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.

He went on: “However, this was a second successive monthly contraction as concern over the implications of the situation in the Middle East weakened consumer confidence and as households came to terms with higher outlays on water charges, council tax, and at the petrol pump.

Curtis Bihari will take on the role in 2026/27, having previously served as mayor in 2023/24.

He succeeds councillor Angus Ferguson, with councillor Craig Johnson now serving as deputy mayor.

Mr Bihari said: “Ferryhill has given me so much throughout my life, from my childhood and education to my career and public service.

Curtis Bihari, pictured, has been elected mayor of Ferryhill for 2026/27, succeeding Angus Ferguson, with Craig Johnson appointed as deputy mayor (Image: Ferryhill Town Council)

“To now serve the town again as Mayor is a huge honour.

“I’m incredibly proud of where I come from and I’m determined to give everything I can to the role and to our community.”

Born and raised on Bertha Street in Ferryhill, Mr Bihari attended Broom Cottages Primary School, Ferryhill Comprehensive, Queen Elizabeth Sixth Form, and later graduated from Newcastle University with a first-class degree in politics and sociology.

After university, he returned to Ferryhill and worked at the town’s Sport and Education Centre, helping to keep the facility running alongside his family.

He has also served as a county councillor for Durham.

Outside of his professional and public life, Mr Bihari is involved in local sport, having played cricket for Mainsforth Cricket Club since childhood and football for Ferryhill Miners United.

The new mayor is currently considering which charities to support during his term and plans to announce his decision along with details of fundraising events.

Further details about the mayor’s chosen charities and upcoming events will be announced along with details of fundraising events.

Mark Wright was selected from a competitive pool of nominees submitted by business owners who have directly benefited from the guidance, expertise and commitment of Business Gateway’s dedicated advisers.

A Lanarkshire business adviser has been chosen to receive a Business Gateway Impact Award for the second year running.

The Impact Awards, which took place at Business Gateway’s recent all-staff conference in Edinburgh, celebrated the exemplary service, commitment and impact made by Business Gateway’s local staff in supporting business owners across the country.

Mark Wright was selected from a competitive pool of nominees submitted by business owners who have directly benefited from the guidance, expertise and commitment of Business Gateway’s dedicated advisers.

Business owners praised Mark for “consistently going above and beyond with practical, knowledgeable and patient support”, with several people saying he had helped them secure funding, navigate complex processes and build confidence from start-up through growth.

Councillor Gail Macgregor, COSLA Spokesperson for the Environment & Economy and Chair of the Business Gateway board, said: “The Impact Awards were designed to shine a light on those who empower the local business community in Scotland, helping individuals and organisations to navigate challenges, reach new milestones and achieve lasting success.

“I’d like to offer my congratulations to Mark on receiving an Impact Award. Mark and the rest of the Business Gateway network go above and beyond every day to help businesses thrive, and these awards are a testament to their dedication and the tangible difference they make.

“We’re delighted to have been able to recognise and celebrate their achievements.”

With around 350 staff located around the country, Business Gateway’s teams are the backbone of Scotland’s business support system.

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Available free of charge to anyone looking to turn their idea into reality or grow their business, Business Gateway offers online and in-person support on everything from building the foundations of a strategy to setting up an e-commerce website, to help with marketing and budgeting.

In 2025-26, Business Gateway supported over 50,000 customers, managed over 30,000 enquiries and celebrated the launch of over 7,200 new businesses.

For more information on Business Gateway and its services, please visit https://bgateway.com.

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Which? found Waitrose to be the cheapest for several of the products included in the analysis, including Dolmio Bolognese Sauce Onion And Garlic 450g, which was £1.50 on average in Waitrose compared with £2.60 at most other supermarkets, including Morrisons, Sainsbury’s and Tesco for those without a loyalty card – a difference of 73%.

A rare strain of hantavirus broke out on the Dutch cruise ship MV Hondius as it sailed from Argentina to Cape Verde.

A small number of people in Scotland have been linked to the hantavirus outbreak, according to Public Health Scotland (PHS).

A rare strain of hantavirus broke out on the Dutch cruise ship MV Hondius as it sailed from Argentina to Cape Verde.

The national public health body said it will remain in close contact with those who have been exposed to the virus and will continue precautionary testing, as well as ongoing care and support.

Health bosses added that there are currently no known cases of hantavirus in Scotland and the risk to the general public is very low.

Three people died on the voyage and nine cases confirmed by tests have been identified. The health body said it is working with the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) and NHS boards in Scotland to “take appropriate action”.

Samples from those who have been contacted by health authorities will be sent to a high security lab in Glasgow for analysis.

A PHS statement read: “Public Health Scotland (PHS) is working with the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), and colleagues across the UK, to respond to the hantavirus cruise ship outbreak and take appropriate action. This includes well established protocols around contact tracing and isolation measures where necessary.

“PHS and NHS boards in Scotland are working to follow up with a small number of individuals who had potential contact with cases and will remain in close contact with these individuals for up to 45 days from the last potential exposure. Contacts will continue to receive precautionary testing as required, as well as ongoing care and support. There are currently no known cases of hantavirus in Scotland and the risk to the general public is very low.”

Scientists at the Centre for Virus Research (CVR) have already received samples from about 20 people who were on the ship, with the team now looking into how the virus has spread as well as potential treatments.

Centre director Prof Emma Thomson said: “The symptoms are classically of respiratory illness, rather like a severe influenza infection or Covid-19 – people get very breathless.

“Unfortunately, the consequences of the Andes strain can be very severe, and one in three people might be expected to die.

“So that makes it a very serious infection and that’s why we need ongoing research to look for new treatments and vaccines.”

Six people evacuated to the UK on Wednesday were able to return home or to suitable accommodation to complete a 45-day isolation period.

They had already isolated at Arrowe Park Hospital in Wirral, Merseyside, for 72 hours and tested negative for the virus.

In total, 22 passengers and crew had been isolating at the hospital – the rest will remain but are asymptomatic and have tested negative for the virus. It has not been revealed for how long the remaining patients will stay in hospital.

Two Brits with confirmed cases are being treated in the Netherlands and South Africa. The head of the UN health agency previously said there was “no sign” of a larger hantavirus outbreak.

Researchers at the CVR are now looking at blood and nasal samples from passengers, crew and traced contacts.

Thomson said the main aim is to investigate potential treatments and a vaccine.

She added: “We are working on improving our understanding of how the virus divides, transmits, and thinking about how current antiviral treatments can be used as a new treatment.

“For example, some vaccines that have been designed to fight against other types of hantavirus might also work against the Andes strain.”

A number of cases have been seen in Scotland in the past, involving a different type of hantavirus which can only be transmitted from rodents.

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The consultation, which will run for 12 weeks, is available on the Scottish Sentencing Council website and organisations and people from all backgrounds, legal or otherwise, are encouraged to have their say on the guideline to help ensure it is fit for purpose.

The Scottish Sentencing Council has launched a public consultation to seek views on a draft sentencing guideline for domestic abuse offences.

The consultation, which will run for 12 weeks, is available on the Council website and organisations and people from all backgrounds, legal or otherwise, are encouraged to have their say on the guideline to help ensure it is fit for purpose.

Domestic abuse is an area of great concern to the public and accounts for a significant number of cases across courts in Scotland.

The sentencing of such cases is complex and can prove challenging for judges, particularly due to the broad range of circumstances involved in domestic offending and the need to give careful consideration to the protection of victims.

Research also shows that victims want greater clarity on the processes and reasons behind court decisions.

The guideline is designed to be of use to the courts and court users, as well as the general public, by clearly setting out the information which should be considered by judges in deciding sentences.

Lord Beckett, Lord Justice Clerk and Chair of the Council, said: “This guideline will assist the court in selecting what can sometimes be challenging sentencing decisions, thereby enhancing consistency.

“It will also aid public awareness by helping people better understand what domestic abuse can involve, and what is considered by the courts when reaching a sentence.

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“The public consultation is a vital stage in developing a sentencing guideline. In order for it to be useful to the court, court users and the public, we are seeking as wide a range of views as possible and I encourage everyone to take the time to respond to the consultation.

“Every response will be carefully considered by the Council before the guideline is finalised.”

The draft guideline makes clear that these offences can cause particularly damaging harm to those impacted by abuse, including children, and can inflict lasting trauma.

It sets out some of the behaviours domestic abuse can entail, such as coercive control like isolating a victim from family or friends, as well as economic abuse or physical or sexual abuse.

A list of factors which can make offences more serious, and may lead to a more severe sentence, are also detailed in the guideline – for example, using a child to direct offending behaviour at a victim or preventing a victim from obtaining assistance.

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The draft guideline also includes a section explaining the legislation on non-harassment orders.

The deadline for responding to the consultation is August 6. All responses will be carefully considered before the guideline is finalised and submitted to the High Court for approval.

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As the US President has headed to China for a key summit chaos has erupted behind the scene, with a US staffer trampled and members of Trump’s Secret Service involved in a standoff

Behind the scenes of the high-stakes China summit, tensions are reportedly erupting as all eyes are on the US and China leaders.

President Trump and Xi Jinping have held talks discussing divisive issues such as the Iran war, trade, technology and Taiwan.

Trump claimed in a toast at the state banquet that the US and China have a “deep sense of mutual respect” but the off stage relations between the nations have seemingly continued to worsen as the state visit continues.

With a reported ‘standoff’ and one US staffer trampled by a horde of Chinese journalists backstage of the trip has been labelled a “s***show”.

The first incident occurred on Thursday morning when a group from the Chinese press reportedly stormed into Trump’s meeting with President Xi, knocking over and stepping on a White House staffer.

As the aide was knocked over Americans protested at the actions, but thankfully they were not seriously injured.

Members of Trump’s Secret Service also reportedly had confrontation with Chinese officials after being barred from entering a historic Beijing temple due to one of the agents possessing a firearm.

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A journalist claimed the “intense” standoff took place during Trump’s first full day of the state visit which caused delays.

According to the White House press pool, the agent accompanying reporters was stopped by Chinese security and refused entry to the temple’s compound due to his firearm.

This dispute between US and Chinese officials led to a delay in the press corps entering the temple complex with press officials briefly held while US and Chinese officials engaged in a heated debate about whether they could proceed.

As they were held in the holding room, one American reporter shouted “We have to go!”

Chinese officials the reportedly chased the US delegation as they ran across the square to reach Trump’s convoy of cars.

The unseen dramas of the trip have thus far contrasted the majority of the interactions between the two leaders, with the standoff taking place as a peaceful tour of the historic temple was taken by Xi and Trump.

However, discussing tense issues between the nations Xi warned that the countries could “come into conflict” in a two hour showdown earlier on Thursday.

The Chinese leader said: “If handled properly, bilateral relations can remain generally stable.

“If handled poorly, the two countries will clash or even come into conflict, pushing the entire China-US relationship into a highly dangerous situation.”

Traditional missionary (particularly for the bottom partner)

Doggy style (kneeling)

Halfpoint Images via Getty Images

Legs up over shoulders positions

Cowgirl / reverse cowgirl (on top)

Standing sex