Oil prices top $100 a barrel after talks fail and Trump orders Hormuz blockade
Posted on Monday April 13, 2026

Naval blockade is attempt to choke off Iranian oil flow as US president threatens to eliminate Iranian ‘attack ships’

• Explainer: strait of Hormuz blockade

Oil prices jumped back above $100 a barrel and global stocks fell after weekend talks between the US and Iran ended without an agreement and Donald Trump imposed a blockade of the strait of Hormuz.

The US president said on Sunday the blockade would target Iranian vessels and ships that have paid a toll to Iran for passage through the strait, in an attempt to choke off the flow of Iranian oil.

Read more...

Booking.com warns customers of hack that exposed their data
Posted on Monday April 13, 2026

Undisclosed number of names and contact and reservation details accessed in latest cybercrime attempt

The accommodation reservation website Booking.com has suffered a data breach with “unauthorised parties” gaining access to customers’ details.

The platform said it “noticed some suspicious activity involving unauthorised third parties being able to access some of our guests’ booking information”.

Read more...

Meta creating AI version of Mark Zuckerberg so staff can talk to the boss
Posted on Monday April 13, 2026

Digital clone being trained on his thoughts, tone and mannerisms to help workers feel connected

If you are one of Meta’s almost 79,000 employees and cannot get hold of the boss, do not worry. The owner of Facebook and Instagram is reportedly working on an AI version of Mark Zuckerberg who can answer all your queries.

The AI clone of Zuckerberg, Meta’s founder and chief executive, is being trained on his mannerisms and tone as well as his public statements and thoughts on company strategy.

Read more...

Private firms providing services to NHS made £1.6bn profit in two years, research finds
Posted on Monday April 13, 2026

Exclusive: MPs say profit-making levels in England are ‘scandalous’ and call for cap on amount private companies can make from NHS

Private firms providing services to the NHS including healthcare and consultancy have made £1.6bn in profits over the last two years, research reveals.

The findings – on the basis of contracts worth £12bn – have prompted claims of “scandalous” profiteering, concern that the health service is being “taken for a ride” and calls for ministers to impose a cap on maximum profit levels.

£2bn of the £12bn of contracts went to firms with owners based outside the UK.

£533m of that £2bn went to companies owned by people living in tax havens such as Jersey and the Cayman Islands.

Firms, especially those owned by private equity outfits, used £353m of their £12bn NHS income to pay interest on debts.

Read more...

Booking.com warns customers of hack that exposed their data
Posted on Monday April 13, 2026

Undisclosed number of names and contact and reservation details accessed in latest cybercrime attempt

The accommodation reservation website Booking.com has suffered a data breach with “unauthorised parties” gaining access to customers’ details.

The platform said it “noticed some suspicious activity involving unauthorised third parties being able to access some of our guests’ booking information”.

Read more...

Meta creating AI version of Mark Zuckerberg so staff can talk to the boss
Posted on Monday April 13, 2026

Digital clone being trained on his thoughts, tone and mannerisms to help workers feel connected

If you are one of Meta’s almost 79,000 employees and cannot get hold of the boss, do not worry. The owner of Facebook and Instagram is reportedly working on an AI version of Mark Zuckerberg who can answer all your queries.

The AI clone of Zuckerberg, Meta’s founder and chief executive, is being trained on his mannerisms and tone as well as his public statements and thoughts on company strategy.

Read more...

Manchester United v Leeds United: Premier League – live
Posted on Monday April 13, 2026

⚽️ Premier League updates from 8pm BST kick-off
⚽️ Table | Top scorers | Email Michael here

Mixed news for Farke and Leeds. Anton Stach and Joe Rodon were injured in the team’s FA Cup tie at West Ham last weekend, but Gabi Gudmundsson (groin), Jaka Bijol (knock) and Noah Okafor (back) have all beaten fitness tests to take their place in the starting XI tonight. This is an attacking line-up from the visitors, make no mistake.

If you are wondering where Kobbie Mainoo is, he’s injured, which means Ugarte comes in for a rare start. The Uruguayan, a €50m purchase in 2024, has been linked with a move away this summer, with Newcastle a potential destination.

Read more...

The wait is over: Eta’s arrival as head coach breaks barriers for women in football
Posted on Monday April 13, 2026

Marie-Louise Eta has been tasked with saving Union Berlin from Bundesliga relegation in a groundbreaking appointment

For Marie-Louise Eta, it may feel like another day at the office. The wider significance will be greater, though, when she oversees Union Berlin in their crunch Bundesliga match against Wolfsburg this weekend. History will be made and another barrier broken: it will be the first time a woman appointed as head coach of a men’s team has taken charge of a fixture in one of Europe’s top five leagues.

Eta was given the reins on an interim basis after Steffen Baumgart, her predecessor, was sacked on Saturday. Union had just lost 3-1 to bottom-placed Heidenheim and, with five games left, could not be sure of a late-season dalliance with the drop zone. They are seven points clear of the relegation playoff spot but a run of two wins from 14 games has equated to freefall. Union needed the best person to arrest it, some form of continuity was key, so the 34-year-old Eta, a richly exciting prospect, was an obvious choice.

Read more...