Business

Alton Towers and operator Merlin Entertainments will trial new eligibility rules this February half-term that stop Nimbus cards showing only 'difficulty with crowds' from qualifying for the virtual queue pass; cards showing 'difficulty standing', 'level access' or 'urgent toilet needs' will be accepted during the trial.

The Bank of England left its main interest rate at 3.75% after UK consumer inflation rose to 3.4% in December, above the 2% target.

The S&P Global UK construction PMI rose to 46.4 in January from December's 40.1, signaling improvement though activity remains below the 50 contraction threshold; housebuilding was the weakest sub-sector and job losses continued for a 13th month.

An Oxford Economics study reports that export deals backed by UK Export Finance added £23 billion to the UK economy over five years and supported an average of 66,000 full-time jobs each year.

The Spanish government announced a decree to regularise 500,000 undocumented people, and the article notes the move followed coalition negotiations and drew criticism from the People's Party. Implementation details and formal next steps were not specified.

South Australia Police have declared the disappearance of four‑year‑old Gus Lamont a major crime and outlined three lines of inquiry; a police press conference was scheduled for 1pm local time.

Target's new CEO Michael Fiddelke told staff the company has lost trust with shoppers and employees and pledged to work on rebuilding those connections; the company says it is focusing on merchandising, store experience and supporting its teams and communities, Reuters reported.

NatWest has pledged to lend £10 billion to the UK's social housing sector by the end of 2028, after meeting a previous £7.5 billion target a year early. The bank says the funding will be channelled to housing associations for new homes, upgrades and energy-efficiency projects.

Officials say at least 35 people have died after weeks of heavy snowfall in Japan and nearly 400 others have been injured; authorities warn more heavy snow is expected this weekend.

Saudi Arabia will host the second annual AlUla Conference for Emerging Market Economies on February 8–9 in AlUla Governorate, organized with the IMF and attended by finance ministers, central bank governors and other officials.

Reuters reports that Ford and China's Geely are privately discussing a potential partnership that could see Geely use Ford factory space in Europe and explore shared vehicle technologies, including automated driving.

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.