Category: News Story

STORY

The British Council faces further job losses and the possible closure of operations in 11 countries as it works to repay a £197 million Covid-era Government loan, according to reporting on a National Audit Office assessment. The organisation, which promotes UK culture and education overseas, has faced continuing financial pressure since the pandemic.

The watchdog said the British Council remained loss-making and was not expected to return to profit until 2029-30. The loan was provided after the pandemic severely affected income from exams, teaching and other services which had previously helped fund the organisation’s international work.

The findings raise further questions about the future funding of one of the UK’s main soft-power institutions. The British Council operates at arm’s length from Government but relies on public support as well as commercial income to maintain cultural, educational and diplomatic activity overseas.

STORY

A new poll in Switzerland has found support for a proposed agreement to deepen economic ties with the European Union by a margin of around two to one. The agreement would represent one of the most significant changes in Swiss-EU relations for a generation.

The package covers areas including state aid, transport, free movement and the way Switzerland updates EU-linked laws connected to access to the single market. The agreement has been under discussion in the Swiss Parliament and would be put to voters in a referendum if approved by lawmakers.

The Swiss People’s Party opposes the deal, citing concerns about EU bureaucracy, wages and immigration. Supporters argue that stable relations with the EU are important for Swiss businesses, including the pharmaceutical sector, which relies heavily on access to European markets.

STORY

MEPs have considered the final vote on reforms to EU returns policy, after a provisional agreement was reached with the Council on rules for third-country nationals who do not have the right to remain in the bloc. The proposal is part of a wider effort to strengthen the implementation of return decisions across member states.

The reform would create new obligations for people subject to return procedures to cooperate with national authorities. It also provides for detention of up to 24 months in some cases, strengthens mutual recognition of return decisions across the EU and allows the use of return hubs in non-EU countries.

Supporters of the reform argue that common rules are needed to improve the effectiveness of returns and reduce fragmentation between member states. Civil liberties groups and some MEPs have raised concerns about detention, access to safeguards and the potential use of third-country centres.

STORY

The European Parliament has approved legislation implementing the European Union’s trade commitments under its agreement with the United States. The vote gives parliamentary backing to tariff changes intended to avoid a further escalation in transatlantic trade tensions.

The package removes or reduces EU duties on a number of US goods, including industrial products and some agricultural and seafood imports. The arrangement follows earlier commitments made by the European Commission in negotiations with Washington, with the US applying a 15% tariff on most EU exports under the wider agreement.

The legislation includes safeguard provisions allowing the EU to suspend concessions if the US does not comply with the agreed terms. The deal still requires approval from EU member states before the measures can be fully implemented.

STORY

The UK has announced £13.9 million of funding for international ocean and coastal resilience programmes, with the investment confirmed at the Our Ocean Conference in Mombasa. Marine Minister Emma Hardy said the funding would support communities facing climate and environmental risks.

The money will be channelled through the Blue Planet Fund and will support three international programmes: the World Bank’s PROBLUE fund, the Ocean Risk and Resilience Action Alliance and the Global Plastic Action Partnership. The schemes cover areas including sustainable marine management, coastal protection and action against plastic pollution.

The Government said the investment was intended to support both people and nature in climate-vulnerable coastal communities. The announcement forms part of the UK’s international climate and environment policy, with ministers linking marine protection to development, resilience and economic security.

STORY

G7 leaders have agreed a declaration on tackling drug trafficking, with the UK joining other members in committing to stronger action against organised criminal networks. The statement said global drug trafficking had expanded in recent years, driven by record production levels, changing criminal methods and rising demand.

The declaration said maritime routes and ports remained a major focus for enforcement because of their use in moving drugs and precursor chemicals. Leaders said they would seek to strengthen maritime cooperation, improve the resilience of ports and support national investigations and prosecutions.

The UK Government said the declaration formed part of wider work at the G7 on security, organised crime and international cooperation. Ministers have presented action against transnational crime as a national security issue as well as a policing and public health concern.

STORY

G7 leaders have issued a declaration committing to further action against migrant smuggling and human trafficking networks. The statement, published by Downing Street, said organised criminal groups were profiting from illegal migration and exposing vulnerable people to life-threatening risks.

The declaration said G7 countries would strengthen cooperation to disrupt the business models of criminal networks, including through law enforcement, international partnerships and targeted measures. It also referred to work with online platforms to detect and remove content used to facilitate smuggling operations.

The UK Government has made action against organised immigration crime a central part of its border policy. The declaration links that domestic agenda to wider international cooperation, with leaders saying that cross-border criminal networks require coordinated responses between states.

STORY

UK inflation remained at 2.8 per cent in May, according to official figures released ahead of the Bank of England’s latest interest rate decision. The rate was unchanged from April and remained above the Bank’s 2 per cent target, although it was lower than some forecasts had expected.

The figures showed food and energy-related movements offsetting other price pressures, with services inflation remaining a particular focus for policymakers. Financial markets responded to the data by reassessing expectations for the future path of interest rates.

The Government has said reducing inflation and improving living standards remain central economic priorities. The Bank of England will consider the figures alongside wage growth, services prices and broader economic conditions when setting interest rates.

STORY

The Competition and Markets Authority has announced new conduct requirements for Google Search, including rules intended to improve transparency over search rankings and allow users to share their search data with authorised third parties. The regulator said the requirements apply to Google’s search services in the UK following its strategic market status designation.

The CMA said the new rules are intended to give businesses clearer information about how they appear in search results, including where AI Overviews are involved. It said the requirements should also provide better routes for businesses to raise concerns about ranking and treatment within Google’s search services.

The decision forms part of the UK’s new digital competition regime, which gives the CMA powers to impose conduct requirements on firms with substantial and entrenched market power. The regulator said further work on Google Search would continue over the summer as part of its wider programme on digital markets.

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Sir Keir Starmer has described an incident involving a Russian warship and a British pleasure yacht in the English Channel as reckless and deeply concerning. The Prime Minister was responding after reports that the Russian frigate Admiral Grigorovich fired warning shots near the yacht Bright Future after claiming the vessel was on a dangerous course.

The Ministry of Defence said the warning shots were not aimed at the yacht and were understood to have been fired to prevent a possible collision. The incident happened more than 20 miles south of the Isle of Wight and was treated as separate from other recent UK action against Russian-linked maritime activity.

Starmer said the episode reflected a more volatile international environment and linked it to wider concerns about Russian conduct. The Government has continued to back further sanctions against Russia, including action aimed at the financial networks and shipping used to support its war against Ukraine.