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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
An artist’s impression of Nairobi’s new Central Train Station to be built by Chinese contractors. Photo: Handout
China-Africa relations

Is this Kenyan rail project a model for Chinese and Western firms in Africa?

The Nairobi Railway City project is being built by Chinese contractor but Britain is helping to provide the funding.

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Royalty

Meet Queen Elizabeth’s youngest grandchild, James, who was at Easter service

US, Israel war on Iran

Trump critique pauses UK handover of Chagos Islands to Mauritius

Hong Kong stock market

Can Hong Kong’s listing reform 2.0 win over innovative firms?

The reforms enhance the city’s appeal for AI, biotech and other firms by slashing the market cap threshold and enabling confidential filings.

Illustration by Henry Wong
Japan

Japan’s Middle East oil habit gets an Iran war reality check

Almost all of Japan’s oil comes from the Middle East. A closed strait turned that dependence into a trap.

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Fashion

This new exhibition pays tribute to Queen Elizabeth’s style legacy

The landmark event in The King’s Gallery celebrates the late monarch’s 100th birthday, features 200 rare garments, designer tributes and royal artefacts – and opens today.

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Royalty

Prince Harry sued by African charity he set up to honour Princess Diana

The British royal, who faces a defamation suit, had stepped down as a patron of Sentebale last year after disagreements over fundraising.

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Britain’s Prince Harry leaves High Court in London, Britain in January. Photo: Reuters
Hong Kong healthcare and hospitals

Girl, 9, in a critical condition with meningococcal infection after holiday in Japan

Girl, who has an underlying illness, visited Japan in a tour group with her family.

Crime

Man jailed for killing ‘ruthlessly’ abused wife who jumped from Scottish bridge

Lee Milne also grabbed Kimberley by the neck, choked her, dragged her around, punched her and knocked her unconscious.

France

Macron woos Trump to G7 summit with French palace dinner. Will he bite?

An official said the French leader was ‘begging’ the US president to attend the June meeting.

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US President Donald Trump with his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron in 2019. Photo: AP
Japan

Japan’s Sanae Takaichi tickled pink to meet UK band Deep Purple

The Japanese prime minister, who played in a Deep Purple tribute band in middle school, called drummer Ian Paice her ‘god’.

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Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi gives Made-in-Japan drumsticks to Deep Purple drummer Ian Paice at the Prime Minister’s Office in Tokyo on Friday. Photo: Reuters
Food and Drinks

A Chinese takeaway kid’s Hong Kong-style French toast with a twist

London bakery Cantoast’s deep-fried milk bread comes in flavours such as salted egg. It’s Hong Kong-style baking but not as we quite know it.

South Korea

Trump lashed out at Seoul over Hormuz. Will it affect US-South Korea ties?

Strong security ties and other allies’ reluctance to support Washington’s ‘war of choice’ will help Seoul withstand the blow, analysts say.

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War and conflict

UK tracked Russian submarines in alleged Atlantic ‘covert’ op: defence secretary

John Healey said warships and military aircraft forced Russia to halt activity in UK waters near vital undersea cables and pipelines.

Britain’s Defence Secretary John Healey delivers a statement at 9 Downing Street in London on Thursday. Photo: AFP
Crime

US$3 million Faberge egg heist at London pub ends in jail for thief

The rare item remains missing as police continue their investigation, urging anyone with information to come forward.

A green and gold, emerald-encrusted Faberge egg, which was stolen from a London pub in 2024. Photo: Metropolitan Police/AFP
US, Israel war on Iran

No let-up in Israeli attacks on Lebanon as US-Iran ceasefire teeters

Israel’s relentless Lebanon strikes threaten to shatter the fragile truce as peace talks loom.

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Science

China team introduced plant-based photosynthesis in sick animals. They recovered

Scientists transplant photosynthetic nanoparticles into rats and rabbits with degenerative diseases to boost energy, restore disrupted cells.

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SCMP Highlights

Gingle Wang’s rise, Hong Kong chef’s Canadian bakery: 7 Lifestyle highlights

From a colon cancer survivor’s fitness to an exhibition on Chinese-British exchanges, here are seven stories from SCMP’s recent reporting.

Taiwanese actress Gingle Wang takes part in an interview with the SCMP in Tsim Sha Tsui on April 2, 2026. Her journey from a novice actress to a star highlights her approach to acting. Photo: Karma Lo
Malaysia

Malaysian corruption watchdog secures arrest warrant for tycoon Daim’s sons

The move marks the latest development in a years-long probe into the ex-finance minister’s wealth.

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Banking & finance

Barclays boosts Hong Kong presence to tap thriving IPO market

C.S. Venkatakrishnan said the bank is increasing its outlay on talent and technology across its investment banking and trading units.

Fame and celebrity

Festival cancelled after UK government bans Kanye West from country

The British Home Office said his presence in Britain would not be ‘conducive to the public good’.

Ye had been expected to perform in front of around 150,000 revellers July 10-12 at the open-air festival in London’s Finsbury Park. Photo: AFP
Singapore

Singapore’s Shanmugam slams Bloomberg’s ‘venomous’ emails in defamation hearing

Cabinet ministers K. Shanmugam and Tan See Leng are suing Bloomberg over an article mentioning their personal property deals.

Singapore ministers Tan See Leng (left) and K. Shanmugam are suing Bloomberg for defamation. Photo: Facebook/Handout
Keir Starmer

Pressure mounts on UK government to ban Kanye West after festival backlash

Promoter defends plan for US rapper to headline London festival as sponsors pull out.

Keir Starmer

Major sponsors drop out of London festival headlined by Kanye West

Pepsi and Diageo pull out of Wireless Festival as PM Starmer weighs in on US rapper who has praised Nazism in the past.

Hong Kong economy

Move over, Easter bunny: cats are the stars in Hong Kong this holiday

Seasonal cat-themed artworks are stealing the limelight this Easter, tapping into the city’s booming ‘cat economy’.

‘A Moment to Purr’, a giant interactive cat art installation, is located at the arrivals hall of Terminal 1 at Hong Kong International Airport. Photo: Eugene Lee
International Property

How changes in home rental laws in England impact Hong Kong, mainland investors

Hong Kong-based investors own about 19 per cent of foreign-owned homes in London, while mainland Chinese account for about 12 per cent.

An estate agent sign outside a property in London, March 5, 2026. Photo: EPA
London

London mayor’s bodyguards relieved of duties after bag of guns ‘misplaced’

A pregnant passer-by found the bag, containing guns, a taser and ammunition, on a road outside Sadiq Khan’s home.

South Korea

Softly, softly: why South Korea, France prefer diplomacy over force in Hormuz

Presidents Lee and Macron have agreed to cooperate on safety in the strait but they are likely to wade in only after the war, analysts say.

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