Business

Lloyds will close 11 branches and Halifax will close five in February 2026, part of 71 planned closures this year; banks cite rising online use while charities warn vulnerable people may lose access.

E-commerce sellers and social media users in China are using images of Draco Malfoy in Lunar New Year decorations, a trend linked to the Chinese rendering of his name, Ma Er Fu, which contains characters associated with “horse” and “fortune.”

Officials say at least 15 people died after a speedboat carrying migrants collided with a Greek coastguard vessel off Chios, and a search-and-rescue operation is under way with survivors taken to hospital.

Mayor Daniel Lurie has led a private effort called SF Identity that has brought together business and design figures to discuss a San Francisco branding campaign; records show meetings in June, September and a December 3 gathering at LoveFrom.

Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor has relocated from his Windsor residence and is temporarily staying in Norfolk while Marsh Farm is prepared; Thames Valley Police say they are assessing reports linked to the newly released Epstein files.

The Albanese government will sell about $3bn in historic defence properties following a multi‑year audit, agreeing to dispose of more than 60 sites including Victoria Barracks, with proceeds to be reinvested into defence capability.

Josh D'Amaro, who has led Disney's parks for decades, will succeed Bob Iger as CEO and will oversee studios, streaming services and the global parks business; company leaders framed the move as a step toward orderly leadership after earlier succession turmoil.

Santander UK launched a 'my first mortgage' offering a five-year fixed rate of 5.19% with no product fee and up to 98% loan-to-value for eligible first-time buyers.

Birmingham City Council says it is no longer effectively bankrupt after closing a reported £300m budget gap and that its 2026-27 budget is balanced with £130m planned investment in services.

Siemens Energy’s CEO acknowledged an activist investor’s push to consider spinning off the loss-making Siemens Gamesa unit but said the division must be stabilised and returned to profitability before any separation; the article reports Gamesa posted a €1.36 billion operating loss in 2025 and is forecast to break even this year with a 3–5% margin by 2028.

Worldpanel by Numerator found annual grocery inflation eased to 4% in the four weeks to 25 January, and shoppers increased purchases of fresh fruit, yoghurt and other healthy staples while own-label products took a record share of spending.

Grocery price inflation fell to 4% in January, its lowest level since April, while spending on supermarket own-label goods reached a record 52.2% of grocery sales, Worldpanel by Numerator reports.

Grocery price inflation in the UK fell to its lowest level since April, and own-label products reached a record high, accounting for more than half of grocery spending.

Households in England and Wales face an average water bill rise of about £33 a year from April, and a BBC money expert said social tariffs and schemes can cut bills substantially for some low-income or pension credit recipients.

Gordon Brothers bought LK Bennett’s intellectual property but did not acquire its retail outlets; Drapers reports the brand’s 13 concessions and nine stores, which employ 89 people, are expected to trade for up to three months while their longer-term fate remains unclear.

Asian stocks and gold rebounded on Tuesday after recent wild swings, with Japan's Nikkei up about 2.5% and gold rising roughly 3% to around $4,800 an ounce amid firmer U.S. factory activity.

A 30-year-old pregnant woman in Downers Grove, Illinois, was found dead after an alleged attack by a 19-year-old man; the suspect has been arrested and charged, and he appeared in court with a further hearing set for February 18.

President Donald Trump said he will reduce US tariffs on India after a phone call with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and said Modi agreed to stop buying Russian oil.

A family team led by Chris and Alan Gent with Amy Barker took the lease of The Crown Inn in July 2025 and spent weeks restoring the 1877 pub; their work earned a CAMRA Heritage Award runner-up spot and local 'most improved pub' recognition.

The Southeast Gateway pipeline now brings U.S. natural gas to southeastern Mexico and has prompted legal challenges and protests from coastal and Indigenous communities over consultation and environmental concerns.

India will collect no tax on revenues from cloud services sold overseas until 2047 provided those workloads run from Indian data centers, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced. The policy aims to attract AI cloud investment and is tied to the government’s 2047 development goal.

House of Fraser has announced the closure of its Darlington shop, ending a retail presence of about 103 years; Darlington Borough Council called the news disappointing and said it will offer appropriate support as details emerge.

NS&I's February Premium Bond draw paid out more than £408 million across over 6.1 million prizes, and three people in Greater Manchester each won £100,000.

House prices in the UK increased in January 2026 while mortgage affordability pressures eased, and mortgage approvals for house purchase stayed close to pre-pandemic levels.

An 18-year-old who was injured in the New Year's Eve fire at the Le Constellation bar died in a Zurich hospital, bringing the reported death toll to 41; the Swiss public prosecutor said no further investigative details will be released at this stage.

India's 2026-27 budget exempts income from foreign ownership of capital equipment provided to contract manufacturers in customs-bonded areas until the 2030-31 tax year, a change announced to promote electronics manufacturing and explained in the budget documents.

Israeli authorities said the Rafah crossing with Egypt opened in a test and preparations are under way for limited travel, with EU agents to supervise entry and exit and Israeli and Egyptian vetting in place.

Restoration teams, backed by the British Council and UNESCO, are repairing coral‑stone buildings in Suakin as local officials hope to revive tourism after years of decline and war‑related disruption.

A senior Saudi official told Asharq Al-Awsat that Riyadh has not changed its stance on regional escalation and continues to back diplomatic efforts; the official also reiterated rejection of using Saudi airspace or territory for military operations against Iran.

Lidl is reported to be opening 19 new supermarkets in 2026 and is awaiting approval for a proposed Croxteth branch. Aldi has announced plans for 40 new branches and said it will invest £370 million in new store openings across Britain this year.