And finally…Soros creates world’s third largest charity with multi-billion pound donation

Global financial heavyweight and 29th richest man in the world, George Soros, is to give over £13.6 billion of his fortune in a move that will create the world’s third richest charity at a stroke.

The donation from the Hungarian-born financier, who is reportedly worth more than $25 billion (Forbes), will go to his Open Society Foundations, which will now only be smaller than the Bill and Melinda Gates foundation and the Wellcome Trust.

Soros, who is 87, intends to “leave the vast majority of his wealth to the Open Society Foundations,” the chief of the group’s strategic communications and public affairs Laura Silber said.

The investor, who survived Nazi-occupied Hungary and emigrated to England in 1947, has reportedly been working on the transfer of the bulk of his cash into his charity foundations for several years.

Soros famously made his name – and wealth – betting against the pound ahead of the collapse of the Exchange Rate Mechanism under John Major.

Open Society works globally to “build vibrant and tolerant democracies” and has given away around £10bn since it was founded in 1979.

The charity has been accused of inciting so-called peaceful revolutions to install governments friendly to the US – from the Serbian ‘Bulldozer Revolution’ in 2000 to the Ukrainian uprising in 2013.

Soros’ foundations are said to be the most influential around the globe.