America’s largest electric grid has secured emergency federal authority that could allow some data centers and other large electricity users with backup generators to temporarily reduce their power consumption as officials prepare for what could become the system’s highest electricity demand in nearly two decades.

PJM Interconnection, which serves about 67 million people across 13 states and Washington, D.C., said Wednesday it expects electricity demand to reach about 166,147 megawatts on Thursday, surpassing the current summer record of 165,563 megawatts set in 2006.

The move underscores the growing challenge facing U.S. utilities as electricity demand accelerates after years of relatively flat growth, fueled by widespread air conditioning use during extreme heat, expanding artificial intelligence data centers and broader electrification trends.

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Power grids are facing strain from high temperatures and demand. (Graeme Sloan/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

The grid operator said it received approval from the Energy Department for an emergency order under Section 202(c) of the Federal Power Act that, if necessary, would allow transmission operators to curtail electricity use by data centers and other large customers with backup generation before resorting to broader emergency measures.

PJM also received temporary relief from certain environmental permit restrictions for power plants through July 3, giving generators more flexibility to meet soaring demand.

PJM Interconnection serves about 67 million people across 13 states and Washington, D.C.  ( Jordan Vonderhaar/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

To prepare, PJM has recalled generating units from maintenance, issued Maximum Generation and Load Management Alerts, and placed a Low Voltage Alert into effect to help maintain grid reliability. The alerts do not require any action from residential customers.

Wholesale electricity prices have already surged in parts of PJM’s footprint. In northern Virginia, home to the world’s largest concentration of data centers, spot power prices climbed sharply Wednesday as temperatures approached 100 degrees.

If Thursday’s forecast holds, it would mark PJM’s highest electricity demand in nearly 20 years.

If Thursday’s forecast holds, it would mark PJM’s highest electricity demand in nearly 20 years. (Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

Other grid operators are also preparing for heavy electricity use. New York’s grid operator has asked customers to conserve power during peak hours, while the Midcontinent Independent System Operator is monitoring conditions that could also challenge demand records this week.

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The emergency measures reflect increasing concerns about whether generation and transmission resources can keep pace with rapidly growing electricity demand, particularly as large AI data centers consume more power and prolonged heat waves drive air conditioning use higher across the country.

Reuters contributed to this report. 

Groups owns Manchester, Stansted and East Midlands airports

The owner of Manchester and London Stansted airports has reported a slowdown in passenger growth amid the Iran conflict – but says it remains resilient and ready to invest.

Manchester Airport Group (MAG), which also owns East Midlands Airport, recorded passenger growth of 1.9% to 66.3 million for the year to 31 March – a notable drop from the 6% growth achieved in the prior year.

Manchester Airport delivered the strongest performance across the group’s terminals, with passenger numbers climbing 3.6% to 32.3 million, though this still represented a considerable fall from the 8% growth recorded in 2024-25.

London Stansted saw passenger numbers edge up by just 0.4%, compared with a rise of 4.9% the previous year, while East Midlands suffered a 1.3% decline.

The group saw cargo volumes rise 12.5% thanks to strong growth at East Midlands Airport where seven new airlines started operating in the past year.

Despite the slowdown in footfall, pre-tax profits for the parent group climbed 4.5% to £227.4 million for the year ending March, as revenues surged 12.8%.

MAG CEO Ken O’Toole said: “We are pleased to release these solid results, underpinned by record passenger volumes at our airports. That reflects our steadfast focus on maximising the choice of direct destinations people can access through our airports, which serve catchments areas covering 70% of the UK population.

“We work hard with our airlines to provide this connectivity at great value and invest in our people, facilities and systems to provide a good airport experiences for our 66m passengers.

“By growing our route networks, we help people experience new places and enable trade and investment in high-value sectors that will power growth and productivity in regions across the UK. That has seen MAG deliver its biggest ever economic contribution to the UK, at £14bn.

“We have continued to invest for growth, in particular by delivering the final phases of Manchester Airport’s £1.5bn Transformation Programme. It unlocks spare capacity on its exiting two runways and paves the way for it to play an even greater role in the creation of a globally-competitive Northern Growth Corridor.

“We were pleased to secure permission to grow passenger numbers at London Stansted up to 51m and are poised to deliver a £1.1bn investment programme to take us towards that.”

But Mr O’Toole said the UK airline industry needed to “reach a predictable, proportionate, fair and objective agreement” with the Government on business rates to support its investment plans.

“Our long-term ability to continue growth-enabling investments of this nature is influenced by the fiscal environment in which we operate. The current Government has been hugely supportive of aviation in policy terms, but risks undermining that with a tax regime that creates a barrier to investment-led growth.

“MAG’s business rates have already more than doubled and there remains no clarity on what airports’ future liabilities will look like. We have recently responded to a government consultation on business rates, with MAG stating that any change needs to deliver outcomes that are fair, predictable, proportionate and encourage future private sector investment.”

Mr O’Toole said the group’s services business CAVU had also seen good growth. And he added: “The diversity of our business gives us a resilience that leaves us well placed to navigate the macroeconomic factors our industry faces and look forward to delivering a robust summer season.”

MAG increased the amount of cargo it handled by 12.5%, driven primarily by strong growth at East Midlands, the UK’s largest pure freight airport. It accounted for a third of all cargo growth in the UK, with seven new airlines starting operations at the airport.

The results come as the broader aviation sector continues to grapple with the repercussions of the Iran-US conflict. West London’s Heathrow Airport revealed last month that it anticipates passenger numbers to fall by 1.1% this year as a direct consequence of the conflict.

The airport is projecting between 80.1 million and 84.5 million passengers to pass through its four terminals this year, with a “base case” of 83.6 million, down from 84.5 million in 2025.

Heathrow stated that its forecast for 2026 “reflects the risk that continued volatility in the Middle East could dampen broader traffic volumes, with impacts extending beyond the region to global travel demand over the remainder of the year”.

An interim peace deal was signed by Iran and the US late last month.

Instacart users reported widespread service disruptions Thursday, with hundreds unable to access the popular grocery delivery platform amid what appeared to be a technical outage affecting app functionality and order processing.

The grocery delivery service, which connects customers with personal shoppers for same-day fulfillment from major retailers, saw reports of loading issues, failed logins and stalled orders beginning in the early afternoon. Social media platforms quickly filled with complaints from affected users across multiple states.

Status monitoring sites and community forums registered a sharp spike in outage reports around midday Eastern time, with users describing error messages and inability to browse available stores or complete purchases. The problems appeared to impact both the mobile app and website interface for many customers.

Instacart has not yet issued an official statement detailing the cause or expected resolution timeline. Similar incidents in the past have stemmed from server overloads during peak demand periods, technical glitches or broader internet infrastructure issues.

Impact on Customers and Shoppers

For many households relying on Instacart for weekly groceries or last-minute needs, the outage created immediate inconvenience. Parents, elderly individuals and those with mobility challenges often depend on the service for essential deliveries.

Personal shoppers, who earn income through the platform, reported idle periods as new orders failed to appear. The gig economy workers typically navigate tight schedules, making unexpected downtime disruptive to daily earnings.

Major partner retailers including Walmart, Costco and regional grocery chains saw potential ripple effects as customers turned to in-store shopping or alternative delivery options during the disruption.

Complaints highlighted frustration over perishable items already in progress or scheduled deliveries that could not be tracked. Some users resorted to contacting customer service through limited available channels, though response times lengthened amid the surge in inquiries.

Technical Context and Previous Incidents

Instacart has experienced occasional outages in recent years as its user base expanded significantly during and after the pandemic. The platform’s sophisticated matching algorithms and real-time tracking require robust backend infrastructure to maintain reliability.

Industry analysts note that delivery apps face increasing complexity with dynamic routing, inventory synchronization across thousands of stores and payment processing at scale. Even brief interruptions can cascade into widespread user impact.

Competitors including DoorDash, Uber Eats and Amazon’s services provide alternatives, though many users maintain loyalty to Instacart for its grocery specialization and shopper quality controls.

The company has invested in technology upgrades to improve uptime, including redundant systems and enhanced monitoring. However, peak usage periods or unforeseen technical issues can still overwhelm safeguards.

Broader Implications for Delivery Services

The incident underscores the growing dependence on on-demand delivery platforms in daily American life. From busy professionals to families managing tight schedules, services like Instacart have become integral to modern convenience.

Outages highlight vulnerabilities in critical digital infrastructure supporting essential needs. As reliance on such apps increases, expectations for reliability rise accordingly among consumers and regulators.

Gig workers’ organizations have previously raised concerns about income stability during platform disruptions. The issue adds to ongoing discussions about labor protections in the sharing economy.

Retail partners may evaluate contingency plans for technology failures to maintain customer satisfaction during service interruptions. Hybrid models combining digital and traditional fulfillment could gain traction.

User Reactions and Workarounds

Social media users shared screenshots of error messages and expressed collective frustration while seeking alternatives. Some turned to direct store apps or phoned in orders where possible.

Community forums offered troubleshooting tips including cache clearing, app reinstallation and VPN trials, though effectiveness varied. Many simply waited for resolution while monitoring status pages.

Instacart’s customer support channels experienced increased volume, with automated responses directing users to check back later. The company typically resolves such issues within hours, though some past incidents lasted longer.

Affected users are advised to check official channels for updates and consider backup shopping plans. Compensation policies for disrupted orders may apply once service resumes, depending on individual circumstances.

Company Background and Market Position

Instacart operates as a leading player in the grocery delivery space, partnering with thousands of retailers nationwide. The platform has expanded its offerings to include alcohol, pharmacy items and specialty goods.

Publicly traded since its 2023 debut, the company has focused on profitability improvements through operational efficiencies and advertising revenue. Technology investments remain central to maintaining competitive edge.

The outage arrives during a typically busy summer period for grocery services, with families preparing for vacations and back-to-school transitions. Timely resolution will be important for maintaining user trust.

Industry-wide, delivery apps continue refining algorithms for better matching and faster fulfillment. Artificial intelligence applications in routing and demand prediction help optimize operations at scale.

Looking Ahead

As digital services become more embedded in daily routines, expectations for seamless performance intensify. Companies like Instacart must balance rapid feature development with infrastructure resilience.

Users are encouraged to report issues through official apps or websites when service resumes. Aggregated feedback helps identify root causes and prevent recurrence.

The incident serves as a reminder of technology’s role in modern commerce while highlighting the need for robust contingency measures. Most users anticipate quick restoration based on past experience with similar events.

For now, affected customers are exploring local alternatives or delaying non-essential orders. The broader grocery delivery ecosystem demonstrates resilience through diversified options available to consumers.

Instacart has built its reputation on convenience and reliability. Addressing this disruption promptly will help reaffirm customer confidence in the platform’s dependability.

Good Growth Summit debates profit and purpose as likely new PM plans ‘Number 10 in the North’

Andy Burnham wasn’t in the room at the Good Growth Summit in Manchester, but somehow he hovered over every conversation.

On Monday, Britain’s likely next Prime Minister announced his vision for ‘Good growth in every British postcode’. Wednesday’s summit at the Museum of Science and Industry in Manchester had been planned for months, but its timing was perfect.

Speakers from the North West and beyond came to talk about what good, inclusive growth meant for them – and of course, to talk about what a new Government might mean. In areas from housebuilding to green energy and from diversity to commercial property, we heard how business can and should be about more than just profit.

It all depends on what you think “good growth” actually is. In the video introducing the event, organiser Paul Corcoran said it meant business “doesn’t have to be a trade-off between profit and purpose. We can do both.”

He added: “Let’s prove why good business is actually great business.”

In his in-person intro, the smart casual-dressed Paul joked: “All eyes are on Manchester at the moment. And I even came in my Andy Burnham getup. Though I did leave my Adidas Sambas at home.”

Emma Degg, CEO from the North West Business Leadership Team, said hope was at the heart of “good growth”. Again referencing Andy Burnham’s speech, she said: “Hope in every heart and growth in every postcode really is the essence of good growth.”

And she added: “It’s not for Andy Burnham or the cabinet or the ‘Number 10 of the North’ to make a difference and make sure we properly deliver good growth – it’s for all of us.”

Juergen Maier, chair of Great British Energy, co-founder of social enterprise vocL and former CEO of Siemens UK, also enthusiastically referenced Mr Burnham’s flagship speech this week.

He said: “Genuinely I was celebrating the words ‘good growth in every postcode’ and even more, I was celebrating the word reindustrialisation.”

In his keynote address Chris Woodroffe, managing director at Manchester Airport and chair at the NWBLT, also had to mention both Mr Burnham’s good growth and his fashion sense.

The besuited Chris joked he didn’t get the memo about dressing like Andy Burnham does in Manchester, saying “I’ve turned up looking like Andy Burnham from London with my red tie and matching red socks.”

But he said that the Makerfield MP’s focus on good growth was “really quite important” for the North West and for the wider UK. Chris said he’d been at a dinner the night before the summit and mentioned it – only to be asked “What is good growth?”

He added: “What I said to the person next to me was it’s the sort of growth that, rather than making the rich richer and the poor poorer, is the kind of growth that impacts everyone”

Chris noted that Andy Burnham had been talking about place-based change, and about communities being able to make their own decisions – which he said was “Growth in a place rather than delivered from Whitehall to people to whom it doesn’t quite work.”

He added: “That’s what good growth is to me – place based work delivered by government with people like Tom (Stannard from Manchester City Council)… and all the businesses you run coming together to deliver growth, to deliver good jobs, to deliver investment. That to me is good growth. And it needs a long term perspective.”

Talking of long-term ambitions, Chris hailed Manchester Airport’s £1.5bn investment programme. He said the airport now handles 32 million passengers, serving some 200 destinations – a network that means the airport is “connected to 72% of the world’s GDP”.

Chris said the airport had the potential to grow still further, but that would need more support from Government and for a project with which Andy Burnham is all too familiar.

“There’s actually an opportunity for Manchester to be a 60m (passenger) airport. But to do that someone needs to sort out the transport infrastructure and build the Northern Powerhouse Rail …”

He said Manchester’s transport links to cities such as Liverpool and Leeds paled in comparison to the much faster connections available in the Netherlands to Amsterdam’s Schiphol airport.

If Manchester could get 60m passengers he said, the airport would need a new terminal and other big investments. That could generate another £9bn for the local economy and another 60,000 jobs.

And he added: “It’s jobs that really matter. When we talk about good growth or growth in general what that translates to are jobs for real people who live in real places and would like to have some optimism for the future.”

The day’s first panel discussion debated skills, talent, diversity and opportunity. Lauren Rosegreen, JCI International, talked about young leaders and the pressures they are facing.

She said “we’ve never had a generation of emerging leaders that look like the one we have now” in terms of diversity of race, gender, sexuality and disability representation. But she said that generation was anxious about what the future might hold in a world of increasingly polarised views. She said: “The new generation of leaders are scared. They are nervous.. it is a really scary world we are inheriting.”

Also on the panel was Tom Stannard, chief executive at Manchester City Council, who was asked by host Paul Corcoran about what the city was doing to help those who might feel “left behind” by the city centre’s shiny tower-led regeneration.

Tom said the city had seen great success in recent years, including strong job creation. And again referencing Andy Burnham, added that the city was “soon to be home to a little known department called Number 10.”

But he said no-one should forget that there was still deprivation in the city, and work that needed to be done to make sure people are not left out. He said the high cost of living remaining a problem, and that lifelong learning could benefit people of all ages.

And he added: “It’s not just about what occurs in the city, it’s about what occurs in the towns and communities.”

Ciara Keeling, COO at Bruntwood Sci Tech, later spoke about her career in property, and about Bruntwood’s work “breathing new life into assets that other businesses might think are time-expired” as well as developing new buildings

Paul Corcoran couldn’t resist asking her: “What’s next for you? Do we see Number 10 North with a Bruntwood Sci Tech sign above the doors?”

Who knows – but what seems certain is that “good growth” will be at the heart of the Number 10 operation when it heads north.

The firm will use a six-figure facility as working capital to carry out new contracts, and as headroom as it grows

Leeds payment processing firm Iliad Solutions has secured a six-figure lending facility using its intellectual property to borrow.

The city centre firm says it will use the backing for working capital to deliver new international contracts and continue to scale its proprietary payments testing and certification technology. Iliad’s tech is used by banks, processors, fintechs and other financial institutions to test, certify and launch payment products.

Its t3 platform creates a virtual testing environment, allowing organisations to validate card systems, real-payments, open banking, APIs and emerging digital currency technologies before they go live.

The NatWest lending facility has been structured around the value of Iliad’s intellectual property. The firm’s core assets are in software, expertise and innovation rather than physical assets which can be used as collateral.

Under NatWest’s High Growth IP-backed loan, applicants’ intellectual property is independently reviewed by Inngot, NatWest Group’s specialist IP valuation partner. The assessment helps the bank understand the value of intangible assets such as software, data, technology, brands and know-how when structuring lending facilities.

Anthony Walton, founder and CEO of Iliad Solutions, said: “For growing companies like Iliad, addressing the global payments market, we occasionally need capital to maximise our exploitation of new opportunities. NatWest understands our business and the value of our IP.

“This allows them to back our ambition, leaving us to focus on growth and execution towards our aim to be the number one payment testing company in the world.”

Ben McMullan, relationship director at NatWest, said: “Iliad is exactly the kind of high-growth, innovation-led business this type of lending is designed to support. Many ambitious technology businesses do not have the traditional physical assets typically used as collateral, but they do have valuable intellectual property, proven products and strong growth potential.

“By taking the time to understand Iliad’s technology, strategy and ambitions, we were able to structure a financing solution aligned to the company’s next stage of growth. This transaction reflects NatWest’s commitment to helping innovative UK businesses unlock the value of their IP and access the capital they need to scale.”

The Case at the Center of the Story

Australian national Simon Peter Carman has been charged with murder following the death of a 17-year-old Thai girl whose body was discovered in a suitcase in Thailand’s Pattaya area. According to reporting from The New York Times, Carman was charged with homicide after the teenager’s remains were found, triggering an intensive police investigation and significant media coverage across international outlets. The case has drawn comparisons to other high-profile crimes involving foreign nationals in Thailand’s tourist areas, raising fresh questions about safety protocols in popular destinations like Pattaya.

Investigation Details and New Evidence

Australian Broadcasting Corporation has released images purportedly showing the room where the teenager was last seen alive, providing investigators and the public with visual context for the timeline of events leading to her death. Additionally, The Guardian reported that a friend of the victim visited Carman’s condominium after the teenager was reported missing, a detail that may prove significant as prosecutors build their case. Thai police are reportedly investigating whether Carman may be linked to other unsolved cases, suggesting the scope of the investigation could expand beyond this single incident. Reports also indicate that Carman appeared to have lived a normal life in the period leading up to the alleged crime, complicating public understanding of the circumstances.

Legal Consequences and Potential Sentencing

According to the Sydney Morning Herald, Carman is considered “likely” to face a death sentence if convicted under Thai law, underscoring the severity with which Thai authorities are treating the case. Legal analysts note that foreign nationals convicted of capital crimes in Thailand face a judicial system with strict penalties, and this case is being watched closely as a potential test of how such prosecutions unfold when international attention is involved. Additional reporting has explored the difficult conditions Carman may encounter while in custody, offering insight into the Thai penal system’s treatment of foreign detainees awaiting trial.

Broader Implications for Thailand’s Tourism Industry

The case has placed considerable scrutiny on Pattaya’s reputation as a hub for foreign visitors, with some outlets explicitly linking the murder investigation to broader conversations about sex tourism in the region. The South China Morning Post noted that the case has raised safety fears among both residents and the tourism sector as the community mourns the young victim. This incident arrives at a moment when Thailand is actively working to reshape its tourism image, with government initiatives increasingly focused on attracting higher-spending international visitors rather than the mass-tourism model that has defined many coastal areas for decades.

Context Within Thailand’s Evolving Tourism Strategy

While this case dominates immediate headlines, it unfolds against the backdrop of significant shifts in Thailand’s tourism and hospitality sector. The country has been pursuing an aggressive strategy to court high-value travelers, with recent announcements including new luxury hotel developments and international brand expansions. For instance, Hotel101 Global recently announced binding agreements for a new development in Bangkok, reflecting continued investor confidence in Thailand’s hospitality infrastructure despite reputational challenges tied to isolated criminal incidents. Industry observers suggest that high-profile crimes involving foreign nationals could complicate these rebranding efforts, particularly in regions like Pattaya that have long been associated with a different type of tourism demographic.

Public and Media Reaction

International media outlets have devoted substantial resources to covering this case, with detailed reporting from The Guardian, ABC, The New York Times, and numerous Australian publications tracking developments in near real-time. The intense coverage reflects both the shocking nature of the crime and the broader public interest in stories involving foreign nationals accused of serious crimes abroad. Multiple outlets have highlighted the investigative timeline, from the initial disappearance report to the eventual discovery of the body and subsequent arrest, painting a comprehensive picture of how Thai authorities responded to the case.

Looking Ahead

As the legal proceedings against Carman continue, Thai authorities face the dual challenge of ensuring a thorough judicial process while managing the case’s impact on the country’s international image. The investigation into potential links with other unsolved cases suggests that this story may continue to evolve, with implications extending beyond a single tragic incident. For Thailand’s tourism sector, already navigating a complex transition toward premium travel markets, high-profile criminal cases involving foreign visitors present an ongoing challenge that authorities will need to address through both law enforcement action and broader safety messaging. The case ultimately underscores the human cost behind headlines that often intersect with Thailand’s economic and reputational interests, sy

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