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Britain's Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood, left, and Prime Minister Keir Starmer attend their visit to Peacehaven Mosque in Peacehaven, England, in Oct. 23, 2025. (Peter Nicholls/Pool Photo via AP) British prime ministers are rarely undone by what they say. More often, they are undone by what they fail to anticipate.Keir Starmer is under mounting pressure not because of any personal wrongdoing, but because of a political misjudgement that has landed at precisely the wrong moment: the decision to bring Peter Mandelson back into the heart of Labour’s power structure just as the Epstein Files resurfaced in public consciousness. Epstein STORM: Starmer ‘HIDES FACE’ As Files Name Personal Donor, Right-hand Man McSweeney Quits Starmer is not accused of misconduct, and Mandelson has consistently denied any impropriety. Yet British politics does not operate solely on legal thresholds. It operates on perception, timing and instinct. The renewed attention on Epstein has revived a broader unea..

AdvertisementAsia housing and propertyOpinionAsia OpinionNicholas SpiroThe View | Asian property markets’ supply constraints are a double-edged swordThe narrow pool of high-quality assets benefits landlords and affluent investors but poses a challenge to prospective buyers and renters
Reading Time:3 minutesWhy you can trust SCMPNicholas SpiroPublished: 4:31pm, 9 Feb 2026Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has her work cut out for her. Among the daunting challenges confronting her after winning a resounding victory in a parliamentary election on February 8, tackling the rising cost of living is at the top of her political to-do list.Mounting concerns about the dramatic rise in property prices in Tokyo and other large cities have proved fertile ground for scapegoating, with immigration figuring prominently in election campaigns.Last year, the average price of a new flat in the Tokyo metropolitan area rose 17 per cent to a record high, prolonging a period of almost uninterrupted growth..

AdvertisementIndiaThis Week in AsiaEconomicsWhy US tariff deal cannot sever India-Russia defence ties: ‘structural reality’While the pact demands a halt to Russian oil imports, analysts say New Delhi’s military dependence on Moscow is non-negotiable
Reading Time:4 minutesWhy you can trust SCMPJunaid KathjuPublished: 4:30pm, 9 Feb 2026The United States’ latest trade deal with India may be linked to a freeze on discounted Russian oil purchases, but analysts say it is unlikely to upset New Delhi’s decades-old defence ties with Moscow.Announcing the agreement last week, US President Donald Trump said tariffs on India imports would be cut from 18 to 50 per cent, tying the reduction to India halting its intake of Russian crude.“India has committed to stop directly or indirectly importing Russian Federation oil,” Trump said in an executive order dated February 6, adding that Delhi had agreed to buy US energy products.
AdvertisementThe order noted that tariff relief was conditional on ending R..

UAE Green Visa vs UAE Golden Visa/Representative Image The UAE offers two long-term residency pathways for professionals, investors and entrepreneurs seeking stability without relying on traditional employer sponsorship. The Green Visa and the Golden Visa are designed for different profiles, with distinct eligibility rules, benefits and timelines. Knowing how they differ helps applicants choose the option that aligns with their career stage and long-term goals.What is UAE Green Visa
The Green Visa is a renewable five-year residence permit introduced to give skilled professionals, freelancers and investors greater independence in the UAE. It allows holders to sponsor themselves, removing the need for a UAE-based employer or national sponsor.The visa supports the country’s wider push to attract skilled talent, encourage entrepreneurship and strengthen the private sector. It is positioned as a mid-level long-term residency option, complementing other programmes aimed at high-value investo..

Source: UNESCO Our planet is more unpredictable and more fascinating than most of us imagine. Most countries have one dominant climate, which is maybe a hot desert or a wet rainforest. Australia breaks that rule completely. Travel a few hundred kilometres, and you could step from sun-baked dunes straight into dense, dripping forest. The country manages extremes like few others. From the parched interior to the lush northeast, Australia is a place of contrasts. Experts say its size, latitude, and unique weather systems make it possible. It’s not just a scenic quirk. It tells a story about geography, climate, and life adapting in extreme ways. For travellers, it feels like seeing two planets in one.How geography shapes Australia’s extreme landscapes
The country’s unusual geography is the main reason. A large central landmass sits under high-pressure zones. Rain can barely reach it. That’s why deserts dominate the interior. Meanwhile, moist winds blow in from the Pacific Ocean. They hit t..

AdvertisementChina economyOpinionChina OpinionJustin DiamondOpinion | How the US can actually benefit from China’s ‘overcapacity’China doesn’t have a problem with ‘overcapacity’; rather, the United States lacks an economic strategy that can generate abundance
Reading Time:3 minutesWhy you can trust SCMPJustin DiamondPublished: 4:30pm, 8 Feb 2026Western media and policymakers enjoy wagging their fingers at China’s industrial “overcapacity”, which in reality is simply the ability to produce solar panels, batteries, electric vehicles, steel and other goods more cheaply and efficiently than others can.
Yes, some industries are subsidised, but they also benefit immensely from rapid growth in technical know-how and economies of scale. China hasn’t really built too much; it’s just built too efficiently for the comfort of its competitors.The standard narrative is that China is building a Potemkin economy of ghost cities, churning out goods no one ordered and hoping that foreign consumers will ..

AdvertisementBritainWorldEuropeMandelson Epstein scandal: demands grow for ex-envoy to repay US$75,000 severanceGovernment allies urge ex-ambassador to return controversial UK taxpayer-funded buyout as probe into his Epstein connections deepens
Reading Time:3 minutesWhy you can trust SCMP1dpaPublished: 4:19pm, 8 Feb 2026The former British ambassador to the United States and former government minister Peter Mandelson is facing demands to hand back the payoff he received after being sacked as US envoy.
The senior Labour Party figure was sacked over his relationship with paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein, but anger in Westminster has intensified after the latest release of documents which indicated he leaked information to his friend while he was a government minister.
Allies of Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the peer should give the taxpayer-funded handout back or donate it to a victims’ charity.
AdvertisementThe Foreign Office said a review had been launched “in light of further in..

UAE mandates English as the medium for advanced mathematics and science in private schools / image: @moeuae The UAE's educational landscape is undergoing a monumental transformation. Under a new federal decree, the Ministry of Education (MoE) has officially mandated that Advanced Mathematics and Science subjects must now be taught in English across private schools nationwide.This directive, taking full effect for the 2025–2026 academic year, marks a departure from traditional models where schools had more flexibility in their language of instruction. By standardizing English as the medium for STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics), the UAE aims to ensure that every student, regardless of their school’s curriculum, is equipped with the linguistic tools necessary to excel in international higher education and the global workforce.UAE’s new education policyThe UAE’s Ministry of Education has introduced a major new policy requiring that mathematics and science subjec..

UAE skiers make history at Milan-Cortina 2026, broadening winter sports’ global reach / image: @UAENOC The 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan Cortina officially kicked off today with a dazzling opening ceremony, but for the Middle East, the standout moment was the arrival of the United Arab Emirates delegation. For the first time in history, the UAE flag was paraded alongside traditional winter sports giants at the San Siro Stadium.This debut marks a massive milestone in the nation's sports strategy, moving beyond the traditional summer games to compete on the global ice and snow stage. This achievement is the result of years of investment in indoor facilities like Ski Dubai and rigorous training programs in Europe, proving that geography is no barrier to Olympic ambition. Meloni Roasts Vance On Cam After 'Italian' Claim; 'You Don't Know What The Joke Is All About' UAE's historic debut at Winter OlympicsIn a momentous first, the United Arab Emirates proudl..

AdvertisementNepalThis Week in AsiaLifestyle & CultureNepal’s tourism sector welcomes arrests in fake mountain rescues, urges tough sanctionsThe suspects are believed to be among a network of scammers who have cheated insurers by staging fake rescue operations for years
Reading Time:4 minutesWhy you can trust SCMPBibek BhandariPublished: 4:00pm, 7 Feb 2026Many tourism entrepreneurs in Nepal have welcomed the arrest of executives accused of orchestrating fake rescue operations on the country’s Himalayan trekking trails and swindling millions of dollars from insurers.The arrests follow a nearly three-month investigation by Nepal Police’s Central Investigation Bureau into a long-running insurance fraud scheme where travel and rescue companies allegedly staged helicopter evacuations from the mountains to pocket insurance money from foreign travel insurance companies.
The racket has drawn international scrutiny, and travel entrepreneurs say it poses a reputational risk to the country, which..