Housebuilding targets are useless amid construction workforce crisis September 3, 2025 With a depleting workforce and a mental health crisis, the government can no longer afford to ignore the construction industry.
Have rumours of the death of literacy been exaggerated? September 3, 2025 We’re told no one reads for pleasure any more, but the popularity of Middlemarch in Silicon Valley and the rise of “booktok” give a glimpse of hope, says Phoebe Arslanagić-Little A new study has found that the percentage of Americans who report reading for pleasure over the course of an average day has declined from [...]
Don’t let France overtake Britain in tech September 3, 2025 To maintain its economic leadership, the UK must learn from the proactive policies of competitors like France and urgently reform its own R&D and investment schemes to better support innovative start-ups and scale-ups, says Gregor Poynton As the UK faces up to the economic challenges we confront as a country, we should remain optimistic about [...]
From fake AI journalism to very real lives: An anatomy of a scoop September 2, 2025 Last week I wrote a wild story that began with an AI-generated pitch about warring London chicken shops and ended with a video call to Nairobi with the man who had willed it into existence. Wilson Kaharua – working under the alias Joseph Wales – was not a criminal mastermind but a small-time SEO writer [...]
After a year as Chancellor, Rachel Reeves has flunked her growth mission September 2, 2025 Rachel Reeves may not get an official exam transcript, but the numbers categorically show she's flunked her growth mission.
Brits set their sights on affording comfortable retirement September 2, 2025 British adults have set their sights on affording a luxury retirement, but rising costs have soured some saver’s hopes. Nearly 8m Brits have made securing a comfortable retirement their main financial priority, according to research from consumer banking business Chase. A comfortable retirement allows more financial freedom and luxuries, such as holidays and greater non-essential [...]
Wally Pyrah previews the 2025/26 Hong Kong season September 1, 2025 WITH the start of the 2025/26 Hong Kong racing season approaching at Sha Tin on Sunday, it’s time to find out what the all-important crystal ball is foretelling for the months ahead. However, you don’t need to be a soothsayer to predict that reigning champion jockey Zac Purton will have a good chance of landing [...]
Boost pension to avoid retirement poverty graduates warned September 1, 2025 Graduates entering the workforce have been urged to begin topping up their pension pot, as retirement poverty worries continue to loom large. Nearly 90 per cent of recent university graduates believe pension planning is important, but pressing financial matters have shifted their focus away from saving for retirement, according to research from insurance provider Standard [...]
Law firm launches internal probe after Church of England victim data leak August 29, 2025 City law firm Kennedys Law has launched an internal investigation after the personal details of Church of England abuse victims were leaked. The Church has been battling its failures as it was accused of covering up decades of child abuse committed by prolific child abuser John Smyth. The Makin Review, published last November, found Smyth [...]
Reeves warned that ‘punitive’ tax hikes on landlords will choke rental sector August 28, 2025 Property experts have warned that higher taxes on landlords’ rental incomes will have ‘severe’ unintended consequences for the rental sector and the broader housing market. The Chancellor is reportedly examining proposals for applying national insurance (NI) to rental income in the hope of raising £2bn. Officials are drawing up options for tax rises in an [...]