Newscast The Week: Starmer Meets Xi, Trump Threatens Iran and More Defection Drama
27 snips
Jan 30, 2026 
James Landale, BBC political correspondent, and Sarah Montague, seasoned BBC presenter, unpack Keir Starmer’s China visit and its trade and security optics. They discuss which business deals matter and the tech-dependence risks. The conversation also covers Trump’s threats toward Iran and the diplomatic and domestic fallout from military posturing.
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Early China Trips Had Overt Surveillance
- James Landale recalled using burner phones and malfunctioning VPNs on China trips, noting obvious surveillance like microphones in ducts.
- He described being served boiled cat after saying 'cup tea' as an example of constant monitoring.
Beijing Reporting Blends Policy And Food
- Chris Mason sent a light-hearted update from Beijing describing visa and tariff talks and Beijing dining, including chewy duck head.
- He used food stories to humanise the diplomatic trip while noting policy announcements like reduced whisky tariffs.
Separate Firmware From Software To Limit Control
- Greg Jackson urged separating firmware from software to limit foreign control over critical infrastructure.
- He recommended designing systems so local software can restrict external vendor access.