Budget goes pop – POLITICO

A coalition of leading charities is urging Labour to introduce new rental laws to prevent poorer tenants from being discriminated against by unfair guarantor rules. Research from Shelter shows that one in three renters struggle to provide a guarantor, affecting around 600,000 renters. The coalition is asking the housing secretary to amend the Renters' Rights Bill to limit guarantor liability and prevent landlords from abusing their power to request guarantors unnecessarily. Full Article

ESMA has issued a statement regarding the treatment of settlement fails under the CSDR penalty mechanism in light of the recent incident involving TARGET Services. The statement provides clarification on how to handle settlement fails, emphasizing the importance of adhering to guidelines to prevent future disruptions in the European financial markets. ESMA's guidance aims to ensure a more stable and resilient financial infrastructure in the EU. Full Article

Sir Keir Starmer has warned Vladimir Putin to take peace talks in Ukraine seriously and urged Western leaders to increase economic pressure to bring him to the negotiating table. A virtual summit of around 25 countries, including Britain, France, Australia, and Canada, will discuss how to support Kyiv in deterring Russian aggression. While there is hope for a ceasefire, Putin's resistance and delay tactics have raised concerns about his commitment to peace. Full Article

Rail engineers renovating Salisbury Station uncovered a hidden tunnel network beneath the station, including a tunnel leading underneath platform 4 used to store goods like beer, cider, and eggs. The tunnels also contained old signal equipment and a room for storing Christmas trees. A mysterious room leading to a ladder descending further underground remains unexplored, adding to the intrigue of the discovery. Full Article

The Russian captain of the container ship Solong, Vladimir Motin, has been charged with gross negligence manslaughter following a collision with a US oil tanker in the North Sea that resulted in the death of a Filipino sailor and another crew member missing. Thirty-six people were rescued from both vessels. The Crown Prosecution Service has authorized the charges, emphasizing the defendant's right to a fair trial. Full Article

The Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on Iran's final report alleged ongoing serious rights violations by Iranian authorities following protests triggered by the death of Mahsa Amini in police custody, with violations including crimes against humanity and targeting of ethnic and religious minorities, women, and children. The State increased prosecutions against women defying the mandatory hijab, using online surveillance and State-sponsored vigilantism, resulting in executions and unfair trials. The report will be presented to the Human...