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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
Kevin Warsh was confirmed as the next chairman of the US Federal Reserve earlier this month. Photo: Reuters
Yuan

As the world retreats from US Treasuries, will the sell-off deepen?

China is one of several nations trimming their exposure to US debt, as inflation drives Treasury yields to levels not seen since 2007.

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The Philippines

More than a missile? Why the Philippines wants Japan’s old Type 88

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Yuan

China joins global sell-off of US Treasuries in March as Iran war prompts panic

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Sexual harassment and assault

UK reality hit Married at First Sight pulled as contestants allege rape

Channel 4 removes all seasons ⁠of the series following rape and non-consensual sex allegations by three women.

Contestants in the show agree to mock weddings with a total stranger and are then filmed living together. Photo: Shutterstock
Crime

UK jails driver for smuggling cocaine in Kardashian brand underwear shipment

UK border officials found the illicit haul hidden in a truck transporting Skims shapewear cargo.

Hong Kong courts

4 plead guilty to rioting during 2019 PolyU siege in Hong Kong

Cheung Chung-yiu, Cheung Chin-ming, Chan Chun-hei and Chan Yuen-ming were aged between 16 and 27 at the time of the November 2019 riots.

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Celebrity children

Meet Venezuela, Tyson Fury’s daughter who just got married at 16

Her marriage to amateur boxer Noah Price, 18, has sparked internet debate because of her age – but what did her mum Paris Fury have to say about it?

Venezuela Fury is heavyweight boxing champion Tyson Fury’s oldest child. Photo: @venezuelaprice1/Instagram
Keir Starmer

Revolt against UK’s Starmer revives bitter debate over undoing Brexit

With the prime minister’s leadership in crisis, the spectre of rejoining the EU is creeping back into the debate.

From our archives

On This Day | Hong Kong’s iconic Bank of China Tower opens in 1990 – SCMP archive

Opening 36 years ago today, the landmark skyscraper was Hong Kong’s tallest at the time.

France

‘It’s nasty’: Swatch-Audemars Piguet watch hype ignites global shopping chaos

From New York to Milan, buyers push and shove each other to get their hands on the ‘Royal Pop’ timepieces.

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People wait in line to enter the Swatch store in Times Square in New York on Saturday. Photo: AFP
Keir Starmer

Rival pro-Palestine, far-right protests in London as 4,000 police deployed

London’s Metropolitan Police drafted more than 4,000 officers over fears that far-right demonstrators may clash with pro-Palestine marchers if not kept apart.

Far-right activist Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, known as Tommy Robinson, wears a ‘Unite The Kingdom’ (UTK) hat and scarf at a protest on January 11. Photo: Reuters
South China Sea

Can AI-assisted unmanned vessels be Beijing’s answer to South China Sea patrols?

Near-silent autonomous surveillance vessels that can keep going for months on end recommended for Chinese maritime enforcement.

Banking & finance

Hong Kong regulator now a ‘collection agent’ for wronged investors

SFC follows international peers by pursuing compensation for victims rather than fines in some cases of securities misconduct.

Vietnam

Beyond bamboo: Vietnam’s To Lam mounts a diplomacy offensive

The security chief turned paramount leader is chasing the markets and capital required to reach high-income status by 2045.

Vietnam’s To Lam waves after shaking hands with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi before their meeting at Hyderabad House in New Delhi on May 6. Photo: EPA
Mainland China

Being Chinese | How to deal with this ‘very Chinese time’ in Western lives

The question is not whether outsiders are getting China or Chinese culture right, but what we choose to do with their attention.

Foreign tourists in traditional Chinese costumes take photos near the Forbidden City in Beijing on April 16. Photo: AP
2026 Xi-Trump summit

Trump holds his fire: China state visit reveals diplomatic turn on social media

Just a handful of online posts from US president contrast with the flurry during his most recent state visits to the UK and Japan.

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The Philippines

Western powers ramp up support for Philippines’ Luzon economic hub

Eight more countries will invest in the project as they accelerate regional trade diversification in sectors ranging from AI to energy.

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Energy

Turning over a new leaf: why UK’s green mandate is a win for Asia

The Green Party’s record-breaking gains in UK council elections are a sign voters are taking climate change seriously, analysts say.

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Members of the Green Party celebrate a win in Bellingham in south London on May 9. Photo: EPA
Keir Starmer

‘King of the North’ takes first step to challenge UK’s Starmer

UK lawmaker resigns his seat, clearing a path for leadership challenger Andy Burnham.

Japan

Why Japan’s ruling party is pushing for 5% military spending

The ruling party is expected to debate raising outlays to as much as 5 per cent of GDP, in line with that of many Nato members.

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Keir Starmer

UK health minister quits, calls for leadership contest to oust PM Starmer

Health Minister Wes Streeting is the first senior minister to quit after days of calls by Labour lawmakers for Starmer to step down.

Sunlight shines on 10 Downing Street in central London on Thursday. Britain’s Health Secretary Wes Streeting, a potential rival to Britain’s Prime Minister Keir Starmer, announced his resignation on Thursday. Photo: AFP
Crime

Bodies of 3 women recovered from the sea off UK city

The coastguard is completing an ‘extensive search of the water’, but the force is not searching for anyone else.

Sussex Police announced the bodies of three women were recovered from the sea at Brighton Palace Pier, early on Wednesday. Photo: Reuters
France

France lifts cruise lockdown after outbreak scare, as stomach bug blamed

Authorities rule out a link to the deadly hantavirus as asymptomatic passengers are cleared to disembark in Bordeaux.

Keir Starmer

UK PM’s biggest political challenge overshadows King’s speech

According to reports, Health Minister Wes Streeting was preparing to resign as early as Thursday to challenge Starmer.

Keir Starmer

Who could replace Starmer as UK prime minister?

As rebellion reaches a fever pitch, here’s some names in the frame if Keir Starmer is forced out.

A betting company’s odds on contenders to be the next leader of Britain’s Labour Party. Photo: AFP
On Our Radar

Explore art’s future at Hong Kong’s Affordable Art Fair this May

Discover affordable art, Cantopop-inspired installations, British talent and hands-on workshops at Affordable Art Fair Hong Kong 2026 – where accessibility meets creativity.

A visitor takes in Kristina Sretkova’s 3D-effect Universal Love at last year’s edition of the Affordable Art Fair Hong Kong Photo: Dickson Lee
Keir Starmer

UK’s Starmer to ‘get on with governing’, defies calls to quit

At a meeting of his cabinet, there was no official move to trigger a leadership contest even as three junior ministers quit.

Fame and celebrity

Meet Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, who plays Alamo in Euphoria

The British actor had a turbulent upbringing that included joining a skinhead gang and making a suicide attempt, before achieving Hollywood stardom.

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