US pauses some weapons shipments to Ukraine after Pentagon review
The United States has decided to halt some planned deliveries of air defence missiles and other munitions to Ukraine, citing concerns over dwindling A...
The British government announced on Saturday a £600 million investment aimed at addressing severe construction skills shortages that threaten its ambitious plan to build 1.5 million new homes by 2029 and drive economic growth.
Finance Minister Rachel Reeves emphasized that housebuilding and the enhancement of critical infrastructure form key components of the Labour government's growth strategy. "We are determined to get Britain building again," Reeves said in an emailed statement from the Treasury, highlighting that the initiative will address long-standing issues, including an outdated planning system and the dearth of skilled construction workers.
The push for more robust training comes as the industry grapples with a growing vacancy crisis. Official figures revealed that there were 38,000 unfilled construction roles in the three months leading up to February—a situation exacerbated by the fallout from the 2016 Brexit vote and the subsequent impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. Moreover, the Construction Products Association has warned that the sector is set to lose around 500,000 employees, or 25% of its workforce, to retirement over the next 10 to 15 years.
To tackle these challenges, the government plans to allocate £165 million to expand construction courses at colleges and £100 million to upskill new, existing, and returning workers. Additionally, the Construction Industry Training Board will contribute £32 million to fund over 40,000 industry placements annually over the next four years. Collectively, these measures are expected to train up to 60,000 bricklayers, electricians, engineers, and carpenters by 2029.
Reeves also hinted at forthcoming fiscal measures to align with the government's fiscal rules, with a spring statement expected next Wednesday that will include new economic and public finance forecasts from Britain's fiscal watchdog.
As the UK endeavors to overcome its construction skills crunch, the government’s targeted investment reflects a broader strategy to stimulate growth and ensure the country meets its critical infrastructure and housing targets.
The U.S. economy faces a 40% risk of recession in the second half of 2025, JP Morgan analysts said on Wednesday, citing rising tariffs and stagflation concerns.
China has ramped up efforts to protect communities impacted by flood control measures, introducing stronger compensation policies and direct aid from the central government.
Severe rain in Venezuela has caused rivers to overflow and triggered landslides, sweeping away homes and collapsing a highway bridge, with five states affected and no casualties reported so far.
A malfunction in the radar transmission system at the Area Control Center in Milan suspended more than 300 flights at the weekend, across northwest Italy since Saturday evening according to Italy's air traffic controller Enav (National Agency for Flight Assistance).
Thousands of protesters rallied in Bangkok on Saturday, demanding Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra resign as political and economic tensions mount.
The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) and the Arab Fund have signed a memorandum of understanding to formalize a strategic partnership focused on advancing sustainable infrastructure in shared priority regions.
Tesla’s new car registrations plunged sharply in June, dropping 64.4% in Sweden and 61.6% in Denmark compared to last year, highlighting growing challenges for the U.S. electric vehicle maker in these Nordic markets.
More than $2.5 billion in new deals and commitments between the United States and African partners were announced at the 17th summit, underscoring the U.S. commitment to prioritizing trade over aid by engaging Africans as equal partners in investment-driven growth, the State Department announced.
Gold prices edged higher on Monday after slipping to their lowest level in more than a month, supported by a weakening U.S. dollar and easing geopolitical tensions that have tempered safe-haven demand.
The French Riviera town of Cannes will restrict large cruise ships from docking starting from January 2026, as part of new efforts to manage over tourism and protect local infrastructure.
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