Food prices in the EU have risen 16.6% YoY, according to Eurostat, despite lower energy prices easing overall price pressures. This has prompted both retailers and governments to adopt ever more unconventional tactics, such as price controls, to shield the public against spiralling prices, constitute for one of the worst cost of living crisis in a generation. While some price rises may be warranted, some are not, leading the Bureau Européen des Unions de Consommateurs who represent 46 consumer organisations, to urge governments to adopt strong policies to protect consumers.
The Group of Seven (G7) has sought “constructive” relations with China while criticising its human rights record and territorial claims. The G7 sought collaboration in areas such as climate change while also expressing concerns over Beijing’s growing influence, particularly in the East and South China Seas, and the crackdowns on freedoms in Hong Kong, Tibet, and Xinjiang. The club of wealthy democracies acknowledged the need for “de-risking and diversifying” rather than decoupling from China to ensure economic resilience in the face of their increasing “non-market policies and practices”. China rejected the G7 statement as interference in its internal affairs.
Brentford FC striker Bryan Mbeumo received praise from manager Thomas Frank after he helped his side clinch a 3-1 win against Tottenham. Mbeumo scored two goals in 12 minutes and assisted Yoane Wissa for the visitors’ third late on. Brentford were without 20-goal striker Ivan Toney who has been nursing an injury while also receiving an eight-month ban from the Football Association on Thursday for repeated betting breaches. Brentford’s win means they’re guaranteed ninth-place finish but victory on the final day at home to champions Manchester City FC could secure Europa Conference League football.
Roma’s new head coach, Jose Mourinho, has built his reputation on leading teams to victory. Despite a lacklustre track record prior to taking over the Roman side, he has already managed to take them to the Europa League. It appears that when Mourinho has the latitude to manage in the way he knows best, he can turn under-resourced teams into forces to be reckoned with. However, it seems that it is not Mourinho’s tactics that are proving problematic, but his behaviour on the pitch, with a recent incident involving his assistant robbing him of his covering fire.
US President Joe Biden has publicly committed his support to Ukraine against Russia's invasion by announcing a new weapons package at the G7 summit. The announcement follows the US permitting the transfer of advanced F-16 jets to the embattled country. The Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, issued a whistle-stop tour of European countries last week where he secured a €2.7bn ($2.9bn) military aid package from Germany, in addition to separate commitments from France and Britain. Zelenskyy also made a surprise visit to G7 talks where he called for a peace agreement.
Microsoft has said that China has approved its $69bn purchase of Activision Blizzard. This is significant as Activision Blizzard had stopped offering many of its games in mainland China earlier this year following a dispute with its local publishing partner, NetEase. Both the China and the European Union are set to give their consents to the deal, in contrast to the United Kingdom and US where authorities are attempting to block it. The EU conditionally cleared the purchase earlier this week, while British regulators rejected Microsoft's promises to try to prevent the destruction of competition.
Russia and China have criticised Group of Seven leaders in Hiroshima for their joint statement, following US President Joe Biden’s first in-person talks with Moscow’s Vladimir Putin days earlier in Geneva of working to “ensure predictability and stability” in world affairs amid “a new and challenging strategic landscape.” Moscow described the G7 statement as pushing the Ukraine war towards infliction of a strategic defeat upon Russia, while Beijing accused Washington of “coercive diplomacy,” claiming US sanctions against China and decoupling and disrupting industrial and supply chains made the US the real coercer. The G7 leaders pledged joint diplomatic, financial, humanitarian, and military support for Ukraine in the document. The statement also pledged they would “starve Russia of G7 technology, industrial equipment and services that support its war machine”, and that the G7 would continue to shield agricultural, medical and humanitarian products from the measures. Critics have accused the emerging rivalry between the G7 and China/Russia of creating two global blocks and a new Cold War, with third-world countries forced to take sides.
West Ham United and Leeds United have drawn 3-3 in an English Premier League match, held four days after West Ham faced Croatian Dinamo Zagreb on their way to reach UEFA Europa League quarter-finals. David Moyes's squads' Europa League exploits have taken their toll, with Moyes only fielding a single starting line-up in England's top flight this year. Now his team is facing a risk of missing the European slots for the next season, as today's draw leaves Hammers fourth with 55 points, two points behind Chelsea on 57; Leicester is third on 59.
Despite being rocked by scandal and the introduction of new electoral laws, Greece’s leading New Democracy party is still predicted to clinch Sunday’s poll, according to analysts. New Democracy has consistently outpaced its main rival, the leftwing Syriza party, by at least five points, recent polls have shown. New Democracy may not take power immediately since a coalition government is looking likely under electoral laws passed by the previous government. If no party impresses with their showing at the election, the party with the highest votes is given three days to form an alliance.
Manchester City have won the Premier League for the fifth time in six years, cementing their position as the dominant force in English football. The club is also on track to win a treble if they can triumph in both the FA Cup and the Champions League next month. City’s imperious form raises questions, however, about the Premier League’s most important selling point: intense competition. Their success, which could lead to financial fairness measures, is viewed by some as a result of the leadership of Spanish manager Pep Guardiola.
UK carmakers warn that they are not ready for the "rules of origin" requirements for electric vehicles set out in post-Brexit trade agreements between the UK and the EU. From 2024, EVs traded between the UK and the EU must have 45% of their parts sourced from either region or face 10% tariffs. Carmakers may not be able to meet this requirement due to problems caused by the domestic supply chain and market competition. The UK currently lags behind Europe's 30 planned battery gigafactories and its electric automakers cannot rely on political help from Westminster.
German police have opened an investigation into the possible poisoning of two Russian exiles who attended a Berlin conference organised by Kremlin critic Mikhail Khodorkovsky. Two women reported symptoms suggesting potential poisoning. The investigation is being handled by the state security unit. Russian investigative media outlet Agentstvo reported that a Russian journalist, who had recently left Russia, experienced unspecified symptoms during the event and went to the Charite University Hospital in Berlin; a second participant, Natalia Arno, director of the NGO Free Russia Foundation in the United States, experienced symptoms after the meeting in Prague.
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp will move for at least four players in the transfer window to strengthen his squad after a disappointing season that saw them miss out on the top four of the Premier League. The squad is expected to need three midfielders and a defender. Signings could include Aston Villa's Mason Mount and Argentina's Alexis Mac Allister to bring creativity to the technical, possession-based unit. Klopp is also likely to continue playing Trent Alexander-Arnold in midfield for next season's campaign, which will start with a highly intense period of physical and tactical preparation in pre-season training.
Brighton & Hove Albion secured their highest-ever Premier League finish as they beat Southampton 3-1 at the Amex Stadium to climb into sixth place and claim European football for the first time in their history. Southampton gave Brighton a scare with a goal from Mohamed Elyounoussi in the second half, but the hosts held on to secure a Europa League spot. Meanwhile, Southampton's winless run in the Premier League extended to 13 games. Brighton manager Roberto De Zerbi made five changes to the side that lost to Newcastle, while Southampton made three alterations.
Following an assurance to President Biden by President Zelensky, Ukraine has been granted access to F-16 fighter jets from the United States to help defend against Russian incursions. The Ukraine’s fleet of aircraft has been outdated for some time, and this upgrade marks a significant increase in military capacity. The news has sparked concerns that the West is providing Ukraine with offensive weapons, prompting fears of a military escalation in the conflict. Ukraine has also secured additional aid from the US in the form of ammunition and is reportedly offered F-16s from some EU nations.
The idealistic vision of a world without nuclear weapons came to the fore this weekend following the G7 summit in Hiroshima, with Japanese prime minister Fumio Kishida using the forum as the backdrop to call for global peace and the end of nuclear arsenals. The last day of the talks was upstaged by the arrival of Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, determined to raise support for the Ukrainian peace plan and show recalcitrant Republicans in Congress that withholding further assistance from his country would damage US leadership. Plans for a joint communication document that would align the G7 behind the Ukrainian peace plan came to nothing, but its message was transmitted nonetheless. Kishida outlined four principles that the participants had agreed on, with the importance of the United Nations charter and the rule of law, as well as projecting solidarity with Ukraine the main areas of accord.
Brighton & Hove Albion FC have qualified for European competition for the first time after beating Southampton 3-1. Evan Ferguson scored two goals, with Pascal Gross adding a third, as the Seagulls secured sixth place in the Premier League. Brighton have already guaranteed a top-seven finish, meaning they will feature in continental competition for the first time in their history next season. Southampton, already relegated, got a goal back through Mohamed Elyounoussi.
Manchester City’s run to the Premier League title should not be undermined by suggestions that Arsenal failed in their bid to beat the season’s victors, according to City manager Pep Guardiola. Arsenal led City by eight points last month, but lost to Nottingham Forest at the weekend, allowing Guardiola’s side to secure their fifth title in six years. Guardiola claimed his team would have to win this season’s Champions League for them to become one of the “greatest” sides. City won their latest competition after emerging victorious in a 1-0 win against Chelsea.
Guardiola praised Arsenal coach Mikel Arteta’s team, stating that they had made him “think a lot” and took his side “to our limits”. He argued that their own determination and refusal to give up had helped City to the title. Arteta was City assistant coach from 2016 to 2019. Guardiola, who won the Champions League when Barcelona manager, added that his side had accomplished “something exceptional in terms of the Premier League”, but without European success, “people will say our time here is not complete".
Meanwhile, Chelsea interim manager Frank Lampard has praised Manchester City’s “work ethic” and suggested that his own team needs to put in similar levels of effort to stand a chance of opposing City in the future. Chelsea ended the season in a disappointing tenth place. “To get where Manchester City are a lot of things have to align", Lampard said. “There is clearly talent in the squad, young talent, maybe a lack of stability and imbalance and they are maybe club issues."
Wall Street’s strong week ran out of steam on Friday as concerns over the US government’s ongoing efforts to avoid a default on its debt mounted. The S&P 500 lost 0.1%, the Dow Jones was down 0.3% while the Nasdaq fell 2%. Despite Friday’s blip, the S&P 500 gained 1.6%, breaking out of a pattern in which the index failed to rise or fall by 1% for six straight weeks. Optimism earlier in the week that Washington could avoid a crippling default helped the market. Concerns rose again on Friday after a leading negotiator for House Speaker Kevin McCarthy suggested the talks aimed at averting a default be paused, causing the S&P 500 to slide from modest midday gains to modest losses. Investors also took comments from Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell to suggest his committee may leave interest rates unchanged next month.
An Afghan colonel who fought alongside British troops has received a threat of deportation to Rwanda after fleeing to the UK on a small boat following the Taliban’s takeover of Kabul in August 2021. The veteran claims that he was not helped after leaving his family behind in Afghanistan to escape danger, and has now received the notice of intent from the Home Office after applying to the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy (Arap). The colonel is being supported by Care4Calais and requires urgent assistance as regards his case, having gone through at least 11 countries before arriving in the UK.
The Afghan colonel is one of many veterans who served British interests in Afghanistan and are now being threatened with deportation or are forced to flee through illegal routes as a result of strict restrictions and delays in the UK’s evacuation schemes. Speaking to Care4Calais, he expressed concerns for his family in case he is deported to Rwanda and criticized the UK’s abandonment of Afghan military personnel when the Taliban gained power. Former heads of the Royal Navy and Army have stated that the UK has free moral obligations to Afghan military personnel to secure their safe migration to the country for a better life.
Afghanistan now lies at security risk as the Taliban fights to consolidate its grip on the country, with many civilians and former military personnel facing arrest and execution. The UK’s deadline of 31 August 2021 to evacuate Afghans who had supported coalition forces was met with criticism after only a select few were evacuated in time. The latest case involving the Afghan colonel joins a list of controversial immigration policy actions by the UK government that have been harshly criticized by NGOs and human rights activists.
