💡 UK Leads the Charge on Green Energy

📰 Industry News

• Garden centre chain Dobbies to shut 17 stores as part of the restructuring plan, affecting 465 jobs and the retailer will also try to reduce its rent bill at nine sites if creditors approve its strategy. (The Guardian)

• Australian property listing firm REA Group said on Monday it is dropping its pursuit of UK real estate portal Rightmove after the company rejected its latest £6.2 ($8.29) billion fourth proposal earlier in the day. (Reuters)

• JustEat has partnered with Boots to offer delivery on-demand beauty and healthcare products from an initial 50 stores across the UK. A range of around 1,000 Boots own-label and branded products will be available. (The Grocer)

• eBay selling fees are scrapped for private sellers to boost reselling and keep pace with rivals in the marketplace, to help inspire the number of people looking to make a few quid by flogging stuff they no longer want. (Sky News)

• OpenAI, the maker of ChatGPT, has seen its value surge to £118bn ($157bn) after raising $6.6bn in its latest funding round, as investors including its early backer Microsoft continue to bet big on AI. (BBC)

🪙 New Law Requires Employers to Pass All Tips to Staff

Big news for anyone in the UK who’s ever left a tip and wondered where it ended up. A new law now demands that all tips, whether cash or card, must go directly to the workers—no sneaky skimming by the bosses allowed. This is expected to benefit over three million service employees across England, Scotland, and Wales.

So, what's the deal?

• Bye-bye to withheld tips: Businesses now have to pass on every penny of your tip to their staff by the end of the following month. Great news for hospitality and service workers who’ve been missing out for too long!

• Employees’ new power move: If companies don’t play by the rules, workers can take them to an employment tribunal. That’s right, no more quietly suffering unfair practices in bars, cafes, and restaurants.

• Tipping culture shift: Unlike in the US, where tipping is practically part of the pay-check, the UK’s new rule ensures tips remain a genuine ‘thank you,’ not a lifeline for low wages.

While this is a win for many, some small businesses may find it challenging to implement smoothly. But let’s face it, it’s about time the UK got serious about keeping tipping fair!

⏬ Musk’s X Continues To Decline in Major Markets

Looks like Elon Musk’s chaotic takeover of Twitter (or X, if you’re feeling fancy) is sending the platform into a tailspin, especially in its biggest markets - the U.S., UK, and EU. According to data from SimilarWeb, around 20% of U.S. daily active users have ditched the platform. And in the UK? A whopping 33% have said their goodbyes. Ouch.

What’s causing this mass exodus?

• Musk’s ‘X’ Factor: Since Musk took the reins, users have been fleeing. In the EU alone, X's monthly active users slid from 112.2 million to 105.9 million in just a year.

• Public Meltdowns & Political Drama: Let’s be honest, Musk’s Twitter tantrums - like his “civil war” comment aimed at the UK - clearly haven’t helped. In fact, according to the date, it appears to have sped up the UK’s user exit.

• Temporary Election Hype: There is some good news though, the U.S. election might give X a temporary boost in activity, but how long until Musk’s political shenanigans scare off even more users? Time will tell.

Social media platforms go through ups and downs, but X under Musk? It's not looking so good. Between the controversial comments and questionable leadership, it’s no surprise users are jumping ship. A name change might’ve been bold, but maybe it’s time to rethink more than just the branding…

🔋 UK is the First G7 Nation to Exit Coal-Fired Power

The UK just made history, becoming the first G7 nation to kick coal out of its energy grid completely. After more than 100 years of burning the black stuff to keep homes warm and businesses running, the country’s now fully switched to cleaner, greener energy sources.

The last coal-fired power plant, Ratcliffe-on-Soar in Nottinghamshire, is set to be shut down within the next two years—officially closing the door on the UK’s coal era.

What’s the big deal?

• A Greener Future: the UK first fired up coal for electricity back in 1882. Fast forward to the early 1900s, and 1.2 million people were working in the coal industry. Now? It’s barely a flicker on the grid.

• Quick Turnaround: just ten years ago, coal-powered 33% of the UK’s energy. Now, it’s less than 1%, with renewables like wind and solar taking over the show.

• Some Bumps Ahead: while this is a big win for the environment, the UK's reliance on natural gas has led to some of the highest industrial energy prices in the developed world.

This bold move positions the UK as a leader in the global race to ditch coal. But there’s no denying it - keeping energy costs down while going green is still a major hurdle. The UK has been faster than most in cutting coal, but other G7 nations are lagging.

With a focus on wind, solar, and tech like carbon capture, the UK aims to show the world how it’s done. As the climate crisis looms, it’s proof that when the will and the tech line up, big things can happen!

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