Canada / USA: Carney refuses to take Trump’s threats lying down

27 Aug 2026
Trade relations between Canada and the USA have deteriorated sharply after Mark Carney suspended negotiations on 22 August, saying that last-minute American demands were unfair and threatened the reliability of any agreement. New…

Ukraine: UK rejects Russian threats after drones are used offensively

21 Aug 2026
Andy Burnham has rejected Russian threats after Moscow warned that the UK would ‘pay’ for supplying Ukraine with drones reportedly used in strikes deep inside Russia. British ministers said the government would not…

Iran / USA: conflicting claims about Strait of Hormuz negotiations

07 Aug 2026
Iran says it is working with Oman to establish a temporary arrangement allowing commercial shipping to resume through the Strait of Hormuz, while denying it is holding direct negotiations with the USA despite…

‘A mathematical certainty’ that Putin will send drone swarms to Britain

17 Jul 2026
Security experts are warning that Russia is increasingly using 'grey-zone' tactics to test Britain’s defences without triggering open conflict. Former RN commander Tom Sharpe believes it is highly likely that Moscow will eventually…

Iran: Trump threatens to bomb bridges if talks are not resumed

16 Jul 2026
Tensions between the USA and Iran have escalated further as Donald Trump warned that the US could target Iranian bridges and power plants if Tehran does not return to negotiations. His remarks came…

China / USA: does Taiwan want total independence?

21 May 2026
Following his talks in Beijing with Xi Jinping, Donald Trump has warned Taiwan against pursuing formal independence. China regards Taiwan as part of its territory and considers independence a major red line; however,…

Trading standards officers increasingly facing threats from organised crime

07 May 2026
Trading standards officers across the UK are facing escalating threats and violence from organised crime groups operating on high streets, according to recent testimony. Officers have reported intimidation, sexual abuse, and physical attacks…

Iran conflict: what role could China play in easing tensions?

07 May 2026
Iran’s foreign minister Abbas Araghchi has held a meeting with his counterpart Wang Yi in Beijing, as diplomatic efforts intensify to ease tensions between Iran and the USA over the Strait of Hormuz.…

NATO: Rutte’s difficult task after Trump’s threats to leave NATO

10 Apr 2026
Mark Rutte faces a critical moment as he visits Washington to engage with Donald Trump amid renewed uncertainty over the NATO alliance. Tensions have grown because of disagreements over military involvement in Iran…

Iran / USA: Trump’s mixed messages create uncertainty

02 Apr 2026
As the conflict in the Middle East continues, Donald Trump has alternated between signalling possible de-escalation and threatening further military action, leaving the situation highly uncertain. Increased military deployments in the Gulf region…
Page 1 of 3