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Rescue for hundreds in S Korea as '28 confirmed dead'
Rescue workers stepped up their search for nearly 300 people still missing in the deadly sinking of a ferry off the southwestern coast of South Korea, but their efforts were hampered by high winds and tumultuous waves as they tried to reach the vessel.
As of Friday evening, 28 people had been reported death by local news agency Yonhap. While 174 have been rescued, no one has been found alive since around Wednesday noon when the ship capsized.
Cable: 'Rogue' directors can cause huge amount of harm
Government proposals to implement more restrictions and punishments for so-called "dodgy directors" will protect Britain's economy, Business Secretary Vince Cable has said. He added:
The vast majority of directors in this country run their businesses in the right way. But some people have suffered unnecessary losses as a result of rogue behaviour.
Rogue directors can cause a huge amount of harm in terms of large financial losses, unnecessary redundancies and lifelong investments going down the drain. It is only right that we should put the toughest possible sanctions in place, make sure we stamp out unfair practices and deter those who are looking to act dishonestly.
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Government to crackdown on 'dodgy directors'
The Government is set to bring forward proposals aiming to implement more restrictions and punishments for so-called "dodgy directors".
Directors convicted of a commercial offence overseas would be banned from running British companies under the plans, Business Secretary Vince Cable said.
The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (Bis) said courts could also be asked by the Government to award compensation against a disqualified director, although the court would have the final say.
It is understood the measures are expected to be brought forward as part of the Government's legislative programme for the next session of Parliament, which will be outlined in the Queen's Speech on June 4.
FA pays tribute to West Ham's Dylan Tombides
The Football Association has paid tribute to West Ham United striker Dylan Tombides has died following a three-year battle with testicular cancer. FA Chairman Greg Dyke said:
On behalf of The FA, I would like to send my deepest condolences to the family and friends of Dylan Tombides.
My thoughts are with them at this very sad time, and also with those that knew Dylan at West Ham United and Football Federation Australia.
He was also close to many of our own England development team players and I know he will be much missed.
West Ham: Dylan Tombides 'well-respected' in team
West Ham has issued a statement following the death of young striker Dylan Tombides, who died after a three-year battle with testicular cancer.
The 20-year-old Australian, who made his Hammers first-team debut two years ago, passed away on Friday with his family at his bedside.
West Ham said in a statement: "Dylan's amazing resilience and positivity saw him through months of surgery and chemotherapy, while his outstanding talent saw him make his first-team debut in a League Cup tie with Wigan Athletic at the Boleyn Ground in September 2012.
"Dylan was respected by everyone who knew him for his intelligent views on the game and his larger than life character. He was a loving son, amazing brother and well-respected member of the West Ham squad. He will be hugely missed by everyone who had the honour of knowing him.
"His passing will be marked by a minute's applause ahead of Saturday's Barclays Premier League fixture with Crystal Palace at the Boleyn Ground. The Hammers' players will also wear black armbands in his memory."
Minute's silence for Dylan Tombides after death
Crystal Palace football club will hold a minute's silence after the death West Ham player Dylan Tombides, who died today of testicular cancer.
Following the passing of @whufc_official striker Dylan Tombides, age 20, there will be a minutes applause ahead of game at Upton Park.
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HMRC 'committed' to safeguarding confidentiality
HM Revenue and Customs remains committed to safeguarding taxpayer confidentiality, a spokesman has said, after reported plans to share taxpayers' data with third parties.
An HMRC spokesman said: "No final decisions have been taken [...] HMRC would only share data where this would generate clear public benefits, and where there are robust safeguards in place.
"Those accessing data would be subject to the same confidentiality provisions as HMRC staff, including a criminal sanction for unlawful disclosure of taxpayer information.
"HMRC will be consulting further and will ask for views on whether to charge to cover the costs of processing and providing anonymised data. This would not be charging for the data itself, purely covering the costs of providing it."
HMRC reported data sharing 'not the way to build trust'
The deputy director of Big Brother Watch has condemned reported plans for HM Revenue and Customs to share taxpayers' data with private firms. Emma Carr said:
Given the huge uproar about similar plans for medical records, you would have hoped HRMC would have learned that trying to sneak plans like this under the radar is not the way to build trust or develop good policy.
Given those who abuse personal information cannot be sent to jail this is yet another instance where Government should be putting proper protections in place before any more data is shared, rather than just hoping nothing goes wrong.
Given the sensitivity of people's financial records that is clearly an inadequate and dangerous approach to take.
David Davis: Data sharing 'borderline insane'
Conservative former minister David Davis has described a Government proposal to share taxpayers' data with private firms as "borderline insane".
Speaking to the Guardian: "The officials who drew this up clearly have no idea of the risks to data in an electronic age."
"Our forefathers put these checks and balances in place when the information was kept in cardboard files, and data was therefore difficult to appropriate and misuse", Mr Davis.
"It defies logic that we would remove those restraints at a time when data can be collected by the gigabyte, processed in milliseconds and transported around the world almost instantaneously."
Read: HMRC 'to sell taxpayers' financial data' to third parties
HMRC 'to sell taxpayers' financial data' to third parties
Government plans to share taxpayers' data with private firms were condemned as "borderline insane" by a senior Tory MP.
Under the proposals, HM Revenue and Customs would be allowed to release anonymised information to third parties including companies, researchers and public bodies where there is a public benefit.
The Guardian reported that HMRC documents said "charging options" were being examined by officials, indicating that firms could pay to access the data. Treasury minister David Gauke is overseeing the plan, with legislation being drawn up by HMRC, the newspaper reported.
In its response to a consultation on the proposals last year, HMRC insisted the principle of "taxpayer confidentiality" would be protected under the reforms.
