UK government department; the prime minister’s oversight and civil service HQ
A chorus of concerns and defenses surrounds data centers as communities question their energy and water demands. Voices range from alarm over consumption to reassurances that upgrades in efficiency and infrastructure will curb impact, with investors and policymakers weighing future growth against environmental and economic considerations.
Andy Burnham has emerged as the clear frontrunner to replace Keir Starmer and is using a Manchester speech to press a major devolution agenda. He has proposed shifting decision‑making and parts of the prime ministerial operation north, a 10‑year mission on living standards and changes to public procurement to favour British jobs.
The former leader of Northern Ireland’s DUP has been found guilty of 18 historical sexual offences against two women who were children at the time. He has renounced his knighthood and resigned from the Privy Council; honours removal now proceeds under the Forfeiture Committee process, pending royal approval. The case triggers scrutiny of state honours tied to figures found guilty of criminal offences.
Capita has warned it could knock £25m-£40m off annual profits for 2026 as delays and backlogs in the Civil Service Pension Scheme persist. The outsourcing group has apologised for the poor service and faces government sanctions while MPs press for accountability as civil servants wait for payments and retirement quotes.
The Covid inquiry has found a “vast” waste of taxpayers’ money in PPE procurement during the pandemic, with almost two-thirds of the £14.9bn spent wasted. It criticises the VIP lane for favoured contracts and highlights inadequate stockpiles and planning.
Andy Burnham has been installed as prime minister and has promised immediate measures to give households "breathing room" on the cost of living. He has begun selecting a cabinet, signalled support for new North Sea drilling, and faces immediate fiscal and defence funding gaps that his first autumn Budget must fill.
Civil service pension delays under Capita have prompted a government shift toward insourcing, with auditors reviewing systems and a long-term strategy under way as bereavement and pension payments remain unresolved for thousands.
New prime minister Andy Burnham has vowed to end rough sleeping in the UK, backed by 340m in new funding to create 1,200 homes and provide intensive support for at least 3,000 rough sleepers over five years. The programme builds on Covid-era measures and Manchester’s Bed Every Night, as rough sleeping numbers remain at record levels in 2025, with 4,793 people sleeping rough on a single autumn night.
Mayors will keep a share of income tax and business rates from 2027-28, replacing central grants and empowering local areas to fund transport, housing and jobs. The reform is pitched as the biggest transfer of power in a generation, with details to be announced in the autumn budget as Burnham leads devolution push.
The government has overhauled the 90 billion public procurement system to prioritise young people’s employment and local skills development. The changes double the weight on social value from 10% to 20% for larger contracts, with extra credit for creating local jobs, training, and 45-day work experiences for youths. Green groups warn environmental safeguards must not be sacrificed. Citizens and businesses will be affected as the policy rolls out.
Japan's real GDP has grown at 0.3% quarter-on-quarter, with annualized growth of 2.1% in Q1. Exports and government spending support growth, while private consumption slips. The Bank of Japan maintains a cautious outlook amid inflation and wage stagnation.