UWS lecturers vote to strike over redundancies
UWS is one of a number of Scottish universities seeking to make redundancies.About 2,000 staff work at UWS which has sites in Ayr, Dumfries, Hamilton, London and its largest campus in Paisley, which has about 10,000 students.The union argued the job losses would lead to fewer courses being offered and affect the quality of learning and teaching.It has called for talks with UWS management and strike dates have yet to be announced.The university is yet to comment.
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The Sun
34 minutes ago
- The Sun
Andy Murray lands shock new business deal as tennis legend takes on new role after splitting from Novak Djokovic
SIR ANDY MURRAY has landed a shock new business deal with a POTATO company. The tennis legend has taken on a new role at the Scottish spud company Albert Bartlett. 2 2 Murray, 38, will be the new face of the brand after signing a long-term partnership to market its products. It comes after his split from coaching Novak Djokovic in May, just weeks before Wimbledon. Albert Bartlett is based in Airdrie in Lanarkshire, Scotland. Murray is believed to have familiarised himself with their potatoes more than ten years ago. The brand is also a long-term supplier for the five-star Cromlix hotel owned by Murray near Dunblane. Albert Bartlett is family-owned and was founded back in 1948. A statement over the partnership said it brings "two Scottish-born British icons with shared community vision and family values [together].' Murray will be "encouraging the nation to enjoy a healthy lifestyle through sport and a balanced diet'. He will be promoting both the frozen and chilled potato product ranges. Murray said: "I was lucky during my early playing days to have access to the kit and facilities required to play and develop, and as my career progressed, to have the best diet and training advice available. Carlos Alcaraz makes it through to Wimbledon second week then throws down huge challenge to Sir Andy Murray "I am excited to partner with Albert Bartlett to showcase the importance of a balanced diet and an active lifestyle to communities across the UK. "I hope the project inspires people to play and enjoy sport throughout their lives, at whatever level they are able. Chief executive Alex Bartlett added: 'Andy is someone who has engaged and inspired his home nation and sports fans around the world, delivering that long-awaited British [male] Wimbledon win, not only once, but twice. "Along with his US Open win and two Olympic golds. 'So, who better to engage the nation again and help us serve up the inspiration and resource required to get the nation active and nourished with tasty home-grown produce?' It is not the first Scottish brand Murray has teamed up with. Last month, he became the inaugural brand ambassador of the iconic Walker's Shortbread. Andy Murray's career timeline SIR Andy Murray is Great Britain's most successful tennis player of the Open era. After breaking through in 2005 to reach the Wimbledon third round at 18, the Scot was British No1 by the following year. In 2008 he reached his first Grand Slam final at the US Open, only to fall to Roger Federer in straight sets. Two more final defeats at the Australian Open to Federer and Novak Djokovic followed in 2010 and 2011 before heartbreak at Wimbledon in 2012. Despite taking the first set against Federer, he fell 4-6 7-5 6-3 6-4 in front of a home crowd before breaking into tears on Centre Court. But a month later on the same court he beat the Swiss legend to earn Team GB a gold medal at the London 2012 Olympics. And weeks after that he broke his Grand Slam duck at the fifth attempt, beating Djokovic in five sets in the US Open final. In 2013, following another Australian Open final loss, Murray beat Djokovic in straight sets to become the first British man in 77 years to win the Wimbledon title. Three more losing Grand Slam finals followed, at the 2015 and 2016 Australian Opens and the 2016 French Open. But in his third Grand Slam final of 2016, Murray won Wimbledon again with a straight sets victory over Canadian Milos Raonic. He followed it up with his second Olympic gold medal, beating Juan Martin del Potro in a four-hour epic in the final in Rio de Janeiro. Later in 2016 Murray became world No1 - the first British man to do so in history. Over his career Murray reached 11 Grand Slam finals, winning three. He won two Olympic golds and a silver (in the mixed doubles alongside Laura Robson). He finishes his career with 46 titles and over £50million in earnings, making him the fourth all-time leader in earnings. His final match was at the Paris 2024 Olympics, where he lost in the quarter-final of the men's doubles at Roland Garros to USA pair Tommy Paul and Taylor Fritz.
Reuters
3 hours ago
- Reuters
China's weak job market stirs boom-era nostalgia on social media
HONG KONG/SINGAPORE, Aug 1 (Reuters) - Dwindling job and income prospects in China are fuelling intense social media chatter about the fashion and culture of the country's high-growth period 20 years ago, in what analysts describe as a way to express discontent about the economy without attracting censorship. The hashtag phrase "beauty in the time of economic upswings," often accompanied by early 2000s pictures of celebrities wearing bright clothes and make-up or music videos and TV ads from that period, surged in social media mentions over the summer just as 12.2 million university students graduated. They entered one of the most challenging job markets in decades - pandemic years aside - as the world's second-largest economy grapples with higher U.S. trade tariffs, deflation, industrial overcapacity and sluggish domestic consumption. While China is growing at roughly 5% this year, analysts describe it as a dual-speed economy, with manufacturing and exports running strong, while households struggle. The current pace is half of that from the 2001-2010 decade. "The economy has its cycles, but youth doesn't come twice," a social media user wrote on a widely-shared post on the topic. The State Council Information Office, which handles media queries for the government, did not respond to a comment request. China's ruling Communist Party exerts a high degree of control over domestic media and social media in the name of safeguarding social stability and preventing the spread of rumours and fake news. Reports and public discussions on what the Party considers as sensitive are routinely removed from the internet, including views critical of the economy and any veiled criticism of policymakers. On RedNote, China's version of Instagram, the hashtag has so far garnered close to 50 million views. Most posts come from millennial women recalling greater career and consumption choices in their twenties, says Yaling Jiang, founder of consultancy ApertureChina, citing platform data. But it is today's young Chinese, who face far more limited options, engaging with these posts. "Considering when it has gone viral, this is likely a response to the widespread complaints about the declining value of higher education and the increasingly tough job market for young graduates this summer," Jiang said. Xiao Qiang, the founder of U.S.-based China Digital Times, which tracks China censorship, says the topic's popularity "poses a challenge to the authorities mainly because it uses everyday symbols, such as make-up and fashion, to subtly express dissatisfaction with economic decline and life pressure." "It creates a collective atmosphere of nostalgia and indirect criticism," Xiao said. "It can quietly erode public confidence in the official economic narrative." The content is "awkward" for censors, says Xiao, as most users share opinions over the aesthetics of China's recent past and express positive emotions. Fashion labels such as Giorgio Armani, Estee Lauder's Tom Ford (EL.N), opens new tab and Valentino ( opens new tab have sponsored "boom era"-themed posts on RedNote in the past 30 days, said Jiang. More than a dozen stores on Alibaba's ( opens new tab Taobao e-commerce platform have used this tag to sell clothes. Bloggers have promoted the "Millennial Rose" shampoo by Procter & Gamble's (PG.N), opens new tab Safeguard, or bulky Nike (NKE.N), opens new tab sneakers advertised on Taobao as "millennial classics reborn." L'Oreal-owned Maybelline ( opens new tab, in a Weibo post promoting some of its brighter lipsticks, wrote "feel the beauty and vitality of the economic upswing." However, early-millennium looks are not prominent on Chinese streets. Jiang said marketing teams are leveraging the social media trend for brand awareness, not pushing new 2000s-inspired collections. Fashion bloggers posting under the "upswing" hashtag say styles often reflect the prevailing economic mood. This year's make-up trends, for instance, feature the more conservative, less expressive "glass skin," achieved through heavy use of moisturisers and hydrating primers or monochromatic looks where foundation, blushes or lipsticks can differ in gradient but belong to the same colour palette. The 2000s embraced futurism with metallic tones, glossy finishes and pearlescent blue or green eyeshadows. Full-eyeliner looks with smoky eyes contrasted with Barbie-pink lips for dramatic effect. "In times of economic growth, make-up is meant to look expensive and give out that glow of confidence that comes with flying careers and optimism," one beauty blogger wrote.
The Independent
8 hours ago
- The Independent
We're backing Scotland with billions in investment, says Reeves ahead of visit
The UK Government is backing Scotland with billions in investment to grow the economy and create jobs, the Chancellor has said ahead of her visit to the country. Rachel Reeves said Labour is 'seizing the huge potential and opportunities that Scotland has to offer' in defence and energy. She will visit RAF Lossiemouth in Moray and the St Fergus gas plant in Aberdeenshire on Friday, exactly a week after she toured the Rolls-Royce factory near Glasgow Airport. The Chancellor will meet 200 Boeing staff at the military site where three new E-7 Wedgetail aircraft are being made. The UK Government said its plans to increase defence spending to 2.6% will raise Britain's GDP by around 0.3%, while adding 26,100 jobs to the Scottish economy. It also pointed to its £200 million investment for Aberdeenshire's Acorn carbon capture project, which could create 15,000 new jobs while safeguarding 18,000 more. A final investment decision for the project is yet to be made. Ms Reeves said: 'We're seizing the huge potential and opportunities that Scotland has on offer. 'Whether it's in defence to keep the UK safe, or clean energy to power all corners of the country, this Government is backing Scotland with billions of pounds of investment to grow the economy and create jobs.' Scottish Secretary Ian Murray said the Government is investing in defence to 'ensure Britain's security and deter our adversaries and drive economic growth'. He added: 'This investment is a massive jobs opportunity for Scotland – this 'defence dividend' is good news for Scotland, where it will help create skilled jobs, drive economic growth, and help tackle the critical skills gaps facing the country in sectors such as nuclear, construction, maritime and project management.' Maria Laine, Boeing's UK president, said: 'Boeing has a long-standing presence in Scotland including at RAF Lossiemouth, the home to the UK's P-8 Poseidon fleet and where the E-7 Wedgetail will be based when it enters service. 'As a key partner of the UK Armed Forces, Boeing welcomes the defence spending increase and has seen first-hand how defence infrastructure investments, such as the £100 million Atlantic Building and new E-7 facilities at RAF Lossiemouth, can deliver for local jobs, suppliers and UK national security.' Michelle Ferguson, director of CBI Scotland, added: 'Scotland's energy and defence sectors are vital to our economy, driving investment and supporting thousands of skilled jobs. 'The Chancellor's announcement of £200 million for the Acorn energy project is very encouraging, but businesses are eager for final approval to unlock its full potential and secure North Sea jobs. 'Increased defence spending will further boost Scotland's skilled workforce and create growth opportunities across key supply-chain. 'Close collaboration between the Scottish and UK governments will be essential to fully realise these benefits, driving forward national security and Scotland's transition to a resilient, low-carbon economy.' Aberdeen & Grampian Chamber of Commerce urged the Chancellor to drop the energy profits levy (EPL), the so-called 'windfall tax' on oil and gas companies, which has a headline rate of 78%. Chief executive Russell Borthwick said: 'If we stick to course on the accelerated decline of the North Sea, then we'll only have a few short years and not prosperous decades of future oil and gas from our own waters. 'Instead, we'll import more, pay more and suffer further consequences of jobs and businesses lost, just at the time we need them to support the energy transition. 'We know the Chancellor needs to find growth from somewhere within the UK economy. With oil and gas, there's no need to start from scratch or build out a nascent industry. 'Simply by removing the confiscatory EPL, letting investment flow into projects and stimulating activity in a sector which has been hammered by policy for too long, we can unlock significant growth in the UK economy.'
