A daily synopsis of what you need to know from The Week
Casinos “target the poor.”
The government has accused gambling corporations of exploiting addicts and disproportionately impacting disadvantaged populations. Lucy Frazer, the culture secretary, called mobile gambling apps “a trapdoor to despair and isolation” in The Times.
The government’s gaming white paper will propose a gambling company levy and affordability checks for problem gamblers. However, senior Conservative MPs, including former leader Iain Duncan Smith, worry the government has “copped out” following lengthy delays.
“Bullying” minister
The Department of Health “raised concerns” about government minister Steve Barclay’s “bullying” of civil staff.
Since joining the Whitehall department last summer, civil employees have informally complained to Chris Wormald, the department’s permanent secretary, about Barclay’s “bullying” and other “bad behavior” toward his workers, according to The Guardian. Barclay’s supporters dispute it. Dominic Raab resigned after bullying allegations.
Trump accuser testifies
A former writer suing Donald Trump for rape over 30 years ago testified. E. Jean Carroll said the New York civil rape and defamation trial she has been unable to have a romantic life since the 1996 Manhattan department store assault. “He lied when I wrote about it,” she claimed.
“He lied and shattered my reputation. I’m here to get my life back.” The former US president denies the claim, saying Carroll is not his “type”.
Conspiracy by Fugees rapper
A rapper was convicted on 10 charges of an international conspiracy to help China influence US policy. Grammy-winning performer and former Fugee Pras Michel was accused of aiding Malaysian businessman Jho Low and the Chinese government to acquire contact with US politicians, including former presidents Barack Obama and Donald Trump. He faces up to 20 years in jail for conspiracy to defraud the US, witness tampering, and unregistered foreign agent.
Brentford’murder’ arrests
London police arrested 10 people for murder after a man was fatally stabbed. The man was located in Brentwick Gardens, Brentford, with terrible injuries yesterday morning and died. Detective Superintendent Figo Forouzan said: “I want to reassure the Hounslow residents that we have commenced a thorough investigation with the support of our homicide investigation team to ensure those responsible are brought to justice.”
Morgan “knew hacking.”
Prince Harry says News of the World editor Piers Morgan “knew about, encouraged and concealed” illegal targeting of Diana, Princess of Wales. Before his mother died, journalists stole her private text messages and phone calls and exploited them for many pieces in The Sun and the News of the World, according to the Duke of Sussex. Morgan, who denies phone hacking, has railed against Harry and Meghan for years.
Braverman refuses Sudan routes
Sudanese asylum applicants cannot travel legally, according to the Home Secretary. The UN chastised Suella Braverman for saying Sundanese should contact it because it is “the right mechanism by which people should apply if they do want to seek asylum in the UK,” even though she indicated she had “no plans” to implement the routes. The UN said there was no process to claim asylum in the UK through it, and Braverman’s stance meant Sudanese seeking to travel to the UK would have to consider illicit means.
Church supports singles
The Church of England encourages singles to “honour singleness” because Jesus was single. “Jesus’s own singleness should ensure that the Church of England celebrates singleness and does not regard it as lesser than living in a couple relationship,” the Archbishops’ Commission on Families and Households reported. The survey also found “single-person households, friendship groups, siblings living together, people who have been married several times, cohabiting couples, multigenerational households, as well as parents and their children” in the gospels.
Postmaster victims die before justice.
Before the public probe, many of sub-postmasters and mistresses wrongfully convicted of stealing money died. As compensation talks “drag on,” four postmasters have committed suicide and three other victims of the computer accounting fault scandal died before being cleared. 52 more compensation applicants died. After a Horizon IT fault, thousands of Post Office owner-managers were accused of stealing from their tills in the greatest British miscarriage of justice.
Queen ‘knew Andrew’s interview was bad’
A new documentary says Queen Elizabeth II realized the Duke of York’s Newsnight interview was disastrous after reading the transcript. After the interview, Emily Maitlis claimed the Duke was “very jolly” and thought it went well. The late Queen called her son to a meeting after reading the transcript hours before it was televised. “Sir, you might have to come with us,” his security detail warned Andrew.