Renew Europe hails EU-Switzerland partnership milestone

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...

The son of Aung San Suu Kyi, Kim Aris, is pleading for his mother's release from prison due to her deteriorating health in Myanmar's harsh prisons. Three former UK foreign secretaries have also called for her release, stating she is being held on false charges and should be allowed to lead the country democratically. Suu Kyi, a Nobel laureate and leader of Myanmar's democratic movement, has been in solitary confinement since a coup in early...

An anonymous official revealed that Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico opposes sanctions on the Russian nuclear industry and Ukraine's NATO membership. Fico accused Ukrainian President Zelenskyy of offering him €500 million in Russian assets in exchange for support, which Zelenskyy clarified as a gas supply negotiation. The Ukrainian official stated that Fico prioritizes national security earnings over security concerns, rejecting alternative gas sources and NATO support. Full Article

Pensioners are experiencing long delays of over 100 days to receive their winter fuel payment due to Labour reforms causing a strain on the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). Changes announced by Rachel Reeves have led to a backlog of 91,075 outstanding claims, with only those on pension credit now eligible for the benefit, resulting in a surge of 150,000 claims in 16 weeks. Despite efforts to speed up processing by hiring 500 staff,...

Your support helps The Independent report on critical issues like reproductive rights, climate change, and Big Tech, providing unbiased coverage and investigative journalism. Donations enable journalists to tell both sides of the story, ensuring quality journalism is accessible to all. Initiatives like "Project: Thrive" aim to support domestic abuse survivors in the workplace and create safe homes through partnerships with charities like Refuge. Full Article

Dr. Jim Swire, father of Lockerbie bombing victim Flora, is urging Sir Keir Starmer to release all information the UK has on the tragedy, questioning why key details have been kept hidden from the public 36 years after the attack. The bombing, which claimed 270 lives in 1988, remains controversial with suspicions of withheld information surrounding the incident. Despite the conviction of former Libyan intelligence officer Abdelbaset al-Megrahi for the bombing, questions persist about his...