New Labour

A new article in Asterisk magazine takes readers inside the process of training as an electrician, examining the apprenticeship requirements, licensing hurdles and technical skills the trade demands. The piece lands amid ongoing debate in the United States about shortages of skilled tradespeople and whether electrician careers can absorb workers displaced from office jobs or support the energy transition.

Labour Minister Yolanda Díaz has given experts three weeks to recommend how much Spain's minimum wage should rise so workers do not lose purchasing power. The move follows the government's annual review process, with unions and employers expected to weigh in on the final figure. Other labour headlines include a new round of minimum wage negotiation talks and progress on the digital time-recording registry, which the Labour Ministry aims to unblock in October.

A World Bank jobs council is calling for crisis-level employment support measures, warning that workers need stronger protections as artificial intelligence reshapes labour markets. The appeal comes alongside an International Monetary Fund warning that AI could hit jobs like a 'tsunami', with both institutions urging governments to act now on retraining, safety nets and employment policy.

Ultra Robotics, a company that builds robots for warehouse operations, has raised $62 million in new funding. The investment underscores continuing strong interest in warehouse automation, as logistics companies look to robotics to cut labour costs and speed up order fulfilment. Details on the investors and the company's plans for the money were not immediately clear.

The New York Times has published a feature tracing France's deep tradition of street protest, from the Revolution through modern labour upheavals. The piece frames the country's recurring waves of demonstrations as a defining feature of its political culture, arriving amid renewed unrest in France that has again drawn international attention.

A new poll suggests Labour voters overwhelmingly want Andy Burnham to commit to rejoining the European Union. An exclusive report says a ten-year plan for EU re-entry in 2036 is being put to the prime minister. The findings put pressure on Labour's leadership over its Brexit stance.

A new report says stepped-up immigration enforcement could cost Maine's economy billions of dollars. The state relies heavily on immigrant workers in agriculture, seafood processing and service industries, and the findings suggest mass deportations or stricter enforcement would create labour shortages and economic losses. The report is drawing attention amid ongoing national debate over immigration policy and enforcement.

A new argument is making the case that artificial intelligence should be treated not as a tool people use, but as a form of labour to be hired and managed. The piece suggests organisations should think of AI the way they think about onboarding employees: assigning it roles, responsibilities and oversight. The framing has struck a chord in tech circles, where debates continue over how companies should integrate AI into everyday work.

Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham is set to tell parliament that the UK should consider negotiating a new deal with the European Union. His intervention adds to ongoing debate about Britain's post-Brexit relationship with the EU, with supporters arguing closer ties would help the economy and critics likely to resist any reopening of Brexit arrangements.

Researchers report that some young ants begin hunting and caring for nestmates earlier than others, and the reasons are being explored in new coverage. The work looks at variation in when individual ants take on foraging and brood-care duties, a question that touches on how division of labour develops in insect colonies. Scientists are discussing what drives these early behavioural shifts and what they reveal about social organisation in ants.

New US weekly jobless claims came in below market expectations, lifting the dollar against the yen to 158.19. The stronger-than-expected labour data suggests the US jobs market remains resilient, and currency traders are watching how it influences Federal Reserve rate expectations. The figures were closely followed in Japan, where the yen's weakness against the dollar remains a sensitive topic.

Green Party figure Zack Polanski is the subject of a widely shared social media message circulating in UK politics circles, tagged with Labour, Greens and climate change hashtags. The post, originating on the Mastodon instance mastox.eu, has prompted replies and discussion among users following British political news. Little detail beyond its climate framing is available.

A large new opinion poll reported by the Guardian suggests half of people in the UK now want to rejoin the European Union, and that Labour backing rejoining could increase its vote. The findings renew debate about whether Brexit remains a settled issue and how rejoin sentiment could shape Labour's electoral strategy and the next general election.

The European Commission has published guidelines on the EU Forced Labour Regulation, which bans products made with forced labour from the EU market. The guidelines are intended to help companies and authorities interpret and apply the new rules. Businesses are expected to review supply chains for compliance, though details of the guidance's practical impact remain limited.

The Dutch entrepreneur and former publisher Annemarie van Gaal is being searched and discussed in the Netherlands. Attention comes as national broadcaster EenVandaag reports that more and more Polish workers are leaving the Netherlands, despite employers relying heavily on labour migrants. Van Gaal, who has long been involved in business ventures in Poland, is a familiar voice on Dutch-Polish work and migration topics.

A Standard opinion piece asks why Generation Z has become so fascinated with New Labour and the Tony Blair era, exploring the revival of interest in 1990s and 2000s Labour politics among young people online. The article examines what draws younger Britons to that period of government and what the trend says about current youth attitudes toward politics and the Labour Party today.

Communities affected by agroindustrial operations say they have exhausted national courts and complaint mechanisms, leaving them without remedy for harms linked to plantations and agribusiness. They are now turning to the proposed binding treaty on business and human rights, arguing voluntary corporate commitments have failed and international law must hold companies accountable for land grabs, pollution and labour abuses.

Amazon is being widely discussed, with attention focused on the company's business and financial activities. No specific new development is detailed, but the e-commerce and cloud giant remains a focal point for commentary on its market position, labour practices, and corporate performance. Observers continue to track its moves across retail, logistics and cloud computing as it ranks among the most talked-about companies.

A new poll shows that Labour voters overwhelmingly want Andy Burnham to commit to rejoining the European Union. The findings put pressure on the Manchester mayor, widely seen as a potential future Labour leader, to take a clearer position on Brexit as debate over Britain's relationship with the EU continues within the party.

Protests against artificial intelligence companies are intensifying, with activists reportedly moving beyond petitions and letters to direct action, including calls to 'pull the plug' on AI operations. The Guardian reports on the shift, which reflects growing anger over AI's environmental costs, labour impacts and rapid corporate expansion. Details of specific actions and targets remain limited in the initial coverage.

A new analysis argues that AI investments measured purely through workforce savings can mislead. It gives the example of AI cutting $150 million in labour costs after a $100 million investment while still leaving an enterprise weaker, saying headcount reduction is a flawed measure of AI's real value. The piece adds to ongoing debate about how companies should judge returns on AI spending beyond cost-cutting.

Indonesian migrant workers send billions of dollars home each year, and a new report highlights how these remittances support household incomes, education and local businesses across the country. Remittances are described as a major contributor to Indonesia's economy, cushioning families against hardship and supplementing national income, though the full picture on their scale and long-term impact remains limited.

Major League Baseball has put forward a proposal to shorten the regular season and expand the Division Series as part of ongoing labour negotiations with the players' union. The talks centre on restructuring the competition format, with a shorter schedule balanced by more postseason games. The proposal is one of several issues under discussion as both sides work toward a new agreement.