Economy Showbiz and Celebrity Breaking News

The Prime Minister insists 'very credible people' had discussed the possibility of a meat tax and compulsory car sharing before he 'ruled them out' in yesterday's eyebrow-raising speech. Rishi Sunak this week revealed his latest environmental plans at a press conference on Wednesday (September 20).

Seeing the Northern Lights is something on the top of most people’s bucket lists and Iceland is one of the best places to spot them during the winter months. For a limited time Icelandair is offering a holiday package deal with flights, accommodation and tours all included for less than £500 per person.

There are 3,000-plus reasons to celebrate the success of a scheme that’s nurtured the talents of Greater Manchester’s self employed workforce.

The Prime Minister will deliver a speech today in Downing Street at 4.30pm.

The rising cost of living has slowed down slightly according to surprise new official figures. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) says annual inflation stood at 6.7% in August, down from 6.8% in July.

Manchester needs a bigger city centre with more office space, 126,000 more homes around it and better transport links if it is to grow like London, a new report has recommended. The Resolution Foundation has said that, despite perceptions, Greater Manchester is 'still at the foothills' of its economic revival.

Over 800,000 families could be in for an electricity bill shocker if they fail to take action by the end of March 2024.

The cost of living will continue to rise as the UK is set to have the highest inflation rate out of the world's most advanced economies this year.

A new online petition argues that the State Pension is “too low” and should be increased to match the National Minimum Wage. If that sounds like a familiar proposal it’s because another petition, which has received more than 36,700 signatures of support, has made a similar proposal, but was rejected by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) last month.

It’s not just parents who are worrying about the cost of living crisis – now children are all too aware too. With more than half of UK parents unable to contribute to their kids’ financial future, and many families slipping into debt, children as young as eight are now taking matters into their own hands by starting to save up for house deposits and university fees.

A multi-million pound revamp of Ashton-under-Lyne’s market square with a huge new ‘feature canopy’ has been given the green light.

Universities contribute almost £5billion to Greater Manchester's economy and support tens of thousands of jobs, according to a new report.

Patrick Frater Asia Bureau Chief Japan has unveiled details of a location production incentive scheme that it hopes will attract more film and TV shoots to the island nation. The scheme offers reimbursement of up to 50% of qualifying expenditure in Japan, with an upper limit of JPY1 billion ($6.4 million) on the disbursement. The scheme is the product of the Ministry of Economy, Trade Industry and two agencies, the Visual Industry Promotion Organization, described as the program operator, and the Japan Film Commission, described as the program coordinator. The scheme is open to “large-scale international film and television projects.” These must have either minimum direct production spending in Japan of $3.2 million or, in the case of projects distributed in ten or more countries, have Japanese production spend higher than $1.1 million. Additionally, all projects must fulfil four other criteria: benefit to the Japanese content industry through employment or use of studios; shoot in Japan; promote the location where the filming took place; help the global appeal of Japanese works. Significantly, the guidelines make no reference to the eligibility of post-production or visual effects work conducted in Japan.

Kicking off this morning with a defence of the iconic gig space’s “economic and cultural importance” and “not being one of those venues that’s on the police’s radar”, the two-day hearing at Lambeth Council will determine whether or not the Academy Music Group can continue to operate their licence at the building. The venue was forced to shut its doors following a fatal crowd crush that occurred at an Asake concert back in December.The event — which left two dead and one in critical condition — ultimately led to the Academy having its licence suspended.

It was the cut that left residents feeling trapped - and businesses fearful for the future. But now the V2 bus - which links Atherton to Manchester, is set to return.

Todd Gilchrist editor After helming a series of based-on-a-true-story projects including “Million Dollar Arm,” “The Finest Hours,” “I, Tonya” and “Pam & Tommy,” Craig Gillespie was the natural candidate to direct “Dumb Money,” Rebecca Angelo and Lauren Schuker Blum’s chronicle of the January 2021 GameStop stock short squeeze and its reverberations throughout Wall Street. But Gillespie tells Variety it wasn’t his developing pedigree in this eclectic subgenre but an experience closer to home that prompted him to take on the story of Keith Gill, aka Roaring Kitty, and the scrappy bunch of investors who rattled two hedge funds and changed investment culture forever.

Having and running a car can be an expensive ordeal, especially right now during the ongoing cost of living crisis.

Transport bosses have confirmed a new rooftop park will have CCTV following fears it 'could become a new Piccadilly Gardens'.

The Scottish Government is pushing forward with a clampdown on second homes to help boost housing supply in rural areas.

Gene Maddaus Senior Media Writer The Writers Guild of America and SAG-AFTRA are pushing California lawmakers to grant unemployment benefits to striking workers. In California, workers currently do not receive unemployment pay when they are on strike. But state lawmakers are working on a bill, SB 799, that would extend benefits to workers who have been on strike for at least two weeks.

Pressure is mounting on Manchester council to stop using bailiffs to collect debt - with campaigners leaving the town hall claiming a victory. Community union Acorn and charity Debt Justice has been arguing that using bailiffs is costly and takes a toll on the mental health of people who cannot afford to pay.

A lottery winner lost all her extra cash despite working full-time, but says she had a "great time".

Naman Ramachandran “The Red Suitcase,” which world premieres in the Venice Film Festival’s Horizons strand, is a rare Nepal-Sri Lanka co-production. The producers have released a first clip from the film. The film marks the feature directorial debut of Fidel Devkota, who previously directed the short “The Last Yak Herder of Dhe” (2014) and documentary short “Wind of Change in Lo Mustang” (2016).

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has launched a new consultation on changes to the Work Capability Assessment (WCA). The consultation will look at updating the WCA’s categories so they better reflect the modern world of work and the opportunities more readily available to disabled people.

Sacha Lord has written to the developers behind food hub Hatch in a bid to ask them to extend their notice period for vendors.

Humza Yousaf will use his first Programme for Government to announce a “package” of childcare measures.

Stephen Flynn has announced a reshuffle of his frontbench team at Westminster as the SNP gears up for the general election campaign.

Thousands of spectators lined the streets of Greater Manchester as the Tour of Britain got underway today. British cycling's premier road cycling event set off from Altrincham as Trafford hosted this year's Grand Départ.

An SNP Cabinet Secretary has said there is no “immediate risk to safety” in schools over the collapsing concrete threat.

Campaigners have claimed a potential new renewable energy development on the outskirts of Coupar Angus would be a “disaster” for the surrounding area.