Author: INDEPENDENT

Sign up to our free money newsletter for investment analysis and expert advice to help you build wealthSign up to our free money email for help building your wealthSign up to our free money email for help building your wealthA reopening of hostilities in the Middle East has seen the Strait of Hormuz shuttered once more, with the US and Iran exchanging missile strikes to leave hopes of an extended ceasefire in tatters.One immediate knock-on effect has been a rise in the price of oil, with Brent Crude rising to $87.20 by noon on Tuesday, a one-month high, though still…

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 West End star Amber Davies has proven she doesn’t mess around when it comes to calling out bad behaviour at the theatre – telling fans she had an audience member thrown out after they “distracted” the Legally Blonde cast at the weekend. The Strictly Come Dancing runner-up is currently playing Elle Woods in the UK and Ireland tour of the musical and while she’s loving her time…

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 emailsOnline sales soared in June as consumers shopped from home to beat the heat, with electric fans and paddling pools proving best sellers.Total retail sales across the UK were up 1.9% year on year in June, boosted significantly by a 5.1% increase in online sales of products other than food, according to the British Retail Consortium (BRC)-KPMG data.In-store non-food sales were 1.1% down year on year – below…

Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and moreStay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Dwayne Johnson has been trying to make his Broadway debut for several years but executing it has been more difficult than he imagined.The Moana actor said in a new interview that he has been trying to take the stage in New York City alongside comedian Kevin Hart — but his…

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 emailsShare markets slipped in Asia on Monday as fighting intensified in the Gulf and Iran claimed to have closed the vital Strait of Hormuz, sending oil prices surging and rekindling ⁠inflation risks globally.Brent crude climbed 3.3 per cent in early trade to reach $78.50 a barrel, up from the recent trough of $70.14, while US crude added 3.4 per cent to $73.83 a barrel. US officials said around…

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 emailsOcado investors will be hoping the retail technology giant can point towards a positive outlook for the coming years amid reported unrest amongst its leadership.The company has seen its share value drop by around a quarter over the past year amid pressure from the closure of some of its robotic warehouses and testing consumer conditions.On Thursday, the group will unveil its latest half-year results as it seeks to…

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 Catherine Tate has abruptly stepped down from her run in the West End production of Oh, Mary! due to personal reasons.The British actor, 56, had been scheduled to front the hit comedy show at London’s Trafalgar Theatre until 18 July, playing Mary Todd Lincoln, wife of the late US president Abraham Lincoln.US actor Mason Alexander Park, who originated the role on the West End, will step in…

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 boss of Capita said the company will “not stop” until its failures have been fixed after facing fierce criticism from MPs.It came two days after the outsourcing giant first apologised for a raft of contract failures linked to its handling of civil service pensions.On Wednesday, MPs on Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee questioned whether the firm sees the Government as a “cash cow to be milked to the…

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 The Theatres Trust has revealed its annual list of the UK venues at risk of closure, demolition or redevelopment – warning that there is “a perfect storm of issues” putting some historic buildings in danger. A total of 39 theatres up and down the country are on the charity’s official 2026 register, which shines a spotlight on venues in desperate need of support. Among them are 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 emails“Potentially lethal” baby pillows, sleeping bags and self-feeding items are being sold widely on the UK’s online marketplaces, a watchdog has warned.Which? said it had found 150 potentially lethal baby products being sold to UK consumers, including self-feeding props that risked choking and sleep pillows that risked suffocation.Which? researchers found the items on Alibaba, AliExpress, Amazon, eBay, Etsy, OnBuy, TikTok Shop and Wish.All the marketplaces said they had…