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Keir Starmer

Keir Starmer
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British Prime Minister Keir Starmer is expected to visit Beijing and Shanghai in late January. Photo: EPA
Accidents and disasters in China

How will Jimmy Lai’s conviction affect China-UK ties, Starmer’s planned visit?

Outcome of ex-media tycoon’s Hong Kong trial poses stern test for Labour government’s balancing act with Beijing, observers say.

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Britain

‘Big step forward’: UK rejoins Erasmus exchange programme in post-Brexit reset

Britain

UK spy and military chiefs give threat assessment in ‘age of uncertainty’

Australia

World leaders express horror at Bondi Beach attack as vigils held for victims

Israel’s Herzog condemned the ‘cruel attack on Jews’ by ‘terrorists’; Trump branded the shooting that killed 15 people ‘purely antisemitic’.

People hold a vigil outside the Australian High Commission in central London, Britain on Sunday following a terrorist attack on a Jewish celebration at Bondi Beach in Sydney, Australia. Photo: PA Wire / dpa
Britain

UK ‘super flu’ crisis and doctors’ strike spark ‘worst-case’ Christmas fears

Flu cases hit record highs with a 55 per cent weekly jump as the NHS faces a planned doctors’ strike next week.

Ukraine war

Ukraine sends US a revised peace plan as Trump blasts European allies

US president says ‘pretty strong words’ were used in his discussion with leaders from the UK, France and Germany.

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Ukraine war

Member of UK armed forces killed in Ukraine ‘accident’, Britain says

It marked the first time a member of the UK military had been killed in Ukraine since Russia’s 2022 invasion.

Ukrainian recruits train under British soldiers train at an army camp in England in February 2024. Photo: AP
Ukraine war

European allies back Ukraine’s Zelensky after Trump criticism

Ukrainian president met leaders in London and Brussels, declaring that ceding territory to Russia - a central point of the US proposal - was impossible.

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Britain

‘Follow me’: UK’s Starmer launches TikTok account despite security ban

Prime minister’s office insists ‘security mitigations’ are in place as he turns to the popular Chinese-owned app for greater outreach.

China-EU relations

Opinion | In reaching out to China, European states can’t keep acting alone

The idea of an autonomous bloc engaging Beijing from a position of strength and independence collapses when its toothless leaders visit.

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Illustration: Craig Stephens
Britain

UK’s bold defence plans face doubt over funding as security challenges rise

Military chiefs worry the UK will have to scale back its defence ambitions amid concerns about what the country can afford.

The deck of the HMS Severn, with the Russian corvette RFN Stoikiy in the distance off the UK coast, in an undated photo. Photo: UK Ministry of Defence via AP
Britain

Collapsed UK China spy case due to ‘shambolic’ failures, not conspiracy: inquiry

The spy case against two British men collapsed as the UK failed to deem Beijing a threat, prompting cover-up speculation just before their trial.

Ukraine war

Zelensky reinforces European support as he eyes Trump talks on US deal

Ukrainian president met Macron in Paris to sound out allies on the US blueprint for peace, which was drafted without input from Kyiv or Europe.

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Europe’s refugee crisis

Illegal migrants to UK face clothing and mouth searches for phones, SIM cards

The Home Office says the new powers are needed to gather intelligence quickly on criminal gangs suspected of smuggling migrants.

An officer helps a woman after a group was picked up attempting to cross the English Channel from France in 2023. Photo: AFP
Britain

Head of UK financial watchdog quits after early leak of Rachel Reeves’ budget

Richard Hughes said he wanted to help the Office for Budget Responsibility recover from the lapse, which is linked to leadership failures.

Britain’s Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves speaks in the House of Commons in London on Wednesday as the government delivered its annual budget. Photo: House of Commons / AFP / Handout
King Charles III

UK’s King Charles to host first state visit by a German president in 27 years

Frank-Walter Steinmeier will land in England on Wednesday. The last German state visit was in 1998 when Queen Elizabeth hosted Roman Herzog.

United States

US-UK zero tariff deal to reshape NHS medicine spending

The agreement removes tariffs on medicines and raises NHS spending on new drugs by 25 per cent, boosting pharmaceutical growth.

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Britain

UK finance minister says did not mislead public on latest budget

Britain’s Conservatives have accused Rachel Reeves of misrepresenting the state of the nation’s finances in the run-up to her November 26 budget.

Britain’s Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves poses with her ministerial red box before heading to the House of Commons to deliver her budget speech on November 26. Photo: Reuters
Britain

UK’s Reeves unveils tax plan amid embarrassing budget leak

In an unprecedented error, the UK’s financial watchdog apologised for publishing budget forecasts before they were delivered in parliament.

China-UK relations

Starmer met Premier Li Qiang at G20 in South Africa amid Beijing visit rumours

Speculation on a Beijing trip comes as Britain’s PM said he would protect UK national interests after questions about engagement with China.

Britain

UK digital ID plan fuels conspiracies, but government denies it is for control

Starmer government insists a digital ID will be voluntary, as critics say it could be used to limit access to flying and food, among other things.

Football fans display banners against a digital ID - a plan that is highly controversial in the UK. Photo: Reuters
Sexual harassment and assault

Starmer suggests ex-prince Andrew should testify in US Epstein probe

Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor has so far ignored a US request for a ‘transcribed interview’ about his friendship with Jeffrey Epstein.

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The former prince, now known as Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor. Photo: AFP
China-UK relations

UK PM Keir Starmer to visit China in January, Sky News reports

The trip would come soon after Britain decides on the approval of a new Chinese embassy in London that critics say will pose a security risk.

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Britain

UK says ‘military options’ ready as Russian ship points lasers at British pilots

The Russian embassy said that Moscow has no interest in undermining the UK’s security as it sails spy ship on the edge of British waters.

Britain

MI5 warns UK lawmakers of Chinese spies on LinkedIn

The ‘espionage alert’ warned that Chinese nationals were ‘actively’ reaching out to lawmakers via recruitment headhunters.

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Britain’s domestic intelligence agency warns MPs of Chinese spies using LinkedIn and recruiters to target UK politicians. Photo: Shutterstock
Europe’s refugee crisis

UK toughens asylum policy as anti-immigration sentiment rises

Policy overhaul seeks greater control over who can remain in Britain as tens of thousands of people claim asylum.

Migrants in Gravelines, northern France, walk in the water to board a small boat in an attempt to reach Britain. Photo: AP
Britain

UK says it’s ending ‘golden ticket’ for refugees with asylum overhaul

Those given refugee status will have it for 30 months instead of five years, and must wait 20 years to apply to live in the UK long term.

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Donald Trump

Trump to sue BBC for up to US$5 billion: ‘they’ve even admitted they cheated’

The BBC has apologised to Trump for editing his 2021 speech, calling it an ‘error of judgment’, but rejected the defamation claim.

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