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A South Korean court has sentenced former first lady Kim Keon-hee to 20 months in prison after finding her guilty of accepting bribes in the form of luxury handbags and other items. The ruling marks a significant development in a high-profile corruption case that has gripped the nation.

Prosecutors argued that between 2021 and 2023, Kim received the gifts in exchange for using her influence as the wife of then-President Yoon Suk Yeol to benefit the donors. The court found her guilty of violating the anti-graft law and abusing the power and status of a public official's spouse.

Kim has consistently denied ...

Prime Minister Mark Carney has forcefully denied a U.S. claim that he retreated from his recent speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos during a private phone call with President Donald Trump. Carney stated publicly, "To be absolutely clear, and I said this to the president, I meant what I said in Davos," directly contradicting U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. Bessent had claimed that Carney "aggressively" walked back his "unfortunate remarks" from the forum.

In his Davos address, Carney argued that the U.S.-led rules-based international order was over and urged "middle powers" like Canada to unite to avoid being dominated ...

In an interview with IranTalks (@Irantalks.podcast), analyst Carl Zha outlined three core reasons China opposes U.S.-led regime change efforts in Iran. The discussion frames Iran as a "linchpin" for Chinese strategic interests. First, China prioritises regional stability and opposes the "Balkanization" of sovereign states, viewing internal strife as a threat to its own domestic and international security principles.

Second, China's substantial economic interests are at stake. China purchases approximately 90% of Iran's oil exports, making energy security a direct concern. A fragmented or destabilised Iran would jeopardise this crucial supply and threaten the viability of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), ...

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer's upcoming visit to Beijing marks a significant moment in the recalibration of Britain's foreign policy towards China. The trip, his first as Prime Minister, comes at a time of complex geopolitical realignment, where European nations are pursuing distinct strategies in managing relations with Beijing. Starmer’s government aims to strike a balance between necessary economic engagement and growing security concerns, all while navigating pressure from key allies.

The visit signals a pragmatic approach, emphasising diplomacy and dialogue to address both opportunities and tensions in the UK–China relationship. This move is partly framed within a broader European context, ...

Gregory Bovino, the Border Patrol commander who became the public face of the Trump administration's aggressive immigration crackdown in Minneapolis, is expected to leave the city. This leadership change comes after the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old nurse, by federal immigration agents on Saturday. Pretti was the second U.S. citizen killed by federal officers in Minneapolis this month, following the death of Renee Good in early January.

The shooting of Alex Pretti, who was filming agents, sparked widespread protests and intense criticism from local leaders, including Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey. Video evidence from the ...

A maritime accident off the coast of Oman has resulted in the deaths of three tourists after a sightseeing boat capsized. The vessel, carrying 25 people, overturned in the Omani coastal waters of the Arabian Sea. Emergency services, including the Omani coast guard, immediately launched a search and rescue operation, pulling survivors from the water and providing medical treatment.

The three fatalities have been confirmed as French nationals. Authorities are now investigating the cause of the capsize, with initial reports suggesting rough sea conditions and significant swells may have been a factor. The incident has prompted a review of maritime safety ...

In a video analysis, journalist Glenn Greenwald (@GlennGreenwald) presents the argument that the recently consummated forced sale of TikTok was primarily motivated by political concerns over content related to Israel, rather than longstanding national security fears about Chinese ownership. The video contends that legislative efforts to ban or force the sale of the app stagnated for years until after the October 7th attacks, when groups like the ADL and lawmakers renewed calls for action, citing perceived anti-Israel bias on the platform.

The analysis highlights that the new ownership consortium is led by figures like Larry Ellison, a major donor to pro-Israel causes, ...

A fatal shooting by federal immigration agents in Minneapolis has ignited protests and a sharp political backlash. The incident occurred when ICE agents confronted Alex Pretti, resulting in his death. A bystander video of the shooting has circulated widely, contradicting initial official accounts and raising serious questions about the agents' use of force and their claim of self-defence.

The operation was part of a broader surge in federal immigration enforcement under the current administration. In response, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz has publicly criticised the tactics used, joining local leaders in calling for the withdrawal of federal agents from the city. The ...

The government has introduced a significant reform to the leasehold system in England and Wales, implementing a cap on ground rent. This new law limits annual ground rent charges to a maximum of £250, a move designed to protect millions of homeowners from escalating and unfair costs. The change represents a core part of ongoing leasehold reform legislation aimed at overhauling historic property laws.

For flat owners and other leaseholders, ground rent is a recurring fee paid to the freeholder for the land their property sits on. The new cap provides substantial financial relief and clearer long-term affordability, addressing widespread concerns ...

Nigel Farage’s recent high-profile press conference has underscored the growing challenge Reform UK poses to the Conservative Party. This surge is intensifying a crisis within the Conservatives, exposing deep ideological divisions and fuelling a protracted civil war on the right. Key figures such as Suella Braverman and Robert Jenrick are central to this internal struggle, which revolves around issues of immigration policy and national conservatism.

The rise of Reform UK threatens to split the right-wing vote, presenting a significant strategic dilemma for the Conservative leadership under figures like Kemi Badenoch. Polling trends indicate a tangible voter realignment, with Reform pulling support ...