Browsing: Politics

MPs are amongst those calling for the alleged Chinese spy – with close links to Prince Andrew – to be publicly named for security reasons. MPs are threatening to name the man as allegations raise “calls for caution.” Shadow home secretary Chris Philp and Reform UK leader Nigel Farage are amongst those calling for the alleged spy to be named.

It’s plunged the royals – and Andrew – into deeper crisis and amid another year of royal scandal, the firm is hoping Andrew steps out of the public eye this Christmas.

District councils could be abolished and more elected mayors introduced across England under new plans for a major redesign of local government. Ministers are set to publish a paper on Monday outlining plans for mergers in areas where there are currently two tiers of local authority – smaller district and larger county councils – in a bid to streamline services.

The government has approved the sale of the Royal Mail’s parent company to a Czech billionaire. The £3.6bn takeover by Daniel Kretinsky’s EP Group has been given the go-ahead after agreeing “legally binding” undertakings.

Monday’s front pages feature a variety of domestic and international stories. Several papers report on Prince Andrew and the alleged Chinese spy who befriended him. The papers report that MPs – and the public – want the alleged spy to be named. 

The papers further call on the Duke to stay away from royal events this Christmas and to keep out of the public’s sight, as anger mounts over the latest scandal involving the royal. 

Domestic politics also makes up the news stories. Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch continues her criticism of Labour’s farming tax plans, health secretary Wes Streeting backs a campaign calling for a ban on ‘cowboy surgeries’ and the Tories fear elderly people will be ‘left in the cold’ this winter. 

In sports news, space is left on the front pages to report on the new Match of the Day hosts. The back pages lead with Manchester United’s 2-1 win over City in yesterday’s Premier League match.

South Korea’s constitutional court has begun impeachment proceedings against President Yoon Suk Yeol, who was suspended after declaring martial law and triggering nationwide chaos. Parliament impeached Yoon last Saturday, leaving Prime Minister Han Duck-soo as acting president during the trial.

Chancellor Olaf Scholz faces a confidence vote in the German parliament on Monday that he is expected to lose.Defeat would pave the way for the…

  Andrés Villavicencio, a 31-year-old lawyer, had just a minute to think about the decision that changed his life. As in the last eight elections…

South Korea’s acting president, Han Duck-soo, moved on Sunday to reassure the country’s allies and calm financial markets a day after President Yoon Suk Yeol was impeached and suspended from his duties over a martial law attempt.

South Korean law enforcement authorities will request that impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol appear for questioning this week over his short-lived martial law decree.

France’s new PM Bayrou faces budgetary challenges as Moody’s downgrades credit rating No grace period whatsoever. It was 25 minutes past midnight on Saturday, December…

Nearly 13,500 migrants have been removed from Britain since the election, the Government has said, as the Home Secretary promised a “step change” in tackling illegal working.

Brazil’s federal police arrested former defence minister Braga Netto on Saturday on suspicion of obstructing the investigation into 2022’s alleged attempt to prevent President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva’s inauguration.

Donald Trump nominated former Republican Congressman Devin Nunes to chair the President’s Intelligence Advisory Board.

Zourabichvili has vowed to stay on as president after her six-year term ends on Monday, describing parliament as illegitimate and having no authority to select her successor.

Brussels — The European Parliament has taken the initiative to approve new committees with the intention of addressing key issues facing citizens. In a constructive…

South Korea’s opposition leader urged the Constitutional Court to rule swiftly on a bid to remove President Yoon Suk Yeol from office, the day after parliament voted to impeach him over a short-lived attempt to impose martial law.

It was just past 5:00 pm on Friday, December 13, when France’s new prime minister, François Bayrou, walked alone across the courtyard of the Hôtel…

The United Kingdom became the 12th member of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership, or CPTPP, as of Sunday. 

In a significant move for global religious freedom, the UK Government has appointed David Smith MP as its new Special Envoy for Freedom of Religion…

In rocky circumstances, a name finally came out of the hat on Friday, December 13: François Bayrou, the president of the Macron-aligned MoDem party, became France’s new prime minister at 73.

Welsh public bodies ‘could be shortchanged on NI hike’ Mark Drakeford told the Senedd’s finance committee the cost of workers within the Office for National…

Why did Macron pick Bayrou? A long-time centrist ally François Bayrou as the country’s new prime minister after MPs voted to oust the previous government…

  As Germany faces significant economic challenges, Chancellor Olaf Scholz has taken the rare step of submitting a vote of confidence to parliament. The decision,…

Friday’s front pages lead with various domestic and international stories. There is ongoing coverage of the latest across the Middle East as G7 nations prepare to hold a virtual meeting on Friday to discuss the fast-moving developments. For Syrians, many have taken to the streets in celebration, marking the end of the Assad regime. 

Amid ongoing war in the Middle East and Europe, as well as the return of Donald Trump to world politics, several front pages lead with stories regarding NATO. European members of the alliance are holding talks about increasing the spending target to 3% of GDP. There is also a warning from the new head of NATO, Mark Rutte, that European members need to spend more on defence. 

A little closer to home, Prince Andrew has found himself on the front pages again, this time regarding a close confidant to the Duke who has reportedly been banished from Britain over claims he is a Chinese spy.

Syria is witnessing mass celebrations as citizens gather to mark the end of five decades of rule by the Assad regime. Images from Damascus show large crowds assembling for the first Friday prayers since Islamist rebels seized control of the capital on Sunday.

After 17 years as European Union members, Romania and Bulgaria will officially join the EU’s border-free Schengen travel zone on January 1, 2025. The decision allows citizens from both countries to travel to other Schengen countries like France, Spain, or Norway without requiring a passport.

President Joe Biden has issued pardons to 39 Americans convicted of non-violent crimes and commuted the sentences of nearly 1,500 others, marking the most acts of presidential clemency in a single day, according to the White House.