Wednesday, 20 May 2026
The UK government has issued a license allowing the indefinite import of diesel and jet fuel produced from Russian oil in third countries, effective May 20, 2026. This marks a significant shift from the UK's previous ban on such imports, which was enacted in October 2025, amid rising fuel prices and supply concerns. The license will be reviewed periodically by the UK Home Office, which retains the authority to change or revoke it.
The Metropolitan Police will submit evidence files to the Crown Prosecution Service regarding potential charges of corporate manslaughter against up to 57 individuals and 20 companies linked to the Grenfell Tower fire, which resulted in 72 fatalities in June 2017. The police investigation, known as Operation Northleigh, has been ongoing for nearly nine years and has examined the actions of 15,000 individuals across 700 organizations. A decision on whether to bring charges is expected by June 2027, with trials unlikely to commence before 2029.
UK inflation fell to 2.8% in April, down from 3.3% in March, exceeding economists' expectations of a decline to 3%. This decrease was attributed to lower gas and electricity prices resulting from the government's energy bill support package and reduced wholesale energy costs prior to the Iran war, according to the Office for National Statistics. Chancellor Rachel Reeves noted that her budgetary measures have helped mitigate inflationary pressures, although rising fuel prices are expected to contribute to an increase in inflation later this year.
The UK government has announced that the cost of the HS2 high-speed rail project has risen to £102.7 billion, significantly up from the original estimate of £37.5 billion, with completion now expected between 2040 and 2043. Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander stated that two-thirds of the budget increase is due to past misunderstandings of the work required and inefficiencies, while the remaining third is attributed to inflation. The first trains are projected to run between Old Oak Common in London and Birmingham between 2036 and 2039, with a reduction in maximum speed by about 25 mph to lower costs.
One email per day. Unsubscribe anytime.