Met Office

Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya's Office met with human rights defenders to discuss the safety of Belarusians and the accountability of Alexander Lukashenko's regime for ongoing repression. The talks focused on documenting abuses and protecting those targeted inside Belarus and in exile. Rights groups have long pressed for international accountability mechanisms over political persecution in the country.

Weather maps indicate a -1C cold snap is on the way, with temperatures across every part of the UK falling into single digits. The forecast, reported alongside Met Office guidance, suggests a widespread chill is approaching, prompting interest in how cold it will get and when the wintry conditions will arrive.

Several Dutch public authorities are already working with a digitally autonomous workplace: a sovereign alternative to Windows and Office built on Linux. The initiative, covered by Tweakers, is framed as a step toward digital sovereignty, reducing dependence on American software vendors. Tech commentators are discussing which governments are involved and whether the approach could scale to other public institutions.

Geoff Freeman, president and CEO of the U.S. Travel Association, met with President Donald Trump in the Oval Office to discuss matters affecting the American travel industry. The meeting drew attention within the travel sector, where industry leaders are focused on issues such as international visitor numbers, visa policy, and the economic contribution of tourism to the U.S. economy. Details of what was discussed have not been fully disclosed, but the high-level access signals the industry's priorities are reaching the White House.

A Metropolitan Police officer has been charged as part of an investigation connected to Charing Cross police station in London. The charge follows ongoing scrutiny of the force, which has faced previous misconduct scandals linked to that station. Details of the specific allegations have not been added beyond the charge itself, and the case is likely to proceed through the courts.