UK AND IRELAND AGREE UPDATED MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING ON BILATERAL DEFENCE COOPERATION

LONDON, March 13 -- The government of the United Kingdom issued the following news: * Secretary of State for Defence and Irish Minister for Defence Helen McEntee sign refreshed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen bilateral defence cooperation. * Updated MoU will focus on enhanced maritime cooperation, cyber defence, air domain information sharing, and increased joint procurement. * Comes as the Prime Minister meets Taoiseach Micheal Martin in Cork for the UK-Ireland Leaders' Summit....


OFSTED ANNOUNCES NEW PILOT TO USE MORE SERVING SCHOOL AND COLLEGE LEADERS AS INSPECTORS

LONDON, March 13 -- The government of the United Kingdom issued the following news: Inspections already bringtogether theexpertiseof Ofsted's full-time His Majesty's Inspectors(HMI)and the real-time sector knowledge of contracted Ofsted Inspectors(OIs).This new pilot is exploring how Ofsted can enhance that crucial blend with even moresharedinsight into the context, challenges and day-to-day realities providers face, and how inspection can support improvement. Thisis part of Ofsted's commitmen...


MAJOR OIL SPILL IN POOLE HARBOUR COSTS COMPANY £6M

LONDON, March 13 -- The government of the United Kingdom issued the following news: The Environment Agency has made Perenco UK Ltd pay out £6.1m to put right the damage done to the Dorset environment by a major oil spill. The package includes £620,000 to impacted parties alongside £400,000 towards wildlife and access projects run by local bodies. In agreeing to the sanction,which isknown as an enforcement undertakingandcan be used as an alternative to a prosecution,Perencohas a...


CHANCELLOR AND ENERGY SECRETARY MEET WITH FUEL BOSSES IN NO11 AS GOVERNMENT ORDER CRACKDOWN ON PUMP PRICES

LONDON, March 13 -- The government of the United Kingdom issued the following news: * Chancellor and Energy Secretary set to meet with petrol retailers and energy suppliers in Downing Street on Friday - with a clear message: drivers must get a fair deal at the pump. * ChancellorasksCMA to crack down on any rip‑offs on road fuel and heating oil - warning she "will not tolerate" firms exploiting the situation to make excess profits. * Fuel Finderwill help drivers spot the cheapestforecourt ...


BRITISH HIGH COMMISSIONER URGES UNITY AND CO-OPERATION IN COMMONWEALTH DAY ADDRESS

LONDON, March 13 -- The government of the United Kingdom issued the following news: At the event, British High Commissioner to Solomon Islands and Nauru Paul Turner remarked on the contemporary significance of the Commonwealth, emphasising the enduring relationship between the Solomon Islands and the United Kingdom. This is founded on over a century of shared history. He also provided an overview of the Commonwealth's historical development. He said whilst the Commonwealth had emerged from the...


BBC MEDIA ACTION CONCLUDES DIGITAL MEDIA LITERACY WORKSHOP IN ISABEL PROVINCE

LONDON, March 13 -- The government of the United Kingdom issued the following news: An inaugural Digital Media Literacy Workshop was held in Buala, Isabel Province, this month, representing a significant advancement in media development within the region. 17 participants took part in the event, representing various departmental heads from the Isabel Provincial government and community stakeholders from across Buala. The cohort included government officials, community leaders, and civil society...


STATEMENT BETWEEN PRIME MINISTER KEIR STARMER AND TAOISEACH MICHEAL MARTIN IN CORK: 13 MARCH 2026

LONDON, March 13 -- The government of the United Kingdom issued the following news: Ireland and the United Kingdom share a unique partnership, rooted in our geography, our history, and the deep and dynamic connections between our people underpinned by the Good Friday Agreement and our Common Travel Area. At our Summit in Liverpool last year, we agreed the UK-Ireland 2030 Joint Statement as the starting point for a renewed and strengthened relationship between our two countries. As we work tow...


UNDERCOVER COPS BOOSTED ACROSS 9 MORE FORCES

LONDON, March 13 -- The government of the United Kingdom issued the following news: Women and girls will be safer on nights out as an undercover police operation to catch predators is boosted across 9 police forces in England and Wales. Project Vigilant deploys highly trained undercover officers in busy night‑time hotspots to spot high‑risk behaviour. They alert uniformed officers, enabling police to intervene early and disrupt offending before it escalates into violent crime. Und...


SOUTH WEST WATER PLEADS GUILTY TO SIX YEARS OF POLLUTIONS

LONDON, March 13 -- The government of the United Kingdom issued the following news: South WestWater (SWW) has pleaded guilty to a catalogue of pollution-related charges spanning six years across Devon and Cornwall. The prosecution, brought by the Environment Agency, concluded at Plymouth Magistrates Court on Thursday this week. Sentencing is expected on 4 June 2026. Of the charges, 17 are forillegaldischargeactivitiesincluding sewage dischargesand one is forfailing to takereasonable remedial ...


WTO GENERAL COUNCIL MARCH 2026: UK STATEMENT

LONDON, March 13 -- The government of the United Kingdom issued the following news: Day 3 Agenda item 7 - Paraguay paper on reform Thanks very much, Chair. We welcome members making contributions to the reform discussion and encourage more to come forward with their ideas, as the UK has done. However, we are cautious about diverging too far from the hard work we have all done led by the reform facilitator. It is this work that gives us the best opportunity to achieve a meaningful reform outco...