Ben King
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Senior Journalist, BBC News covering business & economics. Dad x 3. DMs open
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Articles by Ben King
Baroness Mone among individuals sued to recover PPE Medpro millions
Baroness Michelle Mone and her husband Doug Barrowman are among individuals being sued in an attempt to recover some of the millions owed to the government by his collapsed company, PPE Medpro, the BBC understands. The government was awarded £122m plus interest from PPE Medpro last year, after a court ruled the firm had breached a contract to supply sterile surgical gowns during the pandemic.
Put a £5 deposit on vapes to stop fires, say waste companies
Ben King - Business reporter Mon 1 June 2026 at 8:29 am UTC 4 min read Add Yahoo as a preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. Disposable vapes were banned a year ago but some now want remaining 'loopholes' to be closed [Getty Images] Waste companies have called for a deposit of up to £5 to be charged on vapes to encourage people to dispose of them properly.
Put a £5 deposit on vapes to stop littering, say waste companies
Disposable vapes were banned a year ago but some now want remaining 'loopholes' to be closed [Getty Images] Waste companies have called for a deposit of up to £5 to be charged on vapes to encourage people to dispose of them properly. Disposable vapes were banned a year ago, partly because of the issues they cause for bin lorries and waste facilities when thrown away with general rubbish.
Palace handed Andrew's controversial envoy emails six years ago
The former Duke of York was arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office earlier this year [Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images] Buckingham Palace was handed emails six years ago that would have shown that Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor was sharing confidential government information while a trade envoy, according to court documents.
Boss of Sarah Ferguson-linked firm used royal links to threaten worker with jail
Sarah Ferguson with close friend and business partner Manuel Fernandez [Getty Images] Sarah Ferguson's close friend and business partner, Manuel Fernandez, used his Palace links to threaten a worker with jail, according to a recording obtained by the BBC. The worker at Fernandez's failed lifestyle app vVoosh was told that police would investigate him for allegedly putting "royal security" at risk by hacking emails.
Agent modelek do Epsteina. "Proszę, wypróbuj ją w łóżku"
W ciągu prawie dekady Ramsey Elkholy wysłał finansiście setki maili, omawiając kobiece ciała i ich stosunek do seksu, i sugerował, że on i Epstein mogliby poznać więcej kobiet, inwestując w branżę modową i modelingową w Brazylii. W korespondencji z 2011 r. Elkholy opisał kobietę po dwudziestce, która "desperacko potrzebowała pieniędzy" i powiedział: "Drogi Jeffreyu, proszę, wypróbuj ją w łóżku".
Agent modelek pisał do Epsteina. "Proszę, wypróbuj ją w łóżku"
W ciągu prawie dekady Ramsey Elkholy wysłał finansiście setki e-maili, omawiając kobiece ciała i ich stosunek do seksu, i sugerował, że on i Epstein mogliby poznać więcej kobiet, inwestując w branżę modową i modelingową w Brazylii. W korespondencji z 2011 r. Elkholy opisał kobietę po dwudziestce, która "desperacko potrzebowała pieniędzy" i powiedział: "Drogi Jeffreyu, proszę, wypróbuj ją w łóżku".
Quản lý người mẫu nài nỉ ông trùm Epstein 'ngủ' với người mẫu
Nguồn hình ảnh, Facebook/Getty Images Chụp lại hình ảnh, Trong gần một thập kỷ, ông Ramsey Elkholy và ông Jeffrey Epstein đã trao đổi thư từ về các người mẫu Tác giả, Abdirahim Saeed, Vai trò, BBC Tiếng Ả Rập và Tác giả, Ben King, Vai trò, Phóng viên kinh doanh 4 phút trước Thời gian đọc: 8 phút Một người đại diện người mẫu tại Mỹ đã giới thiệu những cô gái trẻ chỉ mới 18 tuổi cho ông Jeffrey Epstein và nài nỉ tội phạm tài chính này quan hệ tình dục với một người mẫu mà ông ta quen biết, theo...
Agent begged Epstein to have sex with model, emails show
Ramsey Elkholy and Jeffrey Epstein corresponded for almost a decade about models A US-based model agent introduced women as young as 18 to Jeffrey Epstein and pleaded with him to have sex with a model he knew, according to emails. Ramsey Elkholy sent the financier hundreds of emails over almost a decade, discussing the women's bodies and their attitudes to sex, and suggested he and Epstein could meet more women by investing in fashion and modelling businesses in Brazil.
A firm hiring blind staff went bust - but its mission lives on
When Clarity – the UK's oldest social enterprise – collapsed five years ago, more than a hundred workers lost their jobs and salaries. Clarity was founded in 1854 to provide employment opportunities for blind people, and in recent times focused on making soap. The former owner was taken to court for stealing his workers' pensions, and he sued two employees who spoke out. Now one of those who was sued has launched a new business, aiming to carry on Clarity's social mission in a new way.
The third man who links Andrew with Jeffrey Epstein
An image from the Epstein files showing David Stern at the opening of a new office for his company Asia Gateway in Beijing in 2011 [US Department of Justice] In the high-tech megacity of Shenzhen in southern China, Prince Andrew looked on as dancers spun and waved streamers to entertain an audience of investors and innovators. It was spring 2019, a gala dinner for the Chinese arm of his start-up competition Pitch@Palace – which turned out to be the last.
The mystery man who links Andrew with Jeffrey Epstein
An image from the Epstein files showing David Stern at the opening of a new office for his company Asia Gateway in Beijing in 2011 [US Department of Justice] In the high-tech megacity of Shenzhen in southern China, Prince Andrew looked on as dancers spun and waved streamers to entertain an audience of investors and innovators. It was spring 2019, a gala dinner for the Chinese arm of his start-up competition Pitch@Palace – which turned out to be the last.
Epstein eyed record label investment to access women, files suggest
EMI Records was one of the major players of the music industry [AFP via Getty Images] Warning: this article contains offensive and derogatory language Jeffrey Epstein considered investing in music company EMI after his associate David Stern appeared to suggest it potentially offered access to women, recently released emails suggest.
Andrew's time as trade envoy should be investigated, says Vince Cable
[Reuters] Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor's time as trade envoy should be investigated for possible corruption, a former business secretary said. Files released by the US department of Justice appear to show the former prince forwarded UK government documents and other commercial information to the convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Andrew's time as trade envoy should be investigated, says Vince Cable
I made 5 Gordon Ramsay pasta dishes and ranked them from least to most delicious Inspired by my quest to find the best Ina Garten pasta recipes, I decided to do the same with Gordon Ramsay. While the celebrity chef is more frequently associated with his famous beef Wellington, he also knows how to whip up a quick and delicious Bolognese. I tried five of his pasta dishes — …
Andrew facing claim he shared Treasury document with banking contact
Sean Coughlan - Royal correspondent; Ben King - Business reporter Sat, February 14, 2026 at 2:03 a.m. UTC 4 min read Add Yahoo as a preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor faces another accusation of sharing an official document, with reports that he gave a Treasury briefing to one of his personal business contacts.
Andrew facing claim he shared Treasury document with banking contact
Prince Andrew in a top hat at Ascot in 2011 Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor faces another accusation of sharing an official document, with reports that he gave a Treasury briefing to one of his personal business contacts. Emails published in the Telegraph suggest that in 2010 the then Prince Andrew asked for information from Treasury officials on banking problems in Iceland.
Andrew facing claim he shared Treasury document with banking contact
[PA Media] Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor faces another accusation of sharing an official document, with reports that he gave a Treasury briefing to one of his personal business contacts. Emails published in the Telegraph suggest that in 2010 the then Prince Andrew asked for information from Treasury officials on banking problems in Iceland. This briefing was shared with Jonathan Rowland, a business connection of Andrew's, whose father David Rowland took over part of a failing Icelandic bank.
Sarah Ferguson asked Epstein for bankruptcy advice while he was in jail, emails suggest
Ben King Sarah Ferguson asked Jeffrey Epstein for advice in dealing with her £6m debt pile, while he was still in jail for soliciting prostitution from a minor. Emails recently released by the Department of Justice appear to show the desperate measures Ferguson considered to rescue her finances, from bailouts funded by two billionaires to selling her jewellery. Ferguson found the experience "so so demoralising" and said she was "about to freak with exhaustion", the emails suggest.
Expanding our AI investments in Singapore
Your browser does not support the audio element. Listen to article [[duration]] minutes Google opened its first Singapore office 19 years ago. What started as a small office has grown into a team of nearly 3,000, serving billions of people across the region. As we enter a new era of AI, Singapore is helping to lead the way with its world-class talent and a bold national vision for the future. We share that ambition.
Epstein emails: So-called 'shady financier' was Andrew's 'trusted money man'
Emails show Andrew's financial discussions at a time when he was UK trade envoy [Getty Images] The Epstein files have cast new light on Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor's relationship with the controversial businessman David Rowland, revealing that Andrew told Jeffrey Epstein this was his "trusted money man". Emails seem to show Andrew trying to promote Rowland's financial ventures, at a time when Andrew was the UK' s trade envoy.
Epstein emails: So-called 'shady financier' was Andrew's 'trusted money man'
5 hours ago From the Epstein files to gun rights to immigration enforcement, senior Justice Department officials keep running to Fox News to freelance policy and signal loyalty to Donald Trump. But in the process, they are also riling up the MAGA coalition. Each media appearance creates a new mess that career …
Boss of Post Office IT scandal firm Fujitsu to step down
Ben King - Business reporter January 29, 2026 at 6:37 AM The European boss of Fujitsu, the company which built the IT system at the heart of the Post Office Horizon scandal, is to step down in March. Europe chief executive Paul Patterson, 60, will become non-executive chairman of Fujitsu's UK business, where he will "continue managing the company's response" to the inquiry into the scandal.
Sunak defends Covid loan scheme over excessive fraud claims
Ben King - Business reporter Tue, December 16, 2025 at 2:24 PM UTC 3 min read Former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak was chancellor at the time of the Covid-19 pandemic and oversaw business support programmes worth billions of pounds [Covid-19 Inquiry] The former chancellor Rishi Sunak has defended his pandemic-era Bounce Back Loan scheme against accusations that it was subject to excessive levels of fraud. He said he was aware of the risks, but given the need for speed, he would do the same again.
Failed Sarah Ferguson-backed app received 1m taxpayers' money
A lifestyle app backed by Sarah Ferguson received more than 1m of taxpayers' money but collapsed without ever launching a product, according to documents filed this week.vVoosh was founded by Manuel Fernandez, a close friend of Ms Ferguson, who once described herself as an "ambassador" for the company and was an investor.It promised to give users "the power to Find, Plan, Share, Live, and Remember all the things you love to do - and those you're yet to try."Ms Ferguson and Mr Fernandez did...
Major waste firm warns vapes causing more than one fire a day
Firefighters extinguish a fire caused by a vape on a lorry transporting waste on the Manchester ring road in May 2024 [Suez] A major waste firm has warned that wrongly discarded vapes are still causing fires in its rubbish trucks and waste facilities, six months on since disposable vapes were banned. Suez, which runs more than 300 waste management sites around the UK, said it had seen 339 fires this year, more than one a day, putting workers in danger and causing damage worth millions of pounds.
Furlough and business loans on the agenda for Covid Inquiry
The third stage of the Covid-19 Inquiry begins hearing evidence on Monday focusing on the measures taken to support workers' incomes and keep businesses afloat when the pandemic struck. It will focus on what action the UK government, devolved administrations in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, and local authorities took, how well schemes were designed and what was done to minimise fraud and waste.
Andrew shuts down Pitch@Palace business
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor is closing down some of his last remaining known business interests, including Pitch@Palace Global Ltd. Pitch@Palace was a Dragon's Den-style start-up competition where entrepreneurs could present their ideas to potential investors, and was once seen as a possible source of income for the former prince, after the King stopped supporting him financially.
Mone-linked firm PPE Medpro owes £39m in taxes
A company linked to Baroness Michelle Mone and her husband Doug Barrowman owes £39m in tax on top of the £148m it was ordered to pay the government for breaching a contract to supply PPE. Documents filed by PPE Medpro's administrator on Tuesday revealed the figure owed to His Majesty's Revenue and Customs (HMRC). Last month a court ruled the company breached a contract to supply medical gowns during the Covid pandemic because they did not meet certification requirements for sterility.
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On 29 September 2025, the United Kingdom (“UK”) and the European Union (“EU”) reimposed Iran-related sanctions that were lifted in 2016 following the Iran nuclear deal. The UK and EU have made clear that these steps follow Iran’s failure to comply with its obligations under the Iran nuclear deal (the “Nuclear Deal”)[1], as endorsed by United Nations (“UN”) Security Council Resolution 2231 (2015) (“UNSCR 2231”).
By Tom Canning Verified, Andrea Hamilton, Mark Padley, Ben King Verified, Ben King, Georgia Kinsella, George Widdicombe, Charlie Thomas, Yumi Noguchi
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Open Legal Blog Archive
UK stock market hit by nerves over US banks
[Getty Images] The UK's stock market has fallen sharply after a warning from two US banks triggered a widespread sell-off in global shares. Two US regional lenders, Western Alliance Bank and Zions Bank, said on Thursday that they had been hit by either bad or fraudulent loans, sparking fears of problems in the banking sector. Some of the UK's biggest banks, including Barclays and Standard Chartered saw their share prices fall more than 5%.
PPE Medpro says chase our partners for the money
[Getty Images] A company linked to Baroness Mone and her husband Doug Barrowman passed most of the money it received from the government for personal protective equipment (PPE) to other firms, according to a spokesperson for PPE Medpro. On Wednesday a judge ordered PPE Medpro to repay £122m as the gowns it supplied did not meet sterility certification standards.
Vape ban isn't working, says waste firm boss
The ban on disposable vapes is failing to stop millions being thrown away incorrectly, and the devices are still causing chaos for the waste industry, a boss at a leading firm has said. "We're seeing more vapes in our system, causing more problems, more fires than ever before," said Roger Wright, the company's strategy and packaging manager. Vape firms have launched cheap reusable devices so instead of refilling and recycling them, people were binning them and buying more, he said.
Dave Franco y Alison Brie encarnan en 'Together' el horror romántico de fundirse en uno
Photo Would you like to save this selection to obtain the price for similar content, of the same format, in the future? 29/07/2025 13:31 (UTC) EEUU CINE ACOMPAÑA CRÓNICA: EEUU CINE USA4120. LOS ÁNGELES (ESTADOS UNIDOS), 29/07/2025.- Fotograma cedido por Neon donde aparece Alison Brie como Millie y Dave Franco como Tim, durante una escena de la película de horror romántico, 'Together', que se estrena en las salas de cine este 30 de julio.
Busiest UK airports raise kiss-and-fly fees, says RAC
More than half of Britain's busiest airports have raised "kiss-and-fly" fees for cars dropping off passengers close to terminals, according to research from the RAC. The motoring group found 11 out of 20 UK airports had put up prices since last July, with Gatwick, Bristol, Leeds Bradford and Southampton joining Stansted in charging the top rate of £7 to park for a matter of minutes. In contrast, at nine of the 10 busiest airports in the European Union there are no drop-off fees.
Ryanair increases size limits for free cabin bags
Budget airline Ryanair is planning to increase its "personal bag" size by 20% as the EU brings in a new standard. Passengers will be allowed to take an item such as a handbag or laptop bag measuring up to 40cm x 30cm x 20cm in the cabin without paying an extra fee. It should weigh less than 10kg, and fit "under the seat in front you." The new size represents a 20% increase in volume from the current maximum dimensions.
Five takeaways from report into fire that shut Heathrow down
A report into a fire at an electricity substation that resulted in Heathrow Airport shutting down for nearly a day, causing chaos for more than 200,000 passengers, has been released. The National Energy System Operator (NESO) identified the likely cause of the fire, and said that National Grid which operates the substation was warned about a fault seven years ago. Here are five key findings from the report. 1.
Heathrow considering legal action against National Grid over fire
Heathrow Airport is considering legal action against National Grid after a report found the fire which caused the airport to shut down was a result of a known fault at an electrical substation. An investigation found that National Grid, which owns the substation which supplies Heathrow, had been aware of a problem since 2018 but failed to fix it.
Post Office criminal trials may not be until 2028
Criminal trials over the Post Office Horizon IT scandal may not start until 2028, the police officer leading the investigation has told the BBC. "The teams need to be really meticulous and [pay] attention to detail, but actually we are making some real progress," Met Cdr Stephen Clayman said. The investigation has identified seven suspects, and has 45 to 50 potential suspects in view.
Couriers Evri and DHL merge to form delivery giant
Evri will merge with DHL’s UK parcel delivery business to create a combined courier firm handling more than a billion parcels and a billion letters a year. DHL focuses on faster, secure higher-value deliveries of items such as computers or phones, whereas Evri handles much larger volumes of lower-value goods such as clothing.
Concert of the People: The Sound of Us
Concert of the People Step into a heartwarming celebration of community, family, and the power of song at Voices of Singapore's Concert of the People: The Sound of Us. This special evening unites over 500 voices from Voices of Singapore’s (VOS) community impact choirs, showcasing the role of choral music in strengthening communities and sharing the stories of families connected by a shared passion for singing.
Prince Andrew's firm linked to controversial PPE millionaire
One of Prince Andrew's prized business assets was administered for two years by a company controlled by the controversial millionaire Doug Barrowman, the BBC can reveal. After the prince's disastrous Newsnight interview in 2019, legal ownership of his Dragon's Den-style start-up competition, Pitch@Palace Global, was transferred to a Barrowman-linked firm, Knox House Trustees (UK).
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