Author: Perry

Screenshot by Jack Wallen/ZDNETFollow ZDNET: Add us as a preferred source on Google.ZDNET’s key takeawaysTiny Core Linux is an incredibly small distribution.This modular distribution can be customized to your specifications.Tiny Core Linux isn’t as hard as you might think.Most Linux distributions (or operating systems in general) typically range from 1- to 5GB in size. Granted, by today’s hard drive capacity standards, that’s minuscule. But if you’re working with an older machine or want a Linux distribution you can carry with you at all times, you’ll want something smaller.That’s where Tiny Core Linux comes into play.Also: Ready to ditch Windows for good? This is the Linux…

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Home improvement retailer Wickes has faced multiple complaints regarding kitchen and bathroom installations, according to consumer reports published in The Guardian’s consumer affairs column. One customer in Maidstone, Kent reported being without a functioning hob for three months after an emergency engineer discovered a gas leak in a newly installed appliance. The leak was categorised as an immediate danger, requiring disconnection of the gas supply. The customer, who was undergoing cancer treatment at the time, stated that the lack of cooking facilities affected their diet and caused additional stress. The issue was reportedly resolved within 48 hours after media intervention,…

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Payroll tax can be calculated manually, but thankfully we have software to help make it easier. Payroll tax is a notoriously confusing area for small business owners, especially those new to managing employees. Getting it wrong can lead to penalties, employee dissatisfaction, and a lot of wasted time. In this comprehensive guide, we break down the process of calculating payroll tax in the UK, and provide clear explanations and practical advice to help you navigate the complexities of the Pay As You Earn (PAYE) system, National Insurance contributions (NICs), and other deductions. Here’s what we cover in this article: What…

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Alfred Wahlforss was running out of options. His startup, Listen Labs, needed to hire over 100 engineers, but competing against Mark Zuckerberg's $100 million offers seemed impossible. So he spent $5,000 — a fifth of his marketing budget — on a billboard in San Francisco displaying what looked like gibberish: five strings of random numbers.The numbers were actually AI tokens. Decoded, they led to a coding challenge: build an algorithm to act as a digital bouncer at Berghain, the Berlin nightclub famous for rejecting nearly everyone at the door. Within days, thousands attempted the puzzle. 430 cracked it. Some got…

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A Labour MP has initiated a Commons debate calling for enhanced enforcement mechanisms in the forthcoming national short-term letting registration scheme, arguing that current regulations cannot be adequately policed. Rachel Blake, MP for Cities of London and Westminster, used the Ten Minute Rule procedure to propose legislation requiring the registration scheme to record the number of nights properties are let, addressing what she describes as an enforcement gap in existing rules. Current regulatory framework Under existing regulations, residential properties in London cannot be rented out for more than 90 nights annually without planning permission. The Government has committed to introducing…

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18 February, 2026 11 min read Share Copy Link Copied Making Tax Digital (MTD) for Income Tax is forcing a pricing reset across the profession. You’re being asked to do more work, and more often, with tighter deadlines. Meanwhile, your clients still expect fees that were set for a once-a-year service. In this article, we explore how MTD for Income Tax pricing needs to change in response, looking at why traditional annual fee models no longer hold up, and how you can rethink pricing in a way that’s fair to clients and sustainable for your practice. Here’s what we discuss:…

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For leaders in the financial sector, the experimental phase of generative AI has concluded and the focus for 2026 is operational integration.While early adoption centred on content generation and efficiency in isolated workflows, the current requirement is to industrialise these capabilities. The objective is to create systems where AI agents do not merely assist human operators, but actively run processes within strict governance frameworks.This transition presents specific architectural and cultural challenges. It requires a move from disparate tools to joined-up systems that manage data signals, decision logic, and execution layers simultaneously.Financial institutions integrate agentic AI workflowsThe primary bottleneck in scaling…

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