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Rock climber reaches top of 101-storey tower in Taiwan without ropes in Netflix adventure challenge

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Rock climber reaches top of 101-storey tower in Taiwan without ropes in Netflix adventure challenge

This is the astonishing moment a climber reaches the top of a 101-storey skyscraper without using a single rope.

Footage broadcast on streaming giant Netflix shows American climber Alex Honnold ascending Taipei 101 on Sunday before plunging several hundred meters below.

Alex Honnold climbs Taipei 101 without any safety equipment Credit: AFP
This crazy feat was broadcast on Netflix for everyone to see Credit: Reuters
This building is a 101-storey skyscraper Credit: Reuters

Honnold makes his way around the rounded spire of the building, the wind whipping at his T-shirt as he clings to the structure above the city.

At one point, the 40-year-old man releases his grip entirely – protected only by his legs – calmly reaching for more chalk from a pouch at his waist.

Then he continues climbing as if it were nothing.

As he reached the top of the 1,667-foot-tall tower just 90 minutes after departure, the crowd of several thousand at street level erupted in cheers.

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To the relief of spectators, Honnold then agreed to build an elevator back to ground level.

Speaking about it later, he said, “What a scene it was; it’s incredible. What a beautiful day.

“It was very windy, so I thought, ‘Don’t fall off the peak.’

“I was trying to balance, well, what an incredible situation, what a beautiful way to see Taipei.”

Honnold is no amateur.

He made headlines after first climbing Yosemite National Park’s El Capitan without ropes – a feat that cemented his reputation as one of the world’s greatest free solo climbers.

In preparation for the Taipei 101 climb, Honnold trained for several months, repeatedly practising the moves required to complete the climb.

Despite the scale of the challenge, he said he did not expect it to be very difficult.

Speaking on a climbing podcast, he said, “I don’t think it would be that extreme.”

Honnold said he trained for months to prepare for this. Credit: Reuters
He practiced the moves he would need to do over and over again

“We’ll see. I think it’s a great place for me to climb and obviously an interesting climb.”

This time, Honnold used the skyscraper’s distinctive L-shaped outcroppings as footholds.

At some points, he had to walk around large decorative structures, pulling himself up using only his bare hands.

The building has more than 100 floors, with the steepest section being the middle section of the 64th floor – known as the “bamboo boxes” – which gives Taipei 101 its distinctive appearance.

Divided into eight sections, each with eight floors of stairs, hanging stairs and balconies.

It was here that the human Spider-Man rested briefly during his ascent.

The climb was broadcast live on Netflix with a 10-second delay, with Honnold speaking to the show’s host, Elle Duncan.

The climb was originally scheduled for Saturday but was postponed for 24 hours due to rain.

Hearing the cheering crowd below was initially unsettling for adrenaline junkies, whose climbs are usually done in remote locations.

He said, “When I was leaving the field, you were saying, ‘Oh, it’s very intense; there are a lot of people watching.'”

“But honestly, they’re all wishing me well.”

“I mean, it almost makes the whole experience feel more festive, with all these good people supporting me and having a good time.”

However, this huge achievement was not without controversy.

Some critics questioned the risks of attempting such a dangerous climb during a live broadcast – especially as Honnold has two young children.

Honnold was not the first to climb Taipei 101.

But he is the first to do so without any safety equipment.

Alain Robert, a French rock climber, achieved this feat.

climbed the tower on Christmas Day 2004 during the inauguration of what was then the world’s tallest building.

That climb took approximately four hours to complete, with Robert having to contend with difficult weather conditions the entire time.

Thousands of fans watched from below Credit: AFP
As the American climber approached the summit, he held his breath Credit: AFP
When he completed the climb, thousands of fans were overjoyed Credit: AFP

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Union Budget 2026: Will you pay less tax this year?

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Union Budget 2026: Will you pay less tax this year?
Union Budget 2026: Will you pay less tax this year? The middle class is expected to get new relief on February 1.
Old vs New Income Tax System (AI Image)

Every year the budget speech is keenly watched and heard by the common man and middle-class taxpayers, looking for the answer to one simple question:

Will my tax burden be reduced this year? Even the Finance Minister presenting the Budget is aware of the populist impact of his speech in case tax relief measures are announced. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will present the Union Budget on February 1.

Will there be changes in tax slabs and tax rates? Sitharaman, who will present her ninth budget, is also the finance minister who introduced the new income tax regime in 2020.

Choosing between the old and new income tax regimes is important and every year, taxpayers carefully calculate the tax liabilities under each before deciding which one to choose.

Over the last few years, the new income tax regime has seen many changes, and the tax liability at various salary levels has gradually reduced. It has become more attractive than the old regime.

Why was the new tax system implemented?

In her budget speech in 2020, FM Nirmala Sitharaman explained the rationale for the introduction of a new income tax regime: the need for simpler compliance. “…

The Income Tax Act is replete with various exemptions and deductions, which makes compliance by taxpayers and administration of the Income Tax Act a cumbersome process for the tax authorities.

It is almost impossible for a taxpayer to comply with the income tax law without the help of professionals,” he said. Therefore, a new and simplified income tax regime was introduced to provide “significant relief” to individual taxpayers.

The idea was to have a tax system that offers lower rates for taxpayers who give up certain deductions and exemptions. New Income Tax Regime: Tax Slabs for FY 2020-21

Taxable Income Slab (Rs.) tax rate
0-2.5 lakh free up
2.5-5 lakh 5%
5-7.5 lakh 10%
7.5-10 lakh 15%
10-12.5 lakh 20%
12.5-15 lakhs 25%
above 15 lakhs 30%

The biggest learning was that under the new regime, the 30% tax slab became applicable on income above Rs 15 lakh, whereas under the old tax regime it was Rs 10 lakh.

At that time, under both the regimes, individuals earning up to Rs 5 lakh did not have to pay tax with the benefit of Section 87A. FM Sitharaman explained the benefits: in the new tax regime, the taxpayer will receive substantial tax benefits depending on the exemptions and deductions claimed by him.

For example, a person earning Rs 15 lakh a year and not availing any deductions, etc., will have to pay only Rs 195,000 compared to Rs 273,000 in the old system.

Therefore, under the new system, their tax burden will decrease by Rs 78,000. Even if he was taking a deduction of Rs 1.5 lakh under various sections of Chapter VI-A of the Income Tax Act under the old system, he will still benefit in the new system.

Development of new income tax system

Over the past few years, the government has made significant changes under the new income tax regime – introduction of standard deduction benefit, higher standard deduction limit of Rs 75,000,

evolving tax slabs and tax rates. In the Union Budget 2023, tax slabs were further changed under the new regime: New Income Tax Regime: Tax Slabs for FY 2023-24

Taxable Income Slab (Rs.) tax rate
0-3 lakh Zero
3-6 lakhs 5%
6-9 lakhs 10%
9-12 lakhs 15%
12-15 lakhs 20%
above 15 lakhs 30%

Importantly, the following major changes were introduced:

  1. Under the new system, the tax exemption limit was increased to Rs 3 lakh.
  2. The standard deduction benefit of Rs 50,000 introduced in the new regime
  3. Under the new system, the exemption limit of Section 87A has been increased to Rs 7 lakh, which means those earning up to Rs 7 lakh will not have to pay any tax! This limit was retained at Rs 5 lakh under the old tax system.
  4. The top surcharge rate was reduced from 37% to 25%, reducing the top tax rate from 42.74% to 39%.
  5. The new income tax system was made the default system

In the interim Budget 2024, the standard deduction under the new regime was increased to Rs 75,000.

Tax-free bonus of Rs 12 lakh

Last year, FM Sitharaman’s budget brought sweeping changes to the new income tax regime, making it even more attractive for taxpayers.

With higher exemptions, tax payments are reduced to zero on income up to Rs 12 lakh! Describing the visit, Sitharaman said, “Right after 2014, the ‘zero tax’ slab was increased to Rs 2.5 lakh, which was further increased to Rs 5 lakh in 2019 and Rs 7 lakh in 2023.

This shows the confidence of our government in the middle-class taxpayers. Now I am happy to announce that under the new regime no income tax will have to be paid up to Rs 12 lakh (i.e., an average income of Rs 1 lakh per month other than special rate income like capital gains).

For salaried taxpayers, this limit will be Rs 12.75 lakh due to a standard deduction of Rs 75,000. Under the new system, major changes were seen in the income tax slab; now a 30% tax slab has been implemented on income of more than Rs 24 lakh, which was earlier Rs 15 lakh.

Latest Income Tax Slabs Financial Year 2025-26 (Under New Income Tax Regime)The latest income tax slabs for the financial year 2025-26 are based on the new income tax regime.

Old vs New Income Tax Regime: How Much Tax Have You Been Saving Over the Years?

A noteworthy point is that all these years since the introduction of the new income tax regime, the old tax regime continues to function with higher deductions and exemptions as well as higher tax rates, although without any change. The government’s intention is clear: to make the new tax regime the default regime and with all the changes and benefits of lower taxes, taxpayers are being urged to adopt it.

Latest Income Tax Slabs FY 2025-26 (Under Old Income Tax System) (1)

But what is the tax benefit under the new tax regime compared to the old regime? Tax expenditure has changed over the last 5 years, and at different income levels, tax expenditure under the new regime has become significantly lower than under the old tax regime.

For a better understanding, we will look at how tax expenditure has changed over the last five years at different income levels of Rs 10 lakh, Rs 20 lakh and Rs 40 lakh.

If for an income level of Rs 10 lakh, you had to pay Rs 75,400 in FY21 under the old tax regime, under the new regime the tax expenditure has come down from Rs 78,000 in FY21 to Rs 54,600 in FY24, and from Rs 44,200 in FY20 to nil in FY26! Under the old system it is still Rs 75,400.

Similarly, if for an income level of Rs 20 lakh, you had to pay Rs 366,600 in FY21 under the old tax regime, the tax expenditure under the new regime will come down from Rs 351,000 in FY20 to Rs 296,400 in FY24, and from Rs 278,200 in FY20 to FY26.

It has become Rs 192,400! In FY26, choosing the new regime instead of the old regime will result in tax savings of Rs 174,200 for you! Its effect is visible even at higher income levels.

If, for an income level of Rs 40 lakh, you had to pay Rs 990,600 in FY21 under the old tax regime, the tax expenditure under the new regime will come down from Rs 975,000 in FY20 to Rs 920,400 in FY24.

from Rs 902,200 in FY20 to Rs 787,800 in FY26. It’s Rs! So in FY26, if you choose the new regime instead of the old regime, your tax saving will be Rs 202,800! These charts have been prepared by EY based on the following assumptions:

  1. Under the old tax regime, the Section 80C deduction (maximum Rs 1.5 lakh) is considered.
  2. Other deductions/exemptions like medical insurance, home loan interest, and house rent allowance are not considered.
  3. The standard deduction of Rs 50,000 under the old regime and the standard deduction notified from time to time (Nil, Rs 50,000, Rs 75,000) are considered under the new regime.

The above charts are broadly indicative, and the tax paid will depend on your income level and the amount of deductions and exemptions you claim.

The old system may be more suitable at different salary levels for individuals with an income above Rs 12 lakh and a certain amount of deductions and exemptions.

So, while the above examples paint a clear picture of how tax benefits have increased over the years under the new regime, for a better understanding, it is important to calculate the total amount of deductions and exemptions you availed.

For example, in the existing tax slabs in the old and new regimes, if your gross income is more than Rs 24.75 lakh, the old regime applies only if your total deductions and exemptions exceed Rs 8 lakh. This level of deductions and exemptions is for the 30% tax slab.

This will vary for income less than Rs 24 lakh. Amarpal Chaddha, tax partner, EY India, tells TOI, “Over the past few years, the new tax regime has markedly boosted the take-home pay of most salaried taxpayers due to the rising basic exemption limit and lower slab rates.

In FY 2020-21, for income up to Rs 10 lakh, the tax liability under the new tax regime was slightly higher than under the old tax regime.

However, over the next five years (FY 2021-22 to FY 2025-26), the reforms have reversed this picture, resulting in a saving of Rs 75,400 in FY 2025-26 under the new tax regime compared to the old tax regime.”

“For incomes of Rs 20 lakh and Rs 40 lakh, the savings compared to the old tax regime in FY 2025-26 are approximately Rs 1.74 lakh and Rs 2.02 lakh.

Now, if we compare the savings under the new tax regime over a six-year period (FY 2020–21 to FY 2025–26), the savings have increased significantly—at an income of Rs 10, it is approximately Rs 78,000 lakh, Rs 1.58 lakh at Rs 20 lakh, and Rs 1.87 lakh at Rs 40 lakh.

With a large number of taxpayers defaulting/moving on to the new tax regime, further slab adjustments in Budget 2026 could accelerate this trend,” he further said.

While a certain percentage of taxpayers continue to benefit from the old tax regime, for example, those who claim higher levels of house rent allowance or who have home loans, more than 70% of tax returns filed for AY 2024-25 were under the new regime.

While tax experts expect more taxpayers to switch to the new income tax regime in the current financial year, the zero tax level of Rs 12 lakh will motivate many to make the switch. However,

Experts say the government may consider introducing some popular deductions and exemptions like Section 80C and home loan interest benefits to encourage savings and housing.

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Dewey says war bonds are needed to ‘rapidly’ increase defense spending

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Dewey says war bonds are needed to ‘rapidly’ increase defense spending

Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey has said the government should start selling war bonds because Britain needs to “move very quickly” on defence spending.

Under his party’s plan, members of the public could lend the government money in the form of a bond that would last for a period of two to three years and pay the same interest as standard government bonds.

Davy said the bonds,

which the party says could raise up to £20 billion for the military, would give the public a chance to “patriotically support our defence.”.

A government spokesperson said that “new debt instruments” were under review, but they would have to represent “value for money” and be “consistent with broader fiscal objectives.”

Calls for increased defence spending have intensified in recent years, following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 and the election of US President Donald Trump, who has often criticised NATO countries for failing to spend enough on their military.

Speaking with Laura Kuenssberg on the BBC’s Sunday, Davy said the move to sell war bonds was needed because “we are almost in a cold war-like scenario.” Russia’s use of drones, submarines and shadow fleets.

He added, “This is a serious threat and we need to move much faster than what the government is doing.

“We need to move faster.”

The Labour government has promised to increase overall defence spending from 2.3% of national income to 2.5% by 2027, at an estimated cost of an additional £6 billion per year.

It has also pledged to raise the level to 3.5% by 2035, in line with a pledge by NATO members last year.

However, there have been reports many times And The Sun plans to make Britain’s armed forces “war-ready”; £28 billion more will be needed than has been allocated so far.

The government was due to publish its defence investment plan last autumn, but it has reportedly been delayed due to concerns about costs.

Earlier this month, the head of the armed forces, Sir Richard Knighton, said Britain was “not as prepared as we should be for the kind of full-scale conflict we might face”.

On Sunday, Davy said, “Everyone can see that things have changed dramatically since the last election. The way Putin is prosecuting [the Ukraine] war, but equally important, Donald Trump’s attitude to supporting European defence.”

Given the attitude of the US President, he expressed concern about the NATO alliance.

He told the BBC: “I’m very sorry to say that because of Donald Trump, we have to question whether we can trust the United States. With him in the White House, they are no longer a reliable ally. We have to move fast.”

The Liberal Democrats said the money raised by the bond issue would be earmarked for defence and that the investment would help the government deliver “growth, jobs and higher revenues”, “which will partially offset the cost of additional debt service”.

The party said the plan would require an overhaul of the Defence Ministry’s procurement process, which has previously been criticised as wasteful.

The party says their proposal would be similar to the bond scheme used during World War I and World War II.

The government would receive interest-bearing loans from individual citizens over a period of six to 10 years. By the end of 1945, the scheme had raised £1.754m.

Posters encouraging members of the public to buy bonds—or national savings certificates—featured slogans such as “Lend to the Rescue” and “Feed the Guns with War Bonds.”

Dan Coatsworth, head of markets at investor AJ Bell, said, “War bonds are a proven way of raising money for national defence spending, but they can impose a long-term debt burden on the government.

“Theoretically, the public could demand a better interest rate for holding bonds than for cash in the bank.

“Some may feel it’s their duty to support the country, while others will treat such bonds like any other investment.”

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Veterinarians try to avoid treating dogs of one breed because they are ‘aggressive’. strange news

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Veterinarians try to avoid treating dogs of one breed because they are ‘aggressive’. strange news

A veterinarian tries to avoid treating a particular dog breed.

A vet has revealed the breed of dogs he tries to stay away from whenever they come to his surgery. Dogs became the first domesticated species 14,000 years ago, and selective breeding has led to more than 360 recognised breeds around the world.

Everyone has their own preferences when it comes to dog breeds; prospective owners carefully consider characteristics such as temperament, activity and energy levels, loyalty, calmness and other factors when choosing which breed to bring home.

During the decision-making process, many prospective owners turn to social media for advice from experienced owners and experts, including trainers and veterinary professionals. Renowned veterinarian Dr Ameer Anwari has garnered a substantial following on social media, garnering hundreds of thousands of likes on TikTok through his frequent video content featuring his expert guidance and tips.

In addition to educational content, he also shares entertaining clips of himself dancing while telling entertaining stories of his work with animals and their owners.

Read more: Veterinarian Shares 4 Signs Your Dog Is Experiencing Hypothermia in January

Read more: The top 10 ‘memorable’ dog names trending across the UK in 2026

In a humorous recent post, the veterinarian revealed the breed he tries to avoid. In the footage, he is lip-syncing to an audio clip saying, “Gotta put me first, gotta put me first, gotta put me first, Lucious!”

The widely used audio originates from an episode of the successful Fox drama series Empire, in which Taraji P. Henson’s character Cookie Lyon tells Terrence Howard’s Lucious Lyon that he has to prioritise his own needs.

In the video, text above the veterinarian reads: “When I take the Labrador and leave the aggressive Belgian Malinois for another veterinarian.”

In the caption, he said, “I’m sorry but it’s every man for himself [crying laughing emoji]. I’m taking the patient who is least likely to cause physical harm to my body.”

Also known as the Belgian Shepherd or Chien de Berger Belge, this medium-sized shepherd breed is known for its protective nature, confidence, friendliness, and hard-working attitude. However, they can also be quite stubborn.

These dogs are very alert and active, requiring plenty of exercise, mental stimulation, and training.

In a previous TikTok video, Dr Anwari has labelled the breed “crazy”, highlighting the significant time and energy they demand from their owners. He once said that he doesn’t have “six hours” every day “to be happy.”

Many TikTok users reacted to the vet’s video with crying and laughing emojis, while others shared photos of their own Belgian Malinois dogs, insisting they were friendly.

Owning a dog is a serious commitment, typically lasting 10-15 years depending on the lifespan of the breed. Dogs require constant care, attention and commitment from their owners.

Not all breeds are suitable for novice or inexperienced owners, and training is often necessary. It is important to thoroughly research and consider all the advantages and disadvantages of pet ownership before making a decision.

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Post Office and Fujitsu accused of delaying £4m damages claim

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post office

The Post Office and Fujitsu have been accused of driving up legal costs and delays in suing a former sub-postmaster for £4 million damages in the Horizon IT scandal, the High Court heard.

Lee Castleton OBE was accused by the Post Office of missing £25,000 in cash from its branch in Bridlington, East Yorkshire, in 2007. After a two-year legal battle that incurred legal costs of £321,000, the Post Office declared him bankrupt.

At the first hearing of their claim on Friday, the court was told that Fujitsu, the company responsible for the faulty software, has already racked up more than £700,000 in legal costs.

Mr. Castleton was the first to take legal action against both organisations.

Friday’s preliminary hearing was about how the case should proceed.

The court heard that “obstacles” were being placed in front of Mr. Castleton to make his claim “as difficult, time-consuming, and expensive” as possible.

His legal team alleges that the Post Office’s decision to pursue a 2007 civil claim against him was an “abuse of the court process” and that the final judgement was obtained fraudulently.

They all assert that the state-run institute colluded with Fujitsu to distort the legal process by “deliberately and dishonestly” hiding evidence.

The sub-postmasters, including Mr. Castleton, took the Post Office to court.

Mr Castleton was one of 555 sub-postmasters who took the Post Office to court in a landmark legal battle led by Sir Alan Bates.

He won his case in 2019 and agreed to a settlement, but he never received proper compensation because the money he received was largely eaten up by the huge costs of funding his case.

Mr Castleton wants that agreement rescinded, alleging it was obtained fraudulently through “strict practices” by the Post Office.

Both the Post Office and Fujitsu have not yet filed a defence to Mr. Castleton’s claims, but they have called for his case to be split into two trials.

They want the court to decide whether the settlement agreement prevents the former subpostmaster from proceeding with his individual claim, and if it does, it would “dispose of the proceedings in their entirety.” He argued that doing it this way would save time and money.

However, Mr Castleton’s written submissions convinced the court that the opposite would be true and his claim was “extremely simplistic”.

His barrister, Paul Marshall Casey, rejected the need for a separate trial.

But at the conclusion of the hearing, Mr Justice Trower and Judge Francesca Kaye ordered the trials to be divided into two parts and said they would give reasons for their decision at a later date.

The Post Office, which is owned by the government, stated that it had made every effort to engage with Mr. Castleton in order to overturn his civil judgement and remained willing to do so; however, it did not accept that his current claim was “a good one and that it was the duty of its shareholders to defend it.”

Mr Castleton wants “confirmation” that the judgement against him, which has “blighted” him and his family’s life for 20 years, was obtained dishonestly by the Post Office and for a judge to decide what he is owed.

Speaking outside court, Mr. Castleton told the BBC, “We know what we need to do, and we are very happy where we are.

“We will get a defence, and that’s what we’re waiting for. The facts won’t change. It‘s just money.”

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Retail sales increase in December due to demand for online jewelery

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Retail sales increase in December due to demand for online jewelery

Despite an overall tough festive period for retailers, online jewelery demand helped boost retail sales in December. Statistics show.

Sales were up 0.4% from the previous month, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) said, citing online jewelers reporting increased demand for precious metals such as gold and silver.

Internet shopping performed well, while supermarket and automotive fuel sales increased slightly. But sales at non-food retailers such as department, clothing and home stores were down 0.9%.

The monthly increase – larger than expected – comes after an unexpected decline in sales in November, even though that included Black Friday sales.

Retail sales fell 0.1% in NovemberWhich came after a 0.8% decline in October.

Monthly growth rates can be volatile, and the ONS said sales volumes fell by 0.3% in the last three months of last year compared to the previous quarter, with both supermarkets and online stores seeing declines.

The end of the year is an important period for retailers, as for many stores the festive season generates the bulk of their annual sales and profits.

Overall in 2025, retail sales grew 1.3%, with strong performance for both food and non-food stores and non-store retailers (mainly online sellers, but also street stalls and markets).

This represents the second consecutive annual increase, but sales still remain below 2019-pre-coronavirus pandemic levels.

Hannah Finselbach, senior statistician at the ONS, said: “The last three months of the year saw a slight decline in retail sales following a strong third quarter, with both supermarkets and online stores closing.

“However, sales increased in December, with internet retailing doing well. Meanwhile, online jewelers had a strong month and they told us there was more demand for gold and silver.”

The rising cost of living has squeezed shoppers’ wallets, and businesses have complained of higher costs following changes announced in the last two budgets.

Nicholas Haight, investment manager at the Wealth Club, said the figures showed there was “no festive cheer on the high street” as Christmas shoppers increasingly moved online.

“Among online retailers, jewelers particularly enjoyed a golden Christmas. In uncertain times shoppers are increasingly drawn to dual-purpose jewellery, which not only ticks the Christmas gift box, but also provides a convenient long-term store of value.”

Precious metals are seen as safe haven assets in times of uncertainty, and the prices of both gold and silver have risen over the past year.

They reached record highs in recent days Investors reacted to US President Donald Trump’s threat to impose new tariffs on eight European countries that oppose the proposed annexation of Greenland.

Alice Cowley, managing director of Accenture’s retail practice, said there was a “modest” monthly increase in UK retail sales There will be some relief after the “difficult autumn”.

“But food, discounts and holiday preparations boosted sales, but it was not enough to drive significant growth,” she added.

“With Christmas being an important time for the sector, those hoping for a bumper trading period were disappointed.”

“We are far from consumers feeling that better days are ahead,” said Neil Bellamy, director of consumer insights at GfK, a company that analyzes consumer confidence.

GfK’s latest consumer confidence index rose one point in January to minus 16, and it has now been 10 years since the index showed a positive number.

In the year ahead, Capital Economics expects consumer spending to remain “fairly soft.”

Alex Kerr, UK economist at Capital, said he believed “the combination of weak employment and slow wage growth will prevent a meaningful pick-up in consumer spending growth in 2026”.

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The trading platform IG Group supports Reeves regarding restrictions on cash ISAs, according to Money News.

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The trading platform IG Group supports Reeves regarding restrictions on cash ISAs, according to Money News.

IG Group, a trading and investment platform based in London,

has defied industry competitors by supporting Rachel Reeves’ proposal to revamp Britain’s most popular savings product.

Sky News has seen a letter from Michael Healy, the UK managing director of IG Group, in which he argues that cash ISAs “have become too popular relative to their economic utility, serving as the default for savings for too long despite delivering poor long-term returns and contributing little to productive investment or personal wealth accumulation.”

Their letter to the chancellor was sent earlier this week, days after rival AJ Bell criticised the Treasury’s move to reduce the Cash ISA limit from £20,000 to £12,000 next year, saying the proposals are “doomed to fail” in their aim to encourage more people to invest over the long term.

Money Blog: Ranking the world’s most powerful passports – with a change in Britain’s position

A heated meeting last week between industry players and officials from the Treasury and HM Revenue and Customs saw a flood of criticism of the proposed reforms.

However, Mr Healy, whose company has about 900,000 customers in the UK, said the rivals’ views “symbolise the deep reluctance within parts of our industry to embrace change, even when the status quo clearly fails the majority of UK people as well as the economy.”

“Despite the long-term effectiveness of existing structures, there remains a strong tendency to protect them,” Mr Healy wrote.

He argued that cash ISAs should be scrapped altogether rather than having their annual allowances cut.

And he said that industry colleagues are deliberately misrepresenting the intention of the government’s proposals.

“The suggestion that the reforms will switch people to cash ISAs before the changes misses the basic point.

“Policy changes are absolutely necessary to change this balance, and savers are not left without options – premium bonds remain available, and old savers, who formed the main basis of the argument against ISA allowance cuts, have been allowed to retain the £20,000 limit.”

“We are also worried about how strongly the industry is pushing back against dealing with the problem of uninvested cash in stocks and shares ISAs,” he wrote, responding to a major concern from senior industry leaders, who have said that taxing cash balances in non-cash ISAs could completely ruin their appeal as a tax-free savings option.

“This is a solvable challenge,” Mr Healy wrote.

“With clear, proportionate rules that distinguish between transactional cash and long-term dormant balances, and with the reporting burden on platforms and HMRC rather than consumers, this problem need not be a barrier.

“We reiterate our belief that ISA wrappers should, over time, be reserved for stand-alone investments.

“This will deliver the simplicity that critics of reform often seek, but with an alignment of incentives that better serves savers, investors and the UK economy.

“We strongly encourage the government to not only remain patient, but also move forward to reallocate tax-advantaged savings towards long-term investment.”

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The secret of Japan’s underwater crop cycle turns out to be the mating signal of this small fish. world News

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The secret of Japan’s underwater crop cycle turns out to be the mating signal of this small fish. world News
The secret of Japan's underwater crop circle is revealed as the mating signal of this tiny fish

Shapes that seem out of place have long dotted the sea floor off southern Japan. Divers near Amami Oshima Island began noticing large circular patterns carved into the sand in the 1990s, which were precise enough to appear artificial. Every year, they would appear and then vanish, leaving behind nothing but curiosities. No clear explanation was given for a long time. Ocean currents do not match. Geological processes diminished. Close inspection later revealed the source, a small mackerel working patiently near the sea floor. Research published in the last decade has shown that these structures are not accidents of nature but carefully constructed nests. The discovery reshaped the circles, turning a quiet marine puzzle into a story of behavior, effort, and reproduction.

A fish on Japan’s beach created the strange circles.

The circles are visible on the flat sandy seabed at a depth of about 25 metres. They can reach up to two meters and are marked by ridges and grooves radiating from a smooth central area. The pattern looks deliberate, almost decorative. For years, divers have referred to these as the Mystery Circles. They appeared perfectly formed and then gradually disappeared as currents smoothed the sand. No one saw these being made.

Pufferfish build a circular nest

The builder is a small male pufferfish of the species Torquigener. At about ten centimetres long, it looks unremarkable compared to the scale of the structures. Yet the fish uses its fins with precision, shaping the sand grains one by one. This behaviour was first observed directly in 2011, when a puzzle that had persisted for more than a decade was solved. Construction takes about a week. The male begins by swimming back and forth, marking a rough circle to dig shallow depressions. These runs form ridges and grooves arranged like spokes. As the structure develops, the fish concentrate on the centre, flattening it and collecting fine sand. In the final stage, it decorates the rocks with shell fragments and pieces of coral taken from nearby.

Structure matters for orgasm

The nest plays a role in female selection. Women come only when the structure is complete. When one approaches, the male stirs fine sand into the water, creating a visual display. Eggs are laid in the central region, where conditions are calm. Studies show that the shape of the nest helps collect fine particles and reduce water runoff, creating a more stable place for the eggs to develop.

Nests are built only once

After laying the eggs, the male guards the eggs for several days. The structure is not maintained during this period. The currents gradually level the ridges and carry away the fine sand. Once the eggs hatch, the male leaves and does not return. Instead of repairing the old nest, it builds a new nest somewhere else. Researchers believe that destruction of fine sand makes its reuse ineffective.

What do fluid experiments reveal about water flow?

To understand how the nest works, scientists tested scaled models in flowing water. The results showed that water slows down in the central region while moving differently through the valleys. This reduction in current speed, measured at more than 20%, probably protects the eggs. This also explains why fine sand collects in the middle instead of being swept away.

Why does discovery matter beyond curiosity?

Pufferfish circles provide evidence that sexual selection can drive complex construction behaviour in fish. While such traits have been well studied in birds and insects, fewer examples exist underwater. Here, the structure serves as both a sign and a functional shelter. It is built at high cost, abandoned quickly, and repeated cycle after cycle. Circles keep coming and going on the seabed. Above them, the sea looks unchanged.

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Today on Sky Sports Racing: Doncaster, Southwell, Wolverhampton and Medan | Racing news

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Today on Sky Sports Racing: Doncaster, Southwell, Wolverhampton and Medan | Racing news

We have a busy day of racing on Friday with action from Doncaster, Southwell, Wolverhampton and Meydan, live Sky Sports Racing…

2.15 Doncaster – Fingals Hill and guard duty on Lock Horn feature

Fingals Hill and Guard Duty are in form, making for a nice competition, with Virgin Bet supporting safe gambling odds at Doncaster.

Peter Atkinson’s 10-year-old won at Aintree and Hexham when they last met in the summer. He is 9 lbs heavier than the first win but should be fit to play after the break.

Guard Duty is a hard handicapper who stormed to third place in a valuable event at Windsor last time and retains the same mark under Ben Jones.

Glyn Bra His win back in November looked promising before strengthening in the market at Sandown and he is expected to resume his stride.

1.15 Doncaster – One Big Bang and Western Knight clash in pursuit of useful newbies

This is a super presentation of the Virgin Bet Daily Extra Place’s “Chasing Excellence.” The Novice Chase features a clash between One Big Bang and Western Knight.

Trained by James Wayne One Big Bang, he opened his account over fences when seeing off Cumsinus in a two-runner race at Southwell last month, and the great hurdler must be feared if he is able to get going again.

Western Night Long was considered a promising chaser, making his debut over the fence and scoring at the second attempt. He goes back on the trip but can be dangerous from the front.

Among others, the 135-rated hurdler Roadless Transportation is notable, especially when his fence bowed, along with Larios, another significant contender for Harry Durham and Paul O’Brien.

7.15 Southwell – Well-bred Castle title

the castle A field of seven for cracking a title Read Meg Nicol’s blog on Betmgm.co.uk Handicap At Southwell

Archie Watson, son of Mehmas, caught the eye when he comfortably did everything to land a novice event at Wolverhampton in November and has focused on having a gelding operation since last seen.

William Haggs-trained Magic Stone Has finished in the top three in all starts to date, including third on his reappearance at Wolverhampton this month. It was an eye-catching run, as he had little room to challenge and he would be popular in the betting.

Recent course and distance winners Guernsey Angel Rate the best of the rest.

The rest is the best

1.45 Doncaster – where the heat is excellent Iran punishment there is And Minela Jury There are strong possibilities.

12.45 Doncaster – Pauling’s dig deep Hope to do better.

4.00 Doncaster – Zoro’s mask Bid for a four-timer.

6.15 Southwell – Giorgio M There seem to be obvious claims.

6.45 Southwell – experienced qualified Wants a hat trick.

4.10 Wolverhampton – Red-hot Lazarus Represented by Richard Hughes.

2.05 Maidan – Group Three Firebreak Stakes with Fort Payne Among the seven runners.

2.40 Maidan – Group Two Al Fahidi Fort – mysterious night And witness stand (holly) involved, audience Now to make another note with David O’Meara.

3.15 Maidan – Group three Al Shindagha Sprint The usual suspects feature El Nasib, Mufasa and the darkness, Saffron.

3.50 Maidan – Group Two Blue Point Sprint – Last year’s winner West Acres characteristics

4.25 Maidan – Group One Al Maktoum Challenge – by Jamie Osborne Heart of Honour and Artorius’ fancy

5.00 Maidan – Group one Jebel Hatta – Opera Ballo Will be a warm command under William Buick. Midak An interesting appointment for Ian Williams.

6.10 Grounds – with group three the field, the epic the poet And the west the wind hand to hand announced

3.00 Bahrain – Daniel and Claire Kubler have runners up alongside George Scott.

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Olivia leaves you with a track about the redemptive power of love.

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Olivia leaves you with a track about the redemptive power of love.
Warchild Olivia Rodrigo sings while reading lyrics from her phonewarchild

Olivia Rodrigo is one of over 30 artists to appear on Child’s Help 2 album

Damon Albarn is standing in the door of the Abbey Road canteen and is in deep conversation with Carl Barat of The Libertines.

Nearby, pupils are lining up for a fresh batch of lasagna.

Around them, half a dozen children are running around, filming everything with handheld cameras.

They are all excitedly awaiting the arrival of Olivia Rodrigo.

These were the scenes in London last November, when some of the world’s biggest stars gathered to record a new charity album in aid of War Child.

The tracklist, released yesterday, is full of indie rock legends. Wet Legs, The Last Dinner Party, Wolf Alice, Fontanas DC, Nilufar Yanya, Cameron Winter, Ezra Collective, Foals, and Young Fathers all contribute.

Over the course of a week, 23 tracks were recorded. At times, Abbey Road’s five famous studios were in use, with collaborations emerging from moment to moment.

Blur’s Graham Coxon played guitar with Rodrigo on the cover of The Magnetic Fields’ The Book of Love. Damon joined Albarn on a session with Johnny Marr on guitar, with Kay Tempest and Grian Chayton providing additional vocals.

Later in the day, Jarvis Cocker came back from a bathroom break and found them all in his studio – so he asked them to sing the intro to a new Pulp song, Begging for Change.

“It just came, so I thought, ‘Why not?'” he laughs. “I’m not used to this kind of thing, but it was really cool.”

War Child Noel Gallagher, Paul McCartney and Paul Wellerwar boy
The original 1995 Help album featured Noel Gallagher, Paul McCartney and Paul Weller playing a cover of The Beatles’ Come Together under the name Mojo Filters.

The album is a spiritual successor to 1995’s Help! – Recorded at the height of Britpop, and features contributions from Paul Weller, Radiohead, Suede, Paul McCartney, The KLF, Portishead and The Manic Street Preachers.

Famously, the release was the only time Oasis and Blur appeared on the same record, just months after their famous (and bitter) chart war.

Noel Gallagher said at the time, “We will put aside our differences for this cause.” “And this is the only time you’ll see us agree on anything.”

The record sold 70,000 copies in its first week, raising approximately £1.25 million to help children in war-torn areas such as Bosnia and Herzegovina.

In 2025, raising funds is even more important. According to War Child, 520 million children worldwide – almost one in five – are affected by war, with simultaneous crises in Ukraine, Sudan and Gaza.

While governments around the world are cutting international aid, the figure is higher than at any time since the Second World War.

“Right now, it feels like there are a lot of really bad things happening, and many people feel powerless,” Cocker says.

“They’re watching the news and they don’t know what to do. So I hope this album will be something that people can enjoy and also know that they’re trying to make positive change.”

Reuters Children receiving aid in Sudanreuters
More than 15 million children are in need of assistance in Sudan alone, with more than a third of the population having fled their homes due to the brutal civil war.

The first single, released on Thursday, is a new track from Arctic Monkeys called Opening Night.

A sparse, haunting ballad, it finds Alex Turner singing about political sloganeering and a “supercomputer crusade” before a beautifully harmonised chorus that delivers a message of hope in dark times.

Drummer Matt Helders told the BBC that the song was a few years old but had never been finished.

They were urgently required to complete the song when they received a call from Warchild, which had lyrics that felt like a call to arms.

“With a charity record, it’s often tempting to do a cover or an interesting collaboration,” he says, “but we enjoy making records and being in the studio, so it was fun to work on something we wrote.

Adding to the entertainment was a film crew of children, primarily between the ages of eight and 10, who documented the entire recording process.

They were helmed by BAFTA-winning director Jonathan Glazer (Sexy Beast, Under the Skin, The Zone of Interest), who wanted to help connect the musical back to young people.

Helders notes that the freedom to roam around significantly altered the atmosphere.

“The studio can be quite a harsh, clinical environment sometimes. But they were moving around and bumping into stuff. That made it fun.”

War child Jarvis Cocker is filmed and interviewed by two children sitting on blue plastic school chairs in a studio on Abbey Road.war boy
A team of junior documentarians filmed and interviewed the stars of Abbey Road.

Cocker wasn’t so sure.

He says, “I hate having anyone in the studio watching me sing; I’m kind of a self-conscious person, and having someone point a camera at me doesn’t help that.”

“And while I was there singing, I think they were getting a little bored, so they were lying on the floor and filming the ceiling.”

Ultimately, he found the presence of children liberating. His complete lack of interest helped him abandon the idea that studio recording had to capture the “correct, definitive version” of a song.

As a result, Pulp’s contribution to Help 2 – Begging for Change – has a loose, live band feel that really exemplifies the album’s sense of spontaneity and community.

In fact, the young camera crew even recorded it.

“It’s an interesting thing, you know, because kids are always told, ‘Shut up, because I’m trying to think,’ or, ‘Shhh, your daddy’s hungover,'” he says.

“So when they’re given a chance to make noise, they will do it. “So what we tried to do with our song was make them scream, and they did that very well.”

jarvis cocker
Jarvis Cocker said he hoped the album would raise both money and awareness.

You won’t get to hear that song until Help 2 is released on March 6. Thanks to the record label and pressing plant donating their services free of charge, it will be cheaper than standard albums – double vinyl costs around £26 – and War Child will receive all profits.

“We found that this project has really lit a fire in the creative community,” says Rich Clark, the charity’s head of music. “Many people wanted to get involved.”

He explained that the album’s 23 tracks were not the sole product of the week-long recording sessions.

“There are a lot of tracks, about 10 or so, that came when people heard about the project. So really, there were some tough decisions for the team about making it on the record.”

But Olivia Rodrigo’s song – about the purity of love – was always set as the closing track.

“It’s a really beautiful cover,” says Clark.

“The record really takes you on a journey with some powerful themes around struggle, but Olivia leaves you with a track about the redemptive power of love, which is a really poignant final note.”



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