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Britain

Britain
The latest breaking news and stories on the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (UK), a constitutional monarchy in northern Europe which includes England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, and the world’s sixth largest economy. Also covering the UK’s relationship with the European Union (EU) post Brexit, as well as with China, plus commentary and updates on the UK’s economy, politics, society and social issues.
Capital
London
Head of State
King Charles III
King Charles III
Head of Government
Prime Minister Keir Starmer
The “Oyster Story” exhibition in Shanghai. Photo: Rolex/Anthony Reed
Architecture and design

Rolex Oyster: From English Channel to Shanghai, a century of innovation

Discover how Rolex’s 1926 Oyster revolutionised horology with waterproof durability, self-winding Perpetual movement, and iconic tool watches.

Banking & finance

Beyond a bridge: Hong Kong digs in to shore up fragile ‘moat’, anchor growth

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Hong Kong economy

Hong Kong’s war-risk pool testament to collaboration, insurance leader says

Nigel Farage

UK’s Nigel Farage to quit as lawmaker, seeks re-election to clear name

He faces a probe by parliament’s standards watchdog over a £5 million (US$6.7 million) gift from a Thailand-based cryptocurrency billionaire.

Reform UK leader Nigel Farage makes a statement to the media at the party headquarters in Millbank, central London, on Tuesday. Photo: via AP
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry

Prince Harry loses privacy lawsuit against Daily Mail publisher

Harry called the result, which scuttles suits filed by others including Elton John and Elizabeth Hurley, ‘⁠a complete and obvious whitewash’.

Education in Hong Kong

14 of 27 top IB scorers from English Schools Foundation plan to study medicine

Some ESF students attribute their success to discipline, miso soup and using a Nokia phone.

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Singapore

Singapore is world’s most expensive city for luxury spending for fourth year

Zurich, Monaco, Hong Kong and London rounded out the top five in Swiss wealth manager Julius Baer Group’s Lifestyle Index.

A small motor boat passes by luxury waterfront condominiums in Singapore’s Sentosa Cove. Photo: Getty Images
Banking & finance

Beijing unveils policy enhancements to give ‘vitality’ to Hong Kong markets

The governor of China’s central bank says Beijing is set to increase capital allocation to the city to 800 billion yuan under the Bond Connect scheme.

Royalty

Prince Harry arrives in UK with Buckingham Palace stay in disarray

Duke of Sussex’s spokesman hits out at ‘last-moment’ withdrawal of palace accommodation after missing response deadline.

TV shows and streaming video

ITV and Comcast’s Sky reshape British TV landscape with US$2.1 billion deal

US telecoms giant Comcast will buy ITV’s free-to-air channels and streaming service to create the UK’s biggest commercial broadcaster.

Sky television and ITV will merge in a US$2.1 billion deal to compete with ​global players YouTube, Netflix, Amazon and Disney. Photo: Reuters
Thailand

Thai PM warns may ‘shut down’ cannabis industry after global smuggling spike

Four years after decriminalisation, a wave of international drug busts could force Asia’s only legal cannabis market to recriminalise.

Customs officers stand next to packages of seized cannabis buds during a press conference in Gresik, Indonesia’s East Java province, on Thursday. Photo: AFP
Hong Kong International Airport

On This Day | ‘Goodbye and thank you’: Hong Kong’s old Kai Tak Airport closes - SCMP archive

Lights go out for the last time as army of staff works overnight on move to Chek Lap Kok.

Hong Kong handover anniversary

Letters | 29 years since the handover, Hong Kong is charting its own course

Readers discuss the 29th anniversary of the city’s return to Chinese sovereignty, Malaysia’s revision of child sexual abuse law, and Centra Asia’s complex ties with Russia.

Wimbledon

Wimbledon: Djokovic makes history, Osaka sends Sabalenka crashing out

Djokovic’s victory over Russia’s Roman Safiullin took the Serb past Roger Federer to 106 men’s match-wins at the grass-court grand slam.

Serbia’s Novak Djokovic celebrates his win against Russia’s Roman Safiullin on Sunday. Photo: EPA
Reform UK party

UK’s Nigel Farage faces new allegations over gifts

Reform UK leader referred to parliament’s standards watchdog after a report that he failed to declare some benefits.

Britain’s Reform UK leader Nigel Farage. Photo: Reuters
My Take

What have the Americans ever done for us?

For its 250th birthday, it is worth remembering some of the greatest contributions that the US has made to humankind.

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Hong Kong healthcare and hospitals

Nearly 60% of Hong Kong parents mistake deadly disease for a cold, survey finds

Doctors urge greater public awareness of deadly meningococcal disease as survey exposes low knowledge and vaccine uptake.

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China trade

Why is a Chinese-made portable AC selling out across heat-stricken Europe?

Popularity of Midea’s PortaSplit fuels resale mark-ups and expedited shipping as renters favour plug-and-play cooling amid installation barriers.

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A Midea PortaSplit air conditioner is pictured at Midea’s German R&D Centre on Tuesday. Photo: Xinhua
Keir Starmer

Vance hopes Burnham delivers ‘structural change’ amid ‘broken’ UK politics

The US vice-president said the next prime minister must figure out ‘how to ‌get Britain back on track’.

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Banking & finance

Why has China lowered its own ranking in global financial competitiveness?

A Beijing think tank dropped China’s world ranking to fifth place, behind the US, Japan, UK and Germany following stock market volatility.

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US, Israel war on Iran

Minefields, stalled talks keep Strait of Hormuz in strategic limbo

Iran’s grip on maritime traffic through the strait remains both ‘real’ and ‘strong’ even amid the cessation in hostilities, analysts say.

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Vessels at the Strait of Hormuz, as seen from Musandam, Oman, on Wednesday. Photo: Reuters
Science

Energy scientist Chen Peipei leaves Cambridge to build her own lab in Hong Kong

Chen relocates to gain research autonomy and start-up grants for young scientists, which she says UK universities struggle to afford.

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Chen Peipei attends the Global Sustainable Development Congress 2026 in Jakarta in June. Photo: Handout
Fame and celebrity

Meet Keagan Polk, the accountant at Wimbledon cheering on her boyfriend Jacob Fearnley

The pair met while studying at Texas Christian University where Polk played volleyball, and have been together for almost 5 years … but she’s no typical tennis WAG.

China manufacturing

Macroscope | How ‘post-industrial’ buyer’s remorse set in for the West and Japan

After decades of hollowing out their manufacturing bases, Western and Japanese policymakers can and should do more than bewail China’s rise.

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China travel

Further to fly? Shenzhen poised to add more international flights

Shenzhen Baoan Airport could add more routes as China’s aviation regulator considers easing requirements for intercontinental flights.

An artist's rendering of the new Terminal 2 at Shenzhen Baoan Airport, a facility that handled 66 million passengers in 2025. Photo: Handout
US-China relations

Opinion | What the US should learn from China’s 19th century decline

Every empire has its strengths and weaknesses. Perhaps the most important asset is understanding those of your adversaries.

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US President Donald Trump (left) walks with President Xi Jinping at the Temple of Heaven on May 14 in Beijing. Photo: AP
China jobs

AI skills required for 4 out of 10 graduate jobs in China: recruitment portal

University of Hong Kong professors say ‘messy jobs’ that span multiple tasks more immune to challenges posed by technology.

India

India-Bangladesh ties ease with visa restart amid China concerns

Analysts say Dhaka will have to be prudent as it tries to secure Chinese investment to boost its economy while managing India’s security concerns.

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