BANGKOK (AP) — Asian shares surged and oil prices slipped Wednesday after the U.S. stock market rallied to records, helped by strong corporate earnings reports and hopes for a deal setting the stage for talks that might eventually lead to an end to the war in Iran.

Benchmarks jumped more than 3% in Tokyo, Seoul and Taiwan as shares in computer chipmakers and other AI-related companies advanced.

Japan’s Nikkei 225 gained 3.3% to 66,068.24, with chipmaker Kioxia surging 6.3% while chip testing equipment maker Advantest soared 6.9%.

The Kospi in Seoul shot up 4.4% to 6,642.02, led by a 6.7% gain for memory chipmaker SK Hynix. Tech giant Samsung Electronics advanced 4.1%.

Taiwan’s Taiex advanced 3.1% as major chipmaker TSMC gained 3.5%.

“Clearly today the market is rallying on the back of AI stocks. You look across the other sectors, there’s a bit of activity here and there but really the focus has been back on semiconductors, technology and AI,” said Neil Newman, head of strategy for Astris Advisory Japan.

Elsewhere in the region, the Shanghai Composite index picked up 1.3% to 3,873.56, while Hong Kong’s Hang Seng edged 0.1% higher, to 25,881.20.

In Australia, the S&P/ASX 200 rose 0.7% to 9,209.00.

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Further declines for oil prices also have buoyed shares.

Brent crude, the international standard, lost 1.2% to $78.43 per barrel early Wednesday. On Tuesday, it sank 5.3% as hopes rose for progress toward a full reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. Oil prices swung between $72 and $102 through July on uncertainty about when calm in the Middle East would allow oil tankers to freely exit the Persian Gulf again to deliver crude around the world.

Iran and Oman were inching toward a deal to reopen the strait, though that appears to be contingent on the United States lifting its blockade on Iran’s ports.

“All in all, it’s looking much brighter. We’re still not completely out of the woods yet, but I think we’re seeing some route out of this now and it’s been reflected in the markets,” Newman said.

U.S. benchmark crude shed 1.1% to $74.96 per barrel.

On Tuesday, the S&P 500 shot up 1.8%, topping its prior all-time high set in June. The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 1.7% to its own record set the day before, while the Nasdaq composite jumped 2.6%.

Profits are piling up for companies as easing oil prices assuage worries about inflation.

Palantir Technologies helped lead the way, surging 29.5% after its CEO Alex Karp said its overall revenue leaped 93% in what he called an “otherworldly” quarter.

Such reports have helped to allay worries over a possible bubble in stock prices because of the AI boom.

Caterpillar climbed 5.6% after the heavy-equipment maker likewise reported stronger profit and revenue than analysts expected. It also is benefiting from the AI boom through increased orders for turbines used to power data centers, among other things.

Stocks of computer chip companies also strengthened. Nvidia gained 2.6%, Broadcom jumped 6.6% and Micron Technology surged 7.6%.

Shares in Chipotle Mexican Group tumbled 9.7%, however, on fears that its future profits could be hurt after the chain removed jalapeños from some of its restaurants following a salmonella outbreak. Chipotle said that Minnesota health officials have no ongoing concerns with it.

Reports on the U.S. economy showed it remains resilient even though inflation is worse than anyone would like. U.S. employers were advertising nearly 7.4 million job openings at the end of June, the Labor Department said, a slight slowdown from May’s level but close to economists’ expectations.

In other dealings early Wednesday, the U.S. dollar slipped to 157.48 Japanese yen from 157.74 yen. The euro rose to $1.1540 from $1.1532.

___

Matt Ott in Washington, Stan Choe in New York, and Mayuko Ono in Tokyo contributed to this report.

The legal showdown between Brad Pitt and his ex Angelina Jolie has taken another dramatic turn.

Pitt, 62, is now asking the court to order Jolie to produce records showing her income from 2017 to 2019, after she claimed to have ‘largely put her career on hold’ and forewent ‘years of compensation’ following their 2016 separation.

Jolie, 51, allegedly agreed to produce financial records from the years 2017 to 2021, but has apparently only produced documents for the years 2020 and 2021.

The Daily Mail has contacted representatives for both Pitt and Jolie for comment. 

In court documents obtained by The Daily Mail, Pitt’s lawyers allege Jolie has been withholding specific financial documents despite agreeing to produce said records.

‘Jolie’s Cross-Complaint alleges that, after the parties’ 2016 separation, she put her career on hold, “forgoing years of compensation”; that Pitt possessed “substantial leverage and control” over her due in part to her financial condition at that time; and that by 2019 she concluded she needed to sell her interest in Miraval to obtain “financial independence” from him,’ Pitt’s filing reads. 

‘On February 23, 2026, Jolie withdrew both her agreement to provide declarations responsive to Request Nos. 81 and 82 for the full 2017-2021 period and her agreement to produce participation statements from that same period.’

They allege she instead provided ‘supplemental responses limiting her production to 2020 and 2021, and later produced profit participation statements and tax returns for those two years only as well.’

They are now seeking to produce documents showing her annual income and profit participation statements from 2017 to 2019.

‘Prior to the IDC [Informal Discovery Conference], Plaintiffs proposed that Jolie stipulate that she was not under economic pressure before January 1, 2020, and that Pitt did not exert economic coercion on her from 2017 to 2019. Jolie declined.

‘At the IDC, the Court then separately proposed limiting the scope of Jolie’s testimony concerning her earnings and compensation. Again, Jolie declined the proposal. Instead, Jolie confirmed at the IDC that she may argue at trial that Pitt used Miraval as leverage to control her and that her decision to put her career on hold bears on why the proposed NDA was allegedly abusive. The parties therefore did not resolve the dispute.’

‘The Requests seek information directly bearing on financial assertions Jolie pleaded: that she forwent “years of compensation,” that Miraval was her “most important asset,” and that Pitt’s control over Miraval distributions gave him “substantial leverage and control” over her during the period leading to her 2019 decision to sell her stake in Chateau Miraval.’

‘Request No. 81 seeks documents sufficient to show Jolie’s earned income during the period between her separation from Pitt through 2019— the year Jolie allegedly decided she needed to sell Miraval—while Request No. 82 seeks documents sufficient to show Jolie’s earnings from the profit-sharing bonuses she received during that period from her earlier acting and directing roles.’

‘Jolie may be able to establish from public information that she held fewer acting or directing roles from 2017–2019 than she did in prior years. But paragraph 23 of her Cross Complaint goes further: it alleges that she forwent “years of compensation.” Documents showing the earned income and profit participation payments she received during those years will permit Plaintiffs to test the accuracy and context of that allegation.’

Yet, in a previous legal filing, Jolie hit back at Pitt’s characterization of her remarks for ‘financial independence’, claiming she was misquoted. 

She also noted she has already provided financial records despite having ‘no obligation to do so.’

Pitt’s side is seeking the records after Jolie allegedly claimed to have ‘largely put her career on hold’ and forewent ‘years of compensation’ following their split 

‘Pitt claims that Jolie has put her entire financial condition at issue going back to 2017 because of her allegation that she was seeking “financial independence.” (IDC Statement at 3:2-6.),’ a documented filed in June stated. 

‘But Pitt’s selective quote misleadingly fails to include the entirety of her allegation. Jolie does not allege that she was seeking financial independence in the abstract; she alleges that she was seeking “financial independence from her ex-husband [Pitt].”’

‘Separating from one’s ex-husband is categorically different from an allegation that one is suffering general financial distress. Jolie has never alleged that she was in financial distress—her allegations are clear that she sought to untangle her financial life from the ex-spouse she was divorcing. That distinction is dispositive.’

It further notes: ‘Pitt also inaccurately ties his demand for a coercive NDA to Jolie’s financial condition, but here too his summaries are not accurate. Appearing to mock her, Pitt highlights that the NDA he proposed “nearly broke her,” and concludes from this, in conjunction with Jolie’s conclusion that she had to sell Miraval to someone else, that Jolie placed her entire financial condition at issue because she felt “financially cornered.” But the phrase “financially cornered” is Pitt’s phrase, not Jolie’s. Jolie never once made that allegation. 

‘And the distinction above applies here too: her ex-husband was attempting to have her sign an NDA to cover up his abuse of her and their children as a condition to him buying her most valuable asset, which was their biggest financial entanglement. The issue is not whether Jolie needed the money—the issue is that she was trying to untangle her life and her finances from her controlling and abusive ex husband. That distinction makes all the difference.’

The former power couple have been embroiled in a messy split for years 

They also allege digging into Jolie’s finances from 2017-2019 pose a ‘serious invasion’ of her ‘privacy rights.’  

‘In short, the entire basis for Pitt compelling these answers is a made-up theory that Jolie did not allege. Nevertheless, to narrow the dispute, and although she feels very strongly that she did not have to do this, Jolie already agreed to produce and has in fact produced her tax returns, and all of her profit participation statements showing any income received, for 2020 and 2021 Although Jolie had no obligation to do so, producing these documents should have ended this dispute. These two years of private financial information—leading up to (2020) and during (2021) – the very dispute that is at the center of this case—already provided Pitt all the insight he needs into Jolie’s financial condition. Going back any further is a serious invasion of Jolie’s privacy rights’.

For a decade, Pitt and Jolie were seen as Hollywood’s ‘It’ couple during their long-term relationship after they met on the set of the 2005 film Mr and Mrs Smith.

They married in August 2014 during a secret ceremony in the South of France and welcomed three children together during their romance: Shiloh in 2006 and twins Vivienne and Knox in 2008.

They also adopted two more, Zahara and Pax, and Pitt legally adopted the son that Angelina had adopted before they got together, Maddox. 

But in 2016, it came to an explosive end after the pair got into an alleged physical altercation while on a private flight with their six children and Jolie later filed for divorce.

The former couple have six children together, but many of the children have dropped their father’s last name

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Jolie later claimed that Pitt ‘choked’ one of the children during the horrifying dispute and ‘struck’ another in the face, leaving her and the youngsters feeling like ‘hostages’ and cowering in fear under a blanket for hours until they landed.

She also alleged that he grabbed her by the head, slammed her against a wall, and violently shook her at one point during the flight – which resulted in her injuring her back and elbow.

Pitt’s representative called Jolie’s account ‘completely untrue’ to CNN at first, but then released an amended statement to the publication that read, ‘Angelina’s story continues to evolve each time she tells it.

‘Brad has accepted responsibility for what he did but will not for things he didn’t do. He has been on the receiving end of every type of personal attack and misrepresentation.

‘Thankfully, the various public authorities she has tried to use against him over the past six years have made their own independent decisions. Brad will continue to respond in court as he has consistently done.’

Since they split, the two stars have been embroiled in one of the most publicized legal battles in Hollywood history over custody of their children, as well as the winery that they once owned together.

In May 2021, after years of duking it out in court, Pitt and Jolie were officially granted joint custody of their six children, but one month later, the judge’s decision was thrown out.

The fallout from their split has gotten progressively uglier.  

Zahara, Vivienne, Maddox, Shiloh and Vivienne have all stopped using their father’s last name. It’s unclear where Pax stands. 

Pitt has since moved on romantically and has been dating jewelry designer Ines de Ramon for the last few years. 

In a statement to Belfast Live, Mr Lavery said that he wanted to “apologise unreservedly” for the error in judgment.

Former Northern Ireland Human Rights Commissioner David Lavery has said he is “disappointed” to be leaving the post after new Secretary of State Sir Chris Bryant terminated his contract with immediate effect after he provided a character reference for his paedophile cousin.

Lavery, who is also the Chief Executive of the Northern Ireland Law Society, was first appointed as the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commissioner in August 2020. He was reappointed to the role for a second three-year term in August 2023, which was due to end later this month.

An independent review initiated by the NI Human Rights Commission found that Mr Lavery had breached their Code of Governance and was capable of bringing the organisation into disrepute.

In a statement to Belfast Live, Mr Lavery said that he wanted to “apologise unreservedly” for the error in judgment.

“The Secretary of State has informed me of his decision to remove me from the Human Rights Commission. I am disappointed to be leaving the Commission after six years, but I accept and understand the decision that he has made,” he said.

“I want to again apologise unreservedly for what I recognise was a serious error in judgement on my part in providing a character reference for my cousin and particularly for any hurt and distress that I caused the victims in this case. I profoundly regret that and I am committed to doing all I can to address it in the time ahead.”

William Lloyd Lavery was convicted by a jury of sexually abusing pupils at an all-girls grammar in Belfast and was handed a two-year jail sentence

The 77-year-old, from Richmond Avenue in Lisburn, will also spend the next ten years on the Sex Offenders Register.

On Tuesday, A Northern Ireland Office spokesperson said: “The public rightly expects the highest standards of integrity and professionalism from those in public appointments.

“An investigation and an independent review were initiated by the NI Human Rights Commission (NIHRC) after public reports revealed that its Commissioner, David Lavery, had given a reference to a relative convicted of historical and serious sexual offences.“This independent review concluded that in providing this reference, Mr Lavery had breached the NIHRC Code of Governance and was capable of bringing the Commission into disrepute and demonstrated a severe failure of judgment regarding public office responsibilities.“Having considered the findings of this independent review, the Secretary of State, as the appointing Minister, has terminated Mr Lavery’s appointment with immediate effect.”

A Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission spokesperson added: “The protection of victims of sexual violence and abuse is of the utmost importance to the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission.

“Following media reports that Commissioner David Lavery had given a reference to a relative convicted of historical and serious sexual offences, we initiated an independent investigation under the Commission’s Code of Governance. That investigation is now complete.

“After receipt of the investigation report the Secretary of State has exercised his statutory powers and removed David Lavery from his post as Commissioner of the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission with immediate effect.”

For all the latest news, visit the Belfast Live homepage here and sign up to our daily newsletter here.

The M1 is expected to remain closed throughout the morning following the crash.

A spokesperson for National Highways said: “Due to the nature of the incident, the road is likely to be closed throughout the morning to facilitate Police collision investigation works and a complex recovery operation.”

Hello, and welcome to WalesOnline’s live blog for Wednesday, August 5. We’ll be bringing you all of the latest news from across Wales – whether you’re on the move, at home or at work – as well as the latest traffic and travel.

We’ll also be keeping you informed of major news stories from the UK and overseas.

Contribute to the live blog by posting your comments below, or tweet us @WalesOnline to share the news that’s breaking in your area. Read the biggest stories in Wales first by signing up to our daily newsletter here.

By EVE SIMMONS HEALTH EDITOR

Published: 23:30 BST, 4 August 2026 | Updated: 05:47 BST, 5 August 2026

Scottish Prison Service operational advisor John O’Connor gave evidence at the Edinburgh Employment Tribunal.

A prison boss admitted an officer team was plagued by “playground antics” and he “potentially” should have reached a different outcome in handling bullying allegations, a tribunal heard today.

John O’Connor – current operational advisor for the Scottish Prison Service – gave evidence at the Edinburgh Employment Tribunal on Tuesday, August 4. Agata Stankiewicz, a former residential officer at HMP Edinburgh, has levied allegations that officers bullied colleagues in the prison’s Ratho Hall, causing officers to “break down” at work.

She yesterday described a “mean girl club” work environment where some officers “singled out” colleagues and wrote “nasty” messages on a professional white board. Mrs Stankiewicz reported the behaviour to management in 2024 in a string of emails.

Mr O’Connor – then a unit manager – told the court he was aware of a “playground antics” culture in Ratho Hall but largely expected line managers to handle disputes. When Mrs Stankiewicz reported the behaviour, he consulted HR.

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Employment Judge Jane Porter questioned Mr O’Connor about whether Mrs Stankiewicz’s report raised “alarm bells” and why he did not take more direct action instead of “pushing it to HR”, reports Edinburgh Live.

She said: “[Mrs Stankiewicz] gave cogent evidence how [if the behaviour took place] in Tesco this wouldn’t be of interest. In your circumstances [in a prison setting] would not this be of interest?”

Mr O’Connor claimed he consulted HR because he “needed guidance about how to handle the situation” and “my reaction was concern at the time which was why I was seeking guidance.”

Mrs Stankiewicz claimed on Monday that bullying poses a significant risk to officer safety, saying: “If prisoners see this white board and see [a nasty message] about another officer, they think ‘there is a divide and we can target those officers and no one will defend them.’”

She described how officers have been stabbed, had ribs and noses broken, and even lost fingers in violent incidents involving prisoners, adding: “You need to know your colleagues will have your back if there is any trouble.”

An investigation was launched whereby a prison boss, Jill Dollard, conducted interviews and reviewed evidence. She concluded two offending officers had a case to answer. However, the court heard that Mr O’Connor disagreed with her findings and deemed the officers had no case to answer in a subsequent disciplinary hearing.

Judge Porter said she was “confused” by Mr O’Connor’s decision which seemed to contravene Jill Dollard’s conclusion.

He replied: “It was a lot of ‘he said, she said’. There were two different camps at the time. I believe with the information I had in front of me, that was the best course of action.”

Mr O’Connor denied the subsequent decision to move Mrs Stankiewicz to a new ward was “targeted”. The officer yesterday alleged she was transferred from Ratho Hall because of her whistleblowing, though Mr O’Connor claimed transfers are “chosen on balance of experience and competency in each area.”

He added: “People aren’t employed to be a residential officer in Ratho Hall. They are employed to be at HMP Edinburgh and can be moved accordingly within that.”

The court also heard staff transfers routinely occur without warning. Mr O’Connor denied Mrs Stankiewicz was moved as a “punishment” for her disclosures.

Under cross examination by Mrs Stankiewicz Mr O’Connor admitted that, looking back, he would “potentially” reach a different outcome regarding the officer responsible for writing a nasty comment on the white board.

He said: “I do think there would be other avenues that could be reached at that point.”

Mr O’Connor also conceded he was aware at the time Mrs Stankiewicz’s claims were considered whistleblowing and that she should not suffer any detriment as a result of making such disclosures. He further admitted she did the right thing by reporting the behaviour.

Employment Judge Jane Porter presides over the hearing. The tribunal continues.

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The plan by Fifa president, Gianni Infantino, to invite equity investment into the World Cup didn’t last long. Announced on July 28, it immediately provoked hostility from across football.

Three days later Fifa sought to reassure critics: “Nobody is selling football. This is not something Fifa would ever entertain.” The proposal was then unceremoniously abandoned less than 48 hours later, amid reports that Infantino’s position is now under considerable pressure.

Although withdrawn, the proposal exposed a more significant issue than the question of the “ownership” of football’s most iconic tournament. Contemporary elite level football has become increasingly dependent on continual commercial expansion. The 2026 Fifa World Cup generated more than US$15 billion (£11.2 billion) in revenue, yet football’s governing bodies continue to search for new sources of growth.

Whether through larger tournaments, expanded club competitions, additional broadcasting rights or private investment, the commercial logic remains the same: increasing the number of matches and the consequent overall value of football.

This expansionist strategy is now encountering increasing resistance from the players themselves. Trade unions, medical experts and international organisations argue that fixture congestion, longer playing times and growing travel demands are pushing elite footballers beyond acceptable limits.

What was once presented as a debate about player welfare is becoming a question of employment rights, occupational health and safety, and the legal responsibilities owed to professional athletes. A complaint was brought in July 2025 by the French players’ union before the European Committee of Social Rights.

In addition, the International Labour Organisation (ILO) has issued guidelines for the protection of professional athletes, and the international players’ union has continued to present evidence relating to player welfare. These suggest that football may be approaching a significant regulatory turning point.

Fifa’s abandoned private equity proposal was not the problem in itself, but a symptom of a wider economic model in which commercial growth depends upon an ever-expanding football calendar. The central question is whether that model is compatible with the legal and ethical obligation to protect the health, safety and wellbeing of the players on whom the game ultimately depends.

More please…

Investors in football, such as the owners of Premier League clubs or sponsors and broadcasters, desire growth, which can be generated by further exploitation of the existing product or by expanding the number of games. It is this latter approach that has occurred at both international level through Fifa and European level by Uefa as both seek to maximise financial opportunities.

The 2026 Fifa World Cup increased from 32 to 48 teams, creating more fixtures, greater broadcasting opportunities and additional commercial revenue. This mirrored the approach of the 2025 Fifa Club World Cup, expanding the tournament from seven clubs to 32. Uefa has also presided over a significant enlargement in club football competitions, moving from a simple knockout tournament to an expanded league system involving far more teams and fixtures.

While expansion is often justified in terms of greater sporting opportunity, increased global participation or enhanced fan engagement, it also reflects the economic reality that growth depends ever more upon creating more matches to sell.

The consequences extend beyond the clubs participating in these competitions. Additional European fixtures compress domestic calendars, reduce recovery periods and increase travel demands on players. They also affect supporters, with domestic fixtures progressively scheduled to accommodate broadcasting requirements rather than traditional match-going times.

The expansion of competitions has fundamentally altered the workload of elite footballers. The issue is no longer simply the number of matches played but the cumulative demands created by congested calendars, global travel and longer periods spent on the pitch. The 2022 World Cup saw stoppage time recalculated, leading to a significant increase in playing time – a principle later extended into domestic leagues.

For leading players, the traditional off-season has become progressively shorter, while recovery periods between matches have been reduced as domestic, continental and international competitions compete for space within an already crowded calendar.

The travel issue is exacerbated for players who represent countries outside Europe but play their club football there. For example, Argentina’s Enzo Fernandez accumulated 195 hours of travel during 29 journeys, spanning 149,010 kilometres in one season.

A workers’ rights approach

It seems odd to discuss highly paid elite footballers in the context of a traditional health and safety framework. But despite their huge paycheques, professional footballers are still employees whose work involves identifiable physical and psychological risks. Employers and governing bodies have a clear legal duty to manage risks and reduce harm. The recent legal challenges and regulatory pressure reflect a more traditional workplace approach.

The recent ILO guidelines for professional athletes explicitly recognise the importance of rest and recovery periods as central to managing occupational health and safety risks. The footballer’s union, Fifpro’s Medical Position Statement on Minimum Player Workload Safeguards outlines recommendations focusing on recovery periods, off-season breaks and protections for young players.

The increased workload issue is evident across the game. At the top end of the women’s game, leading players have averaged over 50 games in a season, with some reaching around 60 matches. This workload is exacerbated by the number of games played within short time-frames. At the other end of the spectrum, players outside of the elite suffer from insufficient game opportunities. As the women’s game grows in popularity, the pressure to schedule more games at club and international level is likely to increase, creating similar problems to the men’s game.

The controversy surrounding Fifa’s now abandoned private equity proposal was much more than an investment issue. It has highlighted a broader commercial model in which continued financial growth depends upon creating more of the same. The expansion of the game to facilitate increased commercial exploitation cannot continue without serious impact on those who deliver the spectacle. Addressing player welfare requires a change of approach where health and wellbeing are prioritised over the economic proposition of more games.

Funeral plans have been announced for former international peacekeeper Danny Vettrino, from Dysart, Fife, who was murdered in Canouan, on St Vincent and the Grenadines, in June.

A Scot shot dead on a Caribbean paradise island is to be laid to rest at home as his family pay tribute several weeks on from the killing.

Former international peacekeeper Danny Vettrino, from Dysart, Fife, was murdered in Canouan, on St Vincent and the Grenadines, in June, with police making “several” arrests as part of the investigation.

Now the family of the 36-year-old, who moved to the Granadines in 2024, have announced plans for his funeral later this month in Kirkcaldy, describing him as “a cherished friend to so many people across the world”.

In a message shared through funeral directors, the family said: “It is with great sadness that the family announce the passing of a much loved man and a man who brought so much joy to those around him, Mr Daniel Vettrino, affectionately known to most as Danny.

“Danny tragically passed away on Canouan Island, in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, where he had been living and working, on Thursday, 25th June 2026, aged just 36 years.

“A beloved son, a loving brother, uncle and nephew, Danny was also a cherished friend to so many people across the world. He will be deeply missed by all who had the privilege of knowing him.”

Danny moved from Scotland to Egypt in 2015 and worked for an international peacekeeping organisation, which was created to oversee the terms of the Egyptian peace treaty with Israel.

He moved to Colombia in 2023 and was contemplating returning to Scotland early in the next year before he landed the job in the Caribbean.

In August of 2024, Danny moved to the Grenadines where he worked as a Technical Service Manager at the Canouan Estate Resort and Villas.

Danny was gunned down at a car park in the Gym Hill area of Canouan at around 11:30pm after returning from a day out.

He suffered a number of gunshot wounds to his body and was pronounced dead at the scene.

We previously told how detectives investigating the fatal shooting were reportedly probing links to a plane which ‘vanished’ in mysterious circumstances.

Local media reports stated that his death has triggered an “expansion of an ongoing investigation” into the “disappearance” of a private plane near Canouan in July.

Reports suggested the probes became linked as the two pilots of the light aircraft, which vanished from radar before being found days later, came from Colombia, where Daniel previously lived.

Confirming his passing online in the days after his murder, his brother Robson Vettrino Kolberg previously said Danny was “loved by everyone, a pure soul who only wanted success and happiness for all of those around him”. He said: “He has touched the lives of so many people, from his hometown in Fife to all corners of this world.”

Daniel’s aunt also paid a heartfelt tribute to her “one in a million” nephew, saying: “Daniel lived a life shaped by courage, independence, and a determination to follow his own path.”

Daniel’s brother shared news of his funeral this week, which will be held on August 21 at Kirkcaldy Crematorium, saying “all family and friends are respectfully invited” to the service, followed by a wake in the town.

Last month, police said they had made “several” arrests after two co-workers of Danny Vettrino were nabbed over his murder.

Police Sergeant Edson Smith said: “We are looking at everything – no stones will be left unturned.”

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An independent review initiated by the NI Human Rights Commission found that Mr Lavery had breached their Code of Governance and was capable of bringing the organisation into disrepute.

The Law Society have said that they will not be commenting any further after their CEO, David Lavery, was sacked from his role as Northern Ireland Human Rights Commissioner for supplying a character reference to his convicted paedophile cousin.

David Lavery was first appointed as the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commissioner in August 2020. He was reappointed to the role for a second three-year term in August 2023, which was due to end later this month.

An independent review initiated by the NI Human Rights Commission found that Mr Lavery had breached their Code of Governance and was capable of bringing the organisation into disrepute.

When asked by Belfast Live if there have been any internal reviews or further actions taken by the Society’s Presidential and Senior Management Team in relation to Mr Lavery’s decision to supply a reference to a convicted paedophile, a spokesperson for the Law Society of Northern Ireland said: “The Law Society has undertaken an internal process in relation to this matter. This has now concluded, and respecting the confidential nature of that process, we will be making no further comment on the outcome.

“We acknowledge the concern that this has caused. We are committed to facilitating appropriate consideration of the use of character references following conviction, acknowledging that there will be a broad range of views.”

In a statement, Mr Lavery said that he wanted to “apologise unreservedly” for the error in judgment.

“The Secretary of State has informed me of his decision to remove me from the Human Rights Commission. I am disappointed to be leaving the Commission after six years, but I accept and understand the decision that he has made,” he said.

“I want to again apologise unreservedly for what I recognise was a serious error in judgement on my part in providing a character reference for my cousin and particularly for any hurt and distress that I caused the victims in this case. I profoundly regret that and I am committed to doing all I can to address it in the time ahead.”

William Lloyd Lavery was convicted by a jury of sexually abusing pupils at an all-girls grammar in Belfast and was handed a two-year jail sentence

The 77-year-old, from Richmond Avenue in Lisburn, will also spend the next ten years on the Sex Offenders Register.

On Tuesday, A Northern Ireland Office spokesperson said: “The public rightly expects the highest standards of integrity and professionalism from those in public appointments.

“An investigation and an independent review were initiated by the NI Human Rights Commission (NIHRC) after public reports revealed that its Commissioner, David Lavery, had given a reference to a relative convicted of historical and serious sexual offences.“This independent review concluded that in providing this reference, Mr Lavery had breached the NIHRC Code of Governance and was capable of bringing the Commission into disrepute and demonstrated a severe failure of judgment regarding public office responsibilities.“Having considered the findings of this independent review, the Secretary of State, as the appointing Minister, has terminated Mr Lavery’s appointment with immediate effect.”

For all the latest news, visit the Belfast Live homepage here and sign up to our daily newsletter here.