Friday briefing: Food prices continue to surge – how will the UK and the rest of the world respond?
In today's newsletter: The cost of eating continues to surge, and everywhere from Nigeria to China is in search of an answer
Good morning.
It feels like every time you go into a shop the prices have risen by a gazillion percent. Inflation in the UK slowed marginally last month - the latest inflation data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) shows that it decelerated from 10.4% to 10.1% - but economists expected it to dip to 9.8%. And with over a year of rapid price rises these numbers are unlikely to be much consolation for those struggling with food inflation, which remains at a staggering 19.1% - the highest level since 1977 - with some products, like olive oil, up by 49%.
Dominic Raab | Government sources have suggested that Dominic Raab wants to stay on as deputy prime minister and justice secretary despite what were said to be searing findings from a five-month inquiry into claims of bullying. Rishi Sunak spent hours on Thursday afternoon examining the report. A Ministry of Justice union rep has said that senior Whitehall staff want the prime minister to allow a new independent organisation to assess future claims of bullying against ministers.
Sudan | Sudan's paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) agreed to a three day ceasefire, that coincides with Eid al-Fitr, however there are reports that the violence is continuing after the the truce came into effect. The United Nations has said that up to 20,000 people have already fled the escalating violence in the Darfur region.
Strikes | The NHS has launched a legal challenge against the Royal College of Nursing (RCN), in a bid to block the second day of an upcoming strike by tens of thousands of nurses. Officials wrote that the union's plans for a two-day strike were unlawful.
Technology | Elon Musk's SpaceX launched Starship, the largest and most powerful rocket ever built, from Texas - but it blew up within minutes, in a major setback for Musk. Two sections of the rocket system - the booster and cruise vessel - were unable to separate properly after takeoff, possibly causing the spacecraft to fail.
Home Office | 12 MEPs have condemned Suella Braverman over the arrest of a French publisher who was interrogated by counterterrorist police about his political views and anti-government" contacts. The group wrote to the home secretary to express their outrage at the scandalous treatment" of Ernest Moret, who was detained for almost 24 hours in London.
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