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Royals Face Epstein Fallout; Economy Grows; Holiday Tax Urged

Hospitality and leisure bosses are urging the government to scrap proposed plans for a tourist tax in England, while the UK economy experienced modest growth in the final quarter of 2025, according to recent reports. The economy grew by 0.1% in the last three months of the year, slightly slower than anticipated, and construction activity saw its worst performance in four years, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

Over 200 hospitality and leisure bosses, including representatives from Butlin's, Hilton, and Travelodge, are concerned about the potential impact of a "modest" tourist tax, or visitor levy, on local businesses. The government is considering allowing mayors and other local leaders to implement the tax to generate revenue. "Holidays are for relaxing, not taxing," one source stated, though the specific source was not provided.

The ONS reported that the services sector showed no growth during the final quarter of 2025, the first time this has happened in two years. Manufacturing provided the main boost to the economy. For the whole of 2025, the economy is estimated to have grown by 1.3%, a slight increase from 1.1% the previous year, but less than the 1.4% predicted by the Bank of England.

In other news, the Dutch have been quietly adopting a four-day work week. Gavin Arm, co-founder of Amsterdam-based small business Positivity Branding, shared his perspective on the benefits of this approach. "Your kids are only young once," Arm said, explaining his desire to avoid missing important moments in his children's lives.

Meanwhile, in Lagos, Nigeria, residents are dealing with demolitions in the Makoko floating settlement. Tunde Agando witnessed the destruction of his family's home in January, losing possessions including clothes, furniture, and carpentry tools.

Finally, the royal family is facing scrutiny related to the Epstein scandal, despite hopes that Prince William's trip to Saudi Arabia would shift attention. The demand for more information from the royals has been significant.

AI-Assisted Journalism

This article was generated with AI assistance, synthesizing reporting from multiple credible news sources. Our editorial team reviews AI-generated content for accuracy.

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