Amazon’s drone delivery faces pushback in Texas townÂ
Amazon’s drone deliveries in College Station, Texas, faced strong opposition from residents frustrated by noise and privacy concerns. Hundreds, including city officials, opposed expansion plans, citing daily life and wildlife disruptions. In response, Amazon reduced flights and introduced quieter drones, eventually grounded operations for a software update.
The company now plans to end its lease in September. While some support drone testing, they argue depots should be located away from residential areas. Amazon’s struggle highlights the challenge of balancing technological innovation with community impact, underscoring the importance of careful site selection for future drone hubs.
QR codes evolve from convenience to business necessityÂ
Uniqode has released its first State of QR Codes Report, highlighting that 90% of users engage with QR codes weekly, with 59% scanning them daily. Over 90% of business leaders expect increased adoption, with nearly 60% planning greater investment in dynamic QR codes, AR integration, and sustainability efforts.
However, 46% face adoption roadblocks, with 60% requiring advanced tools for large-scale deployment. QR codes drive value, with products and places achieving a 37% click-through rate, underscoring their growing business impact.
Employers fear workers’ rights reforms more than NI hikesÂ
A new poll by Hanbury Strategy reveals that 34% of employers see upcoming workers’ rights reforms as their biggest challenge in 2025, surpassing concerns over National Insurance hikes (19%). Key worries include changes to unfair dismissal rules and ‘rights from day one,’ which could impact hiring.
Business groups warn these reforms may deter job creation. Meanwhile, ministers plan to drop the ‘right to switch off’ policy to ease burdens on businesses. Shadow business secretary Andrew Griffith criticised Labour’s approach, urging them to abandon the bill. With legislation imminent, employers’ time to prepare is running out.