Latest news with #scandal
The Guardian
18 hours ago
- The Guardian
Archbishop of Wales stands down over Bangor cathedral scandal
The archbishop of Wales has stepped down after a culture of excessive drinking, sexual promiscuity, bullying, bad language and inappropriate banter at Bangor cathedral was revealed. Andy John, who is also the bishop of Bangor, released a statement on Friday evening after calls for his resignation gathered pace. He said he was announcing his 'immediate retirement today as archbishop of Wales. I also intend to retire as bishop of Bangor on 31 August'. Neither his statement nor those from senior colleagues in the Church in Wales made any reference to the scandal that has engulfed Bangor cathedral over recent years. Earlier this week, John issued an 'unreserved and unequivocal' personal apology regarding 'the situation', saying he took full responsibility for failings under his leadership. 'I repent and offer no excuses nor justifications,' he said. Calls for John to resign and for an independent inquiry into the cathedral's culture, the behaviour of clergy, staff and volunteers, and alleged financial mismanagement had been mounting. They came after a review by ThirtyOne: Eight, a Christian safeguarding agency, heard accounts of excessive alcohol consumption, inappropriate language and humiliating banter and a 'culture in which sexual boundaries seemed blurred, and to some … promiscuity was acceptable'. Homophobic comments and an 'unhappy working environment' were also reported. A separate report from a cathedral 'visitation' team recommended the appointment of 'strong leadership' to 'steady the ship', improved scrutiny of governance and finances, and discouraging unkind and inappropriate private communications. According to Tim Wyatt, who writes The Critical Friend, a newsletter on the Anglican church, and who has closely followed events at Bangor, the reports 'pretty much confirmed there was a lot of drinking, sleeping around, backbiting, bullying – basically a whole culture that was completely out of kilter with what a place of Christian worship is supposed to be about'. In addition, six 'serious incident reports' have been sent to the Charity Commission in the past 18 months, four relating to safeguarding and two relating to financial matters. Financial irregularities reportedly include more than £400,000 being spent on new furnishings for the cathedral with inadequate consultation, and £20,000 spent on trips to Rome and Dublin for senior staff. A spokesperson for the Charity Commission said: 'We have opened a regulatory compliance case to assess a number of concerns that have been raised related to Bangor cathedral and diocese, including matters reported directly to us by the charities. We are actively examining these matters with the charities' trustees to determine our next steps. 'As regulator, if we find evidence of wrongdoing, we take robust action using the powers available to us.' Many of the concerns about the cathedral centre on a period when Siôn Rhys Evans was its acting dean – in effect chief executive – while continuing in post as secretary of the Bangor diocese. Both posts are senior full-time jobs, and it is unprecedented for one person to manage both sets of responsibilities and workload. In another highly unusual move, Rhys Evans – who was seen as a protege of John – was made acting dean only a few years after being ordained as a priest. To be elevated so quickly to a high-profile job was an 'astounding over-promotion', according to Wyatt. In February 2024, Rhys Evans stood back from both roles without explanation. He was absent from work for 10 months, after which he quietly left to take up a new post as dean of a Westminster theological college in Cambridge. On Friday, Westminster college confirmed that Rhys Evans' probationary period was 'unsuccessful' and he had left his job in mid-May. The Guardian has been unable to contact Rhys Evans. Last month, two members of the cathedral's college of priests, Rev Dr John Prysor-Jones and the Very Rev Prof Gordon McPhate, called for an independent inquiry into events in Bangor. 'The reputational damage to the cathedral, the diocese, and the Church in Wales is considerable,' they said in a letter to the Church Times. John Pockett, a member of the Church in Wales for almost 70 years, called for John to consider his position as its head. 'He is the archbishop, he is the leader and it has happened at his cathedral,' he told the BBC. Ruth Jones, the Labour MP for Newport West and Islwyn, said the church must give a full explanation to members and the public. 'We want openness and transparency in all our church settings and it's really, really important that the archbishop makes clear what has gone on,' she told BBC Radio Wales Breakfast.
Bloomberg
a day ago
- Business
- Bloomberg
Adler Weighs Sale of Prized €3.5 Billion Berlin Rental Portfolio
Adler Group SA is weighing the sale of its prized portfolio of Berlin apartments, a deal that would mark a landmark step in the slow unraveling of the scandal-hit German landlord. The company has heard pitches from investment banks seeking to win a role advising on the sale of the €3.5 billion ($4.1 billion) property portfolio, people with knowledge of the process said. The role includes advising on how to best structure the portfolio in order to maximize proceeds, the people said, asking not to be identified as the information is private.
Sky News
2 days ago
- Sky News
Post Office: Police identify seven suspects related to Horizon scandal
Police investigating the Horizon Post Office scandal have now identified seven suspects, with more than 45 people classed as "persons of interest". A "scaled-up" national team of officers has been in place for over six months as part of Operation Olympos - dedicated to looking at crimes related to the Horizon Post Office scandal. The number of suspects has increased to seven since before Christmas, as part of a UK-wide investigation involving 100 officers. Four have now been interviewed under caution. Hundreds of subpostmasters were wrongfully convicted of stealing after faulty computer software created false accounting shortfalls in Post Office branches between 1999 and 2015. Commander Stephen Clayman, Gold Command for Operation Olympos, described a "huge shift" in terms of their investigation and "significant progress". "We've got over four million documents that are going to rise to about six million documents," he said, "but we're beginning to methodically work through those and looking at individuals who are associated with certain prosecutions." He described a "pool of about 45 people plus" classed as "persons of interest", with that number "expected to grow". He added that officers have questioned "some" in the past and "more recently" and are looking at the offences of perverting the course of justice and perjury. The "wider pool" of persons of interest is made up of Post Office investigators, lawyers, and "management" across Fujitsu and the Post Office. 11:28 The team of officers will be identifying actions which could amount to criminal offences on both an individual and corporate basis. Any decisions made on whether to charge will not happen until after the Post Office inquiry findings are "published and reviewed". The Operation Olympos officers are part of four teams - a London hub and three regional teams - who have been described as "highly motivated" across England and Wales. Police Scotland and the Police Service of Northern Ireland are also helping. Cmdr Clayman said that officers "will be building a robust case" to pass on to the Crown Prosecution Service. He also added that, compared to the inquiry, his officers will have to "prove this to the criminal standard…a much, much higher standard". He described feeling "optimistic" and "confident" that the teams will have "some successful outcomes", and said they are "working as hard and as quickly as (they) can". Teams are involved in what has been described as a "focused strategy which gets to the heart of the issues". Their investigations are being overseen by the National Police Chiefs' Council and the Metropolitan Police. Victims have also been told that the police will not be reinvestigating every case but "taking a speculative look at cases" to focus on key people involved and evidence for prosecution. Operation Olympos is also making use of special software to help process the amount of evidence to sift through material in relation to key events and identified cases. Of the four suspects interviewed under caution, two were questioned in late 2021, one in late 2024 and the most recent in early 2025.
Daily Mail
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Relive Lauren Sanchez and Jeff Bezos' most cringe-worthy moments as extravagant Venice wedding kicks off
From accusations of blackmail, an alleged cheating scandal, and a front-page expose, Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez 's romance was shrouded in scandal from the start. But despite the rocky beginning, the pair - who are set to tie the knot in Venice, Italy, this week - have proven that love really can conquer all, even the most sordid of controversies. They have certainly not been shy about showing off their love, packing on the PDA all across the globe, getting quite intimate in front of cameras, and even participating in sultry photoshoots together. Just last month, the Amazon founder, 61, was photographed spanking his soon-to-be wife's behind while she was sunbathing on his $500 million superyacht, which notably has a custom wooden figure-head at the front that shares a striking resemblance to Lauren. And who could forget the time their shocking smooch at the amfAR Cannes Gala went viral? Or when Lauren, 55, spilled all the details on Jeff's elaborate and romantic proposal and confessed that she nearly 'blacked out' after seeing the massive diamond engagement ring - which is rumored to be worth $2.5 million? Whether they're getting cozy on the red carpet at star-studded events, jetting off on lavish getaways together, or gushing over one another in interviews, it's fair to say that the couple have embraced a 'go big or go home' lifestyle together, and they're not afraid to show it. Which is why it comes as no surprise that their wedding is expected to be a massive, multi-day extravaganza attended by a slew of Hollywood A-listers, business moguls, fashion stars, and even political figures. As we gear up for what some may dub the wedding of the century, FEMAIL has recapped Jeff and Lauren's most over-the-top moments together. Starting off hot and heavy: A bombshell report in 2019 claimed that Jeff and Lauren had a secret affair... and it included some VERY raunchy text messages While it's unclear when exactly they started dating, Lauren and Jeff's romance was first exposed by the National Enquirer in January 2019. At the time, the bombshell report claimed that Lauren and Jeff had been involved in an eight-month affair, which involved him 'whisking his mistress off to exotic destinations on his $65 million private jet, sending her raunchy messages and erotic selfies, and having secret rendezvous at palatial private estates.' The outlet said that it had tracked them 'across five states and 40,000 miles, tailing them in private jets, swanky limos, helicopter rides, romantic hikes, five-star hotel hideaways, intimate dinner dates and "quality time" in hidden love nests.' The report also included some pretty raunchy text messages that were allegedly sent from Jeff to Lauren. In one, he reportedly told the former TV star: 'I love you, alive girl. I will show you with my body, and my lips and my eyes, very soon.' In another, the magazine claimed he said: 'I want to smell you, I want to breathe you in. I want to hold you tight.… I want to kiss your lips…. I love you. I am in love with you.' Others were more X-rated including one where he is said to have told Lauren: 'I miss you. I want to kiss you right now and tuck you in slowly and gently. 'And maybe in the morning wake you up and not be quite so gentle with you.' In another, he allegedly said: 'Your energy and ideas and competence and SPIRIT turn me on. You make me better. You're meant for me.' One day prior to the report's shocking release, Jeff and his then-wife-of-25-years MacKenzie Scott announced that they were divorcing. Lauren was married to Hollywood agent Patrick Whitesell at the time, and they filed for divorce soon after. Can't keep their hands (or lips) off each other: The pair constantly pack on the PDA while jetting across the globe, and Jeff was even spotted SPANKING Lauren The boat, which stretches across 416-feet and comes with its own helipad, has a figurehead that bears a striking resemblance to Lauren on the front of it Jeff and Lauren didn't wait long after their romance was brought to light to start flaunting their love all over the globe. They were seen for the first time together publicly in May 2019, when photographers caught them enjoying a romantic date night in New York City, and they made their first official appearance as a couple at Wimbledon that July. Since then, the couple have enjoyed a ton of lavish getaways together, and have spent much of their time sailing across the globe on his $500 million mega-yacht. And it seems they could hardly keep their hands - or their lips - off one another as they're often spotted packing on the PDA and sharing in passionate make out sessions in public. Back in May 2023, the couple raised eyebrows when Jeff was photographed playfully hitting Lauren's behind while they were walking in the South of France. And two years later in May 2025, the mogul was seen groping and even spanking his fiancée's bottom again while she was sunbathing in a tiny bikini on his enormous water vessel. A few days later, a video of them sharing an awkward smooch at the amfAR Cannes Gala started circulating online. The couple was seated together at the event, when Lauren noticed that the cameras were on them, so she leaned in to give her beau a sloppy kiss in the cheek. Immediately after, she appeared to wipe saliva off Jeff's cheek, who looked completely unamused throughout the whole thing. After the video was shared online it quickly went viral, with social media users claiming that the Amazon founder seemed 'tired' and 'embarrassed' by her flirty behavior. Cheesy quotes: The couple are constantly gushing over one another in interviews and online - and they even participated in a Vogue photoshoot together Lauren and Jeff are constantly gushing over one another in interviews and online - and they even participated in a sultry Vogue photoshoot together. They were featured in the acclaimed publication's December 2023 issue, but were mercilessly roasted over the photoshoot. Some branded it as 'cringe' and 'uncomfortable' and others accused the magazine of photoshopping the Amazon founder's muscles in it. One image showed Jeff sitting in the front seat of a truck while Lauren leaned over from the passenger side and draped her arms around her fiancé. She donned a white tank top while he opted for a black T-shirt, jeans, and a cowboy hat. They pressed their faces together and starred seriously at the camera. While speaking to the outlet, Lauren gushed about her future husband and entrepreneur's shining personality. 'He's the life of the party,' she said. 'He's just extremely enthusiastic, and extremely funny. He can be really goofy. I mean, you've heard him laugh, right?' Jeff had similarly kind and loving words for his partner. 'Lauren has amazing intuition, almost witchy powers in that regard,' he said. 'She sees things that other people don't see. 'She's really very sensitive to other people and what they're thinking.' The over-the-top proposal: Jeff popped the question on his $500 million super yacht and Lauren said she 'blacked out' when she saw the ring When the couple got engaged in May 2023, it came as no surprise that the billionaire pulled out all the stops for his proposal. Lauren opened up about the moment he got down on one knee to Vogue during her and Jeff's joint interview, revealing that she 'blacked out' when she first saw the huge diamond ring. She told the publication that Jeff had concealed the piece of jewelry under her pillow, which she discovered at the end of the evening just before they went to bed. 'When he opened the box, I think I blacked out a bit,' she said. Mike Fried, CEO of The Diamond Pro, estimated that the rock is likely worth $2 million. He told 'A ring of this caliber is no small feat or expense. Based on the photos, the ring appears to accentuate the colossal center stone with a thin band and fine detailing. 'Lauren's gargantuan diamond appears to be between 15 and 20 carats. I'd estimate the value at a whopping two million dollars, if not more. 'To find a natural diamond in that carat weight is exceptionally rare. It was likely months of preparation to make this ring a reality.' THAT controversial Blue Origin trip: Lauren faced immense scrutiny for her 11-minute journey to space - and Jeff hilariously tripped when she returned Lauren made headlines in April when she embarked on an 11-minute trip to space on Jeff's Blue Origin rocket with an all-female flight crew. She was joined by Katy Perry and Gayle King on the trip, amongst others. The women crossed the Karman Line, often used as the boundary of space, and were treated to roughly three minutes of weightlessness before they headed back down to the ground. Their journey was powered by a reusable rocket which pushed the capsule into space before detaching and gently guiding itself back to Earth. But many celebrities - including Olivia Munn, Emily Ratajkowski, and Kesha - slammed the endeavor. To make matters worse, after the ladies landed back on Earth Jeff awkwardly tripped and fell to the ground as he walked over to the capsule to greet his fiancée and the rest of the crew. Though he recovered quickly, the moment made its way to social media, where the public mocked him. Their multi-day wedding extravaganza: The couple have pulled out all the stops for their nuptials, reportedly renting out an entire island for six days Jeff and Lauren are said to have invited 200 people to their multi-day Italian wedding. Suspected celebrity guests include Ivanka Trump, Orlando Bloom, Kris Jenner, Leonardo DiCaprio, and Kim Kardashian. The couple have allegedly rented out the entire San Georgio Maggiore island for six days for their glamorous wedding. An insider told the Daily Mail that the island is 'off-limits to visitors' from June 24 to June 29. The original plan was for a huge party at the Scuola Grande della Misericordia on Saturday night but it has now been moved to another venue in the Arsenale area of the city, according to local media. Around 60 of Venice's water taxis are reserved for the week, with some of the 400 gondolas on the island out of commission as well. Attendees - who will be treated to lavish gifts including hand-blown glassware by local glassmaker Laguna B - will allegedly be split between five-star hotels Hotel Cipriani and Aman Venice. A wedding expert previously estimated that Jeff and Lauren's wedding will cost the couple $15 million to $20 million, not shocking considering Jeff's $224.6 billion net worth. But locals in Venice are outraged by the wedding disrupting their daily lives and have been protesting, with posters popping up all over the city that read, 'No space for Bezos.' 'From the outset, instructions from our client and our own guiding principles were abundantly clear: the minimizing of any disruption to the city, the respect for its residents and institutions and the overwhelming employment of locals in the crafting of the events,' Jeff and Lauren's wedding planning company Lanza & Baucina said in a statement to Page Six. 'Before the recent news of protests arose, we had worked for there to be minimal negative impact or disruption to the lives of Venetians and the city's visitors,' the wedding planners continued. 'We have always acknowledged the wider debate and critical issues surrounding the city's future, and from the outset our client has been honored to support the city and its all-important lagoon through non-profit organizations and associated projects. 'Rumors of "taking over" the city are entirely false and diametrically opposed to our goals and to reality,' they insisted. 'No exaggerated quantity of water taxis or gondolas have ever been booked, the number of taxis reserved being proportionate for the number of guests.'
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Ursula von der Leyen faces no-confidence vote over Pfizergate
European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen is facing a no-confidence vote over a Covid-19 pandemic scandal that threatens to Error while retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data
