The UK slips to 23rd in global happiness ranking
The UK has dropped to 23rd place in the World Happiness Report, its lowest in nine years. Finland remains the world’s happiest country, followed by Denmark and Iceland. Experts suggest declining youth satisfaction, linked to the housing crisis and mental health struggles, has contributed to the UK’s fall. Meanwhile, Costa Rica and Mexico entered the top ten, credited for strong family structures and healthcare.
The U.S. fell to 24th, partly due to declining social trust. The report highlights the need to prioritise social connection and well-being, especially in an era of isolation and political division.
UK high streets face a faster decline amid rising business costs
UK high streets are expected to see a sharper decline in 2025, with rising costs from Rachel Reeves’s tax policies contributing to store closures and a slowdown in new openings. In 2024, 12,800 stores closed, while 9,002 opened, with banks, pubs, and chemists among the hardest hit. Retail chains are becoming more cautious, citing higher wages and national insurance costs.
Despite early struggles, consumer confidence stabilised in March, driven by increased spending on essentials. Analysts predict a continued 2% annual decline in high street businesses as online shopping and digital banking reshape the retail landscape.
AI revolutionises weather forecasting with speed and efficiency
Aardvark Weather introduces a groundbreaking AI-driven approach to forecasting, delivering predictions tens of times faster while using thousands of times less computing power than traditional methods. Unlike conventional supercomputer-dependent systems, this AI model learns directly from global weather data—satellites, balloons, ships, and planes—to generate accurate forecasts.
Research from Cambridge University, Microsoft Research, and ECMWF, published in Nature, highlights its potential to transform industries, offering precise, cost-effective forecasts for agriculture and renewable energy sectors. A single researcher with a desktop computer could soon achieve what once required teams and powerful supercomputers.