Beyond Paradise star Kris Marshall has been backed by fans to take on the role of Arthur Weasley in the new HBO Harry Potter series

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Beyond Paradise enthusiasts believe they’ve identified the perfect part for Kris Marshall to take on.

Presently, he’s most recognised for his portrayal of DI Humphrey Goodman in the Beyond franchise, having first appeared in 2014.

When he departed the fictional island of Saint Marie in 2017, BBC viewers were devastated that his stint on the programme had concluded.

Nevertheless, they were delighted when it emerged he was receiving his own spin-off programme alongside partner Martha Lloyd (Sally Bretton) in the fictional Devon community of Shipton Abbott.

While the most recent series has just wrapped up, supporters have turned their attention to another potential character for Kris to embody beyond the BBC programme, reports the Mirror.

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On Reddit, one supporter pointed out that the performer would be the perfect choice to assume the part of Arthur Weasley in the upcoming HBO Harry Potter series.

They posted: “The right age, funny, definitely capable of that wide-eyed enthusiasm, but as his tone on Death in Paradise shows, more than capable of handling the more dramatic moments. Kris Marshall would be the perfect Mr Weasley.”

It wasn’t long before additional users responded to the discussion, with numerous expressing their approval as one individual posted: “This might be my new favourite Arthur-fancast!” As another contributed: “He would be absolutely perfect.”

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Another viewer remarked: “This might be my favourite so far. I think this is a great suggestion.” While a further commenter added: “I love his character in Death in Paradise and that role is so like Arthur Weasley. And he is tall too. He would be just perfect! Wish they would cast him for the series.”

Nevertheless, it appears fans will need to be patient regarding who will take on the role of the much-loved character, as no announcement has yet been made about who will portray Arthur Weasley.

While speculation has emerged suggesting Grey’s Anatomy’s Kevin McKidd could be in contention for the part, he told Entertainment Weekly: “I would never say never. I’m a massive Harry Potter fan.”

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At present, newcomers Dominic McLaughlin, Arabella Stanton and Alastair Stout have been confirmed to portray Harry, Hermione and Ron respectively.

Elsewhere, John Lithgow takes on the role of Dumbledore, Nick Frost will play Hagrid, Paapa Essiedu is set to portray Snape and Janet McTeer will be Minerva McGonagall.

Additional cast members include Luke Thallon, Paul Whitehouse, Katherine Parkinson, Lox Pratt, Johnny Flynn, Bel Powley, Daniel Rigby and Bertie Carvel.

The first season of the new Harry Potter HBO series is set to be released on December 25 this year on HBO. Beyond Paradise is available to watch on BBC iPlayer.

Ireland has a unique relationship to climate change. The country has always relied on its pastoral landscapes for its national character, but the escalating climate crisis threatens this tradition because of rising temperatures and sea levels, and deforestation. Given Irish literature’s continued interest in nature, contemporary Irish poets are tackling these issues in their writing.

Poetry plays a special role in times of mass environmental decline. As a literary genre that relies on flexible, open-ended and even conflicting language to address complicated issues, poetry is especially well-suited to address the complex entanglement of local and global concerns, human and nonhuman lives, that gain increased prominence because of climate change.

Poems that explore environmental issues, often called ecopoems, can pack a lot of ideas into a single image. A short poem focused on a seemingly mundane subject can hide a wealth of meaning behind its simplicity.

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In an age dominated by the algorithmic attention economy, poetry might be our best tool for incorporating activism into everyday life.

Heaney’s bogs

The Nobel prize-winning Irish poet Seamus Heaney knew this. Taking inspiration from ancient Irish nature writing, Heaney described the Irish landscape as “a system of reality beyond the visible realities”.

In his 1969 poem Bogland, he defines the bog itself as representing the essence of Irishness.

We have no prairies

To slice a big sun at evening—

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Everywhere the eye concedes to

Encroaching horizon,

Is wooed into the cyclops’ eye

Of a tarn. Our unfenced country

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Is bog that keeps crusting

Between the sights of the sun.

Heaney juxtaposes Irish bogs with the vast prairies of the American west by presenting them as archives of natural and human history.

Ecopoetry scholar Yvonne Reddick has shown that from the early 1970s, Heaney extensively researched bog formation. His poems demonstrate an awareness of how the bogs have preserved Irish elk skeletons and iron age bodies because of their oxygen-free conditions.

For Heaney, the landscape was more than a lifeless background. It was a literal container of Irish history, including the possibility of environmental catastrophe.

Bogland gained new life when Heaney used it to support the Ulster Trust for Nature Conservation in 1991. As part of a fundraising initiative, the poem’s opening stanzas were printed on a poster beneath a painting by T.P. Flanagan. It was accompanied by the following information: “Peatlands are under serious threat because of cutting, drainage, afforestation and erosion … We have a responsibility to conserve and restore what remains.”

Turf-cutting (harvesting peat from bogs to use as fuel for home heating and cooking) was an important part of Heaney’s upbringing. But his involvement with conservation causes points to a changed outlook on these practices because of their environmental impact.

Finding the past in the present

Contemporary Irish poets continue this legacy. With a PhD in ornithology, writer Mary Montague relays her concern for environmental issues with poetic passion. Her work is often focused on native Irish animals, many of which are facing a similar fate to the Irish wolf due to habitat loss and the influence of invasive species.

Wolves were once common in Ireland. Research estimates that roughly 800 to 1,000 wolves roamed the country around the year 1600. Because wolves thrived in Ireland after their extinction in England, colonial authorities felt justified in using this as evidence of Irish “savagery”. Bounties were eventually established that spelled out the necessity of exterminating these creatures, the last of which was killed in 1786.

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Montague connects this violent history to the threats currently facing Irish animals. Her poem Haunted draws on the mythic connotations of ravens – which were once connected to the Celtic goddess of death, Mórrígan – to mourn the loss of Irish wolves. The poem asks whether the birds’ ominous associations ironically signal their own impending demise, given the escalating effects of climate change.

Their ragged capes of wingspans still float

over the Sperrins to scan the landscape

for the blot of a carcase, but they reel

with a fatalism, black flags

suspended over an absence.

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Poet Cherry Smyth also links Ireland’s colonial past to the current ecological moment. Her collection Famished (2019) found echoes of the great Irish famine in the rise of climate refugees.

More recently, her collection One Mountain: Sold (2025) responds to the threat of gold mining in the Sperrin Mountains, County Tyrone. The collection can be read as a poetic companion to the Save Our Sperrins campaign. This grassroots movement opposes the extraction of gold, silver and other minerals from the Sperrins and surrounding landscape.

Montague explained some of the campaign’s main concerns in the Guardian’s County Diary column. These include the pollution of air and water, the dehydration of local bog land and the potential risks to human health caused by mining.

Together, these poets show how the strongest of Irish ecopoems connect colonial history to the climate crisis. They highlight how the effects of environmental degradation in Ireland are the latest influence on an already precarious relationship to land.

Jane Clarke’s work also shows a dedication to healing these histories of violence embedded in Irish landscapes. Speaking at the Dublin City University Centre for Climate and Society in 2024, Clarke emphasised the importance of the arts in promoting environmentalism.

Clarke’s recent collaboration with the Burrenbeo Trust, a nonprofit organisation that runs various conservation campaigns across Ireland, demonstrates this commitment. The Hare’s Corner (2025) features original poems by Clarke that reflect the benefits of projects run by Burrenbeo that promote healthier farming practices that give threatened species the chance to flourish.

While governmental intervention based on scientific fact remains the most effective solution to climate change, contemporary Irish poets show the importance of literature in fighting environmental decline. As Montague writes in her contribution to The Watchful Heart anthology: “Loss is inevitable; the formalised language of poetry may help us endure it.”

‘These results demonstrate the health impact of the arts at a biological level’

Going to a museum and enjoying the arts and culture could be as important as exercise in slowing ageing, a new academic study suggests today.

Academics said their study provides evidence that arts and cultural engagement should be ‘recognised as a health-promoting behaviour in a similar way to exercise’.

Researchers found that a variety of activities were seen to be useful including reading, listening to music or visiting a gallery or museum. This could because each activity has a different impact on physical, cognitive, emotional or social stimulation, they said.

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Previous work has shown that engaging with the arts can lower stress levels, reduce inflammation and improve heart disease risk, experts said.

The study, led by academics from University College London (UCL), examined the biological markers of ageing in a person’s DNA. Specific sites in DNA that regulate gene expression, known as DNA methylation, were examined as markers of ageing.

As the years go by, methylation patterns shift, forming the basis for what scientists term “epigenetic clocks”.

The study, published in the journal Innovation In Aging, saw academics examine seven of these epigenetic clocks.

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Researchers looked at survey responses and blood test data from 3,556 UK adults. They compared people’s engagements with arts and culture to chemical changes in the DNA.

They found that people who engaged with such activities more often, and had a broader range of cultural activities, appeared to have a slower pace of ageing and a younger biological age.

And they said these changes are comparable with the changes linked to exercise – those who took part an arts activity at least once a week appeared to age up to 4% more slowly than those who rarely engaged with the arts.

This was the same as those who exercised at least once a week compared with those who did no physical activity.

After studying one of the “clocks”, researchers said that doing an arts activity at least three times a year was linked to ageing 2% more slowly, monthly engagement was linked to 3% slower ageing, and weekly activity to a 4% slower ageing rate, compared with those who engaged with arts fewer than three times a year.

And after examining data on another of these clocks, researchers found that people who engaged in arts and cultural activities at least weekly were a year younger on average compared with those who rarely engaged.

“These results demonstrate the health impact of the arts at a biological level,” said lead author Professor Daisy Fancourt, from UCL’s Institute of Epidemiology and Health Care.

“They provide evidence for arts and cultural engagement to be recognised as a health-promoting behaviour in a similar way to exercise. Our study also suggests that engaging in a variety of arts activities may be helpful.

“This may be because each activity has different ‘ingredients’ that help health, such as physical, cognitive, emotional or social stimulation.”

Senior author Dr Feifei Bu added: “Our study provides the first evidence that arts and cultural engagement is linked to a slower pace of biological ageing. This builds on a growing body of evidence about the health impact of the arts, with arts activities being shown to reduce stress, lower inflammation and improve cardiovascular disease risk, just as exercise is known to do.”

Experimental musician Look Mum No Computer, real name Sam Battle, will compete in Vienna, Austria, this week with his track, Eins, Zwei, Drei.

Mr Battle said: “I just want to do the UK proud.

“I hope they feel happiness, curiosity, and wonderment.”

The Lincolnshire-born performer said he hopes the audience will learn from the song.

He said: “I hope everyone will be able to count to three in German by the end.

“Wunderbar!”

Look Mum No Computer prepares for Eurovision

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Mr Battle has built much of the stage set himself, including oversized synthesiser panels and custom electronics.

He said: “It has been a lot of work, especially as I have just become a new dad at the same time as prepping for Eurovision.

“But overall, it’s been a lot of fun – I’m really proud of what we’ve pulled together and can’t wait to put it into practise.”

He said: “Working with (choreographer Fredrik Rydman) has been brilliant, he’s a really cool guy and has been pushing the boundaries of what we want to do up on that stage.

“It’s going to make for a really interesting live performance.”

He said: “probably changing my newborn baby’s nappy.”

He confirmed that the “mega synthesizer” panels and electronic elements used in the show are his own creations and said they are on a scale larger than anything he has built before.

He said: “I don’t want to give it all away, so you’ll have to tune in to see me when I perform on the Eurovision stage for the first time at Thursday’s semi-final.”

When asked by the BBC how it feels to perform in front of a global audience of 160 million, Mr Battle admitted it felt “It feels surreal. It’s not long to go now and I am really excited and strangely not too nervous, until you said that!”

Early rehearsal footage revealed a show featuring dancers in green costumes topped with furry television screens.

The European Broadcasting Union described the planned staging as a “supersized version” of the song’s eccentric music video.

While Mr Battle was not permitted to build every part of the set – joking that the BBC “didn’t trust my welding” – he confirmed that “all of the electronics and panels” were made by him.

Mr Battle’s YouTube channel, Look Mum No Computer, has drawn more than 85 million views since 2013.

Do you like the song for the UK? (Image: AP/PA)

He has become known for his videos about making and playing unusual electronic music equipment, having made an organ out of Furby toys, fused a synthesiser with a Raleigh Chopper bicycle, and made a triple oscillator synthesiser out of Nintendo Game Boy video game consoles.

His DIY creations and experimental sound have earned him 1.4 million combined subscribers and followers across his various social accounts.

The grand final of the 70th Eurovision Song Contest will be broadcast live from Vienna’s Wiener Stadthalle on Saturday, May 16.

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The UK competes in the wake of Austrian singer JJ’s victory in 2025 with Wasted Love.

Eurovision 2026 will be broadcast live on BBC One and iPlayer, as well as on BBC Radio 2 and BBC Sounds.

The two semi-finals take place on May 12 and May 14.

Will you be watching the Eurovision Song Contest? Let us know in the comments.

Built in 1957 and affectionately known as the “Pocket Rocket,” BR Standard Class 4MT 2-6-0 No. 76079 has been a staple at the North Yorkshire Moors Railway (NYMR), running services between Grosmont and Whitby as the only preserved member of its class to operate on the main line.

The locomotive requires major works and NYMR officials said acquiring company The Strathspey Railway, based at Aviemore, will give it a comprehensive overhaul and a new operational home in the Cairngorms.

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Laura Strangeway, chief executive of the NYMR, said: “No. 76079 has given outstanding service over many seasons and has earned a special place in the affections of our staff, volunteers and visitors alike.

“While it is naturally a moment of reflection to see her leave Pickering, we are delighted that she is going to a railway that shares our values and is genuinely committed to her restoration.

“The Strathspey Railway will provide a fitting new home, and we wish them every success with the project ahead.”

The locomotive, which operated charters further afield, was sold following the expiry of its boiler ticket.

Gordon Kirk, managing director at the Strathspey Railway, said: “We are thrilled to welcome No. 76079 to the Strathspey.

“She is a locomotive with real character and main line pedigree, and we look forward to undertaking the work needed to return her to steam for the enjoyment of visitors to the Highlands for many years to come.”

An NYMR spokesperson said the sale supports its broader fleet strategy, which aims to focus resources on locomotives best suited to its operational needs.

Proceeds from the sale will be reinvested in the railway’s heritage fleet and infrastructure.

The engine, built at Horwich Works, has left a lasting impression on volunteers, staff and visitors alike.

Plans for the engine’s transfer to Aviemore are currently being finalised and will be announced in due course.

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump, in his return to the White House, has demonstrated greater ambivalence toward Taiwan, an approach that’s raising questions ahead of this week’s summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping about whether the U.S. leader could be open to dialing back support for the island democracy that Beijing views as its breakaway province.

Trump in December authorized an $11 billion arms package for Taiwan — the largest weapons sale ever to the island — but has not yet moved forward with delivery and even acknowledged that he’s discussed the sale with Xi. He’s 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, 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 president during an Oval Office exchange with reporters on Monday said that he expected Xi would ask him to hold back on arming Taiwan.

“I’m going to have that discussion with President Xi,” Trump said about China’s strong opposition to the U.S. providing weapons to Taiwan. “President Xi would like us not to, and I’ll have that discussion.”

Trump’s rhetoric is fueling speculation in Beijing, Taipei and Washington about America’s commitment to help the island defend itself and whether the Republican president could be persuaded to cede ground on the long-standing U.S. posture toward the island.

Taiwan’s backers are concerned that Taipei will be “on the menu” when Trump and Xi sit down for talks, said retired U.S. Navy Rear Adm. Mark Montgomery.

“I do worry that we have a transactional president and a transactional opportunity could arise, and then we would have a challenge,” said Montgomery, now with the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, a Washington think tank that supports robust U.S. backing of Taiwan.

Rubio says US policy is unchanged

The Chinese have signaled they intend to make Taiwan a central part of the talks. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi raised Taiwan during a call with Secretary of State Marco Rubio to prepare for the trip, and urged the United States to “make the right choices” about its policies toward the island in order to safeguard “stability” between the two nations, according to a statement by the Chinese Foreign Ministry.

But Rubio said U.S. policy has not changed. “We don’t want to see any forced or compelled change in the situation,” he told reporters in Rome on Friday, saying it “would be destabilizing to the world.” He noted that Taiwan would not be “a feature of our trip, but it’ll certainly be an item that’s discussed.”

White House officials have underscored that Trump, who also approved $330 million in aircraft parts for Taiwan’s military in November, has already approved more in military sales for Taiwan in the first year of his second term than the roughly $8.4 billion that Democratic President Joe Biden approved over his four years in office.

Taiwan has been under pressure from the Trump administration to increase its defense spending, and on Friday its lawmakers broke months of gridlock to approve $25 billion in arms purchases. It was significantly less than the $40 billion proposal put forward last year by Taiwan President Lai Ching-te. A senior Trump administration official, who spoke to reporters on the condition of anonymity under ground rules set by the White House, said it was disappointing that the parliament did not fully fund Lai’s proposal.

Taiwanese government officials have expressed concern about China’s rhetoric ahead of the summit, though they’ve also taken some comfort from Rubio’s measured comments.

“(China) may attempt some maneuvering during the talks, but the U.S. has repeatedly reiterated, through both public and private channels, that its policy toward Taiwan remains unchanged,” National Security Bureau Director-General Tsai Ming-yen told reporters.

Xi may look to loosen US-Taiwan ties

The key question, China experts say, is just how far Xi will try to go in his effort to prod Trump closer to Beijing’s view.

China sees the self-ruled Taiwan as a renegade province, to be annexed by force if necessary. It prohibits countries it has diplomatic relations with from having formal ties with Taipei. Since establishing diplomatic relations with modern China in 1979, the U.S. has managed to stay within the framework of Beijing’s demands while maintaining informal support for Taiwan and providing it with arms.

As part of the U.S. ambiguity on Taiwan, Washington acknowledges Beijing’s position that Taiwan is part of China but does not explicitly endorse it. The U.S. has also historically stated it “does not support” Taiwan’s independence and opposes unilateral changes to the status quo between Taiwan and China.

But analysts say Xi could seek to persuade Trump — who already has demonstrated a willingness to blur the lines of traditional diplomacy — to loosen ties with Taiwan through curbs on U.S. arms sales or with informal limits on visits by prominent U.S. officials to the island. In February, Trump suggested he broke from longstanding U.S. policy and consulted with Xi on arms sales to Taiwan.

“Even if we don’t see something as dramatic as a formal shift in declaratory policy, this time around, there is always a risk that President Trump may make an off-the-cuff remark given he’s not necessarily somebody who appreciates the nuances of longstanding policy language,” said Patricia Kim of the Assessing China Project at Brookings Institution in Washington.

White House sits out Japan-China rift

A row between U.S. ally Japan and China has also raised speculation about the strength of Trump’s commitment to Taiwan. In November, Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said a Chinese attack on Taiwan was of concern to the region and could constitute “a survival-threatening situation” for Japan, requiring the use of force.

Trump made back-to-back calls with Takaichi and Xi that same month, though he’s remained largely silent about the spat.

“I know they have a little bit of an edgy relationship,” Trump said as he hosted Takaichi for talks in March.

Additionally, Trump’s backing of Taiwan faced scrutiny after the 2026 U.S. National Defense Strategy omitted direct mention of the island.

The best-case scenario for Taiwan

One card Taiwan holds is its robust semiconductor sector, the world’s largest, which the U.S. relies on to maintain an edge in its advanced-technology race against China.

“Trump at the very least realizes the role that Taiwan plays in the U.S.’s economic growth,” said Lev Nachman, a political science professor at National Taiwan University. “So I think that is sort of the main silver lining in thinking that nothing drastic will change in terms of policy toward Taiwan.”

While Trump is known for his transactional nature, his administration has not viewed difficult aspects of the U.S.-China relationship as “fungible” issues that can be traded, said Edgard Kagan, a former senior State Department official who served under Trump and Biden on East Asia policy issues.

“The president understands leverage. My experience of being in meetings with him, he has a very, very acute sense of how to use it,” said Kagan, who is now the China Studies chair at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington. “And so I think that the idea that there’s going to be a trade where the president sort of sacrifices U.S. interests in Taiwan in order to get other things — I think it’s unlikely based on my own experience of how he operates.”

In the end, whether the island comes out of the Xi-Trump summit on a stronger or weaker footing will likely be judged by the leaders’ public statements.

Trump on Monday reiterated that he’s confident that Xi won’t take military action against Taiwan under his watch.

“I think the best-case scenario Taiwan can hope for is that Taiwan is not talked about publicly or, at the very least, in a minimal way,” Nachman said.

___

Mistreanu reported from Taipei. Associated Press writer Giada Zampano in Rome contributed to this report.

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump on Tuesday is set to leave for Beijing to meet with President Xi Jinping after weeks of trying, and failing, to persuade the Chinese government to use its considerable leverage to prod Iran to agree to U.S. terms to end the two-month old war — or at the very least, reopen the critical Strait of Hormuz.

Trump has veered between venting that China, the world’s biggest buyer of Iranian oil, hasn’t done more to get the Islamic Republic in line, and acknowledging that Xi’s government helped de-escalate the conflict last month by nudging Tehran back to ceasefire talks when negotiations wobbled.

But ahead of the U.S. leader’s high-stakes visit, the White House has set low expectations that Trump will be able to persuade Xi to change China’s posture.

Instead, the administration seems determined not to let differences on Iran overshadow efforts to make headway on other difficult matters in the complicated relationship — ranging from trade to further Chinese cooperation to block exports of fentanyl precursors.

“We don’t want this to be something that derails the broader relationship or the agreements that might come out of our meeting in Beijing,” U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said on Bloomberg TV last week.

US administration sanctioned China ahead of the trip

Beijing publicly insists that it wants to see the war end, and has been working diplomatically behind the scenes to help its ally Pakistan push to broker a peace agreement. It has also sent a “subtle message of discontent to Iran” for closing the Strait of Hormuz, and to the U.S. for its blockade of Iranian shipping, said Ahmed Aboudouh, a specialist on China’s influence in the Middle East with the London-based Chatham House think tank.

“They are very cautious, risk-adverse, and they don’t want to be involved in anything that would drag them into something that they don’t consider their problem,” he said.

In recent days, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent have stepped up their calls for China to use its influence to help reopen the strait, through which about 20% of the world’s crude flowed before the war began.

The State Department announced on Friday that it was sanctioning four entities, including three China-based firms, for providing sensitive satellite imagery that enables Iranian military strikes against U.S. forces in the Middle East. Earlier, the Treasury Department moved to target Chinese oil refineries accused of purchasing oil from Tehran, as well as shippers of the oil. The sanctions cut off the companies from the U.S. financial system and penalize anyone who does business with them.

Beijing has called the sanctions “illegal unilateral pressure” and enacted a blocking statute — passed in 2021 and never used until now — that prohibits any Chinese entity from recognizing or complying with the sanctions.

Ahead of Trump’s arrival, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi last week hosted his Iranian counterpart Abbas Araghchi in Beijing. The Chinese foreign minister used the moment to defend Iran’s right to develop civilian nuclear energy.

Xi has also offered implicit criticism of the U.S. over the war. He has said that safeguarding international rule of law is paramount, adding it “must not be selectively applied or disregarded,” nor should the world be allowed to revert “to the law of the jungle.”

Both China and the US want to avoid a return to a tariff war

Trump on Monday downplayed differences with China over Iran and underscored that Xi wants to see the strait reopened. “He’d like to see it get done,” Trump said of the Chinese leader.

Like Trump, Xi also has plenty of reason to not let differences over Iran impact other facets of the relationship, analysts say. China imports about half its crude oil and almost one-third of its liquefied natural gas from Middle East countries affected by the closure of the strait, according to China’s General Administration of Customs.

Beijing wants to guard against further deterioration of the U.S.-China relationship — something that would add further challenges to its economy.

“I think for Xi, a win is continued stability without surrender,” said Craig Singleton, senior director for the Foundation for Defense of Democracies’ China program. “He wants the summit to validate China’s superpower status, preserve the tariff predictability, and to reaffirm that Washington has to deal with Beijing on Beijing’s terms.”

Yet, since the U.S. and Israel launched strikes in late February, there have been difficult moments between Trump and Xi that threatened to set back the relative stability in their relationship.

China has long supported Iran’s ballistic missile program and backed it with dual-use industrial components that can be used for missile production, according to the U.S. government.

Last month, Trump threatened to impose a 50% tariff on China after reports that Beijing was preparing to deliver a shipment of new air defense systems to Iran, but later backed away from the threat, claiming that he had received written assurance from Xi that he would not provide Tehran with weaponry. Days later, Trump said cryptically that the U.S. Navy had intercepted a Chinese vessel carrying a “gift” for Iran. He has not offered further explanation.

“There have been moments where it seemed like it was going to spill over,” said Patricia Kim, who co-leads the Assessing China Project at the Brookings Institution. “But I think, again, the two sides are pretty invested in not allowing this to destabilize the broader relationship.”

Both Trump and Xi may be eager to avoid creating dark economic clouds, as they did last year, when the two powers appeared on the precipice of a massive trade war.

Trump had set tariffs on Chinese goods at 145% and China announced a further tightening of rare-earth export controls that would have hurt U.S industry — before the governments backed off from inflicting maximalist penalties on each other. The two sides reached a fragile truce in their long-running trade disputes in October.

Trump and other administration officials have made the case that the conflict — particularly the closure of the strait — has caused greater harm to China and its Pacific neighbors than it has to the United States, which is far less dependent on Middle East oil.

“China is an export-driven economy. That means they depend on other countries to buy from them,” Rubio told reporters last week, making the case that it was in China’s interest for Iran to let traffic resume. “You can’t buy from them if you can’t ship it there, and you can’t buy from them if your economy is being destroyed by what Iran is doing,” he said.

But for now, China has shown little interest in wading deeper into the conflict and has appeared reluctant to be seen siding with Washington.

“It will be difficult to get the Chinese deeply involved under any circumstances,” said Kurt Campbell, a former deputy Secretary of State during the Biden administration and chairman of The Asia Group. “They will want to be careful because they can see political quicksand as well as the next guy.”

___

Associated Press writers Didi Tang in Washington, Adam Schreck in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, and David Rising in Bangkok contributed to this report.

More than 5,000 have been bought in the past month

Those looking extra security for their home are being offered a substantial discount as Amazon has reduced the price of a top-rated Ring doorbell to £39.99. The Ring Battery Video Doorbell offers both convenience and reassurance while you’re out and about as the gadget is straightforward to fit and can be monitored via your mobile device with HD video.

In brand-new condition, the doorbell has had 60% knocked off its original £99.99 retail price in the Satin Nickel finish colourway .

With this device, users will have round-the-clock awareness of who’s visiting their property, thanks to motion-sensing technology complete with night vision and the option to review previously recorded footage for up to 180 days. Users can also utilise pre-recorded voice messages to communicate with visitors effortlessly whenever the device is activated.

The complete product description for the Ring Battery Video Doorbell states: “With Battery Video Doorbell you’ll know who is on your property whenever your Video Doorbell is pressed, or motion is detected. Charge it up, click into place, and stay connected right from your phone. Battery Video Doorbell is equipped with a built-in battery which cannot be removed for recharging.

“1440×1440 HD Video with Colour Night Vision gives you a clearer picture of what’s going on at your front door, even after dark. And Head-To-Toe View lets you see more of people and packages, you can block out areas of the view from your Video Doorbell. With Privacy Zones in place, your Ring device will no longer display or record anything that happens within those areas. Quick Replies lets you choose from a selection of pre-recorded messages that play whenever your Video Doorbell is pressed.

“Activate the Person Alerts feature which ensures you’re only notified when human activity is detected. With Package Alerts you can be alerted whenever a delivery is detected on your doorstep. Ring subscription required, sold separately.* The Ring app lets you connect all your devices, adjust their settings and use modes to Arm or Disarm your devices when you’re home or away. Ring subscription required, sold separately.* Save your recorded videos for up to 180 days to rewatch any time, get alerts for people and packages, and so much more with a Ring subscription.”

It’s important to note that while the Ring doorbell app is free to download, an additional subscription is necessary to unlock certain features within the app. Full details can be found in the product description, reports the Liverpool Echo.

The Ring doorbell specifications include:

• Dimensions – 6.19 cm x 2.30 cm x 12.65 cm (4.98 in x 2.44 in x 0.91 in)

• Video – 1440 x 1440 HD Video, Head-To-Toe View, Live View, Colour Night Vision

• Field of view- 150° horizontal, 150° vertical

• Audio- Two-way audio with noise cancellation

• Power- Runs on a built-in, rechargeable battery. Can be hardwired to an existing doorbell system or transformer for continuous charging (8–24 VAC, 40 VA max, 50/60 Hz). No halogen or garden-lighting transformers, no DC transformer/power supply.

• Internet requirements- Requires a minimum upload speed of 2 Mbps for optimal performance.

• Connectivity – 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi connection @ 2.4 GHz

• Estimated install time- Five minutes

• Operating Conditions – -20°C to 50°C (-4°F to 122°F) Prolonged exposure to direct sunlight and other conditions may increase the temperature of your device and affect performance.

The product has received more than 20,000 reviews. One purchaser commented: “Such a great piece of kit. So easy to set up, adding that extra security with a good picture quality, love the fact that you can see what’s going on wherever you are in the world at any time day or night. Has a good motion sensor and choice whether you have it on or off, easy to connect to the Wi-Fi with a long lasting battery.”

Another buyer remarked: “The door camera performs well overall. It captures a full view of a person rather than just from the head to the waist, and the night quality is quite good too. The only drawback is that the image can appear slightly faded when zooming in for a closer look, both during the day and at night.

“That said, it’s a solid door camera and definitely worth considering. I’ve tried a few different brands before, and this one stands out so far. Battery life has been good as well, I haven’t needed to recharge it since the initial charge, though I haven’t had it long enough to fully judge long-term performance.”

For those seeking alternatives, Amazon is currently offering the Blink Outdoor 4 Camera + £0 Blink Video Doorbell (Black)| Wireless HD smart security camera with a substantial 42% discount, now available for £69.99 (price correct at time of publication, RRP £119.98).

Alternatively, Argos stocks the Tapo D210 2K 3MP Video Doorbell with Chime , a weatherproof device compatible with Amazon Alexa. Priced at £44.99, this doorbell allows you to view video via an app.

Returning to the Ring Battery Video Doorbell , another customer noted: “This is our second Ring doorbell. We did look at other brands but weren’t convinced we’d get quite as good as Ring. The picture and sound quality is excellent. The motion detection can be changed to suit. Not totally sold on the new and improved way it clicks onto the holder now, however you don’t have to deal with the fiddly screws every time you want to charge them.. Yeah, app is easy to use, and gives you a good quality of recording and peace of mind when you are leaving your property.”

A different buyer commented: “I’m really pleased with the Ring Battery Video Doorbell . Installation was quick and straightforward – I had it set up and working in just a few minutes. The head-to-toe view is excellent and gives a clear picture of who’s at the door and any parcels left on the step. The video quality is sharp, and the motion alerts are very handy. I get notifications straight to my phone, which is reassuring whether I’m at home or out.

“It’s definitely added an extra layer of security to the house. To get the most out of it, you do need the subscription plan for features like video history and recordings. While that’s an extra cost, I found it worth it for the added functionality and peace of mind, Overall, it’s a great bit of kit for home security – reliable, easy to use, and very effective. I’d happily recommend it to anyone looking to upgrade their doorbell and improve their home safety.”

However, one shopper said: “Battery life very poor only last 2 weeks. I work away home once a month and got to rely on people to charge the door bell.”

But a further satisfied buyer noted: “Relatively easy to install and to set up even for someone with my limited skills. It’s a good house security improvement and the fact that it works with Alexa is very helpful.”

You can check out the Ring Battery Video Doorbell on Amazon here .

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