Author: SKYNEWS

Sticking to Labour’s manifesto pledge and freezing income tax thresholds rather than raising income tax has hurt low- and middle-income earners, an influential thinktank has said. Millions of these workers “would have been better off with their tax rates rising than their thresholds being frozen”, according to the Resolution Foundation’s chief executive, Ruth Curtice. “Ironically, sticking to her manifesto tax pledge has cost millions of low-to-middle earners”, she said.Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced in her budget speech that the point at which people start paying higher rates of tax has been held. It means earners are set to be dragged into…

If a jeans advert hinting at actress Sydney Sweeney’s “good genes” sent the internet into a frenzy over eugenics – how about one for a company that’s actually selling good genes?Posters have appeared on the New York subway offering would-be parents the opportunity to “genetically optimise” their future baby. By signing up to their $8,999 (£6,800) service, Nucleus Genomics will profile the full DNA sequence of up to 20 embryos for couples undergoing IVF.The New York start-up’s slick app then allows would-be parents to review their brood for known disease genes, conditions like autism and ADHD, as well as traits…

Jimmy Cliff, a musical artist who helped bring reggae to an international audience, has died aged 81.Known for hits including You Can Get It If You Really Want, The Harder They Come, and Many Rivers To Cross, his career spanned six decades. Image: Cliff performing on the Pyramid Stage, at the Glastonbury Festival in 2003. Pic: PA His wife, Latifa Chambers wrote on Instagram: “It’s with profound sadness that I share that my husband, Jimmy Cliff, has crossed over due to a seizure followed by pneumonia.”I am thankful for his family, friends, fellow artists and coworkers who have shared his…

A raft of tax rises is expected in the budget this lunchtime – with the chancellor acknowledging that voters are “angry at the unfairness in our economy”.In a newly released video, Rachel Reeves said the public is “frustrated at the pace of change” – but vowed to “take the fair and necessary choices” to tackle the cost of living crisis. And in a dig at the Conservatives – especially former prime minister Liz Truss – she pledged not to impose austerity, lose control of public spending, or engage in more reckless borrowing.Budget 2025: Follow the latest in the Money blog…

Forget “ello, ello, ello” – modern policing’s now about “AI, AI, AI”.The UK’s first police virtual assistant, powered by artificial intelligence, has been launched by two police forces as part of a new trial. “Bobbi” interacts like a human and helps answer frequently asked questions – but it isn’t designed to be used in emergencies.Thames Valley Police, as well as the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary, say the tool aims to complement online forms, phone lines and front counters… not replace them. Image: (Human) Chief Superintendent Simon Dodds is involved in the pilot. Pic: PA A spokesman for the…

Reports of a “board-level orchestrated coup” at the BBC are “complete nonsense”, non-executive director Sir Robbie Gibb has told MPs.Sir Robbie, whose position on the BBC board has been challenged by critics in recent weeks, was among senior leaders, including the broadcaster’s chair, Samir Shah, to face questions from the Culture, Media and Sport committee about the current crisis. The hearing took place in the wake of the fallout over the edit of a speech by US President Donald Trump, which prompted the resignation of the corporation’s director-general and the chief executive of BBC News, and the threat of a…

A defiant Rachel Reeves has urged Labour MPs to unite behind this week’s budget – but appeared to admit they might not like all of her policies.Addressing the Parliamentary Labour Party last night, the chancellor described politics as a “team sport” and insisted that tomorrow’s announcements will be “fair”. Backbenchers are said to have become increasingly frustrated at the prospect of further tax hikes, which come against a backdrop of falling opinion poll ratings.Ed Conway: Three things the budget boils down to Image: Rachel Reeves. Pic: PA Ms Reeves argued the budget should be regarded as a package – and…

“Drill, baby, drill” was Donald Trump’s campaign pledge – and he’s following through with a proposal to expand fossil fuel production, which environmentalists say would have devastating consequences.The Trump administration has tabled a plan to open federal waters off the coasts of California, Florida, and Alaska to oil and gas drilling for the first time in decades – including areas that have never been touched. A total of one billion acres of water would be offered for lease under the proposal. That’s equivalent to more than half the total land mass of the US. While the rest of the Western…

Indian film star and Bollywood icon Dharmendra has died aged 89.One of the nation’s most popular actors, he was a defining presence in Indian cinema in the 1970s and 1980s. A senior police official who spoke to Dharmendra’s doctor confirmed the star’s death, just days before his 90th birthday, on condition of anonymity. Image: Dharmendra casting his vote in Mumbai, India, last year. Pic: AP Now, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has joined those paying tribute to the Punjabi icon, who also worked as a producer and politician.Mr Modi said: “He was an iconic film personality, a phenomenal actor who brought…

If you’ve ever spent your morning commute daydreaming about starting afresh with your career, this feature is for you. Each Monday, we speak to someone from a different profession to discover what it’s really like. This week, we chat to relationship coach Lorin Krenn…