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SSE Airtricity raises gas bills by 19% for 200,000 Northern Ireland customers

SSE Airtricity will raise gas prices by 19% from 1 October for 200,000 customers in Northern Ireland, with typical household bills increasing by £172 annually due to volatile global energy markets and higher wholesale costs.

2 min read

Warsh's Jackson Hole debut: Fed chair faces pressure on inflation and bond market intervention

Fed Chairman Kevin Warsh prepares for his first Jackson Hole keynote as inflation persists and Treasury bond market intervention creates policy tensions. Markets await clarity on the Fed's approach to persistent price pressures and the central bank's response to Treasury Secretary Bessent's bond ...

7 min read

Mike Ashley Attacks Burnham's High Street Strategy as 'Populist' and 'Delusional'

Retail billionaire Mike Ashley has criticised Prime Minister Andy Burnham's high street revival plans as populist and inadequate, arguing that business rates reform and employment costs—not consumer protection measures—are the real drivers of retail distress.

7 min read

Eugene Diamond Retires After 49 Years Running Ballymena Newsagent

Eugene Diamond closes Diamonds newsagent on Broughshane Street in Ballymena after 49 years, marking the end of an era as independent retailers continue to disappear from high streets across the UK.

6 min read

Selena Gomez Rejects 'Threadbare' Fraud Allegations Over Wondermind Mental Health Startup

Selena Gomez's legal team is pushing back against fraud allegations from investors in her mental health startup Wondermind, calling the claims meritless. Five investors allege she breached her contract by failing to actively support the platform she cofounded with her mother.

4 min read

Government launches crackdown on rogue builders with new trader database and payment safeguards

The government is launching a database of vetted builders and a milestone-based payment system to protect homeowners from rogue traders. The scheme, starting next month, requires participating traders to meet standards for customer service and transparency. More than a quarter of people who under...

5 min read

House Democrats demand records from Trump Jr's venture firm over 'miraculous' growth

House Democrats have launched a formal investigation into 1789 Capital, demanding records from Donald Trump Jr's venture firm over its dramatic growth since his November 2024 appointment. Assets surged from $150m to $3.5bn, with critics alleging insider political influence.

5 min read

Carragher Faces Bankruptcy Petition Over £700k-£800k Tax Debt

Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher faces a bankruptcy petition from HMRC over an unpaid tax bill of £700,000 to £800,000. His representatives say the matter will be resolved imminently. Several other former footballers have encountered serious tax problems in recent years.

3 min read

Miniature Wine Bottles Make a Comeback as Drinkers Embrace Smaller Formats

Miniature wine bottles are surging in popularity, driven by moderation, affordability, and occasion-based drinking. Major producers like Gallo and Pernod Ricard are expanding small-format ranges, with the market reaching $670 million and growing 16% annually.

5 min read

Asian Tech Shares Surge on Nvidia's Blockbuster Results and AI Momentum

Nvidia's exceptional earnings—with second-quarter revenue doubling to $96.2 billion and third-quarter guidance of $108 billion—triggered a broad rally in Asian technology stocks. South Korea's Kospi rose 1.3%, while diplomatic progress in Middle East shipping talks eased oil prices. UK manufactur...

13 min read

UK's smallest power plants face cyber risk until 2030 despite Iran-linked hack

Hundreds of Britain's smallest power plants could remain vulnerable to state-sponsored cyber-attacks until the 2030s despite a successful Iran-linked hack in July. The government's plan to strengthen cybersecurity standards won't take effect until 2030, drawing criticism over delayed implementation.

6 min read

Six transferable skills employers say will set job applicants apart

Employers across multiple sectors identify six transferable skills—collaboration, communication, creative thinking, information literacy, organisation and problem-solving—as critical for job applicants. With over one million young people not in education, employment or training, these competencie...

9 min read