Starmer-Xi meeting live: UK prime minister says he wants ‘more sophisticated’ relationship with China
Starmer tells Xi Jinping during Beijing meeting that it has been ‘too long’ since a British PM has visited China. Follow the latest developments, liveFull report: Xi says he hopes China and UK can ‘rise above differences’For more context on today’s Starmer-Xi meeting, China is the world’s second-biggest economy and Britain’s third-largest trading partner – to which it exports £45bn of goods and services a year – so it is no surprise the UK has turned to Beijing in its search for economic reliability.As the Guardian’s political editor Pippa Crerar reported earlier today, the UK does not rank among the top 10 of China’s trading partners but the Beijing leadership has spied a political opportunity to improve links with one of Washington’s closest allies at a time of deep uncertainty in the transatlantic alliance. Continue reading...
Read Full StoryLatest News
LIVE: Iran warns of quick retaliation as Trump revives US threats
Iran pushes back after Trump says Tehran can either negotiate 'a fair and equitable deal' or face a US 'armada'.
Record number of offenders being recalled to prison in England and Wales
Exclusive: Union claims some offenders are deliberately breaking probation terms in order to deal drugs in jailRecord numbers of offenders are being recalled to prison in England and Wales with union officials claiming that some are deliberately breaking the terms of their probation in order to deal drugs in prison.Prison sources said that after the implementation of early release schemes, as many as 5,000 men were recalled in December alone – more than a third of the total number released in the year to June 2025. Continue reading...
China executes 11 people linked to Myanmar scam operation
Beijing has stepped up cooperation with south-east Asian nations to crack down on the multibillion-dollar industryChina on Thursday executed 11 people linked to Myanmar criminal gangs, including “key members” involved in scam operations, state media reported.Scam compounds have flourished in Myanmar’s lawless borderlands, part of a multibillion-dollar illicit industry. Continue reading...
Trump warns Iran 'time is running out' for nuclear deal as US military builds up in Gulf
Tehran says its armed forces are ready "with their fingers on the trigger" to respond to any aggression.
Australia news live: UN human rights rapporteur applies to join legal case against NSW protest laws
Ben Saul argues protest restrictions are inconsistent with Australia’s international legal obligations. Follow the latest updates liveGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastAnne Aly says it is ‘huge relief’ there were no casualties at Perth Invasion Day rallyAnne Aly, the minister for multicultural affairs, as well as a counter-terrorism expert, says she is relieved no one was hurt in the potential terrorist act as an improvised explosive device was thrown into a crowd at an Invasion Day rally in Perth.Well, first of all, I guess it was relief, really, that nobody was hurt. When you throw an IED, an improvised explosive device, into a crowd, and if it’s a successful, it could have been a mass casualty attack. So the huge relief that nobody was hurt.The distinction we need to draw here when we say David Littleproud has done X, Y, Z … David Littleproud [has] only done that because the room has agreed to do that and he has requested what is the room’s view … David Littleproud has never run off and done anything unless he has had the complete support of the Nationals party room. Continue reading...
Bangladesh election: Is the military still a power behind the scenes?
Bangladesh's era of coups and military rule may be over for now, but the army remains a potent force impacting politics
Trump’s troop deployment in US cities cost almost $500m in 2025
The Congressional Budget Office estimates that ongoing military operations in US cities will cost $93m a month.
U.K.’s Starmer Meets Xi Jinping in Beijing as Ties Warm
Prime Minister Keir Starmer of Britain met with President Xi Jinping of China as he sought to promote business ties with the world’s second-largest economy.
China warns Australia against taking back control of key port in Darwin
China's envoy says Beijing will 'take measures' to defend Chinese firm's interests if Canberra takes over Port Darwin.