- Women’s Champions League: Man Utd enjoy dream debut as Madrid and Atletico score six beIN SPORTS
- Man Utd 1-0 Valerenga: Maya le Tissier penalty earns debut Women’s Champions League win BBC
- Women’s Champions League roundup: Chelsea held in…
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		Women's Champions League: Man Utd enjoy dream debut as Madrid and Atletico score six – beIN SPORTS
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		 England will be ‘underdogs’ at World Cup – Thomas TuchelHe was handed an 18-month contract, with the primary goal of leading England to World Cup glory. “If you’ve never won Wimbledon, you may be one of the favourites but you are not the favourite,” Tuchel said. “You can go and if you come close, OK,… Continue Reading
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		 Nutrition Researcher: a Simple Lunch Routine for Healthy EatingKevin Hall made a career out of figuring out what’s wrong with the way we eat. So, you may be surprised to discover that he isn’t one of those “clean” eating types who shun all packaged foods. In fact, Hall feeds his… Continue Reading
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		 Briefing Note:Key Tax Measures from Budget 2027 | Publications | Insights & EventsMain TakeawayBudget 2027 maintains a fiscally prudent stance with no 
 broad personal income tax rate cuts, while enhancing
 targeted supports for households, business investment
 incentives, housing supply and climate action.The below provides a brief overview of the more relevant 
 changes that may be of interest to corporate entities followed
 by a table providing a general overview of the more significant
 tax changes brought in by Budget 2027, across all taxes.Corporate Tax, Research and Development
 (R&D) and Capital MarketsMeasures aimed at the corporate sector strategically 
 reinforce Ireland’s reputation as an innovative base, providing
 enhanced incentives for research and supporting capital
 market participation for indigenous enterprises.Impact on Corporate TaxpayersA central component of the budget’s innovation strategy is 
 the substantial enhancement of the R&D tax credit. The rate
 is being increased from 30% to 35%. This enhancement
 provides significant encouragement for both multinational
 corporations (MNCs) and indigenous companies to base their
 high-value innovation activities in Ireland.Furthermore, the measure includes vital liquidity and 
 compliance improvements for smaller claimants.The first-year
 payment minimum threshold is being raised from €75,000
 to €87,500. This adjustment directly enhances cash flow for
 Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) engaged in R&D,
 accelerating their access to state funding.Implications for Investors and Investment
 FundsIn the financial services sector, stability and technical clarity 
 are prioritised. The exit tax rate applied to payments made
 from Irish funds and equivalent offshore funds to Irish
 individual investors has been reduced from 41% to 38%. This
 adjustment aims to improve retail participation in investment
 funds, as it enhances net returns for non-resident and
 domestic investors.Combined with the unchanged 9% value-added tax (VAT) on 
 property-related services, Ireland’s fund ecosystem retains
 competitive cost structures.In support of capital markets, a new market cap exemption 
 threshold of €1 billion is introduced for Irish SMEs and startups
 trading on regulated markets. For companies falling below
 this threshold, the standard 1% stamp duty charge paid on
 share transactions will no longer apply. The SME marketcap
 threshold stamp duty exemption is aimed at attracting
 increased equity financing for growth companies listed on
 regulated markets, bolstering liquidity and investor appetite.Entrepreneurial Incentives and Capital
 GainsTo stimulate entrepreneurial activity and reward risk-takers, 
 the Capital Gains Tax (CGT) Revised Entrepreneur Relief has
 been significantly strengthened. The overall lifetime limit on
 gains eligible for the reduced 10% CGT rate is increased
 from €1 million to €1.5 million. This 50% increase applies to
 qualifying disposals made on or after 1 January 2026. This
 policy signals a strong commitment to supporting successful
 founders and incentivises them to reinvest their capital within
 the Irish economy, thereby promoting further start-up creation
 and economic dynamism.In support of capital markets, a new market cap exemption 
 threshold of €1 billion is introduced for Irish SMEs and startups
 trading on regulated markets. For companies falling below
 this threshold, the standard 1% stamp duty charge paid on
 share transactions will no longer apply.This measure is positioned as essential for enhancing the 
 growth prospects of homegrown businesses, particularly
 those seeking to secure funding or scale internationally. The
 Key Employee Engagement Programme (KEEP) has also been
 extended until the end of 2028.ConclusionAlthough from a personal income tax perspective Budget 
 2027 has a much more targeted and measured approach
 to what we’ve seen in previous years, the enhancements
 to R&D incentives, fund taxation and SME reliefs should
 hopefully lower effective tax burdens for corporates and
 investors, foster greater deal activity in growth sectors
 and prop up Ireland’s positioning as a tax-efficient hub for
 innovation finance.The below table provides a brief summary of the pertinent 
 tax changes brought in by Budget 2027. We now wait for
 the publication of Finance Bill 2026, to see exactly how
 these measures will be implemented.Tax Area Measure Key Change/Rate Effective Date (or Period) Potential Impact / Client Action Corporate & SME Tax Directly or indirectly, individually or in aggregate Treated as if itself on the Entity List Same restrictions as parent entity apply Same restrictions as parent entity apply Unlisted foreign entity owned ≥ 50% by MEU List party Directly or indirectly, individually or in aggregate Treated as if itself is an MEU Same restrictions as parent 
 MEU entity applyUnlisted foreign entity owned ≥ 50% by an SDN* Directly or indirectly, individually or in aggregate Treated as if itself an SDN* Same restrictions as the SDN owner Financial Services Exit Tax (Investment Funds) Reduced rate on fund payments to individuals 41% to 38% Aims to encourage greater retail participation by Irish individuals in 
 domestic investment funds.SME/Start-up Stamp Duty Exemption New Market Cap Threshold in respect of shares traded on regulated markets. Up to €1 billion (Exemption applies) Supports capital market liquidity and growth for indigenous SMEs and start-ups. Indirect Taxes (VAT & Excise) VAT on Hospitality/Hairdressing Reduced rate introduced 13.5% to 9% (from 1 July 2026) Significant support for the services sector, aiding more than 150,000 jobs facing cost pressures. VAT on Gas and Electricity Reduced rate extension 9% extended until 31 Dec 2030 Provides long-term certainty and relief on essential energy costs for households and businesses. Carbon Tax (Auto-Fuels) Increased rate per tonne of CO2 €63.50 to €71.00 (from 8 Oct 2025) Immediate increase in the cost of petrol and diesel; future cost increases for home heating fuels (May 2026). Tobacco Excise Duty Increase per packet of 20 cigarettes +50 cent (from 7 Oct 2025) Will push the cost of a popular packet of 20 cigarettes towards €19. Housing Supply & Development VAT on New Apartments Reduced sales rate 13.5% to 9% Direct reduction in construction costs, intended to lower the final price of new apartment units. Derelict Property Tax (DPT) New tax to replace Derelict Sites Levy Rate not < 7%=”” of=”” market=”” value=”” (implementation=”” /> Allows Revenue to enforce a minimum 7% annual charge on the market value of vacant land. Employment & Global Mobility SARP Minimum Income Threshold Increased threshold €125,000 (from 2026) Requires review of all current/planned expatriate assignments; 
 employees below €125k will cease to qualify for the relief.Foreign Earnings Deduction (FED) Increased maximum relief; Scope widened €50,000 (from 2026) and now includes Philippines & Turkey Improves competitiveness for deploying employees to/from expanded market list (Philippines, Turkey). Company Car BIK Relief (€10k OMV reduction) Relief Tapering Schedule €10,000 (2026); €5,000 (2027); €2,500 (2028); Abolished (2029) Requires immediate review of corporate fleet policies due to rapid BIK relief withdrawal starting in 2027. Personal Tax (Income & USC) USC 2% Rate Band Ceiling Increased by €1,318 (to €28,700) 1 January 2026 Provides marginal tax relief for middle-income earners; protects minimum wage earners from moving into the top USC rate band. Rent Tax Credit Extended (Value remains €1,000 p.a.) Extended to end of 2028 Confirms continued cost-of-living support for eligible tenants for three additional years. Mortgage Interest Relief Extended (reduced value in final year) Extended for 2 years (2025 and 2026) Provides temporary support for homeowners but note the relief value diminishes in 2026. Continue Reading
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		 Taylor Swift’s childhood pal reflects on singer’s stardom: ‘She was always a star’
 
 Taylor Swift’s old pal Kayla Collins is… Continue Reading
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		 The Best Anti-Prime Day Deals for Amazon Haters (2025): Sheets, Sex Tech, and Fire PitsThe waning hours of Amazon Prime Day—or Prime Big Deal Days—are the star of the show right now, but maybe you want to go shopping somewhere else. Whatever your reasoning, fear not! Plenty of other stores, big and small, are hosting sales alongside Amazon through the end of today. Everything below is hand-tested by WIRED, and doesn’t have to be bought on Amazon. You do you. If you want to take a gander at the rest of our Amazon Prime Day coverage, updated through the end of the event tonight at 11:59 am ET, you can find it all right here. Updated October 8, 2025: We’ve added new deals from Slumber Cloud and The Company Store. WIRED Featured Deals: Cozy Earth: Up to 25 Percent Off Sitewide—Use Code WIRED Ask almost anyone on the WIRED Reviews team about their opinion on Cozy Earth, and it’ll be positive. The company makes supremely soft, silky, and comfortable bamboo products, ranging from bedding and linens to pajamas and hoodies. The Cozy Days sale means you can save up to 25 percent off nearly everything on the website. Backcountry 70 Percent Off Flash Sale Backcountry is offering up to 70 percent off select outdoor gear and apparel. The sale includes biking, skiing, and climbing gear. Best Buy’s Techtober Sale Want some great deals on tech gear but are avoiding Jeff Bezos? Best Buy might not be much better, spiritually, but the retailer is offering a few deals during its Techtober sale that we haven’t seen elsewhere. Techtober lasts until Sunday. Bookshop.org Anti-Prime Sale: Free Shipping It’s easy to buy books from big-box stores, but Bookshop.org helps support authors and local bookstores. Right now, you can get free shipping on all orders during its Anti-Prime Sale. You can check out popular books here, or might I recommend Everything Is Tuberculosis by John Green? (I just started it and I had to force myself to put it down until the weekend.) Solo Stove Two-Day Sale Solo Stove makes a lot of solid gear, including pizza ovens and its well-known fire pits. Right now, nearly everything is on sale, and it’s a great time to pick something up ahead of the colder and cozier months. Chirp Wheel XR (3-pack) for $104 ($26 off)The Chirp Wheel XR helped our tester Hannah Singleton with her tech neck woes. You’ll get multiple different sizes with the three- or four-pack, which are specially designed to help work out kinks and tension in various points of your body. It’s important to start slowly, ease into it, and only use the wheel for small amounts of time to start. But now that she’s had practice, Singleton says she can’t imagine living life without her Chirp wheels. Lelo: Up to 40 Percent Off + Free GiftWe like a lot of Lelo sex toys here at WIRED, and many of them are discounted for the store’s “Prime Time for Pleasure” sale. There are options for all sorts of bodies and partner situations, and purchases over $199 get a free Sona 2 Travel vibrator. Brooklinen Big Deals: 15 Percent Off SitewideBrooklinen makes darn fine bedding and linens, and right now the whole site is 15 percent off. Similar to Cozy Earth, everyone on the WIRED Reviews team has great things to say about the Brooklinen gear they’ve tested. Here are some of our faves. Slumber Cloud Fall Sale: 20 Percent OffSlumber Cloud makes some of my all-time favorite cooling bedding, including fantastic cooling sheets and even a cooling travel pillow. You can shop up to 20 percent off the site right now for its fall sale. The Company Store Comfort Days Sale: 25 to 40 Percent Off SitewideThe Company Store makes a ton of fantastic bedding, from sheets for every season to luxe down comforters and even a great Serene Foam mattress topper. (Serene foam is like memory foam, but traps less heat, so you’ll love this if you want a softer bed.) The shop is running a sitewide sale of 25 percent off orders over $100 (use code COMFORT25), and some items, like the fantastic linen sheets, are 40 percent off. 
 Power up with unlimited access to WIRED. Get best-in-class reporting and exclusive subscriber content that’s too important to ignore. Subscribe Today. Continue Reading
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		 Meet The ‘Celebrity Traitors’ Selected To Sabotage BBC One GameBBC One premiered the long-awaited The Celebrity Traitors, and the game didn’t wait too long to start. Claudia Winkleman greeted the celebrity players at a graveyard where each grave had the name of a contestant. “We’re starting as we mean… Continue Reading
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		 Egypt punch World Cup ticket, Ghana close inMarwan Ateya © Backpagepix Wednesday’s 2026 Fifa World Cup qualifying in Africa saw Egypt punch their ticket to the global showpiece, while Ghana can all but begin planning a trip to North America next year after an emphatic triumph over the… Continue Reading
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		 Sugar-sweetened drinks linked to higher risk of fatty liver disease, study findsA major new study presented at United European Gastroenterology (UEG) Week 2025 reveals that both sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) and low- or non-sugar-sweetened beverages (LNSSBs) are significantly associated with an increased risk of metabolic… Continue Reading

