UK economy's summer surge turns out stronger than expected

Business correspondent,London(wp/reuters):
The British economy’s summer surge turned out to be stronger than expected as hot weather spurred consumer spending, although a weak August hinted at slower growth ahead of Brexit next year, data showed on Wednesday.
The economy expanded 0.7 percent during the three months to August, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) said, beating the consensus in a Reuters poll of economists for growth of 0.6 percent.

While Wednesday’s data is likely to come as a pleasant surprise to Bank of England officials who had expected to see slower growth over the third quarter, they will be more cautious about the coming months.

More recent private-sector business surveys point to fairly modest economic growth, suggesting the hot weather may have been a factor behind the upturn seen over the summer months.

In August alone the economy stagnated, the ONS said, compared with forecasts for a rise of 0.1 percent.

“We think there is a very real risk that growth will slow markedly in the fourth quarter due to appreciable Brexit and political uncertainties weighing down on business investment,” Howard Archer, chief economic adviser to the EY ITEM Club consultancy, said.

Britain’s economy slowed after the June 2016 Brexit vote, its growth rate slipping from top spot among the Group of Seven rich nations to jostling with long-term laggards Japan and Italy for bottom place in the rankings.

Consumers in particular were squeezed by the jump in inflation which followed the pound’s tumble after the referendum, especially as wages have failed to keep up.

EU, Britain narrowing differences on Irish border in Brexit talks - sources

Diplomatic correspondent(wp/reuters):
The European Union no longer expects a new proposal from Britain for the Ireland-UK border fix after Brexit and negotiators from both sides are seeking to narrow differences together in direct talks, diplomatic sources in Brussels said.
The European Union no longer expects a new proposal from Britain for the Ireland-UK border fix after Brexit and negotiators from both sides are seeking to narrow differences together in direct talks, diplomatic sources in Brussels said.

Suspect in Bulgarian journalist's murder to be released

Pic:Bulgarian television journalist Viktoria Marinova was killed found dead on Saturday ( AFP/Getty/TVN )
Crime reporter(wp/es):

Police in Bulgaria have said a suspect will be released over the murder of journalist Viktoria Marinova.

Earlier on Tuesday, the country's interior ministry said "a Romanian citizen of Ukrainian descent" was taken into custody.

"Our work is continuing. For the time being there are no facts and circumstances that we can announce. The Romanian citizen is to be released," said Teodor Atanasov, the head of Ruse regional police.

He declined to provide further details on the ongoing investigation. 

The TV news reporter, 30, was found dead in a park in the northern city of Ruse, near the River Danube, on Saturday after a brutal attack.

The European Union and the United States have urged Bulgaria to find the killer.

"We have in custody a person whose alibi we are checking, but for the time being we do not have a concrete suspect. Work with him is continuing," Atanasov told reporters earlier on Tuesday.

Ms Marinova was a reporter on the newly re-launched investigative programme "Detector" on the TVN network. 

In her final broadcast on the air, Ms Marinova had criticised the environment journalists find themselves when reporting on matters of public interest.

"The number of forbidden topics is growing all the time," she said. "Investigative journalists are being systematically removed.

"Our team is committed to providing a platform for journalistic research exclusively on topics relevant to the public interest. This is the meaning of "detector". The TV program that detects lies."

No link has been established to Ms Marinova's work.

On Monday hundreds of mourners held vigils around Bulgaria, said to be the worst country in the European Union for press freedom.

TVN posted heartfelt tributes on its website, showing reporters' "enormous pain and insurmountable grief" to the loss of the reporter.

There has been a huge show of outrage by members of the press across the world, as the death coincided with the anniversary of journalist and human rights activist Anna Politkovskaya's assassination in 2006.

Vice President of the EU Commission ​Frans Timmermans urged authorities to conduct a swift investigation.

He tweeted this morning: "Shocked by the horrendous murder of Victoria Marinova. Again a courageous journalist falls in the fight for truth and against corruption. Those responsible should be brought to justice immediately by the Bulgarian authorities.

Police launch murder probe a year after man strangled in 'gang hit linked to organised crime syndicate'

Pic:Police are offering £10,000 in a bid to solve the murder of Piotr Woroniecki (Met Police)

Crime reporter(wp/es):Officers later found around £100,000 in cash and a large stash of Class A drugs at the address.

CCTV footage has been released of the suspects as they tried to gain entry.

Detective Chief Inspector Mark Cranwell appealed for anyone who knows the men in the footage to come forward.

"If you think you do know or recognise them, we'd urge you to call us as soon as possible," he added.

"What makes it even more peculiar is that we know that when officers entered the flat after the actual break in, nearly £100,000 in cash was in the living room along with a significant amount of Class A drugs.

"Why would someone break into a property and leave that big an amount of cash untouched?"

He said the murder may have been a "targeted hit" as part of "gangs or organised crime"

Mr Woroneicki, from Poland, was last seen alive on the evening of November 22 at New Covent Garden Market.

Mr Cranwell added: "There are about five-and-a-half hours that Piotr is unaccounted for where we don't know who he may have met with or spoken to and it's crucial that we fill in these missing hours to help solve his murder and convict the person or persons responsible for his death.

"The night Piotr died there was torrential rain that some could describe as 'biblical proportion'.

"I'm hoping that by mentioning this, it might jog somebody's memory."

A Crimestoppers reward of up to £10,000 is being offered for information that leads to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for Mr Woroneicki's murder.