Cryptocurrency billionaire Christopher Harborne donated £36 million to Reform UK, matching a previous contribution of the same amount from fellow investor Ben Delo. These combined pledges total £72 million and represent the largest donations ever made to a UK political party within a short timeframe. The funds will be used for campaign activities as the party faces ongoing scrutiny regarding its finances.
Bahrain stated it will not join a planned ministerial gathering in Oman concerning the Strait of Hormuz before diplomatic ties with Iran are restored. The kingdom cited recent attacks on its infrastructure and called for free passage without discrimination or fees. Bahrain maintained that dialogue remains a priority but refused to be part of any collective meeting involving Tehran.
Sources indicate Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman requested assistance from President Donald Trump to combat Houthi threats in the Red Sea. The administration stated it would not engage in direct military action but offered intelligence sharing and targeting support instead. Reports confirm that Washington declined the request for strikes while maintaining continuous dialogue with regional partners.
During a summit in New Delhi, Chinese President Xi Jinping called on BRICS countries to assist in promoting stability within the Middle East and Gulf region. He stated that the ongoing conflict has caused significant losses for people across the area and does not align with international community interests. The Chinese leader emphasized Beijing's willingness to collaborate with fellow members to help achieve peace between the United States and Iran.
President Donald Trump proposed paying every American adult $5,000 if his party retains control of Congress in the upcoming midterm elections. The announcement was made during a convention in Dallas where the president addressed the party's strategy for November. Reports indicate the proposal would cost approximately $1.35 trillion and raised immediate questions regarding its legal feasibility.
The BRICS group of eleven nations adopted a joint declaration on Saturday during their annual summit in New Delhi. The statement expresses deep concern over the war and calls for maximum restraint to avoid further aggravating the situation. Leaders emphasized resolving disputes through dialogue, consultation, and diplomacy while noting that the conflict does not serve international community interests.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated he is willing to meet Russian leader Vladimir Putin at the upcoming G20 summit in Miami. The Kremlin has not yet confirmed whether Putin will attend the gathering scheduled for December 14-15. Moscow continues to demand that any talks occur with Zelensky traveling to Russia instead.
Jeremy Thomas, a British film producer known for works such as The Last Emperor and Sexy Beast, has died at the age of 77. A representative stated that he passed away peacefully on Friday at his country home in Oxfordshire surrounded by family. His career spanned five decades and included collaborations with directors including David Cronenberg, Nicolas Roeg, and Bernardo Bertolucci.
England chased a target of 130 runs to secure an eight-wicket win against Pakistan at Edgbaston. Captain Joe Root remained unbeaten on 62 while Jordan Cox finished with 59 not out. The result completed a three-nil series sweep for the home team.
Investigators in northwest France are examining a fragment of rail found on the track as evidence of possible sabotage following a Friday evening derailment. The incident occurred near the town of Cleon while the train traveled between Rouen and Caen, resulting in injuries to 44 passengers and crew members. Authorities confirmed that tests for drugs and alcohol on the driver returned negative results.
