UK and Irish leaders meet in Dublin as they try to reset relations after Brexit tensions

DUBLIN (AP) — British Prime Minister Keir Starmer met with his Irish counterpart, Saturday in what was billed as an attempt to reset relations between the two countries after years of tensions following the U.K.'s departure from the European Union.

Starmer's visit to meet Irish premier Simon Harris is the first by a British leader to Ireland in five years. It is a further sign that the two wish to deepen relations on economic and security matters. Harris was the first international leader Starmer hosted following his Labour Party's landslide election victory on July 4.

“Today is really significant because we have made clear our ambition to reset the relationship and today we take that forward," Starmer said after the afternoon meeting with Harris at Farmleigh House in Dublin, the Irish Government’s formal reception house for state visits. “We are clear that by March we want to have a summit to show the yield from this and then annual summits after that.”

Relations between the two countries have been strained ever since the U.K. voted in June 2016 to leave the European Union, especially in light of how it affected the political structures of Northern Ireland, which is part of the U.K.

When the U.K. left the bloc, the British government and the EU agreed to keep the Irish border free of customs posts and other checks because an open border is a key pillar of the peace process that ended 30 years of violence in Northern Ireland. Later, Starmer's Conservative predecessor Rishi Sunak renegotiated the initial agreement, and that has won the support of both sides of the Northern Irish political divide.

Starmer said now was a chance to further solidify the relations, both with Ireland as well as the EU. He has said that the U.K. will not seek to rejoin the EU under his leadership, nor the bloc's frictionless single market and customs union. However, he has made it clear that he wants to renegotiate elements of the post-Brexit trade deal with the EU in order to bolster growth.

“We are also resetting our relationship with the EU and I have made it very clear that I want a closer relationship with the EU," he said. “That is of course on security, on defense, but also on trade, reducing the friction and any business here in Ireland will tell you that reducing the friction helps and so we want to reset that relationship."

He has been touring EU capitals since he got elected in the hope of generating the goodwill to move forward on that front, as well as "stand together" on international issues such as the war in Ukraine.

The two leaders participated in a business roundtable in Dublin to explore how a “reset” in relations can benefit trade. The economic relationship is worth around 120 billion euros ($130 billion), supporting thousands of jobs on both sides of the Irish Sea.

The two leaders headed off after the early meeting to a soccer match between Ireland and England in Dublin, which provided them with a clear photo opportunity. They swapped jerseys with Starmer holding up an Irish shirt with his surname on it and Harris holding up an England jersey with his name on it.

“We will have intense and friendly competition, and then we will renew and reset again later in the evening,” said Harris, who is also new in the job having been elected premier in April.

Starmer, a keen soccer player, laughed when asked if he would wear it to the match later.

“It will make an appearance in my nine-a-side," he said. "This will be proudly worn in north London before too long.”

Pylas contributed from London.

The Prime Minister of Ireland Simon Harris, left and his British counterpart Keir Starmer hold up their respective national soccer teams shirts, with their names on their opposite teams shirt, at Farmleigh House in Dublin, Ireland, Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024. (AP Photo/Peter Morrison Pool)

The Prime Minister of Ireland Simon Harris, left listens to his British counterpart Keir Starmer as they meet for talks at Farmleigh House in Dublin, Ireland, Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024. (AP Photo/Peter Morrison Pool)

The Prime Minister of Ireland Simon Harris, left listens to his British counterpart Keir Starmer as they meet for talks at Farmleigh House in Dublin, Ireland, Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024. (AP Photo/Peter Morrison Pool)

The Prime Minister of Ireland Simon Harris, left watch as his British counterpart Keir Starmer signs the visitors book as they meet for talks at Farmleigh House in Dublin, Ireland, Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024. (AP Photo/Peter Morrison Pool)

The Prime Minister of Ireland Simon Harris, left, gestures as he greets his British counterpart Keir Starmer as they meet for talks at Farmleigh House in Dublin, Ireland, Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024. (AP Photo/Peter Morrison Pool)

The Prime Minister of Ireland Simon Harris, right speaks with his British counterpart Keir Starmer as they meet for talks at Farmleigh House in Dublin, Ireland, Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024. (AP Photo/Peter Morrison Pool)

The Prime Minister of Ireland Simon Harris, left, and his British counterpart Keir Starmer hold up their respective national soccer teams shirts, with their names on their opposite teams shirt, at Farmleigh House in Dublin, Ireland, Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024. Ireland and England play a nations league soccer match in Dublin later. (AP Photo/Peter Morrison Pool)

The Prime Minister of Ireland Simon Harris, left, gestures as he greets his British counterpart Keir Starmer as they meet for talks at Farmleigh House in Dublin, Ireland, Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024. (AP Photo/Peter Morrison Pool)

The Prime Minister of Ireland Simon Harris, right, listens to his British counterpart Keir Starmer as they meet for talks at Farmleigh House in Dublin, Ireland, Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024. (AP Photo/Peter Morrison Pool)

The Prime Minister of Ireland Simon Harris, left, and his British counterpart Keir Starmer hold up their respective national soccer teams shirts, with their names on their opposite teams shirt, at Farmleigh House in Dublin, Ireland, Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024. Ireland and England play a nations league soccer match in Dublin later. (AP Photo/Peter Morrison Pool)

Comedian Nikki Glaser kicked off what she called “Ozempic's biggest night,” the 82nd Golden Globes, with a promise: “I'm not here to roast you.”

But Glaser, a stand-up whose breakthrough came in a withering roast of Tom Brady, made her way around the ballroom of the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, California, on Sunday picking out plenty of targets in an opening monologue she had worked out extensively in comedy clubs beforehand.

Glaser, hosting the Globes two weeks before the inauguration of Donald Trump, reserved perhaps her most cutting line for the whole room of Hollywood stars.

“You could really do anything ... except tell the country who to vote for,” said Glaser. “But it’s OK, you’ll get ’em next time ... if there is one. I’m scared."

She then turned toward “Wicked” star Ariana Grande with a request: "Ariana, hold my finger.”

Glaser complimented Timothée Chalamet, nominated for his performance as Bob Dylan in “A Complete Unknown,” for having “the most gorgeous eye-lashes on your upper lip.”

While Glaser might not have reached Tina Fey and Amy Poehler levels of laughs, the monologue was mostly a winner, and a dramatic improvement over last year's host, Jo Koy. Glaser assured the crowd that, win or lose, “the point of making art is to start a tequila brand so popular that you never have to make art again.”

The night's first winner was Zoe Saldaña for best supporting actress. Saldaña won for her performance in Jacques Audiard's “Emilia Perez,” the trans musical that came in with a leading 10 nods, followed by Brady Corbet’s postwar epic “The Brutalist,” with seven, and Edward Berger’s papal thriller “Conclave,” with six. Among the top-nominated series were “The Bear,” “Shogun” and “Only Murders in the Building.”

FX's “Shogun” also got started early with wins for Hiroyuki Sanada, for best actor in a drama series, and Tadanobu Asano for best supporting actor in a drama series. “I'm very happy!” exclaimed Asano with his arms raised.

For the second time, Jean Smart won best lead actress in a comedy series for “Hacks.” Said the much-honored Smart: “I never thought I’d be so happy to be called a hack.”

Though few film awards have been predictable this season, Kieran Culkin is emerging has the clear favorite for best supporting actor. Culkin won Sunday for his performance in Jesse Eisenberg's “A Real Pain,” his second Globe in the past year following a win for the HBO series “Succession.” He called the Globes “basically the best date night that my wife and I ever have,” and then thanked her for “putting up what you call my mania.”

After a rocky few years and the disbanding of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, the Golden Globes have seemingly stabilized. The question heading into Sunday was: But can they still put on a good show?

Last year’s comeback edition, hosted by Koy, was widely panned, but it delivered where it counted: Ratings rebounded to about 10 million viewers, according to Nielsen. CBS, who waded in after NBC dumped the Globes, signed up for five more years.

The Globes are now owned by Todd Boehly’s Eldridge Industries and Dick Clark Productions, which acquired the award show from the now defunct Hollywood Foreign Press Association. After diversity and ethics scandals, the HFPA sold off the Globes and dissolved. However, more than a dozen former HFPA members are seeking to have the sale to Eldridge Industries and Dick Clark Productions rescinded.

Either way, the Globes’ primary reason for being, from studios’ perspectives, is to serve as one big marketing event for its awards contenders. It’s still almost two months until the Academy Awards on March 2.

But unlike last year, where “Oppenheimer” steamrolled and the billion-dollar-grossing “Barbie” juiced the race, this year’s top contenders are more arthouse, and no clear favorite has yet emerged.

The Globes are taking place about two weeks before the Trump's inauguration. So far in Hollywood’s awards season, most nominees have tried to stay out of the political fray, with the major exception of “The Apprentice,” the young Trump drama starring Sebastian Stan and Jeremy Strong. Both actors were nominated by the Globes, with Stan picking up a second nod for his performance in “A Different Man.”

For more coverage of the 2025 Golden Globe Awards, visit: https://apnews.com/hub/golden-globe-awards

Zoe Saldana, left, and Asalia Nazario arrive at the 82nd Golden Globes on Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025, at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, Calif. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)

Zoe Saldana arrives at the 82nd Golden Globes on Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025, at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, Calif. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)

Ariana Grande arrives at the 82nd Golden Globes on Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025, at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, Calif. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)

Angelina Jolie arrives at the 82nd Golden Globes on Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025, at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, Calif. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)

Viola Davis arrives at the 82nd Golden Globes on Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025, at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, Calif. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)

Kirsten Dunst, left, and Jesse Plemons arrive at the 82nd Golden Globes on Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025, at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, Calif. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)

Colman Domingo arrives at the 82nd Golden Globes on Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025, at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, Calif. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)

Adrien Brody arrives at the 82nd Golden Globes on Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025, at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, Calif. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)

Timothee Chalamet arrives at the 82nd Golden Globes on Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025, at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, Calif. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)

Kate Hudson arrives at the 82nd Golden Globes on Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025, at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, Calif. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)

Nikki Glaser arrives at the 82nd Golden Globes on Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025, at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, Calif. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)

Cynthia Erivo arrives at the 82nd Golden Globes on Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025, at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, Calif. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)

Ariana Grande arrives at the 82nd Golden Globes on Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025, at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, Calif. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)

Timothee Chalamet arrives at the 82nd Golden Globes on Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025, at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, Calif. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)

Max Braunstein, left, and Miles Mitchell arrive at the 82nd Golden Globes on Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025, at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, Calif. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)

Mindy Kaling arrives at the 82nd Golden Globes on Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025, at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, Calif. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)

Glen Powell Sr., from left, Cyndy Powell, and Glen Powell arrive at the 82nd Golden Globes on Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025, at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, Calif. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)

Cate Blanchett arrives at the 82nd Golden Globes on Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025, at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, Calif. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)

Kit Hoover, left, and Scott Evans arrive at the 82nd Golden Globes on Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025, at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, Calif. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)

A general view of atmosphere at the 82nd Golden Globes on Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025, at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, Calif. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)

Barry Adelman, from left, Nikki Glaser, Helen Hoehne, and Glenn Weiss roll out the red carpet during the 82nd Golden Globes press preview on Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025, at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, Calif. (Photo by Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP)