Business
Property tax threat is slowing down housing market, say UK agents
Posted on Wednesday August 27, 2025
Talk of the chancellor looking at a new levy on expensive homes or removing CGT exemption is making buyers warySpeculation that the chancellor could announce new property taxes in her autumn budget is likely to slow down an already price-sensitive housing market, estate agents have said.Rachel Reeves is reportedly considering a tax on the sale of homes over £500,000 and the removal of the capital gains tax exemption on primary residences above £1.5m as ways to boost income for the government. Continue reading...
Confidence drops across UK services in face of higher costs and weak demand
Posted on Wednesday August 27, 2025
CBI survey shows firms cutting hiring and investment as profits squeezed, with outlook gloomy for rest of yearBusiness confidence plunged this month across the UK’s services sector as mounting cost pressures and weak demand hit profits and undermined the outlook for the rest of the year.The CBI’s latest service sector poll found that a majority of companies were gloomy about their prospects and discounted the acceleration in activity that usually follows the return to work after the summer break. Continue reading...
Octopus Energy founder appointed as UK government adviser
Posted on Wednesday August 27, 2025
Greg Jackson expected to use three-year term on Cabinet Office board to push government to moderniseKeir Starmer has appointed the outspoken founder of Octopus Energy as an adviser, with a remit to challenge government thinking.Greg Jackson has joined the Cabinet Office board, an influential core of government advisers, as a non-executive member. Continue reading...
Opinion
Technology
Half of UK adults worry that AI will take or alter their job, poll finds
Posted on Wednesday August 27, 2025
The TUC calls for a new approach to technology and greater input from workers on how it is deployedHalf of adults in the UK are concerned about the impact of artificial intelligence on their job, according to a poll, as union leaders call for a “step change” in the country’s approach to new technologies.Job losses or changes to terms and conditions were the biggest worries for the 51% of 2,600 adults surveyed for the Trades Union Congress who said they were concerned about the technology. Continue reading...
Starships are meant to fly: SpaceX’s rocket finally launches after setbacks
Posted on Wednesday August 27, 2025
Test flight comes after explosive failures raised doubts over founder Elon Musk’s goals to reach Mars and moonThird time was the charm on Tuesday for the launch of SpaceX’s Starship megarocket after the launch had been scrubbed two times in as many days. The success of this 10th flight proved the spacecraft had overcome its past failures key to the Mars rocket’s reusable design.The stainless steel behemoth, 403ft (123 meters) tall, lifted off from the company’s Starbase in southern Texas at 6.30pm local time (2330 GMT), to loud cheers from engineering teams, a webcast showed. This mission was to be a test of the ship’s new heat shield tiles and satellite deployment abilities, among hundreds of other upgrades from past iterations. Continue reading...
Sport
Glorious Grimsby humiliate Manchester United with shootout victory
Posted on Wednesday August 27, 2025
Manchester United – bloody hell. After a quasi-farcical display that somehow pulled them back to 2-2 and penalties, Ruben Amorim’s rabble lost a fevered shootout 12-11.When Bryan Mbeumo’s kick smacked Christy Pym’s bar Grimsby entered the nirvana of a cup shock for the ages, delirious home fans invaded, and their song of “Oh when the Town go steaming in” sweetly summed up what had been administered to United. Continue reading...
Emma Raducanu rapidly dispatches Janice Tjen in show of US Open force
Posted on Wednesday August 27, 2025
British No 1 again displays best form since winning titleRaducanu’s 6-2, 6-1 win follows demolition of ShibaharaOn her return to Flushing Meadows this year, significant tension and nerves followed Emma Raducanu as she attempted to finally secure her first win since her triumph here four years ago. Two matches in, she has shown that she has never been more ready for the challenges to come.Raducanu continued to demonstrate the fruits of her recent labour by putting together another devastating performance, demolishing the qualifier Janice Tjen 6-2, 6-1 to return to the third round of the US Open. Continue reading...