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Stinky business: south London bike shop hit by ‘unbearable’ stench from Thames Water sewer

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‘Countries are defying gravity at all income levels’: how long can global economy resist chaos?
Sky-high oil prices and geopolitical turmoil have made less of a dent than feared … just don’t bank on it to last Inside the vast, glass-walled Queen Sirikit conference centre in Bangkok, the air-conditioned atmosphere was calm as policymakers from more than 100 countries gathered this week for the International Monetary Fund’s annual meeting – and contemplated the surprising strength of the global economy. A small army of smiling, uniformed Thai staff were on hand to explain the baffling geography of the heavily guarded building, where lunch options were as cosmopolitan as the delegates – including, improbably, a Burger King. Continue reading...

Plan to make firms pay more to train older workers than youth apprentices in England
Exclusive: Ministers considering overhaul of apprenticeship funding scheme to tackle youth jobs crisis Employers in England are to be forced to pay more to train an older worker than a youth apprentice under plans being drawn up by the government to tackle the youth jobs crisis. The Guardian understands ministers plan to overhaul Labour’s apprenticeship funding scheme to increase the cost of training by 25% for a worker over the age of 25 in order to encourage businesses to train young people instead. Continue reading...

Palantir patient data tech rejected by many NHS trusts in England
Exclusive: health bodies across country say controversial US firm’s data platform no better than systems already in use NHS organisations that care for millions of people in England are rejecting Palantir’s patient data technology, according to freedom of information responses that reveal health bosses believe they can find better or equal alternatives in many cases. Some health bodies said the £330m federated data platform (FDP) operated by the controversial US company had made it easier to manage waiting lists and has improved surgery scheduling. But, from Gateshead to Truro, others said they were declining to use it or had carried out trials and reverted to old systems. A Suffolk trust said other systems “supercede” the FDP’s functionality, while Greater Manchester’s care board called the Palantir system “duplicative” and “retrograde”. Continue reading...
Trump's Russia diesel deal may offer Putin more than money — and spell trouble for Ukraine
Trump's diesel deal may do little for Russia's finances, but it raises bigger questions about Ukraine's leverage, U.S. support and Putin's next moves.
Some companies give AI to everyone. This CEO is doing the opposite
Paysend CEO Ben Chisell limits AI tools to top performers as other U.K. companies push broader workplace rollouts.

China’s tourists flock to experience a pretend typhoon as ‘dark tourism’ flourishes
The concept of ‘paying to suffer’ soars in popularity, with simulated disasters proving a modern twist on visiting sites of historic tragedies When Leon Lv was looking for somewhere to travel last year, she turned to the Chinese social media app RedNote for ideas. The algorithm took her to videos of people struggling to survive typhoon-strength winds and flash floods. “I never experienced a typhoon. I don’t know how it will feel and what will happen. I just have seen it on the news,” says the 28-year-old from Chongqing in south-west China. “So that’s why I want to go there to have a safe place to experience it and learn something.” Continue reading...