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Defence Secretary Stands by Military Leaders Amid Afghan War Crimes Allegations
Defence Secretary Stands by Military Leaders Amid Afghan War Crimes Allegations Defence Secretary John Healey has expressed unwavering support for two of Britainâs most senior military officers after they were named in a BBC Panorama investigation alleging war crimes by UK special forces in Afghanistan. Despite the serious nature of the allegations, Healey said he had âabsoluteâ confidence in the integrity and leadership of General Sir Roly Walker, head of the army, and General Sir Gwyn Jenkins, who is slated to become the next head of the Royal Navy. The BBCâs investigation broadcast on Monday night alleged that members of Britainâs elite special forces were involved in the unlawful killing of innocent Afghans over a period spanning more than ten years. Both Walker and Jenkins were referenced in the documentary, with claims implicating them in various aspects of how these allegations were handled. Specifically, the programme accused Jenkins of overseeing the dismissal of hundreds of UK resettlement applications submitted by Afghan commandos who had served alongside British forces, particularly the Special Air Service (SAS). Some of those commandos are thought to be potential witnesses in an inquiry into alleged extrajudicial killings, having been present at key moments on the ground. Jenkins, a former vice-chief of the defence staff and one-time director of special forces, was reportedly sent transcripts of conversations in 2011 in which members of the special forces discussed unlawful killings. While he did inform his superior of the contents, the evidence was not passed on to military police. Instead, according to the BBC, it was stored in a classified dossier locked in a safe. When asked directly whether he retained confidence in Walker and Jenkins despite the investigation, Healey responded, âYes, absolutely.â He continued, âIâve worked very closely with both,â describing Jenkins as his strategic advisor in recent months, particularly on significant export deals. âIâve worked very closely with Roly Walker as the new chief of the general staff as well,â he added, reinforcing his view that both men remain fit for leadership. Jenkins was anticipated to be named the new first sea lord last week, but the announcement was unexpectedly delayed. Instead, attention turned to Admiral Sir Ben Key, the current first sea lord, who is reportedly under investigation following allegations of an affair with a junior officer. Despite the delay in Jenkinsâ formal appointment, sources within the Ministry of Defence have maintained confidence in him. âOne of the good guys in this,â said one defence source, suggesting that Jenkins would ultimately be cleared of wrongdoing. This sentiment, the source added, is echoed by many others within the ministry. The BBCâs investigation has reignited public scrutiny over the conduct of British forces during the war in Afghanistan and raised questions about how internal reports of misconduct were handled. Yet the firm backing from the defence secretary signals that, for now, the government is standing behind its top military figures amid the controversy. Related Topic: Breaking the Silence: Former UK Special Forces Reveal Allegations of War Crimes Adapted by ASEAN Now from The Times 2025-05-15 -
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From Caravan Parks to a Billionaireâs Empire: The Rise of the UKâs 'Asylum King'
From Caravan Parks to a Billionaireâs Empire: The Rise of the UKâs 'Asylum King' Graham King, an Essex-born businessman once known for selling mobile homes, has become one of the UKâs newest billionaires as demand for asylum accommodation surges. The 58-year-old founder of Clearsprings Ready Homes, a company contracted by the British government to house, feed, and transport asylum seekers, has seen his wealth jump by 35 per cent in just a year. King now ranks 154th on the 2025 Sunday Times Rich List with a fortune estimated at ÂŁ1.015 billionâup from ÂŁ750 million when he first appeared on the list last year. The growth in Kingâs wealth mirrors the dramatic rise in immigration and asylum claims in the UK. Over 108,000 people applied for asylum in 2024, a record number, up from nearly 92,000 the previous year. The backlog in processing these claims has left around 38,000 asylum seekers in 222 hotels, while an additional 66,000 are being accommodated elsewhere. According to the National Audit Office, the overall cost of providing asylum housing has risen sharply, with the value of ten-year contracts ballooning from ÂŁ4.5 billion to ÂŁ15.3 billion. Clearsprings, founded in 1999 and operating out of a modest office in Rayleigh, Essex, has become a central player in this evolving industry. The companyâs latest contract with the Home Officeâproviding services in southern England and Walesâis now estimated to be worth ÂŁ7.3 billion, a significant leap from its initial valuation of ÂŁ1 billion. In the year ending January 2024, Clearsprings reported a 60 per cent rise in profits, hitting ÂŁ119.4 million. King owns more than 99 per cent of Clearsprings, a stake that now places him among Britainâs wealthiest individuals. His journey began in Canvey Island, where he grew up helping run the familyâs caravan park, Kings Park, which his father Jack purchased in the 1960s and eventually sold for ÂŁ32 million in 2007. The family dabbled in multiple businesses including a taxi firm, car dealership, and even nightclubs that once featured artists like Shirley Bassey and Tommy Cooper. The pivot to asylum housing came in the late 1990s when a hotelierâs success with government asylum contracts caught Kingâs attention. John Pring, a local estate agent, was asked to draft a business proposal for what became Clearsprings. âJack came to me and said, âThe government is asking people to tender for this type of work. Graham thinks thereâs an opportunityâ,â Pring recalled. âThe idea was to buy property, rent it to the government and manage it for them.â Despite his fortune, Kingâs company has faced serious criticism. In 2021, two Clearsprings-run sitesâNapier Barracks in Kent and Penally Camp in Pembrokeshireâwere described by inspectors as âfilthy,â âdecrepit,â and ârun down.â In 2023, more than 70 people, including children, slept on the street to protest overcrowded conditions in Clearsprings-managed hotels in London. The Home Office recently severed ties between Clearsprings and a subcontractor, Stay Belvedere Hotels Ltd, over âpoor performance and behaviour.â Financial scrutiny has also intensified. A Home Office audit revealed that the department could not fully justify ÂŁ58 million in charges from Clearsprings, which exceeded original agreements. Inspectors recommended stronger invoicing controls to prevent overpayments. King, now reportedly residing in Mayfair and Monaco, enjoys a luxurious lifestyle. He participates in Porsche Sprint Challenge races across Europe and was recently profiled enjoying his time with his Latvian girlfriend, Lolita Lace. Previously married to Austrian-born Carin, with whom he has two children, King left the familyâs 60-acre farmhouse in Chappel years ago. His brother Jeff lives in Monaco, while sister Linda remains in Canvey Island. King isnât alone in capitalizing on asylum housing. Alex Langsam, 86, the owner of Britannia Hotels and Pontins, also appears on the Rich List with a net worth of ÂŁ401 million. Many of Langsamâs hotels are currently used to house asylum seekers. Clearsprings declined to comment on the latest developments. Adapted by ASEAN Now from The Times 2025-05-15 -
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Gary Lineker Under Fire Over Controversial âNazi propagandaâ Post Featuring Rat Emoji
Gary Lineker has come under intense scrutiny following an Instagram post that included what critics have described as anti-Semitic imagery. The BBC presenter, who is set to step down from hosting Match of the Day at the end of the Premier League season, shared a video from the pro-Palestinian group Palestine Lobby which featured a rat emojiâa symbol that has historically been used as Nazi propaganda to dehumanise Jews. The video, which featured Canadian-Palestinian lawyer Diana Buttu criticising Israel's war in Gaza, was reportedly live on Linekerâs Instagram Story for around seven hours before being deleted. The image of the rat, a detail Lineker claims he overlooked, drew swift condemnation from Jewish organisations and political figures. A spokesman for Lineker told Telegraph Sport: âWhilst viewing and reposting a video, Gary did not notice a rodent emoticon added by the author of the post. Although if he had, he would not have made any connection. The repost has been removed.â The charity Campaign Against Antisemitism (CAA) was quick to respond, writing on X: âNothing to see here. Just Gary Linekerâs Instagram account sharing an anti-Israel video misrepresenting Zionism, complete with a rat emoji.â The CAA later added: âNot only does this video deliberately misrepresent Zionism â the belief that Jews have the same right to self-determination as everyone else â but it adds a rat emoji in doing so. Why is it that Gary Lineker keeps sharing content on social media that seems to cater to Jew-haters?â Linekerâs decision to share the post, even temporarily, has reignited longstanding tensions over his political commentary and use of social media. The BBC has been urged to act swiftly and decisively. A spokesperson for the Board of Deputies of British Jews stated: âThe BBC has allowed the situation with Gary Lineker to continue for far too long. He has caused great offence with this video â particularly with [its] egregious use of a rat emoji to illustrate Zionists. BBC should ask him to leave now rather than allowing him to dictate his own terms.â Danny Cohen, the former director of BBC television, echoed those concerns: âGary Lineker appears to have shared content about the Jewish state which echoes Nazi propaganda. This is utterly grim. The BBCâs director general Tim Davie has a simple question to answer: does he tolerate the BBCâs flagship presenters sharing content that has historically been used as an anti-Semitic slur?â Lineker, who earned ÂŁ1.35 million from the BBC last year, remains a prominent figure in British broadcasting, but one who increasingly polarises public opinion. Former Labour MP Lord Austin said: âFor too long Gary Lineker has been flagrantly abusing his position as the best-paid presenter at the BBC to promote his deeply biased views. Now he has gone too far, sharing material that, whether he knows it or not, is redolent of the vilest anti-Jewish racism. He cannot be allowed to stay in position, let alone be the face of World Cup coverage. The BBC must act now.â Barrister Simon Myerson KC, who chairs the Leeds Jewish Representative Council, questioned whether Lineker would âhave the guts to explain this to Emily Damari,â one of the hostages taken by Hamas during the October 7, 2023 attacks in Israel. The imagery of rats has long been used to dehumanise groups throughout history, most infamously in Nazi Germanyâs anti-Semitic propaganda. Though Linekerâs spokesperson insisted the presenter did not recognise the symbolâs meaning when he reposted the video, critics argue that such ignorance does not excuse the harm caused. The debate now centres on whether Linekerâs actions, inadvertent or not, are compatible with his continued role at the BBC. Adapted by ASEAN Now from The Telegraph 2025-05-15 -
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Labour Rift Deepens Over Starmerâs Immigration Comments echoing Enoch Powell
Labour Rift Deepens Over Starmerâs Immigration Comments Sir Keir Starmer is facing a growing backlash from within his own party following his controversial comments on immigration, with senior Labour figures distancing themselves from the language he used and drawing uncomfortable parallels with one of the most infamous speeches in British political history. The Labour leader sparked unease after warning that mass migration risked turning the UK into an âisland of strangers.â The phrase has triggered strong criticism, including accusations that it echoed Enoch Powellâs notorious ârivers of bloodâ speech from 1968. "Somebody here has to call this out" PM Sir Keir Starmer defends his migration speech and the "island of strangers" comment, saying the UK migration policy will prioritise "control, selection and fairness" The backlash includes key Labour politicians such as London mayor Sadiq Khan and Welsh First Minister Eluned Morgan, both of whom made clear they would not endorse Starmerâs choice of words. When questioned directly about the phrase, Khan told LBC: âThe sort of language I use is different to the language used by others. Thatâs not the sort of words I would use.â In Wales, Morgan also rebuffed Starmerâs rhetoric during a session in the Senedd. âThatâs not the value we have in Welsh Labour,â she said, in response to the prime ministerâs proposals to dramatically reduce immigration levels, especially in the care sector. She added: âWe are committed to ensuring that we do our best to provide a care service in Wales. That will be more difficult if it is not possible to hire people from abroad.â Her remarks, though restrained, served as a clear critique of the prime ministerâs approach, particularly his use of what she termed âdivisive language when it comes to immigration.â Labour MP Olivia Blake was more direct in her condemnation, saying the prime ministerâs use of the word âstrangersâ had dangerous connotations and risked fuelling division. Speaking to Times Radio, she said: âI think the use of âstrangersâ was very problematic, this language of âstrangersâ has been used by the far right for generations to make divisions within our communities. But it couldnât be further from the truth.â Starmerâs remarks came during a speech at Downing Street on Monday, ahead of the governmentâs release of a white paper outlining sweeping changes to the immigration system. While some interpreted his speech as an effort to strike a tough tone on migration, critics swiftly pointed out its resemblance to Powellâs warning that immigration would leave Britons as âstrangers in their own country.â The prime ministerâs office has firmly rejected any comparison between Starmer and Powell. âThe prime minister rejects those comparisons and absolutely stands behind the argument he was making that migrants make a massive contribution to our country, but migration needs to be controlled,â a spokesperson said. However, the pushback hasnât ended there. Sir Ed Davey, leader of the Liberal Democrats, also criticised Starmer for echoing Powellâs rhetoric. âStarmer is echoing Enoch Powell on immigration,â Davey said, underlining the discomfort across the political spectrum over the tone of the prime ministerâs remarks. Despite mounting criticism from within Labour and beyond, Starmerâs team has not retracted or softened the language, insisting the message was about balance and control, not exclusion. Still, the controversy reveals deeper tensions in Labourâs approach to immigrationâand how far the leadership is willing to go in appealing to voters on an issue long fraught with political peril. Adapted by ASEAN Now from The Times 2025-05-15 -
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Biden Inside the Final Days: Wheelchair, falls and a cover-up. White House Secrecy New book
A new book chronicling President Joe Bidenâs final years in office claims his physical and cognitive health had deteriorated so significantly that White House aides quietly considered placing him in a wheelchair and actively worked to conceal his decline from both the public and much of his staff. Original Sin: President Bidenâs Decline, Its Cover-Up and His Disastrous Choice to Run Again, authored by CNN journalists Jake Tapper and Alex Thompson, is based on more than 200 interviews, mostly with Democratic Party insiders, and is set to be released on May 20. The book details how senior officials within the administration engaged in intense discussions about Bidenâs worsening physical condition, especially in the wake of a high-profile fall over a sandbag at the Air Force Academy in June 2023. Concerned by his unsteady gait and increasing frailty, aides debated whether the president might require a wheelchair, particularly if he suffered another fall. However, they ultimately rejected that option during his re-election campaign, recognizing the potential political fallout. âGiven Bidenâs age,â the authors write, referencing the president who left office at 82, his physician Kevin OâConnor âalso privately said that if he had another bad fall, a wheelchair might be necessary for what could be a difficult recovery.â The book also uncovers how staff implemented a series of preventative measures to avoid another public stumble. Biden began wearing sneakers more frequently, was offered handrails at public appearances, and routes were shortened to minimize the physical exertion involved in walking. Visual briefings were reportedly prepared in advance of each event so he would be aware of every step he needed to take. âWe attempted to shield him from his own staff so many people didnât realise the extent of the decline beginning in 2023,â one senior aide admitted. Biden didn't recognize George Clooney at fundraiser: New book Beyond the physical precautions, the book outlines growing tensions among Democratic leaders as Biden continued with his 2024 re-election campaign. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer personally confronted Biden at his Delaware home after the widely criticized July 2024 debate performance. According to the book, Schumer warned that if Biden lost to Donald Trump, â50 years of amazing, beautiful work goes out the window. But itâs worse than that â you will go down in American history as one of the darkest figures.â As Schumer turned to leave, Biden placed his hands on his shoulders and said, âYou have bigger balls than anyone Iâve ever met.â Privately, Bidenâs physician Kevin OâConnor is said to have voiced concern over the toll the presidency was taking on his patientâs health. OâConnor clashed with White House staff over the presidentâs workload, advocating for more rest and reportedly joking that while Bidenâs aides were trying to kill him, he was trying to keep him alive. The decision to remain in the race until late in the campaign cycle infuriated many within the Democratic Party, particularly those working to position Vice President Kamala Harris as a viable successor. David Plouffe, who managed Barack Obamaâs 2008 campaign and joined Harrisâs team for the final stretch, told the authors that Biden âtotally fed us.â He described the 107-day sprint against Trump as âa fing nightmare,â placing the blame squarely on the presidentâs refusal to step aside earlier. âIt was an abomination. He stole an election from the Democratic Party; he stole it from the American people,â a senior Democratic strategist added. The book also takes aim at the media and the presidentâs inner circle, suggesting that concerns about Bidenâs increasingly visible stumbles, verbal missteps, and signs of confusion were routinely dismissed or downplayed. In the final analysis, Original Sin portrays a presidency in steep decline, surrounded by a network of loyal aides and family members working desperately to maintain a fragile image â even as alarm bells sounded behind closed doors. Adapted by ASEAN Now from The Times 2025-05-15 -
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Qatar Airways Nears Landmark Major Purchase Boeing Deal During Trump Visit
Qatar Airways is poised to announce a major aircraft purchase from Boeing as former President Donald Trump arrives in Doha for a state visit on Wednesday. A source familiar with the matter confirmed to NewsNation that the Qatari carrier is finalizing an agreement to acquire 150 Boeing aircraft, in what would mark a significant investment in U.S. manufacturing and a highlight of Trumpâs visit to the Gulf region. Trump, who is visiting the Middle East this week, will travel from Saudi Arabia to Qatar on Wednesday afternoon local time. The trip includes high-level meetings and a state dinner in Doha, where the Boeing deal is expected to be unveiled. The aircraft order is expected to include wide-body jets, with an option for additional purchases, as initially reported by Bloomberg. The timing of the announcement appears to align with Trumpâs broader goal of encouraging American allies to invest heavily in U.S. industry and manufacturing. Though the deal has not been officially confirmed, neither Qatar Airways nor Boeing offered any comment on the pending announcement. A Boeing spokesperson declined to confirm the deal when asked by NewsNation, and Qatar Airways did not respond to inquiries. A White House official similarly declined to comment on whether the announcement would be made during the visit, saying only that they wouldnât âget ahead of any announcements from the president.â The Qatar agreement follows Trumpâs earlier success in securing $600 billion in investment commitments from Saudi Arabia during the first leg of his Middle East tour. That package included a significant $142 billion defense and security deal involving dozens of U.S. companies supplying cutting-edge military equipment to Saudi Arabia. Additionally, Saudi firm DataVolt announced it would move forward with plans to invest $20 billion in artificial intelligence data centers and energy infrastructure in the U.S. The close timing of the Boeing deal and Trumpâs visit has raised questions about possible connections between diplomacy and commercial agreements. When asked whether the Boeing-Qatar deal and a recent âgift of the jetâ were related, White House Deputy Press Secretary Harrison Fields dismissed any suggestion of a link. âWell, thereâs nothing to do with that, and the President is a deal maker, and he wants to make sure that heâs prioritizing economic prosperity and partnerships, not just in the United States, but with our allies across the globe,â Fields told The Hill during an interview with NewsNationâs Blake Burman. Fields emphasized that the Trump administrationâs strategy is rooted in forging strong global economic ties and expanding U.S. economic influence. âThis is why weâve seen over $8 trillion of investments pouring into the United States since the President took office, and this is why youâre also seeing massive partnerships with the Middle East and American companies, because the President is a deal maker,â he added. As Trump continues to tout his ability to secure major international investments, the anticipated Qatar AirwaysâBoeing agreement stands to be another example of economic diplomacy in action, reinforcing both commercial and political ties between the U.S. and key Gulf allies. Adapted by ASEAN Now from The Hill 2025-05-15
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