Sir Keir Starmer is set to meet business leaders in Downing Street on Monday as the government seeks to tackle the impacts of the conflict in the Middle East on British households.

Iran’s blockade of the Strait of Hormuz has left ships unable to pass through the key oil route in recent weeks, sending crude prices soaring and threatening economic stability across the globe.

The prime minister will hear directly from businesses to assess the damage to the UK’s economy as he convenes senior figures from the energy, shipping and financial services industries.

Downing Street said the prime minister will discuss how the government and the private sector could work together to mitigate the fallout from the war.

The meeting will also hear an update on the situation in the region from Major General Richard Cantrill, the UK’s maritime operations commander.

Petrol prices have already risen sharply, while disruption to the global oil supply has seen some developing countries impose restrictions on fuel usage and sparked concern shortages could spread to the UK.

Ministers have sought to downplay the possibility of fuel shortages, with education secretary Bridget Phillipson saying on Sunday that drivers should fill up their cars as normal.

However, pressure has been growing for the government to reverse a rise in fuel duty in September, with Ms Phillipson telling broadcasters ministers will “take a view closer to the time”.

She told Sky News: “The chancellor is absolutely committed to making sure that right throughout this conflict that we see, we have right at the forefront of our minds the impact that this is having on the British people.

“She will continue to keep under review the measures that are needed.”

Monday is also expected to see chancellor Rachel Reeves urge her G7 counterparts to accelerate the transition from fossil fuels in a virtual meeting with finance and energy ministers and central bank governors.

Amid the ongoing war in Iran, she will argue this is the only way to get off the “rollercoaster” of international oil and gas markets and cut bills for good.

She is also expected to caution against resorting to protectionism as a response to disrupted supply chains and stress the importance of the G7 working together to maintain pressure on Russia, which is set to benefit from the higher oil price.

Earlier in March, Donald Trump raised concerns after he eased US sanctions on Russian oil in a bid to reduce pressure on global markets.

In contrast, the Conservative Party leader has pushed for Britain to capitalise on its own oil and gas reserves in an effort to shield UK households from the threat of rising energy costs.

Kemi Badenoch will launch her “Get Britain Drilling” campaign on Monday, as she calls for Britain to maximise the use of its resources by drilling in the North Sea.

The Conservatives have also called for a cut in VAT on domestic energy bills and the scrapping of green taxes on power generation, saying these measures will cut bills by £200.

The government has rolled out its own parking platform

Councils will be pushed to sign up to a “one-stop-shop” parking app designed to stop the “faff” of paying to park, Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander has said.

All councils in England will be told to use the National Parking Platform (NPP), which has handled more than 10 million transactions since it was launched in May last year, in a renewed push first reported in The i Paper.

The non-profit, Government-developed platform allows drivers to pay for parking in all participating council car parks using their preferred app, aiming to stop the need for multiple apps, PA reported.

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Fifteen local authorities currently use the platform, now run by the British Parking Association, and the Government hopes to double that number by issuing statutory guidance advising councils to sign up.

A spokeswoman for the Department for Transport (DfT) told the Press Association the NPP is in talks with several councils as part of efforts to encourage a greater uptake.

The Government has also asked councils to consider what other functions the platform could have, such as its potential to be used to pay for tolls and electric vehicle (EV) charging.

The push forms part of the Government’s Better Connected transport plan, which is expected to be published on Thursday and aims to improve travel across England by connecting roads, buses, trains and trams.

Ms Alexander said: “Parking shouldn’t be a faff. The fact that this platform has already handled more than 10 million transactions shows just how much people value a simpler, more straightforward way to pay.

“Now we want this platform to work harder for drivers in England. The way we drive is changing and so should the technology, which is why our Better Connected strategy will encourage more local councils to adopt the parking platform and then look to expand it beyond, to things like electric vehicle charging and paying tolls.”

In a statement, the DfT said confusion around how to pay for parking is one of the reasons drivers are hit with fines “they didn’t see coming”.

In a poll of 1,709 UK drivers published in October last year, the RAC found 73% of those who had used a mobile app to pay for parking in the previous 12 months had suffered problems.

More than one in 10 people (13%) said they could not work out how to use the parking app they had installed, a figure that doubled to 26% for those aged 75 and above.

More than a third (36%) of respondents said they had at least three parking apps installed on their phone and 15% had four or more.

RAC senior policy officer Rod Dennis said: “Paying to park a car should be one of the simplest tasks any driver does, but with a plethora of different mobile parking payment apps now in existence, things have got a little more complicated.

“The roll-out of the National Parking Platform has the potential to change that, giving drivers the chance to use a single app of their choice. We now need as many operators as possible to join the scheme to make parking easier for everyone.”

The Creative Technology Discovery Cluster (C3) will help organisations of all sizes – and from all sectors – use cutting-edge creative technology to support business innovation and solve real-world problems.

The cluster’s first event, took place recently at the Guildhall, York, will showcase how innovative technologies from the creative industries can drive growth and competitive advantage across industry.

Technologies such as virtual reality, immersive environments and motion capture have been significantly shaped and advanced by the creative and performance industries, where they have enabled new forms of storytelling, production and audience engagement.

Building on this foundation, these technologies are now transforming a wide range of sectors including healthcare, manufacturing, engineering, heritage, tourism and digital services.

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As part of the event, academics from CoSTAR LiveLAB, a state-of-the-art research and development facility at Production Park in Wakefield, gave an overview of the work being done there, while Phil Adlam, Chief Technology Officer at Production Park, delivered the keynote address on how technology is set to develop over the next 20 years.

Delegates enjoyed specialist support to help their organisation explore, adopt, and implement digital tools. Following a series of “lightning talks” and live demonstrations, there were practical exercises and networking.

David Skaith, Mayor of York and North Yorkshire, said: “York and North Yorkshire has the ambition and the talent to compete globally, but with the right support and funding we know our businesses can do even more.

“This is a prime example of how we bridge the gap between world-class research at the University of York and our local businesses.

“We’re helping businesses unlock the power of interactive technologies to solve real-world problems and it’s great to see such a strong surge in interest for the event, – it’s a testament to the ambition of our business community.”

Damian Murphy, Director of the XR Stories project at the University of York, said: “We know that firms who are better connected to the creative industries are more likely to introduce new-to-market products. Technologies developed and used within the creative sector can similarly generate spillover benefits for organisations in other sectors.

“We’re here today to demonstrate that potential through the XR Stories Lab where we provide creative technology support and expertise to businesses, cultural organisations and freelancers working to develop new immersive and extended reality experiences for their clients and customers.”

PC Shezad, PC Owen, PC Richardson and PCSO Wales carried out the stop, during which both occupants of the vehicle were searched under Section 23 of the Misuse of Drugs Act.

During the search, officers recovered and seized a quantity of drugs along with weapons.

The driver of the vehicle tested positive for cannabis at the roadside and was also found to be driving without insurance.

The vehicle was subsequently seized under Section 165 of the Road Traffic Act.

The driver was arrested on suspicion of possession with intent to supply Class B drugs, possession of an offensive weapon, drug driving, and driving without insurance.

The passenger was arrested on suspicion of possession with intent to supply Class B drugs and possession of an offensive weapon.

Greater Manchester Police said they “remain committed to tackling serious criminality and keeping communities safe.”

Anyone with information about crime in their area is encouraged to report it.

One former Tottenham man who has confirmed his eagerness for the role is Harry Redknapp, but having been out of work for nine years, it would be a bold move to hand him the reins.

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Robbie Keane is also in the running. The former Spurs striker is currently manager of Hungarian club Ferencvaros.

Harry Redknapp has expressed interest in the role

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Around five fire appliances from Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service were placed on standby

A plane has been forced to make an emergency landing at Belfast City Airport tonight as strong gusts of wind caused major safety concerns.

Several flights were also forced into holding patterns for more than two hours as a precaution before landing as strong winds buffeted the harbour runway in East Belfast. Flights from Birmingham, Manchester and Liverpool were all delayed due to the weather.

Gusts of 33mph were recorded in the area throughout Sunday.

A statement from the Airport on Sunday March 29 said the emergency landing was carried out as a precautionary measure and all passengers and crew disembarked the plane safely.

Around five fire appliances from Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service were placed on standby.

There are no further details at this time.

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Just add one extra ingredient to the pan.

Rice is so versatile, pairing well with everything from chicken, beef and fish to curries, stir-fried vegetables and a range of sauces. But, cooking it doesn’t always go perfectly.

Common mistakes made when cooking rice include not rinsing the rice properly or not having the right water-to-rice ratio. This can result in undercooked, mushy or dry rice, none of which are particularly pleasant to eat. And even if you do get everything right, you can still end up with a flavourless side dish. Luckily, there’s an easy fix.

Writing on food blog The Kitchn, expert Emma Christensen shared her favourite ways to make “a boring pot of rice taste amazing”. Her first trick to “keep rice flavourful” is to toast the grains.

“Toasting the dry rice grains in a little butter or olive oil before adding the water brings out their flavour and adds a fantastic nutty note in the finished dish,” she explained, recommending you try this with brown rice or whole grains like barley.

Her second tip involved adding just one extra ingredient to the pan during the cooking process: cook the rice with chicken or vegetable stock, which can either be in the form of leftover homemade stock or a stock cube.

She said: “I sometimes find that using 100 percent chicken broth can make the rice feel gummy or overly-starchy,” adding: “I usually go for a 50/50 mix of broth and water. This adds a layer of flavour and richness without going overboard.”

Her final suggestion was to season the rice with whatever you’re already cooking, like the some of the same seasonings you’re using for the main dish.

The expert urged home cooks to use whole spices for subtle flavours and ground spices for a stand-out dish. She also explained she “almost always” adds a bay leave, regardless of what she’s cooking.

But don’t just take Emma’s word for it. There are plenty of home cooks who say cooking rice in stock instead of plain water is a game-changer. Home cook Sarah-Louise Kelly said she will “never go back” after making the change, which “made such a difference to the flavour”.

Mimi Harrison, writing on the Beat The Budget blog, said “making this creamy rice with chicken broth is the best and easiest way to enjoy rice with the same amount of cooking time”. She said: “Cooking rice with chicken broth will transform the flavour and turn a flavorless side into the most versatile, delicious, well seasoned pairing for just about anything. It’s buttery, creamy and feels luxurious.”

Here are three applications that have been approved (or cleared) in and around the town between March 23 and 27.

Sheds set for demolition at Percy Road garage

CB Auto Electrical Services has been given the green light to demolish two storage sheds at its site on Percy Road. The sheds sit to the rear of the main unit and are due to be removed without the need for prior approval.

The application was submitted on February 23 and validated on March 2. The council issued its decision on March 26, confirming that “prior approval is not required” for the demolition, paving the way for the yard to be cleared and reorganised.

New features approved for St Teresa’s Hospice

St Teresa’s Hospice on Woodland Road has secured approval for a series of upgrades to its entrance and a quiet reflection room. The plans include the installation of new fencing and a handrail along the main entrance ramp to improve accessibility and safety.

Inside, an existing window in the proposed reflection room is set to be replaced with a glazed door, brightening the space and making it easier to access. The application was validated on February 4 and approved with conditions on March 27, giving the hospice a clearer route to carry out the improvements.

Gladstone Street building to be split into two retail units

A building on Gladstone Street is set to be transformed into two separate retail units after the council signed off on a conversion plan. The approved scheme involves internal alterations, the addition of another entrance door, new roller shutters and revised openings to the ground‑floor frontage.

The application was first lodged on March 19, 2025, and validated at that time. It has now been approved with conditions on March 25, 2026, opening the door for a new shop layout and potentially fresh retail offerings on the street.