“For mighty dread had seized their troubled mind”

Unlike the angel, we’re unable to announce tidings of great joy. But it’s worth mulling why the Christmas season can pause even Brexit hostilities.

David Snoxell: The International Court of Justice may put more pressure on the UK over the Chagos Islands

The Government’s long rearguard defence of the British Indian Ocean Territory has reached a higher theatre than I ever expected.

Interview. As May’s defeat looms, Johnson sketches a manifesto: “People want to see a bit of gumption and a bit of leadership”

He expects her plan to be voted down on Tuesday, calls for a renegotiation which she could not conceivably lead – and rules out Norway Plus.

Nabil Najjar: The Government must take a tougher line to protect British nationals abroad

It’s no good boasting about this country’s ‘soft power’ arsenal if even our putative allies can take UK citizens hostage at will.

Benedict Rogers: Hunt has made a strong start in placing values at the heart of British foreign policy

From Hong Kong to Yemen to Burma the Foreign Secretary is making positive steps. There is still more to do, however.

Bob Seely: Hunt must face up to the harsh strategic realities facing Britain

Authoritarian regimes are rising, democracies are on the retreat, and our power to change that is less than we might wish.

Fiona Bruce: Join me at Conference to stand up for human rights in Hong Kong

Three members of the city’s democracy movement are flying in to share their concerns about the present situation and hopes for the future.

Hunt looks east to Japan…and west to Canada

He’s been known to ponder the way in which Singapore and Israel developed relatively quickly and with few assets – and draw lessons from their experience.

Bob Seely: Yes, Brexit and leadership are important. But so’s everything else. Here are some ideas for the future.

Scrap HS2. Integrate social care. Abolish NI. Reverse police cuts. Consider a new Bill of Rights. And much, much more.

PPS mini-shuffle: nine changes in the line-up

Hall becomes PPS to the Party Chairman; Cartlidge follows Hunt to the Foreign Office; Chalk appointed PPS to the Health Secretary.

Johnson’s reset moment. He should tour Brexit Britain to defend the referendum result.

Say what you like about him (and many do), the recently-resigned Foreign Secretary is one of the very few Tories with voter cut-through.

Never mind Hunt. Move over, Hancock. Meet Geoffrey Cox – the most significant appointment of the reshuffle.

As the meaning of legal texts moves centre-stage, Brexit-wise, May sends for a top QC to champion her case – and pore the documents.

Mini-reshuffle: Hunt to Foreign Office. Hancock to Health. Wright to DCMS.

Geoffrey Cox becomes Attorney General.

The Government’s Chequers Agreement. From Canada Plus Plus Plus to Brexit Minus Minus Minus.

If no deal is better than a bad one, the sum of this policy is certainly a bad deal. Tory leavers now face a bleak choice.

Robert Halfon: AK47s, pluralism, war, students, cigars – and I get high. What I saw amidst Kurdistan’s fledgeling democracy.

I hope that, one day, it is no longer just an autonomous region in Iraq, but gets the independence it deserves.