Inflation in the UK fell to 3% in January, the lowest rate since March 2025, driven by decreases in food, fuel, and airfare prices, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS). This marked fall has raised the likelihood of the Bank of England cutting interest rates at its March monetary policy meeting, economists said.
The ONS reported that the decrease, down from 3.4% in December, was partly due to a decrease in petrol prices. Although the rate of inflation has fallen, prices themselves are not coming down, but simply rising at a slower pace. ONS chief economist Grant Fitzner noted that the drop in inflation was "marked" and the lowest annual rate since March of the previous year.
In other news, BAE Systems, Europe's biggest defense contractor, announced record results for 2025, including a sharp rise in sales and a record order backlog, as governments worldwide boost their defense budgets. This announcement came as staff at its Lancashire sites continue striking over pay. Unite, one of Britain's biggest unions, called the weapons maker's 2.6 billion annual profit "obscene" and warned that strikes would continue until a better pay offer is made. BAE stated that it had made a fair offer to staff, who currently receive "market-leading pay and rewards," and is engaging with unions.
Meanwhile, in international affairs, Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan rejected Israel's recognition of the breakaway region of Somaliland as an independent nation. During a visit to Ethiopia, Erdogan stated that the recognition could prove dangerous for a volatile region. Israel became the first country to recognize Somaliland in December, which declared independence from Somalia more than 30 years ago. This move upset Mogadishu, which still considers Somaliland as part of its territory.
In the realm of technology, Discord's upcoming age verification rollout has raised concerns among top streamers, including Eret, who has over a million followers on Twitch. Eret, whose real name is Alastair, expressed concerns about the implications of the age checks for his data and that of his online communities. "A lot of people use the online world as a place where they can talk about..." he said.
Finally, in the United States, Republicans are pushing for more voting restrictions in Congress, according to the New York Times. The strict voter identification measure is part of a broader legislative effort aimed at keeping control of Congress and amplifying President Trump's false claims of mass voter fraud. The G.O.P.'s focus on the bill is aimed at intensifying pressure within their own ranks to muscle through new voting restrictions and seek to reshape the electorate in their favor.
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