Government eyes City as conduit for philanthropy – POLITICO

Sir Keir Starmer has warned local councils that they must demonstrate efforts to address potholes or risk losing funding for repairs. Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced an additional £4.8 billion in funding for motorways and major A-roads to tackle the growing backlog of £17 billion in repairs. Local authorities will need to publish annual progress reports to receive their share of £1.6 billion in highway maintenance funding or face potential funding cuts. Full Article

Spain offers a variety of unique food and drink experiences beyond the typical paella and tapas, such as dining on paella in Valencia by the Albufera lagoon, enjoying free tapas in Granada, going on a pintxo crawl in San Sebastián, sampling jamón in Extremadura, attending a Calçotada in Catalonia, and trying the best tortilla de patatas in Galicia. These culinary experiences showcase the diverse and delicious offerings of Spanish cuisine, providing visitors with memorable and...

Spring marks the start of a new financial year, bringing higher incomes for many through various boosts in benefits and wages. However, rising costs for household bills, including energy and council tax, are also expected. Additionally, upcoming changes to the welfare system and the concerning levels of poverty in the UK present challenges for low-income households. Full Article

The Bank of England governor, Andrew Bailey, has called for global economic cooperation ahead of the spring statement amidst a mounting tariff war initiated by Donald Trump. Bailey emphasized the need for authorities to work together to ease trade tensions, stating that domestic macroeconomic forces and trade policy can coexist. This comes as the UK is in talks with the US to address the threat of tariffs, with Trump having already imposed tariffs on UK...

Co-op is matching Aldi prices on over 100 everyday essentials in the UK, offering lower prices to its one million members on products like milk, eggs, and bread. The price-match initiative will be available in all 2,400 Co-op stores and on delivery platforms, aiming to provide value without compromising on quality or range. Co-op's managing director, Matt Hood, emphasized the importance of competitive pricing in the current economic climate, highlighting the retailer's commitment to convenience...

In response to devastating Israeli strikes on Gaza, resulting in hundreds of civilian casualties, including UN personnel, the Secretary-General has decided to reduce the UN's presence in Gaza due to safety concerns. Israeli officials are continuing their military campaign, leading to a suspension of humanitarian aid and a call for a full investigation into attacks on UN facilities and medical workers, as well as urgent entry of additional emergency medical teams to assist in the...