Author: INDEPENDENT

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 Olivier Award-winning actor Sharon D Clarke has been diagnosed with cancer, the Royal Shakespeare Company has announced, while revealing their production of Othello has been postponed.Best known for her theatrical performances in Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom and Caroline, or Change, Clarke, 60, had been due to take on the titular role in a radical new production of Othello at the Swan Theatre next year.But on Thursday (13…

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 emailsMore than 60% of adults have not bought sunscreen so far this year despite the run of heatwaves, a survey suggests.Just 56% of adults in England, Scotland and Wales bought sunscreen in the last two years, the poll by Worldpanel by Numerator for Nivea Sun found.The survey of 30,000 people across England, Scotland and Wales showed 8.5% more people bought sunscreen this year compared to the previous year,…

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 emailsStocks in London ended mixed on Wednesday as investors weighed in-line US inflation data, which saw rate hike bets pared back slightly across the pond.The FTSE 100 index closed down 11.04 points, 0.1%, at 10,833.15. The FTSE 250 ended up 15.13 points, 0.1%, at 24,814.88, while the AIM All-Share closed up 4.36 points, 0.6%, at 803.93.US inflation figures took top billing as the market weighs the chances of…

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 emailsAndy Burnham has said he wants to go “further” in supporting high street businesses at the budget with their business rates, after announcing plans to slash the tax for pubs, clubs and venues.The 20% rates relief for pubs and other similar venues was among the first announcements the Prime Minister made when he came into office, as part of a series of cost-of-living related measures.Speaking to BBC Radio…

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 emailsConsumer demand for cool clothes and garden accessories was a bright spot in an otherwise glum July for retailers as the relentless heat took its toll, figures show.Total retail sales across the UK were up 1.3% year on year last month, below the 12-month average of 1.8%, according to data from the British Retail Consortium (BRC) and KPMG.England’s progress to the semi-finals of the World Cup helped drive…

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 emailsAndy Burnham faces pressure over North Sea oil and gas as a decision on allowing new drilling moves closer.As Britain braces for its fifth heatwave, environmental groups have urged the Prime Minister to refuse permission for oil and gas production in two areas of the North Sea, known as Jackdaw and Rosebank, as part of the fight against climate change.But opposition politicians, the oil and gas industry and…

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the worldSign up to our free Morning Headlines emailSign up to our free Morning Headlines emailFormer Scottish first minister Nicola Sturgeon has claimed that Harry Potter author JK Rowling is “obsessed” with her.Ms Sturgeon made the comments during an appearance at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, following a post on X the day before where Ms Rowling described the former SNP leader as a “world-class misogynist” and “profoundly disloyal” to her party.Asked by broadcaster Iain Dale if she wanted an “amnesty” with the author, Ms Sturgeon said she was…

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 emailsStocks ended a winning week on the front foot on Friday, while the pound pushed higher against the dollar after weak US jobs figures.The FTSE 100 Index closed up 33.20 points, 0.3%, at 10,901.09.The FTSE 250 ended up 159.44 points, 0.7%, at 24,854.86, another record close, while the AIM All-Share closed up 8.76 points, 1.1%, at 795.89.For the week, the FTSE 100 was up 0.3%, the FTSE 250…

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 Amanda Knox, the American student famously convicted and later acquitted of the murder and sexual assault of her British flatmate Meredith Kercher 19 years ago in Italy, has publicly defended her upcoming Edinburgh Fringe festival show against accusations of trivializing violence against women. The criticism comes from Kercher’s sister, who called for the show to be axed.Knox, now 39, took to Instagram on Thursday to state that…

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 emailsBritain’s retail sector faced continued challenges in July as persistent heatwave conditions deterred shoppers, with high streets particularly affected, new figures suggest.Total UK footfall declined by 2.1% year-on-year, an improvement from June’s 3.4% drop, according to British Retail Consortium (BRC)-Sensormatic data. High street footfall was down 3.8% annually, better than June’s 6.2% fall. Shopping centres also saw a 1.4% year-on-year decrease, an improvement on the 2.5% drop recorded…