German Chancellor Olaf Scholz confirmed that Britain is leading the potential deal to supply Turkey with Eurofighter jets. The project is still in its early stages, with Germany previously expressing reservations. Turkey has expressed frustration over the lack of progress on the deal, hinting at Berlin’s hesitation. Despite past difficulties, Turkey and Germany aim to improve defense industry cooperation.
Britain’s Foreign Secretary David Lammy will travel to China next week to begin a reset of the country’s relationship with the world’s second-largest economy. The new Labour government hopes to move away from the more confrontational approach of its Conservative predecessors and resume trade and investment talks. However, challenges remain regarding human rights and security concerns, potentially slowing progress on closer economic ties.
Australia and Britain will collaborate to build a new class of nuclear-powered submarines under the AUKUS partnership, while Australia will also purchase Virginia class submarines from the US. This strategic move aims to strengthen military capabilities and technological exchange within the Indo-Pacific region.
China secured two world records in Paralympic swimming on Friday, propelling them to the top of the medals table. Guo Jincheng, an armless swimmer, set a new record in the men’s 50m butterfly S5, followed by Lu Dong’s record-breaking performance in the women’s event. Meanwhile, Britain celebrated four medals, including gold for Poppy Maskill in the women’s 100 S14, while Italian para swimmer Simone Barlaam claimed his second gold of the Games.
Matt Richardson, a three-time Olympic medalist for Australia, has made a surprising switch to represent his birth country, Britain. The move, approved by the International Cycling Union, has been met with disappointment by the Australian cycling federation but understanding from both parties.
Iraq has summoned the British charge d’affaires in protest against comments made by the British Ambassador, Stephen Hitchen, regarding the country’s security and political landscape. The Iraqi government deemed the remarks as portraying a negative image of Iraq and its institutions.
Thousands of police officers and anti-racism protesters gathered across Britain to counter anticipated far-right groups, which ultimately did not appear, following a week of violent racist attacks. The unrest began after a knife attack and false online messages falsely identified the suspect as an Islamist migrant, triggering riots. While police were deployed and protesters assembled in various cities, no serious disorder was reported. The protests highlight the growing concerns about racism and extremism in Britain.
Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako of Japan are embarking on a three-day state visit to Britain, hosted by King Charles III. The visit includes a state dinner at Buckingham Palace and a wreath-laying ceremony at Queen Elizabeth II’s tomb. The visit is a significant event, marking the third state visit hosted by Charles since his ascension to the throne.
A mini-heatwave is expected to bring bright sunshine and warmer temperatures to Britain next week, with the south of the country set to see highs of 18C. The warmer weather is caused by an area of high pressure that is moving towards the UK from Friday, May 3. Temperatures in the south and east of England could hover between 18 and 22C for several days, potentially making the south coast feel like the Costa del Sol. However, a divided weather picture is expected in the immediate future, with rain and even transient snow possible in some parts of the UK this weekend.
