European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen met with Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Gothenburg to outline the next steps after the EU‑India trade agreement. The leaders noted the agreement’s tariff cuts and the shared market of over 2 billion people. They pledged to sign the agreement by year‑end…

The European Commission has proposed to mobilise €144 million from the European Union Solidarity Fund to support Spain, Romania and Cyprus in recovering from climate‑related disasters in 2025. Spain would receive €120.4 million, including an advance of more than €30 million already granted, to rebuild infrastructure damaged by wildfires, drought and heatwaves. Romania would be allocated €14.3 million to…

On 17 May 2026 the UK Ministry of Defence announced that the Royal Air Force has deployed the Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System (APKWS) on its Typhoon fighter jets for operations in the Middle East. The APKWS uses a laser‑targeting system to turn unguided missiles into low‑cost precision weapons capable of destroying drones. Rapid procurement…

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) approved beremagene geperpavec, marketed as Vyjuvek, on 15 May 2026 for treating wounds in patients with dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa (DEB) from birth onward. The gel delivers a modified virus that copies the faulty gene into wound cells, helping skin heal without altering the patient’s DNA. In a…

CDC reports that a total of 184 people in 18 states have been infected with Salmonella linked to backyard poultry, including 53 hospitalizations and one death. The update follows an addition of 150 new cases, raising the total to 184. More than a quarter of those infected are children under five, and the largest outbreak…

On May 16, 2026, President issued a message celebrating Armed Forces Day. The statement praised the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, and Space Force as the most powerful and courageous military in history. It noted that this year marks 250 years of American independence and thanked military service members for safeguarding freedom…

On 16 May 2026, Italian President of the Council of Ministers Giorgia Meloni met today with Kuwait Prime Minister Sheikh Ahmad Al‑Abdullah Al‑Sabah in the margins of the Europe Gulf Forum. The meeting provided an opportunity for President Meloni to reaffirm Rome’s solidarity. She also supported Kuwait City following Iran’s unjustified attacks. The leaders discussed the regional situation and how to…

The Federal Reserve’s Board of Governors released a research paper titled “A Tale of Demand and Supply for Central Bank Reserves.” The study examines the federal funds market in an ample‑reserves framework, where administered rates anchor money markets but obscure information from unsecured interbank trading. Using high‑frequency bank‑level data and deposit shocks as an instrument…

The Office for National Statistics has announced that the release of its study on socioeconomic trends in towns across England and Wales, originally scheduled for 5 March 2026, has been postponed to 15 May 2026. The report, titled ‘Understanding towns in England and Wales, investigating socioeconomic trends’, will provide data on population growth, demographic changes,…

The UK government has commissioned UK Sport to carry out an initial strategic assessment to determine whether the country could host an Olympic and Paralympic Games in the North of England during the 2040s. The study will examine factors such as cost, socioeconomic benefit and likelihood of success. The government sees major sporting events as…

U.S. Central Command commander Admiral Brad Cooper said Operation Epic Fury, launched in late February, has severely degraded Iran’s military capabilities and cut its support to regional proxies, according to testimony before the Senate Armed Services Committee on May 14, 2026. In less than 40 days, U.S. forces reportedly eliminated Iran’s conventional missile capacity and…

On 15 May 2026, Justice Minister Baroness Levitt KC announced the extension of the Family Mediation Voucher Scheme for a further year, giving separating families a £500 voucher to cover mediation costs for childcare and financial matters. The scheme, funded by more than £7 million per year, has already assisted over 54,000 parents since 2021. Alongside…

Secretary of War Pete Hegseth and senior Navy leaders welcomed the USS Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group to Naval Station Norfolk on May 16, 2026, after a 326‑day deployment that is the longest U.S. aircraft‑carrier mission since the Vietnam War. The group had begun a routine deployment to the European theater in June 2025…

Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister addressed the FDA union on 14 May 2026, highlighting recent government successes and outlining reforms to improve delivery. He cited the removal of the two‑child limit, the Employment Rights Act, lowest NHS waiting lists in three years, and the rapid deployment of 3,000 extra neighbourhood police officers. He warned that policy…

On 15 May 2026, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) released the monthly deaths registration figures for England and Wales for April 2026. The data provides the number of deaths registered each month, broken down by the area of usual residence. The breakdown includes regions, counties, health authorities, local and unitary authorities, and London boroughs.…

FRA contributed to a training session for Schengen evaluators on return and external border management that ran from 4 to 8 May in Thessaloniki. The event, organized jointly by the European Commission and Frontex, brought together representatives from EU member states, Schengen associated countries, the Commission and Frontex as trainees. The training aimed to enhance…

Microsoft has disclosed a vulnerability (CVE-2026-42897) in Microsoft Exchange Server that allows remote attackers to perform indirect code injection (XSS) and bypass security policies. The flaw is actively being exploited and affects Exchange Server 2016 cumulative update 23, Exchange Server 2019 cumulative updates 14 and 15, and Exchange Server Subscription Edition RTM. Microsoft advises users…

On 16 May 2026, during the Europe Gulf Forum and after a meeting in Ayia Napa, Cyprus, Greece, Italy, and Malta adopted a joint statement aimed at preventing a migration crisis similar to that of 2015 caused by the current Middle East security situation. The statement calls for coordinated actions among the four governments to…

European Central Bank researchers find that higher tariffs raise announced greenfield foreign direct investment (FDI), but the effect varies by intensity and sector. Using a gravity model on 36,218 country pairs from 2016‑2023, the study shows that low‑intensity tariff hikes raise overall greenfield FDI by about 4 percent, medium intensity by 6 percent, and high intensity by…

President Emmanuel Macron visited Ethiopia on May 13 2026, starting in Addis Ababa with an extended bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed at the National Palace. He then joined a trilateral meeting with African Union Commission President Mahmoud Ali Youssouf and UN Secretary‑General António Guterres at the African Union headquarters, where they focused on strengthening joint responses on peace and security.…

Rijkswaterstaat announced that the A20 motorway will be closed at several points in May and June 2026 for asphalt maintenance. From 18 May 21:00 to 19 May 05:00, the stretch heading toward Hoek van Holland between the Kethelplein and Vlaardingen junctions will be closed to through traffic, while local access points remain open. Drivers are directed to use the A4, A15,…

Competition Authority Launches New Strategy and Reform Measures Jessica Lennard, Chief Strategy & External Affairs Officer of the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), spoke at a SuperWomen of Colour event on 14 May 2026. She highlighted the CMA’s new three‑year strategy, which positions competition as a driver of growth, household prosperity, and national economic resilience.…

Two repurposed marine vessel targets were delivered to and installed at the Holbeach Air Weapons Range (AWR) on 12 May 2026, as part of the Defence Infrastructure Organisation’s (DIO) Target 10 development. The steel vessels, transported from the River Crouch in Essex along the coast to Holbeach and positioned with specialist tug support from the…

The European Commission has approved a €1.5 billion state‑aid package for Spanish farmers in Andalusia and Extremadura who were damaged by floods from 10 November 2025 to 9 February 2026. Spain notified the Commission of a plan to compensate farmers for crop loss, damage to assets and higher operating costs caused by floods that affected over…

From 21 to 23 April, the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) took part in several events during the European Parliament’s Roma Week, organised by the ERGO Network. The meetings brought together representatives of Roma civil society from across Europe, individual governments, several National Roma Contact Points, the European Commission, Members of the European…

On May 15, 2026, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued an update on its response to a hantavirus outbreak linked to the MV Hondius cruise ship. CDC confirmed that there are currently no cases of hantavirus in the United States. The agency described its monitoring plan for individuals who were on the…

Multiple vulnerabilities have been discovered in Microsoft .Net that can enable attackers to cause remote denial of service and privilege escalation. The security notices, CVE‑2026‑32177 and CVE‑2026‑42899, were published by Microsoft on 12 May 2026 and affect several .Net releases across Windows, Linux, and macOS. Affected versions include .Net 10.0, 8.0, and 9.0 on each…

The European Commission welcomed the political declaration on migration adopted by the Council of Europe at a ministerial conference in Chișinău on 15 May 2026. The declaration emphasizes the European Convention on Human Rights and shared values between the Council of Europe and the EU. It addresses key migration issues such as illegal arrivals, the instrumentalisation of…

On 13 May 2026 the German federal government held a press conference in which Chancellor Olaf Merkel outlined a series of upcoming meetings and legislative initiatives. The schedule includes the reception of Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev on 18 May and Swiss President Guy Parmelin on 19 May, both followed by bilateral talks and a press briefing. A cabinet meeting is planned for…

On 14 May 2026, the Office for National Statistics released its latest Index of Services for the United Kingdom covering March 2026. The index measures monthly movements in gross value added for the service sector, which accounts for roughly 79 % of UK GDP. Figures are seasonally adjusted and presented as chained volume indices. The publication includes related…

On 14 May 2026, the King approved new appointments in the UK government. The Rt Hon James Murray MP was appointed Secretary of State for Health and Social Care. Lucy Rigby KC MP was named Chief Secretary to the Treasury, and Rachel Blake MP was appointed Parliamentary Secretary (Economic Secretary to the Treasury) in HM…

In April 2026 the National Consumer Price Index (NIC), excluding tobacco, increased by 1.1% compared with March, giving an annual rise of 2.7% versus 1.7% in March. The change is driven mainly by a sharp increase in non‑regulated energy prices (from –2.0% to +9.6%) and regulated energy (from –1.6% to +5.3%), and by a higher…

The Harmsenbrug (N57) will be closed for all vehicle traffic in both directions from Friday, 29 May 22:00 until Monday, 1 June 05:00 2026. Cyclists and pedestrians may use the cycle path. Drivers should allow an extra 15–30 minutes and follow diversions via the N218 (Hartelbrug) and A15 (Suurhoffbrug) – from Rotterdam toward Brielle/Middelburg via exit Spijkenisse (16) and from Maasvlakte…

On 10 March 2026, the Digital Euro Scheme Rulebook Development Group met at the ECB Japan Centre in Frankfurt. The meeting opened with agenda approval and a review of the previous session’s outcomes. A presentation on the digital euro app was given, and members were asked to approve earlier results and submit questions. The project…

Ms Maya Sivagnanam has been appointed His Majesty’s Ambassador to the Republic of North Macedonia, succeeding Mr Matthew Lawson. She is scheduled to assume her role in August 2026. Sivagnanam, with a career spanning more than two decades in the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, has held positions such as Deputy Director of the European…

The Department for Education has issued a written notice to improve financial governance and financial management at The Chester Catholic Academies Partnership. The notice, published on 15 May 2026, outlines the need for enhanced oversight and reporting practices. It includes annexes that detail specific areas requiring improvement, such as budgeting procedures, internal controls, and compliance…

Jonathan Walters, newly appointed chief executive of the Regulator of Social Housing, urged landlords at the Social Housing Finance Conference to prioritize building new social homes and maintaining quality. Speaking in London on 14 May 2026, Walters highlighted that more than one million people are on waiting lists and called for landlords to innovate and…

The Department of War celebrated Armed Forces Day on May 16, 2026 by unveiling a new America 250 version of the Betsy Ross flag. The 20‑foot‑long, 28‑foot‑wide flag features 13 alternating red and white stripes and 13 stars arranged in a circle, with the number “250” centered on the field. It was displayed on the Pentagon’s…

On May 14, 2026, Microsoft released a security advisory for CVE‑2026‑42897, a vulnerability that affects Microsoft Exchange Server 2016 and 2019 cumulative updates and the Subscription Edition. The flaw lets an unauthenticated attacker inject remote code (XSS) and bypass security policies when a user opens a malicious email in Outlook Web Access. Microsoft states the…

On May 15, 2026, European Commissioner for Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Relief, Khalid Lahbib, issued a statement welcoming the United States’ recent commitment to humanitarian funding. He said the pledge signals solidarity with vulnerable populations worldwide and emphasized the EU’s readiness to collaborate with the US to deliver effective responses to crises. Lahbib stressed that…

Rijkswaterstaat will close the Slaakbrug (N257) from 28 May 2026 at 21:00 until 29 May 2026 at 23:59, with a possible reserve period until 30 May 2026 at 23:59. The main carriageway and the parallel lane will be shut for all traffic except cyclists and pedestrians. Vehicles will be diverted via the Vossemeersebrug, adding approximately…

Joint Interagency Task Force 401 (JIATF 401) applied its standardized testing standards for the first time during Project Flytrap 5.0, a multinational training exercise in Lithuania. Led by the U.S. Army’s V Corps, the exercise brought together U.S. and allied forces—United Kingdom, Australia—and industry partners to evaluate more than 20 emerging counter‑unmanned aerial system (UAS) technologies.…

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) has released new experimental estimates detailing the number of local units and employees connected to companies engaged in international trade in services across the United Kingdom. The data covers the period from 2019 to 2023 and is broken down by International Territorial Level (ITL) 1 and ITL 3 regions.…

On 14 May 2026 the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced that Stephen Mark Flynn has been appointed Steward and Bailiff of the Manor of Northstead. The appointment follows the formal process used by the Treasury to appoint individuals to this traditional position. The role of Steward and Bailiff of the Manor of Northstead is a…

On May 14, 2026, President Joe Biden and First Lady Melania Biden addressed Americans and Christians worldwide to mark the Feast of the Ascension, a Christian celebration occurring 40 days after Easter. The ceremony commemorates Jesus’ bodily departure from Earth and return to Heaven. Biden emphasized that the love of Christ gives millions of Americans…

Mo Baines has been appointed Lead Non‑Executive Director of the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government for a three‑year term ending 15 March 2029. Her appointment follows an interim tenure that began in October 2024. The Secretary of State, Steve Reed, welcomed the decision, citing Baines’ experience in local government and public‑sector policy. Baines, who is Chief Executive…

On 14 May 2026, the Office for National Statistics released the first quarterly estimate of the United Kingdom’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) for the period from January to March 2026. The publication presents a time‑series dataset that includes a detailed breakdown of GDP components. It also provides summary information and a brief methodology description. The data is part…

UK Trade data for March 2026 has been released, providing figures for the value of the United Kingdom’s exports and imports of goods and services. The release includes current‑price totals, chained volume measures, and implied deflators for the period. Quarterly and annual time series are available that break down the value of imports and exports by…

Multiple security flaws have been discovered in the Linux kernel used by Debian, according to a recent CERT-FR alert dated May 15 2026. The vulnerabilities can allow attackers to elevate privileges, cause remote denial‑of‑service incidents, bypass security policies, and compromise data confidentiality. Affected systems include Debian bookworm releases prior to 6.1.170‑3, bullsey releases before 5.10.251‑4 and 6.1.170‑3~deb11u1,…

Competition and Markets Authority’s independent inquiry group has concluded that the merger between Getty and Shutterstock would raise competition concerns for editorial content supplied to UK media outlets but not for stock content supplied globally. The group found that loss of competition could reduce choice and increase prices for UK customers. It recommended that sale…

The Federal Reserve Board approved the application of the Stephen M. Calk 2025 Trust to become a savings and loan holding company. The trust, headquartered in Houston, Texas, will acquire National Bancorp Holdings, Inc., thereby gaining indirect control of The Federal Savings Bank in Chicago, Illinois, in accordance with regulatory requirements. The approval was announced…

Rijkswaterstaat will temporarily close the Bergerweg and the Oude Postbaan in Urmond from 22 May 2026 at 19:00 until 1 June 2026 at 05:00 to connect these roads to a new viaduct over the A2. The closure follows the decision to use a short, one‑week shutdown rather than waiting until 2027, which would leave cyclists on a…

On 12 May 2026, the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) issued a series of opinions urging the European Union to adopt stronger measures to modernise rules that underpin the single market. The committee highlighted that fragmentation, unfair commercial practices, and rapid technological change are undermining market integration. It singled out territorial supply constraints (TSCs)…

On 14 May 2026, the United Kingdom and 40 other OSCE member states formally invoked the OSCE Moscow (Human Dimension) Mechanism under Paragraph 8 to address reports of Russian militarization and indoctrination of Ukrainian children in occupied territories and following forcible transfer. The invocation follows credible evidence that Russia has deported or transferred over 1,200 children…

On 14 May 2026, the Ministry of Defence announced reforms to the Single Source Contract Regulations that link defence company profits to delivery performance. The changes allow the government to pay incentive bonuses of up to 10 % of contract costs when suppliers meet agreed time‑and‑budget targets, up from the current 2 %. Profit floors on lower‑risk…

U.S. nonfarm payroll employment increased by 115,000 in April 2026, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The gain was largely driven by the health‑care sector, which added 37,000 jobs—close to the 32,000 average monthly increase over the past year. Transportation and warehousing added 30,000 positions, while retail trade, mainly warehouse clubs and general merchandise…

Great British Energy – Nuclear (GBE‑N) has launched a naming competition for the UK’s first small‑modular reactor (SMR) at Wylfa on Anglesey, North Wales. The competition invites local residents to suggest a name for the power station, with submissions accepted until 5 p.m. on Monday 8 June. The project was selected in November last year and GBE‑N…

On 14 May 2026, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez met with former British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, who has been appointed the United Kingdom’s Special Envoy for Global Finance and Cooperation. The meeting, held at Moncloa Palace in Madrid, focused on the current global situation and the need to build new pillars of cooperation to counter the…

The Federal Reserve’s Office of Minority and Women Inclusion (OMWI) has released its 2026 annual report, which outlines the office’s activities, successes, and challenges. The report, last updated on May 15, 2026, is available in both HTML and PDF formats on the Federal Reserve’s website. The publication provides an overview of OMWI’s efforts to promote…

German federal Minister Katherina Reiche visited the PCK refinery in Schwedt, Brandenburg, on Monday, May 11, 2026, and announced a €350 million federal grant for a joint venture to produce synthetic fuels from green hydrogen and biogenic carbon dioxide. The grant supports the project “Brandenburg eSAF,” a partnership between ENERTRAG SE and Zaffra B.V., which plans…

On May 15, 2026, the Federal Reserve Board announced that Jerome H. Powell, who had just completed his term as chair, would serve as chair pro tempore until his successor, Kevin M. Warsh, is sworn in. The Board’s decision, made on Friday, follows the long‑standing practice of temporarily appointing the outgoing chair during a transition.…

On 15 May 2026 the Office for National Statistics released a new set of period and cohort life tables for the United Kingdom, covering ages 0 to 100 for the years 1981 to 2074. The publication includes principal projections as well as low and high life expectancy variants for England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland, Great…

On May 15, 2026, the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) posted a notice regarding its International Criminal Court‑Related Sanctions program. The notice appears on the International Criminal Court‑Related Sanctions Program page on the OFAC website. The document confirms that OFAC is updating or providing information about its sanctions related…

French CSIRT issued a notice on May 12 2026 alerting that several security flaws have been found in Microsoft Edge, which could allow attackers to gain elevated privileges, compromise data confidentiality and bypass security controls. The vulnerabilities affect Microsoft Edge for Android and the desktop browser on versions earlier than 148.0.3967.55. Potential risks include privilege escalation, data…

Unemployment rates for adults 25 and older remained unchanged at 4.3 percent in April 2026, with 7.4 million unemployed, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The data show that the rate is lowest among those holding a bachelor’s degree or higher, at 2.8 percent, and highest for those lacking a high‑school diploma, at 6.4…

Statistical Agency SCB reported that the building cost index for apartment buildings rose by 2.4 % in April 2026 compared with April 2025, and by 0.8 % from March to April. The rise was mainly due to higher contractor costs, which increased 0.7 % in the month, while owner‑related costs grew 1.2 %. Within contractor costs, transport, fuel and…

From Friday 22 May 22:00 until Saturday 23 May 08:00, Rijkswaterstaat will carry out maintenance on the Merwedebrug in Gorinchem. During this period, the A27 will be closed in both directions and the Merwedebrug bridge will be fully closed, requiring motorists to allow 10‑30 minutes extra travel time. The closure affects the A27 from the…

French national cybersecurity authority CERT‑FR has identified a set of vulnerabilities in the Ubuntu Linux kernel that could allow attackers to gain elevated privileges, compromise data confidentiality and integrity, and cause denial‑of‑service incidents. The flaws are present in Ubuntu 16.04 and 18.04 under Extended Security Maintenance, as well as in the 20.04, 22.04, and 24.04…

Building costs in Finland increased by 1.9% in April 2026 compared with April 2025, Statistics Finland reported on 15 May 2026. The overall construction cost index rose to 143.29 on a 2010=100 base. Labour costs led the rise, up 3.4%, while material costs increased 1.1% and service costs grew 0.4%. Within materials, the highest rise…

Six F‑16 pilots from the 55th Fighter Squadron were awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for extraordinary heroism during Operation Midnight Hammer, a June 2025 strike on Iran’s nuclear sites. The ceremony took place on May 5 at Shaw Air Force Base in South Carolina, with Air Combat Command commander General Adrian Spain presiding. The pilots flew high‑risk…

Rijkswaterstaat will replace the temporary weight‑restriction signs on the A12 with permanent signs on May 18 2026, during night work scheduled for the bridge maintenance. The new signs will widen the limit to 50 tonnes, up from the current 45 tonnes, after engineering studies confirmed the viaducts can safely support that weight. The viaducts at the Velperbroek junction, built…

On 14 May 2026, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) published the March 2026 Index of Production for the United Kingdom. The index tracks changes in the volume of production across key industry sectors, including manufacturing, mining and quarrying, energy supply, and water and waste management. All figures are seasonally adjusted. The release provides a…

On May 14, 2026, the Federal Reserve Board announced results from two surveys of senior financial officers at banks regarding discount window operating days and reserve balance management. The first survey, run from January 30 to February 9, gathered responses from banks with a median asset size of less than $5 billion. The second, conducted with…

CDC released an update on May 13, 2026 about its response to a hantavirus outbreak linked to the cruise ship M/V Hondius. Incident Manager Dr. David Fitter said the pathogen is known and the risk to the general public is low. The agency activated an emergency response in Atlanta, deployed more than 100 staff, and worked with state,…

On 13 May 2026, the European Commission approved the Passenger Mobility Package, a set of three legislative proposals aimed at simplifying cross‑border rail travel. The package includes a Regulation on Rail Ticketing, a Regulation on Multimodal Digital Mobility Services, and an amendment to the Regulation on Rail Passenger Rights. Together, the proposals promise a single…

On 15 May 2026, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) released its latest Opinions and Lifestyle Survey (OPN) data for Great Britain covering April 2026. The release offers social insights into daily life, including cost‑of‑living issues and attitudes to key topics and elections. Available publications include: Public opinions and social trends, Great Britain: April 2026; winter pressures; household finances;…

An IMF delegation has finished its annual Article IV mission in Sweden today. The visit is part of regular consultations with member countries. The bank will publish a statement summarizing the IMF staff’s assessment of the Swedish economy. A full report will appear later in the summer on both the IMF’s and Riksbank’s websites. The statement…

The Federal Reserve System has published its 2026 Annual Report on Promoting Minority Depository Institutions. The report, submitted to Congress, outlines the actions the Fed has taken to meet the requirements of section 308 of the Financial Institutions Reform, Recovery, and Enforcement Act of 1989, as amended by the Dodd‑Frank Act. It details initiatives aimed at…

Euro‑area equity markets have seen only modest integration gains since 2014, according to a gravity‑model analysis published in the ECB Economic Bulletin. While price‑based indicators show the market integration index remained below its 2018 peak and below historical highs from the 2010s, quantity‑based measures record only a slight rise in cross‑border holdings. The study translates…

Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced that 11 foreign far‑right agitators have been barred from entering the United Kingdom ahead of the Unite the Kingdom march scheduled for Saturday. The government will enforce the law against individuals who intend to incite hatred or violence. The Metropolitan Police will deploy thousands of officers, with live facial recognition,…

The European Union has joined the Enlarged Partial Agreement of the Special Tribunal for the Crime of Aggression against Ukraine and ratified the Convention establishing the International Claims Commission for Ukraine. These actions will allow member states and organisations to ratify the Convention and officially create the Special Tribunal, which can investigate and prosecute senior…

FDIC Releases Study on Depositor Behavior During 2023 Bank Failures The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation released a staff study on May 14, 2026 titled “Dissecting Depositor Flight: An Analysis of the Spring 2023 Bank Failures.” The analysis uses transaction-level data from Silicon Valley Bank, Signature Bank, and First Republic Bank to trace deposit flows around each institution’s closure…

In 2024, Norway’s labor recruitment and personnel provision industry (industry 78) recorded a total turnover of NOK 54,455.6 million, according to Statistics Norway. The figure represents 100 % of the sector’s revenue. Of this, temporary employment agencies (78.200) accounted for NOK 3,454.0 million, while employment placement agencies (78.100) generated NOK 51,001.7 million. Placement services of personnel…

On 15 May 2026, CERT‑FR issued a notice that several vulnerabilities have been discovered in the SUSE Linux kernel. The flaws allow an attacker to trigger a denial‑of‑service condition and pose an unspecified security risk. A wide range of SUSE products are affected, including openSUSE Leap 15.4‑15.6, SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 15 SP4‑15 SP7, SUSE Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing…

The refurbished Millom Library building will serve as a new office hub for the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) group, including Sellafield Ltd. The hub will offer agile working for NDA staff and will bring a well‑known building back into use, increasing activity in the town centre and helping to reduce traffic on the A595. First…

On May 6, 2026, U.S. District Court sentenced 20‑year‑old Marlon Ferro of Santa Ana, California, to 78 months in federal prison for his role in a large cryptocurrency fraud scheme that stole more than $250 million from victims across the United States. Ferro pleaded guilty on Oct. 17, 2025, to one count of conspiracy to participate in…

Multiple vulnerabilities have been identified in several IBM products, potentially enabling attackers to execute arbitrary code remotely, cause remote denial‑of‑service incidents, and compromise data confidentiality and integrity. The affected systems include Cognos Analytics versions 11.2.x, 12.0.x, and 12.1.x (before 12.1.2) that lack specific security fix packs; Open SDK for Rust on AIX versions 1.90.0.0 and…

The 27th meeting of the RDG reviewed and confirmed key policies and decisions. The agenda for the session and outcomes of the previous meeting were formally approved. Presentations covered the offline digital‑euro design and the draft rulebook, with updates on risk management, fraud intelligence, and fraud detection prevention. Members received briefings on the fraud‑intelligence proposal,…

During Police Week, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrested several individuals convicted of serious crimes, including child sexual exploitation, assault of minors, and burglary. The arrests, announced May 15, 2026, were part of an effort to remove criminal illegal aliens. Secretary Lauren Bis praised ICE officers for risking their lives, noting that Secretary Markwayne…

Solomon Islands journalists completed a four‑day fact‑checking and verification workshop in Honiara, organised by the British High Commission and supported by BBC Media Action. The programme brought together reporters from the Solomon Islands Broadcasting Corporation, ZFM, Island Sun, Solomon Star, Barava FM, Sunday Isles and a Royal Solomon Islands Police Force media representative. Trainers Flora…

The Charity Commission has opened a statutory inquiry into Steiner Friends (registered charity number 1071781) under section 46 of the Charities Act 2011. The inquiry follows concerns raised during an ongoing investigation of William Blake House Northants. The two charities have a financial and personal relationship, and several trustees serve on both boards. The Commission…

On May 15, 2026, the Federal Reserve Board announced it does not object to United Texas Bank’s conversion from a state‑member bank supervised by the Fed to a national bank under the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC). The conversion follows the Dodd‑Frank Act, which requires the Board to refrain from objection when…

Vice Chair Michelle Bowman spoke at the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City’s 2026 Future of Banking Conference, emphasizing the importance of community banks and the need for regulatory and supervisory approaches tailored to their size and risk profiles. She highlighted challenges posed by one‑size‑fits‑all rules such as CECL and Regulation O, noting the disproportionate…

The German Federal Cabinet met on 13 May 2026 for its 44th session. At the meeting, the Cabinet discussed the draft law for building modernization, which aims to update building regulations. Other agenda items included a draft law to secure electricity supply and provide new capacity, and a draft law amending the Criminal Code to…

On 15 May 2026 the Department for Education issued a notice to improve to SAND Academies Trust. The notice and its annex highlight the trust’s weak financial position and ongoing concerns about the board’s governance and oversight of financial management. The Department’s letter serves as a formal written warning and outlines the steps the trust…

Germany’s federal cybercrime landscape report for 2025, presented by Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt and Bundeskriminalamt Vice President Martina Link, indicates that digital attacks remain high. The report records about 334,000 cybercrime cases, noting an increase in malware attacks, ransomware, distributed denial‑of‑service (DDoS) and phishing. Ransomware incidents rose by 10 % to 1,041 cases, with total ransom…

Britain has allocated £10 million to a project that will develop autonomous drones to serve as ‘wingmen’ for the Army’s Apache attack helicopters. The Ministry of Defence (MOD) has selected four industry partners – Anduril Industries (UK) Ltd, BAE Systems Operations Ltd, Tekever Ltd, and Thales UK Ltd – to design uncrewed air systems that can…

Shahpur Kabraji has been reappointed as the Legal Trustee of the National History Museum for a second five‑year term, beginning 26 June 2026. The appointment, announced by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, extends his service until 25 June 2031. Mr Kabraji is a partner at Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP, where he advises on domestic and cross‑border…

On 15 May 2026 the Department of Health and Social Care announced a Call for Evidence to shape a new cross‑government Mental Health Strategy for England. The strategy aims to move from crisis intervention to prevention, treating people earlier and faster and supporting them to live full lives in education, work, family and community. The…

Prime Minister Keir Starmer presented the King’s Speech on 12 May 2026, outlining more than 35 new bills and draft laws aimed at strengthening the United Kingdom’s economy, energy sector, national security and public services. The package includes an Energy Independence Bill to accelerate clean‑energy technology, reforms to streamline immigration control, and legislation to protect the steel…