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SSE Airtricity to Raise Northern Ireland Bills by Over £70 Annually

SSE Airtricity will increase electricity bills for Northern Ireland customers by over £70 annually from 1 August due to higher wholesale costs and market volatility.

1 min read

A person looks at their bills at home. A pen is in one hand and a bill lies on a table. There are other objects on the table, like a calculator, a meter, a bulb and a cup

FTSE 100 Hits Four-Month Peak as European Markets Rally on Global Optimism

The FTSE 100 reached a four-month high amid hopes of a US-Iran peace deal and weaker US jobs data. European markets rallied, global food prices dipped, and oil prices fell to pre-war levels as maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz increased.

7 min read

Stock price information displayed on a board at the London Stock Exchange Group.

South Korea's AI Chip Boom Spurs Massive Bonuses Amid Rising Wealth Gap

South Korea’s AI chip boom, led by Samsung and SK Hynix, drives massive bonuses and luxury spending but widens wealth inequality, sparking debate on profit sharing.

5 min read

A white piggy bank with the South Korean flag sits atop a pile of gold coins

From Nana’s House to £10m Brand: Olivia Prince’s Murci Fashion Journey

Olivia Prince started selling clothes from her grandmother’s house, growing Murci into a £10m brand featured on Love Island with a 35-strong team.

5 min read

Olivia, a blonde haired woman wearing a light blue, v plunge neckline maxi dress stood in front of stone stairwell.

Analysis Reveals UK Infrastructure Cuts for Defence Will Cost 10,000 Jobs

Analysis reveals that UK infrastructure spending cuts to fund defence will cost 10,000 jobs, challenging government claims of job growth from increased defence investment.

5 min read

Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Chancellor Rachel Reeves stand in an aeronautics factory

Balancing Financial Stability and Lost Passion: Navigating Work and Life

After a career break, returning to work feels uninspiring. Eleanor Gordon-Smith advises embracing a purposeful, thoughtful relationship with work, showing children diverse attitudes toward employment and balancing financial needs with personal meaning.

4 min read

US Hospitality Jobs Decline in June Despite World Cup Expectations

US hospitality jobs fell by 61,000 in June despite World Cup expectations, with overall employment growth slowing and economists revising previous job gains downward.

2 min read

A group of Scotland fans cheer outside a bar called The White Bull Tavern.

Car Finance Compensation Payments Delayed Until 2027 Amid Legal Challenges

Millions of drivers mis-sold car finance deals face compensation delays until 2027 due to legal challenges. Average payouts expected at £829, with the FCA overseeing a £9.1bn scheme covering 12 million loans from 2007 to 2024.

6 min read

A young woman with short black hair and a white top sits in the driver's seat of a white hatchback, and looks at paperwork on a clipboard held by the car salesman, who wears a blue t-shirt and glasses.

UK Cost of Living Eases as Diesel Prices and Mortgage Rates Fall

UK diesel prices fell nearly 17p a litre in June, the largest monthly drop since 2000, easing cost of living pressures. Mortgage rates also declined slightly. However, credit card defaults are rising and business confidence is near a four-year low amid geopolitical concerns.

9 min read

A man puts fuel in his van on a petrol station forecourt.

Google Ordered to Pay €4.1bn Fine for Blocking Rivals via Android

Europe's top court has upheld a €4.1bn fine against Google for using Android to block rivals, marking the largest penalty imposed by the European Commission on the tech giant.

3 min read

Halifax Brand to End After 173 Years as Accounts Move to Lloyds

The Halifax brand will be retired after 173 years, with all accounts rebranded to Lloyds. The move aims to simplify Lloyds Banking Group's portfolio while maintaining commitment to Halifax and its community.

4 min read

Close-up image of a Halifax sign in blue and white, hanging off a traditional high street building.

Invest NI CEO Explains Silence on US Firm Cantor Fitzgerald's Dropped Belfast Investment

Invest NI CEO Kieran Donoghue defended withholding details about Cantor Fitzgerald's decision to cancel a 300-job investment in Belfast, citing the need to protect confidential commercial information and maintain investor trust.

2 min read

Kieran Donaghue has short dark hair and wire framed glasses. He is wearing a dark suit jacket, with a white shirt and blue tie