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UK Edition
9th January 2026
 
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THE HOT STORY

McDonald's faces harassment allegations from unions

Five trade unions have reported McDonald's to the UK's National Contact Point (NCP) - an independent unit which sits with the Department for Business and Trade - for failing to address sexual harassment against young staff in its UK restaurants. The unions allege that junior workers, primarily teenagers, have faced persistent harassment since at least 2019. The complaint said there had been "evidence of persistent, deeply rooted gender-based discrimination" in McDonald's restaurants, in breach of Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) guidelines. The NCP has determined that the complaint merits further investigation and will offer mediation. McDonald's has said it cannot be held accountable for incidents in its franchised locations, which comprise most of its 1,450 UK branches.
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LEGAL

SNP launches secret challenge to Supreme Court ruling

The Scottish National Party (SNP) is challenging the Supreme Court's ruling on the definition of a woman despite insisting it accepts the decision. It seeks a legal declaration that removing biological males identifying as transgender women from female prisons breaches human rights. For Women Scotland, which led the Supreme Court case, has launched new legal action to declare guidance on single-sex spaces in Scottish prisons unlawful. Trina Budge, director of For Women Scotland, said: "Male murderers are still being held in the female prison estate." The move comes amid growing pressure on Bridget Phillipson, the UK women and equalities minister, to publish final guidance on how employers and public bodies should implement the Supreme Court ruling.

PM eyes EU deal for British lawyers

Sir Keir Starmer is pushing for a mutual recognition agreement with the European Union that would allow British lawyers to work more easily across Europe by ensuring UK legal qualifications are recognised in member states and vice versa, removing a major post-Brexit barrier for the profession. As part of a broader strategy to align more closely with the single market without formally rejoining it, the Prime Minister argues that easing restrictions on services such as law would boost growth. Legal bodies are lobbying heavily for a deal, which Labour pledged in its manifesto but has as yet failed to secure. Ministers see improved mobility for lawyers as central to restoring the UK’s competitiveness in legal and professional services.
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WORKPLACE

Retailers use AI to combat theft

Repeat shoplifters are being intercepted by AI-powered facial recognition systems more than 1,400 times a day as retailers intensify efforts to curb rising theft and abuse. Facewatch technology, used by over 100 chains including Sainsbury’s and Sports Direct, issued 516,739 alerts in 2025, more than double the previous year. The system flags known repeat offenders within seconds, allowing staff to deter theft or prevent abuse. Retail crime is escalating, with police-recorded shoplifting at a record 529,994 cases and industry estimates putting annual thefts at 20.4m, costing £2.6bn. While retailers praise the technology’s accuracy and deterrent effect, privacy campaigners warn of risks around surveillance, misidentification and wrongful blacklisting.
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TECHNOLOGY

AI will free households from chores and boost hidden productivity, says OpenAI

Aaron Chatterji, OpenAI’s chief economist, tells the Financial Times that AI will save time on household chores that “mostly fall on women” and allow more space for work or play.
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REGULATION

Accountants rally against regulatory overhaul

UK accounting bodies are opposing a government proposal to transfer anti-money laundering oversight to the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). They argue this shift will diminish sector-specific expertise and exacerbate economic crime. The Association of Chartered Certified Accountants said that the FCA would require years to develop the necessary knowledge. The Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales echoed these concerns, warning that the changes could hinder industry growth and create regulatory confusion.
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WORKFORCE

Pension schemes get new performance rules

New proposals from the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and The Pensions Regulator (TPR) aim to enhance transparency in pension schemes. The changes require schemes to disclose performance data, costs, and service quality. If a scheme is deemed poor value, firms must either improve it or transfer savers to better options. The new "traffic light" system will help identify scheme performance, with red or amber scores prompting necessary improvements or member transfers. Nausicaa Delfas, TPR chief executive, said: "Millions of people rely on pension income . . . We have to make sure they get value for their money." The proposals also address the need for long-term value and clearer expectations for trustees and providers.
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HEALTH & WELLBEING

Weight lost on medications 'likely to be regained in under two years'

People who stop taking anti-obesity drugs such as Ozempic, Wegovy and Mounjaro will within two years return to their original weight and forfeit benefits to the heart, cholesterol levels and blood pressure, a review of studies suggests. A research paper published in the British Medical Journal analysed data from more than 9,000 people from 37 studies.
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INTERNATIONAL

Trump withdraws US from 66 international organisations

President Donald Trump has signed an executive order directing US departments to end participation in and funding for 31 United Nations entities and 35 non-UN organisations "as soon as possible." The entities include the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change. The move is seen as likely to diminish the US role in addressing greenhouse gas emissions. The orders were signed on Wednesday after a review into causes that the White House said were "a waste of taxpayer dollars". "These withdrawals will end American taxpayer funding and involvement in entities that advance globalist agendas over US priorities," it said in a statement.

Japanese companies play Cupid to prevent burnout

Japanese companies are introducing corporate-only dating apps to help retain workers at risk of burnout amid labour shortages. These apps allow employees to connect with supportive partners from other vetted firms. “Single employees don't say anything, but they are under strain,” said Yuichiro Kayano, general manager of the career design promotion department at credit card company Orico. One such app, Aill goen, has been adopted by over 1,500 companies including Toyota. Participation is limited to employers that meet criteria such as having established childcare leave systems and policies to promote women's participation in the workplace. These companies aim to match workers with partners from similarly supportive working environments.

Singapore's AI bootcamp aims to retrain 35,000 bankers

The banking sector in Singapore is rapidly adopting AI technology. Singapore's Minister for National Development Chee Hong Tat said major banks including DBS, OCBC, and UOB aim to retrain 35,000 staff over the next one to two years. “The government is doing something about it because they realise that this capability and this change is actually infusing potentially a lot of fear,” said Violet Chung, a senior partner at McKinsey & Co. “Given what we've seen in other markets like the US where we're seeing much more aggressive job cuts and reductions, the government is essentially aware that we need to do something as a country to do something for these leading companies.”
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OTHER

GCSE results will be available online this summer

The Department for Education has said that all pupils will be able to view their GCSE results on the government's Education Record app this summer, following a pilot in Greater Manchester and the West Midlands last year. Pupils will still receive their grades in person in school, but schools which sign up to the scheme will be able to link pupils' data to the DfE's digital records for later viewing. The app is expected to be expanded to cover A-level results. Skills minister Jacqui Smith said no young person "should have to rifle through drawers looking for a crumpled certificate when preparing for a job interview," adding that the app "will give young people instant access to their results whenever they need them while freeing up teachers and college staff from unnecessary paperwork." If taken up by all schools and colleges, the DfE estimates that they will save up to £30m of admin, data entry and other costs.
 
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