Aung San Suu Kyi’s son Kim Aris begs for her release from Myanmar prison

Sir Keir Starmer is considering introducing a new law to prevent Elon Musk from donating to Reform UK, the party led by Nigel Farage, in an effort to protect the electoral system from potential interference. Since Musk, as a US citizen, cannot personally donate to a UK political party, he may do so through his company's UK subsidiaries. While the government has no immediate plans to introduce new legislation, Commons leader Lucy Powell has stated...

Qatar has emerged as a crucial LNG supplier to Europe amid decreasing reliance on Russian energy post-Ukraine invasion, with QatarEnergy having long-term agreements with major European countries. The EU's Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive, criticized by QatarEnergy CEO Al-Kaabi, requires transposition into national law by 2026, gradual enforcement starting in 2027, aligning with the EU's net-zero emissions goal by 2050. The European Commission has not yet commented on the directive when contacted by POLITICO, reflecting...

The UK is facing heavy rain and disruptive winds of up to 80mph this weekend, with yellow wind warnings issued by the Met Office for Christmas holiday drivers. Scotland, Northern Ireland, Wales, and parts of England are expected to be impacted on Saturday, with coastal areas in northern Scotland potentially experiencing winds of 85mph. Road, rail, air, and ferry services in Scotland are likely to be affected, as an area of low pressure crosses the...

Six families, supported by the Independent Schools Council, have filed a High Court judicial review claim against the government's plan to impose VAT on private schools, arguing it is discriminatory and could force them into the state sector where their needs cannot be met. The families are seeking a declaration of incompatibility under the Human Rights Act, claiming the tax harms children with special educational needs, disabilities, those in single-sex schools, minority faith backgrounds, and...

Tory frontbencher Dame Priti Patel has called for the UK to officially designate China a national security threat, citing concerns over Chinese incursions and potential risks to Britain. She supports including China in the Foreign Influence Registration Scheme and restricting TikTok, following other countries' lead in safeguarding against Chinese influence. Other influential Tories like Suella Braverman and Tom Tugendhat have also urged for China to be included in the scheme's enhanced tier, emphasizing the importance...

A team from the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Syria visited former prisons, including Sednaya and Branch 235, uncovering damaged evidence. Urgent recommendations call for a specialized unit to protect mass grave sites and documents, while independent experts emphasize the need for justice, reconciliation, and Syrian-led reconstruction, free from foreign interference. The experts also call for the withdrawal of all foreign military forces from Syria to facilitate effective rehabilitation and a credible transition process....