Welcome back. The relationship between the United States and china has been severely tested during president biden s term in office. But since may last year, the Us National Security adviser Jake Sullivan has developed something of a connection with wang yi, the senior Foreign Policy official in beijing who answers directly to xi jinping. They met four times in the last year, a channel of communication that has served as something of a Shock Absorber when tensions arise over taiwan, ukraine, the south china sea. Today, sullivan arrived in beijing to continue that conversation, with some suggestion that the two president s might be laying the ground for another meeting Beforejoe Biden Leaves office. Its really interesting, this, annabel, because it seems Jake Sullivan is the back channel between washington and beijing right now, and to what and . Because theres been some Sabre Rattling in respect of ukraine and the special materials ageing is applying to russia will do you think it coul
issues that you have with the eu. i know you publicly know this question is coming, there s a frenzy of reports that you do have a deal. does it reflect you wish to have a normal relationship with your allies? fix, normal relationship with your allies? ., normal relationship with your allies? ., ., , ., allies? a lot of things in there to un ack. allies? a lot of things in there to unpack- when allies? a lot of things in there to unpack. when it allies? a lot of things in there to unpack. when it comes - allies? a lot of things in there to unpack. when it comes to - allies? a lot of things in there to unpack. when it comes to the i unpack. when it comes to the northern ireland protocol, there are real issues that need resolving. the way that the protocol has been implemented, it causes real challenges for families, implemented, it causes real challenges forfamilies, for challenges for families, for businesses challenges forfamilies, for businesses on the ground, very p
Between 5. 25 and 5. 5 . Months ago, many had forecast that this rate would be ready to cut around now but the latest Inflation Figures have dampened expectations as prices rose at 3. 5 in the year to march, which was higher than the february figure of 3. 2 . The feds target for inflation, like most Central Banks, is for 2 . So still some way to go. And those price rises are feeding into some wider negative sentiment. The latest report from the economic think tank the Conference Board shows that Consumer Confidence is falling with people more downbeat about future business conditions, jobs and income. To delve into that report joining me now is sara murray global managing director at the Conference Board international. Thank you forjoining us today. Take us in to the mind of American Consumers right now. How are they feeling . As you said, confidence has deteriorated to the Conference Board run the Consumer Confidence index and have been doing it for over 50 years and it has gone down
if they win the election. he is promising a review of licensing laws and planning rules, to cut red tape, within the first 100 days of a new conservative government. it s been great to be talking to representatives from bars, clubs, restaurants and our night time economy. they do an enormous amount to enrich our communities, but also providejobs for young people, giving them skills and opportunities. it s right that they get the support they need. they ve been let down by labour, whether that s here in london where those types of venues are closing at a rapid rate with multiple job losses, or indeed in wales where labour is hiking up their taxes. a conservative government will support all those venues to make sure that they can continue creating jobs and drive our economy forward and continue providing an enormous amount of enjoyment in our local communities. nigel farage has been criticised for comments he s made when he said that the west provoked vladimir putin before the