Keir Starmer to chair cabinet after defying calls to quit

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer will chair a cabinet meeting after weathering fresh calls from within Labour to resign, as his top ministers moved quickly to close ranks and project stability at the heart of government. The routine session follows a day of turbulence set off when Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar urged Starmer to step down over the fallout from the Peter Mandelson controversy. Sarwar is the most senior Labour figure to demand the prime minister’s resignation, warning the “distraction” from Downing…

European Union farm subsidy overhaul may delay payouts, auditor warns

Analysis: EU audit warning exposes risks at the heart of planned CAP overhaul The European Court of Auditors has fired an early warning shot over the European Commission’s plan to fold agricultural policy into a wider, performance-driven budget in the next Multiannual Financial Framework, saying the redesign could delay farm payments, heighten uncertainty and weaken the “common” in the Common Agricultural Policy. The critique goes to the core of how the EU intends to fund farming, rural development and cohesion from 2028 to…

King Charles pledges cooperation with police over Epstein allegations

King Charles voices ‘profound concern’ as police assess claims Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor shared UK trade files with Jeffrey Epstein London — King Charles has signaled “profound concern” over allegations about his brother Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s conduct and said he would “stand ready to support” police if approached, Buckingham Palace said Monday, as Thames Valley Police confirmed it is assessing claims the former prince shared confidential trade reports with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The palace said the…

53 migrants feared dead or missing after boat capsizes off Libya’s coast

IOM: 53 dead or missing after migrant boat capsizes off Libya; two women survive Fifty-three migrants, including two babies, are dead or missing after a rubber boat carrying 55 people capsized off Libya’s northwest coast, the International Organization for Migration said. The boat departed from Zawiya on Thursday and overturned off nearby Zuwara on Friday, according to the IOM, citing accounts from the two survivors. Both are Nigerian women rescued by Libyan authorities during a search-and-rescue operation, the agency said.…

Irish national held by ICE fears for his life in Texas detention facility

Irish man detained by ICE in Texas pleads for help, says he fears for his life An Irish man who has lived in the United States for nearly 20 years says he fears for his life after being detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and transferred to a facility in El Paso, Texas, almost 4,000 kilometers from his home in Boston. Seamus Culleton, originally from Glenmore, Co Kilkenny, was arrested by ICE agents last September and taken into immigration detention, as first reported by the Irish Times. Speaking from the…

Who Takes Over if UK PM Keir Starmer Quits or Is Challenged?

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer is facing calls to step down as his team reels from the fallout of appointing Peter Mandelson as ambassador to the U.S., a move that has boomeranged amid disclosures about Mandelson’s ties to convicted U.S. sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Here is how a resignation or a Labour leadership challenge would unfold — and what it would take to replace a sitting prime minister. What happens if Starmer resigns? If Starmer quits, the Labour Party would immediately begin a leadership contest to choose his…

Saudi Arabia and Somalia Forge Stronger Military Partnership Through New Defense Deal

Saudi Arabia and Somalia Forge Defense Pact to Strengthen Regional Security This article explores the recent Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between Saudi Arabia and Somalia, aimed at enhancing defense and military cooperation. This agreement signifies a strategic move to bolster security in the Horn of Africa and the Red Sea region. Highlights the agreement's implications for regional security. Explores the context surrounding the MoU and its significance for Somalia. Examines potential impacts on…

Global backlash as Hong Kong hands Jimmy Lai a 20-year sentence

HONG KONG — A Hong Kong court sentenced pro-democracy media mogul Jimmy Lai to 20 years in prison after convicting him under the city’s national security law, drawing swift condemnation from the United Nations, the European Union and Western governments concerned over the future of press freedom in the territory. Lai, 78, the founder of the now-defunct Apple Daily newspaper, was found guilty in December on two counts of foreign collusion under the sweeping security legislation imposed by Beijing in 2020, as well as one count…

Timeline: Biggest challenges facing Keir Starmer as UK prime minister so far

Starmer’s 18-month slide: From landslide to crisis as Mandelson fallout empties No. 10 Keir Starmer marched Labour back into Downing Street in July 2024 with a commanding majority and a promise of sober, competent government. Eighteen months later, the prime minister is fighting for authority after his chief of staff, Morgan McSweeney, and communications chief, Tim Allan, resigned in the wake of a deepening Peter Mandelson scandal. Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar urged him to quit, saying the “distraction needs to end and…

Press Access Restricted by Authorities During Parliament’s Constitutional Debate, Says Journalists’ Union

Somali Journalists Face Restrictions Amid Constitutional Debates This article examines the ongoing challenges faced by Somali journalists as they encounter increased restrictions in accessing parliamentary proceedings. The situation raises critical concerns regarding media freedom and governmental transparency during a pivotal political period in Somalia. Repeated denials of access to parliament for journalists. Concerns over media freedom amidst proposed constitutional amendments. Impact of restrictions on…