Hat-trick of good UK economic news as budget surplus hits record, retail sales rise and private sector activity strengthens – business live

Newsflash: The UK government has racked up a record-breaking budget surplus in January.Britain’s public sector was £30.4bn in surplus last month, the Office for National Statistics reports, beating expectations of a surplus of around £24bn.That’s double the surplus recorded in January 2025 – traditionally a strong month due to self-assessment tax bills – and is the highest surplus since monthly records began in 1993.It’s a clear boost for the chancellor, Rachel Reeves, in the run-up to her spring statement next month,The public sector (excluding public sector banks) was £30

Hospitality workers: tell us about the worst or rudest customers you ever dealt with

A diner in a Sydney restaurant has been caught on CCTV sprinkling armpit hair into their food “in attempt to get a free meal”. After confronting the head chef, the man allegedly then left without paying, having ordered the most expensive items on the menu.With this delightful story in mind, do you have a story of dealing with a rude or generally bad customer while working in hospitality?If you’ve worked in a bar or restaurant, you can tell us about your experience below.You can tell us your story using this form. Please include as much detail as possible

Mind launches inquiry into AI and mental health after Guardian investigation

Mind is launching a significant inquiry into artificial intelligence and mental health after a Guardian investigation exposed how Google’s AI Overviews gave people “very dangerous” medical advice.In a year-long commission, the mental health charity, which operates in England and Wales, will examine the risks and safeguards required as AI increasingly influences the lives of millions of people affected by mental health issues worldwide.The inquiry – the first of its kind globally – will bring together the world’s leading doctors and mental health professionals, as well as people with lived experience, health providers, policymakers and tech companies. Mind says it will aim to shape a safer digital mental health ecosystem, with strong regulation, standards and safeguards.The launch comes after the Guardian revealed how people were being put at risk of harm by false and misleading health information in Google AI Overviews

West Virginia sues Apple over child sex abuse material stored and shared on iCloud

West Virginia’s attorney general filed a lawsuit on Thursday accusing Apple of allowing its iCloud service to become a vehicle for distributing child sexual abuse material.The state alleges that the company facilitated the spread of child sexual abuse material by declining to deploy tools that scan photos and videos and detect such material in iCloud users’ collections.JB McCuskey, a Republican, accused Apple of prioritizing user privacy over child safety. His office called the case the first of its kind by a government agency over the distribution of child sexual abuse material on Apple’s data storage platform.“These images are a permanent record of a child’s trauma, and that child is revictimized every time the material is shared or viewed,” McCuskey said in the statement

Winter Olympics 2026: ski cross, halfpipe and more on day 14 – live

Women’s ski cross: Daniela Maier eases across the line in the first semi and Marielle Berger-Sabbatel clinches the second qualifying spot. Switzerland’s Gantenbein skates for the line in desperation, then slumps, head in hands.Women’s ski cross: the quarter finals are done and dusted, with both Switzerland’s Fanny Smith and Germany’s Daniela Maier through. They will ski in separate semi finals.A bizarre story behind their 2022 Olympics

UK Athletics pleads guilty to corporate manslaughter after death of Paralympian

UK Athletics is facing a seven-figure fine after pleading guilty to corporate manslaughter in the death of a Paralympian who was hit on the head by a metal pole while preparing for the London World Para Athletics Championships in 2017.The incident occurred at Newham Leisure Centre when the pole, which was attached to a throwing cage, fell on Abdullah Hayayei while he was training. Emergency services were called to the venue but the 36-year-old from the United Arab Emirates was pronounced dead at the scene 20 minutes later.On Friday morning, UKA attended court in London and changed its plea to corporate manslaughter to guilty. At the same hearing this morning, Keith Davies, the head of sport for the championships and the co-defendant in the case, entered a guilty plea to the health and safety offence he has been charged with