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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
A fallen tree is cleared from a road in St Stephen, Cornwall, England, on Friday as Storm Goretti continues to batter the United Kingdom. Photo: PA via AP
Extreme weather

1 dead in UK, 100,000 French homes without power as storms batter Europe

The man died on Friday after a tree fell onto a caravan in Cornwall, while some rail services in Germany remain affected by the storms.

X (formerly Twitter)

Will X be banned in the UK? Elon Musk hits back at shutdown warnings

Scams and swindles

Editorial | Regional cooperation led to arrest of alleged scam kingpin Chen Zhi

Hong Kong’s Tai Po fire tragedy

Letters | As Hongkongers unite around Tai Po, the fire probe must deliver

Readers discuss how to sustain social cohesion in Hong Kong, the kindness of Hongkongers, and why the world must respond to the Venezuela raid.

Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po on January 5. Photo: Dickson Lee
Cambodia

Cambodia dissolves accused scam tycoon Chen Zhi’s Prince Bank

The central bank said the lender has been ‘suspended from providing new banking services, including accepting deposits and providing credit’.

Cryptocurrency

China accuses extradited billionaire Chen of running crime network from Cambodia

Beijing says mainland police will put core members of his crime ring on a wanted list and fugitives should ‘turn themselves in’.

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France

Europe paralysed by snow as brutal cold snap disrupts flights, rail services

Thousands stranded as chaos grounds flights, with black ice sparking fatal accidents, while death toll rises to six in season’s worst freeze.

Snow falls on the streets of central Paris on Wednesday. Photo: EPA-EFE
Ukraine war

Ukraine’s allies agree to ‘robust’ security guarantees in push to end war

UK and France could deploy troops on Ukrainian territory after a ceasefire, but a big question mark hangs over Russia’s response.

Greenland

Use of US military to acquire Greenland ‘always an option’, White House says

Trump’s preferred option might be to buy Greenland from Denmark, but the White House says military action is being considered.

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Food and Drinks

5 premium sparkling teas in Hong Kong to try during Dry January

From The Peninsula’s Cuvée Sparkling Tea to Saicho’s limited-edition osmanthus offering, these low- or zero-alcohol tipples let you ditch the hangover but not the ceremony.

Saicho is just one of many labels offering non-alcoholic beverage options today. Photo: courtesy Saicho
Greenland

‘End of Nato’: Denmark warns US against taking Greenland by force

Denmark’s prime minister says a ‘military attack’ would destroy the transatlantic alliance, while Greenland’s leader urges against panic.

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Danish troops during a military drill in Greenland in September. Photo: Reuters
Palestinian Territories

Palestinian embassy in UK officially inaugurated

Ambassador Husam Zomlot hails upgrade from a mission to full embassy status as an ‘historic moment’.

Vietnam

Vietnam overtakes Thailand as Chinese tourists' top choice for travel

Chinese visitors to Vietnam jumped 41 per cent to 5.3 million, topping the 4.5 million to Thailand, where safety concerns reduced Chinese travellers.

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European Union

UK begins ‘world-leading’ junk food ad ban to curb childhood obesity

Restrictions on daytime television and paid online advertisements are part of a US$2.7 billion preventive health strategy.

The UK’s junk food ad restrictions aim to cut billions of calories from children’s diets. Photo: Shutterstock
US-Venezuela conflict

After Venezuela takeover, Chinese investors brace for era of regional anxiety

Washington’s moves to assert dominance in the western hemisphere could see tighter restrictions to curb Beijing’s growing footprint.

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Pro-government, armed civilians attend a protest in Caracas, Venezuela, on January 4, demanding the release of President Nicolas Maduro and first lady Cilia Flores, after US forces captured and flew them to the United States. Photo: AP
Human rights

Mobile seizure powers launch in UK crackdown on people smugglers

New UK laws allow officers to seize SIM cards and mobiles to gather intelligence on smuggling operators.

Obituaries

Anne Frank’s stepsister, Holocaust survivor Eva Schloss, dies at 96

Schloss co-founded the Anne Frank Trust UK foundation in 1990 to pass on the memory of the Holocaust to young people and combat prejudice.

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Switzerland

Swiss grieve as all 40 bar fire victims identified - many of them under 18

Hundreds march in silence to honour victims of the New Year’s Swiss bar fire who were as young as 14.

People gather during a memorial procession in Crans-Montana, Switzerland, on Sunday. Photo: AP
UK economy

UK’s Starmer says ousting him would lead to chaos, far-right government

Instability ‘would gift Nigel Farage’, the PM said, referring to the right-wing Reform UK leader who currently tops opinion polls.

China-EU relations

‘Straddle the middle ground’: Europe’s hard choice over US attacks on Venezuela

Although they do not agree with Trump’s way of doing things, they seem to agree with his ultimate objectives, analyst in China says.

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India

‘It’s paying off’: India spreads its trade bets to beat Trump’s 50% tariff

With exports hitting a record US$825 billion and a spate of new trade pacts, India is finding success diversifying away from the US.

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A man stands in a currency exchange shop in Mumbai. India has been stepping up efforts to diversify trade, signing deals with countries including New Zealand. Photo: EPA
Islamic State

Britain, France bombed suspected Isis arms dump in Syria: UK defence ministry

Intelligence analysis identified an underground facility believed ‍to contain weapons and explosives in mountains ‍near Palmyra, the UK said.

A UK Royal Air Force Typhoon aircraft at an undisclosed location in the Middle East. RAF Typhoon FGR4s joined French aircraft in a joint strike against the Daesh group in Syria on Saturday, the UK defence ministry said. Photo: EPA / SGT Lee Goddard / Handout
Disease

My Take | Time to make a new year resolution like your life depends on it

Improving public awareness of diabetes and the risks associated with it should be one of the vows for 2026.

Iran

Iranian diaspora in UK rallies in London to support protesters in Iran

Pro-democracy demonstrators gathered outside Downing Street for the rally organised by the Association of Anglo-Iranian Women in the UK.

Science

As I see it | We can now watch our own genes dance

Modern biology reveals a real miracle: how broken pieces of molecules evolved into a species that became conscious of its own genetic make-up.

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An animation of the structure of DNA. Photo: Shutterstock Images
Africa

Owner of Swiss bar where New Year fire killed 40 insists safety norms followed

‘Everything was done according to the regulations,’ Jacques Moretti, a Frenchman who manages the Le Constellation bar, told local media.

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People light candles near the sealed Le Constellation bar in Crans-Montana, Switzerland on Friday where a devastating fire left 40 dead and dozens injured during the New Year celebrations. Photo; AP
Anthony Joshua

Driver in fatal Anthony Joshua car crash charged with dangerous driving

Adeniyi Mobolaji Kayode was driving the British boxer and 2 of his friends when their car crashed on Monday, killing Joshua’s friends.

US-China relations

Chinese public warms to US while strongly backing Beijing’s trade stance: survey

‘Substantial’ uptick in favourability towards America compared with previous year, but still lower than scores for Britain, the EU and Asean.

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