Business
UK borrowing costs hit highest since 2008 as markets expect up to three interest rate rises
Posted on Friday March 20, 2026
Deficit rises unexpectedly to £14.3bn in February as stock markets slide amid fears that Iran war will escalateBusiness live – latest updatesUK government borrowing costs have reached their highest level since 2008, while financial markets now expect up to three interest rate rises this year as investors digest the impact of the Iran conflict.The yield, or interest rate, on 10-year borrowing was pushed to heights not seen since the global financial crisis, as investors dumped UK government bonds. Continue reading...
Lowering speed limits among contingency plans to curb UK oil demand
Posted on Friday March 20, 2026
International Energy Agency recommends emergency measures, including working from home, as Iran war hits fuel supplyLowering speed limits to minimise fuel consumption is among potential contingency plans being drawn up by the UK government as the crisis in the Middle East threatens global oil supplies.Sources stressed that there is no shortage of fuel in the UK, but said that officials in the Department for Transport are working with the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) on an analysis of how what measures could be taken to curb oil demand. Continue reading...
FCA investigates collapsed lender MFS amid £1.3bn mortgage scandal
Posted on Friday March 20, 2026
Move follows the granting of a worldwide asset-freezing order on company’s founder, Paresh RajaWhat is the £1.3bn MFS mortgage scandal and what is private credit?The UK’s financial regulator has launched an investigation into Market Financial Solutions (MFS), the mortgage lender that collapsed last month amid allegations of fraud.The move follows the granting of a £1.3bn worldwide asset-freezing order on MFS founder Paresh Raja on Wednesday, as creditors successfully gained court orders in London and Dubai barring the tycoon from dissipating assets. Continue reading...
Opinion
Technology
Meta AI agent’s instruction causes large sensitive data leak to employees
Posted on Friday March 20, 2026
Artificial intelligence agent instructed engineer to take actions that exposed user and company data internallyAn AI agent instructed an engineer to take actions that exposed a large amount of Meta’s sensitive data to some of its employees, in the latest example of AI causing upheaval in a large tech company.The leak, which Meta confirmed, happened when an employee asked for guidance on an engineering problem on an internal forum. An AI agent responded with a solution, which the employee implemented – causing a large amount of sensitive user and company data to be exposed to its engineers for two hours. Continue reading...
Senior European journalist suspended over AI-generated quotes
Posted on Friday March 20, 2026
Mediahuis suspends Peter Vandermeersch, who says he ‘fell into trap of hallucinations’, after investigation by newspaper where he was once editor-in-chiefThe publisher of the Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf and the Irish Independent has suspended one of its senior journalists after he admitted using AI to “wrongly put words into people’s mouths”.Peter Vandermeersch, the former head of the Irish operations at Mediahuis, said he “fell into the trap of hallucinations” – the term for AI-generated errors – when using the technology. Continue reading...
Sport
Harry Maguire and Kobbie Mainoo recalled in 35-man England squad
Posted on Friday March 20, 2026
Eleven of those named will be rested for first matchLewis Hall in, Trent Alexander-Arnold left outThomas Tuchel has recalled Harry Maguire and Kobbie Mainoo for the Wembley friendlies against Uruguay and Japan in an enlarged England squad of 35 players. The manager said he has picked almost two groups for the matches in order to give opportunities to fringe players and, initially, rest to other more established ones at this critical stage of the season.Tuchel’s other headlines were the decisions to bring back Lewis Hall, Fikayo Tomori, Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Dominic Solanke. He has also given a first call-up to James Garner. Tino Livramento is back. The most eye-catching omissions were those of Trent Alexander-Arnold, Morgan Gibbs-White and Ollie Watkins, who have to fear for their World Cup places. Continue reading...
‘It’s not about punishing’: Five key issues for English rugby to resolve after the Six Nations
Posted on Friday March 20, 2026
Steve Borthwick will be reprieved by the RFU’s review but there are other factors at play from the makeup of his backroom team to the conveyor belt of talentThe Rugby Football Union’s review into England’s least successful championship for 50 years is already up and running with an alacrity that would impress Louis Bielle-Biarrey. And one detail seems clear: barring something spectacular, Steve Borthwick will still be coaching the team this summer. As one well-placed insider put it: “This review is about supporting Steve to make improvements. If change is needed, change is needed but it’s not about punishing him. He’s absolutely going to be in post this summer, there’s no question about that.” Continue reading...