LONDON — Embattled British Prime Minister Keir Starmer's chief of staff resigned on Sunday over the appointment of Peter Mandelson as ambassador to Washington despite links to US convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

All eyes are on Monday’s National Anti‑Corruption Commission (NACC) meeting, where the agency may rule on an ethics case against 44 former Move Forward Party MPs—now mostly with the People’s Party—over their bid to amend Section 112 of the Criminal Code, also known as the lèse‑majesté law.

LONDON - British Prime Minister Keir Starmer's chief of ‌staff Morgan ​McSweeney has quit, he said in a statement on Sunday, as pressure intensifies on Starmer over his decision to appoint ‌Peter Mandelson as ambassador to the United States. 

After Sunday's polls closed at 5pm in the 2026 general election in Thailand, election officials began opening ballot boxes on‑site and counting votes in full public view to ensure transparency.

The Bhumjaithai Party (BJT) of caretaker Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul had a comfortable lead as vote counting continued on Sunday night, while the rival People’s Party leader admitted his party would not win the Feb 8 general election.

Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva said on Sunday night that his party might have about 20 House seats and was ready to be in the opposition.

Two of three recent opinion surveys indicated the governing Bhumjaithai Party (BJT) may win Sunday's general election, while the third saw the People’s Party (PP) as the potential winner.

PARIS - Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on Sunday ruled out Tehran ever giving up uranium enrichment in its negotiations with Washington, insisting it will not be intimidated by the threat of war with the United States.

PHUKET - Marine authorities are rushing to remove the oil spill from the Andaman Sea after the sinking of the Panama‑flagged cargo ship about 3 miles off Laem Phromthep on Saturday while en route from Malaysia to Bangladesh.

Voting went smoothly in Bangkok with no reports of major issues at polling stations across the city, Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt said on Sunday afternoon.