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Welcome to this week’s update on the fast-moving world of global trade, digital policy, and transatlantic relations. Here’s what’s shaping the global agenda right now.

Every year, families, friends, colleagues and leaders come together to remember the lives and sacrifice of police officers who have died or been killed in the line of duty at a service organised by the Police Remembrance Trust, with this year’s event held at Waterfront Hall in Belfast.

CBI has responded to Chancellor's speech at Labour Party Conference 2026.

The new scheme called Your First Home will support first-time buyers.

The City of London Police is warning businesses and the public to stay alert to Payment Diversion Fraud after new analysis revealed victims lost more than £101 million to the crime over the last financial year.

Speech given yesterday (27 September 2026) by Alex Davies-Jones MP Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Minister for Victims, Violence Against Women and Girls and International Justice.

Thousands of young disabled people and those with long-term health conditions are set to be offered a fast-tracked job under the government's Jobs Guarantee.

Final report of the Independent Professional Advisor on future school reform in Scotland, with a focus on improvement, funding and governance.

Europe’s reliance on US energy exports was meant to insulate the continent from Russia.

Blog posted by: Phil Swan, Director, GDS Local and Emily Ball, Deputy Director, GDS Local, 25 September 2026 – Digital Devolution, GDS Local, People and skills.

Cross-sector report warns skills, finance and a clear delivery plan are needed to turn UK Government's ambitions into reality.

Statement given recently (25 September 2026) by Ambassador Kate Foster, UK Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN, at the UN Security Council meeting on Refugees.

Welsh Government urges Chancellor to speed up delivery of £14 billion rail pledge, as current funding covers just 1% of Network Rail's spend across England and Wales.

Funnyfuzzy Tech UK Co., Ltd sold pet supplies online – a previous company was wound up in 2024

Communities across the country are set to benefit from growth and good jobs as new measures are announced to put spending back in service of the public.

The Attorney General, Ellie Reeves KC MP, yesterday announced that every survivor and victim of domestic abuse will be given a dedicated victim liaison officer, as part of a nationwide expansion of support for victims.

Low pressure in the Atlantic will help bring a period of warmer weather on Tuesday, before turning increasingly wet and windy later in the day and into Wednesday.

Young people will be able to access specialised support in their community, as the government makes largest investment into youth services in a generation.

First Minister welcomes investment in Scotland’s offshore wind supply chain.

Twenty-one Contracts for Differences (CFD) firms have closed since 2025, following a FCA crackdown.

The Strait of Hormuz crisis is accelerating a wider reordering of the region, as Iraq, Syria and Lebanon plan new oil pipelines and transport corridors. But whether they can seize the opportunity to diversify will ultimately depend on wider reforms.

The TUC recently (Friday) renewed its call for a social tariff to bring down energy bills for the majority of households in the UK – funded by a windfall tax on banks' enormous profits.

New whole-school approach to give schools new package of support to tackle misogyny and combat influence of figures like Andrew Tate

Mike Burgess AM, Director-General of Security at the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO), delivered this year's Gallipoli Memorial Lecture at RUSI on 23 September.

TfL announces new publicly owned bus company.

Geothermal Engineering Limited will invest around £43 million in a new lithium mine in Cornwall, backed by nearly £10 million through government's DRIVE35 fund.

NHS staff suspected of improperly and unlawfully accessing patients’ medical records will face immediate suspension and have their access to NHS computer systems cut off, under a zero-tolerance crackdown on “snooping staff”.

Two major maritime projects to be part of “new age of industrialisation” for Britain.

Farmers who are members of the Farm Assured Welsh Livestock (FAWL) scheme will not need to complete separate Animal Health Improvement Cycle (AHIC) ‘measure’ and ‘plan’ requirements for the 2026 Sustainable Farming Scheme (SFS).

People and small businesses are using AI to navigate phone, broadband and pay TV markets, but have mixed views about it, according to a new report published recently (25 September 2026) by Ofcom. 

Tens of thousands of Yemenis displaced by escalating Houthi violence will be supported by new UK funding.

British companies will gain access to a goldmine of battlefield data from Ukraine for the first time to develop new AI models for advanced drone swarms.

The changes will bring more long-term empty homes back into use, helping ensure that existing housing stock is used more effectively.

New changes introduced to the sale and placement of foods high in fat, sugar and salt in shops come into effect.

Delivers on the Prime Minister’s promise to put power back in local hands and bring good growth to every postcode.

CEOs from the most sensitive sectors of the economy will receive closed-door briefings on threats posed by Russia.

Thousands of patients with suspected brain tumours could get a diagnosis sooner, as the NHS launches a major pilot of a rapid genomic test.

Repeat offender behind bars following Insolvency Service and police investigations.

Welcome to the latest edition of Dispatch from Brussels, techUK's bi-monthly update on the European policy developments shaping the operating environment for UK technology companies. 

The Met Office has been named one of the UK’s Best Workplaces in Tech by Great Place to Work for the fourth consecutive year.

Recent cuts to foreign aid have raised serious humanitarian concerns. They also offer vital insights into the relationship between development and security going forward.

More Palestinians are set to receive vital aid as a result of a major new package of UK support announced yesterday by the Foreign Secretary at the UN General Assembly.

UK and Euro-Atlantic security will soon be boosted, as the Royal Navy’s sixth powerful attack submarine departs from Barrow-in-Furness. 

President Tshisekedi and the opposition both want national dialogue. But it remains to be seen whether they can agree on the nature of the DRC’s problems, let alone their solutions.

An academic and industrial partnership has investigated the antimicrobial activity of two types of disinfectant, finding they are more effective when used together.

The Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC) has referred to the Court of Appeal the indeterminate sentences of nine people convicted between 2005 and 2011, all but one of whom remain in custody despite none being given a minimum tariff over six years. 

Devon and Cornwall Police has been moved into Level Three of the Policing Performance System.

50,000 Defence opportunities for young people in major apprenticeship and work experience drive

First-of-their-kind training materials published in first step towards every teacher being supported to teach children and young people with SEND.

Deputy First Minister Jenny Gilruth will visit Shetland today to see how local community organisations are supporting climate action.

The weekend will begin with plenty of dry and bright weather across the UK, although showers will continue in the northwest.

The Centre for Finance and Security (CFS) at RUSI has launched a new taskforce to examine the implications for international security of the use of cryptoassets, with funding support from Chainalysis.

Project Gigabit has created more than 3,000 jobs and apprenticeships in England while delivering faster, more reliable broadband to hard-to-reach communities.

Secretary of State for Northern Ireland offers £1.25bn over three years with a further £150m for transformation of public services and £100m for social housing.

Foreign Secretary Speech given yesterday at the High-Level Ministerial Global Alliance for the Implementation of the Two-State Solution, UN.

Deputy Minister for Transport Mark Hooper yesterday (Thursday 24 September) visited Tonyrefail Community School to launch new virtual reality (VR) road safety content aimed at young drivers.

The FDA has welcomed the government’s announcement of specialist courts for Rape and other Serious Sexual Offences (RASSO) and additional changes aimed at reducing Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG).

GAD analysis is helping ORR understand how climate-related hazards are changing across Great Britain's transport networks and where risks may be growing.

Following new figures showing that more than 23,000 people were killed or seriously injured in collisions involving young drivers in just five years the APCC’s joint leads for Roads Policing have called for decisive national action.

Government defence spending with UK industry rose 3.2% to a record £34.1 billion in 2025/26, boosting jobs, SMEs and communities across the UK.

Plans include stream channel upgrades, new footbridges, erosion protection and improved flood defences

Around 60 stations, offices, and depots across London's transport network took part in TfL's hotly contested annual gardening competition to create green spaces.

UK and others condemn Russia's failure to hold free and fair elections as well as breaches of Ukrainian sovereignty in conducting sham elections on Ukrainian territory.

The children of single mothers who conceive through medically assisted reproduction (MAR) have similar outcomes to babies of partnered mothers who had conceived naturally, a UCL-led study has found.

First civil penalties issued against individuals for concealing evidence during an investigation.

Retail sales volumes fell more rapidly in the year to September, while online retail sales declined at the fastest pace in nearly three years. Additionally, retailers reported cutting back on order volumes at the quickest rate on survey record (since 1983).

The scheme's success is part of the government's wider effort to make bus travel more affordable and accessible for everyone in the UK.

Support for households struggling with the cost of heating oil and Liquid Petroleum Gas (LPG) has been extended into winter.

Speaking at the United Nations General Assembly in New York on 22 September, the Prime Minister announced a new National Centre for Information Defence to ‘detect, attribute and disrupt’ hostile state information attacks.

Tens of thousands of jobseekers have already benefited from the Government’s new digital employment support tools, helping people build CVs, prepare for interviews and take the next step into work.

Victim-survivors of all forms of crime, including sexual violence, to benefit from Government funding.

New agreement will boost intelligence sharing between UK and Cambodian law enforcement to dismantle scam operations.

UK Foreign Secretary warns of growing national security risks posed by climate change and nature loss at UN General Assembly and announces funding package.

Reported assaults against rail workers and passengers rose substantially in April 2025 to March 2026 compared with the previous year, according to annual rail safety statistics published today by the Office of Rail and Road (ORR).

The new movie PRESSURE is in cinemas now and tells the true story behind the Met Office’s most important forecast; the one for the D-Day invasion. But what’s the historical reality behind the film?

The Business Secretary has welcomed over £1 billion of automotive investment announcements in the UK in just seven days.

Record breaking investment is fuelling reindustrialisation across Scotland.

Ambassador Holland yesterday condemned Russia’s sham elections in temporarily occupied Ukrainian territories as violations of Ukraine’s sovereignty and the Helsinki Final Act.

Denmark used its soft power to rally support and took the dispute out of the limelight – addressing underlying US interests instead of President Trump’s unacceptable public position.

A major project to improve Egremont has received extra funding.

TikTok has agreed to pay a £12.7m fine imposed by us in 2023 after withdrawing its appeal of the underlying penalty notice. 

A dedicated multinational NATO squadron of armed jet trainers could shoot down Russian drone incursions without burning through frontline fighters and scarce air-to-air missiles.

The Wakefield Hospice Reindeer Run is back for 2026, with schools and nurseries encouraged to sign up today to be a part of the charities biggest mass-participation fundraiser of the year, with over 13,000 children taking part last year!

The guidance for our 2028-33 National Portfolio Investment Programme in now online, and applicants can begin planning before submissions are accepted between October and December 2026. 

A man behind an investment fraud scheme that took more than £1 million from 74 investors has been jailed for five years and six months.

Millions of women and girls in some of the world’s poorest counties will gain greater choice over whether and when to become pregnant due to new UK support.

Economy 2030: An Agenda for Tech-Enabled Growth sets out a series of steps to reignite the UK's economic dynamism, revive productivity and rekindle growth, ensuring the economy is fit to face the 2030s. 

Ofcom has today opened two separate investigations into telecoms providers, Vonage Business Limited and Voxbone SA, relating to concerns that telephone numbers held by the companies are being misused, including to perpetrate scams.

Ambassador Holland welcomed the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly’s support for Ukraine, condemnation of Russia’s violations and calls to release three illegally detained OSCE officials. The UK values the Assembly’s election observation work and contribution to defending OSCE principles and supporting a just and lasting peace in Ukraine.

A new campaign launched today (24 September 2026) is urging people from all backgrounds to consider becoming magistrates.

Blog posted by: Beth Russell, 23 September 2026 – UK Civil Service, Uncategorized.

A new report on the legacy of the Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025 shows more women and girls are playing, coaching and officiating rugby union than ever before.

Piracy off Somalia has surged in 2026. More than a ‘resurgence’ of a past problem, this reflects a rapidly evolving maritime security environment.

Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander has written to the International Maritime Organization on World Maritime Day.

Trauma is far more common than many people realise. Across care and support systems, unrecognised trauma often sits behind behaviours that services find difficult to respond to consistently, safely or effectively. 

Foreign Secretary address on artificial intelligence and international security – United Nations Security Council (23 September 2026).

From this month, pupils across years 4 and 5 in Welsh maintained primary schools will begin to receive a minimum of 20 hours of swimming and water safety lessons, as part of a commitment by the new Welsh Government.

The UK condemns attacks by the Tigray Defence Forces in Afar and southern Tigray and the takeover of Tigray's airports, calling on all parties to refrain from further escalation.

The companies appeared unrelated until a joint investigation uncovered similar conduct concerns.

Defence Secretary Wes Streeting highlighting the importance of space to national security and daily life in the UK.

Prosecutors concluded 188 homicide and attempted homicide cases involving joint enterprise between 1 April 2025 to 31 March 2026, new data shows.

Providers of apprenticeship places will see their funding rise 10% in 2027-28, giving greater stability to those that offer training.

Foreign Secretary yesterday addressed on the maintenance of the peace and security of Ukraine – United Nations Security Council.

The first few years of my time as Children’s Commissioner were immediately post Covid. 

CBI Wales recently responded to the 2026-2030 Programme for Government.

Partnership creates a new route for priority Philippine infrastructure projects to access UK expertise and up to £5 billion in UK Export Finance support.

Ofcom has opened an investigation into Aylo – the service provider of Pornhub – under the UK’s Online Safety Act, to determine whether it has complied with its duties to prevent children from encountering pornographic content. 

Michelle Southern OBE​​​​, Founder and Chief Executive of Street Paws, on why pet inclusive housing will be key in turning the Government's ambitions of ending rough sleeping into action. As with all articles in our Breaking the Cycle series, the views expressed by the author are their own.

The Transport Secretary recently (22 September 2026) set out the government’s approach to active travel at the making active places conference.

Issues such as poor sleep, being bullied, negative body image, friendship difficulties and academic pressure are all linked to worse mental health and well-being among young people in Wales. 

Complaints about adult social care in England rose by 22% last year, according to the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman's (LGSCO) Annual Review of Adult Social Care Complaints 2025-26, published today.

A new partnership between Sheffield City Council and Homeless Link, aims to strengthen homelessness prevention and rough sleeping support across the city over the coming year.

National roll-out of Nurse Sexual Offence Examiners.

The APCC’s joint leads for Victims, Clare Moody and Matthew Scott have welcomed the government’s announcement of a nationwide rollout of specialist rape and sexual offences courts, describing it as a significant milestone in improving survivors’ experience of the criminal justice system.

HuHundreds of new jobs will be created in Plymouth as Defence Minister Lord Vernon Coaker yesterday confirmed the release of £50 million Government funding through the Defence Growth Deal, unlocking a potential further £34 million from industry and local partners.

Average number of animals needed to release a single used to release a batch of veterinary vaccine has fallen fell by 41% from 29 in 2013 to 17 in 2024

The Government's Autumn Budget and the increased ambitions to end homelessness

New actions to prevent flooding over four years.

New Vocational GCSEs for students to study vocational courses at school, with nationally-set content, grading and assessment, alongside a strong academic core of English, maths and science

Communities across Wales will receive a funding boost to build and control their own clean energy supply

Industry leaders and trade unions convened for a meeting of the revamped Steel Council at British Steel’s Scunthorpe site yesterday, where Minister for Reindustrialisation Blair McDougall set out his ambition for steelmaking to thrive in Britain.

Two men convicted of theft half a century ago have had their convictions quashed by the Court of Appeal [yesterday] after the Criminal Cases Review Commission [CCRC] found a real possibility the convictions were unsafe, due to the role played by discredited British Transport Police officer Derek Ridgewell.  

Cocaine implicated in over half of deaths.

A self-confessed fraudster who swindled a million pounds in a “boiler room” scam has been jailed for five and a half years today.

Sir Ciarán Devane responds to a report on NHS productivity by the Health Foundation.

England’s mayors should be handed a 5 per cent share of income tax revenues, shifting an extra £3.8 billion a year out of Whitehall and roughly doubling the funding under their control, according to a new report from IPPR and IPPR North.

As part of the new Belgrove House development, providing step-free access from the south side of Euston Road for the first time, the entrance is set to improve the experience of customers using one of London's busiest train stations

His Majesty undertook a series of engagements in Peterhead and Aberdeen, recognising the vital role North East Scotland is playing in the United Kingdom’s transition to cleaner and renewable sources of energy.

New report, Moving Forward: local and national solutions for preventing refugee homelessness, sets out local authority principles for practice and recommendations for national government with the aim of enabling refugees to put down roots, find work and contribute to local communities.

Financial firms are shutting down hundreds of thousands of suspected money mule accounts, but organised criminal groups are still shifting dirty money through multiple bank accounts before cashing out.

Policymakers must resist the temptation to blame the UK’s independent economic forecaster, the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR), when required to make difficult decisions as a result of tight public finances and higher government debt, a new report by the Treasury Committee warns.

Londoners encouraged to leave the car at home and choose active travel this World Car Free Day

Registered vehicle owners could be fined for litter thrown from their car, even if they weren't the ones driving at the time, under plans being considered by the Welsh Government.

£3 million from the UK Integrated Security Fund (ISF) will enable UKHSA labs to extend surveillance to hospital wastewater sites and high-footfall locations.

First local hub to open in Glasgow.

The UK will host the twenty second G20 Leaders’ Summit in Manchester next year.

The Prime Minister spoke to the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, this afternoon at the UN General Assembly.

First consultation now open on proposals for a new London Overground rail service linking Hendon and Hounslow

Young people urged to go online to find their Child Trust Fund.

The MRA will build on the UK’s existing suite of agreements with Singapore, including the UK-Singapore Free Trade Agreement and Digital Economy Agreement. 

Proposals to help people choose their search provider on Google Android phones and Google Chrome have been updated.

The Welsh Government yesterday announced measures, including legislation, to help farmers manage the impacts of this summer's drought, wildfires and other pressures on the sector.

The Prime Minister met the President of the United States of America, Donald Trump, at the United Nations General Assembly today. 

The RAF has launched No. III Space Effects Squadron, its first dedicated unit to counter hostile threats to UK satellites.

Earlier and better support for people with health conditions or disabilities in the workplace is key to driving growth and productivity, says a new report published by the co-chair of Keep Britain Working today [23 September 2026].

Hundreds of thousands of people will save money on their energy bills through £90 million investment into clean, cheaper heating

Leaseholders in Wales will be able to claim support for the cost of alarm systems, to ease the financial burden imposed by interim measures required while remediation work takes place. 

The collections cover bacteria identified as priority threats by the World Health Organization.

Four members of a drugs smuggling gang who were part of a plot to import cannabis worth £13.8 million into the UK via Birmingham Airport have been sentenced.

Businesses should prepare now before switchover to continue trading.

Manufacturing order books improved for the second consecutive month according to the CBI’s latest Industrial Trends Survey (ITS).

Students in further education across England and Wales are about to get hands-on experience with real economic data, while their teachers get access to new continuing professional development tools that will help them bring statistics to life in the classroom. 

People seeking debt advice are being urged to watch out for red flags.

The UK will provide additional defensive military support to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia following renewed Houthi attacks and escalating violence in the region.

Joint ministerial declaration on future economic cooperation between ASEAN and the United Kingdom.

The proportion of pupils taking a free school meal was 70.7% in 2024-25, up from 67.7% in 2023-24. 

TfL intends to award design and build contract to Costain, meaning scheme can now fully progress, bringing a significantly improved passenger experience through a station capacity upgrade and enabling step-free access to all platforms within the Grade-II listed station, as well as adding a new eastbound Circle and District line platform

New data from the Schools Health Research Network (SHRN) Student Health and Well-being Survey shows a significant fall in vaping among children and young people in Wales compared with 2023.

A Joint Statement between the United Kingdom and the Philippines concluding the second Joint Economic and Trade Committee Ministerial Meeting (22 September 2026).

It has been 3 years since the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child published its 2023 Concluding Observations Report on the UK.