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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
Container ships are loaded with cargo at Busan New Port in Busan, South Korea, in January 2022. Photo: EPA-EFE
South Korea

South Korean ship will test Arctic route to Europe amid Western concern

The Northern Sea Route, chiefly used by Chinese and Russian vessels, could shorten voyages and save fuel, but requires Russian cooperation.

Royalty

Prince Harry and Meghan to move back to Britain, media reports say

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Andy Burnham

UK PM Burnham launches bid to help homeless, donating 15% of his wages

Pakistan

Pakistan’s government challenges court order on Imran Khan hospital move

Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar says allowing the court order ‘will open a floodgate of prisoners seeking similar relief’.

Pakistan’s former prime minister Imran Khan in May 2023. Photo: AP
Crime in Hong Kong

Customs arrests 2 over aggressive sales tactics at Opatra-branded shops

Arrests mark the first linked to the brand following mounting complaints and viral video of distressed customer.

China jobs

Record graduate influx lifts China’s youth jobless rate to 17.9% in July

An estimated 12.7 million university graduates have entered the job market this summer.

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HKEX

Next for Hong Kong’s exchange: ‘more products on our shelf’, HKEX boss pledges

After reporting record profit, CEO aims to establish a multiple-asset ecosystem and extend trading hours, starting with derivatives.

A flag showing the logo of Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing flies outside Exchange Square in Central, where the company has its headquarters, on July 21. Photo: Jelly Tse
Food and Drinks

How Singaporean cookbook writer Shu Han Lee built her spice brand Rempapa – interview

The author, who founded the Southeast Asian food brand in her London home kitchen, cares more about deliciousness than strict authenticity.

China trade

The Polar pivot? China debuts regular Arctic shipping service as Iran war drags on

Operators are fast-tracking northern routes that bypass vulnerable chokepoints in the Middle East.

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Crime in Hong Kong

Hong Kong customs raids office in Opatra London probe after 6 complaints

Officers find only corporate secretarial firm at registered address with no actual operations or staff of beauty chain.

Hong Kong customs raid a corporate secretarial office in Sheung Wan as part of an investigation into UK brand Opatra London. Photo: Handout
India

India’s fighter jet engine race heats up as Reliance, Rolls-Royce enter fray

Analysts say the pair gatecrashing a French firm’s bid gives India options, but questions remain about delivery.

Indian Air Force’s Rafale jets fly during the country’s Republic Day parade at Kartavya Path in New Delhi in January. Photo: AFP
Artificial intelligence

Alibaba’s lightweight Qwen takes on OpenAI, DeepSeek, Zhipu’s larger AI systems

Chinese tech giant’s latest offering performed on par with OpenAI’s GPT-5.6 Luna and nearly matched DeepSeek, Zhipu’s open-weight models.

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Artificial intelligence

Baidu’s AI surge fails to stem quarterly revenue decline

Helping cushion the fall, revenue from AI-related operations jumped 25 per cent year on year to 12.5 billion yuan.

Singapore

Singapore’s universities race to embrace AI as job demands transform

More employers are emphasising AI literacy and are willing to pay more for graduates with the relevant skills, analysts say.

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The Learning Hub at the Nanyang Technological University. NTU students have been given full access to a suite of Google AI tools. Photo: Universal Images Group/Getty Images
Crime in Hong Kong

Customs arrests 10 over HK$56 million cannabis haul bound for Europe, Africa

About 240kg of suspected cannabis buds seized in month-long operation targeting a syndicate that used the city as a transit hub.

The operation, code-named Fire Mesh, resulted in the seizure of about 240kg of cannabis buds. Photo: Jelly Tse
SCMP Highlights

How monarchies stay relevant; Pakistan’s new defence pact: 7 Asia highlights

From Southeast Asia’s monarchies to a shoving incident in Singapore, here are a few highlights from SCMP’s recent Asia reporting.

Banking & finance

China trims US Treasury holdings amid Iran war, Fed uncertainty

Beijing cuts exposure to US debt to US$633.4 billion, official data shows, amid broader diversification push.

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Racism and other prejudice

Thousands mourn ex-Cambridge professor Jason Arday in London vigil

Arday, who became Cambridge’s youngest black professor, was found dead on Friday after accusations of plagiarism.

People lay flowers at the end of a vigil by Stand Up To Racism to remember former Cambridge professor Jason Arday, who died aged 41 on Friday after resigning amid plagirism allegations, at Trafalgar Square in London on Monday. Photo: Reuters
Andy Burnham

UK PM Burnham exchanged messages with Trump aide impostor: reports

The UK leader reportedly sent messages to a person he believed to be White House chief of staff Susie Wiles before becoming suspicious.

Hong Kong society

Opatra London distances itself from Hong Kong firm over deceptive sales allegations

London-based beauty chain says it deeply regrets if any customers have had ‘a distressing experience associated with our brand’.

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China trade

China’s green dominance a ‘dilemma’ for world’s governments: report

World needs cheap green technologies to decarbonise, and efforts to reduce reliance on China risk slowing the transition, researchers say.

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Employees work on a production line for lithium-ion battery copper foil at Lingbao Baoxin Electronic Science and Technology in Sanmenxia, in central China’s Henan province, on April 17. Photo: VCG via Getty Images
SCMP Highlights

China embraces ‘Grandpa Cute’; Southeast Asia’s monarchies: 5 weekend reads

From Chinese billionaire buying a Shanghai hotel to Southeast Asia’s monarchies, here are five stories you may have missed over the weekend.

The national higher education entrance examination is one of many pressures for young people in China. Photo: AP
Climate change

‘Inhumane’: UK’s extreme heat pushes NHS staff, patients to limit

In hospitals built for a cooler climate, staff are dealing with patients too sweaty to receive drips and colleagues collapsing on the job.

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Donald Trump

BBC asks US court for help with testimony from Trump family in defamation suit

Trump is seeking US$10 billion in damages from the UK broadcaster, alleging that a documentary edited a speech he gave on January 6, 2021.

Hong Kong society

Customs steps in over claims beauty chain Opatra cheated woman out of HK$60,000

Woman, 58, claimed she bought HK$61,400 worth of products at Sha Tin outlet and questioned sales practices, police say.

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Opatra London’s 4,700 sq ft outlet on Russell Street in Causeway Bay. Photo: Nora Tam
China's military weapons

From cargo to combat: China urged to prepare civilian ships for wartime use

Defence researcher at top planning agency says Beijing should draw lessons from the Falklands conflict to commandeer commercial vessels.

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The 50,000-tonne Zhen Hua 33 is a prime example of a civilian vessel that meets dual-use standards, according to defence researcher Li Jin. Photo: Handout
BBC

UK PM Andy Burnham shifts focus to TikTok and podcasts

The British prime minister is bypassing traditional outlets with deft digital strategy, sparking praise from young voters and pushback from legacy media.

Social media

Why Chinese youth are turning to an 84-year-old Cambridge professor for support

To some of his 2.4 million followers, he is Grandpa Cute. Meet Alan Macfarlane, the gentle academic soothing China’s anxious generation.

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