Barclays staff, represented by the Unite union, are challenging the bank's revised hybrid working model, which will reduce permitted work-from-home days. The union is calling for a one-off payment to mitigate increased travel and childcare expenses for its 36,000 members.
Heathrow Airport anticipates a reduction in passenger numbers for the remainder of the year, attributing the decline to ongoing instability and airspace restrictions stemming from the US-Israel coalition's conflict with Iran. The airport's first-quarter figures show a temporary increase due to rerouted demand, but future forecasts remain uncertain.
The US economy expanded by 2% in the first quarter of 2026, official figures show, a boost driven by tech investment despite consumer pressure from the ongoing war in Iran. The conflict, now in its third month, has pushed Brent crude oil to $126 per barrel, contributing to a four-year high, and inflation reached 3.3% in March, derailing anticipated interest rate reductions by the Federal Reserve.
