UK stagnated in January in ‘worrying start’ to 2026, as economy faces disruption from Iran war – business live

Newflash: The UK economy stagnated in January, stumbling even before the Iranian war drove up energy prices.The Office for National Statistics reports that UK GDP was unchanged in January, dashing hopes of 0.2% growth.It says that in January:Monthly GDP showed no growth, following growths of 0.1% in December and 0

UK economy unexpectedly flatlined in January, official figures show

The UK economy entered the Middle East crisis after a weak start to the year, according to official figures showing flatlining January output before the US-Israel war on Iran hit global energy prices.Figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) showed 0% growth in gross domestic product (GDP), down from an increase of 0.1% in December, as the economy failed to recover from uncertainty surrounding the chancellor Rachel Reeves’s autumn budget.Falling significantly short of City predictions for growth of 0.2%, the figures came as the UK and other countries faced a potentially severe economic hit as the Middle East conflict drove up oil and gas prices, hitting consumers with higher living costs

AI toys for young children must be more tightly regulated, say reseachers

It was all going well. Charlotte, five, was chatting with an AI soft toy called Gabbo at a London play centre about her family, her drawing of a heart to represent them and what makes her happy. She even offered a couple of kisses to the £80 plaything with a face like a computer screen.It was when she declared: “Gabbo, I love you”, that the fluent conversation came to an abrupt halt.“As a friendly reminder, please ensure interactions adhere to the guidelines provided,” said Gabbo, awkwardly crashing into its guardrails

‘IG is a drug’: jury to deliberate as US trial over social media addiction wraps up

The first-ever jury trial over the potential harms of social media wrapped up on Thursday. Lawyers for Meta and YouTube have argued their platforms are safe for the vast majority of young people, while lawyers for a young woman at the center of the case say the tech companies have designed their products to be addictive, leading to mental health issues in children and teens.“How did they become such behemoths?” Mark Lanier, a lawyer for the plaintiffs, said during closing arguments in Los Angeles superior court on Thursday, according to NBC. “It’s the attention economy. They’re making money off capturing your attention

‘She is our hero’: Oakland celebrates Alysa Liu after Olympics triumph

Nearly 5,000 people gathered in Oakland on Thursday afternoon to celebrate local hero Alysa Liu – a fitting homecoming for the two-time Olympic gold medalist who joyously shouted out the Bay Area city after her short program in Milan less than a month ago.Scores of people arrived early Thursday to snag a seat close to the stage in front of city hall at the free but ticketed event, which sold out quickly. One group of women donned striped wigs in tribute to Liu’s famously dyed hair, while others held handmade signs showing pride for the figure skating icon.Liu appeared on stage as local luminaries feted the “home town hero”.“Every time she stepped on the ice, she carried the spirit of Oakland with her,” mayor Barbara Lee said, presenting Liu a key to the city

Tommy Fleetwood relieved as family able to leave Dubai for UK amid conflict

Tommy Fleetwood has expressed relief after his family were able to return to England from Dubai despite the conflict in the Middle East. Fleetwood, the world No 3, has been competing in Florida as his wife, son and two stepsons sought to leave their home of four years. They landed back in the UK on Wednesday evening.Fleetwood spoke about the situation after a fine 69 to open the Players Championship. While typically understanding of a bigger picture, it would only be natural for Fleetwood to have been distracted during recent tournaments