Donald Trump could have avoided paying income tax, report says

Donald Trump declared a $916m (£706m) loss on his 1995 income tax returns, which may have allowed him to avoid paying federal income taxes for up to 18 years, according to a report.

The New York Times said it had obtained the Republican presidential nominee's 1995 tax records and that they showed he received the large tax benefits from financial deals that went wrong in the early 1990s.

Tax experts hired by the newspaper to analyse the records said tax rules which are advantageous to wealthy filers would have let Mr Trump use his $916m loss to cancel out an equivalent amount of taxable income over an 18-year period.

The Times said that although Mr Trump's taxable income in subsequent years is as yet unknown, the loss would have been large enough to wipe out more than $50m (£38m) a year in taxable income over 18 years.

Responding to the story, the Trump campaign said the tax document was illegally obtained and claimed the paper was operating as an extension of Democratic rival Hillary Clinton's campaign.

"Mr Trump is a highly-skilled businessman who has a fiduciary responsibility to his business, his family and his employees to pay no more tax than legally required," the Trump campaign statement said.

"That being said, Mr Trump has paid hundreds of millions of dollars in property taxes, sales and excise taxes, real estate taxes, city taxes, state taxes, employee taxes and federal taxes, along with very substantial charitable contributions."Hillary for America Campaign Manager Robby Mook said: "There it is. This bombshell report reveals the colossal nature of Donald Trump's past business failures and just how long he may have avoided paying any federal income taxes whatsoever.

"In one year, Donald Trump lost nearly a billion dollars. A billion. He stiffed small businesses, laid off workers, and walked away from hardworking communities.

"And how did it work out for him? He apparently got to avoid paying taxes for nearly two decades - while tens of millions of working families paid theirs.

"He calls that 'smart.' Now that the gig is up, why doesn't he go ahead and release his returns to show us all how 'smart' he really is?"

Mr Trump has so far declined to release his tax records, saying his taxes are under a federal audit.

Despite this, experts say he could still release them publicly if he wanted to.

France calls Aleppo hospital barrel bombing a 'war crime'

France has described the latest attack on an Aleppo hospital as "war crimes" and says the "perpetrators will be held accountable".

At least two barrel bombs hit the largest hospital in a rebel-held part of the Syrian city, an organisation that supports it said.

The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which monitors the conflict, said at least one person had died.

It comes three days after the hospital, called M10, was one of two struck by a heavy bombardment which left them badly damaged - an attack that UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon also described as a war crime.

Image Caption:A picture on the Civil Defense Directorate's Facebook site purports to show the aftermath of a strike in Al Sakho

Nearby, Russian jets struck targets in rebel-held areas north of Aleppo amid a major offensive by Syria and its allies to capture the city.

French Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault released a statement condemning the attack on the M10.

He said: "In the flood of violence that overwhelms Aleppo for several days, the systematic targeting of structures and health workers is particularly unjustifiable.

"As recalled by the Secretary General of the UN, these attacks constitute war crimes. The perpetrators will be held accountable.

"This new attack only confirms the absolute urgency of a cessation of hostilities in Aleppo and access of civilian populations to humanitarian assistance they desperately need.

"In this very moment... France is mobilising to put a stop to this unacceptable crisis."

The bombardment of Aleppo over the last few days has been among the worst of Syria's five-year civil war.

More than 200 people have died, scores more left injured and numerous residential buildings have been turned into rubble.

Barrel bombing has been criticised for the particularly indiscriminate nature of the strikes.

France calls Aleppo hospital barrel bombing a 'war crime'

France has described the latest attack on an Aleppo hospital as "war crimes" and says the "perpetrators will be held accountable".

At least two barrel bombs hit the largest hospital in a rebel-held part of the Syrian city, an organisation that supports it said.

The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which monitors the conflict, said at least one person had died.

It comes three days after the hospital, called M10, was one of two struck by a heavy bombardment which left them badly damaged - an attack that UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon also described as a war crime.

Image Caption:A picture on the Civil Defense Directorate's Facebook site purports to show the aftermath of a strike in Al Sakho

Nearby, Russian jets struck targets in rebel-held areas north of Aleppo amid a major offensive by Syria and its allies to capture the city.

French Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault released a statement condemning the attack on the M10.

He said: "In the flood of violence that overwhelms Aleppo for several days, the systematic targeting of structures and health workers is particularly unjustifiable.

"As recalled by the Secretary General of the UN, these attacks constitute war crimes. The perpetrators will be held accountable.

"This new attack only confirms the absolute urgency of a cessation of hostilities in Aleppo and access of civilian populations to humanitarian assistance they desperately need.

"In this very moment... France is mobilising to put a stop to this unacceptable crisis."

The bombardment of Aleppo over the last few days has been among the worst of Syria's five-year civil war.

More than 200 people have died, scores more left injured and numerous residential buildings have been turned into rubble.

Barrel bombing has been criticised for the particularly indiscriminate nature of the strikes.

France calls Aleppo hospital barrel bombing a 'war crime'

France has described the latest attack on an Aleppo hospital as "war crimes" and says the "perpetrators will be held accountable".

At least two barrel bombs hit the largest hospital in a rebel-held part of the Syrian city, an organisation that supports it said.

The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which monitors the conflict, said at least one person had died.

It comes three days after the hospital, called M10, was one of two struck by a heavy bombardment which left them badly damaged - an attack that UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon also described as a war crime.

Image Caption:A picture on the Civil Defense Directorate's Facebook site purports to show the aftermath of a strike in Al Sakho

Nearby, Russian jets struck targets in rebel-held areas north of Aleppo amid a major offensive by Syria and its allies to capture the city.

French Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault released a statement condemning the attack on the M10.

He said: "In the flood of violence that overwhelms Aleppo for several days, the systematic targeting of structures and health workers is particularly unjustifiable.

"As recalled by the Secretary General of the UN, these attacks constitute war crimes. The perpetrators will be held accountable.

"This new attack only confirms the absolute urgency of a cessation of hostilities in Aleppo and access of civilian populations to humanitarian assistance they desperately need.

"In this very moment... France is mobilising to put a stop to this unacceptable crisis."

The bombardment of Aleppo over the last few days has been among the worst of Syria's five-year civil war.

More than 200 people have died, scores more left injured and numerous residential buildings have been turned into rubble.

Barrel bombing has been criticised for the particularly indiscriminate nature of the strikes.

France calls Aleppo hospital barrel bombing a 'war crime'

France has described the latest attack on an Aleppo hospital as "war crimes" and says the "perpetrators will be held accountable".

At least two barrel bombs hit the largest hospital in a rebel-held part of the Syrian city, an organisation that supports it said.

The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which monitors the conflict, said at least one person had died.

It comes three days after the hospital, called M10, was one of two struck by a heavy bombardment which left them badly damaged - an attack that UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon also described as a war crime.

Image Caption:A picture on the Civil Defense Directorate's Facebook site purports to show the aftermath of a strike in Al Sakho

Nearby, Russian jets struck targets in rebel-held areas north of Aleppo amid a major offensive by Syria and its allies to capture the city.

French Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault released a statement condemning the attack on the M10.

He said: "In the flood of violence that overwhelms Aleppo for several days, the systematic targeting of structures and health workers is particularly unjustifiable.

"As recalled by the Secretary General of the UN, these attacks constitute war crimes. The perpetrators will be held accountable.

"This new attack only confirms the absolute urgency of a cessation of hostilities in Aleppo and access of civilian populations to humanitarian assistance they desperately need.

"In this very moment... France is mobilising to put a stop to this unacceptable crisis."

The bombardment of Aleppo over the last few days has been among the worst of Syria's five-year civil war.

More than 200 people have died, scores more left injured and numerous residential buildings have been turned into rubble.

Barrel bombing has been criticised for the particularly indiscriminate nature of the strikes.

Jamaicans take shelter ready for 155mph Hurricane Matthew

More than 2,000 people have been moved to shelters in Jamaica as Hurricane Matthew heads toward the island.

The country's government says it is on "high alert" and has held an emergency meeting to prepare for the storm's arrival.

The hurricane is currently off the northern coast of Colombia and Venezuela but is forecast to move northwest, say monitors in the US.

Its winds are gusting up to 155mph (250kph), making it one of the most powerful in recent years.

Prime Minister urged to speed up Brexit by Conservative ex-ministers

Tory former Cabinet ministers have ramped up pressure on Theresa May by presenting her with a "Brexit Blueprint" to take the country out the EU in less than two years.

The plan, which presses for a "take it or leave it" approach to Brussels, was circulated ahead of the Prime Minister making a speech on quitting the bloc at the Tory party conference on Sunday.

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Image Caption:Iain Duncan Smith is among the former ministers backing a swift EU divorce

Mrs May has previously said she would not rush to show "rapid progress" in Brexit negotiations, insisting the process should be "sober and considered".

She has already stated that Article 50, the formal mechanism for Britain leaving the EU, will not be triggered this year.

However, the so-called Route Map for Brexit, proposed by ex-ministers Iain Duncan Smith, John Redwood, Owen Paterson and Peter Lilley, presses for a swift divorce.

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The blueprint, published by the Centre for Social Justice and the Legatum Institute think-tanks, calls for an immediate new law to repeal the 1972 European Communities Act, which gave legal force to the country's membership of the then European Economic Community.

The Bill would convert EU law into British law to help ensure a smooth Brexit and minimise disruption to business.

:: Clarke: May Govt doesn't have 'first idea' on Brexit

The blueprint document stated: "Subsequently, it would be open to this government and its successors to scrap aspects of EU law not considered in the UK's interests."

It argued Britain could complete its withdrawal from the EU well within the two-year deadline set out in Article 50.

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The plan also said Britain could either continue tariff-free trade with the EU after Brexit, but without accepting free movement of EU citizens, or trade freely under the "relatively light" World Trade Organisation standard tariffs. 

It proposes a work permit and cap system to control the number of EU migrants coming to the UK.

Speaking to Sky News, Mr Redwood said: "We have offered a pretty comprehensive route map based on the plans we launched before the referendum to say, 'let's get it over with'."

He added: "I don't think you do need to negotiate very much for this at all, because you can't negotiate taking back control.

"You can't negotiate the result of the referendum.

"We voted to leave.

"It was very simple. That was what it said on the ballot paper.

"That was our decision, so now we need to do it."

The only thing that needed to be negotiated were trade relationships, Mr Redwood said.

But Work and Pensions Secretary Damian Green said: "There is a huge impetus on both sides to come up with a good deal and I think coming up with the best deal is better than rushing into a deal that might then be second best."

He added: "What we want to have is trade flowing as freely as possible, but also clearly one of the most important things that was said during the referendum campaign was that people want control over immigration.

"So there are clearly big negotiations in both those areas to be had and I don't think it is very sensible for anyone entering any negotiation to announce what their detailed position is before the negotiations start.

"That's normally not the best way to get the best deal."