https://www.scmp.com/rss/524618/feed The latest news and top stories on Tony Blair. A British politician, he served as Prime Minister from 1997 to 2007, leading the Labour Party to three consecutive election victories. Post-premiership, he was Special Envoy for the Middle East Quartet until 2015. Currently, as Executive Chairman of the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change, he advises leaders globally on governance policy and technology. His work focuses on tackling extremism promoting peace and addressing global challenges. Key... en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse The UK government said on Tuesday it supported the release of documents on ex-prince Andrew’s past role as a trade envoy, hours after a veteran politician was quizzed by police in the widening Jeffrey Epstein scandal. US authorities last month published millions of files related to the late sex offender Epstein, containing revelations that have rocked British political and royal circles. It has ramped up pressure on Labour Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s government to release its own vetting... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3344511/uk-eyes-releasing-files-arrogant-andrew-clean-away-epstein-scandal-stain?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3344511/uk-eyes-releasing-files-arrogant-andrew-clean-away-epstein-scandal-stain?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 24 Feb 2026 15:34:28 +0000 Reuters Reuters Governments reacted cautiously on Sunday to US President Donald Trump’s invitation to join his “Board of Peace” initiative aimed at resolving conflicts globally, a plan that diplomats said could harm the work of the United Nations. Only ‍Hungary, whose leader is a close Trump ally, gave an unequivocal acceptance in response to the invitations, which have been addressed to some 60 nations and began arriving in European capitals on Saturday, according to diplomats. Other governments appeared... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3340349/world-leaders-show-caution-trumps-broader-board-peace-amid-fears-un?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3340349/world-leaders-show-caution-trumps-broader-board-peace-amid-fears-un?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 18 Jan 2026 17:43:10 +0000 Bloomberg Bloomberg The Trump administration is asking countries that want a permanent spot on his new Board of Peace to contribute at least US$1 billion. According to a draft charter for the proposed group seen by Bloomberg, US President Donald Trump would serve as its inaugural chairman and would decide on who is invited to be members. Decisions would be taken by a majority, with each member state present getting one vote, but all would be subject to the chairman’s approval. “Each Member State shall serve a term... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3340288/trump-wants-nations-pay-us1-billion-stay-his-board-peace?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3340288/trump-wants-nations-pay-us1-billion-stay-his-board-peace?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 17 Jan 2026 23:45:11 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse US President Donald Trump on Friday gave a key role in post-war Gaza to former British prime minister Tony Blair and appointed a US officer to lead a nascent security force. Trump named members of a board to help supervise Gaza that was dominated by Americans, as he promotes a controversial vision of economic development in a territory that lies in rubble after two-plus years of relentless Israeli bombardment. The step came after a Palestinian committee of technocrats meant to govern Gaza held... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/middle-east/article/3340233/trump-names-blair-and-rubio-gaza-board-peace?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/middle-east/article/3340233/trump-names-blair-and-rubio-gaza-board-peace?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 16 Jan 2026 23:36:30 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse Plans for a new nationwide UK digital ID are sparking widespread public concern, but some critics including far-right politicians are fuelling fears with unproven claims that it will be used to boost government control over people’s lives. They have warned that a digital ID would be used to store data on vaccinations and carbon footprint and limit access to flying and food, which the government has vehemently denied. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer in September said the ID card would be... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3333899/uk-digital-id-plan-fuels-conspiracies-government-denies-it-control?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3333899/uk-digital-id-plan-fuels-conspiracies-government-denies-it-control?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 24 Nov 2025 05:27:23 +0000 Reuters Reuters Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas signed an agreement on Thursday to cease fire and free Israeli hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners, the first phase of US President Donald Trump’s initiative to end the war in Gaza. Israelis and Palestinians alike rejoiced after the deal was announced, the biggest step yet taken to end two years of war in which over 67,000 Palestinians have been killed, and return the last hostages seized by Hamas in the attacks that unleashed... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/middle-east/article/3328424/israel-and-hamas-sign-ceasefire-and-hostage-deal-sparking-hope-peace-gaza?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/middle-east/article/3328424/israel-and-hamas-sign-ceasefire-and-hostage-deal-sparking-hope-peace-gaza?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 09 Oct 2025 14:13:05 +0000 Resty Woro Yuniar Resty Woro Yuniar Indonesia has backed US President Donald Trump’s controversial plan to end the war in Gaza, presenting it as a constructive step towards resolving the two-year conflict and easing humanitarian suffering in the besieged enclave. But the decision has stirred backlash at home, with analysts suggesting that Indonesia – long a vocal supporter of Palestinian statehood – may have stepped into a “diplomatic trap” that benefits Israeli and US interests more than those of Palestinians. “The government’s... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3328242/did-indonesia-fall-diplomatic-trap-over-trumps-gaza-peace-plan?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3328242/did-indonesia-fall-diplomatic-trap-over-trumps-gaza-peace-plan?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 08 Oct 2025 10:30:09 +0000 Alexander Gillespie Alexander Gillespie The situation in the Middle East is moving exceptionally fast. New Zealand and the international community had barely digested the debate about Palestinian statehood before US President Donald Trump presented a 20-point peace plan for Gaza. There are good reasons to be sceptical about the plan’s success, given the actors involved and the lack of trust on all sides. But from New Zealand’s perspective, there are positive aspects contained within it, including: The proposed ceasefire and immediate... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/opinion/article/3327823/gaza-trump-and-new-zealands-moment-truth-palestinian-statehood?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/opinion/article/3327823/gaza-trump-and-new-zealands-moment-truth-palestinian-statehood?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 05 Oct 2025 02:30:08 +0000 Cliff Buddle Cliff Buddle The British government, desperate to ease rising concerns about illegal immigration, has announced a radical new plan. It is one that would not be seen as remotely controversial in Hong Kong, or many other parts of the world. But in the UK, the initiative is viewed by many as a sinister threat to the country’s cherished freedoms. The proposal, announced by Prime Minister Keir Starmer last month, envisages the introduction of identity cards to the UK. The idea, fiercely resisted by British people... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/article/3327892/digital-id-may-be-bridge-too-far-those-brits-wanting-stop-boats?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/article/3327892/digital-id-may-be-bridge-too-far-those-brits-wanting-stop-boats?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 04 Oct 2025 15:08:34 +0000 Khushboo Razdan Khushboo Razdan US President Donald Trump seized on Hamas’s willingness to discuss a ceasefire on Friday, declaring that Israel must “immediately” stop its bombing campaign in Gaza to clear the way for negotiations. Describing it as a “big”, “special” and “unprecedented” day in a short video shared on his social media, Trump added, “we’re very close to achieving peace” in the Middle East. “We’ll see how it all turns out. We have to get the final word down in concrete,” he highlighted, adding that “everybody was... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/middle-east/article/3327853/hamas-says-it-accepts-some-elements-gaza-peace-plan-after-trump-issues-ultimatum?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/middle-east/article/3327853/hamas-says-it-accepts-some-elements-gaza-peace-plan-after-trump-issues-ultimatum?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 03 Oct 2025 20:13:10 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press US President Donald Trump said Hamas must agree to a proposed peace deal for Gaza by Sunday evening, threatening an even greater military onslaught nearly two years into the war sparked by the October 7 attack into Israel. Trump appears keen to deliver on pledges to end the war and return dozens of hostages ahead of the second anniversary of the attack on Tuesday. His peace plan has been accepted by Israel and welcomed internationally, but key mediators Egypt and Qatar, and at least one Hamas... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/middle-east/article/3327846/trump-sets-sunday-deadline-hamas-agree-deal-ending-gaza-war?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/middle-east/article/3327846/trump-sets-sunday-deadline-hamas-agree-deal-ending-gaza-war?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 03 Oct 2025 14:47:10 +0000 Tom Hussain Tom Hussain A proposal by US President Donald Trump to end the war in Gaza is already under fire, just days after its release, over last-minute changes pushed by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that critics say could undermine Arab-Islamic support and derail the path to peace. Analysts say the “principles for peace” deal, unveiled on Monday, risks alienating the very Arab and Muslim nations the pact depends on – by allowing Israeli forces to occupy most of Gaza indefinitely unless Palestinian... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3327517/will-trumps-gaza-peace-plan-work-netanyahus-changes-spark-arab-islamic-unease?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3327517/will-trumps-gaza-peace-plan-work-netanyahus-changes-spark-arab-islamic-unease?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 01 Oct 2025 09:30:37 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse US President Donald Trump gave Hamas an ultimatum of “three or four days” on Tuesday to respond to his plan for Gaza, as the militant group reviewed the proposal backed by Israel. The plan calls for a ceasefire, release of hostages by Hamas within 72 hours, disarmament of Hamas and gradual Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, followed by a post-war transitional authority headed by Trump himself. World powers, including Arab and Muslim nations, welcomed the proposal, but Hamas had yet to issue its... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/middle-east/article/3327416/hamas-reviewing-trump-gaza-plan-netanyahu-insists-israeli-control-sparking-scepticism?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/middle-east/article/3327416/hamas-reviewing-trump-gaza-plan-netanyahu-insists-israeli-control-sparking-scepticism?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 30 Sep 2025 11:24:32 +0000 Agence France-Presse,Reuters Agence France-Presse,Reuters UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Friday announced plans to introduce free digital ID for both nationals and those living in the country in a bid to curb illegal migration. The government said the drive will also make it simpler to apply for services like driving licences, childcare and welfare, while streamlining access to tax records. The new digital ID will be held on people’s phones and there will be no requirement for individuals to carry their ID or be asked to produce it, said the... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3326996/uk-launch-mandatory-digital-id-curb-illegal-migration?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3326996/uk-launch-mandatory-digital-id-curb-illegal-migration?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 26 Sep 2025 09:10:39 +0000 Reuters Reuters US President Donald Trump presided over a policy meeting on Israel’s war in Gaza and post-war plans for the Palestinian territory on Wednesday with input from former British prime minister Tony Blair and former Trump Middle East envoy Jared Kushner, a senior White House official said. Trump, top White House officials, Blair and Kushner discussed the hostage crisis, plans to escalate food aid deliveries, post-war plans and more, the official told Reuters. The official described the session as... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/middle-east/article/3323412/trump-holds-meeting-gaza-ex-uk-pm-tony-blair-and-former-envoy-jared-kushner?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/middle-east/article/3323412/trump-holds-meeting-gaza-ex-uk-pm-tony-blair-and-former-envoy-jared-kushner?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 27 Aug 2025 23:51:18 +0000