UK’s housing stock hits ‘highest level in eight years’; South East Water restores service to most Kent and Sussex homes – business live
Posted on Friday January 16, 2026

Rolling coverage of the latest economic and financial newsTurning back to the weight-loss jab frenzy, John Vincent, the founder of the fast food chain Leon, said that the rising use of the drugs would benefit the business.He told the BBC:I think there is an opportunity for any brand, I think Marks & Spencers has responded to it quite well already. I think there is definitely an opportunity for Leon type food, which is typically made with good fats not bad fats, low sugar not high sugar and lots of great flavour with herbs and spices.We are actually seeing that the type of food we enjoy eating at Leon…is actually the sort of food that people on weight-loss jabs want to eat.Water supplies have now been restored to the 6,500 properties in Tunbridge Wells area.Some customers may be experiencing low pressure as the water levels continue to build this morning throughout the area’s pipeline network. Continue reading...

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Top two executives at City & Guilds placed on leave
Posted on Friday January 16, 2026

Pair will be absent ‘for short period’ from vocational trainer, whose charity is under investigation by Charity CommissionThe top two executives at City & Guilds have been put on leave shortly after a scandal over millions of pounds of bonuses triggered a Charity Commission investigation into the vocational trainer.City & Guilds has told staff that its chief executive, Kirstie Donnelly, and the chief financial officer, Abid Ismail, will be “absent from work for a short period”. Continue reading...

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Over-reliance on China could hit UK energy supply chains ‘putting 90,000 jobs at risk’
Posted on Friday January 16, 2026

Institute for Public Policy Research thinktank report calls on chancellor to pursue policy of ‘securonomics’Tens of thousands of jobs could be lost if the UK’s clean energy supply chains were to suffer a shock as a result of an over-reliance on China, a left-leaning thinktank has warned.A year-long disruption to the supply of essential battery components used to manufacture electric vehicles could wipe out production of more than 580,000 electric cars and endanger 90,000 jobs, according to the Institute for Public Policy Research. Continue reading...

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X still allowing users to post sexualised images generated by Grok AI tool
Posted on Friday January 16, 2026

Despite restrictions announced this week, Guardian reporters find standalone app continues to allow posting of nonconsensual contentX has continued to allow users to post highly sexualised videos of women in bikinis generated by its AI tool Grok, despite the company’s claim to have cracked down on misuse.The Guardian was able to create short videos of people stripping to bikinis from photographs of fully clothed, real women. It was also possible to post this adult content on to X’s public platform without any sign of it being moderated, meaning the clip could be viewed within seconds by anyone with an account. Continue reading...

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TikTok to strengthen age-verification technology across EU
Posted on Friday January 16, 2026

Move comes as calls for Australia-style social media ban for under-16s grow around worldTikTok will begin to roll out new age-verification technology across the EU in the coming weeks, as calls for an Australia-style social media ban for under-16s grow in countries including the UK.ByteDance-owned TikTok, and other major platforms popular with young people such as YouTube, are coming under increasing pressure to better identify and remove accounts belonging to children. Continue reading...

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Roma sign Malen, transfer news and Manchester derby looms for Carrick: football – live
Posted on Friday January 16, 2026

⚽ The latest football news going into the weekend⚽ Premier League preview | Follow on Bluesky | Mail TahaAfcon is moving to a four-year cycle, a decision the Confederation of African Football has been accused of forcing through without proper consultation. Ed Aarons and Romain Molina report:Several presidents of African football federations have told the Guardian they were not informed of the decision until it was surprisingly announced by the Caf president, Patrice Motsepe, on 20 December, prompting claims that the confederation breached its statutes by failing to seek approval at a general assembly. Continue reading...

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Katie Boulter hires Sharapova’s former coach to revive career after dismal 2025
Posted on Friday January 16, 2026

Player fell to world ranking No 113 at end of last yearNorrie will be highest-ranked British player in MelbourneKatie Boulter is hopeful that she can rediscover her best form and return towards the top of the WTA Tour this year with the help of Maria Sharapova’s former coach Michael Joyce.Boulter opted to split with her previous longtime coach, Biljana Veselinovic, at the end of last year after an incredibly difficult season in which she fell from her career high ranking of No 23 at the end of 2024 to her current ranking of No 113. Continue reading...

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