UK Government Extends Energy Bill Discount as Starmer Seeks to Reset Relations with China
Millions of low-income households in the UK will continue to receive £150 off their winter energy bills for another five years, the government confirmed. The extension of the Warm Home Discount scheme, which has been in place since 2011, aims to help with the ongoing high cost of living, largely fueled by increased energy costs, according to BBC Business. This announcement comes as UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer concluded a visit to China, seeking to reset economic relations between the two countries.
The Warm Home Discount scheme will remain in place until the winter of 2030-31. Eligibility for the discount was widened last year to include an additional 2.7 million families. While charities broadly welcomed the continuation of the scheme, several noted that £150 may not be sufficient to adequately assist struggling households, according to BBC Business.
Meanwhile, in international news, Sir Keir Starmer's visit to China signaled a potential end to the diplomatic "ice age" that has defined the relationship between the two countries. Both leaders are facing economic pressures and are seeking new opportunities for trade and investment, according to BBC Business. Starmer's visit, the first by a UK prime minister since Theresa May in 2018, aimed to highlight the strength of British firms in finance, pharmaceuticals, healthcare, clean energy, and car manufacturing. President Xi Jinping aimed to demonstrate China's reliability as a partner for trade and investment. The discussions included healthcare, visas, and whisky, according to BBC Business.
In other news, Waymo, the US driverless car firm owned by Google-parent Alphabet, hopes to launch a robotaxi service in London as early as September. The UK government plans to change regulations in the second half of 2026 to enable driverless taxis to operate in the city, according to BBC Technology. A pilot service is scheduled to launch in April. Local Transport Minister Lilian Greenwood stated, "We're supporting Waymo and other operators through our passenger pilots, and pro-innovation regulations to make self-driving cars a reality on British roads," according to BBC Technology.
Tesla, the electric vehicle maker run by Elon Musk, is shifting its focus to artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics, leading to a cut in car models. The company reported a 3% decline in total revenues in 2025, and profits fell 61% in the last three months of the year, according to BBC Technology. Tesla plans to end production of its Model S and Model X vehicles and will use the manufacturing plant in California to produce its line of humanoid robots, known as Optimus. In January, China's BYD overtook Tesla as the world's biggest EV maker, according to BBC Technology.
In Syria, the Syrian government has reached a deal with the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) militia alliance. The agreement would see the gradual integration of Kurdish forces and institutions into the state, according to BBC World. This development follows weeks of clashes in which Syrian troops reclaimed territory in the north-east that had been under SDF control for over a decade. US envoy Tom Barrack called it "a profound and historic milestone in Syria's journey toward national reconciliation, unity, and enduring stability," according to BBC World. Earlier this month, the SDF agreed to the deal after major territorial losses.
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