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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
Perry Bamonte of The Cure performs at North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre in Chula Vista, California in May 2023. Bamonte has died aged 65, the British band said on Friday. Photo: Getty Images North America / AFP
Obituaries

The Cure guitarist and keyboard player Perry Bamonte dies aged 65

Bamonte, who became a full member of The Cure in 1990, was initially part of the British Goth rock band’s road crew from 1984.

King Charles III

Britain’s King Charles calls for ‘reconciliation’ in Christmas speech

Architecture and design

London-based designer Faye Toogood on her humanist, playful approach

Donald Trump

Jimmy Kimmel takes aim at Trump in ‘alternative Christmas message’ to UK

Talk show host and Trump foe Kimmel tells UK TV that ‘tyranny is booming’ in the US.

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Comedian Jimmy Kimmel speaks at a conference in Los Angeles in October. Photo: AFP
Royalty

Daughters of King Charles’ brother Andrew join royals for Christmas service

Their father, who was recently stripped of his titles ‍over ties to sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, was absent from the church.

Bangladesh

Aspiring Bangladesh PM Tarique Rahman welcomed home after 17 years abroad

The political heavyweight is to lead the BNP through an election after ex-premier Sheikh Hasina’s exit following a student-led uprising.

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Indonesia

Red, white and Blue: Indonesia lodges complaint over porn star’s flag stunt

Bonnie Blue’s run-in with Indonesia began earlier this month when she was arrested for making pornographic content in a Bali studio.

Bonnie Blue pins the Indonesian flag to the back of her dress, causing it to drag on the ground. Photo: Instagram
Africa

Algeria brands French colonisation a crime, demands reparations, apology

France’s rule over Algeria from 1830 until 1962 remains a sore spot in relations between the two countries.

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Social media

Letters | To kick our social media habit, let’s start with the adults

Readers discuss the missing link in efforts to restrict screen time for children, concern over the Jimmy Lai trial and verdict, and rampant illegal parking in Hong Kong.

Sexual harassment and assault

Russell Brand charged with new counts of rape, sexual assault in UK

The new charges relate to ⁠two women and follow five charges made in April involving four other women.

Russell Brand speaking at Turning Point USA’s AmericaFest 2025, on December 18 in Phoenix. Photo: AP
Social media

US hits 5 Europeans with visa bans in ‘censorship’ row

Former EU commissioner is among those barred as the US targets individuals it says are involved in censoring US social media platforms.

The most high-profile target was French ‌former business executive Thierry Breton, who served as the European commissioner. Photo: dpa
US-China trade war

Explainer | Will US-led ‘Pax Silica’ be a new dawn for the international AI supply chain?

Trump administration aims for deeper technology cooperation on new AI infrastructure with allies.

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Islamic militancy

2 men found guilty of UK plot to kill hundreds in Jewish community

Had the plan come off, it would have resulted in ‘one of, if not the, deadliest terrorist attack in UK history’, say counterterrorism police.

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Hong Kong healthcare and hospitals

Explainer | As ‘super flu’ spreads worldwide, how can Hongkongers protect against it?

Researchers find 82.8 per cent of flu specimens collected from Queen Mary Hospital between December 6 and 11 were subclade K.

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Residents wear masks inside a shopping centre in Tai Kok Tsui. Photo: Karma Lo
Palestine Action

Greta Thunberg arrested in London at pro-Palestinian protest

The 22-year-old Swede held a sign supporting hunger strikers and their organisation known as Palestine Action.

Greta Thunberg in a police van on Tuesday following her arrest in London at a demonstration. Photo: Prisoners for Palestine via AFP
Indonesia

Rafflesia flower rediscovery in Indonesia revives push to drop colonial name

The giant flower find has renewed calls among researchers to rename its genus, which honours British colonial official Thomas Raffles.

Crime

UK man, 5 others charged with sex offences against woman

Six men, including the victim’s former husband, were ‌charged with dozens of offences.

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Art

Elusive street artist Banksy unveils latest work in central London

The artist confirms a new mural - as a mysterious, identical piece appears just kilometres away.

A new mural by anonymous artist Banksy, in Bayswater, London on Monday. Photo: Reuters
Obituaries

Chris Rea, UK singer of ‘Driving Home for Christmas’, dead at 74

After a career spanning five decades and 40 million records sold, the Middlesbrough-born musician died in hospital following a short illness.

Germany

Baidu teams up with Uber, Lyft for London robotaxi launch in first half of 2026

The Lyft robotaxi fleet will use Baidu’s fully electric Apollo Go RT6, which has been purpose-built for ride-sharing.

Education

Opinion | As UK universities lose prestige, Asian institutions stand to benefit

The decline of Britain’s universities and the challenges facing Western academia in general stem from education no longer being treated as a national investment.

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People walk past the Bridge of Sighs at Oxford University in Britain on December 5. Photo: Reuters
Banking & finance

Gold takes centre stage as Hong Kong builds commodities ecosystem

Hong Kong plans to build an international gold trading centre as part of a wider commodities hub push.

Gold bricks displayed at Hong Kong Gold Exchange Chinese New Year Opening Ceremony in Sheung Wan. Photo: Edmond So
China’s soft power

Chinese spy? Propagandist? Former Confucius Institute director tells his story

Memoir by former Britain-based academic rebuts accusations that the centres serve as vehicles for Beijing’s state narratives.

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India

‘Pax Silica’: America’s new AI inner circle and Asia’s chosen few

Japan, South Korea and Singapore made the cut, leaving key partners like India and Vietnam – and even New Zealand – on the sidelines.

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Israel

Jews worldwide urged to ‘come home’ to Israel after Bondi massacre

Gideon Saar says ‘Jews are being hunted across the world’ following the December 14 Isis-inspired shooting at a Hanukkah event in Australia.

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A person with Israel’s flag and other people attend a ceremony to mark the National Day of Reflection for victims and survivors, at Bondi Beach in Sydney on Sunday. Photo: AP
Stonehenge

Thousands witness sun rising at Britain’s Stonehenge for winter solstice

Crowds gather in the pre-dawn cold to watch the sun rise over the 5,000-year-old pillars, marking the gradual return of longer days.

Revellers at Stonehenge stone circle near Amesbury, Britain. Photo: Reuters
Ukraine war

Starmer and Trump discuss Ukraine, Gaza and new UK ambassador in call

Leaders spoke about issues of mutual interest in the pre-Christmas phone call, according to Downing Street.

Sexual harassment and assault

At least 16 files gone from Epstein release site, including 1 with Trump photo

The missing documents were originally available but no longer accessible a day later, with no reason given.

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