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UK drivers are being urged to hunt for the cheapest petrol as they prepare for an estimated 21.7 million journeys over the Easter bank‑holiday weekend – the busiest on the roads since 2022. Data from the RAC shows that the average price of a litre of unleaded petrol jumped 20p in March, rising from 132.83p on 1 April to 152.83p on 31 April. This is the fastest monthly increase on record, eclipsing the previous high of 16.6p recorded in June 2022 after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. RAC policy chief Simon Williams called the rise “unprecedented” but stressed that travellers should fill up as usual and seek the cheapest forecourts nearby ahead of the holiday rush. To ease congestion, National Highways will temporarily suspend 1,500 miles (2,400 km) of roadworks on motorways and major A‑roads in England from Thursday through Easter Monday. The AA predicts this will accommodate roughly 1 million additional trips compared with last year, with traffic expected to peak on Thursday when schools break up. Analysts warn that the sharp fuel‑price surge may curb spending on trips. Susannah Streeter, chief investment strategist at the Wealth Club, noted that shorter journeys and fewer on‑the‑road purchases, such as chocolate treats, are likely. AA survey data shows that just over half of travellers plan to drive less than 50 miles, 5 % expect journeys of 50‑100 miles, about 1 % aim for 100‑200 miles, and fewer than 1 % anticipate trips beyond 200 miles. Rail disruptions are set to push more motorists onto the motorways. Engineering works will suspend west‑coast mainline services between London Euston and Milton Keynes from Good Friday to 8 April, and there will be no trains on several routes—including Preston to Lancaster (4‑5 April), Winchester to Southampton, and Herne Bay to Ramsgate—while services between London Waterloo and Clapham Junction will be reduced. Despite domestic challenges, the travel trade body ABTA estimates that 2 million UK residents will travel abroad this weekend. EasyJet is gearing up for its busiest Easter period yet, planning to operate 16,000 flights from UK airports over the two‑week school break. Passengers heading to the European Union should also prepare for potential two‑hour delays due to the rollout of the EU’s Entry‑Exit System, which requires third‑country nationals, including UK travellers, to submit photographs and fingerprints before entering the Schengen area.

The United States has been proposing unusual bilateral health agreements to developing countries, mostly in Africa, in exchange for access to sensitive health data and critical minerals. These deals have sparked concerns of exploitation and have been met with resistance from several countries.In November, the US approached Zimbabwean authorities with a proposal that would have provided over $300m in funding in return for sensitive health data. However, Harare felt that the negotiations were 'lopsided' and promptly pulled out.Zambia also pushed back against a similar proposal, citing 'problematic' clauses that sought access to the country's minerals, including copper, cobalt, and lithium. The US had offered $1bn in funding over five years, but Lusaka requested a review of the proposal.Several African countries, including Nigeria and Kenya, have signed the health pacts, but the terms agreed remain unclear.Data or mineral demands in return for health aid are unprecedented in the history of US-Africa relations. Policy experts argue that tying crucial funding to sensitive national assets could have negative consequences for African nations and the US itself.'Supporting global health has clear benefits to the United States in terms of prevention of pandemics that can affect Americans too,' said Sarang Shidore, Africa director at the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft. 'Linking such aid to payoffs in the extraction of critical minerals smacks of exploitative practices.'African nations have long relied on US funding to foot many of their health bills. In 2024, African countries received $5.4bn in US assistance, largely spent on humanitarian, health, and disaster needs.However, the US has argued that aid cuts suit its America First agenda, which prioritizes national interests. The stance has been met with criticism, with some economists arguing that aid is often ineffective and causes overreliance.Washington is now focused on government-to-government deals, which have typically required governments to take on an increasing share of their own health budgets in the next four to five years.Some analysts see this as a positive move to reduce overdependence on foreign funding and force governments to prioritize health spending in their budgets. However, the clauses that Washington is demanding to leverage its aid for data, rare earth elements, and other minerals have caused widespread outrage in some countries.In the case of Zambia, the US reportedly asked for access to the country's critical minerals in return for $1bn over five years. The US also asked for a one-way data-sharing agreement for 10 years.If Lusaka fails to ink a deal, US aid funding to the country will be discontinued, which could mean losing the remnants of funding Zambia still receives from the PEPFAR programme.

Oracle, a US technology company with a market value of $420bn, has begun cutting thousands of jobs as it seeks to reassure investors that its bet on AI infrastructure will pay off. The company, which has a workforce of 162,000, has reportedly let go of around 10,000 people so far.The job cuts, which were announced via email, affect various roles including senior engineers, architects, operations leaders, program managers, and technical specialists. Oracle's decision to reduce its workforce comes as it steps up spending on datacentres, key infrastructure for developing and operating AI systems, in an effort to better compete with cloud rivals such as Alphabet and Amazon.Oracle's plans include a $300bn datacentre deal with OpenAI, the developer of ChatGPT. However, investors have grown concerned about the billions of dollars of expenditure attached to its plans, which includes raising $50bn in new debt. In a March filing, Oracle said it expected total costs tied to its 2026 restructuring plan to reach up to $2.1bn, largely owing to redundancies and related expenses.The job cuts are part of a broader trend in the tech industry, with over 70 tech companies cutting around 40,480 jobs so far this year, according to the tech redundancy site Layoffs.fyi. This trend is driven by companies reallocating resources towards artificial intelligence, heightening fears of AI-driven disruptions among workers.

Travelers to the EU are facing significant challenges due to the new entry/exit system (EES), which has led to delays and missed flights. The EES requires non-EU travelers to have their photo and fingerprints taken, causing 70% increase in security processing times, according to Airports Council International.A family of four recently missed their easyJet flight from Málaga due to long queues at the airport, despite arriving three hours before departure. The bag drop-off didn't open until two hours before the flight, leaving only 53 minutes to clear security and reach the gate.The issue is not limited to Málaga, as Lisbon airport was forced to suspend the system in December when waits reached seven hours. The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has warned that the full rollout of the EES poses an operational risk before the summer peak.To avoid delays, travelers are advised to squeeze all packing into a cabin bag and skip luggage check-in. The airlines and airports are urged to take measures to mitigate the delays, including extending the possibility of partly or fully suspending EES at peak periods and reinforcing staffing.

Manchester United's financial accounts have revealed that their wage bill for the last season was significantly lower than that of their Women's Super League rivals, Arsenal. The £5.88m total wage bill, including social security and pensions costs, was far closer to that of fifth-placed Brighton, whose total was £5m.In contrast, Arsenal, the only other club among the WSL's big four to have published their accounts, paid their players and staff £9.9m and their wage bill, including social security and pensions costs, reached £11.3m. This disparity in spending highlights the challenges faced by Manchester United as they prepare for a crucial Champions League quarter-final match against Bayern Munich.Despite the lower wage bill, Manchester United recorded a profit before tax of £510,000 and total revenue rose by 16% to £10.74m, thanks largely to a big increase in what the accounts labelled “services recharged to other group undertakings”. The club's matchday revenue fell sharply, from £1.87m in 2023-24 to £1.22m, while broadcasting revenue and commercial revenue also dropped.Manchester United's manager, Marc Skinner, will be looking to overcome a 3-2 deficit against Bayern Munich, a team that has been in impressive form. Skinner emphasized that if his team were to progress to the semi-finals, it would rank as highly as their FA Cup triumph at Wembley in 2024.

Denby, a 217-year-old pottery firm based in Derbyshire, has appointed administrators, putting almost 600 jobs at risk of loss. The company, which owns the Burleigh brand, has struggled with surging energy costs, higher labour costs, tighter financial markets, and softening consumer demand for its premium homeware.Earlier this month, Denby's CEO, Sebastian Lazell, stated he was 'trying to move heaven and earth' to save the business. A #SaveDenby campaign was launched to encourage people to buy more products and lobby the government for support. Despite an 'overwhelming and deeply moving' response, the company was unable to secure 'strategic investment partners' to continue.Tony Wright, joint administrator of Denby Group, said: 'Denby is one of Britain's most beloved and enduring pottery brands... We are focused on progressing the sale process and encourage any interested parties to come forward without delay.'The problems at Denby come a year after Royal Stafford and Moorcroft pottery firms also called in administrators. Stoke's Wedgwood pottery has also announced job cuts. A string of consumer goods companies have fallen into administration this year due to lacklustre consumer spending and rising costs.

Tim Sweeney, the CEO of Epic Games, the company behind the popular online game Fortnite, has issued an apology after facing backlash for laying off an employee with terminal brain cancer. The layoff not only resulted in the loss of income for the employee's family but also meant they would lose their life insurance. The controversy began when Jenni Griffin, the wife of Mike Prinke, a laid-off employee, shared their story on social media. She revealed that her husband was fighting terminal brain cancer and that the layoff meant they would lose his life insurance. Griffin expressed her concerns about the financial burden they would face, including the cost of a funeral and burial. Sweeney responded to Griffin's post, apologizing for not recognizing the situation earlier and promising that Epic Games would solve the insurance issue for the family. He stated that the company would provide a solution to ensure the family receives the necessary support. Epic Games announced the mass layoffs on March 24, citing a downturn in Fortnite engagement and a need to make major cuts to keep the company funded. Sweeney justified the layoffs by saying that the company was spending significantly more than it was making. Affected employees were offered a severance package, including at least four months of base pay, along with other benefits tied to tenure at the company. The layoffs have sparked controversy, with many questioning the decision to let go of over 1,000 employees despite the company's annual profits of $4 billion. Fortnite is the world's fourth most-played PC game, and the company's financial situation has raised concerns about the impact of the layoffs on employees and their families. Griffin's post, which included a picture of her husband's brain scan, quickly went viral, prompting Sweeney to respond and offer support to the family. The incident has highlighted the human impact of corporate decisions and the need for companies to consider the well-being of their employees.

The UK government is considering plans to provide financial support to households hardest hit by the looming energy crisis, with a focus on targeting those who need it most. Energy bills are forecast to hit nearly £2,000 a year from July, prompting concerns about the impact on low-income households.Under one plan, extra cash could be injected into the crisis and resilience fund (CRF), a £1bn a year council-run scheme in England that provides preventative support to communities and assists people facing financial crises. The fund could be topped up to help cushion households identified by councils as facing particular hardship from higher energy bills.Chancellor Rachel Reeves has ruled out universal support and is under pressure from financial markets to limit the extent of the support to keep within budget spending limits. However, she has emphasized the need for targeted support, saying: "The progressive, universal approach that we are taking is the right one … £150 off everyone’s energy bills, but then targeted support for those who need it most."The government is also exploring other options, including expanding support to households that have high bills but do not currently qualify for benefits. This could involve allowing councils to dispense funds to households in need.Rising energy costs have been driven by the conflict in the Middle East, with Brent crude oil prices surging to over $116 a barrel. The global oil benchmark is on course for a record monthly rise of nearly 60%, exceeding gains made during the 1990 Gulf war.The UK's interest rate on 10-year debt has also hit its highest level since the 2008 financial crisis, just over 5%, although rates eased to 4.95% by Monday. Government borrowing costs around the world have climbed since the US and Israel attacked Iran, as financial markets calculate that governments will be urged to borrow more heavily to cope with the war's aftershocks.

The war in Iran has sent shockwaves through the UK economy, causing gilt yields to surge to their highest levels since the 2008 global financial crisis. This increase in borrowing costs has significant implications for Chancellor Rachel Reeves' fiscal policy, potentially eroding the £23bn in 'headroom' she had built up against her fiscal rules.Reeves had hoped that this cushion would allow her to focus on tackling inflation and stimulating growth, but with oil prices up 50% since the onset of the war, investors are now expecting higher inflation and interest rates. As a result, the government's cost of borrowing is set to rise, impacting its ability to fund public spending.The yield on 10-year gilts has jumped to nearly 5%, pushing up the cost of borrowing and forcing Reeves to reconsider her spending plans. This development has also raised concerns about the UK's economic fragility and the potential for a Labour leadership contest to be triggered after the May local elections.Economists warn that the chancellor has probably already lost a third to half of her headroom due to the combination of higher inflation, weaker employment, and surging gilt yields. The situation is further complicated by the UK's high debt levels and reliance on global markets, leaving little room for maneuver for any future government.The implications of this crisis extend beyond Reeves, raising questions about the economic pitch of any potential steward of the economy, whether from Labour or other parties. As Angela Rayner considers John Healey as a potential chancellor, the need for a carefully plotted economic policy that balances growth and fiscal responsibility has become increasingly urgent.