28 h. ago China targets 5% growth and increases defence budget to assert territorial dominance

Chinese premier Li Qiang announces optimistic target and delivers government's annual work report to national parliament

Events

31 h. ago China projects confidence in economy with growth target of ‘around 5%’

Beijing outlines fiscal spending plans amid lagging domestic consumption and mounting trade tensions with US

Events

36 h. ago China keeps its economic growth target at 'around 5%' for 2025

China is keeping its economic growth target at “around 5%” for 2025 despite a looming trade war with the United States and other headwinds

Economics

37 h. ago Starmer faces growing concerns from MPs over ‘brutal’ cuts to foreign aid budget

Sir Keir Starmer is facing increasing pressure from MPs over his decision to cut the overseas aid budget to fund an increase in defence spending

Politics

62 h. ago Keir Starmer faces growing pressure from senior Labour MPs over his decision to cut the overseas aid budget to fund increase in defence spending to 2.5 per cent of GDP

Labour MPs lined up to criticise the move in the Commons on Monday, with Barry Gardiner warning it would lead to more 'more people being slain by famine, drought, disaster and war'.

Economics

6 d. ago Anneliese Dodds quits as international development minister over aid budget cut

Scottish Labour MP quits ‘with sadness’ following move to raid aid budget to increase defence spending

Politics

6 d. ago Anneliese Dodds resigns from Government over Keir Starmer's cuts to foreign aid budget

Anneliese Dodds has quit as international development minister over Keir Starmer’s decision to slash the international aid budget to increase defence spending.

Politics

6 d. ago Anneliese Dodds quits cabinet over aid cut in blow to Keir Starmer

Anneliese Dodds walked out as international development minister following the decision to slash the aid budget in order to fund an increase in defence spending

Politics

6 d. ago Anneliese Dodds resigns over Keir Starmer’s decision to cut aid budget

Exclusive: International development minister warns it will be ‘impossible’ to retain funding in Gaza, Sudan and UkraineAnneliese Dodds: soft left intellectual pushed to resign over Starmer’s slide rightUK politics live – latest updatesAnneliese Dodds, the international development minister, has quit her post over Keir Starmer’s decision to slash the international aid budget by almost half to pay for a generational increase in defence spending.The senior Labour MP, who attended cabinet, warned that the UK pulling back from development would bolster Russia, which has already been aggressively increasing its presence worldwide, as well as encouraging China’s attempts to rewrite global rules. Continue reading...

Politics

7 d. ago Aid cut will have ‘devastating impact’ on world’s poorest, church leaders warn

The Prime Minister recently announced the foreign aid budget will be cut in order to fund an increase in defence spending.

Events

8 d. ago Starmer’s cuts are a huge mistake – foreign aid is an investment, not an expense | Halima Begum

At the height of the cold war, the west advanced its soft power through aid and development spending. If we cut that now, who will fill the vacuum?Halima Begum is the chief executive of Oxfam GBThe savagely deep cuts that Keir Starmer has announced to the international aid budget make a mockery of the pledge his party made to the British people in its manifesto. Then, it promised to restore development spending at the level of 0.7% of gross national income “as soon as fiscal circumstances allow”. On Tuesday the prime minister stood in front of parliament and announced that he will cut it from 0.5% to 0.3% of GDP. In the same manifesto, Labour made a commitment to “rebuild Britain’s reputation on international development with a new approach based on genuine respect and partnership with the global south”. This week, the government turned its back on it.Of course, I understand the argument that defence spending has to be increased, but cutting our aid budget still further when governm...

Politics

8 d. ago Starmer announces big cut to UK aid budget to boost defence spending

PM confirms rise in military spending to 2.5% of GDP by 2027 – three years earlier than plannedUK politics live – latest updatesKeir Starmer has announced drastic cuts to Britain’s international aid budget to help pay for a major increase in defence spending, amid fears over Donald Trump’s commitment to European security.The prime minister said the UK government would increase defence spending to 2.5% of GDP by 2027 – three years earlier than planned – as he prepared for what is likely to be a diplomatically fraught visit to Washington DC this week. Continue reading...

Economics

9 d. ago Sir Keir Starmer announces cuts to UK aid budget to fund defence spending increase

The Prime Minister announced the increase ahead of a meeting with Donald Trump

Economics

2 w. ago Denmark to spend billions on defence, citing fears over Russian rearmament

Mette Frederiksen says situation is ‘most dangerous’ in many years as she increases defence budget to 3% of GDPMette Frederiksen admitted that Denmark and other countries made a mistake by cutting their defence spending as she announced a 50bn Danish kroner (£5.5bn) package, saying: “It must never happen again.”The Danish prime minister increased defence spending to 3% of GDP in the next two years – up from 2.4% in 2024 – as she said Denmark needed a “massive rearmament” to avoid war. Continue reading...

Economics