FirstUp: Trump to meet Starmer, protests in France... today's big headlines

It is set to be a busy Thursday with several events lined up for the day.

Firstly, US President Donald Trump will be meeting British Prime Minister Keir Starmer at Chequers. Meanwhile, demonstrations will take place across various locations in France to protest against the budget.

Britain’s Prince Edward will be on a visit to Japan. Sri Lanka is set to face Afghanistan in the 11th match of the Asia Cup 2025.

Here is all that is set to take place today.

Trump to meet Starmer at Chequers

US President Donald Trump will be travelling to the UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s country retreat in Chequers. He is likely to be greeted by Starmer, a guard of honour and a band of bagpipers.

Here, Starmer will lead Trump on a tour of Winston Churchill’s archives before beginning the bilateral meeting. Following the meeting, he will hold a reception with business leaders, including representatives from GSK, Microsoft and Rolls-Royce.

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According to the Guardian, the pair will have lunch together before hosting a joint press conference.

Protests planned in France

More than 250 demonstrations have been planned across France today, following the union call to protest the austerity budget announced in the summer by ousted Prime Minister Francois Bayrou. All labour unions have unanimously declared them to be ‘brutal’ and denounced them.

The leading union in public elementary schools have said that it is expecting one-third of teachers to walk out. In Paris, the union has predicted a 45 per cent walkout rate and at least 90 schools to be closed, reported news website Le Monde.

Britain’s Prince Edward to visit Japan

Prince Edward will be on an official trip to Japan. This will mark an important moment in the longstanding diplomatic and cultural relationship between the United Kingdom and Japan.

The Duke of Edinburgh will be accompanied by his wife, Princess Sophie. During this visit, they will meet the Emperor and Empress of Japan, along with Crown Prince and Crown Princess Akishino. They will also attend Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai.

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During his stay, Prince Edward will attend events focused on youth engagement and education, reflecting his long-standing patronage of the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award scheme. Japanese students and young participants are expected to share their experiences.

Sri Lanka vs Afghanistan at Asia Cup

Sri Lanka is set to face Afghanistan in the 11th match of the Asia Cup at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi today. Sri Lanka started their campaign with a comprehensive six-wicket win against Bangladesh and then later defeated Hong Kong by four wickets.

Meanwhile, Afghanistan is in a tough spot as they have won one match and lost another. They need to win this match to go through the Super Four. If they fail to qualify, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh will qualify for the next stage.

While Abu Dhabi’s pitches have favoured batters with an attacking mindset, bowlers have also found assistance. Given the high temperatures expected and a first-inning average of 135, the team winning the toss is expected to bowl first.

With inputs from agencies