Energy concerns, the Seanad by-election result and the Covid isolation period are among the stories covered in Friday's front pages.
The Irish Times reports on Russia's threats to cut off energy supplies to countries which refuse to pay in Russian Roubles, while back at home, new cost-of-living measures are due to be announced in the "coming weeks".
The Irish Sun reads: 'Garda Bristle Blower', in reference to rules for gardaí growing facial hair, beneath a piece on the trial of a teenager over the death of Urantsetseg Tserendorj after Ms Tserendorj's husband gave evidence in court on Thursday.
The Irish Daily Mail carries two exclusives on its front page, reporting: 'Andrew in £740,000 'scam case' mystery', under their lead story on rising energy prices, stating: "Over half of us struggle to pay for the soaring cost of living".
The paper also reports on Tom Clonan's win in the Seanad by-election, claiming the Trinity College seat on the 16th count, edging out psychologist Maureen Gaffney.
The Irish Examiner also reports on potential Government plans to assist with rising energy prices, alongside a piece on the chief medical officer, Dr Tony Holohan being asked to consider whether it is appropriate to reduce the isolation period for people who test positive for Covid-19.
Finally, The Echo reads: 'Fears for care residents', reporting that the Mental Health Commission has expressed "serious concern" regarding the care and treatment of residents in Unit 3 of St Stephen's Hospital in Cork city.
In the UK, the national front pages concern soaring prices as the biggest jump in domestic energy bills in living memory comes into effect.
“Happy cruel day” the Daily Mirror declares as families are hit by a 54 per cent surge in energy bills from Friday, with rises in National Insurance payments, council tax and inflation. “Many could suffer spiralling debt and physical and mental health issues” as a result, the paper writes.
Tomorrow's front page: April cruel day#tomorrowspaperstodayhttps://t.co/dbLURSkSwS pic.twitter.com/qXEE6Iy1in
— The Mirror (@DailyMirror) March 31, 2022
Metro and The Guardian also carry the story, both leading with the news that the websites of numerous major energy suppliers crashed as customers tried to register meter readings ahead of the April price hike.
Friday's front page:
ENERGY FIRMS METER FIASCO#TomorrowsPapersToday #BBCPapers #skypapers pic.twitter.com/GJmsJWL7C3— Metro US (@MetroUS) March 31, 2022
Guardian front page, Friday 1 April 2022: Millions rush to minimise energy bills on eve of Bleak Friday pic.twitter.com/xamiAJjH8E
— The Guardian (@guardian) March 31, 2022
“Five million households face budget squeeze,” The Independent adds, reporting that people will need to spend at least 10 per cent of their budget on energy bills after Friday’s price-cap hike.
Friday’s INDEPENDENT Digital: “Five million households face budget squeeze” #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/hw7snbQxCb
— Allie Hodgkins-Brown (@AllieHBNews) March 31, 2022
“Pain in the gas,” The Sun writes in reference to soaring energy bills, adding that “blackmailing” Russian president Vladimir Putin has threatened to send them even higher by turning off supplies.
On tomorrow's front page: pic.twitter.com/BVGDnvlx8B
— The Sun (@TheSun) March 31, 2022
The i focuses on fresh pressure facing the British chancellor to offer more help as the public faces a “triple whammy from higher energy bills, increased council tax and the national insurance hike”. The paper adds that unnamed senior Tories have accused Rishi Sunak of being “politically naive”.
Friday's front page: Anger at Sunak as cost of living crisis hits home #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/R0JrzbT7Ho
— i newspaper (@theipaper) March 31, 2022
Adding to the strain, the Daily Express says house prices have surged £33,000 in a year – their highest increase in 17 years.
Tomorrow's front page: House prices surge £33,000 in a year#TomorrowsPapersToday https://t.co/MYqhJTgYL4 pic.twitter.com/sfYNUDdZ81
— Daily Express (@Daily_Express) March 31, 2022
Elsewhere, The Daily Telegraph and the Daily Mail lead with claims Britain's Prince Andrew is embroiled in a High Court battle after allegedly receiving more than £1 million from a “fraudster”.
🗞️The front page of tomorrow's Daily Telegraph:
'Duke took £1m from Turkish 'fraudster''#TomorrowsPapersToday
Sign up for the Front Page newsletterhttps://t.co/x8AV4Oomry pic.twitter.com/gaRhkTxVUo— The Telegraph (@Telegraph) March 31, 2022
Friday's @DailyMailUK #MailFrontPages pic.twitter.com/61fkiMDPBG
— Daily Mail U.K. (@DailyMailUK) March 31, 2022
Meanwhile, The Times carries concerns from an unnamed “senior government source” that western allies are too eager for Ukraine to settle for an easy peace deal with Russia, which the British government is reportedly pushing against.
Friday’s TIMES: “Don’t back down, Ukraine urged” #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/K0Lr9ps7ef
— Allie Hodgkins-Brown (@AllieHBNews) March 31, 2022
The Financial Times reports the US has ordered the “biggest ever oil release” from strategic reserves in an effort to quell fuel costs, injecting one million barrels a day into the market over the next six months.
Just published: front page of the Financial Times, UK edition, Friday 1 April https://t.co/rbu9A3xj4a pic.twitter.com/RJUAJe4TI0
— Financial Times (@FinancialTimes) March 31, 2022
And the Daily Star warns of an “Eggpocalypse” caused by a “huge rise in production costs” for farmers.
Tomorrow’s front page: Eggpocalypse now! #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/vR8eIqEDF9
— Daily Star (@dailystar) March 31, 2022
