There has been an outraged response to news that the UK has licensed sales of crowd control weapons to regimes that are violently suppressing peaceful protests.

Protests are expected when arms giant BAE Systems comes to court on Monday to agree a “plea bargain” with the Serious Fraud Office (SFO).

A crucial court hearing involving multinational arms firm BAE Systems will be held just before Christmas, raising fears it will allow BAE to “bury bad news”.

Amnesty International has called on Saudi authorities to protect domestic workers from abuse, after the discovery of the mutilated body of an Indonesian woman.