UK not ‘on the slide’, Burnham to tell UN as he gears up for first meeting with Trump – UK politics live

Andy Burnham is traveling to New York for the United Nations General Assembly. He will also be meeting with Donald Trump. Manchester has been announced as the host city for the G20 summit next year, a decision reportedly initiated by Burnham during his first call with Trump as prime minister, with the US President accepting the invitation. Planning for the summit, which will necessitate a significant security operation, has begun. Separately, a request for military support from Saudi Arabia for defensive air-to-air refueling has been agreed to.

Manchester will host the Group of 20 (G20) summit next year, the UK government has confirmed. Prime Minister Andy Burnham will announce the city, where he served as mayor for nearly a decade, as the venue during his visit to the United Nations General Assembly in New York. The decision to select Manchester for the UK's G20 presidency was made prior to Burnham's current role. This choice aligns with Burnham's agenda focused on regional growth and devolution, especially with his new No 10 North office located in the city. The UK assumes the G20 presidency from the US in December, with Downing Street emphasizing the potential economic benefits for Britain from this global leadership position.

Chinese Premier Li Qiang has arrived in Johannesburg, South Africa, for the 20th G20 Summit, the first to be held in Africa. The summit, taking place on Saturday and Sunday, is considered a significant event for global governance and the rise of the Global South. Under the theme "Solidarity, Equality, Sustainability," the meeting aims to amplify Africa's voice and advance development priorities shared by the Global South. South Africa's presidency seeks to place the needs of Africa and the Global South on the international development agenda. China supports South Africa's presidency and aims to build consensus on multilateralism, an open world economy, and development cooperation.