UK Prepares for Food Shortages in Worst Case Scenario as Iran War Continues
UK officials are drafting worst‑case contingency plans for food shortages if the Iran‑Israel conflict keeps the Strait of Hormuz closed and carbon‑dioxide supplies falter. The government has already re‑started the Ensus bioethanol plant to safeguard CO₂, a key input for meat processing and preservation, while industry bodies say no current disruptions are evident. However, food‑sector leaders warn that rising fuel and fertiliser costs could push food inflation to at least 9% by year‑end. Retailers and growers remain on alert, but stress that any shortages remain speculative.
UK Economy Grew Faster than Expected in February Ahead of Iran War
The UK’s economy expanded by 0.5% in February, the strongest monthly gain in over two years and well above the 0.1% forecast. The Office for National Statistics also revised January’s growth to 0.1%, indicating a modest rebound before the Iran‑related...
More Big Energy Users to Get Help as Support Plan Expanded
The UK government is expanding the British Industrial Competitiveness Scheme (BICS) to cover an additional 3,000 energy‑intensive manufacturers, raising the total eligible firms to roughly 10,000. From April 2027, qualifying companies will receive up to a 25% reduction on electricity...
China's Economy Grows Faster than Expected Despite Iran War
China’s first‑quarter GDP rose 5% year‑on‑year, outpacing the 4.8% consensus and meeting the upper bound of its newly‑set 4.5‑5% growth target. The rebound was anchored by a manufacturing surge, while property investment stayed depressed. Export growth decelerated sharply to 2.5%...
Big Energy Shock Will Push up Prices, Bank Boss Tells BBC
Bank of England Governor Andrew Bailey told the IMF meeting that the world faces a ‘very big energy shock’ that will push up UK prices. He said the surge in oil and gas costs makes any decision on interest‑rate moves...
Horse Urine Perfume: Why Online Bargains May Be Dangerous
Online shoppers are increasingly exposed to counterfeit products, including a shocking case where perfume was found to contain horse urine. Consumer groups report that fakes span cosmetics, toys, electronics and even ladders, often bypassing safety checks. The UK government is...
Ticketmaster-Owner Live Nation Ran a Monopoly and Overcharged Fans, Jury Finds
A federal jury in New York concluded that Live Nation, the parent of Ticketmaster, operated an illegal monopoly and overcharged concertgoers by $1.72 per ticket. The verdict, reached after a four‑day deliberation, could compel the company to divest assets or...
Households Could Get Free Electricity for Doing Washing on Sunny Weekends
The National Energy System Operator (NESO) has launched the Demand Flexibility Scheme, letting households and businesses with smart meters earn free or discounted electricity for running appliances during periods of excess renewable supply, such as sunny weekends. Approved by Ofgem,...
'Bit of Pain' Worth Long-Term Security From Iran, Bessent Tells BBC
U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told the BBC that a "small bit of economic pain" from the US‑Israel war with Iran is justified to eliminate the long‑term threat of Iranian nuclear strikes on Western capitals. The IMF warned the conflict...
Fuel Prices Stop Rising After 43 Days of Increases, RAC Says
After 43 consecutive days of increases, UK petrol and diesel prices have stalled, according to the RAC. A temporary cease‑fire in the Gulf lowered crude oil prices, easing wholesale costs, but retail prices remain well above pre‑war levels. Petrol now...
Quantum Computing: A Tech Race Europe Could Win?
Alice & Bob, a French quantum‑computer startup, is spending $50 million on a new Paris‑area campus that will house larger cryostats and an in‑house chip‑fab. Co‑founder Théau Peronnin says the firm will soon link its machines to high‑performance computers, delivering exponential speed‑ups that could...
US Home Buyers 'Frozen' As Sales Slump over Iran War Fears
U.S. home‑buyer activity stalled in March as mortgage rates jumped to 6.37% amid the US‑Israeli conflict in Iran. The National Association of Realtors reported a 3.6% month‑over‑month decline, with 3.98 million existing‑home sales—the lowest level since June. Median home prices rose...
GTA-Maker Rockstar Games Hacked Again but Downplays Impact
Rockstar Games suffered a second cyber‑breach in three years after hackers infiltrated servers hosted by a third‑party cloud provider. The group, calling itself ShinyHunters, demanded a ransom and warned they would publish the stolen material online. Rockstar told the BBC...
EasyJet Passengers Describe EU Border 'Nightmare'
EasyJet passengers at Milan Linate faced two‑to‑three‑hour passport‑control queues after the EU’s new Entry‑Exit System (EES) went live on 10 April, causing more than 100 travelers to miss their Manchester flight. The biometric and facial‑recognition checks triggered vomiting, fainting and chaotic...
Faisal Islam: Why the Government Is Relaxed About Chinese Car Imports
Chinese‑made cars have surged in the UK, with the Jaecoo 7 becoming the top‑selling model in 2026 and Chinese brands now accounting for about 15 % of new registrations, up from 1.3 % five years ago. The government has deliberately avoided tariffs, emphasizing...
