Britain’s unemployment rate has risen to 5% as the government urges supermarkets to cap prices on essentials including bread, eggs and milk amid mounting pressure over the cost-of-living crisis.
Britain’s labour market showed fresh signs of strain in April, with payroll numbers falling by 100,000 - the sharpest monthly decline since the Covid pandemic - as unemployment climbed to 5%.
Job vacancies also dropped to their lowest level since early 2021, adding to concerns over the strength of the UK economy.
Economists said global instability and growing economic uncertainty were making businesses more cautious about hiring. Concerns linked to tensions in the Middle East and rising inflation pressures have also fuelled fears of a broader slowdown.
At the same time, the UK government is reportedly encouraging major supermarkets to introduce voluntary price caps on essential food products such as eggs, bread and milk to ease pressure on households struggling with the cost of living.
Under the proposals, supermarkets would not be forced to limit prices but could be asked to cooperate on temporary freezes or price controls in exchange for potential regulatory easing, including adjustments to packaging and food-related rules.
Retailers, however, have strongly criticised the proposal, warning it could discourage investment and force businesses to absorb rising costs.
The chief executive of British retailer Marks & Spencer, Stuart Machin, said any move by the UK government to cap some food prices would be "completely preposterous."
The British Retail Consortium said price controls would not solve the root causes of rising food prices and argued the government should instead reduce costs imposed on businesses.
Food inflation in the UK stood at around 3.8% in April, while the Bank of England warned it could rise further later this year.
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Day four of the World Urban Forum (WUF) in Baku brings a packed agenda on sustainable cities and the global housing crisis, with sessions on green housing, smart cities, public spaces and urban rights taking place on Wednesday (20 May) at Baku Olympic Stadium in Azerbaijan.
Amid shifting global supply chains and rising geopolitical competition over trade corridors, attention is increasingly turning to the strategic role of transit states linking Central Asia, the South Caucasus, Europe and the Middle East.
An event titled “Rethinking Cultural Heritage and Inclusive Urban Regeneration” was held on Wednesday (20 May) during WUF13 in Baku, bringing together international officials, urban planners and cultural experts to discuss how heritage preservation can support more inclusive and resilient cities.
Kyrgyzstan has suspended 50 locally registered companies over what authorities described as “high sanctions risk” operations, in the clearest sign yet that Bishkek is responding to growing European scrutiny over alleged sanctions circumvention linked to Russia.
United Nations World Urban Forum 13 continues in Baku, Azerbaijan on 19 May with sessions and roundtable discussions focused on strengthening dialogue and advancing cooperation in urban development. Organisers say there are nearly 3 billion people globally who face some form of housing inadequacy.
Azerbaijan and Georgia have agreed to resume daily passenger train services on the Baku-Tbilisi-Baku route from 26 May, 2026, marking a major step in restoring regional rail connectivity after services were suspended in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Pakistan has deployed around 8,000 troops, fighter jets and air defence systems to Saudi Arabia under a mutual defence agreement, according to security officials and government sources familiar with the arrangement.
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Monday that he had paused a planned attack on Iran after Tehran sent a peace proposal to Washington. He said there was now a “very good chance” of reaching a deal to limit Iran’s nuclear programme.
Lithuania on Wednesday issued an “air danger” warning urging residents to seek shelter and temporarily suspended operations at the capital’s airport amid fears that drones had entered the country’s airspace, as tensions between Russia and the Baltic states continue to escalate.
The European Union has moved closer to implementing tariff cuts under last year’s U.S. trade agreement after negotiators agreed on a provisional legislative text.
Lithuania on Wednesday issued an “air danger” warning urging residents to seek shelter and temporarily suspended operations at the capital’s airport amid fears that drones had entered the country’s airspace, as tensions between Russia and the Baltic states continue to escalate.
UEFA has imposed a lifetime ban on Petr Vlachovsky, a Czech women’s football coach, after finding him guilty of serious misconduct involving the secret filming of players in changing rooms.
Russian attacks killed two people and injured 19 across Ukraine overnight, local officials said on Wednesday, while Kyiv launched drone strikes targeting industrial sites in central Russia.
At least 21 people have been killed and thousands evacuated after torrential rain triggered flooding, landslides and transport disruption across southern and central China, with authorities warning that more heavy rainfall is expected along the Yangtze River.
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