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Energy firms call for expanded support as winter bills hit three-year high

Energy UK urges the government to expand financial support for households as winter energy bills are set to hit their highest level in three years. The industry body proposes a new £1.9bn scheme offering targeted assistance to millions struggling with costs.

5 min read

Partial side view of a woman who is holding her jumper close around her neck with one hand and turning up her radiator with the other

Carney's gamble: Canada walks away from Trump deal and braces for trade war

Prime Minister Mark Carney suspended trade talks with President Trump and chose retaliation over a tentative deal, becoming one of the first world leaders to walk away from White House negotiations. Canada faces economic pain but public backing for a hardline stance.

6 min read

Economist Lord O'Neill declines formal role in Burnham government but backs devolution push

Economist Lord Jim O'Neill has declined a formal role in Andy Burnham's government but backs the PM's devolution plans. The former Goldman Sachs chief economist said he preferred to maintain an informal advisory relationship to retain control of his business interests.

3 min read

Canada vows 'dollar for dollar' retaliation as US trade talks collapse

Canada's Prime Minister Mark Carney has suspended trade talks with the US and vowed reciprocal tariffs after negotiations collapsed on Friday. New 50% US tariffs on $20 billion of Canadian goods took effect on 22 August, with Canada set to retaliate with counter-tariffs on 8 September.

6 min read

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney attends the announcement of a Quebec-Newfoundland hydro agreement

Burnham's fiscal squeeze dominates papers as housing powers, Sussex return and crash tragedy make headlines

Prime Minister Burnham faces fiscal pressures and plans to give mayors housing powers, while papers report on the Sussex return, a fatal crash near Middlesbrough, and Prince Harry's legal bill. Seven people died in a wrong-way collision on 22 August 2026.

10 min read

"Fiscal worries mount for Burnham" reads the headline on the front page of the Financial Times.

TikTok to pay $400m in landmark US child privacy settlement

TikTok has agreed to pay $400 million to settle a federal lawsuit alleging it violated children's privacy protections, marking one of the largest such settlements. The agreement requires immediate payment of $300 million and includes commitments to stronger age controls and parental oversight.

4 min read

A young woman holding her iPhone while showing the TikTok app.

Bernard Matthews to shut Derby factory by end of 2026, affecting 600 jobs

Bernard Matthews will close its Derby processing facility by the end of 2026, affecting around 600 workers. The decision follows a consultation period and comes amid sustained financial losses and external economic pressures facing the food manufacturing sector.

6 min read

The Bernard Matthews factory on Shaftesbury Street South in Derby

Canada urged to 'fight' as trade deadline looms, Manitoba premier defies federal pressure

Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew publicly opposes a prospective US-Canada trade deal hours before a federal deadline, urging Canada to resist concessions and calling Trump unreliable. Provincial leaders remain divided on restoring American alcohol sales.

5 min read

An image showing Wab Kinew speaking in front of several microphones at a press conference with a few of Canada's other premiers behind him. He has black hair that is tied up in a bun, and is wearing a dark charcoal grey suit and tie.

Why Billionaires Keep Buying Irish Castles: From Zuckerberg to Irons

Mark Zuckerberg's purchase of Strancally Castle in County Waterford joins a growing trend of billionaires acquiring Irish castles. Experts attribute the appeal to romance, heritage, privacy, and status, while raising concerns about privatisation of historically significant properties.

6 min read

A composite image of two men. On the left, a man with brown curly hair. He is wearing a suit. On the right, a man with short grey hair and a moustache. He is smiling.

Fuel Shortages Deepen as Ukraine Strikes Russian Oil Refineries

Moscow and Russian regions face severe petrol shortages as Ukrainian drone strikes continue targeting oil refineries. Fuel retailers have imposed purchase limits, and Russia has begun importing refined fuel—an extraordinary measure for a major oil exporter. Public anxiety is rising despite offici...

7 min read

A man in a white t-shirt facing away from the camera stands with his right arm resting on his car, in a long queue of vehicles outside a petrol station in Moscow

UK borrowing overshoots forecasts in July as Healey prepares first Budget

UK government borrowing exceeded forecasts by £2.3bn in July 2026, reaching £1.8bn for the month. The overshoot constrains Chancellor John Healey's room for manoeuvre ahead of his first Budget on 28 October, with economists warning of limited scope for additional spending.

3 min read

Chancellor of the Exchequer John Healey arrives in Downing Street to attend the first Cabinet meeting hosted by the newly appointed Prime Minister Andy Burnham in London, United Kingdom on July 21, 2026

Northern Ireland records strongest disposable income growth across UK regions

Northern Ireland achieved the strongest growth in real disposable income of any UK region in 2024, rising 4.1%, driven by inflation-linked increases in benefits, pensions and minimum wage alongside rising private sector wages.

3 min read

Person with red jumper has fingers inside gold coloured wallet.