Amid fears of petrol and diesel shortages, the PM will meet major fuel suppliers to secure stability. Ministers are preparing contingency plans and urging the public not to panic-buy, saying stocks remain adequate. Global tensions are disrupting shipping and pushing up prices.
Benefits rise 6.2% this week as part of a package to ease the cost‑of‑living squeeze. MPs, including ministers, will get a £3,300 adjustment, and peers’ allowances rise. Labour will also remove the two‑child benefit cap, with some families gaining thousands, sparking debate over fairness to workers.
Talks on a UK-EU youth mobility scheme have hit deadlock. The UK wants a hard cap on under-30 visas; Brussels offers an emergency brake if numbers surge. Ministers are set to resist concessions over immigration concerns, despite polling that 45% would accept more Europeans for improved trade.
The Government will tighten NHS referral rules to help meet waiting-list targets. GPs will be pushed to use advice and guidance and community pathways before sending patients to hospital. Medical leaders warn this could restrict access to specialists and prolong delays.
Kemi Badenoch proposes scrapping VAT on household energy bills, scaling back green levies and expanding North Sea oil and gas to secure supplies, claiming the package would cut typical bills by about £200 a year and ease pressure on consumers.
Seven were seriously injured after a car hit pedestrians in Derby city centre. A 36-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder. Streets were sealed off as emergency crews responded and police began inquiries, asking witnesses to share any footage or information.
Parents in Minab describe the day a local school was hit during a US military action on 28 February. Families detail urgent searches and unanswered calls, and are seeking accountability and clarity over how the incident happened and why a civilian site was struck.
Petrol shortages threaten Easter travel, with forecourts running low and queues expected. About 21m getaway journeys from Good Friday face disruption as supply routes are hit by Middle East tensions, though suppliers say deliveries are being restored.
Solar and home battery sales have jumped 62% as households seek protection from rising energy bills. Analysts link the surge to oil and gas price hikes tied to US policy under Trump. Installers report supply bottlenecks, while experts urge faster planning and grants to speed uptake.
Distressed investors say turmoil in private credit offers the biggest opening since 2008. With rates high, borrowers face refinancing stress and forced sales, while cash calls pressure major managers. Software firms reliant on leveraged loans are seen as particularly exposed to valuation resets.
Campaigners urge the government to evacuate hundreds of Afghan allies left at risk after an MoD data breach exposed their details. Around 400 former UK partners and about 1,900 relatives remain stuck months on, despite promises of sanctuary.
An investigation says the SNP directs billions in public grants to charities with clauses that deter criticism of policy, covering gender, alcohol, drugs and safeguarding. Ministers insist funding is transparent and fair. Critics argue it compromises independence and skews civic debate.
A new analysis details internal warnings to Meta’s boss about harms linked to its platforms, including misinformation, safety gaps and risks to young users. Critics say these concerns were downplayed, intensifying scrutiny and calls for stronger regulation and accountability.
Morgan McSweeney, a senior No 10 aide, has been told to hand over private messages from a second phone to the inquiry into the Mandelson scandal. Investigators will recover any relevant texts to clarify his communications and timeline.
Up to 70 Britons have been detained in the UAE for taking or sharing images of security incidents, breaching strict laws on photographing sensitive sites. Tourists, expats and crew are among those held. Penalties can reach 10 years’ jail or £200k, and even receiving such images may be an offence.
The PM set out plans to curb addictive social media for children, targeting algorithms that keep them scrolling. Measures under consideration include time limits, overnight curfews and an Australian‑style ban. The move follows a landmark UK court ruling, with a call to act for the next generation.
Drone mapping has found soil anomalies in a field near the Gloucestershire border, indicating possible burial sites linked to Fred West. Investigators believe two victims may be there and will share the data with police, potentially prompting targeted excavation and renewed inquiries.
Britain’s National Crime Agency warns criminal groups are set to exploit AI to forge videos and images, create false alibis and discredit witnesses, risking jurors losing trust in genuine CCTV. It urges rapid safeguards, verification tools and training across the justice system.
A champion golfer, 50, was arrested in Florida after a crash and spent about eight hours in custody before release on bail. They have been charged with driving under the influence after their vehicle rolled. Police enquiries continue ahead of an expected court appearance.
Keir Starmer’s clash with President Trump over Iran policy has boosted his ratings, a JL Partners poll shows. When reminded of the dispute, voters lift the PM’s approval by 26 points to net -14, versus -40 otherwise. Kemi Badenoch and Nigel Farage initially backed the stance, then reversed.