the NFL’ by First Take star as Stephen A. Smith claims he calls the shots
CHRIS CANTY believes Patrick Mahomes is in the same class as NBA and NFL royalty – because of his desire to play through injury.
The Kansas City Chiefs quarterback is set to suit up against the Houston Texans despite suffering from a high ankle sprain.
GettyPatrick Mahomes celebrates during the Chiefs win over the Cleveland Browns[/caption]
AFPThe NFL star has been compared with NBA legend Michael Jordan[/caption]
First Take/ESPNChris Canty made the claims on Friday’s edition of First Take[/caption]
Mahomes limped out of the Chiefs 20-7 win over the Cleveland Browns last Sunday.
The 28-year-old was replaced in the fourth quarter by backup Carson Wentz.
And that’s in no small part down to some of the brand he endorses.
The Chiefs star is the face of Adidas in the United States and appears in State Farm commercials.
He also pops up on adverts for Subway and Head and Shoulders.
Mahomes also became the face of energy drink Prime, which is owned by Logan Paul and KSI.
“If that dude says he’s going to go out there and play, guess what? He’s going to play.”
“He calls the shots,” added Stephen A.
Mahomes has led the Chiefs to 13-1 on the regular season going into Saturday’s game with the Texans.
Kansas City is targeting a historic threepeat, with no NFL team ever winning three consecutive Super Bowls.
“This may be true although that’s probably still a little premature in that Mahomes is still relatively young and Brady has seven SB wins!!!” wrote one fan on X in response to Canty’s claim.
“He’s the Lebron James of the NFL. Tom Brady is MJ,” countered another.
Speaking about his meteoric rise in August 2023 before this year’s PDC World Darts Championship, Littler said: “I still can’t believe it. I have surprised myself.
“At the start of the year, my ambition was to win one Development Tour title, and I’ve won five.
“I knew I had the ability to beat the best players on the Development Tour, and I’ve beaten quite a few Tour Card holders — Dylan Slevin, Danny Jansen, Lewy Williams, Keane Barry.
“It is unbelievable. Now I’ve got my Tour Card, I can’t wait to prove what I can do on the big stages.”
He added: “This is a massive achievement in my career, I believe it will raise my game because I will be playing against the best players in the world, week in, week out on the ProTour and in qualifying for the European Tour.
“At the moment I don’t practice much. I usually do 30 minutes to an hour a day.
“Some people probably won’t believe it, but if I’m playing against the best, then I’ve got to up my standard.”
He made his PDC debut in March 2023 at the UK Open in Somerset, beating Nick Fullwell 6-0.
His victory saw Littler become the youngest winner of a match at the tournament and record the highest average (106.12) for a player making his debut at Ally Pally.
The teenager then went a step further by beating No 20 seed Andrew Gilding to shockingly become one of the FAVOURITES to win the tournament.
4 days agoUSA UpdateComments Off on Saudi doctor, 50, who ‘killed 4’ in Magdeburg Christmas market attack is ‘anti-Islam activist’ who ‘appeared in BBC doc’
THE suspected driver that killed at least four people at a German Christmas market has been unmasked as a refugee Saudi doctor.
A 50-year-old man was arrested last night at the scene of the horror festive crash with local media now identifying him as Taleb A.
The moment suspect Taleb A was arrested by German cops at the scene of the horror Christmas car crashSuppliedReutersThe smashed up BMW used by suspect Taleb A[/caption]
APThe Saudi suspect being arrested by cops last night[/caption]
Four people, including a child, have been confirmed as dead due to the car crash last night.
Another 200 people were injured, with at least 15 being seriously hurt after a car ploughed into unsuspecting revellers.
Officials fear the number of deaths could rise in the coming hours.
Armed cops caught the refugee and placed him in handcuffs next to a rented BMW SUV believed to have been used in the chilling incident.
It is being reported that he is an anti-Islam activist who arrived in Germany in 2006 as a refugee from Saudi Arabia, according to Bild.
It comes as…
Four confirmed dead, including one toddler
Over 200 injured with dozens in a critical condition
Police issue UK terror warning over fears of “copycat strike”
He has lived in the nearby town of Bernburg – just over 30 minutes from Magdeburg – since fleeing the Middle East.
German media say he became a specialist in psychiatry and psychotherapy and works in the neighbouring town.
He has been officially recognised as a refugee since 2016, local media say.
His home was quickly surrounded by cops after his identity was known as investigators raided the building at around 3:45am, Bild added.
German media also say they have spotted Taleb in a BBC documentary back in 2019.
He spoke on his work as an activist trying to help others be granted safe asylum out of Saudi Arabia.
In the video he can be heard calling himself an ex-Muslim and claims to have helped hundreds of people flee the Gulf region.
Saudi Arabian officials are believed to have warned Germany about Taleb prior to the deadly car crash, Reuters reports.
They cited an “insider” from the Kingdom who said concerns were raised after the suspect posted extremist views on social media.
Saudi Arabia is said to have submitted an extradition request against the alleged killer as he was wanted in the country with an arrest warrant, media outlet Welt claim.
XFootage caught the moment the car ploughed into the market[/caption]
GettyDozens of injured revellers were being treated in tents at the scene[/caption]
Their foreign ministry condemned the attack yesterday and said it will stand in solidarity with Germany and the victim’s love ones.
They are yet to comment on the suspect.
A motive for the attack is still yet to be announced as German officials continue to investigate.
Suspect, Taleb, was travelling at up to 40mph when he first smashed into people at the festive celebrations, horrified witnesses said.
He reportedly raced through the packed market for at least 400m (1,300ft) – leaving trails of devastation in his path.
There were also reports claiming there may have been a bomb in the passenger seat of the BMW after a suspicious piece of luggage was found.
Magdeburg prime minister Reiner Haseloff told reporters at the scene: “We have arrested the perpetrator.
“From what we currently know he was a lone attacker so we don’t think there is any further danger for the city.”
Witnesses said the ground was covered in blood and tinsel as doctors scrambled to treat the injured.
The car went “through people” and sent others “going over it”, a man standing just feet away from the crash added.
Tents were immediately set up to treat victims while all hospitals in the area said they were preparing for a “mass casualty event”.
Neighbouring cities, including Halle, around 50 miles from Magdeburg, also prepared their hospitals to take in victims.
A special hotline was set up last night for family and friends fearing for their loved ones.
As fears are also growing of a “copycat” attack over in the UK.
Messages of solidarity pour in
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said “reports from Magdeburg lead us to fear the worst”. He added: “My thoughts are with the victims and their loved ones.
“We stand by their side and by the side of all Magdeburg residents. My thanks to all the emergency services in these difficult hours.”
Mr Scholz and Interior Minister Nancy Faeser will travel to the scene of the incident today.
Robert Habeck, Germany’s vice-chancellor, said on X: “What terrible news from Magdeburg, where people wanted to spend the advent season in peace and community.
AFPPeople in Magdeburg have started to create a memorial site for the victims[/caption]
AFPRescue teams hug following the horror crash[/caption]
APGerman special police forces attended the crime scene[/caption]
“My thoughts are with the victims and their families. I thank all the emergency services on site who are doing everything they can to help and to clarify the background.”
Meanwhile UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer wrote on X: “I am horrified by the atrocious attack in Magdeburg tonight.
“My thoughts are with the victims, their families and all those affected. We stand with the people of Germany.”
Star English footballer Harry Kane, who is playing for Bayern Munich, also shared a tribute in a post on X.
He said: “Hearing news of the tragedy in Magdeburg puts things in perspective and on nights like this football isn’t what’s most important.
“My thoughts and condolences are with all those affected by the horrific tragedy.”
The German footballing giants in Munich decided to cancel a planned Christmas ceremony which was scheduled for after their clash with RB Leipzig yesterday.
The crowd came together instead and sang an emotional rendition of Silent Night, Holy Night with a local choir.
French President Emmanuel Macron also added he is “deeply shocked by the horror that struck the Magdeburg Christmas market”.
EPAThe market was quickly shut down and cordoned off following the chilling attack[/caption]
APInjured and deceased people were lying on the ground following the tragedy[/caption]
4 days agoUSA UpdateComments Off on Prince Andrew bragged about Chinese state-owned bank ‘making exception’ for him 15 years ago, leaked email reveals
PRINCE Andrew boasted about a Chinese state-owned bank making “an exception” for him, it is claimed.
A leaked email reportedly shows the Duke of York, 64, was given preferential treatment and allowed to open an account with the Bank of China in 2008.
Jon BondPrince Andrew grins as he leaves Royal Lodge[/caption]
Andrew with suspected Chinese spy Yang TengboPAAndrew’s ties to China are being scrutinised[/caption]
Yang has denied any wrongdoing
The account is understood to have been based in China and would have allowed Andrew to take payments for business deals outside of the glare of UK authorities.
The revelation puts further pressure on the duke to fully disclose his dealings with China.
It comes after the Sun reported last week a suspected Chinese spy knew how tosneak people in and outof the duke’s Royal Lodge home.
Yang Tengbo, 50 – who is understood to have been a “close confidante” of Andrew’s – was banned from Britain as a threat to national security.
During a tribunal hearing, judges concluded Yang had not been honest about his links to the Chinese state and could exploit his relationship with the duke and other public figures.
Yang was a founding member of Pitch@Palace in China, a business venture launched by Andrew in 2016.
However, with the leaked email showing he planned to open the secret account more than 15 years ago, there’s a suggestion his business interests in China date much further back.
Seen by The Telegraph, the email was sent on January 12 2008 to a British financier.
Andrew wrote: “Just thought you’d like to know that I have been allowed to have a bank account in The Bank of China. I don’t know all the details yet but it seems to be happening.
“Normally you have to present yourself in person but they will make an exception for me.
“Might be useful… That’s all for now.”
The email was signed off “The Duke of York” and sent from his BlackBerry phone.
A leaked diplomatic cable from Sir Sebastian Wood – the UK’s China ambassador – in April 2010 also reveals Andrew’s plans to regularly visit the country.
It’s understood UK intelligence agencies are investigating the alleged money trail linking Yang to the United Front Work Department, an arm of the Chinese Communist Party.
In October 2007 – months before the leaked email – as the UK’s then-trade envoy, Andrew visited the Bank of China’s offices in Shanghai.
Writing for the Sun on Sunday, Mr Dampier said earlier this week Andrew must reveal the source of the money that enables him to stay at Royal Lodge on the Windsor estate.
The disgraced duke lost his annual £3million-a-year hand-out from brother Charles, which funded guards at his home.
We previously revealed the King axed the cash for Andrew, who does not work but has links to oligarchs.
And last month reported he has negotiated a cheaper protection deal at his leased home which he refuses to leave.
His plan is believed to be bankrolled by Middle East money.
COMMENT: Spy scandal more damaging than Epstein for Andrew
The prince’s biographer Andrew Lownie told The Sun’s Royal Exclusive show this week the spy scandal is “probably the most damaging”.
He said: “It’s more damaging than Epstein. I think the story is going to run right through next year.
“He’s always been much more vulnerable to the financial scandals in his life than the sexual ones.
“These stories haven’t really been investigated. It’s going to have to lead to greater transparency about royal finances.
“This has unlocked a whole series of events that I think are going to be very damaging to the monarchy.
“This is going to give fresh impetus to journalists to look into his financial affairs and how he affords to live in Royal Lodge.
“A lot more is still to come out. A lot has already come out in the past week about his activities.
“It’s the tip of the iceberg. He’s been scrounging money off people in the Middle East and Central Asia.
“When those stories come out, I think he’s going to be complete toast.
“The danger is that he’s going to bring the royal family down with him.”
4 days agoUSA UpdateComments Off on Mad Friday mayhem as hoards of Christmas revellers pack out pubs & don Santa Claus outfits on booziest night of the year
WITH just four days to go until the big day, Brits have started to get into the Christmas spirit.
Last night, pubs and bars across the country were filled with work Christmas parties and friends’ gatherings for the booziest day of the year, which has been branded ‘Mad Friday’.
Santa and The Grinch put their differences aside and enjoyed a drink in Soho, LondonElves and one of the three wise men look full of Christmas spiritJOHN MATHER IMAGEVIEWEmbracing her inner Carrie from Sex and The City, this woman looked glammed up as she rushed for a taxi[/caption]
Here come the women in black – three pals looked fabulous in their colour-coordinated outfits in NewcastleNNPThese lads in Newcastle all got the memo and went all out with Christmas jumpersNNP
Festive knitwear and sparkles were in full swing as revellers hit the town.
One duo was dressed up as The Grinch and Santa in Soho, which has long been a favourite spot for Christmas drinks for Londoners.
Despite the chilly weather, many chose to ditch the coats so not to distract from their incredible outfits.
Extra security and police officers were deployed to monitor the tinsel-tasting revellers and ensure that the parties stayed peaceful.
Mad Friday is a nickname given to the last Friday before Christmas.
It is the most popular night for work Christmas parties, but it’s also become a notorious day for booze-fuelled tensions to soar.
In December 2013, Greater Manchester Police actually used the hashtag #MadMancFriday to expose some of the embarrassing acts revellers would do on the day.
It is also known as Builders’ Friday, as it’s the last day of work for many construction workers.
Despite the chaotic nature of the night, the influx of boozers came as a relief to the struggling restaurants, bars and pubs across the country.
New figures predict that 300 million pints could be poured in December, which will give the economy a £3.3billion boost.
However, the British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA) have wanted that most pubs only make 12p profit per pint.
Many food and drink chains have been struggling recently as the cost of living has led to fewer people spending on eating out.
Businesses had been struggling to bounce back after the pandemic, only to be hit with soaring energy bills and inflation.
Multiple chains have been affected, resulting in big-name brands like Wetherspoons and Frankie & Benny’s closing branches.
Some chains have not survived, Byron Burger fell into administration last year, with owners saying it would result in the loss of over 200 jobs.
Pizza giant, Papa Johns announced it would be shutting down 43 of its stores this year.
Tasty, the owner of Wildwood, also shut sites as part of major restructuring plans.
Tartan and bright colours were rife In Newcastle for Mad FridayNNPJOHN MATHER IMAGEVIEWThree friends pose for a festive selfie in Manchester[/caption]
Still wearing office gear, boozers huddled in the smoking area of a bar in SohoJOHN MATHER IMAGEVIEWBringing sparkles to Manchester, this woman looked ready for Christmas[/caption]
JOHN MATHER IMAGEVIEWOne woman wrapped up in a thick fur coat as she and her friend headed out in Manchester[/caption]
Mad Friday was a relief for many bars and pubs in cities across the countryThree friends enjoy a tipple outside a bar in LondonJOHN MATHER IMAGEVIEWDitching the coats, these women looked incredible as they headed out[/caption]
Christmas selfies were in full swing outside a bar in London
