National Crime Agency officers have apprehended an Indian national on suspicion of sanctions breaches following a Royal Marine commando operation in the English Channel. The seizure of the Russian-affiliated oil tanker, Smyrtos, marks a significant enforcement action against Moscow's 'shadow fleet'.
Lord Simon Wolfson, chief executive of Next, has stated a significant reduction in entry-level job opportunities across the UK, with applications for shop roles almost doubling in two years. He attributes this to wider economic issues, increased employer taxes, and minimum wage rises, also criticising forthcoming employment law changes as detrimental to flexible hiring practices.
Business leaders and economists caution that Labour's proposed shift in apprenticeship funding could lead to significant job losses and a 'lost generation' of young workers. The party plans to replace the Apprenticeship Levy with a 'Growth and Skills Levy', broadening its scope to include non-apprenticeship training.
