Brussels’ tobacco ban risks fuelling illegal immigration June 28, 2025 A proposed EU tobacco tax hike risks fuelling organised crime, illicit trade, and people smuggling across Europe and into the UK, says Tom Pursglove Recent headlines suggest that up to 50,000 illegal migrants could cross the Channel this year – a figure that provokes a palpable sense of dread amongst the British public. People have [...]
Lorde at Glastonbury 2025 review: enchanting secret set earmarks beginning of Lorde Summer June 27, 2025 Lorde at Glastonbury 2025 review: can Patchwork beat this? ★★★★ When Lorde is on stage, she adopts the kind of sultry pout that looks as if she’s thinking “f*ck you*. But this morning, the first full day of Glastonbury 2025 coincided with the launch of her new album Virgin, and behind the looks-could-kill poise, she [...]
Will banks be able to escape a Reeves’ tax raid this Autumn? June 27, 2025 As Rachel Reeves watches her fiscal headroom crumble with every Labour U-turn, the Chancellor may return to her budget mantra that those with the “broadest shoulders should bear the heavier burden”. Lenders managed to skirt a tax raid in the 2024 budget after lobbyists warned it could damage the sector’s international competitiveness, but renewed fiscal [...]
Women’s football: Why brand is key to building on Lionesses’ success June 27, 2025 With the Women’s Euros approaching the spotlight is bright on the Lionesses, and domestic clubs will be looking to capitalise on the momentum of the tournament by converting national fans into home team supporters. This is where brand comes in. Crucial for building greater connections, a sense of belonging and loyalty, and for attracting the [...]
The professional sceptics debunking conspiracy theories June 27, 2025 Michael Marshall is Britain’s only full-time, paid sceptic. He attends flat earth conferences, distributes flyers outside psychic shows and lurks in anti-vax Telegram groups, all to promote critical thinking over pseudoscience and damaging conspiracy theories. “Any of us could, at our worst, find ourselves in an emotional hole where our reason is compromised,” he says. [...]
Government announces concessions to welfare bill in ‘screeching U-turn’ June 27, 2025 People who currently receive the personal independence payment (Pip) will continue to do so after the government made concessions to Labour rebels on controversial welfare reforms. A letter from Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall to MPs said adjustments to universal credit would also see incomes protected. The announcement comes after crisis talks with backbenchers, [...]
Driving a Ferrari Purosangue through sleepy St Mawes, Cornwall June 27, 2025 Ah, Cornwall, the second home capital of England. Of course, the locals loathe the incoming hoards from West London and the home counties, breezing in for a few sunny weeks of the year with their 4x4s, yoga mats and Big Green Egg barbecues. Following the G7 summit held in Carbis Bay in 2021, an especially [...]
Dive time: How the diving watch plumbed new depths June 26, 2025 Almost a century ago, one of Switzerland’s historic maisons created the enduring formula for the water-resistant diving watch. With its screwed-down caseback, screwdown winding crown and rubber gaskets, the sub-aquatic world has been Rolex’s ‘Oyster’ ever since. As our timeline below shows, diving-watch casemaking has been a crucible for engineering innovation since 1926. Admittedly some [...]
The Eastern City BID Announces £100,000 Funding and Two-Year Partnership with Providence Row June 26, 2025 The Eastern City Business Improvement District (BID) is proud to announce a two-year partnership with local homelessness charity Providence Row, accompanied by a £100,000 funding commitment. As part of this partnership, Providence Row has been named Eastern City BID’s Charity of the Year, marking a significant step in the BID’s ongoing efforts to support vulnerable [...]
All you need to know about GMT watches – and why Patek is king June 26, 2025 On the website greenwichmeantime.com there is a page dedicated to time apps. Here you can create a list of different cities at the touch of a button, see the time in Chizhou, Sidoarjo or Scaggsville, USA concurrently and compared to your home time. You can check whether meetings in different time zones have been properly [...]