New Zealand has paused millions of dollars in funding to the Cook Islands over wide-ranging deals that its smaller Pacific neighbour had made with China. Wellington, the Cook Islands’ biggest funder, said it was blindsided by the deals that were struck in February, covering infrastructure, tourism, technology and perhaps crucially, deep-sea mineral exploration. Fresh funding...
Premier League clubs have already spent £400m in initial transfer fees before the new season. That dwarfs the tallies of top-flight clubs in Germany, Spain, Italy, France and Saudi Arabia. There’s still a long way to go to match last summer’s final tally of £1.98bn spent by Premier League clubs on player transfers, while the...
Plymouth Argyle youngsters Jack Matthews and Joe Hatch have agreed new deals for the 2025-26 season. Defender Matthews, 19, first agreed professional terms last year and spent last season on loan at Tavistock United and Taunton Town. Hatch, 18, was prolific up front for Argyle’s youth team last season and has signed his first professional...
The summer 2025 transfer window is, unusually, split into two parts. It will initially open on Sunday, 1 June and close nine days later. The early window allows teams participating in the Club World Cup the chance to sign players before the tournament begins. The window will reopen on Monday, 16 June, before closing on...
The summer transfer window for Premier League, English Football League, Scottish Premiership and Women’s Super League clubs – and their counterparts in Germany, France, Spain and Italy – are set to open later this summer. Some deals will be announced before the window officially opens as the 2024-25 season draws to a close and clubs...
Real Madrid’s Jude Bellingham will undergo shoulder surgery, but only after the Club World Cup, so will Tuchel decide that if he’s fit enough to play in the US, then his star midfielder should be part of his next camp? Real-bound Trent Alexander-Arnold could also be called up, with the Spanish side trying to complete...
This week, Donald Trump completed a three-country trip to the Gulf. And he put a major emphasis on deals being done – with the US and with US businesses. But the trip also put a spotlight on the president’s own business interests. The BBC’s Analysis Editor Ros Atkins takes a look. Produced by Catherine Karelli....
Henry Zeffman Chief Political Correspondent Sam Francis Political reporter PA Media Millions of public sector workers should be given pay rises of as much as 4%, pay review bodies have told ministers – significantly higher than ministers wanted. The pay review body for teachers in England has recommended a pay rise of about 4% this...
Lancashire pair Ellie Threlkeld and Fi Morris have signed new contracts with the club on the brink of the women’s county season. Captain and wicketkeeper Threlkeld, 26, and all-rounder Morris, 31, have both signed extensions to run until the end of the 2026 season. Threlkeld has been captain since 2022 while Morris has been with...
Ever since President Trump put in place triple digit tariffs on trade with China it has been clear that Trump was looking to isolate China by seeking more favorable trade deals with other countries. Yesterday, China warned countries not to appease the United States or take sides against them, saying there would be repercussions for...
China has hit out at countries it accuses of appeasing the US in trade talks over President Donald Trump’s tariffs. A Chinese commerce ministry spokesperson made the comments in response to reports that Washington plans to put pressure on governments to restrict trade with Beijing in exchange for exemptions to US import taxes. The Trump...
Van Dijk re-signing would ease one of the key recruitment issues facing the club heading into the summer. Should the 33-year-old have left, Liverpool were likely to enter the market for a new starting central defender. Recruitment staff had already begun identifying potential targets, who are primarily left-footed or have experience of playing left-sided centre-back....
Anne Soy BBC deputy Africa editor, Nairobi Lesotho’s garment workers face an uncertain future once President Donald Trump’s 50% import tariff kicks in Thursday was a “terrible” and “devastating” day for people involved in Lesotho’s textile sector as they digested the news that the country’s exports to the US would be hit by a 50%...
Check out the significant signings and departures in the Premier League, Scottish Premiership, EFL and Women’s Super League. Read article in full at source...
With the San Francisco 49ers preparing to offer quarterback Brock Purdy a long-term contract, they have let a lot of talent go to free up salary cap space. Versatile receiver Deebo Samuel is among those to leave, being traded to the Washington Commanders, so – after losing in two of the past six Super Bowls...