Farmers and business owners have launched a High Court challenge against the government’s inheritance tax reforms, arguing that ministers acted unlawfully by failing to properly consult on changes that could reshape the future of family-run enterprises.
The two-day judicial review, which began on 17 March at the Royal Courts of Justice, will examine whether Chancellor Rachel Reeves breached established consultation principles when altering Agricultural Property Relief (APR) and Business Property Relief (BPR).
The case has been brought by Cambridgeshire farmer Tom Martin, alongside his father George Martin and campaign group Farmers and Businesses for Fair Tax Relief. The claim is supported by law firm Collyer Bristow on behalf of advisory firm Alvarez & Marsal.
At the heart of the legal argument is the government’s Tax Consultation Framework, introduced in 2011, which commits ministers to conducting at least one formal public consultation on major tax reforms. The claimants argue that the inheritance tax changes, which affect how farms and businesses are passed down through generations, clearly meet that threshold but were introduced without meaningful engagement.
Speaking ahead of the hearing, Tom Martin said he had been forced to leave his farm work to pursue legal action, describing the case as a fight for fairness. Outside the court, campaigners gathered under banners reading “Keep Farms and Firms in the Family”, highlighting growing unrest across rural and business communities.
Advertisement
Under the proposed changes, due to take effect from April 2026, inheritance tax relief will be structured as follows: • 100% relief on the first £2.5 million of qualifying agricultural and business assets • 50% relief on assets above that threshold • Up to £5 million relief for married couples or civil partners, plus standard allowances • Any tax liabilities payable over 10 years, interest-free
While the government has positioned the reforms as a balanced approach to taxation, critics argue they could fundamentally alter succession planning for family-owned farms and enterprises.
Legal representatives for the claimants say the absence of consultation has created significant uncertainty.
Alexander Marcham, managing director at Alvarez & Marsal Tax, said many affected businesses have been built over generations and now face difficult decisions without clarity. He warned that the reforms could disrupt long-term planning around succession, investment and ownership structures.
Advertisement
The claimants argue that the failure to consult denied them a voice in policy development, particularly given the scale of the financial and operational implications.
The government is contesting the case, maintaining that judicial intervention would risk crossing into parliamentary territory. However, the claimants counter that the decision not to consult occurred before legislation reached Parliament, making it open to legal challenge.
A ruling is not expected immediately. Judgment is likely to be reserved and delivered in writing within the next few months.
Beyond the immediate tax implications, the case could set an important precedent for how major fiscal policy is developed in the UK. If the court finds in favour of the claimants, it may reinforce the requirement for formal consultation on significant tax reforms, potentially reshaping how future budgets and policy changes are introduced.
Advertisement
For now, however, farming families and business owners remain in a state of uncertainty, awaiting a decision that could have lasting consequences for generational wealth, rural economies and the broader business landscape.
Jamie Young
Jamie is Senior Reporter at Business Matters, bringing over a decade of experience in UK SME business reporting.
Jamie holds a degree in Business Administration and regularly participates in industry conferences and workshops.
When not reporting on the latest business developments, Jamie is passionate about mentoring up-and-coming journalists and entrepreneurs to inspire the next generation of business leaders.
Bizarre footage has captured the chaotic moment a service robot appeared to spin out of control at a restaurant near San Jose, California, violently striking a customer’s food and tableware without warning before abruptly breaking into a series of erratic dance moves.
The wild incident was captured in a viral video in Cupertino at a Haidilao hot pot location, a chain known for integrating artificial intelligence and robotic technology to help streamline operations, including delivering food to tables.
Advertisement
In the video, the robot appeared to begin a dance routine near diners before suddenly pounding a neighboring table, sending tableware, chopsticks and condiments flying off the surface.
Staff members were then seen struggling to restrain the uncontrollable humanoid as it continued to move with even greater energy, appearing to hype up the crowd with its wild gestures.
A robot goes out of control at a hot pot restaurant in California. (@meooow via Storyful / Fox News)
The robot carried on for another minute with a condiment-stained hand as it displayed a cheerful expression.
Advertisement
The restaurant reportedly said the robot’s sudden attack on the dining space was caused by human error and was not a programming malfunction. The bot simply appeared too close to the table when it began its entertainment routine.
A serving robot at a hot pot Haidilao location goes out of control near San Jose, California. (@meooow via Storyful / Fox News)
“In this case, the robot was brought closer to a dining table at a guest’s request, which is not its typical operating setting,” Haidilao said in a statement, NBC reported. “The limited space affected its movement during the performance.”
The robots, which are more widespread in China than overseas, have been used by the Beijing-based company for years.
Advertisement
A Keenon Robotics Co. smart delivery robot moves through a Haidilao hotpot restaurant, operated by Haidilao International Holding Ltd., in Shanghai, China, on Wednesday, April 7, 2021. (Qilai Shen/Bloomberg via Getty Images / Fox News)
In 2022, the tech-forward dining chain launched its first smart restaurant worldwide in Beijing, featuring tools such as an intelligent kitchen management system, automatic broth-mixing machines, and robot servers.
Mumbai: The Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) would take up a slew of proposals at its Monday board meeting, including one that allows foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) to settle the net value of their cash market trades instead of gross transactions. This seeks to slash costs and encourage overseas commitments amid record outflows.
Sebi is also likely to review the ‘fit and proper’ criteria for market intermediaries, such as stockbrokers, people in the know told ET. The review pertains to disqualification norms for key managerial persons and directors.
At present, individuals in key roles face automatic disqualification if an FIR or charge sheet is filed in an economic offence case. The regulator intends to scrap this automatic trigger, offering relief to executives facing allegations that are yet to be proven in court.
“Currently, mere filing of a criminal complaint triggers disqualification for key personnel, even before any guilt is established,” said Aditya Joby, senior associate at Joby Mathew & Associates. “This can unfairly damage careers and livelihoods. Moving to conviction-stage disqualification better reflects the presumption of innocence in Indian law. The challenge will be how this interacts with the proposed Securities Market Code and delays in Sebi’s special court, which can still affect individuals in the interim.”
Advertisement
The regulator also plans to ease rules for alternative investment funds (AIFs) seeking to wind up schemes and surrender registration, helping funds stuck due to unresolved legal or tax issues.
Live Events
“Sebi’s proposal to allow netting will ease liquidity pressures for FPIs and reduce forex costs, particularly on days where securities have to be bought and sold for rebalancing purposes,” said Rajesh Gandhi, partner at Deloitte. ” This is another step taken by Sebi to ease norms for FPIs and provide regulatory ease to enable greater flow of capital to India.” At present, FPIs are required to trade on a delivery basis, meaning transactions must result in the actual exchange of securities and cash, with no netting or same-day offset. All trades are settled on a gross basis through custodians, requiring full pay-in for both buys and sells. For instance, an FPI buying shares of A worth ₹100 crore and selling an equal amount of shares of B must still fund the purchase and deliver the securities before receiving cash and shares in settlement.
Sebi noted that this pay-in obligation of ₹100 crore leaves the FPI underinvested for at least a day, as funds cannot be netted against sale proceeds.
Dhaval Jariwala, partner at P N D J & Associates, added that netting would cut FPI funding costs with minimal operational challenges. FPIs withdrew over ₹71,746 crore from Indian equities this month (up to March 17), according to ETIG data.
At the meeting, the Sebi board will also discuss a proposal to allow InvITs (Infrastructure investment trusts) to continue holding investments in SPVs (special purpose vehicles) after a project’s concession period ends, widen the pool of liquid mutual funds for parking surplus funds, and permit privately listed InvITs to invest up to 10% of assets in under-construction or greenfield projects.
Advertisement
The regulator may also reduce the minimum investment in social impact funds from ₹2 lakh to ₹1,000 to encourage small investors to back social projects.
The New York Times Wordle puzzle for Friday, March 20, 2026 — Puzzle No. 1735 — challenged players with a five-letter word that evoked relief in a barren landscape, earning praise for its thematic elegance and moderate difficulty.
Released at midnight Eastern time on nytimes.com/games/wordle and the NYT Games app, today’s Wordle featured the answer **OASIS**. The noun refers to a fertile spot in a desert providing water and vegetation, or metaphorically, a place of refuge amid hardship.
Wordle players receive six attempts to guess the secret five-letter word, with color feedback: green for correct letter and position, yellow for correct letter in wrong position, and gray for absent letters. The puzzle resets daily, and streaks encourage consistent play.
### Progressive Hints for Today’s Puzzle
Advertisement
For solvers preferring to crack it independently, here are layered clues:
– It contains three vowels and two consonants. – The word starts with O. – It has one repeated letter (the same vowel appears twice). – Think of a desert feature that offers water and shade. – It’s commonly used figuratively for something comforting in a tough situation, like a calm break in chaos.
Community feedback on forums and social media rated the puzzle around average to slightly above average difficulty. Many solved it in 4-5 guesses, with average attempts at about 5 per NYT data. Testers found it “very challenging” in some reviews, though starter words often revealed key vowels early.
### Full Answer and Breakdown
Advertisement
**Today’s Wordle answer: OASIS**
– Position 1: O (green early for many) – Position 2: A – Position 3: S – Position 4: I – Position 5: S (repeated S at end)
No uncommon letters tripped players; the double S and vowel-heavy structure made it accessible once vowels locked in.
### Strategies to Solve Wordle Efficiently
Advertisement
Wordle’s enduring appeal lies in its simplicity and strategic depth. Experts and top solvers recommend these approaches:
1. **Strong openers**: Begin with words rich in common vowels (A, E, I, O, U) and frequent consonants (R, S, T, L, N). Popular starters include ADIEU, AUDIO, RAISE, SLATE, CRANE or TRACE. Today’s puzzle rewarded vowel-focused guesses like AUDIO or ARISING.
2. **Second guess optimization**: Use the first guess’s feedback to maximize information. If green/yellow letters emerge, incorporate them while testing new common letters. Avoid repeating eliminated grays.
3. **Position awareness**: Green letters fix positions; yellows need repositioning. Eliminate impossible placements quickly.
Advertisement
4. **Hard mode consideration**: For added challenge (optional in settings), reuse confirmed letters in subsequent guesses. It sharpens logic but increases difficulty.
5. **Avoid rare words early**: Skip obscure starters; focus on high-frequency letters per computational analyses (e.g., from Wordle solver bots).
6. **Streak protection**: If stuck, note possible words without guessing recklessly. Many use paper or notes for tracking.
Today’s puzzle exemplified good design: common word, fair letter distribution, no obscure meanings. It avoided traps like plurals or past tenses that sometimes mislead.
Advertisement
### Player Reactions and Community Insights
On Reddit’s r/wordle and X, solvers shared grids showing 3-6 guess solves. One user posted a lucky 3-guess win starting with PARSE → BASIL → OASIS. Others noted the repeated S caught them off-guard after vowel tests.
The puzzle’s desert theme resonated amid spring discussions of renewal and escape. Some linked it metaphorically to finding calm in busy lives or global events.
Wordle, created by Josh Wardle and acquired by The New York Times in 2022, remains free (with optional subscription for ad-free play and archives). It spawns variants like Quordle, Sedecordle and Worldle, but the original daily ritual endures.
Advertisement
For those who missed it or want practice, the archive lets subscribers replay past puzzles. Puzzle #1736 arrives at midnight ET on March 21.
With consistent daily engagement, Wordle sharpens vocabulary, pattern recognition and persistence — small wins that build satisfying streaks.
Although on Tuesday Reeves, in contrast, stressed that the red lines set out in Labour’s manifesto still stand, the chancellor has now clearly signalled a shift. She indicated in her Mais lecture that, wherever it was in Britain’s interest to do so, the government wants to align the UK’s regulatory regime with that of the EU in more areas.
Blaine, Minnesota. New homes starting at a half million dollars in Lexington Waters are high efficiency homes and are HOA Maintained.
Michael Siluk | UCG | Universal Images Group | Getty Images
Sales of newly built homes in January dropped 17.6% month over month to a seasonally adjusted, annualized pace of 587,000 units, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That is the slowest pace since 2022.
Advertisement
Housing analysts had been expecting a much smaller decline.
Sales were also 11.3% lower than in January 2025, according to the U.S. Census, which is still delayed in its reporting due to last year’s government shutdown. December sales were also revised lower.
This count is based on signed contracts, so people who were out shopping when mortgage rates were lower than they are today. The average rate on the 30-year fixed loan hovered between 6% and 6.2% during January, according to Mortgage News Daily. It is currently at 6.36%.
As a result, the inventory of homes for sale rose to a 9.7-month supply, up from eight months in December, according to the U.S. Census. That is 7.8% higher than January 2025.
Advertisement
More supply and less demand led builders to drop prices. The median price of a home sold in January was $400,500, the agency said, a decline of 6.8% year over year. Prices for existing homes are still flat nationally, but builders report increasing incentives to get buyers in the door.
Data from March does not appear to be any better. An estimated 37% of builders cut prices in March, an increase from February’s 36%, according to the National Association of Home Builders.
Sales were lower across the nation, but they dropped the most in the Northeast and Midwest, where rough winter weather could have had an impact. However, sales were down nearly 22% from December in the West, where weather would not have played a part.
Get Property Play directly to your inbox
CNBC’s Property Play with Diana Olick covers new and evolving opportunities for the real estate investor, delivered weekly to your inbox.
Rear view of FedEx delivery truck with logo parked on city street, Dogpatch Neighborhood, San Francisco, California, February 25, 2026.
Smith Collection/gado | Archive Photos | Getty Images
FedEx on Thursday reported strong fiscal third-quarter results that beat Wall Street’s expectations.
Advertisement
The company also raised its guidance for fiscal 2026, projecting revenue growth of 6% to 6.5% compared with analyst estimates of up 5.6%.
Shares of FedEx rose roughly 9% in extended trading.
Here’s how the company performed in the fiscal third quarter, compared with what analysts were expecting, according to LSEG:
Earnings per share: $5.25 adjusted vs. $4.09 expected
Revenue: $24 billion vs. $23.43 billion
For the quarter, FedEx reported adjusted operating income of $1.68 billion, beating estimates of $1.39 billion. It reported net income of $1.06 billion, or $4.41 a share, up from $909 million, or $3.76 a share, a year ago. Adjusted for spin-off costs and other one-time items, FedEx reported EPS of $5.25.
The company also raised its fiscal 2026 adjusted EPS expectations, now projecting earnings of $19.30 to $20.10 per share compared with previous guidance of between $17.80 and $19 a share.
Advertisement
“Team FedEx delivered another quarter of strong financial results and excellent service for our customers, powered by disciplined operational execution, the resilience of our global network, and the accelerating impact of our advanced digital solutions,” CEO Raj Subramaniam said in a statement.
The company previously said it expected roughly $1 billion in cost reductions from its “Network 2.0” initiative, which is focused on optimizing efficiency of its package processes by leveraging automation and artificial intelligence. FedEx now expects those savings to exceed $1 billion.
FedEx said its freight business, FedEx Freight, remains on track to be spun off into a separate publicly traded company on June 1.
Subramaniam said on a call with analysts that the company expects “modest” headwinds from disruptions from the Iran war and that the Middle East is a “relatively small part” of total revenue.
The firm’s expansion will safeguard 35 existing jobs with more jobs to be created in future
Left to right: Nick Rumboll, Dalesway Yorkshire; Ben Carver, HSBC UK; Richard Rumboll, Dalesway Yorkshire(Image: HSBC)
An off-road driving experience company is gearing up for growth after snapping up a new base thanks to a six-figure funding deal. Dalesway Yorkshire has tapped into an £850,000 funding package from HSBC UK to acquire property on the grounds of North Yorkshire’s 1,400 acre Coniston Hotel Country Estate.
The Skipton company operates a Land Rover Experience and driver training centre that specialises in 4×4, ATV and trailer training for guests, as well as professional training for people seeking recognised off-road driving qualifications. Its fleet of 24 vehicles also includes a collection of heritage and contemporary vehicles.
The HSBC UK-backed investment includes the purchase and development of a new 3,000 sqft steel frame workshop next to a former barn, giving the business a modern, purpose-built space to support its expanding training operations. As part of the refit, the business will complete the installation of new windows, underfloor heating, an open-plan layout and establishment of mezzanine office space.
The firm’s expansion will safeguard 35 existing jobs and it says there’s also the opportunity to create new jobs as demand increases. As a result of the boosted capacity – and the security that comes from owning its new premises – bosses at Dalesway Yorkshire are forecasting a 10 % year-on-year increase in turnover.
Advertisement
The business expects to move into the new base by September 1 this year. Jonathan Rumboll, director at Dalesway Yorkshire, said: “Securing this new facility marks a major milestone for our business. Having ownership to reinvest and upgrade the premises will give us the space, control and long-term stability we need to continue developing our driving experience offering.
“The funding from HSBC UK has allowed us to transform a disused barn in a highly sought after location, enabling us to provide a high-quality, modern centre that reflects the professionalism of our team and the expectations of our clients.”
Ben Carver, relationship manager at HSBC UK, added: “We’re proud to support Dalesway Yorkshire as it expands its operations in North Yorkshire. The new facility will provide the business with a purpose-built training centre, supporting local jobs and creating a platform for future expansion.
“This is a strong example of a specialist operator with growth ambitions, and we’re pleased our funding is helping to drive forward long-term plans.”
Advertisement
Like this story? For more deals news you can visit our dedicated page for the latest news and analysis here.
To find all the planning applications, traffic diversions, road layout changes, alcohol licence applications and more in your community, visit the Public Notices Portal.
Women who undergo natural menopause before age 40 face approximately a 40% greater lifetime risk of coronary heart disease, including fatal and nonfatal heart attacks, compared with those who experience menopause later, according to a large new study published March 18, 2026, in JAMA Cardiology.
Women Who Experience Menopause Before 40 Face 40% Higher Lifetime Risk of Heart Attacks, New Study Finds
The research, led by Northwestern Medicine and involving pooled data from U.S. cohorts, is the first to specifically quantify lifetime coronary heart disease (CHD) risk tied to premature menopause. It found that premature menopause—defined as natural cessation of menstruation before age 40—was linked to a 40% higher risk overall, with the association holding even after adjusting for traditional cardiovascular risk factors such as smoking, obesity, hypertension and diabetes.
Black women showed a slightly elevated risk at 41%, compared with 39% for white women, and are three times more likely than white women to experience premature menopause, amplifying the public health implications.
“Premature menopause should be recognized as a key marker for long-term cardiovascular vulnerability,” said lead author Priya Freaney, MD, assistant professor of medicine in the Division of Cardiology at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. “This isn’t just about when periods stop; it’s a signal that estrogen exposure ends much earlier, potentially accelerating atherosclerosis and other heart disease processes.”
The study builds on decades of evidence linking earlier menopause to heightened cardiovascular risks but advances the field by focusing on lifetime CHD incidence rather than shorter-term events. Previous meta-analyses had shown relative risks around 1.5 for premature menopause and coronary events, but this cohort analysis provides a clearer picture of cumulative burden over a woman’s lifespan.
Advertisement
Premature menopause, also called premature ovarian insufficiency (POI) when occurring naturally, affects about 1-2% of women and can stem from genetic factors, autoimmune conditions, environmental exposures or idiopathic causes. Surgical menopause from bilateral oophorectomy before 40 carries similar or sometimes higher risks due to abrupt hormone loss.
Estrogen plays a protective role in cardiovascular health by helping maintain favorable cholesterol profiles, supporting vascular flexibility and reducing inflammation. Its early decline in premature menopause is thought to contribute to faster plaque buildup in arteries, elevated blood pressure and metabolic changes that compound over time.
The JAMA Cardiology paper analyzed data from multiple U.S. cohorts tracking postmenopausal women, calculating lifetime risk using competing-risk models that account for death from other causes. Results showed consistent associations across racial groups, underscoring that premature menopause acts as an independent risk enhancer beyond conventional factors.
Experts emphasize that the finding does not imply causation in every case—premature menopause may sometimes reflect underlying conditions that also drive heart disease—but the link persists after statistical adjustments.
Advertisement
“Even if we don’t fully understand the mechanisms yet, the signal is strong enough to warrant earlier and more aggressive cardiovascular screening for these women,” Freaney said.
Guidelines from organizations like the American Heart Association and the North American Menopause Society already classify early menopause (before 45) as a risk-enhancing factor for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. The new data strengthens calls to incorporate age at menopause into routine risk assessments, such as the ASCVD risk estimator or Framingham scores.
Hormone therapy (HT) remains a debated intervention. For women with POI, major guidelines recommend systemic estrogen therapy—typically combined with progestin if the uterus is intact—until at least the average age of natural menopause (around 51-52) to mitigate symptoms and potentially reduce long-term risks, including cardiovascular ones. Observational data suggest HT initiated soon after menopause onset may offer cardioprotective benefits in younger women, though randomized trials in older populations showed mixed results.
The study did not directly evaluate HT use, but authors noted that many women with premature menopause do not receive adequate hormone replacement due to concerns over breast cancer or other risks, potentially exacerbating their vulnerability.
Advertisement
Lifestyle modifications offer another layer of protection. A 2025 analysis in Heart journal found that high adherence to healthy behaviors—such as not smoking, maintaining physical activity, healthy diet, moderate alcohol intake and normal body weight—reduced CVD odds by 23% overall and by 52% in women with premature menopause.
“Women with premature menopause have a window to act,” said one co-author. “Aggressive management of modifiable risks can substantially offset the added burden from early estrogen loss.”
Broader context highlights disparities. Black women not only face higher rates of premature menopause but also bear a disproportionate CVD burden due to systemic factors like access to care, chronic stress and higher prevalence of hypertension and diabetes.
The research arrives amid growing attention to women’s cardiovascular health. Heart disease remains the leading cause of death for women in the U.S., and recent projections warn that nearly 60% of women could have some form of CVD by 2050, up from current levels, partly due to aging populations and rising risk factors starting earlier in life.
Advertisement
For clinicians, the takeaway is straightforward: Ask about age at menopause during patient histories, especially for women in their 40s and 50s presenting with risk factors or symptoms. Early identification allows tailored prevention—statin therapy if indicated, blood pressure control, smoking cessation and lifestyle counseling.
Patient advocacy groups stress education. Many women with premature menopause report feeling dismissed when raising concerns about long-term health, including heart risks.
As research evolves, future studies may clarify mechanisms—such as genetic links, inflammatory pathways or vascular biomarkers—and test targeted interventions. For now, the March 2026 JAMA Cardiology findings reinforce premature menopause as a critical, underrecognized signal for lifelong heart protection strategies.
Women experiencing irregular periods or sudden cessation before 40 should consult a healthcare provider promptly for evaluation, which may include hormone testing and counseling on risks and options.
Advertisement
With proactive care, the elevated heart attack risk tied to premature menopause need not translate to inevitable outcomes.
You must be logged in to post a comment Login