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China has unveiled a new five-year economic plan and policy agenda during the annual National People’s Congress (NPC), outlining Beijing’s priorities for growth, technology development, and economic stability in the coming years.

The Chinese government announced an economic blueprint that includes a GDP growth target of around 5%, along with measures aimed at boosting domestic demand and supporting key industries. Officials emphasised the importance of stabilising growth while addressing structural challenges such as the slowdown in the property sector, demographic pressures, and weaker global demand.

A major focus of the new Chinese economic strategy is technological self-reliance. Beijing signalled plans to increase ...

In an interview with Owen Jones (@OwenJonesTalks) published on his YouTube channel, foreign policy analyst Trita Parsi offered a critical assessment of the Trump administration's handling of the war with Iran, arguing that the United States has already lost strategic control of the conflict.

Parsi, co-founder of the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft, stated that the administration's initial plan "came crashing down within 48 to 72 hours of that war" and is now "scrambling to come up with a plan B." He pointed to shifting justifications, goals, and timelines as evidence that "Trump has already lost control of the war," while ...

The first UK government-chartered rescue flight aimed at bringing stranded British nationals home from the Middle East was delayed on March 5, remaining grounded in Muscat, Oman, due to what ministers described as "operational reasons" related to boarding passengers.

Home Office minister Alex Norris confirmed the flight would now depart on Thursday, though he could not specify a time. The delay affects one of several planned evacuation efforts as an estimated 138,000 British nationals in the region have registered for government assistance, with 112,000 of those in the UAE alone.

The government has confirmed two additional chartered flights will depart by the ...

Three men suspected of spying for China, including the husband of Labour MP Joani Reid, have been released on bail until May as the investigation continues, according to the Metropolitan Police.

David Taylor, 39, who is married to Scottish Labour MP Joani Reid, was detained on 4 March alongside two other men aged 43 and 68 during coordinated arrests across London and Wales. The investigation is led by counter-terrorism police under the National Security Act 2023, with all three accused of aiding a foreign intelligence service.

Following the arrests, searches were conducted at multiple addresses, including properties in London, Cardiff, and East ...

The escalating conflict between the US-Israel and Iran has caused sharp rises in global energy prices, reigniting fears of a major crisis in Europe and prompting urgent White House efforts to manage economic fallout.

European gas prices at the Title Transfer Facility (TTF) benchmark soared to €54.3 per megawatt-hour on 3 March, a significant 70% increase from pre-conflict levels. The rise follows Iran's retaliatory strikes that led Qatar—one of the world's largest liquefied natural gas (LNG) suppliers—to halt production. The effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz, through which about 20% of global oil passes, has further unsettled markets.

EU leaders remain ...

The House Oversight Committee voted on March 4 to subpoena Attorney General Pam Bondi as part of the ongoing congressional investigation into Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell. The 24-19 vote saw five Republicans join Democrats to force Bondi's testimony, reflecting bipartisan frustration with the Justice Department's handling of the Epstein files.

Republican Representative Nancy Mace, who introduced the motion, stated: "The American people want answers on the Epstein files, and so do we." Mace and fellow Republicans Tim Burchett, Lauren Boebert, Michael Cloud, and Scott Perry crossed party lines to support the subpoena.

The move follows increasing criticism of the Justice Department's ...

Global financial markets have been shaken by escalating conflict in the Middle East, with Asian stocks suffering significant losses and oil prices rising on fears that the US-Israel war with Iran may become prolonged.

South Korea's benchmark KOSPI index closed 12% lower on Wednesday, marking one of its worst days in decades. Trading was temporarily halted after the index plunged more than 8%, triggering circuit breakers designed to prevent panic selling. Japan's Nikkei 225 fell 3.6%, while Hong Kong's Hang Seng declined 2.5%.

The market chaos reflects increasing investor concern about an energy shock that could fuel inflation. Brent crude increased 2.5% ...

Republican Representative Dan Crenshaw has lost his Texas primary to state Representative Steve Toth, becoming the first incumbent member of Congress to be defeated in the 2026 midterm election cycle.

Toth successfully framed the four-term incumbent as insufficiently conservative and not aligned enough with President Donald Trump's America First agenda. Crenshaw was the only GOP House member seeking re-election in Tuesday's Texas primaries who did not receive Trump's endorsement.

The primary contest focused on Crenshaw's past criticism of Trump's refusal to accept the 2020 election results and his support for aid to Ukraine, positions that drew opposition from conservative activists. Despite Crenshaw's ...

An Israeli air strike targeted Iran's Assembly of Experts building in Qom, south of Tehran, causing significant destruction.

The Assembly of Experts is a high-ranking political and religious body made up of senior clerics responsible for selecting, supervising, and potentially dismissing Iran's Supreme Leader. The strike hit the building as this body plays a crucial role in the succession process following the assassination of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.

The attack marks a significant escalation in the ongoing conflict between Israel and Iran, targeting not just military infrastructure but also a key institution of Iran's governance. Qom, a holy city and major centre ...

Spain has firmly rejected President Donald Trump's threat to halt all trade with the country after its refusal to allow US military bases in Spain to be used for strikes against Iran.

The dispute escalated when Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez condemned the US-Israeli attacks on Iran as a breach of international law and called for dialogue. Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares later clarified that the jointly operated bases at Rota and Morón are under Spanish sovereignty and "will not be used for anything not included in the agreement with the United States, or for anything that is not in accordance ...