Business

More than 1.8 million people streamed, viewed, or downloaded The Rest Is Politics and The Rest Is Politics: US in under 24 hours, after both shows released emergency episodes in response to the US bombing of Iran over the weekend.

In a sign of just how central podcasts have become during global breaking news events, over 1.1 million views were recorded on YouTube alone, with 685,000 audio streams across platforms such as Spotify and Apple Podcasts. Peak live audience numbers surpassed 50,000 viewers, many of whom tuned in via smart TVs — further blurring the line between podcasting and traditional broadcast.

More than 1.8 million people streamed, viewed, or downloaded The Rest Is Politics and The Rest Is Politics: US in under 24 hours.

The UK edition, hosted by Rory Stewart and Alastair Campbell, offered instant reaction and analysis to the US entering Israel’s war with Iran, asking whether the strikes could spark a wider regional or global conflict. Simultaneously, the US version, fronted by Katty Kay and Anthony Scaramucci, dug into Donald Trump’s motivations, the implications for his base, and what this latest intervention means for US foreign policy.

Tony Pastor, co-founder of Goalhanger – the podcast production company behind both shows – said the response underlined how audiences increasingly seek clarity and commentary from podcasts in moments of geopolitical tension.

“Once again, we’re seeing that in moments of fast-breaking news, audiences turn to podcasts for explanation and analysis,” Pastor said. “What’s particularly striking is how many people chose to watch these episodes on their television. The line between podcast and TV show is blurring – and it’s happening faster than ever.”

The episodes’ success follows recent findings from the Reuters Institute Digital News Report 2025, which confirmed The Rest Is Politics as the UK’s most popular news podcast and named Goalhanger the country’s top-ranked news podcast producer – ahead of BBC Sounds and Global. The podcast is also now the most-mentioned news show in the UK.

Pastor added: “These numbers show not just the trust that listeners place in our hosts, but the agility of the format. We were able to respond to a major global event in real time — and reach an audience on the scale of a primetime broadcast.”

The emergency episodes are available now on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and other major platforms.

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1.8 million tune in as emergency Iran episodes of The Rest Is Politics break records in 24 hours

Britain has lost its crown as Europe’s top destination for foreign investment in renewable energy and utility projects, as a sharp fall in new developments sees France take the lead, according to new figures from EY.

The number of green energy and utilities projects backed by overseas investors in the UK dropped by 57 per cent in 2023, falling from 93 to just 39 in a single year. That slump saw the UK overtaken by France, which grew its foreign-backed projects to 74, up from 65 in the previous year.

EY’s annual UK Attractiveness Survey found that the downturn in clean energy investment led to a 70 per cent drop in new jobs, from 4,819 in 2022 to 1,452 last year, despite a broader surge in renewables investment across Europe.

Lee Downham, EY’s UK energy and resources lead, warned that unless urgent action is taken to streamline planning and grid connection, the country’s net-zero targets and energy security goals will be at risk.

“The UK must continue to attract a strong pipeline of renewable investments if it’s to achieve its energy security ambitions,” he said. “While investors have traditionally viewed the UK as an appealing destination for clean energy, lengthy planning procedures, slow grid connectivity, and uncertainty over future pricing have been seen as drags on UK attractiveness.”

The analysis comes at a politically sensitive time, as the Labour government seeks to rebuild Britain’s green industrial base, while grappling with an energy system still heavily reliant on international gas markets.

Investment projects tracked in the report included solar farms, energy storage sites, hydrogen facilities, as well as infrastructure like R&D hubs, new HQs, manufacturing plants and maintenance centres.

The UK’s 39 new green and utilities projects in 2023 represented a collapse in inward investment in a sector central to the country’s decarbonisation and reindustrialisation plans. In contrast, France has seen a surge in support, backed by aggressive domestic incentives and streamlined permitting processes.

Germany and Spain ranked third and fourth, respectively, in EY’s European rankings. Across the continent as a whole, foreign direct investment (FDI) into the utilities and energy sector fell 21 per cent year-on-year, reflecting broader concerns about inflation, supply chain disruption and the complexity of energy regulation.

The report also highlights ongoing investor unease about the UK government’s review of the wholesale electricity market, with proposals to move to locational pricing by region. Critics argue this would create investment uncertainty and potentially penalise projects in parts of the country with weaker grid infrastructure.

While some of the UK’s high-profile clean energy projects — including large-scale offshore wind farms — are yet to progress due to planning delays and cost inflation, France has capitalised on stronger state support and faster permitting.

With global competition for clean tech investment intensifying, EY’s findings will likely fuel calls for bolder industrial policy and regulatory reform to ensure the UK can regain its leadership position in renewables — and deliver on its promise of a cleaner, more secure energy future.

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UK slips behind France in race for renewable energy investment as green projects plunge

The UK government has launched a £275 million investment in technical training and apprenticeships as the centrepiece of its long-awaited industrial strategy, aiming to tackle deep-rooted skills shortages and reclaim the manufacturing vote in Labour’s traditional heartlands.

The funding package, unveiled by business secretary Jonathan Reynolds on Sunday, will support the creation of technical excellence colleges, deliver short courses in artificial intelligence and digital manufacturing, and finance capital upgrades to training centres across England. The initiative is pitched as a strategic counter to Reform UK’s surge in post-industrial constituencies, where Nigel Farage has promised to restore Britain’s industrial might and tighten immigration.

“Our modern industrial strategy will be powered by investing in British people,” said Reynolds.

“It will help transform our skills system to end the over-reliance on foreign labour, and ensure British workers can secure good, well-paid jobs in the industries of tomorrow and drive growth and investment right across the country.”

Although the announcement is not a full industrial funding package, ministers are presenting it as a foundational element of a broader 10-year economic plan, due to be detailed in full later this week.

Officials said the investment would target persistent skills gaps in engineering, defence, battery production, and advanced manufacturing, helping Britain build a pipeline of homegrown talent to support growth sectors.

The £275m pledge includes around £200 million earmarked for infrastructure and course delivery, while the remainder will support curriculum development, recruitment, and employer partnerships. The strategy responds to alarming figures showing one in seven young people are not in education or employment, and a 19% decline in apprenticeship starts since 2016.

Education secretary Bridget Phillipson described the move as a necessary “economic and social reset”.

“Skills rightly run right through the heart of this industrial strategy because they are key to breaking the link between background and success for young people,” she said.

The plan builds on previous pledges, including a £187 million AI skills package announced during London Tech Week, and a £3 billion apprenticeship fund to deliver 120,000 placements across healthcare, carpentry, and construction.

The timing of the announcement is politically significant. With Reform UK polling strongly in red wall constituencies, Labour is under pressure to shore up support in regions disproportionately affected by automation, outsourcing, and underinvestment.

Ministers hope the skills package will send a signal that Labour is serious about reviving domestic industry and providing pathways to high-quality jobs, especially in manufacturing strongholds across the Midlands and the North.

However, some in the business and education sectors say the scale of new funding is relatively modest, especially when spread over four years. Labour may face calls to go further on reforming the apprenticeship levy, addressing the immigration skills charge, and lowering energy costs for energy-intensive industries.

The government is also expected to unveil a new trade strategy later this week, with a focus on exports, supply chains, and making the UK “the best-connected place in the world to do business”.

Industry groups have welcomed the direction of travel. Rain Newton-Smith, chief executive of the Confederation of British Industry (CBI), said: “Competitive energy prices, fast-tracked planning decisions and backing innovation will provide a bedrock for growth.”

Stephen Phipson, head of manufacturers’ group Make UK, called the announcement a “giant and much-needed step forward”.

“The strategy sets out plans to address all three of the sector’s key frustrations — the skills crisis, crippling energy costs, and difficulty accessing capital,” he said. “Clearly there is much to do as we move towards implementation, but this will send a message across the country and around the world that Britain is back in business.”

As the industrial strategy unfolds, attention will turn to whether Labour can translate its vision into measurable change — and whether this initial investment is enough to shift momentum in regions still waiting for a long-promised industrial renaissance.

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UK government unveils £275m boost to skills and apprenticeships to revive industrial heartlands

Internet users are being urged to change their passwords and bolster their online security after cybersecurity researchers discovered 16 billion login credentials in publicly exposed datasets — a trove that could be used by criminals to hijack everything from social media accounts to email logins.

The revelation comes from researchers at Cybernews, who uncovered 30 separate datasets containing credentials gathered through malicious software known as “infostealers”, as well as from historic data breaches. While many of the records are likely duplicates or already in criminal circulation, the scale of the find is alarming and underscores the persistent vulnerability of personal data online.

The exposed credentials could, in theory, offer access to services including Facebook, Google, and Apple, though none of these companies suffered a new breach. Instead, the data was obtained from third-party sources — typically through malware infections on users’ devices that steal saved logins and passwords directly from browsers or password managers.

Bob Diachenko, a respected Ukrainian cybersecurity expert who led the research, said the records were briefly accessible after being misconfigured on remote servers before being taken down. “It will take some time to assess and contact those affected, because it’s an enormous amount of data,” he said.

Cybersecurity analysts have been quick to caution that this is not the result of a new major data breach, but rather a reflection of how dangerous and widely available previously stolen data remains. Much of the data stems from logs generated by infostealer malware, which can harvest login credentials, session cookies, browsing history, and even saved credit card information.

According to Diachenko, the vast majority of the exposed information — about 85% — appears to be from such infostealer logs, with the remainder coming from older breaches such as the 2012 LinkedIn hack.

The data troves followed a clear structure: URLs, followed by usernames and passwords. The potential for account takeovers, phishing attacks, and identity theft is significant, especially if users have reused passwords across multiple services.

Google, responding to the report, confirmed the leak did not originate from any Google systems, and encouraged users to secure their accounts using tools like Google Password Manager and passkeys, a newer password-free authentication method. Meta and Apple have yet to respond publicly.

Toby Lewis, global head of threat analysis at Darktrace, warned that infostealers remain “very much real and in use by bad actors.” While they don’t directly log into accounts, they “scrape information from browser cookies and metadata,” giving attackers a way around passwords altogether.

Peter Mackenzie, director at Sophos, emphasised that the news serves as a stark reminder of the depth of personal data available to cybercriminals. “There is no new threat here, but it shows how much sensitive information is still floating around. If you haven’t changed your passwords or enabled multifactor authentication, now’s the time.”

Experts recommend that anyone concerned should:
• Immediately change passwords, especially if reusing the same credentials across platforms.
• Enable multifactor authentication (MFA) wherever available, adding an extra layer of security.
• Use a password manager to generate and store unique, strong passwords.
• Check whether personal information has been compromised using services like HaveIBeenPwned.com.

Alan Woodward, professor of cybersecurity at the University of Surrey, called it a good time for “password spring cleaning.” He added: “The fact that everything seems to be breached eventually is why there’s such a strong push toward zero-trust security models, which don’t assume any device or user is inherently safe.”

Cybernews said that although the exposed datasets were quickly taken down and haven’t been widely circulated on public forums, they represent a “blueprint for mass exploitation” and warned that complacency could leave users vulnerable.

In an era where one compromised login can unlock access to emails, financial records, or private conversations, experts agree: staying proactive is no longer optional — it’s essential.

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Internet users urged to change passwords after 16bn login credentials found online

The BBC has issued a legal warning to US-based artificial intelligence company Perplexity, accusing it of reproducing BBC content without permission and demanding that the company stop using its material, delete existing data, and propose financial compensation.

This marks the first time the BBC has threatened legal action against an AI company, as concerns escalate across the media industry over how generative AI tools use protected journalism.

In a letter sent directly to Perplexity CEO Aravind Srinivas, the broadcaster alleged that the firm’s AI-powered chatbot was presenting verbatim BBC content to users in breach of UK copyright law and the BBC’s terms of use. The corporation claims the activity is damaging its reputation, especially among UK licence fee payers, by producing inaccurate or misleading summaries of news stories.

“It is highly damaging to the BBC, injuring the BBC’s reputation with audiences… and undermining their trust in the BBC,” the letter states.

The legal move follows BBC research earlier this year which found that several major AI tools — including Perplexity’s — frequently misrepresented news stories, falling short of BBC editorial standards around impartiality and accuracy.

In a brief statement, Perplexity dismissed the claims, saying: “The BBC’s claims are just one more part of the overwhelming evidence that the BBC will do anything to preserve Google’s illegal monopoly.”

The company did not clarify how it believes Google relates to the BBC’s legal concerns and offered no further explanation.

At the heart of the dispute lies the practice of web scraping, where bots extract content from websites en masse — often without explicit permission — to train or feed AI models. While robots.txt files are commonly used to instruct bots not to access certain content, compliance is voluntary, and numerous reports suggest some AI firms ignore these restrictions.

The BBC says it has explicitly disallowed two of Perplexity’s crawlers but alleges that the company has continued to scrape its content regardless.

Perplexity has previously denied breaching robots.txt rules. In a June 2024 interview with Fast Company, CEO Srinivas claimed that its bots comply with such directives and that the company does not use content to train foundation models, stating that it instead operates as a “real-time answer engine”.

The chatbot presents users with aggregated answers to queries, pulling in and synthesising live information from across the web — a process that, according to Perplexity, does not involve the same training processes used by large language model developers.

Still, the BBC and other media organisations argue that this real-time scraping and content repackaging represents a serious breach of intellectual property. The BBC’s stance is echoed by the Professional Publishers Association (PPA), which represents over 300 UK media brands.

In a statement, the PPA said it was “deeply concerned” by current AI practices, warning that the unauthorised use of publishers’ content to power AI tools poses a threat to the UK’s £4.4 billion publishing industry and the 55,000 people it employs.

“This practice directly threatens the UK’s publishing industry and the journalism it funds,” the PPA said, calling on the government to enforce stronger copyright protections for media content used by AI firms.

The BBC–Perplexity standoff comes amid mounting tension between news organisations and generative AI companies. While AI chatbots such as OpenAI’s ChatGPT, Google’s Gemini, and Perplexity’s own assistant continue to grow in popularity, they have been repeatedly criticised for presenting misleading summaries, failing to credit original sources, or diverting traffic away from the publishers who create the content.

In January, Apple suspended an AI-driven feature that generated misleading BBC headlines on iPhones, following complaints from the broadcaster.

Quentin Willson, founder of the FairCharge campaign and a former Top Gear presenter, said the unauthorised use of journalistic content poses existential risks for trusted media organisations.

“If AI is allowed to scrape and regurgitate verified journalism without consent or compensation, the business model for serious news collapses,” he said.

While many publishers have begun signing licensing deals with AI companies — including The Associated Press, Axel Springer and News Corp — others are taking legal action. The New York Times is currently suing OpenAI and Microsoft, and more lawsuits are expected as the technology advances.

For now, the BBC is demanding a halt to unauthorised use, full deletion of scraped data, and financial reparations. Whether it follows through with formal legal proceedings could set a major precedent in the global fight over AI and journalism.

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BBC threatens AI firm Perplexity with legal action over unauthorised use of news content

The UK government will slash green levies on thousands of businesses in a major bid to reduce energy costs and revive the country’s manufacturing base, marking a key pillar of its long-awaited 10-year industrial strategy.

Announced on Monday by Prime Minister Keir Starmer, the policy aims to support more than 7,000 businesses by removing levies such as the renewables obligation, which helps fund historic renewable energy projects. The move is designed to ease financial pressure on manufacturers facing some of the highest electricity prices in the developed world, and to signal a more strategic, long-term approach to economic growth.

Starmer hailed the strategy as a “turning point for Britain’s economy,” promising a clear departure from what he called the “short-termism and sticking plasters of the past”.

“In an era of global economic instability, it delivers the long-term certainty and direction British businesses need to invest, innovate and create good jobs that put more money in people’s pockets as part of the plan for change,” he said.

A second measure, targeting the most electricity-intensive industries such as steel, aluminium, ceramics, and glass, will increase the discount on grid connection charges to 90%, up from the current 60%. The government estimates that around 500 firms across multiple sectors could benefit.

While industry sources welcomed the support, some voiced caution. In the steel sector, the overall annual savings are expected to be around £15 million, a modest figure given the scale of financial strain facing producers. Nonetheless, the policy is seen as a step in the right direction toward levelling the playing field with competitors in Germany and France, where electricity prices are significantly lower.

The government also pledged to accelerate grid connections for major investment projects that generate large numbers of jobs. A new fast-track system is expected to be in place before the end of the year, addressing a long-standing bottleneck for large-scale industrial and tech developments.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves said the industrial strategy would work in tandem with the recent spending review, which prioritised public investment in infrastructure and innovation.

“It’ll see billions of pounds for investment and cutting-edge tech, ease energy costs and upskill the nation,” she said. “It will ensure the industries that make Britain great can thrive.”

Importantly, the green levy cuts will not be funded by taxpayers or lead to higher household energy bills. The government said the changes would be funded through reforms to the wider energy system, although details of those reforms remain to be finalised.

Key to the energy and industrial strategy is the proposed linking of the UK’s Emissions Trading Scheme with that of the EU, a step that could align carbon pricing and enhance cross-border investment. Negotiations on the UK’s participation in the EU’s carbon market are ongoing following an announcement at a joint UK-EU summit in May.

The full strategy identifies eight high-potential growth sectors:
• Advanced manufacturing
• Clean energy
• Creative industries
• Defence
• Digital
• Financial services
• Life sciences
• Professional services

Business groups welcomed the plan, with Rain Newton-Smith, chief executive of the Confederation of British Industry, calling it a foundation for future growth.

“Competitive energy prices, fast-tracked planning decisions and backing innovation will provide a bedrock for growth,” she said. “But the global race to attract investment will require a laser-like and unwavering focus on the UK’s overall competitiveness.”

Stephen Phipson, chief executive of Make UK, the manufacturers’ organisation, described the announcement as a “giant and much-needed step forward”.

“The strategy sets out plans to address all three of the sector’s key frustrations — the skills crisis, crippling energy costs, and difficulty accessing capital,” he said. “Clearly there is much to do as we move towards implementation, but this will send a message across the country and around the world that Britain is back in business.”

While the impact of the measures will take time to be fully realised, the government hopes the strategy will restore confidence in UK industry, attract long-term investment, and create good-quality jobs in traditional Labour strongholds — with a clear eye on both economic revival and political renewal.

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UK to cut green levies on businesses as part of 10-year industrial strategy

Labour ministers have quietly scrapped a flagship £950 million electric vehicle (EV) charging fund first announced by the Conservatives, redirecting a smaller sum of £400 million toward on-street charge points, primarily in lower-income and underserved areas.

The move marks a significant shift in the UK’s EV rollout strategy, prioritising urban, residential charging access over the motorway-focused approach envisioned under the original Rapid Charging Fund (RCF). Introduced in 2020 by then chancellor Rishi Sunak, the RCF was intended to support grid upgrades to enable more rapid chargers at motorway service areas.

However, the Department for Transport said the RCF was never formally included in budgeted spending plans and had stalled amid concerns about design flaws and the risk of disproportionately benefiting certain motorway service companies.

Instead, the chancellor, Rachel Reeves, announced a revised £400 million commitment over five years in the recent spending review, following an earlier £200 million pledge in the autumn budget. The majority of the new funding is expected to support on-street charging infrastructure, particularly in areas where private sector investment has lagged due to lower perceived profitability.

“The rapid charging fund was designed to support the rollout of charging infrastructure on motorways and major A roads – but the previous government did not set out detailed plans to deliver this,” a Department for Transport spokesperson said: “Since the fund was announced in 2020, the market has changed significantly.”

According to Zap Map, the number of open-access rapid and ultra-rapid chargers near major roads has almost quadrupled in the past three years, with more than 80,000 public chargers now installed across the UK – a 29% increase year-on-year.

Yet the move has divided industry voices. John Lewis, CEO of on-street charging provider char.gy, welcomed the government’s focus on urban infrastructure, calling the £400 million allocation a “positive step.” But he also questioned why the full £950 million wasn’t preserved and repurposed to support consumer incentives or broader EV initiatives.

“Couldn’t the full amount have been directed towards the EV effort – whether through the continued rollout of on-street charging or other consumer incentives – to give people greater confidence to make the switch to electric?” Lewis asked.

Ian Johnston, chief executive of Osprey Charging, echoed the need for smarter funding deployment, suggesting that new resources be targeted at sites with high grid connection costs, such as underserved A-road regions, rather than being handed out evenly to all motorway services.

He also called for regulatory changes to road signage permissions, which would allow charge points to be more clearly advertised to drivers, reducing uncertainty for EV users.

Quentin Willson, founder of the advocacy group FairCharge and a former Top Gear presenter, said the decision not to repurpose the full £950 million undermines public confidence in the government’s commitment to EV adoption.

“Withholding unused RCF funds and not diverting them towards other EV charging initiatives isn’t a great look for government,” he said. “It opens them to the obvious questions about their commitment to the EV transition.”

Willson also renewed calls for the government to cut VAT on public charging to align it with the lower 5% rate available on home electricity, making public charging more affordable for drivers without access to off-street parking.

Despite the criticism, the government insists the updated plan reflects changing market realities and the need to prioritise equity in EV infrastructure. Ministers argue that on-street charging is now a more urgent gap in the network, especially in urban areas where many households lack driveways or private garages.

With Net Zero targets looming and uptake of electric vehicles still lagging behind in certain regions, the pressure remains on the government to balance infrastructure rollout with accessibility and affordability – even if that means revisiting some of the boldest pledges made under previous administrations.

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Labour scraps £950m EV rapid charging fund, redirecting £400m to on-street chargers

Thailand feels like a mix of shimmering golden temples, lively floating markets, and stunning tropical islands. Most travelers know about popular spots like Bangkok and Phuket, but there is so much more to discover beyond these famous places.

If you venture off the beaten path, you will find peaceful towns and villages that give you a real sense of Thai culture and everyday life.

For those venturing into these lesser-known areas, staying connected can be helpful, especially when navigating unfamiliar streets or booking last-minute accommodations. Using a Thailand dtac eSIM provides mobile data access from the moment of arrival without the need to search for a local SIM shop. It’s a convenient solution for those who prefer not to rely on public Wi-Fi while traveling.

1.   Chiang Khan: Quiet Mornings and Riverside Views

Chiang Khan is a peaceful town along the Mekong River in Thailand’s northeast, known for its wooden homes, narrow streets, and scenic riverwalk. Evenings come alive with local vendors and families strolling by the riverside. Each morning, visitors can experience the quiet tradition of giving alms to barefoot monks walking through the calm streets. Here, life moves slowly, inviting you to soak in the gentle rhythm of local life.

2.   Koh Yao Noi: The Island That Time Forgot

Koh Yao Noi, nestled between Phuket and Krabi, is a quiet island that has kept its fishing village charm. Unlike crowded resorts nearby, it offers peaceful coastlines, palm trees, and laid-back afternoons. Exploring by scooter reveals roads lined with rubber trees and rice paddies, along with small cafes and local food stalls. With nearly empty beaches and a slow pace, the island feels like a refreshing escape from mass tourism.

3.   Ban Rak Thai: Tea, Hills, and Mist

Ban Rak Thai, tucked in the hills near the Myanmar border, feels like stepping into another world with its Yunnan-style teahouses and clay-walled homes. The cool mountain air and early morning mist add to its peaceful charm. Visitors enjoy sampling local teas while taking in lakeside views and exploring nearby forested trails. This village’s unique blend of culture and calm makes it a refreshing alternative to typical Thai destinations.

4.   Phu Kradueng National Park: A Hiker’s Reward

Phu Kradueng National Park is renowned for its stunning highlands and challenging hiking trails. Reaching the summit requires several hours of hiking on foot, making it a favorite among those who enjoy nature and appreciate a bit of effort. The view from the top includes cliffs, pine forests, and plateaus blanketed in morning fog.

The park also features waterfalls and meadows that bloom with wildflowers in cooler months. Staying connected for trail updates or weather changes is easier with tools like a Thailand dtac eSIM, especially since mobile signals can be limited in certain areas. Overnight stays are common, with tents and cabins available for rent. With few crowds and no vehicles allowed on top, the atmosphere remains calm and serene.

5.   Nakhon Phanom: Along the Mekong’s Edge

Nakhon Phanom sits quietly on the Mekong River, facing the mountains of Laos just across the water. Its streets carry a blend of Thai, Lao, and Vietnamese influence, seen in both the food and the architecture. The city’s riverside walkway is perfect for evening strolls and quiet observation.

Temples, colonial buildings, and local markets all exist without the rush of tourist traffic. Ferries still carry goods and people between riverbanks, and old traditions remain part of everyday life. Nakhon Phanom is ideal for those seeking subtle cultural details without large crowds.

6.   Laem Sing: An Undisturbed Coastal Spot

Laem Sing, located in Chanthaburi Province, offers a gentle coastal experience with fewer visitors than Thailand’s larger beach towns. The area is lined with casuarina trees, fishing boats, and small seafood shacks. It’s the kind of place where the pace naturally slows down.

A short walk inland leads to forest parks and viewpoints offering wide-open vistas of the sea. The nearby French-built bridge, a reminder of past colonial influence, is a quiet spot to pause and reflect. Laem Sing remains calm, practical, and full of everyday charm.

7.   Nan Province: Northern Culture and Mountain Roads

Nan Province holds a special place in Thailand’s north, known for its preserved heritage and winding mountain routes. The city of Nan is home to murals and temples that reflect Lanna-style art and architecture. There is also a strong presence of ethnic communities whose traditions remain woven into daily life.

Roads from the city lead into forested hills and quiet farming villages. Coffee farms, natural viewpoints, and small museums offer a unique blend of nature and culture, free from crowds. Nan is a destination for those drawn to authenticity over spectacle.

Every trip doesn’t need to follow the usual paths. A Thailand dtac eSIM supports these slow discoveries by keeping travel simple, even in places far from the spotlight. Taking time to explore smaller towns and quiet corners reveals deeper connections to culture, nature, and history.

Read more:
7 Hidden Corners of Thailand Worth Adding to Your Travel List

UK businesses are calling on the government to introduce a business energy price cap after nearly four in five firms reported steep increases in energy bills over the past year, new research reveals.

The findings, compiled by energy broker Utility Bidder, show that businesses across England, Scotland and Wales are facing mounting pressure from unregulated energy markets, with many owners calling for urgent government intervention. Unlike households, commercial users have no protection from price caps, leaving them exposed to volatile and often unaffordable rates.

In response, Utility Bidder has launched an official parliamentary petition urging ministers to implement a price cap and provide direct support for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

“Nearly 80% of businesses have seen their energy bills increase in just the past year, and yet there’s still no cap in place to protect them,” said Chris Shaw, CEO of Utility Bidder.

“For too long, British businesses — especially small and independent ones — have been left exposed to unstable energy prices without the safety nets that domestic consumers have.”

The situation is dire in regions like the North East, where 100% of surveyed business owners reported an increase in energy costs, followed closely by 92.9% in the West Midlands, 87.5% in Wales, and 84.6% in Scotland.

The survey, which included over 500 business owners and their carers, found that:

80.6% said energy prices are one of the biggest financial challenges they face.
22% now pay more than £6,000 annually on energy, compared to just 14.1% who pay under £1,000.
Female-owned businesses are less likely to receive government support, with 47.7% saying they receive none — compared to 28.3% of men.

The cost of energy is also hitting smaller and lower-income businesses hardest, with two-thirds of businesses earning under £10,000 paying between £1,000 and £1,500 annually, despite operating from modest premises.

According to Shaw, many businesses are tightening budgets, delaying investments, or even considering closure as a result of unsustainable energy bills. He warned that unless the government steps in, the UK risks widespread economic damage.

“We’ve launched an official Parliament petition to help make this happen. If you believe businesses deserve fairer treatment, we’d urge you to add your name, share the petition, and show your support. Together, we can send a clear message that this can’t wait.”

Regional disparities and call for reform

Energy costs are disproportionately higher in some areas. In Scotland, 38.5% of businesses pay more than £6,000 per year — the highest in the UK — followed by 33.3% in the North East and 29.6% in London. Meanwhile, 37.5% of businesses in the East Midlands spend less than £1,000 annually, suggesting stark regional inequalities.

The research also found that:

61.2% of business owners want immediate implementation of an energy price cap or tougher regulation.
52.9% would like direct government subsidies or grants.
47.6% support tax breaks or energy efficiency incentives.
40.5% want long-term investment in renewables, rather than short-term fixes.

The broader context includes the government’s legally binding Net Zero commitment by 2050, which will require UK businesses to shift away from fossil fuels. However, some business owners voiced frustration, arguing they are being burdened with costs they can’t afford without adequate support.

A business owner from the South East, whose bills have risen to £2,000, urged the government to “stop Net Zero”, highlighting the growing tension between climate targets and economic reality for small firms.

Government support not enough, businesses say

Only 18.1% of business owners said the support they’re receiving is making a meaningful difference. In the East Midlands, almost two-thirds (62.5%) said they receive no financial help. Even in the best-performing regions, such as the North East, just a third of businesses feel adequately supported.

With unemployment rising, job postings stagnating, and the broader economy still fragile, business groups say now is the time for the government to step up.

Utility Bidder’s petition calls for the government to level the playing field between domestic and commercial energy users by capping business energy prices and offering targeted support to protect SMEs.

As Shaw put it: “British businesses are the backbone of our economy. It’s time to give them the same protections and stability that households receive.”

To view or sign the petition, visit: UK Parliament Petitions Site

Read more:
Petition launched as 4 in 5 UK businesses face soaring energy bills without price cap

The UK jobs market posted a modest rise in new job adverts last month, suggesting early signs of resilience despite economic headwinds and growing pressure on employers from tax increases.

According to new data from the Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC), the number of new job adverts rose by 0.3 per cent in May to 726,084, a small uptick that follows a prolonged slowdown in hiring. However, the total number of active job postings fell by 1.8 per cent to 1.44 million, underlining the market’s sluggish pace.

Neil Carberry, chief executive of the REC, said the labour market is “more stuck than going backwards”, noting that the slow growth in postings marks a second consecutive month of slight improvement, rather than a sign of deeper contraction.

“Despite the headwinds of tax rises and lower growth there seems to be some resilience,” Carberry said. “After a long jobs market slowdown, a second month of weak growth in new postings is a sign more of hope than concern.”

The tentative recovery comes against a backdrop of rising employer costs. A recent hike in national employment contributions and new government policies that will expand employee rights — including enhanced sick pay, maternity protections and unfair dismissal safeguards — have prompted employers to review hiring plans.

The government’s move to raise £25 billion in extra revenue through employment taxes has compounded the strain on a labour market already affected by over 15 months of declining vacancies.

Recent figures from HM Revenue and Customs show the number of payroll employees fell by 109,000 in May, the steepest decline since the early days of the Covid-19 pandemic. The unemployment rate rose to 4.6 per cent in the latest quarter, the highest since 2021, according to the Office for National Statistics.

Despite these warning signs, Carberry struck a cautiously optimistic tone.

“While the global growth picture is weaker than anyone would like, the UK is relatively well-positioned to take advantage of what opportunities there are,” he said. “We are past the interest rate peak, the UK looks good value by comparison to the US, has banked progress on trade deals, and has a stable legal and political picture for the next few years.”

The jobs data follows a string of mixed economic signals. While GDP growth slowed in April, there are tentative signs of improving consumer confidence and softer inflation, which could lead to lower interest rates later in the year. However, rising business costs and ongoing uncertainty about global demand continue to weigh heavily on the hiring outlook.

Recruiters say the coming months will be critical in determining whether the recent uptick in postings develops into a sustained recovery or stalls under the weight of policy and macroeconomic pressures. For now, employers appear cautious but not retreating — and that, say experts, may be the best the market can hope for in the short term.

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UK jobs market shows modest rise in new postings as tax pressures weigh