41 h. ago Boosting productivity will be main priority of my autumn budget, Reeves says

Exclusive: Chancellor says ‘investment and reform are our tools’ as she pushes back against mounting tax speculationRachel Reeves: Labour has fixed the foundations – now we must build a stronger economy for a renewed BritainRachel Reeves has promised to use her autumn budget to prioritise fixing Britain’s dismal record on productivity as she sought to downplay mounting tax speculation with a focus on economic growth.Setting out her priorities for the budget for the first time, the chancellor said tackling the efficiency of the economy through higher investment and a fresh assault on planning rules would form the backbone of her tax and spending plans. Continue reading...

Politics

41 h. ago Boosting productivity will be main priority of autumn budget, Reeves says

Exclusive: Chancellor focuses on investment and planning rules as she dismisses talk of tax rises as ‘speculation’Rachel Reeves: Labour has fixed the foundations – now we must build a stronger economy for a renewed BritainRachel Reeves has promised to use her autumn budget to prioritise fixing Britain’s dismal record on productivity as she sought to downplay mounting tax speculation with a focus on economic growth.Setting out her priorities for the budget for the first time, the chancellor said tackling the efficiency of the economy through higher investment and a fresh assault on planning rules would form the backbone of her tax and spending plans. Continue reading...

Politics

47 h. ago Liz Earle launches advent calendar with over £300 worth of free beauty and skincare

Liz Earle has launched its 24 Days of Liz Earle Advent Calendar for 2025, and it's packed with the brand's bestselling products - including full-sized favourites

Economics

3 d. ago Next is selling beauty box with £90 worth of makeup, skincare and more for £20

The Be You with Pride Beauty Box from Next includes brands like BareMinerals, Pixi and Tangle Teezer

Economics

4 d. ago Growing pains: can rice production in Africa keep up with demand?

Africa Rice initiative aims to give farmers more control over their land in order to reduce flooding and increase yieldsSalmata Ouattara remembers 2023 as the turning point for her rice farm.June is usually the peak of the rainy season in Ivory Coast, but in the preceding years she and other farmers in M’Be on the outskirts of Bouaké, the country’s second biggest city, would wait weeks for rainfall. Then in September, they would watch helplessly as their farmlands were flooded. Some abandoned their farms, frustrated by fluctuating crop yields. Continue reading...

Politics

4 d. ago Is it true that natural beauty products are always gentler on skin?

Not everything that’s sold as ‘natural’ is entirely so, and even some naturally sourced ingredients can cause allergic reactions‘Natural’ has become a buzzword,” says Dr Rosalind Simpson, a consultant dermatologist and associate professor at the University of Nottingham. And when it’s on the label of beauty products, sellers often charge more. “There’s a trend where people assume that synthetically derived ingredients are harmful, and that if something’s labelled ‘natural’ it must be safer or better for your skin,” she says. But that’s often a misconception.For starters, not everything labelled “natural” is entirely sourced from nature. “I came across a crude study that looked at 100 skincare products on Amazon marketed as natural. Only 42% truly were,” Simpson adds. In fact, most “natural” skincare products contained at least two synthetic ingredients. Continue reading...

Politics

7 d. ago 25 best cheap beauty products for 2025 – skincare and makeup for £10 or less

I’ve found effective formulas for the frugal

Economics

7 d. ago Boots No7 Beauty Vault slashed to less than £30 contains items worth over £100

Boots has reduced the price of its No7 Beauty Vault Eight Piece Collection. The bundle includes a variety of makeup and skincare products from the popular brand

Economics

3 w. ago Beauty fans can get Charlotte Tilbury products for £12.75 in limited

The beloved brand is offering four surprise skincare and makeup treats for less, having launched even more mystery deals in its summer sale

Economics

4 w. ago Michael Sheen joins forces with huge TV studios behind Industry, His Dark Materials and Doctor Who

Michael Sheen launched the Welsh National Theatre in January 2025 with productions ready to debut next year

Politics

last month Drowning in admin? 14 productivity hacks to regain control of your diary, inbox – and life

No one knows more about admin than administrators. They share their top tips, from ‘eating the frog’ to drawing up a ‘ta-da’ listSome of us are utterly hopeless with admin, others so good they do it for a living. What are the best ways to get your working life under control? Administrators share their productivity tips and efficiency hacks. Continue reading...

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