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Rising UK consumer confidence gives Andy Burnham ‘golden opportunity’, survey says – business live
UK consumer confidence has risen sharply, presenting new prime minister Andy Burnham with what commentators describe as a “golden opportunity” to capitalise on improving public sentiment. The findings come from a survey by Opinium for the British Retail Consortium (BRC), which tracks how confident shoppers feel about the economy and their own finances, and matters…
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Aussie couple blasts ‘heartless’ council over rule that stops them from living on their property
An Australian couple in South Australia say they have been left unable to live on their own property after a fire, accusing their local council of being “heartless” over a rule preventing them from residing there while they rebuild. The dispute highlights ongoing tension between rural property owners and local authorities over planning and safety…
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Alina Habba shuts down speculation she could replace Karoline Leavitt as White House press secretary
Alina Habba, widely seen as a frontrunner to become the next White House press secretary, has publicly ruled herself out of contention for the role. The announcement follows Karoline Leavitt’s confirmation that she will step down from the podium at the end of August after returning from maternity leave, choosing to focus on raising her…
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Blizzards, nuclear anxiety and a fragile bond: two sisters in Japan – in pictures
A new photography exhibition at London’s Photographers’ Gallery, Playing the Piano Upstairs, explores photographer Sayuri Ichida’s evolving relationship with her sister, set against the snowy landscapes of their hometown in Niigata, Japan. Ichida, who is based in Margate, uses the series to trace how the sisters’ once-distant bond grew stronger and more fragile after the…
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Sheffield Launches £11m E-Bike Rental Scheme with Affordable Access Model
Sheffield is deploying a substantial e-bike rental network backed by an £11 million investment, featuring docking stations across the city to provide residents with an accessible sustainable transport option. Officials h
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Security funding unclear as Harry and Meghan return to UK
King Charles is reported to have been blindsided by Harry and Meghan’s announcement that they are moving back to the UK, with Archie and Lilibet due to start school there this September. Sources told the Daily Mail that neither Harry nor Meghan mentioned any plan to return during their meeting with the King in July,…
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Oxfam ‘can’t guarantee future’ of charity shops as it also reviews warehouse business
Oxfam has said it “cannot give guarantees” over the future of its high street charity shops as it reviews its warehouse operations, amid falling donations and stiffening competition from online secondhand marketplaces such as Vinted. The charity insists it has no immediate plans to close shops or warehouses, but insiders fear its Batley site in…
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The e-bike rental revolution is here – it better be worth it
On paper the benefits are clear. It is now the jobs of politicians and planners to sell them to people who have endure so much for so long
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Melbourne granny Lolene was bashed, wrapped in plastic and dumped in a river before her killer went on a shopping spree – and she could be released in under four years
A Victorian woman, Milena Bogojevska, has been sentenced to eight years in prison, with a non-parole period of six years, over the manslaughter of her 85-year-old neighbour Lolene Whitehand, whose body was found dumped in Melbourne’s Maribyrnong River. Because she has already served 755 days and pleaded guilty to the reduced charge rather than murder,…
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TalkFuse morning briefing, 20 Aug 2026 04:33
TalkFuse’s morning briefing of 20 August 2026 appeared to be a round-up rather than a report on one discrete event. The dominant development was the escalating US-Iran confrontation: President Donald Trump said countries continuing to trade with Iran would face unspecified economic consequences, while Iran rejected the threat. Reporting that morning also described the UAE…