A new transatlantic rift is emerging as President Donald Trump openly warns the United Kingdom against strengthening business ties with China, calling the move dangerous for national and strategic security. The warning comes just as Prime Minister Keir Starmer concludes a high profile visit to Beijing aimed at resetting UK-China relations after years of diplomatic strain. Rather than backing down, Britain appears to be pushing forward. Starmer has defended engagement with China as a matter of national interest, arguing that economic cooperation can coexist with firm security safeguards.

Iran has issued a formal warning of full-scale retaliation as US military deployments in the Middle East intensify. Tehran’s leadership has placed defense forces on heightened alert, preparing for the possibility of extreme scenarios. A senior Iranian official declared that any attack whether “limited”, “surgical” or “kinetic”, would be treated as an all-out war, and the response would be unprecedented and severe. This statement comes amid rising regional tensions following US-backed Israeli operations in June. In response, the United States has moved major naval assets, including the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln with escorting destroyers, signaling a strategic posture of deterrence. President Trump confirmed the deployment, stating the fleet is positioned “just in case”, leaving the door open for potential military action if Iran escalates. WATCH