Stockbridge, Longstock and Leckford

1. How to succeed as a first-time manager. First-time managers face many challenges on a daily basis. But there are some steps they can take to succeed in their role. Establishing a clear and open line of communication with your team is one such way, but that's not all. READ MORE >>

2. Unemployment ‘three times higher’. The real unemployment rate in the UK may be nearly three times higher than official figures according to a new report by the thinktank Centre for Cities. While the official rate is 3.7%, this triples to 12.1% when accounting for the three million people who have left the workforce “involuntarily”. These economically inactive people may be those “who stop looking for a job if they are discouraged, believe there are no jobs or struggle to work because of health issues”. Of the ten places with the highest hidden unemployment rates, nine are in the North of England, with one in Wales. The main reasons for this geographical disparity are health, skill levels and the availability of jobs, according to the thinktank. The Telegraph

3. The world’s most powerful passports. The three most powerful passports in the world are all Asian, according to the 2023 Henley Passport Index. It ranks all of the world’s passports according to the number of destinations their holders can access without obtaining a visa in advance. Japan has the world’s most powerful passport for the 5th year in a row. Holders can visit 193 out of 227 global destinations visa-free. South Korea and Singapore are tied in 2nd place on the index, with a visa-free/visa-on-arrival score of 192. Germany and Spain are joint 3rd, with visa-free access to 190 destinations. The UK and the US remain in 6th and 7th places, with scores of 187 and 186. They jointly held the top slot in 2014, but the Henley rankings say it appears unlikely that either will ever reach 1st place again. CNBC

4. Return rail tickets to be scrapped. Return tickets will be scrapped as the government plans sweeping reforms of Britain’s railways. The Transport Secretary, is expected to announce the rollout of “single-leg pricing”, in which two-way tickets, which offer a discounted rate, will be replaced by “single-leg pricing” under which the price of two singles would be the same as a return fare. The idea has been trialled by London North Eastern Railways since 2020. The new effort to drive change comes as “the government faces criticisms for its failure to resolve months of strikes on the railways that have affected commuters and leisure travellers alike”. The Telegraph

5. Is EQ more important than IQ? Do you believe Emotional Intelligence [EQ] is more important than Intelligence Quotient [IQ] to be successful at work and in life? Intelligence Quotient [IQ] is a total score derived from a set of standardised tests or subtests designed to assess human intelligence. Your IQ refers to your intellectual ability, your ability to solve problems, use logic, and grasp or communicate complex ideas. Emotional Intelligence [EQ] refers to your ability to recognise and regulate emotion, and to use social awareness in problem-solving. Your ability to adapt your feelings and behaviour to different situations. Please vote and share your views in our latest poll. VOTE HERE >>

6. Rate rises nearing peak. The Bank of England rose interest rates for the 10th time in a row, as the benchmark rate went go up from 3.5% to 4%. However, experts believe the rises are nearing their end. “Analysts believe rates will peak at 4.5% in the summer”, lower than predictions had suggested when the government was in turmoil after its mini-budget was badly received. Although policymakers are keen to avoid pushing the UK into a recession by raising borrowing costs, their mandate is to keep inflation at around 2%. BBC

7. The word’s 10 best universities. The Times Higher Education rankings score 1,799 global universities across 13 major metrics, from teaching quality to the strength of  a school’s international outlook. The University of Oxford tops the rankings for the 7th year running. The US has the most institutions in the top 200, with 58, followed by  the UK with 28.The rankings are: 10 Imperial College, 9 Yale University, 8 University of California, Berkeley, 7 Princeton University, 6 California Institute of Technology, 5 Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 3= Stanford University, 3= University of Cambridge, 2 Harvard University, 1 University of Oxford. World Economic Forum

8. Ofcom asked to intervene on phone bills. The regulator is being urged to respond to concerns that mobile and broadband operators are “lining their pockets” with £2.2bn of above-inflation price rises. Some providers have already announced increases of more than 14% and experts believe price rises for some customers could be as high as 17%. Citizens Advice, said: “We keep calling on these firms to do the right thing and axe their price hikes, but they’ve not listened. It’s now time for Ofcom and the government to force them.” The Daily Mail

9. High street caffeine levels vary significantly. Caffeine levels in high street coffee varies wildly, according to testing. After measuring the caffeine in cappuccino, espresso and filter coffee at Caffè Nero, Costa, Greggs, Pret a Manger and Starbucks, the consumer group Which? found Pret’s single espresso had six times as much caffeine as Starbucks’s. Costa had the strongest medium cappuccino with 325mg of caffeine and a Starbucks cappuccino contained the least at 66mg - less than the 75mg in a single tea bag. Research shows you may be consuming significantly more, or less, caffeine than you bargained for. Which?

10. The bottom line. Pollster UnHerd Britain found that 54% of adults in Great Britain now agree that “the UK was wrong to leave the EU”, including 37% who strongly agree. 28% disagree (19% strongly). 18% neither agree nor disagree. The most “Bregretful” constituency is Bristol West. The least is Boston and Skegness. The Independent