Rishi Sunak warns against ‘cold war’ with China

The Independent's Morning Headlines email [View online]( November 29, 2022 [Morning Headlines]( 1 / [Rishi Sunak warns against ‘cold war’ with China despite growing ‘authoritarianism’]( Rishi Sunak has accused China of sinking deeper into authoritarianism, warning that it presents an acute challenge to Britain’s values and interests. In his first major foreign policy speech as prime minister, Mr Sunak promised to reshape UK foreign policy in response to “sharpening competition” from Beijing. But he warned against “simplistic Cold War rhetoric” on China, and insisted he would continue to employ “diplomacy and engagement” in his dealings with the communist-run state. His comments were blasted as “weak” by critics, following the arrest and beating of BBC journalist Ed Lawrence who was covering demonstrations in Shanghai. Former Tory leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith, who is subject to sanctions from Beijing in relation to his record of speaking out about abuses in Hong Kong and Xinjiang, told The Independent that Mr Sunak’s promise to pursue a policy of “diplomacy and engagement” with China was “shameful”.   2 / [Government accused of ‘weakening’ Online Safety Bill as it removes ‘legal but harmful’ requirement]( Ministers ‘snatching defeat from the jaws of victory’ in face of free speech concerns over long-delayed plans to police the internet 3 / [Chinese police searching people’s phones for Twitter and Instagram amid Covid protests, reports say]( Checks reportedly happening anywhere randomly, including on streets and at entrances to shopping malls 4 / [World’s largest active volcano Mauna Loa erupts in Hawaii causing more than dozen earthquakes]( Vulnerable people told to remain indoors during expected ashfall 5 / [Tony Blair praises Matt Hancock for ‘courageous’ decision to appear on ‘I’m a Celebrity’]( Ex-Labour PM hits out at ‘meanness’ directed at those in public life     The Big Question Is TV finally catching up to the rental crisis? The contract says no crossover: he has it from 8am to 8pm and I have it 8pm to 8am.” In the first episode of [The Flatshare]( on Paramount Plus, Tiffany ([Jessica Brown Findlay]() explains the intricacies of her unorthodox new living arrangement to her friend Maia (Shaniqua Okwok) over brunch (avocado toast, fancy lattes – the sort of meal that certain corners of the commentariat love to scapegoat). This kind of exchange is typical of a series – adapted from Beth O’Leary’s 2019 novel – that zeroes in on the day-to-day travails of [renting]( in London. The arrangement, though, is more of a bedshare than a flatshare: Tiffany’s nocturnal flatmate Leon (Anthony Welsh) will catch up on sleep in the one-bed apartment while she is out at work during the day, writes [Katie Rosseinsky](. At weekends, though, Tiffany will have the place to herself, “so it’s actually a pretty good deal”. Maia’s face says otherwise – but anyone who has experienced the rental market in recent years has probably engaged in some similarly strenuous mental gymnastics to justify a questionable housing set-up. From the Manhattan apartments in [Friends]( and the LA loft in New Girl to the undergraduate anarchy of The Young Ones (north London) and Fresh Meat (Manchester), the houseshare has long been a popular fictional backdrop (even Hugh Grant’s bookshop owner Will has a cursory flatmate in Notting Hill). With its codified rules and often unlikely mix of people living alongside each other in claustrophobic proximity, it’s particularly beloved in TV comedy, giving writers plenty of excuses to throw their characters into heightened situations in cramped quarters. [For the full story click here >](   Enjoying this newsletter? Unlock unlimited, ad-free reading on the website and in The Independent app when you subscribe – plus, benefit from our [welcome offer when you join today](. Watch/ [What is the World Cup? | Decomplicated](   NUMBER OF THE DAY 49 Police in six different countries have joined forces to take down a “super [cartel](” of [drugs]( traffickers controlling about one third of the cocaine trade in [Europe](, the European Union crime agency has said. Europol said 49 suspects have been arrested during the investigation. [Read more here](   QUOTE OF THE DAY “When you’ve been through the wringer as he has, and you know, as a politician who’s got to a certain level in politics, he’s probably got quite a lot of courage to go and do something like that.” – Sir [Tony Blair]( has praised former Tory health secretary [Matt Hancock]( for his “courage” in taking the controversial decision to spend three weeks in the Australian jungle filming ITV’s I’m A Celebrity while a remaining a sitting MP. [Read more here](       Other stories you might like   [Elon Musk claims Apple is ‘threatening’ to boot Twitter from its app store](   [Give workers right to request four-day week with no pay cut, unions and MPs say](   [Kevin Spacey cast in British indie film as director says sexual misconduct allegations ‘weren’t a concern’](       Articles available exclusively to subscribers Sean O'Grady, The Independent -[Could Nigel Farage come back to haunt British politics once again?](   Other newsletters you might like [The Race Report] The Race Report Fortnightly, 7am (UK time) Written by Nadine White [Sign up]( [Inside Politics] Inside Politics Weekdays, 8am (UK time) Written by Matt Mathers [Sign up](   If you can spare a minute we’d love your [feedback]( on our newsletters. [The Independent]( Join the conversation or follow us [Facebook]( [Twitter]( Please do not reply directly to this email You are currently registered to receive The Independent's Morning Headlines newsletter. Add us to your safe list of senders. If you do not want to receive The Independent's Morning Headlines newsletter, please [unsubscribe](list_name=IND_Headlines_Masterlist_CDP). If you no longer wish to receive any newsletters or promotional emails from The Independent, you can unsubscribe [here](. This e-mail was sent by Independent Digital News and Media Ltd, 14-18 Finsbury Square, London EC2A 1AH. Registered in England and Wales with company number 07320345. Read our [privacy notice]( and [cookie policy](.