Author: INDEPENDENT

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emailsSign up to our free breaking news emailsSign up to our free breaking news emailsA state-backed investment account specifically for children could be made available in the future following plans to roll out a savings and investment scheme for over-18s.Tánaiste and Minister for Finance Simon Harris will publish details of how the savings and investment account will operate this week.There are approximately 170 billion euro on deposit in Irish bank accounts which Mr Harris previously said is “sitting idle”.The tax-advantage scheme is…

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emailsSign up to our free breaking news emailsSign up to our free breaking news emailsArtificial intelligence (AI) and robotics will be a “critical source” of faster growth that is needed in the UK economy, the boss of the Bank of England has said.Andrew Bailey said there was a “different growth story” in the UK to the US, where he was attending the Federal Reserve’s annual conference at Jackson Hole, Wyoming.“Having said that, I think AI is critical here because we need to…

Stay on top of the latest political news with our View from Westminster newsletterGet the latest political headlines with our free emailGet the latest political headlines with our free emailBillionaire businessman Mike Ashley has described Andy Burnham’s high street recovery strategy as “delusional”, insisting it will fail to help salvage British retail.The Frasers founder launched a strong critique of the Prime Minister, saying that shops will be “further devastated” unless business rates are reduced.In a letter to the Labour leader, he accused Mr Burnham of seeking media soundbites instead of confronting the country’s fundamental economic challenges.Restoring Britain’s high streets has…

Get the latest entertainment news, reviews and star-studded interviews with our Independent Culture emailGet the latest entertainment news with our free Culture newsletter Get the latest entertainment news with our free Culture newsletter Rupert Grint is set to reprise his role as Ron Weasley, 15 years after we last saw him alongside Daniel Radcliffe and Emma Watson in the final Harry Potter film. The actor, who is now 38, will join the cast of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child on Broadway in February 2027. The two-part play – penned by Adolescence screenwriter Jack Thorne, from an original story developed…

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emailsSign up to our free breaking news emailsSign up to our free breaking news emailsLondon’s FTSE 100 faded into the close on Wednesday, posting modest losses, as a strong US inflation print knocked sentiment ahead of Nvidia earnings.The FTSE 100 index closed down 8.04 points, 0.1%, at 10,878.12. The FTSE 250 ended up 41.79 points, 0.2%, at 24,897.84, and the AIM All-Share closed down 0.58 of a point, 0.1%, at 814.90.On Wall Street, stocks made a subdued start to trading after a…

Get the latest entertainment news, reviews and star-studded interviews with our Independent Culture emailGet the latest entertainment news with our free Culture newsletter Get the latest entertainment news with our free Culture newsletter Following a sell-out run at the National Theatre, the stage adaptation of the hit movie Pride is set to transfer to the West End.Based on the 2014 film, the musical recounts the true story of a group of gay and lesbian activists who raised funds for families affected by the British miners’ strike in 1984.The show reunites director Matthew Warchus and writer Stephen Beresford, who were also…

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emailsSign up to our free breaking news emailsSign up to our free breaking news emailsThe FTSE 100 closed higher on Tuesday as oil prices fell and investors geared up for Wednesday’s double bill of earnings from Nvidia and US inflation data.The FTSE 100 Index closed up 31.84 points, 0.3%, at 10,886.16.The FTSE 250 ended up 138.57 points, 0.6%, at 24,856.05, and the AIM All-Share closed up 1.44 points, 0.2%, at 815.48.Melrose took top spot on London’s FTSE 100, soaring 10%, as it…

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emailsSign up to our free breaking news emailsSign up to our free breaking news emailsThames Water’s creditors have revealed plans to appoint four new directors to the board of the stricken supplier if their rescue bid is given the green light to avoid it being nationalised.Former Yorkshire Water chief executive Liz Barber is among the first tranche of proposed non-executive directors unveiled by the London & Valley Water consortium as it looks to secure Government backing for the deal.Dame Bernadette Kelly, the…

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emailsSign up to our free breaking news emailsSign up to our free breaking news emailsMorrisons has pledged to customers that it will not be beaten on price by its biggest supermarket rivals on hundreds of everyday products.The commitment signals another potential intensification in the price war between the UK’s top grocers as they seek to draw in more shoppers.Morrisons, which runs around 500 supermarkets and 1,700 convenience shops, will be hoping its pricing strategy can help drive a recovery in its share…

Get the latest entertainment news, reviews and star-studded interviews with our Independent Culture emailGet the latest entertainment news with our free Culture newsletter Get the latest entertainment news with our free Culture newsletter Janette Manrara is leaving Strictly Come Dancing behind for the stage, with the professional dancer announcing her “new chapter” after being axed from It Takes Two.The Florida-born dancer, 42, was a member of the Strictly cast from 2013 until 2021 before becoming the co-presenter on its companion show, It Takes Two, alongside ex-contestant Fleur East. Manrara announced in June that she had been dropped from the show…