Water companies in England and Wales explore ‘surge pricing’ during drought
Posted on Sunday August 16, 2026

Suppliers could factor water scarcity into charges as part of Ofwat proposal to reduce consumption

Water companies could be allowed to raise bills for customers during periods of drought under proposals being considered by the sector’s regulator for England and Wales.

Suppliers would be permitted to factor “water scarcity” into bills as part of efforts to reduce consumption under Ofwat’s plans, which are being likened to surge pricing – the practice where private hire firms raise taxi fares at times of higher demand.

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Turbocharge special needs internships to help tackle UK youth jobs crisis, says Milburn
Posted on Sunday August 16, 2026

Exclusive: Government review led by former minister to recommend huge expansion of onsite schemes for those who need support

Specialist internships designed to secure work for young people with special educational needs should be put on “turbocharge” to help tackle the growing youth jobs crisis, a government review is to propose.

Alan Milburn who is leading a review of young people and work, said supported internships should be scaled up to combat “devastating” joblessness rates for young people with a learning disability, autism or mental illness.

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Summer jobs bounce back in UK thanks to busy calendar of sport and music
Posted on Sunday August 16, 2026

Industry tracker finds ‘exceptionally warm weather’ has helped boost job listings in hospitality and tourism sector

The summer job has staged a comeback this year thanks to the hot weather and a packed calendar of events such as the men’s football World Cup, new UK figures show.

Recent months have seen a significant increase in seasonal hiring in sectors such as hospitality and tourism compared with summer 2025, said the Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC), which runs a monthly labour market tracker.

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From tourism to power generation and productivity, Europe feels economic cost of heatwaves
Posted on Sunday August 16, 2026

Low river levels have stalled German freight traffic and forced closure of nuclear plants in France

Across Europe this scorching summer, workers have struggled in the heat as wildfires raged and critical infrastructure was shut down.

Here we look at the impact of the heatwaves on several major economies across mainland Europe – with the help of analysis from economists at the Dutch bank Triodos, who estimate a total of €180bn could be wiped off EU GDP by the heatwaves. In the UK, the green thinktank Verdant said this week that the heat had already cost the economy £4.4bn by the end of July.

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Unemployed young people to join AI boot camps to get job-ready
Posted on Thursday August 13, 2026

Pilot scheme will provide three weeks of training as part of UK government’s latest attempt to address Neets crisis

Young people out of work or at risk of unemployment in the UK are to join “AI boot camps” where they harness the technology to get a foothold in the workplace.

The government’s latest attempt to address the crisis in Neets – young people not in work or education – involves turning to a technology that many view as a potential threat to employment.

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‘We detected unusual activity’: the scam that uses AI to exploit your holiday photos
Posted on Sunday August 16, 2026

Fraudsters use pictures posted on Instagram or Facebook to create emails seeking bank account details

You are on a short break in Porto and post some pictures of your family on Instagram or Facebook. With a small section of the Douro river in the background, you think it could have been taken anywhere.

A few days later, you get a text saying that your card was compromised. “We detected unusual activity while you were travelling in Porto – please verify immediately,” says the message.

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Amy Hunt’s ‘dream comes true’ with fourth European Championships gold
Posted on Sunday August 16, 2026

• British sprinter first to win four titles at single event

• Dina Asher-Smith hits record 11 European medals total

If there was any remaining doubt that this has been Amy Hunt’s summer, it was dispelled over 10 seconds of controlled fury at the European Championships, as Britain’s newest sporting superstar completed an unprecedented quadruple.

When the baton was slapped into the 24-year-old’s hand on the anchor leg of the mixed 4x100m relay, she was a fraction behind Gina Lückenkemper of Germany. But then Hunt became the hunter, and a record-breaker.

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‘That’s the standard’: Mikel Arteta hails Arsenal’s desire on blue day for Maresca
Posted on Sunday August 16, 2026

• Champions delight manager by ‘winning the first trophy’

• Maresca wants Manchester City signings to arrive soon

Mikel Arteta said his Arsenal players demonstrated their hunger to defend the Premier League title in their Community Shield triumph over Manchester City. Arsenal, who ended their 22-year wait last season and are seeking to win back-to-back top-flight titles for the first time since 1934-35, beat City 3-0 at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff in Enzo Maresca’s first significant match in charge.

Riccardo Calafiori opened the scoring after 24 seconds, the fastest goal in the competition since Bobby Owen’s strike for City in 1968, before Kai Havertz doubled Arsenal’s lead and their captain, Martin Ødegaard, completed the scoring on 48 minutes. The 3-0 defeat represented the joint-heaviest loss for a City manager in their first game in charge, with Harry Newbould the most recent to suffer a three-goal opening defeat – 4-1, also to Arsenal, in 1906. It is also Maresca’s joint-heaviest defeat as a manager in England.

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