Government
André Loranger appointed UK National Statistician
Canada’s chief statistician, Loranger, will lead the UK official statistics system on a five-year fixed term.
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Government
UK government lawyers receive updated legal-risk guidance
The guidance updates risk-assessment and escalation procedures for lawyers advising UK ministers.
Fiscal Policy
HMRC details temporary zero VAT plan for domestic electricity in Great Britain
The 8 September tax note sets out a 0% rate for qualifying electricity supplies during 1 October 2026–31 March 2027.
Government
England pauses parts of local-government reorganisation for review
Following new legal advice, ministers withdrew or paused several local-government reorganisation plans.
Fiscal Policy
Philippines opens nationwide consultations on bill to raise tax exemption threshold
The proposed ProGRESS package would increase the personal income-tax exemption, exempt small businesses from minimum corporate tax and expand selected excises.
Climate
UK announces intention to lend £400 million to tropical forests facility
London plans to invest in the Tropical Forests Forever Facility as a loan, subject to due diligence and final governance arrangements.
Fiscal Policy
HMRC sets out 1 October start date for vaping duty
HMRC’s 1 September notice sets a £2.20 duty per 10 millilitres of vaping liquid, with or without nicotine.
Education
Teacher trainees in southern Peru exchange education research
A macroregional meeting in Moquegua brought together student teachers and teacher educators from five southern Peruvian regions to share research and innovation experiences. It focused on how research during initial teacher education can help understand classroom challenges.
Security
British Army completes trial of an eight-drone swarm test bed
Eight weeks of experimentation with a Dstl-developed test bed assessed how uncrewed aircraft under collective control could perform field tasks.
Climate
UK September ranks joint fourth-warmest on record
Provisional Met Office data put the UK’s September 2026 mean temperature at 14.6°C, with marked regional differences in rainfall.
Education
Tanzanian youth showcase skills at national competition
Young people in Tanzania presented practical skills, creativity and innovation at the 2026 WorldSkills National Skills Competition in Tanga. The competition was organised by the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology as part of National Education, Skills and Innovation Week.
Fiscal Policy
HMRC collects £391.6 billion in tax and National Insurance over five months
The UK tax authority’s monthly statistics show a £24.9 billion increase from the same period a year earlier.