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88 per cent of organisations fear state cyber threats. A new study by IO finds UK and US businesses increasingly view state-sponsored cyber attacks as a board-level risk, warning that governments are not doing enough to protect the private sector from national-level adversaries.
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Argos reports a £223.2 million pre-tax loss. The retailer, owned by Sainsbury’s since 2016, experienced a revenue decline from £4.22 billion to £4.13 billion, alongside job cuts, amid a challenging market and weakened demand.
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Balancing work and life now causes more stress than money. New research by productivity provider Avilio finds UK workers are more anxious about managing work/life balance than their financial outlook, with 32% citing it as their leading source of stress — ahead of money, job security, and even the global economy.
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The UK is set to sign a pharmaceuticals deal with the US. The agreement will remove US import tariffs on medicines and increase NHS drug spending. It aims to improve investment conditions, although the long-term NHS budget impact is uncertain.
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Prime Minister Keir Starmer denies misleading claims over fiscal shortfall. Starmer defended Chancellor Reeves’ tax and spending decisions amid accusations of misleading public finances. He attributed revenue needs to OBR’s productivity downgrade and confirmed consideration of breaking manifesto tax commitments.
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The Government has revised the Employment Rights Bill following negotiations. The CIPD has welcomed the decision to set the unfair dismissal qualifying period at six months, describing it as a “workable approach” for employers — while warning that further clarity is needed on other aspects of the bill.
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Global searches for fake business reviews rose more than 1,000%. A sharp rise in global searches for “fake business reviews” — up 1,026% year-on-year — has prompted warnings that small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are increasingly exposed to fabricated ratings, malicious feedback, and AI-generated review manipulation.
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S&A Academy urges leadership training enrolment before L7 funding disappears. The national training provider has called on company leaders and HR departments to register employees before government support worth £14,000 per person is withdrawn in 2026, warning the change could restrict access to senior management development across UK industries.
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Government revises plan on unfair dismissal protection for new staff. The UK government has altered its proposal to provide unfair dismissal protection from day one for new employees, following resistance from the House of Lords and industry warnings. Protection will now apply after six months of employment.
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12.8mn Brits plan to buy smart tech on Black Friday. EE research shows one in three consumers struggle to keep devices connected, as the UK’s appetite for wireless gadgets grows faster than their ability to sync them.