Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation News and Sanctions Updates
UK defence innovation launches electro-optic sensing competition with £2.8 million fund
The UK is opening a new funding round to speed up development of electro-optic sensing technologies for defence use across land, maritime, air and space environments. The programme offers up to ...
MMO opens applications for 65 bass fishing authorisations in England
England's fisheries regulator is opening a new application round for a limited number of unused bass fishing authorisations for small licensed vessels. The move follows a 2025 review of bass ...
UK government allocates £40 million for GP winter support programme
Ahead of heavier seasonal demand on the NHS, the UK government is funding a new primary care programme aimed at helping vulnerable patients stay well at home this winter. The £40 million scheme ...
UK defence space programme expands satellite monitoring capability
Britain is adding to its military space infrastructure with the Titania satellite now in orbit and a new sensor network being trialled to watch for threats to national assets in space. The moves ...
Luton expands youth employment support with new hub
Luton is expanding local employment support for young people with the opening of a new Youth Hub aimed at those aged 16 to 24. The site forms part of a wider government rollout across Great ...
Severn Stoke flood defence scheme becomes operational ahead of winter
Severn Stoke is entering the winter months with a new £5 million flood defence scheme now fully operational to reduce risk to homes, businesses and local infrastructure. The project was completed ...
HMRC raises late payment interest rates after Bank of England move
UK tax interest rates are changing after the Bank of England raised its base rate to 4.00% from 3.75% on 5 November 2026. The revised HMRC rates for late payment and repayment take effect from 16 ...
Greater Manchester housing pact unlocks up to £500m for homes and regeneration
Greater Manchester is expanding its housing and regeneration funding base through a new agreement with the National Housing Bank, opening the way for up to £500 million of investment. The deal is ...
British International Investment launches Kenya-focused growth strategy
The UK is expanding its investment push in Kenya through a new British International Investment strategy aimed at supporting businesses, infrastructure and long-term economic growth. The plan sets ...
Charity Commission opens property risk inquiry into House of St Barnabas in Soho
A UK homelessness charity's main property asset in Soho is under regulatory scrutiny after concerns emerged over a disputed loan secured against the site. The inquiry focuses on whether the ...
UK advances Commonwealth diplomacy on India, Mauritius and debt agenda
At the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Antigua, the UK prime minister holds talks with several international counterparts on security, diplomacy and development finance. The ...
UK sovereign AI fund backs Potential Sciences in chemistry AI funding round
Britain is stepping up support for domestic AI companies working on industrial and scientific applications, with a new investment in drug discovery startup Potential Sciences. The company says its ...
UK groceries watchdog prepares 2027 supplier survey as it presses retailers on code compliance
With the grocery sector in its peak trading period, the Groceries Code Adjudicator is stepping up scrutiny of how major retailers treat suppliers. A new annual survey opening on 11 January will ...
Office for Investment convenes Bristol nature finance talks to scale UK private capital
The UK is pushing to turn nature recovery into a larger investment market as public and private groups meet in Bristol to develop funding models for environmental projects. A new Office for ...
UK challenges Russia’s evidence claims at OSCE as support for Ukraine expands
Diplomatic pressure at the OSCE is intensifying as the UK links Russia’s military campaign in Ukraine with what it calls unsupported claims presented in multilateral forums. The statement pairs ...
UK steps up calls to tackle nature loss after COP17 deal
As UN biodiversity talks wrap up, the UK is intensifying pressure for faster global action to halt and reverse nature loss ahead of 2030 targets. The push comes as countries agree a new ...
UK, Jamaica launch reconstruction partnership for Hurricane Melissa recovery
A year after Hurricane Melissa damaged parts of Jamaica, the country and the UK are launching a four-year partnership to speed reconstruction and reinforce critical infrastructure. The programme ...
England adopts bovine TB eradication strategy with cattle, badger vaccines target
England is advancing a long-term campaign to eliminate bovine TB by 2038 as new herd breakdowns fall over the latest 12 months. The plan also marks 2026 as the first year in more than a decade ...
England water reforms give regions stronger say over infrastructure investment
Communities across England are set to gain a bigger role in shaping how water companies direct spending on local networks and flood defences. The plan creates eight regional water councils to help ...
UK sets ocean finance, green shipping agenda at CHOGM event
At the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, the UK is positioning ocean policy more firmly within climate, trade and development finance discussions. In a Nov. 3 speech at the Blue Finance ...
UK fair work agency recovers unpaid wages for five IT agency workers
A dispute over withheld agency pay in the UK ends with five IT workers receiving more than £59,000 after a regulatory intervention. The case centres on 19 days of work completed in May and ...
