Source link

Dave Bench, Chief Executive
| CropLife UK

Advertisement

The government’s proposed UK-EU SPS agreement could reshape British farming for years to come, but concerns remain that rapid regulatory alignment with the EU risks damaging UK growers, productivity, and long-term investment

The past few weeks in Westminster have carried a tone of chilling familiarity. And while the government tussles over by-election selections and the arcana of Labour leadership rules, serious and consequential conversations are taking place behind the closed doors of Whitehall and the chancelleries of Europe. Chief among these is the government’s much-touted reset with the European Union. As we saw from the King’s Speech on the 13 May, with the announcement of the European Partnership Bill, the proposed UK-EU Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) agreement remains at the heart of the government’s legislative and diplomatic agenda. With the attention of SW1 focused on the policies and personalities of rival leadership hopefuls, this agreement, which will shape the way we eat, grow, and sell food for the next decade, is not receiving nearly the attention it deserves. If the government’s ambitious timetable is to be met, we could be little more than a year away from the deal taking effect. The government has one chance to get this right.

The SPS agreement sounds technical, but in reality it is intensely political. Its stated aim is to reduce costs to consumers by reducing friction at the border. However, this comes with a significant trade-off in regulatory freedom. Since leaving the European Union, Great Britain has been able to make decisions about the use of genetic technologies and the regulation of Plant Protection Products (PPPs) independently of EU institutions. This has enabled UK regulators to bring innovative products to market more quickly and to better reflect the unique growing conditions of the British Isles. Divergence has been Fabian in nature, as much of the regulation currently in use is simply transplanted EU law; however, a rapid boomerang back to EU decision making would have a major impact. A closer relationship with our nearest trading partner is vital, but the pace of these negotiations risks seriously undermining the potential benefits.

Advertisement

This is not entirely new information. In January this year, the Andersons Centre report, commissioned by CropLife UK, produced a report highlighting the risks to farmers and growers of an SPS cliff-edge scenario. The findings were stark. In the “immediate alignment” scenario modelled by Andersons, UK crop production falls by around 3 – 6 per cent in the first year, while total income from farming drops by 7 – 11 per cent, a hit of between £500m and £810m, with growers losing access to key tools on which they currently rely. That translates into double-digit income losses for some crops, with wheat volumes down by 9 – 16 per cent, potatoes by 4 – 6 per cent, and apples by 3 – 7 per cent, alongside pressure on berries and leafy salads. Since the report was published, the wider landscape for growers has become even more challenging, with rising input costs adding further strain. CropLife UK has been clear that it supports a deal that cuts red tape and smooths trade, but a deal that automatically overrides legitimate GB science-based decisions on plant protection products and maximum residue levels would be devastating for British farming. The government, and any future government, must ask whether it is willing to sacrifice farmers and rural communities in order to secure this deal as quickly as possible.

The good news is that none of this is inevitable. The Andersons’ work for CropLife UK is clear that the greatest damage comes from an “immediate alignment” model, and that a managed approach to alignment under an SPS deal would greatly mitigate the shock to production and incomes. Managed alignment, in political terms, means three simple things: respecting legitimate GB decisions; ensuring UK involvement in EU decisions relating to UK-specific conditions and varieties; and building in realistic transitional periods so that EU approvals or Maximum Residue Level (MRL) divergences do not remove essential tools from farmers overnight. This is not a call for lower standards, but for evidence-based, predictable processes that allow growers to plan, invest, and maintain yields while moving together towards high, shared outcomes on food safety, the environment, and trade.

If Labour wants to be trusted on both the economy and Brexit, whoever leads the party needs to be bold and explicit about any SPS deal. They must fight for an agreement that reduces barriers to trade with our neighbours without embedding automatic alignment that undermines British growers’ ability to compete and invest.

Advertisement

For the Labour leadership, the future should be to commit to an SPS agreement with sensible transition periods and managed alignment on plant protection products and MRLs, rather than overnight overrides of GB rules. Insist on genuine UK involvement in any EU decisions that would subsequently apply here, including proper consultation and impact assessments for UK farming. Use the European Partnership Bill to create a combined regulatory regime that reflects new technologies and UK agronomy, and stress-test any draft text with growers and the wider food chain before signing, not afterwards.

Click here to read the Andersons Centre report.

Source link

Around a hundred Samurai Blue superfans crowded the Old Ambassador’s Residence at the Japanese embassy in Washington, on Sunday for a watch party marking its World Cup opener against the Netherlands.

The supporters — a motley group including erstwhile English teachers in Japan, state department workers and embassy staffers — lounged around a projector set in the building’s front room, plates piled high with nigiri. Drinking Kirin Ichiban lager and Asahi Super Dry, they winced when the Dutch team had the ball in the opposing third and burst into cheers and sang “Vamos Nippon” when Daichi Kamada’s header tied the game in the 89th minute.

“The World Cup itself is a competition,” said Masatsugu Odaira, the embassy’s minister of public affairs, at the watch party. “But from the perspective of policy and diplomacy, it’s a very good chance to connect people across borders.”

At the event, POLITICO spoke to soccer fans who are already excited about Japan’s growing diplomatic footprint and soft power projection. And they hope the World Cup will buoy that cultural momentum, stimulating tourism — one of the nation’s most lucrative sectors — and drawing eyes to Japan.

The World Cup is “just a visceral way to connect people who have not yet had the opportunity to travel to Japan to be swept up in the enthusiasm of an international competition,” said Andrew Wylegala, president of the National Association of Japan-America Societies.

Japan is already “at the top of its game” in terms of soft power projection, Wylegala added — and “soccer now fits in with that.”

Embassy staff wore pink shirts with the American and Japanese flags on the back. “Together We Bloom,” they read.

The end result, a 2-2 draw against the Dutch, the world’s eighth ranked international side, only added to their enthusiasm.

The women’s team has a far more prolific record. Fans still hark back to their 2011 World Cup final victory over the U.S., months after a massive earthquake and tsunami slammed the country.

But the men’s team has won just seven World Cup games in its history. Japan’s best-ever finish: The round of 16, where they’ve fallen four separate times.

But there’s hope that, this year, the underdogs could pull off an upset. From Ajax’s Takehiro Tomiyasu to Kamada, a Crystal Palace midfielder, the Samurai Blue have more than enough talent to compete with the sport’s upper crust.

Odaira’s hope for this year? “Oh, becoming a champion,” he said.

Source link

LOS ANGELES — In many World Cup host cities, competing teams also find themselves jostling for soft-power supremacy around their matches. But before its first match tomorrow in Los Angeles, New Zealand has had the diplomatic landscape all to itself.

New Zealand is scheduled to face Iran, which has not had formal diplomatic relations with the United States since 1980. Even as President Donald Trump claims an end to the countries’ monthslong war is at hand, Iran will be competing in the World Cup under severe travel restrictions. The team has been forced from its original Tucson training camp to Tijuana, and is being forced to effectively commute to its matches in the U.S. without a full government delegation.

That has left New Zealand alone in pressing its off-field agenda in Los Angeles. On Sunday evening, New Zealand consul-general Katja Ackerley opened her Brentwood mansion to a “New Zealand on the World Stage” networking reception sponsored by the government agencies overseeing the country’s trade, sport and foreign-investment portfolios.

“It’s all about soft power, it’s all about person-to-person,” said Peter Miskimmin, the government’s head of sports diplomacy. “We are building relations through sport rather than bringing up arms against one another.”

The country’s Los Angeles diplomatic outpost typically focuses on promoting exports of wine and lamb, expediting visas for Hollywood personnel traveling for location shoots and addressing the perpetual crisis of “Kiwis losing their passports in Las Vegas,” as one previous inhabitant of the office put it.

A delegation of New Zealand officials was preparing for their first World Cup appearance since 2010 uncertain whether any of their opposite numbers from Iran would attend, and how that might affect the standard match-day pageantry.

“This is our first World Cup in 16 years so we can’t tell what’s different,” said James Wear, a general manager of the New Zealand Football Association. “We don’t have anything to compare.”

Source link

The faction supporting the TSSA rail union’s deeply unpopular general secretary Maryam Eslamdoust has called police to remove the union’s president from the chair of its annual conference. Former TSSA assistant general secretary broke the news on his social media feeds:

Unbelievably, the @TSSAunion Executive Committee has tried to remove the President from Annual Conference in contravention of the Rules, and he has refused to leave the chair. So the Police have been called!!!

— Steve Coe (@stevecoe1057) June 13, 2026

When police refused to intervene in a civil dispute, the rail union then found a pretext to suspend Adam Wilson and prevent him carrying out his duties as president and chair:

The 2026 conference began after the long-delayed close of the 2025 conference, which Eslamdoust and her supporters ordered abandoned to avoid announcing Wilson’s win as president — and to prevent a no-confidence motion against Eslamdoust by outraged members. TSSA only admitted months later that Wilson had won the presidential election.

Even before conference 2026 began, alleged management manoeuvres were underway. The conference venue was changed, followed by an announcement that members would not be able to attend because of lack of capacity:

But that was only the start. As the 2025 conference was finally declared over, the rail union announced that the venue it had communicated to members for the 2026 conference had been changed — only two hours before the start. Coe called this “incompetence”, but in context others might disagree:

Incompetence knows no bounds at @TSSAunion! 2 hours before Annual Conference starts, it has been announced that the venue for the conference is NOT the one on the agenda or other info to delegates.

This follows yesterday’s 140 minute late start to the online conference!!!

— Steve Coe (@stevecoe1057) June 13, 2026

Advertisement

Rail Union — Years of worker and member revolt

The latest scandal follow years of anti-democratic manoeuvres by the Eslamdoust regime against her opponents, who have reacted with outrage to her attacks on their democracy and on the union’s workers. TSSA staff have repeatedly gone on strike over Eslamdoust’s conduct and accused her of crossing their picket line. Her behaviour has already seen her lose a number of no-confidence votes. One branch summarised her record in a January 2026 demand for her to be suspended from her role:

Since the election of Maryam Eslamdoust:

• Illegitimate closure of Women in Focus the TSSA self-organising group for women that was central in exposing the sexual harassment of the previous leadership
• Suspension in breach of process of three leading TSSA activists, one of whom remains suspended without a hearing for more than 20 months.
• Created dispute with TSSA staff resulting in two industrial action ballots strike and now continuous action short of strike action
• Created an intolerable environment for staff which has been demonstrated by GMB survey and horrendously high rates of sickness of the staff
• Denial of any democratic challenges that presided over a disastrous annual conference in 2024
• Withholding the election results for President and Treasurer in May 2025 on the basis of an investigation into the conduct of that election. An investigation that has never had an outcome and it remains unjustified why the vote has not been counted.
• Creating a trumped-up allegation against President candidate Duncan Bates that he was a train driver when he was not to exclude him from the President election and EC seat.
• Creating a further spurious allegation against Duncan Bates following his successful subsequent election onto the EC from which he remains suspended
• Refusal to hear any appeal from members or branches at TSSA Conference 2025 in breach of rules.
• Presided over the sabotage of TSSA conference 2025 leaving about half of the conference business unheard.
• Cancelling of the reconvened conference in November 2025 and providing no alternative dates
• Removed representative credentials from 4 London Underground Management representatives without a fair process and with no consideration of the impact for the representation of our members
•  Refusal to respond to the vast majority of democratic challenges submitted by individual members, branches, divisional councils, representative groups or indeed union trustees.

With the denial of any form of democratic process or the ability for any candidate to be allowed to stand that may challenge the leadership control we have no option other than to publicly call for the investigation and suspension of the General Secretary

Eslamdoust then de-recognised TSSA staff’s workplace union, the GMB when it refused to prioritise her over its members — a move that any union leader would condemn from an employer.

The apparent efforts of Eslamdoust and her supporters to thwart efforts for justice and redress have seen the TSSA’s reputation trashed and both members and staff rising up in disgust. Now those efforts appear to have collapsed a third conference in a row into chaos.

TSSA has not responded to a Skwawkbox media enquiry since 2024.

Featured image via Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Images

By Skwawkbox

Source link

New satellite images reveal that Iran’s strike successfully hit a US AR-327 Early-warning Radar system at Jabal ad Dukhan in Bahrain.

Confirmed hit at Jabal al-Dukhan Long Range Radar site, Bahrain.

*found a photo of the hill on a hiking website, matches the cropped image of smoke on the mountain. https://t.co/Q8SbembFPu pic.twitter.com/AlmT2Tdxhc

— MenchOsint (@MenchOsint) June 11, 2026

The imagery shows that Iran completely destroyed the radar site in its attack on June 11.

Iran published satellite images of the confirmed drone/missile strike against the US AR-327 Early-warning Radar system in Bahrain.

The radar is capable of tracking ~470 km away https://t.co/QTUA3xmVDP pic.twitter.com/L2mbkekthF

— Arya Yadeghaar (Backup) (@AryJeayBackup) June 13, 2026

This came after Iran said it had targeted & hit the US 5th Fleet in Bahrain with various drones.

The drones attacked the communication antennas & radar facilities of the 5th Fleet’s Patriot system.

The early-warning radar site was capable of tracking targets up to 470km away and cost the US upwards of $40m.

Iran — Ending US colonialism

Iran has focused on hitting US targets in West Asia since the US and Israel launched their illegal attacks on Iran in early March. So far, it has destroyed several very costly radar systems. This severely depletes the US’s ability to detect missiles in the region.

Iran also published satellite images of a confirmed strike on a 1000-ASR Early-Warning Radar system at the Ali Al Salem Air Base in Kuwait. The strikes completely destroyed the radar system.

Iran also published satellite images of a confirmed missile/drone strike on a 1000-ASR Early-Warning Radar system at the Ali Al Salem Air Base, in Kuwait.

The radar system has been destroyed. https://t.co/eGuKYAzV8P pic.twitter.com/kXm5WyraRM

Advertisement

— Arya Yadeghaar (Backup) (@AryJeayBackup) June 13, 2026

Obviously, the US claimed it intercepted all of these missiles. But Trump’s main personality trait is lying.

The US claimed all these missiles were intercepted https://t.co/uIumc9MrXM

— Borzou Daragahi (@borzou) June 13, 2026

It’s a shame the early warning systems didn’t, erm, warn the US they were about to be obliterated?

Iran also targeted the Al-Azraq airbase in Jordan with 12 long-range ballistic missiles.

BREAKING:

Iran struck a US military base in Jordan with a long-range ballistic missile.

Satellite imagery from february showed that more than 60 US aircraft were deployed at the base, including 30 F-35 stealth fighters and 36 F-15 fighter jets. pic.twitter.com/9ZTuYzVqCw

— Current Report (@Currentreport1) June 11, 2026

Satellite imagery from February showed over 60 US military aircraft were stationed at that base. This included 30 F-35 stealth fighters and 36 F-15 fighters.

The Iranian Revolutionary Guard announced it had directly struck the Muwaffaq Salti military base in Jordan.

The base housed US F-35 fighter jets. pic.twitter.com/ZGKQK61t3s

— Aleksey The Great (@aleksthgrt) June 10, 2026

Iran has also targeted two vessels in the Strait of Hormuz. This was in retaliation for several waves of US attacks, along with Bahrain’s Sheikh Isa airbase and Kuwait’s Ahmad Al-Jaber airbases.

The US’s Central Command announced further strikes on “multiple targets” inside Iran.

The US bombed Qeshm Island as well as the ports of Sirik, Jask and Bandar Abbas. It also destroyed two water reservoirs, cutting off water to 20,000 people, and damaged a telecommunications tower.

The US military said the strikes were at President Donald Trump’s “direction” and:

in response to Iran’s unwarranted and continued aggression.

This completely ignores the fact that the only reason Iran is firing at US targets is that the US illegally attacked Iran, alongside Israel, back in March. The US seems to forget that Iran has the right to defend itself against illegal attacks.

Consequences

As of March 2, it was reported that Iran had already destroyed around $2 billion worth of US military equipment.

This included an AN/FPS-132 early-warning radar system at Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, valued at $1.1 billion.

Since then, the US has lost several radar sites and several aircraft, meaning that the cost will be far higher.

Iran has done more this year to end US colonialism in three and a half months than the rest of the world has ever done.

Whether it’s his ties to Epstein, raping children, or bombing sovereign nations, Trump has always believed he is above the law. However, Iran is now proving that the US will not continue to get away with its longstanding colonial traditions without serious and expensive consequences.

Feature image via X

By HG

Source link

Sébastien Migné, the Haiti national team coach, emphasized that his players should feel proud of their performance against Scotland, despite the 1-0 loss in their opening match of Group C in the 2026 World Cup.

Following the match, Migné told Reuters that his side displayed strong character and competed until the final whistle, stressing the importance of maintaining faith in their ability to reach the knockout stages, despite the disappointing result.

The match held special significance for Haiti, marking their first World Cup appearance since 1974—a 52-year absence from the world’s biggest football stage. While Haiti previously participated in the 1974 West Germany tournament, this current generation played their first-ever World Cup match as the Caribbean nation returned to the tournament for only the second time.

Migné noted that his team is accustomed to overcoming adversity, citing their qualification journey, which wasn’t secured until the final round. He affirmed that the group remains wide open, despite facing formidable opponents like Brazil and Morocco alongside Scotland.

Haiti conceded a first-half goal to Scotland’s John McGinn, but they pushed hard in the closing minutes and nearly found an equalizer, demonstrating their ability to go toe-to-toe with a more experienced international side.

Haiti faces an even tougher challenge in the next round when they meet Brazil, before concluding their group stage against Morocco.

Featured image via Justin Setterfield/Getty Images

By Alaa Shamali

Source link

The fifth minute of stoppage time in the match between Qatar and Switzerland was not just the moment Boualem Khoukhi scored the equaliser; it might have been the birth of a new chapter for the Qatari national team in the World Cup.

The 1-1 draw gave “Al Annabi” their first point in the history of their World Cup participations, but the impact of this result goes far beyond the scoreline. The current tournament structure offers teams a path to qualification not only by finishing in the top two spots but also by competing as one of the best third-placed teams.

For long stretches, it appeared the Qatari team was headed toward another loss against a dominant Swiss side that controlled possession and threatened the Qatari goal with dozens of attempts. Yet, the match found a different hero.

Goalkeeper Mahmoud Abunada stood firm against the Swiss offensive surge, delivering one of the most remarkable individual performances of the tournament so far. By saving eight dangerous shots, he kept his team in the game until the very end. It was no surprise when he was named Man of the Match, making him the first Qatari player to achieve this honour in World Cup history.

Qatar — a historic result

While Qatari fans celebrated the historic result, the European press was more focused on what they saw as a missed opportunity for Switzerland. Despite registering 26 shots on goal, the Swiss managed to score only once, leaving them with a draw that failed to reflect their dominance on the pitch.

However, football is rarely decided by statistics alone. While Switzerland left the stadium lamenting two dropped points, Qatar walked away with a single point that could prove invaluable as the tournament unfolds.

This result is particularly significant given the new 2026 World Cup format. Securing a point against one of the group’s strongest competitors could prove decisive for qualification, whether the team advances via second place or as one of the top third-placed sides.

Beyond the complex math, the Qatari national team emerged from this encounter with three clear victories: their first-ever World Cup point, their first-ever Man of the Match recipient, and the proven ability to compete against opponents with vastly more World Cup experience.

Qatar’s draw with Switzerland today may be viewed as a positive result, but only the coming days will determine whether this point is merely a footnote in the record books or the start of a journey toward Qatar’s first-ever qualification for the World Cup knockout stages.

Featured image via Fran Santiago/Getty Images

By Alaa Shamali

Source link

Palestine did not need a team in the 2026 World Cup to be present in the spotlight.

From the very first days of the tournament, held in the United States, Canada, and Mexico, the Palestinian cause emerged as one of the most visible topics in the public sphere surrounding the World Cup. It was seen through flags waving at public events, protests accompanying the matches, and chants of solidarity shared across social media platforms, transforming into a parallel narrative to the world’s biggest football event.

As the eyes of billions of viewers turn to the pitch, fans and activists have seized the immense media momentum of the tournament to keep Palestine in the global spotlight, reaffirming that football, as it has always been, is inseparable from the issues that occupy global public opinion.

Outside the stadiums: The Palestinian flag leads the way

If the matches are the main event inside the stadiums, the Palestinian flag has been one of the most prominent symbols outside them.

In Mexico City, at the start of the tournament, activists organised a solidarity event near the Azteca Stadium, where they formed a human Palestinian flag in a scene that drew attention and went viral across media and social platforms, becoming one of the first images associated with the World Cup outside the sporting arena.

The Palestinian presence was not limited to Mexico; it also moved to Canada, where the city of Toronto saw protests demanding that FIFA take a stance regarding Israel, while Palestinian flags fluttered among participants who seized the global event to highlight the ongoing war in the Gaza Strip.

Photos and videos of participants wearing pro-Palestine slogans also spread, turning the protests into one of the most discussed issues on the fringes of the tournament during its opening days, reflecting the activists’ determination to use the global interest in the World Cup to deliver their messages to an audience watching from various continents.

Palestine — From fan zones to stadium chants

Palestine’s presence was not confined to protest events; it extended to the fan gatherings surrounding the matches.

During fan activities related to the Qatar vs. Switzerland match, social media platforms circulated clips and images of Qatari fans raising Palestinian flags and chanting in support of Palestine. The scene repeated itself during the fan activities accompanying the Morocco vs. Brazil match, where the Palestinian flag appeared among Moroccan fans who were keen to highlight the cause around the tournament.

The most widely shared moment came from fans of Bosnia and Herzegovina during the match against Canada, after footage of chants supporting Palestine by Bosnian fans went viral, an image that reflected the widening circle of solidarity to include fans from outside the Arab world, reaffirming the status that the Palestinian cause still holds among large sections of sports fans around the world.

A message beyond football

Between the flags fluttering in the streets, the chants echoing in fan gatherings, and the protests surrounding the matches, it appears that Palestine has once again succeeded in imposing its presence on the margins of the world’s largest sporting event.

For many fans and activists, the World Cup represents not just a football tournament, but a global platform that captures the attention of billions, making it an opportunity to keep humanitarian issues in the spotlight of international interest.

These scenes served as a message from fans who chose to use the world’s biggest sporting platform to confirm that the Palestinian cause remains present in the global consciousness, and that the war in Gaza has failed to silence the voices demanding justice or to obscure the suffering of Palestinians from the world’s view.

Despite Palestine’s absence from the list of participating teams, it was strongly present in the World Cup’s public scene, through flags, chants, and messages of solidarity that confirmed that some issues can cross borders and reach the world’s biggest sporting stages.

Featured image via LeftVoice

By Alaa Shamali

Source link

EAST RUTHERFORD, New Jersey — During the World Cup, FIFA officials, law enforcement agencies and transit planners across New York and New Jersey will be keeping an eye on things from a constellation of command centers and control rooms.

The sites — spread from Miami to Trenton, New Jersey to Brooklyn — will house a small army of public officials ready to respond to whatever pops up during eight matches being played at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.

The number of distinct command or operations centers that will be in use is almost comical: The New Jersey State Police, the New York Police Department, multiple transit and transportation agencies in New York and New Jersey, Amtrak and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey all have their own spot on the map to work out of. Some these are permanent control rooms where officials are used to working in front of huge screens to monitor video and data feeds. Others are temporary or specific to the tournament: There’s an operations center near the entrance to MetLife Stadium that the host committee and others are using and FIFA has an operations center in Miami.

But each has a distinct function and some will be staffed by officials from other agencies to help with coordination. During the World Cup, a command center in Trenton is the big dog.

“At the end of the day, though, they all report in to the larger command center, which is the ACC, the area command center, which looks at the overall region, the impacts to the region for any events, the asset allocation at different sites,” said Lt. Col. David Sierotowicz, the deputy superintendent of the New Jersey State Police and World Cup incident commander.

Before the first match here on Saturday, New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill paid a visit to officials at an operations center on an elevated platform in the MetLife parking lot. After Brazil and Morocco battled to a draw and the sun had set, one of her top transit advisers could still be seen looking out over winnowing crowds boarding buses and trains to go home.

And for at least part of the summer there will be yet another command center: Over July 4 weekend, when President Donald Trump is expected in town for a massive parade of warships and a military airshow, there will be a popup command center run by the federal government at Jacob Javits Center in Manhattan.

Source link