Author: INDEPENDENT

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the worldSign up to our free Morning Headlines emailBritain’s economy is on track to enjoy the fastest growth of any G7 country in the first half of the year, analysts say.The Office for National Statistics said gross domestic product (GDP) increased by 0.6 per cent between April and June, in line with economists’ predictions. This totals 1.3 per cent of growth in the first six months of 2024, after Britain fell into recession in late 2023.Although the figures predate the election, they will provide a boost for the…

Sign up to Miguel Delaney’s Reading the Game newsletter sent straight to your inbox for freeSign up to Miguel’s Delaney’s free weekly newsletter Spanish newspaper La Vanguardia says the father of 17-year-old Spain soccer star Lamine Yamal has been hospitalized after being stabbed near Barcelona.Citing unnamed official sources, the paper said Mounir Nasraoui was stabbed multiple times. La Vanguardia said Nasraoui was in serious but stable condition. Some arrests had been made, according to La Vanguardia, without giving details.Local police did not immediately respond to a request from The Associated Press for comment.Spain won the European Championship in July with…

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 emailsUK inflation rose to 2.2 per cent in July, marking the first increase this year and increasing the chances the Bank of England keep interest rates at the same level when they meet next month.The Consumer Prices Index (CPI) inflation rose from 2 per cent in June, but undershot economists’ expectations who had forecast it rising to 2.3 per cent.However, despite the smaller than anticipated inflation increase, it is still above the Bank’s target of…

Sign up to Miguel Delaney’s Reading the Game newsletter sent straight to your inbox for freeSign up to Miguel’s Delaney’s free weekly newsletter It is a refrain that many Premier League executives have become resigned to – at least in some areas of the country. As part of summer negotiations with foreign players, they have been repeatedly told “he’d prefer to live in London”. The internal research of one Championship club even found that, on average, those outside the capital had to offer an estimated £2,000 more a week to persuade signings to go outside London.This is a modern and…

The Lloyds Bank British Business Excellence Awards, the UK’s top business event, is gearing up to bring the whole business community together for a grand celebration of perseverance, creativity and innovation in today’s fast-paced world. This prestigious event will highlight exceptional achievements, recognising the innovators and leaders who are transforming success and charting new courses.Covering all levels of business from entrepreneurs and SMEs to FTSE 100 giants, the awards showcase the success and resilience of British businesses. After a thorough search across the country, the team are excited to reveal this year’s finalists who represent the best of the best…

Sign up to Miguel Delaney’s Reading the Game newsletter sent straight to your inbox for freeSign up to Miguel’s Delaney’s free weekly newsletter When Manchester United won a derby at Wembley in 2024, Casemiro was first dropped from the team and then out of the squad altogether, an apparent hamstring injury following the hurt of omission. When they lost a derby at Wembley a couple of months later, he was captain, creator, shootout scorer.Casemiro did not get to lift the Community Shield. Perhaps he did get an indication – even beyond the armband on his sleeve – to suggest there…

Guardiola labels Arsenal and Manchester United as main title threatsSign up to Miguel Delaney’s Reading the Game newsletter sent straight to your inbox for freeSign up to Miguel’s Delaney’s free weekly newsletter Manchester City secured their first Community Shield win since 2019, with Manuel Akanji scoring the decisive eighth penalty against local rivals Manchester United.The game started off in a slow fashion, with Alejandro Garnacho breaking the deadlock in the 82nd minute with a stunning strike, before Bernardo Silva equalised with just a minute of normal time to take the game to penalties at Wembley.There were just two misses from…

Sign up to Miguel Delaney’s Reading the Game newsletter sent straight to your inbox for freeSign up to Miguel’s Delaney’s free weekly newsletter Pep Guardiola was staring at the start of a season that could span 48 weeks for Manchester City. He has often sounded the alarm about the impact of a crowded schedule for players and the Club World Cup will only add to it. He also reflected on the challenge City face to retain the Premier League title. “Everyone wants the crown that we have worn for four years,” he said. “I understand it.” Some of his rivals…

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 emailsBarclays has become the first bank to lift the cap on bankers’ bonuses that was originally imposed by the EU, which will allow employess to earn up to 10 times their salary.In a memo sent to staff on Thursday, the bank said the new bonus cap “should not change colleague expectations around total compensation”, which will not automatically increase.Last year financial regulators decided to remove the cap that limited the amount bankers could take home…

Sign up to Miguel Delaney’s Reading the Game newsletter sent straight to your inbox for freeSign up to Miguel’s Delaney’s free weekly newsletter There is a case for arguing that Ipswich Town rode to the rescue of the Football League and English football’s pyramid system last season. The three clubs relegated from the Premier League were the trio who had been promoted the previous year. Three of the top four in the Championship had been relegated from the top flight 12 months earlier.The interlopers, the exceptions, were Ipswich – marooned in League One, they then surged through the Championship at…