Talk Fuse

    Topic: Business

    Britain's boardrooms and balance sheets set the pace for jobs, investment and the everyday cost of living, which is why this hub tracks the deals, disputes and decisions shaping commerce at home and abroad. Expect coverage ranging from regional infrastructure and manufacturing schemes that promise new employment, through to the high-finance manoeuvring of media and technology giants as they buy, sell and jostle for market position.

    Alongside the corporate deal-making, the section also follows the policy and regulatory currents that shape how firms and money move across borders, including scrutiny of sanctions, energy markets and the wider financial fallout of geopolitical events. For entrepreneurs and founders, there's a steady eye kept on practical opportunities, from funding programmes to industry competitions worth knowing about before deadlines pass.

    Together, these stories offer a snapshot of where capital is flowing, who stands to gain or lose, and how business decisions made in boardrooms ultimately ripple out into pay packets, prices and prospects for ordinary readers.

    • China’s routing of Biden in chip war with US created a communist tech giant

      The article reports that Huawei’s chip revenue is expected to rise by 60% this year despite US export controls intended to restrict its access to advanced semiconductor technology. It argues that the restrictions have instead strengthened China’s push for technological self-reliance, helping Huawei develop into a more significant domestic chip and technology supplier. Huawei, described…

    • Burnham is acting like he’s mayor of everywhere – that’s not devolving power to local communities | Simon Jenkins

      The column argues that Andy Burnham’s early interventions on homelessness, bus fares, pub business rates, social housing and social care contradict his previous commitment to localism. It says these policies risk further centralising services that are better managed by councils, communities and local organisations, and warns that national announcements can overlook local needs. It cites…

    • Morning news brief

      NPR’s Morning Edition news brief for 24 July 2026, hosted by Michel Martin and A Martínez, rounds up three separate developing stories rather than a single event. – US-Iran military strikes are escalating, with knock-on effects being felt in global energy markets and commodity prices – The Trump administration has imposed double-digit tariffs on goods…

    • Sega Still Values Physical Media, But Views Digital Distribution To Be “Crucial”

      Sega president Shuji Utsumi says the company still values physical media but considers a stronger move towards digital distribution crucial. The stance matters as games publishers face growing pressure to serve PC players and as other industry figures, including Sony, reduce support for physical discs. Utsumi said PC gaming is expanding, including in regions where…

    • Another embarrassing climbdown for Burnham as Angela Rayner says rent controls are NOT happening… days after he insisted they were being considered

      Angela Rayner has ruled out introducing rent controls, contradicting Andy Burnham, who had said only days earlier that such measures were being considered. The reversal marks another awkward moment for Burnham and adds to a perception of confusion or disunity within Labour over housing policy, drawing criticism from opponents such as Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch.…

    • Jon Bon Jovi stops Madison Square Garden show over vocal pain

      Jon Bon Jovi reportedly ended a performance at Madison Square Garden abruptly after experiencing vocal pain, apologising to the audience and expressing concern that he was letting them down. The incident matters because it has renewed attention on whether his previous vocal-health problems may still affect his ability to perform live. He was reported to…

    • UK borrowing costs soar as oil price jumps to $100

      UK government borrowing costs rose sharply after oil prices climbed above $100 a barrel, as conflict involving Iran and disruptions to key shipping routes heightened fears of renewed inflation and interest-rate rises. The move matters because higher gilt yields increase the cost of servicing public debt and could push up mortgage, fuel and household energy…

    • Ben McOwen Wilson named new CEO of the UK’s PRS for Music

      PRS for Music has appointed Ben McOwen Wilson, a senior Google and YouTube executive, as its next chief executive. Taking office on 12 October, he will lead the UK collection society at a time of rapid technological change, particularly around AI and digital music distribution, where protecting creators’ rights and earnings is a major concern.…

    • Heatwave and online shopping drive up retail sales in Great Britain

      Retail sales in Great Britain rose unexpectedly in June as heatwave conditions, online promotions and World Cup-related spending encouraged consumers to buy more. The increase matters because it suggests resilient consumer demand despite pressure from high interest rates, energy costs and potential inflation risks. Sales volumes rose 1% from May and were 4.2% higher than…

    • Drones Target Northern Iraqi City Where U.S. Forces Are Based As U.S.-Iran Fighting Escalates

      Explosive drones targeted Irbil in northern Iraq, where a base at the city’s airport hosts US forces, as fighting between the US and Iran continued to escalate across the region. The incident underlines the widening regional risk of the conflict, particularly to countries hosting American forces and to global energy supplies dependent on the Strait…