Economy Showbiz and Celebrity Breaking News

There was some good news for Greater Manchester in the autumn statement today (November 22), but local leaders have warned that many people will still face a difficult winter. Jeremy Hunt announced changes to pensions, benefits and national insurance in his speech this afternoon, telling MPs the country has 'turned a corner' after a turbulent time which saw some 'difficult decisions' made.

Millions of people on Universal Credit will see their monthly benefit payments increase next year. Chancellor Jeremy Hunt announced in his autumn statement on Wednesday that benefits will rise by September’s inflation figure of 6.7% from April 2024.

Chancellor Jeremy Hunt made some major announcements as part of today's autumn statement which will affect millions receiving Universal Credit from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).

Chancellor Jeremy Hunt delivered his autumn statement in the House of Commons on Wednesday (November 22) saying the country's economy is "back on track".

The National Finals of WorldSkills UK have taken place in Greater Manchester for the first time, showcasing the incredible talent of young people championing the UK skills sector.

The price of duty on beer, cider, wine and spirits will be frozen until next summer. Chancellor Jeremy Hunt announced in his autumn statement on Wednesday that alcohol duty will be frozen until August 1 next year.

Workers at Ferguson Marine "deserve certainty" after the Scottish Government rejected a request for £25m of additional investment in the nationalised shipyard.

John Hopewell Chief International Correspondent As U.S. and European sales agents and distributors gather in Buenos Aires next week for Ventana Sur, there will be a very large elephant in the room: the stunning victory in Argentina’s presidential election Sunday of far right Javier Milei, a self-described “anarcho-capitalist.” Milei won 55.8% of the vote promising to do away with inflation, running at over 140%, as part of “drastic changes” which include scrapping Argentina’s central bank, dollarizing the economy and slashing public spending by 15% of GDP.

Scotland’s Finance Secretary has urged the Chancellor to avoid "ill-timed tax breaks" for wealthy people in the upcoming Autumn Statement.

“Was I the only one who was surprised that the presidents of the two biggest economies in the world met, and everyone’s just like ‘what’s up with the pandas?” asked the Bowen Lang portrayed Tian Tian the panda in tonight’s Saturday Night Live cold open. “There have to be bigger issues, right?”

You’ve heard about how the Grinch stole Christmas, but might he have been less grumpy about the whole thing if he’d been able to save some money? With the cost of living crisis showing no signs of easing and with sustainability at the forefront of our minds, more people are looking at what they can hire. In the UK, the re-commerce economy – which covers buying secondhand items, renting products or reselling pieces – is worth £7 billion, with renting items contributing £1.07 billion to that figure.

Hundreds of homes across Greater Manchester will have their eco-heaters upgraded with 5G technology to help monitor energy usage - and hopefully bring bills down. The government is putting £3m towards the innovative scheme.

Robbie Williams' wife Ayda Field has revealed their four kids fly economy while they sit in first class whenever they travel together. Ayda, 44, and Robbie, 49, are parents to daughters Teddy, 11, and Coco, five, as well as sons Charlie, nine, and three year old Beau. Despite being worth millions, the famous couple, who tied the knot back in 2010, make their brood fly economy while they head to first class.

Michael Schneider Variety Editor at Large Veteran TV exec, producer and entrepreneur Cris Abrego can add another line to his growing list of titles: Chairman of the Television Academy. Abrego was elected to the post on Thursday night by the org’s Board of Governors, as the TV Academy also firmed up its roster of officers and governors for the board’s 2024-2025 term.

Patrick Frater Asia Bureau Chief Modest increases in its Chinese and international games sectors helped Chinese tech giant Tencent achieve respectable results for the three months from July to September, the third quarter of its financial year. Group revenues weighed in at RMB154 billion ($21.5 billion), an increase of 10% year on year and 4% quarter on quarter. Some analysts interpreted that as below their forecasts, but others saw it as beating China’s currently sluggish economy. Profit for the period was RMB36.8 billion ($5.14 billion), which was down 5% year on year, but a 38% improvement on the group’s second quarter. Moreover, Tencent claims that a non-IFRS treatment of its accounts better reflects core earnings.

Plans to build flats for homeless people in a car park in Trafford have been approved just months after they were described as 'ridiculous'. The plans for 12 cottage-style affordable apartments off Shawe Road in Urmston have been given the green light after changes were made, with the new building now further away from nearby properties.

Todd Spangler NY Digital Editor After more than 16 years, Jezebel, the sharp-edged feminist news and opinion website, is shutting down. Originally launched in 2007 by Gawker Media, Jezebel — which carried the tagline “Sex. Celebrity.

North Ayrshire Council is revamping all of its playparks with improvements, repairs and modernisation already carried out at 45 sites - with an additional 30 playparks currently scheduled for improvement work.

Data from Citizens Advice Scotland (CAS) shows that the charity network has helped more than 23,000 families at risk from poverty in the past year. The Citizens Advice network unlocked £142 million for people across Great Britain in 2022 through unclaimed social security payments, employment entitlements and other benefits in kind - with some clients around £3,700 better off.

Every young person should have the opportunity to thrive – no matter their background or experiences. They’ve suffered more than most as a result of the pandemic, and in some cases, it’s knocked their confidence and made it more difficult for many to find routes into work.

Brewster Brothers, a West Lothian company that recycles the by products from the construction, demolition and excavation industries, has won this year’s VIBES Circular Scotland award.

Scottish Labour will use a Holyrood debate to push the Scottish Government to back its new deal for working people.

Cynthia Littleton Business Editor Let the unpacking begin. After a work stoppage of record duration, SAG-AFTRA and its largest employers have made peace. Hollywood’s TV and film production machinery is about to be dusted off after a more than six-month furlough that has taxed every sector of the entertainment economy, from union members to local businesses to the largest media conglomerates.

Rafa Sales Ross Guest Contributor For the second year in a row, the International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam (IDFA) launches against the backdrop of a major war. Last year, the festival took place at the height of Russia’s attacks on Ukraine, this year it runs as the Israel-Hamas War rages.

Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea International Film Festival has unveiled it 2023 line-up and theme as it maintains its third edition against the backdrop of the escalating Israel-Gaza Conflict. (scroll down for full list)

The level of alcohol-fuelled crime and disorder during the early hours in Bolton town centre has reached ‘epidemic proportions’ – leading to many considering it ‘no go area’ – councillors have heard.

Cristiano Ronaldo could make a sensational WWE debut in Saudi Arabia, according to reports.

The U.S. economy added 150,000 jobs in October, much less than the previous month, while the unemployment rate ticked up to 3.9%.

Debbie Lindsay was just 15-years-old when she started a fateful habit that would see her robbed of numerous loved ones over the years. Now, she is leading a campaign to make sure other people don't make the same mistake - which is the single biggest cause of preventable deaths in Greater Manchester.

SAG-AFTRA negotiators spent Thursday afternoon in a holding pattern as the union waited for a response from management to its most recent counterproposal. Agreements around AI remain elusive and frustrating to both sides of the table. Management believes the union is focused on too many “what if” scenarios involving fast-changing generative AI technology, while actors maintain that AI is the existential threat to their livelihoods that has fueled much of the strike.

Brian Steinberg Senior TV Editor CBS has scored a Super Bowl touchdown in November. The Paramount Global-backed network is “virtually sold out” of all its Super Bowl advertising inventory, according to a company spokesperson, completing a process that often isn’t completed until the final hours before the game kicks off in February.

Nick Vivarelli International Correspondent Saudi Arabia’s Film AlUla, the film entity looking to attract international productions to a sprawling area of desert and giant boulders, has forged a partnership with Hollywood indie Stampede Ventures, bringing 10 productions to the region over the next three years with a projected $350 million spend. The groundbreaking agreement with Stampede marks the first deal of this scale between Hollywood and Saudi since the kingdom lifted its ban on cinema in late 2017.

Boris Johnson thought Covid was just "nature's way of dealing with old people", revealed in a shocking day of revelations at the Covid Inquiry.

This week marks National Befriending Week – with a local group urging people to help change lives by giving up just a few hours of their own time.

As much as £20bn could be available to fund a "modern railway for the 21st century" between Liverpool and Manchester using the money saved from scrapping the Northern leg of HS2, mayor Andy Burnham has suggested.

Black Friday is an exciting time for travellers as holiday companies and airlines jostle to offer the very best cut-price deals. With the likes of British Airways, easyJet, TUI and Jet2 expected to offer big savings when Black Friday falls on November, 24, it could be the perfect time to book your next getaway.