The UK has announced that Manchester will host the 2027 G20 summit, a major international meeting of world leaders. Prime Minister Andy Burnham, who previously served as mayor of Greater Manchester, will welcome global leaders such as Donald Trump of the United States and Vladimir Putin of Russia. The UK will extend invitations to all G20 members, including Russia, despite ongoing diplomatic tensions with Moscow over its invasion of Ukraine. Other leaders expected to attend include China’s Xi Jinping and Argentina’s Javier Milei. This announcement comes as Mr. Burnham prepares for his first major international event as Prime Minister, the United Nations General Assembly in New York. Preparations for the G20 summit in Manchester began before he took office, but he has actively promoted the city since becoming Prime Minister, launching a new initiative called "No 10 North" to focus on regional policy and engagement. The G20 presidency is currently held by the United States, but it will transition to the UK after the summit hosted by U.S. President Donald Trump in December at his Miami golf resort. The 2027 G20 leaders’ summit will take place at the Manchester Central convention complex, a former railway station located in the heart of the city. Additional G20 events will be held in various locations across the UK throughout the year of the presidency. In a separate development, Britain and the United States made history by firing the first torpedo from an unmanned undersea drone. The successful test, conducted last week, involved a heavyweight torpedo jointly developed by the U.S. and Australia. This is the first time either country has launched such a weapon from an uncrewed underwater vehicle, rather than from a manned submarine. The achievement is seen as a significant advancement for Western maritime security and the ability to counter threats at sea. In addition, Prime Minister Andy Burnham has authorized military support for Saudi Arabia to defend against attacks by Iran-backed Houthi rebels and to secure energy supplies. This marks his first approval of military action as Prime Minister. Speaking to The Independent while traveling to New York for the UN General Assembly, where he will meet Donald Trump face-to-face for the first time, Burnham confirmed that he had agreed to Saudi Arabia’s request for defensive air-to-air refuelling support.