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UK economy shows surprising resilience – but that might not last | Richard Partington
The UK economy grew faster than expected in the first half of 2026, retaining its position as the G7’s fastest-growing economy despite the Iran war, higher energy prices and domestic political uncertainty. Consumer spending and business investment have remained comparatively strong, offering encouragement to Chancellor John Healey before his first budget, but the article argues…
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Lost jobs, inequality, rogue agents: why are we accepting oligarchs’ AI agenda? | Robert Reich
Robert Reich argues that growing evidence of AI-driven disruption is being accepted too passively, while its likely benefits are captured by a small group of technology investors and executives. He links weak US jobs and wage figures to research suggesting AI-exposed workers face higher unemployment, slower re-employment and reduced pay, warning that inequality and political…
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Morning news brief
Primary results reveal divide among Democratic Party, new inflation report could give the Fed more time to bring inflation under control, rescues teams race to find survivors of Colombia earthquake.
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UK economy grew by 0.4% in second quarter as Iran war prompts slowdown
The UK economy expanded by 0.4% between April and June, slowing from 0.6% growth in the previous quarter amid the economic effects of the Iran war. Higher energy prices and weaker consumer confidence were cited as pressures, although the result was stronger than some expectations and suggested continued resilience. Services drove growth, with firms reporting…
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UK GDP rises 0.4% as heatwave and World Cup lift spending
UK GDP grew by 0.4% in the second quarter of 2026, supported by hot weather and World Cup-related spending on hospitality, retail and advertising. Although this was slower than the 0.6% growth recorded in the first quarter, it indicated that the economy remained relatively resilient despite disruption from the Iran war and higher energy costs.…
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UK economic growth slows down as Iran war pushes up energy prices
UK economic growth slowed in the second quarter as disruption from the Iran war and persistently high energy prices began to weigh on the economy. The figures matter because they add pressure on the new chancellor, John Healey, to consider further household support ahead of winter and could complicate the Bank of England’s inflation response.…
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A rare two-player Computer Space arcade machine is up for auction
A rare, fully working two-player Computer Space arcade cabinet is being auctioned, drawing interest because it is among the earliest and least commonly available video-game machines. The 1973 model followed the single-player Computer Space, widely regarded as the first arcade video game, and represents an important link between early computer games and the later success…
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Some Claude users are mad that Anthropic’s new watermarks will catch them cheating at their jobs, classes
Anthropic has begun adding invisible watermarks to Claude’s written outputs to identify them as AI-generated, prompting criticism from some users who fear being exposed for using the chatbot in work or education. The policy matters because it reflects growing regulatory pressure for transparency around AI-generated material, while intensifying debate about acceptable AI assistance and academic…
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Angela Rayner’s crackdown on zero-hours contracts could cost businesses £2.9 billion a year, Labour admits, sparking fears of ‘jobs horror show’
The article reports that Labour has acknowledged its planned restrictions on zero-hours contracts could cost businesses up to £2.9 billion annually. The measure is associated with Angela Rayner and forms part of wider employment-rights reforms, prompting concerns from critics that higher costs and reduced flexibility could harm hiring. The reported estimate focuses on the potential…
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Projected 2027 Social Security COLA adjusted slightly after new inflation report
The formal COLA isn’t expected for a couple of months, but projections say it could be one of the largest in years.