It is hoped that merging the firms under one leadership team will improve passenger experience

Railway firms in the East of England have been merged under one leadership team. Bringing together c2c, Greater Anglia, and Network Rail Anglia, the railway firms have said it aims to deliver a “more joined-up and reliable railway for passengers“.

The change has been described as an “important step towards the establishment of Great British Railways (GBR)”. The planned state-owned railway company is expected to eventually operate most rail infrastructure and passenger rail services in Great Britain.

A spokesperson for Network Rail said: “Under public ownership, the integrated railway will be better placed to keep as much of the railway open as possible at the times customers need it most, including through more coordinated planning of engineering work and an even stronger focus on minimising disruption where possible.”

Over time, this integrated approach aims to improve how services are planned and delivered day to day and provide an “even more reliable and consistent experience for passengers”.

Greater Anglia and c2c provide for passengers in Cambridgeshire, London, Suffolk, Essex, Norfolk, and Hertfordshire, while Network Rail Anglia manages and maintains the infrastructure.

“This is all part of our mission to build a passenger focused railway that supports jobs, growth and homes,” Rail Minister, Lord Hendy, said.

Jamie Burles, Managing Director, said: “By bringing track and train together under one leadership team, we can plan better, respond faster and deliver an even more reliable railway for passengers.

“Over time, that means better coordination during disruption, more effective planning of engineering work and a more consistent experience for customers and communities across the region.”

Fossil fuels are losing their grip on the global energy market as renewables provide a greater share of power. 

That’s according to a global energy review by the International Energy Agency (IEA), which declared that “the world has entered the age of electricity”, with many economies now electrifying at pace.

Overall demand for energy continued to rise in 2025, the report found, with a quarter of new demand met by solar – the first time that a renewable source met the largest share of demand growth.

The IEA also highlighted the growing role of batteries in electricity grids. Battery storage, it said, was the fastest-growing power sector technology in 2025, a trend that’s likely to accelerate.

It wasn’t all good news, however. Demand for oil, gas and coal also grew in 2025 (by 0.7%, 1% and 0.4% respectively), albeit at a slower rate than in 2024. The rollout of electric cars, sales of which surged by 20%, kept oil demand “in check”, the IEA said.  

Still, global energy related emissions still increased by 0.4% last year, when they needed to be rapidly falling. In one sign of hope, however, the IEA confirmed what other researchers had found: that China’s emissions contracted in 2025.    

Image: Nikola Jonny Mirkovic

The company has been in business for over 40 years and produced workwear, school uniforms and bespoke protective clothing

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A long-standing Scottish clothing manufacturer has collapsed into liquidation after more than four decades in business, leaving all remaining staff without work.

North East Rig Out (Aberdeen) Limited produced workwear, school uniforms and tailored protective clothing for clients across a broad range of industries, including oil and gas, engineering, construction, transport and retail. The Aberdeen-based firm has now shut its doors for good, with eight workers losing their jobs as a result.

Insolvency specialists MHA have been appointed as liquidators following a voluntary resolution to wind up the company. Official documents lodged under the Insolvency Act 1986 confirmed that a meeting held on April 15 concluded the firm could no longer continue operating due to the scale of its liabilities.

According to the liquidators, the collapse was attributed to the prolonged difficulties plaguing Scotland’s energy sector, which has heaped sustained financial strain on businesses throughout the North-east.

As reported by The Herald, Michael Reid of MHA, who was appointed liquidator, said: “This is a difficult situation for everyone involved.

“The company faced sustained pressure as a result of the prolonged downturn in the energy sector, which has affected many businesses across the North-east,” reports the Express.

“Unfortunately, eight people have been made redundant. Business assets have been sold by auction and the premises returned to the landlord.” The firm, also known as NERO, described itself as “the only direct workwear manufacturer in the Aberdeen area. With over 40 years of experience creating workwear, our garments truly are second to none.”

The enterprise specialised in crafting both standard and “made-to-measure” garments, including bespoke PPE and coveralls tailored for industrial clients.

It stated on its website: “Whether your requirement is one of our ‘off the shelf’ garments, a ‘made to measure’ coverall or garment, or a bespoke garment our designers and manufacturing team offer a service that is truly unique.

“North East Rig Out manufactures and distributes a comprehensive product range of workwear, with focus on design, functionality, durability and comfort.”

The company additionally offered embroidery, heatseal branding and laser logo services for corporate clients, schools and sports clubs.

Its merchandise catered to sectors encompassing oil and gas, construction, automotive, aviation, shipping, military and public sector organisations.

GameCentral takes a look at the third wave of Virtual Boy games for Nintendo Switch Online and comes across a forgotten gem and an overrated oddity.

Playing through the Virtual Boy’s back catalogue, via the Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack service, has been a peculiar pleasure. Discovering old and obscure video games is always fun, especially those that were difficult to obtain even at the time of their release, but the Virtual Boy is made even more interesting by the bizarre nature of the console itself and the fact that it was a Nintendo product.

The Virtual Boy’s big gimmick is that it displays games in stereoscopic 3D but only using the colours red and black. We’ve already reviewed the initial batch of games and the second wave of additions, including Mario Clash and Mario’s Tennis. And now, this week, a third wave has added another five games (six if you’re in Japan but we assume Virtual Fishing had too much Japanese text to be brought over here).

That brings the total up to 12 in the West, out of a promised 16 – including two previously unreleased titles, in Zero Racer (a F-Zero spin-off) and Dragon Hopper. We’re definitely interested in seeing those but for all these games we’re continuing to use a five point review scale, to make it clear they’re not compatible with our normal review scores.

Virtual Bowling

Developer: Athena

A lot of Virtual Boy games were made by Nintendo themselves, but they also roped in other Japanese developers, both big and small. Athena, which went bust in 2013, is one of the small ones, being known for nothing more famous than 2D shooter Strike Gunner S.T.G.

Virtual Bowling is exactly what you’d expect and, in truth, almost completely uninteresting, except for the fact that its 3D effect is genuinely impressive, especially when the ball clatters towards the pins. The gameplay and presentation is very bare bones though, with a golf game style control system that has you trying to stop a cursor at just the right point to alter the direction and speed of the ball.

It’s perfectly functional but, as with Mario’s Tennis, the fact that there are no multiplayer options for any Virtual Boy games make it seem utterly pointless, and a bad idea both conceptually and in terms of execution. And yet, incredibly there were two bowling games released for the Virtual Boy, this one in Japan and Nester’s Funky Bowling, which isn’t available on Switch, in the West. It’s baffling.

Score: 1/5

Space Invaders Virtual Collection

Developer Taito

By the time the Virtual Boy was released in 1995 (by which point the PS1 had already been out for a year) Space Invaders was 17 years old and seen as a prehistoric relic by most people. So, like so many Virtual Boy games – and the console itself – it’s hard to understand the reasoning behind the Virtual Collection.

Its name alone is a deception, as all it contains is the original game and sequel Space Invaders Part 2 (which is basically the same game but with a few different alien types). Both are available in their original 2D form and as new 3D versions, and there’s also a time attack and score challenge mode… but that’s it.

Space Invader’s gameplay is timeless but while the 3D effect does give a good impression of depth it looks like the aliens are laying on the ground rather than looming over you. And because the Virtual Boy only does red and black it somehow manages to be less colourful than the original – which relied on a cellophane overlay on the arcade cabinet to add colour to the game.

Score: 2/5

V-Tetris

Developer: Locomotive

We’ll get to the interesting stuff in a minute, we promise, but first there’s this. Despite only having 22 games in total, the Virtual Boy somehow managed to end up with two bowling games and two Tetris games. In both cases, one was for the West and one for Japan, with this one being the Japanese Tetris game. We already reviewed 3D-Tetris and found it to be one of the better games on the console, since it treats the 3D effect as more than just a gimmick, by trying to display the familiar Tetris field as a wireframe 3D display.

V-Tetris doesn’t do anything like that, it’s just 2D Tetris as it’s always been, but with a couple of 3D backgrounds, one of which features a faintly disturbing looking clown. It’s actually a perfectly good version of Tetris, with very smooth controls, but unfortunately all the music tracks are ear-bleedingly awful. Other than that, the options are almost identical to the Game Boy version – although there is an extra mode that lets you shift a block left or right by using the shoulder buttons.

Considering the console itself automatically warns you not to play it for too long, it’s really not a good host for a game like Tetris, where you’re trying to keep your run going for as long as possible. So, again, why were there two of them? Nothing about the Virtual Boy makes any sense.

Score: 2/10

Vertical Force

Developer: Hudson Soft

Here, at last, we come across something genuinely good. It’s by Hudson Soft, who are sadly no longer with us but were responsible for the PC Engine console and the classic Bomberman, as well the Star Soldier franchise – one of our favourite 2D shooters of the era. This isn’t technically part of the series, but it may as well be as the vertical scrolling action is very similar.

However, it does have a unique gimmick and one that, unlike most Virtual Boy games, tries to take full advantage of the console’s features. As such, you control a spaceship in the normal shmup manner, but with the press of a button you can descend to fight at a lower altitude. Enemies and structures appear at both heights and its up to you to determine which is the optimum one for you to be at, at any given time.

That alone is great, because the 3D effect is really good, but there’s an unexpectedly wide range of ‘AI drones’ you can collect that all have different uses, from running off to attack enemies on their own to going back to repair you if you’re not actively attacking enemies at the time. If they get hit, you can store them away to repair them or you can sacrifice them to use them as a smart bomb.

The set-up is great but unfortunately there are some definite flaws, most notably the fact that many of the enemy bullets are hard to make out, given the monochrome visuals of the Virtual Boy. Hudson Soft try to compensate for this by giving you an energy bar, instead of you being killed in one shot, but that just ends up making it even less clear what actually killed you.

That doesn’t matter as much as it might, because the game is surprisingly easy, but it’s also very short. Vertical Force certainly has its problems but it’s a shame it was never iterated upon, because there are some fun ideas here, including a recurring mini-boss that gets more powerful and learns from your previous attacks.

Score: 4/5

Jack Bros.

Developer: Atlus

For many years, the character Jack Frost was the de facto mascot for developer Atlus. He may not be used in that capacity much anymore, but you can find him in virtually every Shin Megami Tensei game, up to and including Persona 5. Although, as a point of trivia, this was actually the first MegaTen game to ever be released outside Japan.

It’s immediately obvious that more effort, and budget, has gone into this than many other Virtual Boy games, with a proper intro and something approaching a plot, as Jack Frost, and his brothers Jack Lantern and Jack Skelton, find themselves trapped in the human world after Halloween.

That interesting set-up doesn’t really translate to the gameplay though, which is essentially a maze game mixed with a dual-stick shooter. The Virtual Boy’s controller was relatively normal looking but had two D-pads, on the left and right. The translates easily to a modern controller, where you move the Jack of your choice with the left stick and aim his shots with the right.

Again, it’s an interesting concept but the game itself doesn’t make very good use of it. Although you’re constantly looking for keys, they’re clearly marked on the radar and there’s no actual puzzles, as you just blast everything in your way and avoid traps. There’s nothing necessarily wrong with that, but you spend a lot of time shooting enemies that are just on the edge of the screen, which is especially frustrating when you’re peering into the Virtual Boy’s headset.

There’s some impressive enemy variety (the brothers also all have different special attacks) and the boss battles are a highlight, but it all comes across as being something of a rough draft and very under-designed.

Score: 3/5

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HAVANA (AP) — CIA Director John Ratcliffe met with Cuban officials including Raúl Castro’s grandson during a high-level visit to the island Thursday, Cuban and U.S. officials said.

Ratcliffe met with Raúl Guillermo Rodríguez Castro, Interior Minister Lázaro Álvarez Casas and the head of Cuban intelligence services, and discussed intelligence cooperation, economic stability and security issues. A CIA official confirmed the meetings to the AP.

Ratcliffe was there “to personally deliver President Donald Trump’s message that the United States is prepared to seriously engage on economic and security issues, but only if Cuba makes fundamental changes,’’ the CIA official said.

An official statement from Cuba’s government noted that Thursday’s meeting “took place … against a backdrop of complex bilateral relations.”

While the U.S. stressed that Cuba cannot continue to be a “safe haven for adversaries in the Western Hemisphere,” the Cuban delegation insisted that the island presents no threat to U.S. security. Cuban officials also took issue with the nation’s continued inclusion on the U.S. list of state sponsors of terrorism.

Rodríguez Castro previously secretly met with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio on the sidelines of a Caribbean Community summit in St. Kitts in February. While he’s never occupied a government post, he served as his grandfather’s bodyguard and later as head of Cuba’s equivalent of the Secret Service.

U.S. and Cuban officials also met earlier this year i n Cuba. The ongoing meetings between U.S. and Cuban officials mark the first U.S. government flights to land in Cuba other than at the U.S. Naval Base at Guantanamo Bay since 2016.

Thursday’s meeting comes weeks after the Cuban government confirmed that it had recently met with U.S. officials on the island as tensions between the two sides remain high over the U.S. energy blockade of the Caribbean country and as Cuba’s power grid has collapsed and energy to its eastern provinces has been cut. The U.S. blockade of fuel to the island has heightened its economic woes, with reduced work hours and food spoilage as refrigerators stop working.

Earlier this week, the U.S. State Department reiterated that the U.S. will provide Cuba with $100 million in humanitarian assistance and support for satellite internet “if the Cuban regime will permit it.”

In late January, Trump threatened tariffs on any country that sells or supplies oil to Cuba. Though Trump also has threatened to intervene in the country, and Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel said recently that his country was prepared to fight if that should happen, sources told the AP earlier this month that military action is not imminent.

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Follow AP’s coverage of Latin America and the Caribbean at https://apnews.com/hub/latin-america

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Tucker reported from Washington, D.C.

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This version is corrected to show that the U.S. aid offer is $100 million.

Labour Mayor David Skaith said a visitor levy, otherwise known as a tourist tax, would raise funds that could be reinvested into communities and used to support businesses.

But firms and organisations including the national Confederation of Business and Industry (CBI) have warned against charging for overnight stays at a time when hospitality is hard-pressed.

The Government unveiled plans for the charges, with an Overnight Visitor Levy Bill among those set to be tabled in the coming Parliament following Wednesday, May 13’s King’s Speech.

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Readers shared their views on the Press website following the news and the mayor’s reaction.

Anna Gramme said: “The cost as a percentage of a stay will be negligible, people staying overnight aren’t unduly phased by the cost of living crisis anyway.

“The impact of tourist taxes elsewhere is nothing other than beneficial for the host city.”

Bean1234 said: “Wouldn’t it be good if our mayor actually listened to the hospitality sector, they don’t want this and the money raised wont be ringfenced for hospitality.”

It’s only a turnip said: “I reckon the actual cost per night won’t be as much as an average pint of beer in York, so in reality it shouldn’t effect visitors financially.

“But the cost will be in reputation and of visitors feelings of being taxed, why not apply this fee to overseas visitors only?”

Keith Roworth said: “It always amazes me that the man in the street advocates hitting themselves with yet another tax, isn’t the cost of living high enough as it is?”

EyeofYork said: “Call me a cynic but that money will just go into the pot for general expenditure, so why not admit it?”

Drago said: “I don’t care if it does, as long as it’s spent on city improvements it’s all good.”

Mulgrave said: “David Skaith must be unaware of the sentiment about the cost of living in this country, he can’t fail to realise that it won’t just be him applying this levy as mayor.

“How much more do people want to pay for their trips away in the UK on top of the raised prices for petrol and diesel and hotel and hospitality rates?”

Wildorchid1 said: “It’s common if not universal practice to pay a small city tax in Europe, it hardly adds anything to the bill.

“York has huge numbers of tourists and the tax will help the city stay liveable while continuing to welcome tourists.”

Dementia said: “If the tax is to support the already booming industry what is the point?

“Trust in politicians to spend funds raised widely is not exactly at a high point, can the money be predicated to non-tourist needs?”

The Glasgow hardman vanished after the shotgun murder of pub worker Thomas Cameron in 2007.

Scotland’s most wanted man Derek “Deco” Ferguson had his left ear bitten off in a savage street brawl.

The 5’3ft hardman lost the tip of his ear during a violent fight years before the notorious Auchinairn Tavern murder that sent him on the run.

Original police mugshots show the gruesome injury – which became a distinctive feature used during public appeals to track him down.

Underworld sources claim his torn lug also became part of Ferguson’s feared reputation as he rose through the city’s gangland ranks.

He fled Scotland after barman Tam Cameron, 49, was shot dead outside the Auchinairn Tarvern, in Bishopbriggs, Glasgow, in 2007. Fellow suspect Billy Bates was found dead in the Clyde weeks after the murder.

Detectives believe Cameron was lured into the tavern car park before being executed at point-blank range following a minor dispute linked to organised crime figures.

Before police could arrest him, Ferguson fled Scotland — with reports claiming he escaped hidden in the boot of a car before surfacing among expat gangsters on Spain’s Costa del Sol.

An international warrant is in place for Ferguson’s arrest and he remains high on the UK and Spain’s Most Wanted list.

It’s been long believed by police and underworld figures that the bald Scot may have drastically altered his appearance to stay hidden. Investigators believe he may have undergone hair transplants, facial surgery and cosmetic procedures to repair the mutilated ear that once made him instantly recognisable.

E-fits released by in recent years along with a £10,000 rewards show dramatically different versions of the ageing fugitive — including images with wigs, facial hair and a reconstructed ear. Officers also believe he may have taken elocution lessons and adopted a fake Irish accent to disguise his Glasgow roots.

Over the years, investigators have tracked sightings of Ferguson across Spain, Ireland, Portugal, Turkey and the Netherlands as he allegedly hid under false identities while working for the Kinahan cartel.

The Record first linked the Possil-born gangster to the payroll of Irish cocaine super-cartel boss Christy Kinahan in 2015, with Ferguson believed to have operated as an enforcer in Marbella and Calahonda.

The Dublin born mafia boss, 69, started the lucrative global crime empire built on drugs, arms smuggling and money laundering and is said to be the richest criminal in Irish history.

Last month, his son Daniel Kinahan, who had become the leader of the crime group was arrested in the United Arab Emirates.

Despite high-profile appeals – including Crimestoppers’ Operation Captura – Ferguson, now 62, remains at large.

Yesterday the National Crime Agency warned expats living in Spain that Ferguson could be living amongst them in plain sight.

Spanish police warned the ex-pat community: “These are not the people you want in your neighbourhood.”

He was named among the UK’s 12 most most wanted fugitives with links to Spain.

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Another batch of flight data heralds a grim summer holiday season for 2026, with flights canned and routes dumped en masse – with challenges continuing to rise for major airlines

Thousands of UK holidaymakers are facing a fresh wave of travel-induced headaches after more than 40 flights were cancelled at major hubs across Britain, including Heathrow, Gatwick and Manchester airports.

Services operated by airlines including British Airways, American Airlines, Air Canada, easyJet and WestJet have been pulled from schedules, disrupting journeys to major destinations including New York, Toronto, Mumbai, Paris, Amsterdam and Dublin.

The latest wave of cancellations has piled further pressure on Britain’s busiest airports, with Heathrow, Gatwick and Manchester continuing to battle weeks of disruption heading into the busy summer getaway season.

Flight-tracking data and passenger-rights monitoring services recorded a sharp rise in cancellations on May 14, with dozens of departures disappearg from airport boards over a short period.

The latest bout of cancellations follows repeated disruption incidents earlier this spring which saw travellers stranded and long-haul routes severely affected. Heathrow has once again borne the brunt of the problems due to its packed international schedule, while Gatwick and Manchester have also seen significant disruption across both European and long-haul networks.

Passengers travelling to North America have been among the hardest hit. Flights between London and New York JFK operated by British Airways and American Airlines have faced cancellations and lengthy delays, while services to Toronto and Calgary involving Air Canada and WestJet have also been disrupted.

Travellers heading to India have also faced major issues, with services linking the UK and Mumbai hit by cancellations and timetable changes. Aviation analysts warned that when a single long-haul aircraft falls out of rotation, the knock-on impact can quickly spread across multiple routes.

Short-haul European routes have not escaped the turmoil either. Flights from Heathrow, Gatwick and Manchester to Paris, Amsterdam and Dublin have all seen cancellations, causing missed onward connections for passengers travelling internationally.

Budget carriers and flagship airlines alike have struggled to keep schedules intact as mounting operational pressures, aircraft shortages and crew availability issues continue to squeeze the aviation sector.

Disruptions are already sparking concern ahead of the peak summer holiday period, with experts warning airlines and airports may have little room for error as passenger numbers surge through June and July. Travellers affected by cancellations are being urged to check airline apps regularly and act quickly to secure alternative flights before replacement seats are snapped up.

Under UK air passenger rules, many passengers departing from British airports could be entitled to assistance, accommodation and potentially compensation depending on the cause of the disruption. Carriers can now sidestep compensation obligations by scrapping flights with a minimum of two weeks’ advance warning, allowing them to postpone summer decisions while avoiding financial penalties.

The latest data, compiled on May 14 using a number of flight-tracking platforms, coincides with another batch of flight data released on Tuesday by aviation analytics company Cirium. Cirium found that airlines have dramatically ramped up flight cancellations for May as jet fuel costs soar and supply concerns mount. In total, Cirium recorded 296 departures from UK airports scrapped this month as of Tuesday; a sharp rise from 120 cancellations just six days earlier.

Data for the busy summer period indicates week-on-week timetable cuts remain modest. Outbound services for June are down by 48 compared with a week ago, following the axing of 0.2 per cent of flights. July’s week-on-week decrease sits at 31, while August has seen just four fewer departures. Across Europe, Lufthansa’s airline group revealed in April it would axe 20,000 flights over the subsequent six months to conserve fuel.

Last week, British Airways’ parent firm IAG cautioned its profits would take a hit as it anticipates spending approximately €2bn (£1.72bn) beyond budget on fuel this year, with BA boss Luis Gallego saying that IAG does not believe there will be “any interruption for the summer” in terms of jet fuel supplies.

Earlier this month, Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander indicated summer holiday arrangements would not face significant disruption because of shortages. She disclosed that additional fuel has been brought in from the United States, while UK refineries have ramped up their output. The government has also implemented a short-term regulatory adjustment permitting airlines to consolidate passengers from various flights onto a reduced number of aircraft in order to conserve fuel.

Developments come following jet fuel costs more than doubling since the Middle East conflict began, with Iran continuing to control tankers in the Strait of Hormuz, forcing multiple carriers to revise their schedules.

BEIJING (AP) — As President Donald Trump wraps up his whirlwind visit to China on Friday, he’s insistent that relations between the world’s two biggest powers are good and getting better despite deep differences on Iran, Taiwan and more.

Trump started his last day in Beijing by insisting in a social media post that Chinese leader Xi Jinping had “congratulated me on so many tremendous successes” and had been referring only to his predecessor, former U.S. President Joe Biden, when he “very elegantly referred to the United States as perhaps being a declining nation.”

But Trump’s rosy outlook on the U.S.-China relationship collides with some difficult truths about the thorniest issues between the two superpowers.

Beijing has shown little public interest in U.S. entreaties to get more involved in solving the conflict in Iran, even though Trump said in an interview with Fox News’ Sean Hannity that Xi had in their conversations offered to help. And the White House believes China can still do more to stem the flow of Chinese-made precursor chemicals into Mexico used to make illicit fentanyl that has wreaked havoc on many U.S. communities.

Xi, meanwhile, warned Trump during private talks that their differences on the self-ruled island of Taiwan, if handled poorly, could hurtle the world’s dominant powers toward “clashes and even conflicts,” according to Chinese government officials.

Trump and Xi are set to have more time together at Xi’s official residence in Beijing on Friday before the U.S. leader makes the long journey back to Washington.

Taiwan remains the most important issue for China

Xi’s sharp language on Taiwan loomed large over Thursday’s talks, even as Trump sought to play up the notion that the U.S. and China share a “special relationship.”

But Secretary of State Marco Rubio told NBC News that U.S. policy toward Taiwan was “unchanged” and cautioned that it would be “a terrible mistake” for China to try to take Taiwan by force. He also framed Xi’s comments as standard practice.

“They always raise it on their side. We always make clear our position, and we move on to the other topics,” said Rubio, who was among senior aides to join Trump for the talks.

China in recent weeks has sought to put more focus on its view that Taiwan sits at the “core” of its interests and is key to ensuring a stable relationship with the U.S.

Trump has demanded Taiwan increase defense spending, and in December, the White House announced an $11 billion weapons package for Taiwan, the largest ever to the island democracy.

But the U.S. has yet to begin fulfilling the arms sales, and Trump had said he expected to discuss the matter with Xi in Beijing. He’s also groused that Taiwan “stole” America’s semiconductor business and called on Taiwan to pay the U.S. for protection.

All the while, Trump has, with the threat of hefty tariffs and Biden-era incentives, prodded Taipei to agree to massive investments in U.S. semiconductor manufacturing and to purchase billions of dollars’ worth of U.S. liquefied natural gas and crude oil. The attitude toward Taiwan has raised questions about whether Trump might be open to dialing back support for the island democracy.

Ma Chun-wei, an expert in China-Taiwan relations at Taiwan’s Tamkang University, said the elevated defense relationship between Washington and Taipei has caused China to toughen its rhetoric over Taiwan.

“For Xi Jinping, he must show that the Taiwan issue is in China’s hands. He must demonstrate this image, or else he would be criticized,” Ma said.

China wants the Strait of Hormuz opened

Iran was on the agenda when Trump sat down with Xi on Thursday for their two-hour meeting in the Great Hall of the People.

The leaders agreed that the Strait of Hormuz — effectively closed since the start of the Iran conflict — needs to be reopened to support global energy demands, Trump told Fox News in an interview. About 20% of the world’s oil flowed through the strait before the war started on Feb. 28.

Trump said in the interview that Xi privately offered assistance on resolving the war, though it was unclear what that would mean, given China’s strategic partnership with Iran.

“He’d like to see the Hormuz Strait open,” Trump said. “He said if I can be of any help whatsoever, I would like to help.”

The president also said Xi was also opposed to any implementation of tolls on vessels crossing the strait and expressed interest in China potentially purchasing more U.S. oil to reduce Chinese dependence on Gulf oil in the future.

Trump earlier this week had downplayed the importance of talks with Xi on the 11-week-old Iran war that has led to surging energy prices and threatens to plunge the global economy into recession if the conflict does not conclude soon.

“We have a lot of things to discuss. I wouldn’t say Iran is one of them, to be honest with you, because we have Iran very much under control,” Trump told reporters Tuesday shortly before flying to Beijing.

But before Air Force One could land in Beijing, Rubio said administration officials would make the case to the Chinese officials about why they should be invested in prodding Iran to come to terms to end the war.

“Economies are melting down because of this crisis,” Rubio offered aboard the presidential plane as he flew with Trump to Beijing. That dynamic, the secretary added in an interview Wednesday with Fox News’ Sean Hannity, will result in consumers “buying less Chinese product.”

“So it’s in their interest to resolve this,” Rubio said.

Indeed, the Chinese, who have been critical of the U.S. and Israeli bombardment of Iran, hold unique leverage as Iran’s biggest trading partner. The Chinese government has managed to weather the economic damage caused by the war with the help of its strategic oil reserves, but that backstop is not limitless. Economists say the Iran conflict could still have a big impact on China’s export-driven economy.

Will Trump announce any major business deals?

The White House, ahead of the visit, insisted that Trump wouldn’t be making the trip without an eye toward securing results before he leaves, suggesting there could be announcements coming on trade.

Those could still come, with the U.S. side hoping to nail down Chinese commitments to buy U.S. soybeans and beef. Trump told Fox News that Xi had indicated a commitment for China to buy 200 Boeing jets from the U.S.

The leaders on Thursday discussed increasing U.S. agricultural purchases by the Chinese and opportunities for both sides to expand investment into each other’s markets, according to the White House. Trump administration officials also want to work toward establishing a Board of Trade with China to address commercial differences between the countries.

Chinese Premier Li Qiang stressed the need for friendship and cooperation in U.S.-China ties as he spoke with U.S. business titans, including Tesla’s Elon Musk, Apple’s Tim Cook and Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, who were part of Trump’s delegation in Beijing.

“China and the United States have been able to maintain frank and smooth dialogue and communication and actively safeguard a stable and healthy bilateral relationship” despite international turbulence, Li said.

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Associated Press writers Huizhong Wu and Simina Mistreanu in Bangkok and Darlene Superville and Josh Boak in Washington contributed to this report.

The Georgian Theatre Royal in Richmond has received Tripadvisor’s Travellers’ Choice Award for 2026, consistently ranking in the top 10 per cent of attractions worldwide.

Jo Mawhinney, chief executive of the Georgian Theatre Royal, said: “We are absolutely thrilled to receive the Travellers’ Choice Award for a third consecutive year.

“It is a real reflection of the fantastic feedback we receive from our audiences and tour visitors, and we are extremely grateful to everyone who takes the time to share their experiences online.

“This recognition also speaks volumes about our brilliant team of staff and volunteers, whose knowledge, enthusiasm and friendliness are consistently highlighted in visitor reviews.

“They are at the heart of everything we do.”

The award is based on recent, first-hand reviews left by visitors on Tripadvisor over a 12-month period, and reflects consistently high levels of visitor satisfaction.

With more than 500 reviews and a 4.9-star rating, the theatre is currently ranked number one out of 31 ‘Things to Do’ in Richmond.

Among the glowing Tripadvisor feedback, visitors have praised the theatre’s guided tours and historical insights, with one reviewer commenting: “Highly knowledgeable and enthusiastic… we learned a lot about the history of this specific theatre as well as theatre generally… We would recommend this guided tour and are looking forward to returning to the theatre as audience members.”

The Georgian Theatre Royal is Britain’s oldest working theatre in its original form and draws thousands of visitors each year.

Alongside its live performance programme, the theatre offers guided tours exploring the auditorium, backstage areas, and exhibitions, including the UK’s oldest surviving stage scenery – the restored Woodland Scene.

Tours are available Monday to Saturday from mid-February until the end of October, running from 10am until 4pm, with the last tour leaving at 3pm.

Booking is not required.

For more information about tours and live events, visit www.georgiantheatreroyal.co.uk or call 01748 825252.