Starmer says the defence investment plan will allow the UK to strengthen its international leadership and “build a more European Nato”.

This is not to the exclusion of the US but to strengthen the transatlantic alliance “which keeps our country safe”, he adds.

Starmer says the UK is already developing precision strike weapons with Germany, building frigates with Norway to hunt Russian submarines, but will go further will the defence investment plan.

He also announces there will be a £8.6bn investment in building fighter jets under a programme with Italy and Japan that will “secure our skies for decades to come”.

The UK will also bring its investment in renewing the nuclear deterrent to £64bn, Starmer adds.

• The prime minister announced an additional £15bn in funding for defence
• In his speech, Keir Starmer said some road and energy projects will be scrapped to fund it
• He went on to say by 2029, almost £80bn per year will be spent on defence
• Starmer said the defence investment plan will “make the British people safer” and “drive a generational transformation” of the armed forces
• The motto for defence procurement, he said, will be “back British”, saying the plan will create “almost 60,000 jobs”
• Talking about a more “European Nato”, Starmer announced an £8.6bn investment in building fighter jets with Italy and Japan

Aftershock frays nerves as many Venezuelans left to fend for themselves

Many areas of Venezuela devastated by last week’s twin earthquakes have yet to receive significant government help, leaving residents to carry out much of the rescue effort.

In the port of La Guaira, one of the hardest-hit cities, the BBC saw people using crowbars, mallets and pickaxes to try to dig out loved ones and neighbours. Tens of thousands of people are still believed to be missing.

Early on Monday, nerves were frayed by an aftershock, although no further damage was reported.

More than 1,700 people have been killed in what Interim President Delcy Rodríguez said was the “most brutal natural catastrophe” in Venezuela’s history.

International aid has mobilised but hopes of finding survivors are fading. Overnight into Monday, a 21-year-old man became the latest person to be pulled alive after being trapped for over 100 hours

The magnitude 7.2 and 7.5 quakes on Wednesday struck within 39 seconds of each other in the northern state of La Guaira, causing almost 800 buildings to collapse.

Monday’s aftershock again shook La Guaira and the capital Caracas and was measured at magnitude 4.6.

In nearby Catia La Mar the main search-and-rescue efforts were also still being carried out by local volunteers and international teams and there was anger at the authorities.

Chinese tycoon sentenced to 30 years in US jail

Guo Wengui, who was once believed to be one of China’s richest businessmen, has been sentenced to 30 years in jail in the US for running a billion dollar scam.

The former property tycoon fled China to the US in 2017, where he reinvented himself as a Communist Party critic and built a loyal online following.

But Guo was later convicted on charges of racketeering, fraud and money laundering.

New York court judge Analisa Torres said Guo had “preyed on those seeking to bring democracy to China”, taking their money to fund his lavish lifestyle.

The BBC has contacted Guo’s representatives for comment.

Guo – who goes by several names, including Miles Guo and Ho Wan Kwok – was sentenced in a courtroom packed with his supporters.

US attorney Sean S Buckley told the BBC: “Rather than being satisfied with the many legitimate opportunities afforded to him, Guo exploited the trust that thousands had placed in him for his own greed.”

“Today’s sentence shows that fame and wealth do not place you above the law, and that fraudsters who victimise families to enrich themselves will be met with significant consequences,” Buckley said.

Before fleeing China, Guo built a fortune as a property developer and had good ties with the country’s government.

But he sought asylum in the US after being accused by top Chinese officials of corruption.

The convicted Chinese tycoon who built a pro-Trump money machine

Guo became a critic of China’s Communist regime and cultivated a wide online following among the Chinese community in the US.

Prosecutors said Guo raised more than $1bn (£760m) from online followers, who joined him in investment and cryptocurrency schemes between 2018 and 2023.

The money he raised was used to fund Guo’s lavish lifestyle which included a 50,000 square foot mansion, a $1m Lamborghini and a $37m yacht, they said.

Guo denied the allegations, saying the funds were used for his political activism.

He had built ties with other China critics, including Steve Bannon, a former adviser to US President Donald Trump.

King Charles arrives in Edinburgh for Royal Week celebrations

King Charles III has arrived in Edinburgh for a series of events to mark Royal Week – the annual royal celebration of Scottish culture, community and achievements.

The King’s first engagement was the traditional Ceremony of the Keys in the gardens of the Palace Holyroodhouse, his official residence in the Scottish capital.

It took place shortly after he arrived by helicopter and was greeted to a guard of honour provided by Balaklava Company, 5th Battalion Royal Regiment of Scotland.

The monarch traditionally spends a week in Edinburgh each July, in what is known as Holyrood or Royal Week.

The King was presented with the keys by the Lord Provost of Edinburgh Robert Aldridge, who held them out on a red cushion, which the monarch symbolically touched and returned for safekeeping.

Aldridge said: “We, the Lord Provost and members of the City of Edinburgh Council, welcome Your Majesty to the capital city of your ancient and hereditary kingdom of Scotland, and offer for your gracious acceptance the keys of Your Majesty’s good city of Edinburgh.”

In return, the King gave the traditional reply: “I return these keys perfectly convinced that they cannot be placed in better hands than those of the Lord Provost and councillors of my good city of Edinburgh.”

Before the ceremony, the palace’s gardens were transformed into a parade ground and the King met senior military and uniformed figures.

He received a royal salute before inspecting a guard of honour of soldiers from the Royal Company of Archers, who serve as the King’s ceremonial bodyguard in Scotland.

Music was provided by the band of the Royal Regiment of Scotland and Pipes and Drums of 2nd Battalion Royal Regiment of Scotland