All posts tagged: independent

New EV road tax rules fuel debate among Independent readers

New EV road tax rules fuel debate among Independent readers

Published by skeptic

Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more The end of road tax exemptions for electric vehicles (EVs) from 1 April has sparked fierce debate. While new EVs will pay just £10 in the first year, this is set to rise to £190 annually — still less than the £335 charged for vans. Additionally, from April 2025, EVs worth more than £40,000 will also face a £195 Expensive Car Supplement. A poll of Independent readers revealed that 70 per cent believe EVs should pay the same road tax as petrol and diesel cars, while 21 per cent think they should pay but less. Just 9 per cent argued EVs should remain exempt. When we asked for your comments, some said taxing EVs was a step backward in the fight against climate change, …

Isuzu D-Max: Pure functionality | The Independent

Isuzu D-Max: Pure functionality | The Independent

Published by skeptic

Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more There aren’t many ways to get ahead of the game these days, what with the Western world going fascist and everything. So just to ease the pain of losing your human rights within about the next decade or so, I thought I’d let you know about a nice little bit of entirely legal tax avoidance – but you’ll need to hurry. The vehicle of choice here is admittedly not for all, being one of those chunky big double-cab pickups you’ll have noticed around the place the last few years – such as the much improved Isuzu D-Max that’s just been released. If it is bought as a company vehicle for an employee’s use, both business and private, the annual benefit-in-kind (BIK) charge remains a …

Gloucester Food Dock welcomes another independent eatery

Gloucester Food Dock welcomes another independent eatery

Published by skeptic

Gloucester Food Dock will welcome Kinn Kinn, the latest independent eatery this Thursday to join its thriving food destination. Known for its original and diverse culinary scene, the Food Dock is now home to Thai chef Gena’s unique culinary creations, which bring the bold flavours of Thailand to the heart of Gloucester. After becoming a staple foodie destination in Newport, this will be the second outlet of family-run Kinn Kinn. Founder Gena says, “We’re thrilled to bring Kinn Kinn to Gloucester Food Dock and share our love for Thai food with the local community. We can’t wait to be part of this vibrant food scene.” Inspired by her Thai roots and culinary expertise, Gena brings a menu inspired by the street food of Bangkok and recipes of her childhood. “Each dish uses high-quality ingredients and authentic Thai herbs and spices,” she said. Ken Elliott, co-owner of Gloucester Food Dock said, “It’s rare for cities like Gloucester to see such a concentration of new start-ups in the hospitality sector, especially in today’s economic climate. Yet, with …

The Independent names Chloe Hubbard as UK editor

The Independent names Chloe Hubbard as UK editor

Published by Sam

The Independent’s UK editor, Chloe Hubbard. Picture: The Independent The Independent has promoted its deputy editor Chloe Hubbard to UK editor. Hubbard, who first joined The Independent as assistant editor in 2017, will report to Geordie Greig as the brand’s global editor-in-chief. The Independent said in a release that she will oversee the UK newsroom amid its mission “to be the world’s most trusted, biggest and fastest growing news title”. Press Gazette’s latest ranking of the UK’s biggest news websites put The Independent as the commercial brand with the biggest domestic reach in November (19.6 million people). Greig said: “Chloe has an exceptional ability to recognise the stories that matter most, coupled with the talent and vision to bring them to life with clarity and impact… She will continue to take our outstanding UK team to new heights as they drive our mission to deliver quality, truly independent journalism that makes change happen.” The Independent also named Stephanie Fabb as chief data officer, joining from Hearst where she spent three years in the same role. …

Ukraine’s independent Orthodox Christians may tear the country apart

Ukraine’s independent Orthodox Christians may tear the country apart

Published by skeptic

(RNS) — After the first Ukrainian-language liturgy was celebrated at St. Michael’s Cathedral in Cherkasy in central Ukraine on Thursday (Oct. 17), rival groups of Orthodox Christians clashed violently outside the church in a continuing skirmish between those loyal to the Moscow-linked Ukrainian Orthodox Church and supporters of the relatively new Orthodox Church of Ukraine. The brawl, which is being investigated by police, comes in the wake of a law signed in August by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy last month effectively banning the UOC because of its Russian ties. Though the law has been justified by credible evidence that a few UOC priests have been caught spying for Russia, it has also brought criticism in Ukraine and from abroad that Zelenskyy is impinging on Ukrainians’ religious freedom. The clash in Cherkasy points to a more dangerous reality: It is not just about a single city or church, but an indication of the brewing domestic tensions in Ukraine that have the potential to boil over into a religious and ethnic conflict that would be in no …

Pro-Gaza Independent MPs Could Establish A New Formal Grouping In Parliament

Pro-Gaza Independent MPs Could Establish A New Formal Grouping In Parliament

Published by Sam

Jeremy Corbyn speaking at rally with Palestinian flag behind (Credit: Julio Etchart / Alamy Stock Photo) 2 min read08 August Shockat Adam, who unseated top Labour figure Jonathan Ashworth to become MP for Leicester South at the General Election, has left open the possibility of a new formal grouping of Independents being established in Parliament. In an exclusive interview with The House magazine, Adam said “all options are open” when asked whether the five newly elected Independent MPs could come together in a formal grouping. Speaking of the four Independent MPs elected alongside him, he added: “I had never met any of these individuals before. Like myself, I don’t think they’d heard of me, and I don’t know all of them either. So, we’re just getting to know each other. “We have commonalities, especially on our foreign policies, et cetera, but we’re just navigating where we are politically on lots of things. We are working together on issues that we have common ground on.” Adam also confirmed to The House that …

India’s independent films gain prizes at Cannes but no love in cinema at home

India’s independent films gain prizes at Cannes but no love in cinema at home

Published by Sam

NEW DELHI — India’s independent films are winning top awards at international festivals and appearing in theaters across the United States and Europe — just not in India itself. These highly acclaimed films — made by Indians and about India — are unlikely to have a major release in their own country because reluctant distributors fear that they don’t have audience appeal or that they contain controversial ideas. At the Cannes Film Festival in May, “All We Imagine As Light,” a film about the friendship between three female nurses from small towns making their way in the Mumbai megalopolis, won a top award — a first for any film made by an Indian. But its director, Payal Kapadia, says that although the movie will definitely be released in the state Kerala, her producers are still trying to figure out how to get it released nationwide. “Do I see her film getting the kind of play it deserves here? Absolutely not,” said Shubhra Gupta, one of India’s foremost film critics. “That this kind of filmmaking will …

Oxfordshire’s Owen Mumford targets net zero by 2045 with independent approval

Oxfordshire’s Owen Mumford targets net zero by 2045 with independent approval

Published by skeptic

The Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) has approved the near-team emissions reduction targets of medical manufacturer Owen Mumford. The Oxfordshire firm has committed to achieve net zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions across the value chain by 2045. It’s also pledged to reduce absolute scope 1, 2 and 3 GHG emissions 42 per cent by 2030, starting from the 2022 financial year. Scope 1 encompasses direct GHG emissions from sources either owned or controlled by an organisation. Scope 2 includes indirect GHG emissions from the generation of electricity, heat, or steam purchased and consumed by an organisation. Scope 3 stretches to all other indirect GHG emissions throughout the value chain, including the transportation of goods, extraction and production of purchased goods and materials. Downstream, this also accounts for the use and disposal of products sold by an organisation. Achieving net zero emissions by 2045 will put Owen Mumford five years ahead of the UK government’s 2050 target. As a manufacturer and distributor of mostly single-use medical devices, the company has taken a holistic approach to sustainability. …

Tell us about your experience of living near a large independent school | Private schools

Tell us about your experience of living near a large independent school | Private schools

Published by skeptic

Do you live near one of the bigger independent schools around England? We’re interested in hearing about your experience. Many private schools open their facilities to local communities, allowing people to use their sports facilities and green space; has that been your experience? Many also build strong relationships with the local state schools and welcome them for sports and other events. If your children attend one of the local state schools, do you find that the schools have a positive relationship? Share your experience You can tell us your experience of living near an independent school using this form. Your responses, which can be anonymous, are secure as the form is encrypted and only the Guardian has access to your contributions. We will only use the data you provide us for the purpose of the feature and we will delete any personal data when we no longer require it for this purpose. For true anonymity please use our SecureDrop service instead. Source link