Lithuania's prime minister resigns
A junior party in Lithuania's government on Wednesday threatened to quit the ruling coalition unless Paluckas resigned over business ties to a company owned by his sister-in-law.
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The Guardian
an hour ago
- The Guardian
Fewer green energy tariffs offered as British households opt for cheaper deals
The number of green energy tariffs available to British households has plummeted during the cost of living crisis as bill payers choose affordability over sustainability, according to industry data. Energy suppliers have pulled tariffs advertised as 'green' from the market since Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 triggered a global energy crisis that pushed gas and electricity bills to record highs. Green tariffs, which are typically more expensive than standard deals, made up about 85% of the UK's supply market in 2022 as climate-conscious households opted to pay a premium for deals backed by renewable energy. But industry data, commissioned by the Guardian, has revealed that energy suppliers have radically scaled back their green offerings, which now make up about a fifth of the tariffs on the market. William Mann-Belotti, an analyst at Cornwall Insight, an energy consultancy, said demand for tariffs backed by renewable energy had fallen because 'green credentials aren't a higher priority than cost … Amid a cost of living crisis, it becomes difficult to sell pure green tariffs at a premium'. Energy tariffs marketed as green typically promise to supply renewable energy rather than power from a mix of sources provided to the UK's power grids, either by matching each unit of energy sold with a renewable energy certificate bought in an open market, or through a direct deal with a renewable energy generator. The consultancy found that the number of green dual-fuel tariffs has halved in the last year alone. Last month there were 13 dual-fuel green tariffs available to consumers out of 57, compared with last summer when there were 24 green tariffs on offer out of 56 dual-fuel energy deals. All the energy deals now advertised as 'green' on the uSwitch price comparison website, including dual-fuel and separate gas and electricity tariffs, have made up just 18% of the overall total this year, data from the switching service shows. Before Russia's invasion of Ukraine, green energy deals made up 85% of all energy tariffs on offer on the price comparison site, according to uSwitch data. 'Consumer choice plays a strong role in what is offered on the market, so cost concerns might see people switching away from more expensive green tariffs. This would therefore reduce the demand for them,' Mann-Belotti said. 'Also, there are other ways for people to reduce their carbon footprint, with quite the increase in solar PV installations in recent years.' Sign up to Business Today Get set for the working day – we'll point you to all the business news and analysis you need every morning after newsletter promotion However, the Uswitch data revealed some good news for climate-conscious households. Although there are fewer green tariffs on the market today, the deals available are 'greener' than they used to be. Uswitch grades each tariff marketed as green to help customers avoid greenwashed deals. In 2021, fewer than 15% of tariffs received a gold- or silver-standard rating from the switching service, but last year nine of the 10 green tariffs on its site were ranked at this level, leaving a single tariff ranked bronze. The stronger green credentials behind these tariffs reflect a shift away from using renewable energy certificates to guarantee the origin of the electricity – called 'greenwashing' by consumer groups and investigated by the government. Instead, suppliers are opting to buy clean energy directly from renewable energy projects. Others sell energy that is cheaper when there is more renewable energy across the country as an incentive to use more clean power when it is available.
Auto Express
an hour ago
- Auto Express
Car Deal of the Day: Range-topping Peugeot 2008 GT Premium for entry-level money
Plug-free hybrid engine Navigation pack included Just £215.52 a month In recent years, Peugeot has elevated itself above its closest rivals with a stylish new design direction and interiors that belie its cars' relatively modest price tags. While the latest 3008 and 5008 models represent a true step-change for the brand, the smaller 2008 is still a desirable small SUV – especially in plush GT Premium trim. Right now, you can bag an all-singing, all-dancing 2008 GT Premium with the desirable 1.2 Hybrid 145 e-DSC6 powertrain for just £215.52 per month over two years via Pink Car Leasing Peugeot. The deal has a 5,000-mile annual mileage limit, but if you mainly drive in town and don't have access to a home charger, this could be an absolute steal. Advertisement - Article continues below To really ram home what a great offer this is, you only need to look at Peugeot's customer site. While this lease isn't strictly comparable to Peugeot's own PCP, you'd be looking at more than double the cost per month on similar terms. If you've no interest in forking out for a balloon payment at the end of the deal, this lease could be just the ticket. The best bit – aside from that attractive price – is that at the time of writing, there were over 200 cars available, so you should have a whole host of colours to choose from. GT Premium gets 18-inch wheels, heated front seats covered in Alcantara upholstery as standard, plus an HD front camera, built-in sat-nav and a wireless phone charger. It also comes with blind-spot monitoring and adaptive cruise control. As mentioned, the hybrid powertrain is perfect for those without access to a home chargepoint. Peugeot claims up to 62.1mpg, and CO2 emissions as low as 102g/km. With a light right foot, this car has the ability to slash your fuel bills overnight. The Car Deal of the Day selections we make are taken from our own Auto Express Find A Car deals service, which includes the best current offers from car dealers and leasing companies around the UK. Terms and conditions apply, while prices and offers are subject to change and limited availability. If this deal expires, you can find more top Peugeot 2008 leasing offers from leading providers on our Peugeot 2008 page. Check out the Peugeot 2008 GT Premium deal or take a look at our previous Car Deal of the Day selection here… Find a car with the experts Electric cars driven until they die: the truth about EV range Electric cars driven until they die: the truth about EV range Five EVs under £24k have joined Dacia's Spring on the UK market. How far can you go on a budget? We find out Volkswagen, Skoda and Cupra slash electric car prices Volkswagen, Skoda and Cupra slash electric car prices Volkswagen, Skoda and Cupra aren't waiting around for the government grant by cutting £1,500 from their EV prices New MINI Cooper and MINI Aceman get the monochrome treatment New MINI Cooper and MINI Aceman get the monochrome treatment It's as simple as black and white for new MINI Cooper and MINI Aceman Monochrome
Telegraph
an hour ago
- Telegraph
Graduates change career plans as AI upends jobs market
One in 10 graduates have already changed their career plans over fears that artificial intelligence (AI) will upend their job prospects. University leavers seeking a career in industries such as graphic design, coding, film and art are particularly concerned about the impact of AI on their prospects, fearing the rapidly developing technology will render their jobs obsolete. It comes amid wider concerns about Britain's cooling labour market, with companies slashing hiring and increasing lay-offs in recent months as they battle the Chancellor's recent National Insurance raid and increase to the minimum wage. According to the survey of 4,072 respondents by the university and career advisers, Prospects, 10pc said they had changed their career plans because of AI, rising to 11pc among graduates. Chris Rea from Prospects said while many graduates were changing their career plans because of the negative impact of AI, others were considering working in a new industry because of the opportunities the technology has created. The main reason given by students and graduates for changing their career path was owing to concerns that their job would become obsolete. University leavers also singled out that opportunities in the creative industry were at risk owing the rapid advancement of AI. Jeremy Swan, from the Association of Graduate Careers Advisory Services, said technological advancements meant there is more pressure on graduates to seek out jobs in industries where they cannot be replicated by AI. He added: 'I think it's about re-framing people's thinking, so that they can see there are opportunities out there that look slightly different than what they're used to.' Mr Swan said AI has left many students and graduates feeling 'really uncertain about where they stand'. The number of new entry-level vacancies has fallen 32pc since Chat GPT was released in November 2022, according to figures by Adzuna, the job search platform. Mr Swan added: 'There's a lot of uncertainty that's come off the back of AI, people worrying how it's going to affect their chosen career paths, and we would just say this is where decent career support matters more than ever.' According to LinkedIn data, hiring in the UK fell 6.7pc in June compared with a month earlier, following a 3.9pc rise in May. Official data also showed that unemployment jumped to a four-year high of 4.7pc in the three months to May. Last month, the Bank of England Governor, Andrew Bailey, said larger interest rate cuts will be required if the jobs market starts to show clearer signs of a slowdown. City traders are expecting the Bank's Monetary Policy Committee to cut interest rates from 4.25pc to 4pc when they meet on Thursday. University leavers are facing an increasingly challenging labour market this year, with employers cutting back on graduate recruitment. According to data published by Adzuna in May, graduate job listings plunged by almost 23pc in the year to April as soaring taxes prompt businesses to cut back hiring for entry level positions. Increases to the national living wage, which increased 6.7pc to £12.21 per hour in April, mean many graduate schemes are only offering salaries in line with the minimum wage. A full-time worker on the UK's lowest salary now earns the equivalent of £25,500 annually. KPMG is one of the major employers to cut its recruitment scheme, with just 942 graduates and school leavers hired last year compared with 1,399 in 2023. It expects to hire around 1,000 graduates and school leavers this year. As graduates face increasing competition for entry level roles and a cooling job market, many are turning to AI to help draft and tailor their job applications. The survey by Prospects also found that 43pc had used AI to edit or draft a cover letter, while 26pc had used AI to answer questions in job application forms. However, Mr Swan believes students and graduates are under-reporting their use in AI. He said that while using AI can be helpful in getting students started with their CV or cover, students needed to make sure they were using 'these tools in an ethical way'.
