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Services-led growth pushes UK economy ahead of forecasts
The UK economy grew by 0.4% in July, comfortably beating economists’ consensus forecast of no growth at all, prompting a broadly positive reaction from analysts at Capital Economics, the CBI and Quilter Cheviot. The figures extend the resilience seen through the first half of the year, with Britain’s economy proving sturdier than expected despite the…
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TUC boss suggests Burnham could call an early general election before Christmas to free himself from economic shackles of Labour’s 2024 manifesto
TUC general secretary Paul Nowak has suggested that Andy Burnham could call an early general election before Christmas to escape the constraints of Sir Keir Starmer’s 2024 manifesto and pursue more radical left-wing economic policies. This matters because it points to tension within Labour over the pace and scope of change, with Chancellor John Healey…
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San Sebastian Competition Title ‘Border’ Boards Reel Suspects for Global Sales (EXCLUSIVE)
Paris-based sales company Reel Suspects has acquired worldwide sales rights to “Border” (“Bian Jing”), the feature debut of Chinese filmmaker Ah Biao, which will have its world premiere in competition for the Golden Shell at the San Sebastián Film Festival. The deal marks a significant launch for a first-time director, placing him alongside established names…
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DeepSeek’s new model sets a template for powerful LLMs that run lean
DeepSeek, the Chinese AI developer, has released an updated version of its efficiency-focused “Flash” model, DeepSeek V4.1 Flash, on Thursday. Despite being significantly larger than its predecessor, the new model requires far fewer computing resources to run, challenging the assumption that bigger models necessarily demand more powerful hardware to serve. This matters because it points…
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J. M. Stelly’s Anatomica Films Taps Black Mandala for Global Sales on Horror Trio (EXCLUSIVE)
New Zealand-based sales company Black Mandala has acquired worldwide sales rights to three horror films from Anatomica Films, all written and directed by J. M. Stelly and produced with Johnny Stassi. The deal, negotiated between Stelly and Black Mandala co-founder Michael Kraetzer, marks a step in bringing the independent horror label’s work to international festivals,…
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The state pension triple lock is both affordable and well secured for future years, says former MP JOHN REDWOOD – here’s how…
Former Conservative MP and peer John Redwood argues that the state pension “triple lock” is affordable and financially secure, crediting Rachel Reeves’s increase in employers’ National Insurance contributions (NICs) for boosting the National Insurance Fund, which pays out state pensions. He contends that although he opposed the NICs rise as damaging to business and jobs,…
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UK economy unexpectedly grows 0.4% in boost for Burnham
The UK economy grew by 0.4% in July, confounding economists who had forecast no growth at all and providing a welcome boost for the government ahead of the autumn Budget. The Office for National Statistics said growth accelerated from 0.3% in June, driven mainly by the services sector, with computer programming making the largest contribution…
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MAGA prosecutor leading probe into ‘grand conspiracy’ against Trump suddenly resigns
Joe diGenova, the 81-year-old Trump ally leading a Justice Department investigation into alleged “deep state” conspiracies against the president, has resigned from the role. He told the Associated Press he had indeed quit, calling it an “honour and a privilege” to serve Trump and the department, but declined to explain his reasons. Sources cited by…
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What to know about Sunday’s election in Sweden, NATO’s newest member
Sweden goes to the polls on Sunday in an election that will decide whether Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson secures a second term or the centre-left, led by former PM Magdalena Andersson, returns to power. A notable feature this time is that the hard-right, anti-immigration Sweden Democrats could win Cabinet posts for the first time if…
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Vance strengthens 2028 frontrunner status at GOP’s first midterm convention in Dallas
Vice President JD Vance drew widespread praise from Republicans at the party’s first-ever midterm convention in Dallas after delivering a sharp retort to a protester who interrupted his primetime speech waving Palestinian Authority and Mexican flags. Commentators across conservative media hailed the moment, in which Vance told the heckler “if you love Mexico so much,…