Business

Spain recorded a record 97 million foreign visitors in 2025 and expects further growth in 2026, while popular destinations report resident tensions over housing, congestion and resource strain.

Ring doorbell footage from Tunbridge Wells shows a delivery driver placing bottled water at a doorstep and removing it shortly after; Ofwat has opened an investigation into South East Water over wider supply problems.

A federal judge allowed construction on Equinor’s Empire Wind project to resume while he reviews the administration’s order pausing five East Coast offshore wind projects, finding the government had not addressed key legal points in court filings.

Ministers have signed regulations that create a criminal offence for creating or requesting non-consensual sexual deepfake images, due to take effect on February 6; social media company X has announced restrictions on its Grok AI account in response to criticism.

Lincolnshire Police said a body was found at Foss Bank and confirmed it was 20-year-old University of Lincoln student Connor James Calleja; his family shared a tribute describing him as "incredibly kind."

LSEG has launched a new settlement service including DiSH Cash, and the article mentions its share price recently formed a double-bottom technical pattern after falling to 8,102p.

The Office for National Statistics reported GDP rose 0.3% in November, led by a services rebound and stronger manufacturing output, and it revised September to show 0.1% growth.

Oceania Cruises announced it will no longer permit children on its ships, and the move is presented in coverage as part of a broader rise in adult-only cruise offerings.

Sadiq Khan will tell ministers at Mansion House that AI could have a 'colossal' impact on London jobs, and City Hall is launching a taskforce and offering free AI training for Londoners.

Israel will present an award to the late Charlie Kirk at the International Conference on Combating Antisemitism in Jerusalem in late January. The announcement follows his killing while speaking at an American university four months ago.

TSMC reported a 35% rise in quarterly net profit to NT$506 billion and said it will raise 2026 capital spending to $52–$56 billion, up from about $40 billion last year.

President Michael Randrianirina told Asharq Al-Awsat that Madagascar views Saudi Arabia as its main partner and outlined a three-pillar plan to restore stability, invest in key sectors, and improve the business environment to attract investment.

ONS data show the UK economy rose 0.3% in November, and revised figures put growth at 0.1% for the three months to November, driven by services and a phased manufacturing restart.

Private companies in India are committing billions to green ammonia for fuel, fertilizer and novel protein production, and government incentives and a SECI tender are supporting early projects and procurement.

NHS staff report that pay has not kept pace with living costs, leaving some with debts, overdrafts or difficulty affording rent; the FT-backed Financial Literacy and Inclusion Campaign is producing tailored financial guidance for around 1.5 million NHS workers.

Asian markets were mostly higher, led by Tokyo's Nikkei which rose about 3.1% to an intraday record, while other regional benchmarks posted mixed results.

Lloyds Bank says customers who switch to eligible Club Lloyds accounts and meet the rules will receive a £250 payment, and that a confirmation email usually follows within seven working days or can be checked via the bank's Switcher Team.

Lord Blunkett criticised recent government U-turns, particularly the decision to drop mandatory digital ID for work by 2029, and urged ministers to set out clearer strategy and stick to decisions.

Silver surpassed $90 per ounce for the first time as gold reached record highs, while oil prices rose amid concerns over Iranian supply and expectations of US rate cuts.

Australia will create an A$1.2 billion strategic reserve focused on antimony, gallium and rare earths, and Treasurer Jim Chalmers promoted the plan to G7-plus finance ministers in Washington.

Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong said the company cannot support a draft U.S. bill that seeks to set a regulatory framework for cryptocurrencies and assign policing of spot crypto markets to the CFTC. The bill's markup in the Senate Banking Committee was scheduled for Thursday, and Reuters said it is unclear if the process can proceed without Coinbase's backing.

US existing‑home sales fell to about 4.06 million in 2025, a roughly 30‑year low, while median prices rose and mortgage rates eased toward the end of the year.

An article reports that on January 12 Reform UK hosted former Conservative figures and that Nadhim Zahawi said Britain needs Nigel Farage as prime minister.

Two Leicestershire towns, Coalville and Ashby-de-la-Zouch, are considering bids to be the UK's first Town of Culture for 2028, and their MP Amanda Hack has said she would back the bids.

The Gates Foundation approved a record $9 billion budget for 2026 and set a cap on operating costs, while announcing plans to reduce up to 500 staff positions over the next five years.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced a major Northern Powerhouse Rail investment to connect Liverpool, Manchester, Leeds, Bradford, Sheffield and York with faster, more frequent services, saying it responds to long-standing underinvestment.

A Cheshire dairy farmer who previously stopped HS2 taking about 300 acres says a new government plan for a north–south rail line has revived uncertainty over the family's farm and local properties.

An Italian court acquitted influencer Chiara Ferragni of aggravated fraud in the Pandorogate case; prosecutors had accused her of promoting charity-linked products that allegedly misled consumers, and it is not yet clear whether they will appeal.

First Minister Michelle O'Neill has urged the UK government for greater funding and budget flexibilities to secure Stormont's first multi-year budget in over a decade; the draft plan from Finance Minister John O'Dowd is under public consultation and has not been agreed by the Executive.

A 2.8% cost-of-living adjustment will raise the Social Security maximum monthly benefit to $5,251 in 2026; to qualify for the maximum, beneficiaries must have 35 years of work, have paid maximum payroll taxes for those years, and claim benefits at age 70.