The Telegraph - 29 January 2026 - Russia has agreed to a partial ceasefire - Sir Keir Starmer met President Xi Jinping in Beijing. The first British Prime Minister in eight years to step foot on Chinese soil,

 

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Welcome to From the Editor PM. In breaking news this afternoon, Russia has agreed to a partial ceasefire that will stop all attacks on Ukrainian cities for a week, Donald Trump announced. You can read the latest on this story below. Elsewhere, early this morning, Sir Keir Starmer met President Xi Jinping in Beijing. The first British Prime Minister in eight years to step foot on Chinese soil, Sir Keir talked of the need to build a “more sophisticated” relationship between the two countries. David Blair, who spent nearly eight years at the Foreign Office and in Downing Street, examines the true meaning behind Sir Keir’s softened tone. Please send me your thoughts on this newsletter. You can email me here. Chris Evans, Editor P.S. Try three months of The Telegraph free, including all the articles in this newsletter. Already a subscriber? Make sure you’re logged in to read today’s stories.

Latest Headlines Breaking | Putin ‘agrees ceasefire over Ukrainian cities’ Murder rate lowest in 40 years as more people stay at home Britain isolated as EU labels IRGC terror group Boy murdered 12-year-old then pretended he found him Royal Navy forces Russian ship out of British waters Emma Raducanu splits with ninth coach Moment Filipino mayor survives rocket-propelled grenade attack ‘I was a Foreign Office adviser. Here’s what Starmer’s weasel words on China really mean’ Sir Keir Starmer attends a ceremonial welcome ahead of his meeting with Li Qiang, the Chinese premier, at the Great Hall of the People David Blair Chief Foreign Affairs Commentator   Sir Keir Starmer is treading a verbal minefield in China, caught between Beijing’s hyper-sensitive leaders and sceptical British voters. His solution is to use a confusion of weasel words (yes, confusion is the correct term for a group of weasels). After nearly eight years in the Foreign Office and Downing Street, I know all the weasels and how they obscure inconvenient truths. The Prime Minister has uttered most of them during this trip. For example, China poses “challenges”, he says, by which he means that Beijing is a threat but he cannot say so without offending his hosts. China is targeting Britain in one of the greatest campaigns of espionage in history. As if that was not threatening enough, China is also the biggest supporter of Russia’s assault on Ukraine. If Russia is a threat, then China is too, but for Sir Keir, this all amounts to “challenges”, perhaps the biggest and most evasive weasel of them all. See the rest of Sir Keir’s verbal dodges here ➤   Opinion Neil McCormick Bruce Springsteen’s new Trump protest song has just upped the ante The Boss renews his long-standing feud with the president, forgoing subtlety in a searing attack on ICE Continue reading ➤   Your essential reads Macron catchphrase wins over new generation of fans. But is it too late? Emmanuel Macron may be in his political twilight, but a throwaway remark at Davos has turned him into a global meme. From “for sure” remixes to Top Gun sunglasses and a TikTok face-off with Sir Keir Starmer, viral humour is unexpectedly boosting the French president’s profile at home and abroad as Henry Samuel, our Paris Correspondent, reports. Continue reading ➤   ‘Shadow banks’ quizzed over meltdown threat from hidden losses The private credit industry is under scrutiny from City watchdogs amid fears its hidden losses could fuel the next financial crisis. So-called shadow banks are lending at pace, with the sector’s assets forecast to reach $4tn by 2030. The Financial Conduct Authority is pressing firms to mark down risky loans more rigorously, after private credit became central to the speculative AI boom. Critics accuse the industry of “mark-to-myth” valuations that ignore looming losses. Continue reading ➤   Simon Schama: ‘The Nazis were genocidal. Israel is not’ At 80, Sir Simon Schama is more energetic than ever – he presented a new essay prize this week and a chilling documentary The Road to Auschwitz last year. In this wide-ranging interview, he tells Chris Harvey about his concern over the rise of anti-Semitism in Europe and gives his view on Israel’s actions in Gaza. Continue reading ➤   ‘Lunatic’ EU baggage crackdown will drive up airfares by 25pc, says easyJet The chief executive of easyJet says Brussels’ plan for free cabin luggage is a “stupid” move that guarantees chaos. Kenton Jarvis claims that aircraft lack space for everyone’s bags. As Christopher Jasper reports, he predicts a return of gate-side confiscations and a mandatory price rise on tickets – forcing budget travellers to pay for a service they may not want. Continue reading ➤   What to watch tonight BBC One, 9pm The Apprentice Lord Sugar and assistants Karren Brady and Tim Campbell are back as the competition returns for a 20th series. Netflix Bridgerton The third series of the steamy Regency romp rather fizzled out, but things perk up as the new season’s focus turns to Benedict Bridgerton (Luke Thompson). Read our review ➤ BBC One, 8pm Dragons’ Den Cosmetics entrepreneur Jenna Meek is the guest dragon tonight, as the series returns for a new run. Channel 5, 9pm Ben Fogle: New Lives in the Wild Fogle is in Montana, where the Bellrose family live off-grid up a mountain, tightly packed into their RV as they work towards establishing a winter sports business. Read our interview with Ben Fogle ➤ Sky Arts, 9pm Film of the Day: The Misfits (1961) Famous for being both Marilyn Monroe and Clark Gable’s last completed film, this Arthur Miller-scripted Western is a fierce story of a divorcée who falls for an over-the-hill cowboy. The full guide to what to watch on TV ➤   Your say Quenching your thirst Every weekday, Orlando Bird, our loyal reader correspondent, shares an off-piste topic that has brought out the best of your opinions and stories. Orlando writes... In this morning’s From the Editor newsletter, we were discussing the pastoral role of pubs. These places, it seems, have helped many members of the clergy with their ministry, the reason being that a well-watered flock tends to be a more confiding one.   Clive Goddard writes: “After a rousing and well attended Sunday church parade, our squadron padre accompanied some of us to the mess bar for a little pre-lunch refreshment. Having been furnished with a pint, he climbed on a chair, raised his glass and announced: ‘Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for attending today. This is the thirst after righteousness’.”   There is such a thing as a secular pub pilgrimage too, as Shaun Doran explains: “We are a merry band called the Saga Louts. There’s usually about 10 of us, including widows and widowers, with a plethora of senior-citizen health issues. We regularly meet at the pub and somehow sort out the world’s problems without any difficulty. “These gatherings are seriously uplifting and socially rewarding, even if we are unable to remember many previous groundbreaking debates – or indeed very old jokes being told again.” That’s all from me for today, folks. I’ll be back bright and early tomorrow morning to bring you the best Telegraph talking points. In the meantime, you can contact me here. Please confirm in your reply that you are happy to be featured and that we have your permission to use your name.   Today’s Quiz What was Aryna Sabalenka penalised for during her Australian Open semi-final victory over Elina Svitolina? Arguing with the crowd Her shoes were too squeaky Imitating the Australian accent Disruptive grunting