Robots begin making cars in China

📍Top line: The world's largest electric car manufacturer, BYD Auto, has begun implementing a workforce of 500 humanoid robots as a solution to labour shortages in China. Designed by the Chinese industrial giant UBTech, these robots are now taking on various manual tasks within the company's sprawling warehouses, raising concerns about the future of human employment in the manufacturing sector.

Key points:

• Benefits of Automation: The introduction of robots is expected to enhance efficiency by reducing human error, injuries, and absenteeism. Companies aim to create a streamlined operation with a workforce that is less reliant on human factors.

• UBTech's Vision for the Future: UBTech envisions a future where human labour in factories is reduced to just 10%. This shift would allow humans to focus on more complex tasks such as planning and collaboration.

• Features of the Walker S1 Robots: The Walker S1 robots, which stand 5 feet 6 inches tall and weigh 76 kg, are equipped to perform various factory duties including quality inspections, equipment handling, and assembly tasks.

• Plans for Global Expansion: UBTech aims to establish successful operations in China before expanding its robotic workforce to global markets in the coming years.

• Competition from Elon Musk: Meanwhile, Elon Musk is also entering the robotics arena with his faceless Optimus bots, set to debut in Tesla factories next year. Musk claims these humanoid robots can perform a range of household tasks, including childcare and grocery shopping.

Wetherspoons unveils Christmas Menu

📍Top line: Wetherspoons has announced its 2024 Christmas menu, introducing exciting new options such as a brie pizza while discontinuing some favorites from last year. The festive offerings will be available from November 13 until December 31.

Full Christmas Menu:

• _{Sliced Turkey Breast and Winter Vegetables
  £11.99 with a soft drink or £13.52 with an alcoholic drink}

• _{The Big Cheese Burger
  £10.43 with a soft drink or £11.96 with an alcoholic drink}

• _{Brie & Bacon Burger
  £10.43 with a soft drink or £11.96 with an alcoholic drink}

• _{Chicken & Stuffing Burger
  £10.43 with a soft drink or £11.96 with an alcoholic drink}

• _{The Five Gold Rings Burger
  £10.43 with a soft drink or £11.96 with an alcoholic drink}

• _{11" Chicken, Stuffing, Bacon & Brie Pizza
  £11.02 with a soft drink or £12.55 with an alcoholic drink}

• _{11" Big Cheese Pizza
  £9.84 with a soft drink or £11.37 with an alcoholic drink}

• _{Pigs in Blankets
  £5.19}

• _{8" Chicken, Stuffing, Bacon & Brie Pizza
  £7.09}

• _{8" Big Cheese Pizza
  £6.51}

• _{Chicken, Stuffing, Bacon & Cranberry Panini
  £5.70 with a soft drink or £7.23 with an alcoholic drink}

• _{12" Southern-Fried Chicken & Stuffing Wrap
  £5.70 with a soft drink or £7.23 with an alcoholic drink}

• _{Cookies & Cream Blondie
  £4.99}

• _{Chocolate-Orange Espresso Martini
  £5.87 each}

While the menu introduces new delights, some classic items from last year have been removed, including the salted caramel sticky toffee pudding and the bacon and garlic mushroom pizza.

Elsewhere in business:

🎵 In a nod to the ongoing resurgence of vinyl records, WH Smith is bringing back vinyl albums to its high street stores for the first time in over three decades. Vinyl purchases reached 5.9 million units in 2023, the highest annual level since 1990.

📈 A new survey by PwC has revealed that the top 10 UK law firms have raised their hourly rates by almost 40% over the past five years. The surge, driven by inflation and growing competition from US firms in London, saw average hourly fees climb to £449 in 2024 from £321 in 2019.

Workers’ rights plans to cost businesses £5bn

📍 Top line: Labour's proposed plans to strengthen workers' rights could cost businesses up to £5 billion annually, according to a government impact assessment. The bill is set for debate on Monday.

Key points:

• Benefits to Workers: The legislation aims to introduce key worker protections from the first day of employment, including sick pay, protection from unfair dismissal, and rights to parental and bereavement leave, alongside a ban on exploitative zero-hour contracts.

• Concerns Over Job Cuts: The report warns that increased costs could lead employers to reduce their workforce, which may impact economic growth.

• Long-term Benefits: Despite concerns, the report suggests the reforms could reduce lost workdays by alleviating stress and anxiety about pay and conditions, leading to potential productivity gains.

Elsewhere in the economy:

🏦 The Bank of England is expected to cut interest rates more quickly than markets currently anticipate, according to analysts from Goldman Sachs. The Wall Street investment bank predicts that rates, currently at 5%, will fall to 2.75% by November 2025.

🍺 Grolsch Premium Pilsner, brewed by Asahi, is reducing its ABV from 4.0% to 3.4% in the UK to save 23p per can in taxes, a move dubbed "drinkflation." While the lager remains 5% ABV elsewhere in Europe, UK drinkers are seeing a watered-down version.

Morgan Stanley has opened applications to its 2025 Sales & Trading Industrial Placement Internship in London. Successful applicants will undertake a brief training program before being placed into one of firm’s Sales and Trading, operating as a fully integrated member of the team. The 12-month program is open to undergraduates with an industrial placement scheme starting in 2025. Apply now here.

Mircrosoft’s AI agents to transform workplace

📍Top line: Microsoft is set to transform the workplace with its new "autonomous agents," virtual employees designed to handle tedious office tasks. These sophisticated bots can understand the nature of your work and act on your behalf, monitoring and responding to emails and performing various everyday functions.

What can these agents do?

• Client Query Management: Agents can handle customer inquiries and provide responses without human intervention.

• Sales Lead Identification: They can automatically identify and track sales leads, enhancing business development efforts.

• Inventory Management: Agents manage stock and supply chains, streamlining operations.

• Routine Task Automation: Tasks such as expense tracking and client communications can be handled by AI agents.

• Ready-for-Use Agents: Microsoft will provide 10 pre-built agents to address common business needs like supply chain management and scheduling.

A public preview of the agents will begin in December and extend into early 2025.

Elsewhere in tech:

💰 The crackdown on social media influencers who illegally promote financial products has intensified as the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) revealed it is interviewing 20 individuals under caution. The regulator has grown increasingly alarmed by the rise of influencers using platforms like TikTok and Instagram to promote financial products and get-rich-quick schemes.

🎬 Alcon Entertainment, the maker of Blade Runner 2049, has sued Tesla, Elon Musk, and Warner Bros Discovery for using imagery from the film without permission during Tesla’s robotaxi launch. Alcon claims they denied a request to use the material, but AI-generated visuals based on the film were still featured. The lawsuit alleges significant financial misappropriation and "false endorsement."

🚗 The AA has proposed that drivers under 21 who have recently passed their tests should be restricted from carrying passengers of a similar age for the first six months of driving. The motoring organisation also suggested stricter rules, including the possibility of losing their licence if caught without a seatbelt during this period.

🥤 A woman who threw a McDonald's milkshake at Reform UK leader Nigel Farage during the general election campaign has admitted to assault by beating. The incident occurred on 4 June as Farage was leaving a pub in Clacton-on-Sea after launching his candidacy for the Essex constituency.

⚽ Newcastle United’s takeover by Saudi Arabia may be re-evaluated following revelations from The Telegraph. Boris Johnson and Richard Masters, the Premier League’s chief executive, previously denied any government interference before the £305 million deal was approved. However, leaked messages from Amanda Staveley, who facilitated the sale, now imply that high-level interventions from both Saudi Arabia and the UK occurred behind the scenes.