Reform UK has instructed its councillors to dismiss a police investigation into £500,000 in donations from Fiona Cottrell as an "establishment stitch-up." This directive comes as YouGov polling indicates a sharp decline in Nigel Farage's popularity and Reform UK's overall support, with Labour and Conservatives closing the gap.
Cryptocurrency exchange Gemini sent $10 million in Bitcoin to the MAGA Inc. Super PAC supporting Donald Trump, weeks after the CFTC filed a motion to reverse a $5 million settlement with Gemini. This donation follows other contributions by the Winklevoss brothers to Trump's campaign.
International architecture firm Herzog & de Meuron has donated over 200 archival items, including models and sketches, to Hong Kong's M+ museum. This second donation strengthens the museum's architecture collection and coincides with an exhibition on the firm's China projects, opening September 12.
The Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust has introduced administrative and religious reforms, including live CCTV surveillance of donation counting, amid an ongoing investigation into donation irregularities. The Trust also approved an official spokesperson, reconstituted the Religious Committee, and is in the final stages of recruiting a new CEO.
Charities criticize UK PM Andy Burnham's plan to fund cheaper bus fares by converting international climate grants into repayable loans, arguing it will burden global south countries with debt and undermine the UK's global standing.
The Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust held its second meeting in Ayodhya, reviewing administrative matters amidst an alleged donation embezzlement probe. The trust deferred the CEO appointment, received 5,200 applications, and plans a permanent institute for priest training.
Nine-year-old Dáithí Mac Gabhann, who inspired changes to Northern Ireland's organ donation laws, has received a heart transplant after an eight-year wait. His father, Máirtín Mac Gabhann, expressed immense gratitude to the donor family and reported Dáithí's amazing progress post-surgery at Freeman Hospital.
Nigel Farage and Reform UK face scandals over an undeclared £5m crypto gift and £25m party funding from billionaire Christopher Harborne, alongside ties to a convicted fraudster. Farage resigned as MP to contest Clacton, while criminal and parliamentary probes continue into the donations and Harborne's Tether cryptocurrency, widely linked to illicit activities.
Following actor Sam Neill's death from pneumonia at 78, fans have paid tribute by buying out his Two Paddocks wine label and donating to causes he supported, including an anti-mining group and Dunstan Hospital, showing a significant surge in sales and donations.
India's Parliament monsoon session commenced with widespread opposition protests over issues like the NEET paper leak and alleged Ayodhya Ram temple donation theft, leading to frequent adjournments. Amid disruptions, a bill to increase Supreme Court judges was introduced, and changes in TMC seating arrangements were noted.
The Supreme Court stated that the alleged Ram temple donation embezzlement case should not be politicised, emphasizing its role is to ensure a proper investigation. A Special Investigation Team (SIT) is probing the matter, leading to arrests and recovery of funds, with further hearings scheduled.
The Supreme Court has ordered the Uttar Pradesh government to restructure the SIT investigating financial discrepancies in Ram Mandir donations, preferring a senior IPS officer. Eight individuals have been arrested, Rs 78.94 lakh recovered, and investigators are tracing the money trail for further revelations.
Billionaire philanthropist MacKenzie Scott has donated a record $20 million to Active Minds, a non-profit addressing the youth mental health crisis in the US. This gift, more than double the charity's annual revenue, is influenced by Scott's past financial hardships and will expand mental health programs nationwide.
Warren Buffett redirects donations from the Gates Foundation to his family's foundations, citing increased confidence in his children's philanthropic capabilities and a reevaluation of his charitable strategy.
Marriette, a single woman in Germany, details her "shockingly unjust" struggle to conceive due to laws that only cover fertility treatment costs for married couples. She accumulated €13,000 in debt, highlighting Germany's outdated and discriminatory regulations, which also ban egg donation and surrogacy, prompting some to seek treatment abroad.
Warren Buffett stops 20-year donations to Bill Gates' foundation after Gates' testimony on ties to Jeffrey Epstein, calling the relationship 'distasteful'. Buffett redirects remaining stock to family-linked foundations.
The Supreme Court has requested a status report from the Uttar Pradesh SIT and the Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust regarding alleged embezzlement of donations at the Ayodhya Ram Mandir. The court will hear the matter again on July 20.
India mourns the death of former Qatari Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani, with the national flag flying at half-mast. The Supreme Court will hear pleas regarding alleged donation fraud at the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya and unpredictable airfare fluctuations. The remains of 15 Indian tourists who died in Vietnam are expected to arrive tonight.
Uttarakhand Police arrested suspended Badrinath-Kedarnath Temple Committee employee Pramod Nautiyal in connection with alleged donation theft. Irregularities surfaced during cash offering counting, leading to an FIR and Nautiyal's arrest.
An SIT is investigating alleged embezzlement of donation money at the Ayodhya Ram temple. Officials may question Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust members. The trust is reviewing cash donation banking and security protocols amid arrests and financial probes.
A Seoul district court is set to deliver its verdict on former President Yoon Suk Yeol for allegedly accepting illegal donations in the form of free opinion polls from a self-proclaimed power broker. Yoon and the broker were indicted for violating the Political Funds Act.
Analysis reveals Reform UK would have received only 15% of its donations if a £100,000 cap was in place. The party relies heavily on a few wealthy backers, unlike Labour, Conservatives, and Lib Dems, who would be less affected.
An SIT probe into the Ayodhya Ram temple donation theft revealed nine major procedural and security lapses, including lack of frisking, unmonced uniforms, mixing of cash, and absence of denomination-wise records, enabling large-scale embezzlement.
Analysis suggests Reform UK would have received only 15% of its donations if a £100,000 cap was in place. The party relies heavily on a few wealthy backers, with two billionaires accounting for 71% of its income last year. Other major parties would be less affected.
