Unlock the Editor’s Digest for free

Roula Khalaf, Editor of the FT, selects her favourite stories in this weekly newsletter.

As the leaders from around the world gather in New York this week to speak at the annual UN General Assembly, Jasmine Yazid is gearing up to host her own version in Washington early next year.

She is secretary-general of the North American Invitational Model United Nations (NAIMUN), created at Georgetown University in 1963, less than 20 years after the UN itself was founded. Her team is bracing for a record 3,300 high school students role-playing the negotiations between governments on contested international issues.

“You learn to completely remove yourself and understand someone else’s perspective,” she says. “A lot of the countries the students represent as delegates are ones they have never been to, heard of or agree with. Yet they are able to represent these views wherever they are coming from.”

Model UN is one of an expanding set of programmes attracting growing participation in the US and beyond, as educators looks for ways to engage students with current affairs. It also involves learning to be civil even when views strongly diverge.

At a time of rising polarisation, “no platforming” and a preference for slogans over interacting directly and empathetically with people who hold different opinions, the programme offers scope to ease tensions intensified by the explosion in social media use and young people’s isolation during Covid.

“You hold the duty of representing that country or those ideas you are allocated, and it also teaches you how to say things in a non-offensive and sensitive way,” says Lucille Applegate, secretary-general of the Secondary Schools’ United Nations Symposium, a Model UN run for more than 30 years by students at Montreal’s McGill University.

Many teachers say that young people’s concern about causing offence (or being criticised for their own views) has sharply damped discussion of sensitive topics. That frustration leads to periodic explosions such as the Gaza protests on university campuses and risks feeding into the divisive US presidential election and other polarising moments around the globe.

Model UN is not alone. “We the People”, organised by the Center for Civic Education, brings together competing teams of high school students to learn about the constitution through simulated congressional hearings. The National High School Ethics Bowl asks teams to discuss ethical dilemmas, awarding points partly for engaging respectfully and supportively with opponents.

The sharp uptick in programmes seeking to provide ways to foster tolerance and debate includes a jump in interest for the Constructive Dialogue Institute, which has programmes at 88 universities across the US. In schools, meanwhile, iCivics is among a number of non-profit groups to launch a fresh range of non-partisan lesson plans and games to help students understand electoral politics and tackle disinformation.

The more intensive, immersive competitions like Model UN have limitations — not least the extensive time commitment and the travel costs. Jie Xin Ching, executive director of Georgetown’s NAIMUN, concedes that most participants are drawn from the east and west coasts, with far less representation from rural and continental states despite scholarships and active outreach and promotion. “It’s seen as elite and wealthy.”

Peter Cowhey, dean emeritus at the School of Global Policy and Strategy of the University of California San Diego (and a secretary-general of NAIMUN in the 1960s), adds that many participants were self-selected, with a pre-existing interest in a career in international affairs.

But he recalls many high school students arriving “with a glaze in their eyes that the UN was a place where important things happened, and very little realistic concept about how it really operated. They saw that they would engage in tortuous diplomatic discussions that often leave it in deadlock with worthy pledges that do not come to fruition.”

His own experiences convinced him to abandon aspirations to work in the state department and opt for an academic career. But for all their downsides, these programmes deserve a place in efforts to combat the current climate of polarisation.

andrew.jack@ft.com

A SHOPPER has revealed a cheap hack for making Starbucks at home for a fraction of the price using an unexpected item.

The coffee lover shared their secret Lidl alternative to buying a current Starbucks fan-favourite that can be made at home.

1

The product is the Italiamo pistachio spread, which can be bought in Lidl for £2.99.

The cream spread has become a viral sensation, made up of 45% pistachio nuts and available to buy in 190g jars.

It comes as people are raving about the latest pistachio addition to the 2024 winter Starbucks menu.

The Iced White Chocolate & Pistachio Oat Shaken Espresso is priced at £4.35 for a tall size.

One creative shopper took to the Couponing and Bargains UK Facebook group chat to share their original recipe: “Off the back of the Lidl pistachio spread hype… I bring you Starbucks pistachio latte dupe!”

She explained that you need to “use half a teaspoon (or more if you want stronger flavour) of spread, then pour in your hot milk, stir, and add coffee.

“I added brown sugar syrup to enhance the sweetness of the pistachio but it’s just as good on its own!”

Members reacted to the post saying they “will be trying this” and that it was a “game changer”.

The recipe requires just one teaspoon of spread (roughly 15g), making 13 homemade luxury coffees per jar – that is 23p a cup.

This means you could save £2.76 on buying a Starbucks coffee, making a saving of 92%.

Prices do vary at the coffee chain from site to site.

However, no matter where you live you will be making a considerable saving.

Members also took the chance to share their own DIY ideas, offering cheesecake and pastry recipes, or recommending buyers try adding the spread to porridge.

Other pistachio spreads are available online, but if buying from Ocado, its Borna Foods smooth pistachio butter would set you back £8.50.

It always pays to compare prices so you know you’re getting the best deal.

We couldn’t find a similar product anywhere online at other supermarket retailers.

To find the Lidl closest to you, or see whether the product is available in your local store, use the Store Locator tool on the supermarket’s website.

Prices can also vary day to day and by what deals are on at the time, plus remember you might pay for delivery if you’re ordering online.

Making coffees at home is always a cheaper alternative, and can save you huge cash over time.

According to Wholesale Coffee Co, Brits spend on average £5.50 per week on coffee, which is £286 a year.

People who bought Starbucks coffee 3 times a week would spend approximately £51 a month, which is a whopping £612 across the year.

By spending a little more on your favourite home coffee ingredients, you could satisfy the same cravings and have your pockets feeling fuller in no time.

Other ways to save money on coffee

Join Costa Club

If you become a Costa Club member, you can access free drinks faster by getting a free drink every 5 purchases.

Non-Costa Club members get a free drink every 10 coffees bought.

But remember – incentives such as these are made to encourage buyers to spend more money, so don’t use it as a reason to splash more cash on hot drinks than you usually would.

Tesco Clubcard Scheme

Tesco’s Clubcard  holders can get cheaper prices on over 8,000 items thanks to Clubcard Prices, such as the Costa Barista Creations sachets which are reduced to £1.75.

With this deal, you can make a range of Costa items from home, such as the Salted Caramel, Maple Hazel and Gingerbread Latte.

Morrison’s Cafe

There are a range of deals in Morrison’s cafes which means you can enjoy coffee dates for a reduced price.

It offers a Cake and a Hot Drink for the price of £4, and customers can also enjoy free refills on self serve drinks.

The conditions of this deal varies between store and location.

Other supermarkets such as Sainsbury’s and Asda offer kids to eat for £1, and in Tesco kids can eat free if bought alongside an adult purchase.

To find out the conditions of your local supermarket cafe, visit their website.

Additional vouchers can also be accessed through Clubcard and Nectar voucher schemes, or on websites such as Groupon.

Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? Get in touch by emailing money-sm@news.co.uk.

Plus, you can join our Sun Money Chats and Tips Facebook group to share your tips and stories

A POPULAR area in Glasgow’s southside has been named one of the trendiest in the world.

Strathbungo beat stiff competition from Ekkamai in Bangkok, Thailand, and Palace Quarter in Budapest to come in 22nd place in Time Out’s list of the 38 coolest neighbourhoods for 2024.

3

3

Advertisement

3

Time Out contributing writer Sarah Gillespie claimed it was time for the district to step into the “spotlight.”

She wrote: “Cool new venues have been creeping up Pollokshaws Road for years, and now it’s time for Shawlands’ tiny-but-mighty neighbour to step into the spotlight.

“Strathbungo, in Glasgow’s Southside, began as a village of crofters and weavers before it was consumed by the city’s nineteenth-century expansion.

“Thanks to a dedicated group of residents, it became Glasgow’s first Conservation Area (together with Pollokshields) in 1973, preserving its Victorian terraces and tenements for future generations.

“That same independent spirit endures in its fresh, young businesses: laid back restaurants such as Lobo, boutiques such as BAM and Seamster Vintage, and bars supporting local breweries.”

It went on to point out other popular attractions in the area, such as its wildlife pond, rose gardens, and views over the Southside.

Strathbungo is also on the outskirts of some of Glasgow’s most-loved cultural attractions, including Pollokshields arts venue Tramway.

According to the magazine, the list focused on places that balance great local culture, food, street life, community, and one-of-a-kind local flavour.

To rank the list this year, Time Out’s global network of editors and experts factored in not just great vibes, food, drink, nightlife and independent culture, but also community.

And Notre-Dame-du-Mont in Marseille bagged the top spot.

Despite its reputation as an ‘unholy area’ with a ‘rebellious spirit,’ the town named after the local church boasts colourful cul-de-sacs, graffiti-covered alleyways, streets lined with plane trees, and twisting staircases.

Although it is a far cry from the ‘picturesque charm of Vauban,’ the neighbourhood exudes the jovial, laid-back atmosphere of a local market, the magazine claims.

Grace Beard, Travel Editor at Time Out, said: “Time Out’s annual ranking of the World’s Coolest Neighbourhoods celebrates the most unique and exciting pockets of our cities. The neighbourhoods on this year’s list have a lot in common: great places to eat and drink, cutting-edge culture, street life and a thriving community.

“But they’re also a distinct reflection of their cities, with each of them offering something special you wouldn’t find anywhere else.

“Some have only just reached their moment; others have been ‘cool’ for some time and are finding a new groove – all of them should be on your radar to visit in these cities.”

Last year, we told how Glasgow’s West End and Edinburgh’s lovely Leith made the popular list.

Leith in Edinburgh and Glasgow’s trendy West End came in at 16th and 20th in the top 40 of the World’s Coolest Neighbourhoods.

Stay informed with free updates

Simply sign up to the Oil & Gas industry myFT Digest — delivered directly to your inbox.

Legal challenges against two major oil and gas projects will be allowed to go ahead after a ruling from Scotland’s highest civil court, raising further doubts over the future of fossil fuel production in the UK.  

The country’s Court of Session has set a hearing date of November 12 for the two judicial review cases brought by climate campaign groups Uplift and Greenpeace against the Rosebank and Jackdaw developments in the North Sea. 

It raises the prospect that the projects will need to reapply for planning permission from a Labour government which is more hostile than its Tory predecessor towards domestic fossil fuel development.

The Rosebank and Jackdaw projects are being developed respectively by Equinor with its partner Ithaca Energy, and Shell. Equinor says Rosebank would account for about 7 per cent of the UK’s oil production, while Shell says Jackdaw would produce enough gas to heat the equivalent of about 1.4mn UK homes. 

They were granted development consent in 2023 and 2022 under the former Conservative government, which was keen to boost domestic oil and gas production. 

However, campaigners argue the government should have taken into account the emissions generated by consumers burning oil and gas from the fields, for example in cars, boilers and power stations. These are known as Scope 3 emissions. 

Last month, the government said it would not challenge the two judicial review applications. 

It followed a landmark legal ruling in June when the UK’s Supreme Court found that a local council in England should have considered Scope 3 emissions when it granted planning permission to an oil drilling project in Horse Hill, Surrey. 

That was followed by a decision this month when the High Court in London ruled against planning permission for a metallurgical coal mine in West Cumbria, north-west England, also on the basis of its Scope 3 emissions not being taken into account. 

Since taking office in July, the Labour government has followed through on its manifesto pledges to try to move away from oil and gas in favour of renewable energy.

It has increased the tax rate on oil and gas drillers, and plans to stop issuing new oil and gas exploration licences for new fields. It has said it will not revoke existing licences, however, and is consulting on new environmental guidance for the industry.

A spokesperson for Shell said that no decision had been taken on the substance of the case, and it would argue in November that “existing consents to develop Jackdaw should remain in place”. 

Shell added: “Jackdaw is a vital project for UK energy security that is already well under way.”

A spokesman for Equinor said it did not comment on ongoing litigation, adding the Rosebank project would bring investment, jobs and energy security and was “vital to the UK”. 

Tessa Khan, executive director at climate campaign group Uplift, said it was “a relief” that the arguments against Rosebank would “not get a fair hearing in court”. 

Ithaca Energy did not comment. 

Advisers have been urged to put themselves in their clients’ shoes during the protection advice process for a successful outcome.

The call was made on the second day of the week long Income Protection Action Week (IPAW) organised by the Income Protection Task Force.

The online Q&A webinar chaired by the IPTC co-chair Jo Miller alongside adviser and wealth coach Matt Chapman explored via a series of role plays the common mistakes advisers make while engaging with clients and the resulting lost opportunities.

The first role play shows a scenario where an adviser is more focus on Income Protection (IP) product rather than the client’s need and the language used employed industry jargon and terminology.

Chapman cautioned that advisers should focus on need rather than product and should aim to use simple language “to keep things relatable”.

He said advisers need to create that “core need in the first place” and “relate it back to the customer goals.”

The second role play shows an advice process devoid of passion and lack of engagement with the client.

Chapman urged advisers to “humanise” the IP advice conversation.

He said: “The humanising of the conversation is what gets the customer bought into the concept because you’re really demonstrating why it’s important and what you’re doing is in the client best interest rather than just going through a monotone presentation that’s boring.”

He added that using storytelling is “imperative” to “bring the emotion alive for the client and overcome their optimism bias”.

“We can all recount genuine stories where we have seen customers suffered hardships or go through difficulties. Everyone out there watching this probably know someone that has experienced serious illness or die prematurely.

“I think it’s about reverting to those stories, even probing the customer as to whether they know someone in that situation. Often that’s enough to spark that thought in their mind about what happened to that family when that situation occurred. They will see the benefit of what you’re recommending.”

The third role play showed a “patronising and pushy” adviser whose method is far removed from the rules of the FCA’s Consumer Duty.

Chapman said he hope this type of conversations are not taking place because the adviser in that scenario misunderstand their role.

“We see this a lot where you’ve got advisers who believe that the value of what they do is that they know something the customer doesn’t know. And they will chat to you in a condescending way.”

And the fourth role play looked at an adviser who brings up protection as a “bolt on option”.

He said he dealt with this category of advisers as part of his coaching work.

BBC

Submitted

‘We have nothing to hide’