BURNHAM HOLDS FIRST FACE-TO-FACE MEETING WITH TRUMP AT UN

Prime Minister Andy Burnham has arrived in New York for the United Nations General Assembly, where he is due to hold his first face-to-face meeting with Donald Trump. The visit is scheduled to last 24 hours. Burnham intends to press for international co-operation on artificial intelligence, continued support for Ukraine, and renewed efforts to resolve the conflict in the Middle East. He has also confirmed that the UK will host next year's G20 summit in Manchester. Burnham said he wants to reinforce the UK-US special relationship, while noting that potential diplomatic differences with Washington remain.

The visit coincides with the launch of a new UK-US defence artificial intelligence and autonomy partnership, intended to strengthen maritime security and protect critical national infrastructure. Britain and the United States said they had achieved a maritime breakthrough by successfully launching a heavyweight torpedo from an uncrewed undersea drone for the first time. The two countries described the test as part of wider co-operation on defence and security matters. Burnham's presence at the UN General Assembly also provides the setting for separate discussions on Ukraine and the Middle East alongside his bilateral talks with Trump. No further detail on the scope of the new defence partnership has been given.

One report said Trump is expected to use his address to the UN General Assembly to criticise allies he considers insufficiently supportive of the international response to the conflict involving Iran. Burnham's meeting with Trump will be watched for how the two leaders handle any areas of disagreement. The confirmation that Manchester will host the G20 summit next year marks a significant international commitment for the UK. Further details on the timing and agenda of the Manchester summit have not yet been announced.