Workers in family-run businesses earn less on average and have fewer opportunities to progress into senior jobs
Santa has a great reputation. Generous, jolly, snazzily dressed. But he’s obviously a terrible employer. The elves are entirely unpaid for their gruelling manual labour. Their fixed smiles and constant singing are evidence of a culture of fear. Does anyone believe he’s keeping the Lapland workplace temperature above the Health and Safety Executive’s 16C minimum? And the reindeer’s 24-hour shift this week will be a clear breach of the working time directive.
The complete lack of progression (not to mention a highly segregated workforce) is another warning sign. Everyone has been doing the same job for centuries – which works for Santa at the top, but means few opportunities for others to move on up.
Two U.S. Navy pilots were shot down Sunday over the Red Sea in what appeared to be “friendly fire”, the U.S. military said.
The pilots were found alive after they ejected from their aircraft, with one suffering minor injuries.
The incident demonstrates the pervasive dangers in the Red Sea corridor amid ongoing attacks on shipping by the Iranian-backed Houthis, even as U.S. and European military coalitions patrol the area.
The U.S. military had conducted airstrikes targeting Yemen’s Houthi rebels at the time, but the U.S. military’s Central Command did not elaborate on what their mission was.
The military said the aircraft shot down was a two-seat F/A-18 Super Hornet fighter jet assigned to the “Red Rippers” of Strike Fighter Squadron 11 out of Naval Air Station Oceana, Virginia.
The F/A-18 shot down had just flown off the deck of the USS Harry S. Truman aircraft carrier, according to Central Command. On Dec. 15, Central Command said the Truman had entered the Mideast, but did not specify that the carrier and its battle group were in the Red Sea.
“The guided missile cruiser USS Gettysburg, which is part of the USS Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group, mistakenly fired on and hit the F/A-18,” Central Command said in a statement.
Microgrids enhance how energy is generated and distributed by creating localized systems capable of operating independently or alongside the main grid. These networks — powered by renewable sources like solar or wind and backed by advanced battery storage — offer unmatched resilience and efficiency. In 2025, microgrids are capturing attention as businesses and governments seek solutions to rising demands, unpredictable power outages and the urgent need for decarbonization.
Advances in smart technology — including AI-driven management — have made microgrids more accessible and cost-effective. With growing support from sustainability incentives and the ability to integrate clean energy seamlessly, they can quickly become fundamental to the industry.
What Are Microgrids?
A microgrid is a self-contained system that can operate independently or connect to the main power grid. It typically includes multiple types of distributed energy resources, such as solar panels, wind turbines, fuel cells and advanced batteries. These components generate, store and distribute power locally to ensure reliable and efficient delivery.
Traditional grids rely on centralized power plants and extensive transmission networks. Meanwhile, microgrids are decentralized and designed to serve specific areas like buildings, campuses or communities. This localized setup minimizes loss and enhances resilience during power outages.
Advancements in battery technology, artificial intelligence and Internet of Things (IoT) systems will make this network smarter, more efficient and affordable. This will pave the way for broader adoption by businesses and communities seeking sustainable and reliable solutions.
Key Impacts on Microgrids in 2025
Microgrids ensure reliable power during grid outages and extreme weather events. Unlike traditional energy systems, it can disconnect from the main grid, whether local, state, or national and operate independently. This unique capability, called “islanding,” keeps essential services and organizations running when the primary grid fails.
As climate-related disruptions become more frequent, microgrids are indispensable in maintaining operational continuity. Harnessing renewable sources like solar panels and wind turbines enhances reliability and reduces costs through local production and efficient storage systems.
Beyond reliability, microgrids pave the way for more sustainable and intelligent energy practices. Their ability to integrate renewables supports decarbonization efforts, which helps businesses align with sustainability goals and meet growing regulatory demands. Meanwhile, advancements in AI and IoT transform how they operate to enable smarter energy management.
These technologies allow for real-time monitoring and optimization and ensure power generation, storage and usage are as efficient as possible. Microgrids keep the lights on and represent a forward-thinking investment in cost savings, sustainability and technological innovation for businesses of all sizes.
Benefits for Organizations
Microgrids are quickly becoming pivotal for companies because they offer many benefits beyond reliable energy. Institutions face increasing challenges from rising costs, extreme weather events and pressure to adopt sustainable practices, so they provide a practical, forward-thinking solution. Here are some key benefits businesses can expect when adopting microgrid systems:
Uninterrupted operations during outages: Microgrids can operate independently from the main grid, ensuring critical organizational functions continue even during blackouts or extreme weather.
Reduced energy costs: Integrating renewable sources and generating power locally can lower electricity bills and give consumers more control over expenses.
Enhanced sustainability: They support decarbonization efforts by incorporating clean sources, which helps companies meet sustainability goals and improve their environmental footprint.
Improved energy independence: A localized system makes businesses less reliant on fluctuating grid power and pricing.
Strengthened brand reputation: Adopting a microgrid demonstrates a commitment to sustainability to attract eco-conscious consumers, investors and partners.
Access to financial incentives: Many governments offer tax breaks, grants and subsidies to organizations that invest in renewables and microgrid technology.
Smarter energy management: Microgrids with AI and IoT technologies allow businesses to optimize real-time usage, improve efficiency and reduce waste.
These advantages make microgrids an invaluable asset for institutions looking to future-proof their operations while staying competitive in a rapidly evolving market.
Innovations Driving Microgrid Adoption
Emerging technologies take efficiency to new heights because they offer businesses smarter, safer and more reliable energy solutions. AI-powered management systems enhance power utilization by analyzing real-time data to optimize production, storage and consumption. These networks ensure maximum efficiency and minimize waste, which helps companies cut costs while maintaining reliable power.
Blockchain technology also makes waves by enabling secure, transparent transactions within microgrid networks. This allows businesses to trade surplus energy seamlessly, creating decentralized markets that are efficient and sustainable. Combined with advancements in battery storage, they are becoming more capable of meeting the demands of modern institutions.
A critical yet often overlooked aspect of microgrid performance lies in the design and materials of cables. Recent advancements have enhanced cable ampacity to ensure they can handle higher current loads without overheating. Proper heat dissipation is essential because when cables retain too much heat, they risk degrading insulation and, in extreme cases, causing fires.
These innovations make modern cables safer and more durable, significantly reducing these risks. Businesses gain added safety and efficiency when paired with smart energy management systems, which can monitor and address potential overheating issues. Together, these technologies transform how microgrids operate and offer companies a forward-thinking solution that prioritizes performance and reliability.
Market Trends and Forecasts
The microgrid market can experience significant growth in 2025 as businesses and governments turn to resilient, sustainable solutions to meet evolving demands. This surge is due to increasing challenges, particularly in regions with outdated or insufficient power infrastructure. Microgrids are becoming a top choice for industries such as manufacturing, health care, technology and remote operations like mining pits, where reliable power is critical.
Governments bolster this growth through tax incentives, grants and renewable energy policies. At the same time, private investments in advanced technologies like AI, battery storage and smart energy management drive down costs and improve efficiency. As a result, microgrids emerge as a practical, forward-thinking solution that empowers organizations to tackle reliability, cost and sustainability challenges head-on.
Challenges to Consider
Despite their many advantages, microgrids have challenges, including high upfront installation costs and the technological complexity of integrating them into existing systems. A significant barrier to adoption is the lack of standardized regulations, which creates uncertainty for businesses and can lead to unpredictable compliance costs. This regulatory ambiguity often deters investment, as companies are wary of committing to systems that might require costly modifications later.
However, institutions can overcome these obstacles with strategic planning. Conducting a detailed cost-benefit analysis to understand long-term savings, partnering with experienced microgrid developers and taking advantage of tax credits and government grants can help offset initial expenses. Staying informed about regulatory developments and aligning their energy strategies with industry best practices allow businesses to confidently overcome these complexities and unlock their full potential.
Maximizing the Competitive Edge with Microgrids
Adopting a microgrid is a strategic move that can lower costs, enhance sustainability and set organizations apart in an eco-conscious market. With advancements making them more accessible, now is the perfect time to invest in a solution that delivers resilience and a competitive edge.
It has been said that it may be difficult for someone too close to a particular event or issue to objectively assess the situation.
About a year ago, I wrote
about a witty English writer, Nate White, who penned “the best description of Trump I’ve read.”
Answering the question, “Why do some British people not like Donald Trump?” White wrote a great “analysis.”
He begins with “[Trump] has no class, no charm, no coolness, no credibility, no compassion, no wit, no warmth, no wisdom, no subtlety, no sensitivity, no self-awareness, no humility, no honour and no grace…”
It only gets more objective, and better, after that.
I concluded the review of White’s accurate piece with the comment that “the British have a great sense of humor and are exceptional judges of character.”
Australians are not far behind.
Today, in the wake of the GOP “fiasco”
in – thus far — passing a Continuing Resolution to fund the government, Australian correspondent for News.com.au, Samuel Clench, has an equally sharp-witted assessment
of the man who on Wednesday “set to work killing [a bipartisan funding bill.]… threatening to ensure any Republican who voted in favour of the bill would be turfed out of office at the next election.”
Clench’s “short version”
[A]n unelected billionaire from South Africa, who has never held public office and is, in fact, ineligible to be the American president, appears to have seized effective control of the US government. And he’s done it under the very nose of the guy the American people actually chose, quite recently, to lead that government.
Musk gloated over his victory by tweeting “Your elected representatives have heard you and now the terrible bill is dead. The voice of the people has triumphed!”
According to Clench, Musk used the Latin phrase “VOX POPULI, VOX DEI,” meaning “the voice of the people is the voice of God.” Clench adds that the phrase appeared first in an eighth-century letter written by the Saxon scholar Alcuin to the emperor Charlemagne, in which Alcuin wrote: “Those people should not be listened to who keep saying the voice of the people is the voice of God, since the riotousness of the crowd is always close to insanity.”
Referring to Musk having “more money than a lone man could ever spend,” Clench writes:
If the government shuts down over Christmas, he’ll be fine. He can hop on his private plane, fly off to some delightful hotspot and enjoy a holiday while workers are not being paid their salaries, and millions of people can’t visit their families because the public airports have stopped functioning.
He adds:
• The sheer callousness of Elon’s attitude, regarding this nightmare scenario, is galling to an extent almost beyond words.
• This is a person who seems to care more about adulation from the sewers of the internet than how his actions affect people in their real lives.
• He’s a guy who ignores information from official sources, but believes whatever patently nonsensical crap shameless rage-baiters and engagement farmers like LibsofTikTok, Catturd, or EndWokeness tweet at him.
• And all of a sudden he is the guy dictating government policy, and dictating to Congress, and overriding the person he spent more than $US200 billion to get elected as president.
How does Trump feel about Musk being his “co-president”?
Clench writes, “It’s hard to imagine Mr. Trump putting up with this interference, from Elon, for long. In his mind, he’s already rewarded the man for his financial support, by appointing him to co-lead a new government department aimed at cutting waste.”
Yet, “[w]hat actually happened was this: Elon lobbied Republicans to ditch the bill, while Mr. Trump said nothing. Once it became apparent that Elon had succeeded in killing it, Mr. Trump belatedly came out to echo his position.” Clench adds, “That is not authority. It’s a last-minute scramble to save face.”
Clench concludes:
[Trump] surrounds himself with loyalists, and those loyalists do believe vehemently in what they say, and they are going to try to use the power that comes with his office to achieve their aims. So we end up with people like Elon, and Stephen Miller, running the government while Mr. Trump watches cable television until 11am every morning.
That is the style of government Americans elected. Now they get to enjoy the consequences.
And that is the view from Australia, from a website owned by News Corp Australia, owned by…Rupert Murdoch.
To give just one example, the Department for Education has (we understand from the school) already investigated a series of allegations and found no evidence to support the concerns about safeguarding practices. Based on DfE school performance data, MVPA and MCA ranked in the top 10 out of 6,542 schools for “Progress 8” [progress across eight qualifications for pupils aged 14-16]. For schools where over 35% of students are disadvantaged, both academies are in the top five
. In addition, MCA ranks first in the country for schools with over 50% disadvantaged students by Progress 8. SEND students and low prior attainers do exceptionally well.
Another body was found in the popular Lady Bird Lake in Austin, Texas
, where other deceased individuals were found recently.
The latest body found joins the growing mystery after at least 6 additional bodies were found throughout the year in the lake in 2024. On Friday, police were called to investigate reports of a dead person in the water near 1st Street Bridge and the 300 block of Cesar Chavez.
The Austin Police Department
(APD) said that they do not suspect foul play as the body showed no signs of trauma, but are investigating the incident.
Despite APD attempting to quell community fears, questions and speculation have run rampant. Police have attributed most of the deaths to accidental drowning due to the lake’s proximity to nightclubs and bars.
The most recent body was found on December 1. The victim was recently identified as 73-year-old Thi Lang Nguyen. Austin police said that there is nothing connected to the other deaths this year.
In September, a man was behaving erratically near East Cesar Chavez and Nueces Streets. He then went into the water and did not resurface. He was later pulled out and pronounced dead
.
WATCH:
Back in February, a woman’s body was found in the water about 20 feet from the north shore and in April, a fisherman spotted another person floating in the water.
In July, a man was suffering from blunt force trauma on the trail near Rainey Street. The man was pronounced dead a short time later.
In September, a body was found along a trail near the lake off Pleasant Valley Road.
Fox News Digital has reached out to the APD for comment.
Fox News Digital’s Louis Casiano contributed to this report.
