Writing the summary…
Consumer optimism slides to lowest since 2014 as fears escalate over rising prices and jobs
Original reporting
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Tech leaders arrive at White House for AI luncheon with Trump
The artificial intelligence luncheon comes as calls for a slowdown and regulation reach a fever pitch
New AI-powered government website uses Gemini, Grok, Trump official Gebbia says
Trump called the new website, America.gov, "a restoration of America's founding promise."

Even George Osborne might be a nimby if an AI datacente was built next to his home | Letters
The quality of life for people living next to one would be destroyed, writes Moira Brewer ; plus a letter from Mark Davis So, George Osborne thinks people who don’t want an AI datacentre on their doorstep are nimbys ( OpenAI’s George Osborne says datacentre nimbys holding back Britain, 22 September ). He ought to come and visit our small town in Devon, where there are plans to build one of the largest datacentres in Europe, along with a battery energy storage system, on 850 acres of farmland. The size of this proposed development is quite out of proportion to its location – larger than the town itself – and accessed by narrow lanes. It would be a huge blot on a beautiful rural landscape that is enjoyed by holidaymakers who are vital to the local economy. Continue reading...
El Pollo Loco to open first New York restaurant as it aims to become national chicken chain
El Pollo Loco will open its first New York City restaurant next year in Queens as it aims to become a national chicken chain.

Faisal Islam: Triple lock move is significant, but it's a gamble
I had expected him to try to forge a political consensus on this thorny issue at this stage, but he has gone further than that.

Conference laps up Andy unplugged as he offers chance to take road less travelled | John Crace
Nothing was off the table, no coded hints, and by the end no one could be in any doubt about what Burnham believed You’ve got to hand it to Andy Burnham. He left nothing out on the pitch. It would have been so easy to play it safe. To deliver a traditional leader’s speech to a home crowd. One we’ve been seeing from leaders of all parties for more than 15 years. Something warm, a feelgood vibes word salad with the odd minor spending announcement thrown in. Hell, the Labour conference would have probably settled for it. They already had all the hope that they had come for . The hope that they were back in with a fighting chance of winning the next election. They wouldn’t have even dared think that three months ago. But Andy did it differently . Just as he had promised. He had said he was a different kind of politician and he duly made good on that. Hope came with honesty, he said. And hone