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Paris, affectionately referred to as the “City of Light,” is a classic destination that combines stylish, cultured, and romantic in beautiful harmony.

With its award-winning cuisine and haute couture, historic monuments and landmarks, and artistic vibe, Paris is a unique destination for travelers who love the finer things in life. If you are going for a Paris luxury vacation, effective planning can turn a good vacation into an unforgettably fantastic one. These are our best tips on how to enjoy Parisian luxury the proper way.

Select High-Class Hotels That Enhance Your Experience

The start of any incredible luxury holiday is where you sleep. Paris has varied top-of-the-range accommodation—trendy five-star hotels that are so legendary, Le Meurice and The Ritz, to name a couple—to bespoke homes that make exclusivity even more exclusive. And then there are those who travel who require privateness with luxury but without sacrificing on either end. For those seeking both privacy and opulence, stunning penthouses in Paris are a top choice.

These luxury rentals pair expansive vistas of Eiffel Tower or Seine with luxury amenities such as private chefs, concierge, and designer furnishings. Sleeping in a penthouse suite does more than provide you with a bed—it immerses you in the Paris experience with added luxury and comfort. Most of these properties lie within the city’s most upscale arrondissements, like the 1st, 7th, or 16th, placing you near Paris’s iconic attractions, upscale shopping, and haute cuisine restaurants.

Reserve Michelin-Starred Cuisine in Advance

French cuisine is renowned throughout the world, and food in Paris is a piece of art. To experience the best of culinary art, just go to Michelin-starred restaurants such as Le Jules Verne in the Eiffel Tower, Guy Savoy, or L’Arpège. They are renowned for the creativity of their cuisine, improved service, and ambiance.

Reservations at the latter are apt to be competitive, particularly for peak travel times, so make reservations far in advance. Several restaurants even feature private chef’s table seating or special tasting menus by request—ideal for that special night on the town or romantic dinner night.

If vino is more your wine, plan a wine tasting with a sommelier or throw an intimate cellar dinner party in a vintage wine cave beneath the city.

Private Tours: Discover Paris Without the Crowds

Bypass the lines and see the city on your schedule with private, guided tours. Have a sunrise tour of the Louvre, a VIP fashion tour of fashion ateliers, or a chauffeur-driven Champagne country tour – tailored experiences are where luxury travel really happens.

Art lovers may schedule private museum or gallery tours, and history buffs may enjoy guided tours of sights like the Palace of Versailles or medieval Le Marais quarter streets. Not only are these tours uncluttered by the crowds on regular group tours, but they also offer greater depth and personalization not found with standard group tours.

Private Seine cruises aboard luxury yachts with champagne, gourmet lunch, and live music are even offered with some companies.

Shopping à la Mode: Luxury Boutiques and Haute Couture

Paris, the world’s fashion capital, would not be complete without a dose of luxury holiday season shopping therapy. Start your retail therapy at Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré or Avenue Montaigne, where style icons Louis Vuitton, Chanel, Dior, Hermès, and their most recent collections showcase their products.

This just gets more exclusive with some form of a personal shopper or stylist who you will make appointments in private for either visits to some private showrooms, or just newly arrived lines

Well, it will be at one of Paris’ Fashion weeks if you arrange in traveling – one can get glimpses behind velvet ropes-and for those staying at boutique hotels with high-end reputations-possibly enjoy insider invitations or hidden after-party deals.

Resorts and Rejuvenation VIBES

Following a day of shopping or sightseeing, relax at one of Paris’ high-end spas. Stimulating facials and all-day wellness packages are just a couple of the high-end treatments available at The Spa My Blend by Clarins at Le Royal Monceau, Dior Spa Cheval Blanc, and The Peninsula Spa.

For the exotic, reserve a hammam ritual in a vintage Parisian steam bath or treat yourself to a private yoga or pilates session with an Eiffel Tower view. In-room massage and wellness menus that detoxify and refresh are also offered by some luxury hotels.

Treat yourself to Cultural Evenings in Exclusive Venues

In the evening, feel the culture with access passes to Opéra Garnier, Philharmonie de Paris, or a small intimate jazz club in Saint-Germain-des-Prés. To this, add an extra dimension with private events at historic mansions or privileged viewing of cultural shows.

There are some high-class travel agents that will even make you dine in intimate salons surrounded by the relaxing melodies of live classical music or receive invitations to fashion house soirees at Paris’s highest vantage points. Whatever your passion, music, film, dance, or fine art, Paris offers a luxury experience for it.

Getting Around in Style

Avoid the inconvenience of public transport and elevate your experience with a luxury car rental or a personal chauffeur. From multilingual black cars to classic Citroëns for that touch of yesteryears, private transportation offers you the liberty to move around the city in style and convenience.

If you’re driving around and stopping at places like Versailles, Giverny, or Reims, then renting a luxury car with a seasoned guide will make an ordinary day trip a full-bodied, sophisticated affair.

Last Thought

A luxury Paris vacation is more than pricey hotels and fine dining—it’s an experience of entering a city that indulges in beauty, artistry, and pleasure in every single thing. Whether sunset happy hour on a penthouse rooftop, old wine in a hidden café, or midnight Seine strolls beneath twinkling lights, Paris is movie-like to make every experience feel like it was plucked from a film.

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Luxury Trip to Paris: Our Best Tips

In a two-part exposé on the podcast Targeted, host Zach Abramowitz delves into the unraveling of commodities investor Gaurav Srivastava’s professional and personal life—charting a descent not into legal trouble, but into the chaotic digital battleground of reputation destruction.

The episodes, titled I Was a Liability and They Turned Their Backs on Us, present a first-person narrative of how a failed energy partnership escalated into a sprawling disinformation campaign. Srivastava, once a low-profile figure in global commodities, recounts how a business venture turned into a life-altering conflict that played out across blogs, Wikipedia, and eventually, the pages of The Wall Street Journal and The Financial Times.

A Deal, Then Discord

Srivastava’s account begins in 2022 with what appeared to be a promising opportunity: a restructuring of a commodities group trying to pivot toward commodities markets in Asia, the Middle East, and Africa—territories where Srivastava had business ties.

Srivastava agreed to a $50,000 buy-in for a 50% stake in the company. But as he tells it, his access to company finances and operations was blocked from the start. “I had no bank account information. I didn’t even have an email address with the company,” he says during the podcast.

What followed, according to Gaurav Srivastava, was a troubling audit. The company’s books, he alleges, revealed that his business partner, sanctioned oil trader Niels Troost, had siphoned millions via related entities and continued illicit trades in sanctioned Russian oil—despite public statements to the contrary.

Beyond the Courtroom

What might have ended in a protracted legal fight instead bled into the public domain. Gaurav Srivastava asserts that his business partner launched an aggressive media campaign—targeting him not in court, but across a network of obscure online publications.

“Within days, letters went out to everyone I knew—business contacts, friends, even political allies,” Srivastava notes. The narrative presented in these emails and stories was jarring and he was depicted as a con man.

The accusation echoed earlier claims Niels Troost had reportedly made about other associates. In a memo read aloud on Targeted, he described a previous business partner as a supposed CIA operative. That detail would prove critical, as Srivastava came to believe he was being framed with a recycled narrative.

Manufactured Reality

The podcast investigates how reputational damage can be constructed with alarming ease. Srivastava’s name began to appear in little-known outlets from India and Pakistan—publications with a record of running “pay-to-play” content, according to Abramowitz. From there, the story snowballed. A former Wall Street Journal writer picked it up on a blog. Then came mentions in the Journal and the Financial Times, bringing global legitimacy to the allegations.

Abramowitz interviews Victoria Kataoka, managing director of the Arkin Group, a New York-based intelligence firm retained by Srivastava. She describes a methodical effort to “set the cognitive bias” against him, leveraging repetition and selective sourcing. “It is extraordinarily well-resourced and terrifying,” Kataoka says of the campaign.

A separate investigation into Wikipedia also uncovered troubling findings. A page titled “Gaurav Srivastava scandal” appeared just weeks before mainstream articles were published. According to internal Wikipedia correspondence cited in the podcast, the page was flagged and removed for being a clear “attack page.” A senior editor later confirmed that sock puppet accounts—fake identities used to manipulate consensus—were likely involved.

One editor even allegedly demanded $40,000 in cryptocurrency to agree to an interview about his role.

The Personal Toll

While the podcast unpacks complex questions around media manipulation, AI deepfakes, and regulatory vulnerabilities, its emotional anchor is Srivastava’s personal suffering.

He recounts how parents at his children’s school began distancing themselves. “Every parent in the school turned their back on us,” he says, describing a painful moment during chapel service. One parent even warned that no child would attend their son’s birthday party. His banks closed his accounts. Social and professional isolation followed.

“I felt like I had brought this on my children,” Gaurav Srivastava says, his voice shaking. “I was in a very dark place.”

Abramowitz doesn’t shy from this emotional territory. He compares Srivastava’s experience to quicksand: “The harder you thrash, the faster you sink.” The podcast touches on the broader psychological impact of such campaigns. Kataoka warns that the isolation induced by reputational ruin can lead victims to consider self-harm. Srivastava, too, admits to near-breaking points.

The Role of Journalism

Throughout both episodes, Targeted asks hard questions about the role of mainstream media. Neither The Wall Street Journal nor The Financial Times responded to the statements made in the podcast. It highlights a vulnerability in modern reporting: the ease with which disinformation—carefully layered across blogs, bots, and backchannels—can seep into the editorial pipeline.

Kataoka suggests the outlets were not entirely to blame, as they were fed a compelling narrative of a “very shiny, fake spy story.” Yet the ultimate result, she says, was a skewed public perception—one that even Wikipedia readers struggled to disentangle.

A Cautionary Tale

Srivastava’s story is not over. Litigation is ongoing, and as Targeted prepares future episodes, questions linger: Who benefits from the fallout? How do platforms, from Wikipedia to major media outlets, vet narratives under pressure? And can reputations ever be truly restored in the age of algorithmic smear?

For now, Targeted offers a layered, if still developing, account of how power and perception collide. As Srivastava puts it, “I want my life back.” Whether truth alone can provide that remains to be seen.

Read more:
From Business Deal to Digital Inferno: the Attack on Gaurav Srivastava Unfolds on Targeted

Forex trading can seem like a daunting venture at first, especially in the UK, where the market is bustling with opportunities and complexities. This guide is designed to demystify the process for beginners.

By exploring the essentials, you’ll gain a solid footing to make informed trading decisions. Let’s dive into the basics and set you up for success!

Understanding Forex Trading Basics

What Is Forex Trading?

Forex trading, short for foreign exchange trading, involves buying and selling currencies on the global market. It operates around the clock, allowing traders to engage in a highly liquid financial marketplace. The primary goal is to profit from changes in currency values, often by speculating on whether a currency will rise or fall against another. In the UK, this market offers vast opportunities for both individual traders and institutions due to its volatility and accessibility.

How Does the Forex Market Work?

The forex market operates through a network of banks, brokers, and financial institutions rather than a centralized exchange. Participants trade currency pairs, which represent the relative value of one currency against another, such as the British Pound (GBP) against the US Dollar (USD). Prices fluctuate based on supply and demand, influenced by factors like economic data, geopolitical events, and market sentiment.

Trading primarily occurs in major financial hubs like London, New York, and Tokyo, functioning 24 hours a day due to the different time zones. Amidst this constant activity, traders can take advantage of varying market conditions to execute trades.

Essential Forex Terminology

Navigating the forex market requires understanding its unique terminology. Here are some essential terms to get you started:

Currency Pair: Represents two currencies, where the first is the base currency, and the second is the quote currency (e.g., EUR/USD).
Pip: The smallest price movement in a currency pair. Typically, a pip equals 0.0001 for most pairs.
Spread: The difference between the bid (selling) and ask (buying) price. It represents the broker’s profit from the trade.
Leverage: Allows traders to control larger positions with a small amount of capital, magnifying both potential gains and losses.
Lot: A standard unit size for trading forex. One standard lot is 100,000 units of the base currency, though mini and micro lots are also available.

Understanding these terms will provide clarity as you navigate trading platforms and develop strategies.

Getting Started in Forex Trading

Choosing a Reliable Forex Broker

Selecting a reliable forex broker for Forex trading UK is crucial for a smooth trading experience. Begin by ensuring the broker is regulated by a reputable financial authority, such as the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) in the UK. This regulation ensures that your investments are protected under strict financial standards.

Evaluate the broker’s trading platform for user-friendliness, available tools, and features like charting software and real-time data. Also, consider their fee structure, including spreads and commissions, as these will affect your overall profitability. Lastly, check their customer support services and read reviews to gauge reliability and responsiveness.

Setting Up Your Trading Account

Setting up your trading account is a straightforward process, but it requires attention to detail. Start by selecting a regulated broker, then proceed to their website to complete the registration form with your personal information. This typically includes your name, address, and contact details.

Once registered, you’ll need to verify your identity by submitting documents like a passport or driver’s license and a utility bill for address confirmation. After verification, decide on the type of account you want, such as a standard or demo account, and proceed to fund it through your chosen payment method.

Initially, it might be beneficial to start with a demo account to familiarize yourself with the platform without financial risk.

Selecting Currency Pairs

Selecting the right currency pairs is a critical decision for any forex trader. Generally, pairs are categorized into three groups: major, minor, and exotic. Major pairs, such as EUR/USD, GBP/USD, and USD/JPY, are the most traded and usually offer tighter spreads, making them ideal for beginners.

Minors include combinations of major currencies, excluding the USD, like EUR/GBP. Exotic pairs feature less commonly traded currencies against a major one, such as USD/TRY, and often come with higher volatility and spreads. When selecting pairs, consider factors like volatility, economic stability, and how well you understand the associated countries’ economic factors.

Understanding Leverage and Its Risks

Leverage is a powerful tool in forex trading, allowing traders to amplify their positions by borrowing capital from their broker. For instance, with a leverage ratio of 100:1, you can control £10,000 with just a £100 deposit. While this magnifies potential profits, it equally increases potential losses, making risk management essential.

The misuse of leverage can lead to significant financial loss if market movements go against your position. It’s crucial to start with lower leverage ratios and gradually increase as you gain experience and confidence. Always ensure you’re using stop-loss orders to protect your capital from adverse market shifts.

Developing Your Forex Trading Strategy

Basic Forex Trading Strategies

Embarking on forex trading requires a solid strategy to navigate the market effectively. Here are some basic strategies to consider:

Trend Following: This involves analyzing currency pair trends and making trades that align with the prevailing market direction. It’s a straightforward strategy often suitable for beginners.
Range Trading: Ideal for stable markets, this strategy focuses on identifying buying and selling points within a defined range. Traders capitalize on support and resistance levels to execute trades.
Breakout Strategy: This approach involves entering trades as soon as the price breaks a defined range. It’s used to capture large movements when the market suddenly shifts.
Carry Trade: Here, traders capitalize on interest rate differentials between two currencies. Profit comes from both the interest rate differential and potential price appreciation.
Trading the News: This involves analyzing economic news and data releases to anticipate market movements. It requires staying informed about global economic events.

Each strategy involves its own set of risks and requires careful analysis and timing. Choose one that aligns with your risk tolerance and trading goals.

Swing vs. Scalping: Finding Your Fit

Choosing between swing trading and scalping depends on your personality, time availability, and risk tolerance. Both are popular forex trading strategies with distinct characteristics.

Swing Trading: This approach involves holding positions for several days or weeks, aiming to profit from significant price movements. It’s suitable for traders who prefer less frequent monitoring and have a moderate risk appetite. Swing traders often utilize technical and fundamental analysis to predict long-term market movements.

Scalping: On the other hand, scalping involves executing numerous trades within minutes or even seconds, targeting small price changes. It requires quick decision-making and intense concentration. This strategy suits traders who thrive in high-paced environments and can handle high-frequency trading.

When deciding which strategy fits you best, consider your lifestyle. If you have limited time and prefer taking calculated, less stressful positions, swing trading might be more appropriate. If you can devote significant attention to the markets and enjoy fast-paced action, then scalping may be your fit.

Developing a Risk Management Plan

A well-structured risk management plan is crucial in forex trading to safeguard your capital and ensure long-term success. Begin by defining your risk tolerance—this is the amount of capital you’re willing to lose on any single trade. A common guideline is to risk no more than 1-2% of your account balance per trade.

Use stop-loss orders to automatically close positions that are not performing as expected, helping to limit potential losses. Similarly, utilize take-profit orders to lock in gains when the market moves in your favor. Prioritize diversification by not concentrating all your investments in a single currency pair, which can reduce the impact of adverse movements.

Regularly evaluate your trading performance to identify patterns or mistakes that may increase risk. Staying disciplined and sticking to your plan is key—avoid emotional decision-making, and instead rely on your pre-defined rules and analysis. Consistent monitoring and adjustments will help keep your risk management plan effective.

Tools and Resources for New Traders

Popular Forex Trading Platforms

Choosing the right forex trading platform is instrumental in executing your strategy efficiently. Some of the most popular platforms among traders include:

MetaTrader 4 (MT4): Renowned for its user-friendly interface and extensive range of technical analysis tools, MT4 offers customizable charts, automated trading via Expert Advisors (EAs), and a supportive community.
MetaTrader 5 (MT5): The successor to MT4, MT5 provides enhanced features such as additional timeframes, more technical indicators, and access to a wider range of markets beyond forex.
cTrader: Known for its sleek design and innovative features, cTrader offers advanced charting capabilities, copy trading, and a robust backtesting environment for developing and testing trading strategies.
ThinkTrader: Popular for mobile trading, ThinkTrader boasts a comprehensive set of analytical tools and real-time price alerts, making it ideal for traders on the go.
NinjaTrader: Although primarily used for futures and stock trading, NinjaTrader is appreciated for its advanced analytics, automated trading capabilities, and customizable interface.

Evaluate platforms based on ease of use, available tools, and compatibility with your trading style. This evaluation will empower you to choose a platform that complements your trading objectives and preferences.

Educational Resources for Beginners

Embarking on your forex trading journey is made easier with the plethora of educational resources available. Here are some excellent starting points:

Online Courses: Platforms like ForexAcademy offer structured courses tailored to beginners, covering everything from the basics to advanced strategies.
Webinars and Seminars: Many brokers host webinars or live seminars where experts share insights and experiences, providing a practical understanding of market dynamics.
Books and Ebooks: Classic books like “Currency Trading for Dummies” or “Forex Trading: The Basics Explained in Simple Terms” offer in-depth knowledge for new traders.
Forums and Communities: Online forums like Forex Factory and Reddit’s r/Forex are great for engaging with other traders, sharing knowledge, and seeking advice.
Broker’s Educational Portals: Brokers often have dedicated sections with articles, tutorials, and video content to help you learn at your own pace.

Utilizing these resources will enhance your knowledge base and build a strong foundation. [Include quotes from beginner traders about their experiences or links to high-rated educational courses.]

Utilizing Forex Signals for Decision Making

Forex signals can be a valuable tool for traders looking to enhance their decision-making process. These signals, often provided by experienced analysts or automated systems, give insights into potential trade opportunities based on market data analysis. Here’s how you can utilize them effectively:

Source from Reputable Providers: Ensure the signals come from reliable sources with a proven track record. This can include brokerage firms or independent signal services with verifiable success rates.
Understand the Signal Components: Each signal typically includes key information like the currency pair, entry and exit points, stop-loss, and take-profit levels. Make sure you comprehend these components before acting.
Use as a Supplement: Consider signals as a supplement to your analysis, not a replacement. While they can offer guidance, basing your trades solely on signals could increase risk.
Backtest Signals: Before implementing any signal strategy, backtest it against historical data to assess its effectiveness and reliability.
Monitor Performance: Regularly evaluate the performance of the signals to ensure they align with your trading goals and help achieve desired outcomes.

Integrating forex signals into your strategy can provide additional perspectives and help identify opportunities you might overlook. These additional perspectives can serve as a valuable asset in your trading toolkit, offering guidance during volatile market conditions.

Common Challenges and How to Overcome Them

Psychological Challenges and Tips

Trading in the forex market can be as much a test of mental fortitude as technical skill. Psychological challenges such as fear, greed, and overconfidence can significantly hinder your success. Understanding and addressing these challenges is key to developing into a disciplined trader.

Avoid Emotional Trading: One common pitfall is making impulsive trades based on emotions rather than rational analysis. To combat this, follow a predetermined trading plan and stick to your strategy, even when it’s tempting to deviate.
Manage Stress: High-pressure situations can lead to stress, affecting your decision-making. Incorporate stress relief techniques like regular breaks, physical exercise, or meditation to maintain a clear mind.
Set Realistic Goals: Unrealistic expectations can lead to frustration and burnout. Set achievable targets and celebrate small victories to keep motivation levels high.
Practice Patience: Patience is crucial in waiting for the right trading opportunities. Rushing into trades can lead to errors and losses.
Stay Educated: Continuous learning helps build confidence and reduces anxiety born out of uncertainty. Engage with education resources and market analysis to improve your understanding over time.

By focusing on these strategies, you can mitigate psychological barriers and foster a mindset geared toward success. Implementing these strategies will help you build a resilient mind, allowing you to navigate the forex landscape with more confidence and clarity.

Avoiding Forex Scams and Frauds

The forex market’s global appeal and decentralized nature make it a target for scams and fraudulent schemes. Protect yourself by staying vigilant and informed. Here’s how:

Verify Regulation: Only deal with brokers and trading platforms regulated by recognized financial authorities like the FCA in the UK. Regulatory oversight ensures adherence to industry standards.
Research Broker Reputation: Before committing funds, research broker reviews and reputation online. Look out for red flags such as unresolved customer complaints or lack of transparency.

By following these guidelines, you can reduce the risk of falling victim to scams while trading forex.

Managing Trading Emotions

Managing emotions is a crucial aspect of successful forex trading. Emotional decisions can lead to impulsive actions, resulting in significant losses. Here’s how you can maintain emotional balance:

Acknowledge Your Emotions: Being aware of your emotional state is the first step. Identify feelings such as fear, greed, or excitement and understand how they influence your trading decisions.
Stick to Your Plan: Develop a comprehensive trading plan and adhere strictly to it. This plan should include clear entry and exit rules, helping to reduce emotional trading decisions.
Utilize Stop-Loss Orders: These orders automatically minimize losses by closing out of unfavorable positions, thereby preventing emotion-driven decisions.
Take Scheduled Breaks: Step away from trading periodically to clear your mind, especially after a string of wins or losses. This helps prevent fatigue and emotional burnout.
Practice Discipline and Patience: Discipline ensures you act according to strategy, while patience helps avoid the rush into trades, allowing you to wait for the right opportunities.

Implement these strategies consistently to help manage emotions and foster a rational mindset, leading to more calculated trading actions.

By incorporating these practices into your trading routine, you can mitigate emotional interference, allowing your decisions to be led by strategy rather than impulse, ultimately fostering a more resilient and successful trading mindset.

Read more:
Forex Trading UK for Beginners

Nearly 300,000 people filed their Self Assessment tax returns in the first week of the new tax year — the highest number ever recorded during the opening week of filing, according to HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC).

The figures show that 299,419 returns were submitted between 6 and 12 April, almost 10 months ahead of the 31 January 2026 deadline, as more taxpayers opt to file early to get ahead of their financial responsibilities. The figure represents a 28,503 increase compared with the same period five years ago, when 270,916 people filed in the first week of the 2020 tax year.

More than 57,800 people submitted their return on 6 April, despite the day falling on a Sunday this year, suggesting growing awareness of the benefits of early filing. HMRC says early submission gives taxpayers more time to budget for their tax bill, avoid penalties, and even receive refunds more quickly where applicable.

Filing early has practical advantages, particularly for self-employed workers and small business owners. Jade Milbourne, who co-runs a dog grooming salon, said early filing has become a crucial part of her annual routine.

“Filing early means that I have plenty of time to pay my tax bill,” she said. “I set aside money each month, and the flexibility it gives me takes the stress out of the whole process.”

HMRC is keen to encourage more taxpayers to follow suit. Myrtle Lloyd, HMRC’s Director General for Customer Services, said early filing offers peace of mind and helps people focus on their business or personal lives without the looming pressure of a tax deadline.

“Filing your Self Assessment early means you can spend more time growing your business and doing the things you love, rather than worrying about your tax return,” she said.

The tax authority has updated its guidance on early filing and payment options on GOV.UK, including a budget payment plan feature that allows customers to pay their bill in weekly or monthly instalments via Direct Debit. For those owed money, refunds can be issued as soon as the return is processed, and taxpayers can check their status through the HMRC app.

Who needs to file?

HMRC is also reminding taxpayers to check whether they are required to file a Self Assessment return this year. Individuals must file if they:
• Are newly self-employed with income over £1,000
• Rent out one or more properties
• Earn over £2,500 in untaxed income
• Receive Child Benefit and earn over £60,000
• Have savings or dividend income over £10,000
• Need to pay Capital Gains Tax
• Are in a business partnership

A full list of criteria and a checker tool is available on GOV.UK.

With the rise in early filings, HMRC has also issued a warning about phishing and fraud attempts. Criminals often impersonate HMRC through texts, calls, and emails, especially during peak tax periods. HMRC urges taxpayers to never share their login credentials and to verify any suspicious contact by searching “HMRC phishing and scams” online.

As record numbers move to get their tax affairs in order early, HMRC hopes to build on the momentum and reduce the January tax rush. The message is clear: early filing isn’t just efficient — it could save you time, stress, and money.

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Record 299,000 tax returns filed in first week of new tax year, says HMRC

Novo Nordisk has slashed its full-year revenue and profit forecasts for the first time since launching its blockbuster weight-loss drug Wegovy, as unauthorised compounded versions of its GLP-1 drugs eat into sales — particularly in the United States, its largest market.

The Danish drugmaker, which also markets Ozempic for diabetes, now expects sales growth of 13% to 21% in constant currencies this year, down from its previous range of 16% to 24%. Operating profit is also forecast to be lower, at 16% to 24%, versus the prior estimate of 19% to 27%.

“We have reduced our full-year outlook due to lower-than-planned branded GLP-1 penetration, which is impacted by the rapid expansion of compounding in the US,” said Lars Fruergaard Jorgensen, Novo Nordisk CEO.

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) had allowed pharmacies to compound their own versions of semaglutide, the active ingredient in both Wegovy and Ozempic, to address supply shortages. But with supply now stabilised, the FDA has ordered these compounded versions off the market by May 22, offering Novo a potential reprieve.

Novo’s shares jumped 6.8% in Copenhagen following the news, despite the revised outlook, as the company signalled that prescription growth for Wegovy is expected to rebound once the FDA ban is enforced.

Despite Wegovy sales surging 83% year-on-year to $2.65 billion, growth was below analyst expectations and down from the previous quarter. Ozempic posted a 15% rise, slightly ahead of forecasts.

Novo estimates that compounding pharmacies have captured nearly a third of the US obesity drug market, undermining its dominance in the fast-growing GLP-1 sector.

“It’s unprecedented in our industry to have very large volumes of products flowing to patients that are not approved,” Jorgensen said.

Investor anxiety has also grown over intensifying competition, particularly from US rival Eli Lilly, which has gained traction with tirzepatide, branded as Mounjaro for diabetes and Zepbound for obesity. Lilly recently unveiled positive trial data for a weight-loss pill, heightening concerns over Novo’s future share in the injectable GLP-1 market.

Other pharmaceutical giants, including AstraZeneca, are racing to develop next-generation oral alternatives, which are cheaper to produce, easier to distribute, and may offer better patient outcomes by preserving muscle mass during weight loss.

To combat supply issues, Novo has made aggressive investments, including the $11 billion acquisition of three factories from Catalent, the US-based contract manufacturer, in a bid to scale up Wegovy production.

Jorgensen also addressed rising concerns over potential pharmaceutical tariffs from President Trump’s administration, stating that Novo is a net exporter from the US, where it operates multiple production sites and employs over 10,000 people.

“We have a strong US footprint,” he noted, emphasising that most of the company’s GLP-1 products are manufactured in the US and shipped globally.

While Novo’s GLP-1 franchise remains the market leader, the era of uninterrupted growth may be over as price pressure, regulatory shifts, and fierce competition disrupt the sector.

Investors will now look closely at how Novo navigates its US supply dynamics, defends its market share against new entrants, and transitions to the next phase of its product innovation pipeline — including potential oral therapies.

Read more:
Novo Nordisk cuts forecasts as Ozempic and Wegovy sales hit by US copycat versions

Amazon has announced a major breakthrough in warehouse automation with the launch of Vulcan, a new robot equipped with a sense of touch, capable of handling around 75% of items in the company’s vast fulfilment network.

Unveiled at the retailer’s “Delivering the Future” event in Dortmund, Germany, Vulcan represents what Amazon calls a “fundamental leap forward in robotics”, with AI-powered tactile sensing that allows it to identify and handle items based on what they feel like, not just how they look.

“It’s not just seeing the world, it’s feeling it,” said Aaron Parness, Amazon’s director of robotics. “Enabling capabilities that were impossible for Amazon robots until now.”

Unlike previous robots in Amazon’s fleet, which rely on suction cups and computer vision to move items, Vulcan’s ability to “feel” enables it to pick up and sort a wider range of products, and store them on upper and lower shelves, reducing the need for humans to climb ladders or bend frequently.

Vulcan will join Amazon’s growing army of warehouse robots — now numbering more than 750,000 — designed to work alongside humans at picking stations. The company says these innovations are intended to improve efficiency and safety, not to replace human workers entirely.

“There’s no such thing as completely automated,” said Tye Brady, Amazon’s chief technologist for robotics. “People will always be part of the equation. Robots are here to handle the menial, the mundane and the repetitive.”

Brady likened Vulcan’s collaborative nature to R2D2 from Star Wars, calling it an “amazing collaborative robot” that supports rather than supplants humans.

Amazon says the next generation of robots — powered by machine learning — are being designed to navigate complex warehouse spaces, adapt to new tasks, and even ask for help to improve their performance. Vulcan, for example, can autonomously learn how to move safely and efficiently alongside people and other machines.

“It’s really exciting to bring both the mind and the body together,” Brady said. “It’s finally here, and it’s just beginning.”

Amazon is also rolling out new automated packaging technology that uses AI to create bespoke packages and cut waste. More than 70 machines will be installed across Germany, the UK, France, Italy and Spain this year, with more planned by 2027.

The launch of Vulcan is likely to reignite concerns over automation and job displacement, especially in light of Amazon’s history of industrial action over pay and working conditions in its warehouses.

A 2023 report from Goldman Sachs suggested that 300 million jobs globally could be replaced by AI by 2030, while research from the Tony Blair Institute estimates that up to 275,000 jobs in the UK could be displaced annually at the peak of AI disruption.

But Brady insists that humans remain essential, not just for oversight, but also for practical judgement — whether it’s spotting a broken item in a delivery or detecting a cybersecurity issue that automation might miss.

The debut of Vulcan coincides with the UK launch of Amazon Haul, a low-cost shopping site offering products under £20 as Amazon ramps up competition with Shein and Temu.

As Amazon continues to expand its robotics capabilities and AI-driven logistics, the company appears intent on staying ahead in both e-commerce innovation and operational efficiency — even as the human implications of that progress become harder to ignore.

Read more:
Amazon unveils ‘leap forward’ in robotics with Vulcan, a robot that can feel

A majority of British companies say that rising and unstable energy costs are undermining their growth plans, with firms warning that soaring electricity prices are threatening profitability, competitiveness, and the UK’s industrial future.

According to a new EY survey, three in five UK businesses reported that high energy prices are hampering their ability to expand. The warning follows an analysis by the International Energy Agency, which found that British industrial energy prices are the highest in the G7 — 46% above the IEA average.

The findings reinforce growing alarm across energy-intensive industries that the UK risks falling behind global rivals unless the government takes urgent steps to reduce energy costs.

“Energy is clearly no longer just a commodity, it’s a competitive and strategic asset,” said Colm Devine, EY’s head of power and utilities. “Firms increasingly see energy as central to their long-term viability and investment planning.”

The issue has sparked political debate, with Energy Secretary Ed Miliband blaming price volatility on “the rollercoaster of fossil-fuel markets we are subject to.” But critics of the government’s net-zero policies say green levies and carbon taxes are also pushing up costs.

Sir Jim Ratcliffe, the billionaire founder of Ineos, has been one of the most vocal critics. Earlier this year, Ineos shuttered its synthetic ethanol plant at Grangemouth, citing “high energy prices and high carbon taxes” as the key reasons.

The Trades Union Congress (TUC) and Make UK, the manufacturers’ lobby group, have warned Chancellor Rachel Reeves that sectors such as steel and chemicals are at risk of falling behind global competitors if the UK fails to bring down what they called “exorbitant electricity prices.”

EY’s survey also reveals that businesses are taking action despite their concerns. Around two-thirds of companies are worried about the future availability and reliability of energy, with many planning to electrify operations, cut emissions, and invest in energy efficiency over the next three years.

More than 80% of companies said they expect their electricity consumption to rise as they shift away from polluting energy sources. This reflects both regulatory pressure and a strategic pivot to align with sustainability goals.

However, many businesses warn that without a level playing field on energy pricing, the shift to cleaner energy could put UK firms at a competitive disadvantage, particularly if rivals abroad benefit from lower costs and state support.

With pressure growing from both industry and unions, the issue of industrial energy prices could become a flashpoint in the government’s broader economic and climate strategy. As firms brace for increased electricity use, they are demanding more predictable pricing, reliable supply, and a coherent long-term policy that keeps the UK investable.

Whether the Treasury chooses to subsidise electricity, reform carbon pricing, or re-evaluate industrial energy levies could be critical to the future of British manufacturing and exports — and to whether the UK’s green transition accelerates or stalls.

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Rising energy costs threaten UK business growth as firms warn of competitive disadvantage

UK investors pulled a staggering £1.2 billion from fixed income funds in April, the fastest pace of bond outflows since the early pandemic panic of April 2020, according to new data from global funds network Calastone.

The sell-off came as President Trump’s April 2 “Liberation Day” tariff announcement sparked global market volatility and raised fears of an economic slowdown, triggering speculation that central banks — including the Bank of England — may need to cut interest rates in response.

“The turmoil in US bond markets has pressured yields around the world,” said Edward Glyn, head of global markets at Calastone. “There are concerns about government finances if the global economy slows as much as predicted.”

It was the second consecutive month of strong outflows from bond funds, following £700 million of redemptions in March. The shift reflects growing unease among investors, who are scrambling to raise cash to meet margin calls and brace for further market swings.

While bond funds suffered, investors flocked to equities — particularly North American stocks — as markets began to price in a potential softening of Trump’s trade policies.

Net inflows into North American equity funds hit £1.5 billion, with momentum building from April 8, shortly after speculation began that Trump might walk back some of the harsher tariff measures. Global equity funds, which are heavily weighted toward the US, also attracted £1.5 billion in inflows.

The S&P 500 has now recovered nearly all of its losses since April 2, trading just 0.5% below pre-tariff levels.

UK equities, while still in outflow territory, showed signs of stabilisation, with net redemptions slowing to £521 million — the lowest since July 2023, outside of months impacted by tax-related trading distortions.

The market volatility triggered by Trump’s tariffs has also had a chilling effect on global dealmaking. In the US, M&A deal value halved month-on-month to $249.4 billion, with April marking the lowest number of transactions since May 2009, according to Dealogic.

Boards reportedly delayed public listings and acquisitions as they waited for clarity on the implications of new trade barriers.

Globally, however, M&A was up 19% year-on-year to $1.2 trillion in the first four months of 2025, with the UK emerging as a top target. Deals involving UK companies totalled $52.2 billion, making it the third most attractive M&A destination behind the US and China.

Larry Fink, CEO of BlackRock, said his firm had “tactically allocated more capital back to the UK,” arguing that many UK stocks — especially banks — were “undervalued” due to “unwarranted negativity.”

“The new administration is tackling hard issues,” Fink told The Times. “So many of the UK stock discounts were too deep. We added to our positions across the board.”

With the Bank of England expected to cut rates to 4.25% on Thursday, and Trump’s tariffs introducing both risk and opportunity, UK markets are at the centre of an unfolding global realignment — and investors are reshuffling portfolios in real time to adapt.

Read more:
UK investors dump bonds at fastest rate since 2020 amid Trump tariff turmoil and rate cut fears

HMRC’s latest public awareness campaign, ‘Don’t Get Caught Out’, is being criticised by tax experts for blurring the lines between legal tax planning and illegal activity — a move that could confuse taxpayers and undermine the clarity of the UK tax system.

According to leading audit, tax and advisory firm Blick Rothenberg, the campaign repeatedly refers to “tax avoidance schemes” when describing behaviours that are more accurately labelled tax evasion or fraud.

Robert Salter, Director at Blick Rothenberg, said: “It’s good that HMRC is warning taxpayers about scams. But by calling these arrangements ‘tax avoidance schemes’, they are misusing terminology and potentially misleading the public. What they’re describing are clear cases of tax evasion or fraud — not avoidance.”

Salter stressed that tax avoidance is legal and often routine, involving tools like pension contributions, ISAs, or salary sacrifice schemes. By contrast, tax evasion involves deliberate concealment of income, assets or false reporting to avoid paying taxes — and is a criminal offence.

He added that conflating the terms could leave taxpayers unsure of what legitimate tax planning options are available to them, and inadvertently make it easier for scammers to exploit that confusion.

“Tax avoidance is legal and legitimate. It’s what many do when they contribute to a pension or adjust salary structures. But tax evasion is a crime. Using the right terminology matters — both for clarity and for protecting taxpayers,” Salter said.

The campaign’s messaging, intended to educate people about the risks of tax scams, could instead lead some to miss out on genuine tax-saving opportunities out of fear of crossing legal lines.

Salter warned: “If a taxpayer is put off from making legitimate choices due to this confusion, they could end up needlessly out of pocket. Worse, scammers could exploit the ambiguity to make unlawful schemes seem more credible.”

He urged HMRC to review the language used in its educational materials, stressing that clear distinctions between tax avoidance, tax evasion, and tax fraud are essential — not only to help the public navigate the system, but to maintain trust and prevent abuse.

“Making the distinction clearer will not only help protect taxpayers — it could also reduce the number of inquiries and investigations HMRC has to handle,” Salter concluded.

HMRC has yet to respond publicly to the criticism.

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HMRC criticised for misusing terminology in ‘don’t get caught out’ campaign on tax scams

The UK’s long-awaited trade deal with India may have been spurred into motion by the escalating global tariff war instigated by US President Donald Trump, according to leading audit, tax and business advisory firm Blick Rothenberg.

Jim Brown, Chief Operating Officer at the firm, said the growing uncertainty caused by Trump’s aggressive trade policies may have acted as a wake-up call for UK trade negotiators, creating momentum for long-stalled agreements in the post-Brexit era.

“It has taken this government and the last a long time to progress the trade deals that were promised post-Brexit,” Brown said. “They are very complicated to negotiate, but perhaps the current debates around tariffs and the uncertainty this is causing for businesses has helped focus attention — and more deals may now follow.”

With Trump’s tariffs disrupting global trade routes, UK businesses are seeking new, stable partnerships to ensure frictionless cross-border trade. A deal with India, one of the world’s fastest-growing economies, could help fill that gap.

Brown noted that for many of the firm’s internationally active clients, reducing trade friction is critical to keeping costs down and avoiding inflationary pressures for British consumers.

“Making cross-border transactions as frictionless as possible can only be of benefit to British consumers,” he added.

While a UK-India trade deal is now reportedly nearing completion, Brown suggested that further agreements — including with China, potentially focused on electric vehicles and electronics — should also be on the government’s radar.

“The Government needs to use the current situation to complete the trade deals they’ve been discussing since Brexit, and come up with new ones,” he said.

The remarks come as the UK government faces pressure to deliver on its post-Brexit trade promises and offer businesses certainty in the face of Trump’s protectionist trade agenda, which has already included blanket 10% tariffs, a 145% levy on Chinese imports, and threats of further duties on automobiles, metals, and even entertainment products.

A UK-India trade deal, long in discussion, would mark a significant milestone in diversifying Britain’s global trade strategy — and, if Blick Rothenberg is right, could be the first of several accelerated by external pressures from Washington.

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Trump’s tariff war may have catalysed UK-India trade deal, says Blick Rothenberg