Connect with us

Business

Why Canada could become the next nuclear energy ‘superpower’

Published

on

Is Reform UK's plan to get Farage into No 10 mission impossible?
NexGen An aerial photo of the site of NexGen's mine in the Athabasca Basin in northern Saskatchewan. The landscape is mostly forested, with work structures nestled on cleared land in the middle. NexGen

NexGen’s operation in Canada’s remote Athabasca Basin

Uranium is making a comeback thanks to a renewed focus on nuclear energy as a climate crisis solution. Canada, rich with high-grade deposits, could become a nuclear “superpower”. But can its potential be realised?

Leigh Curyer had been working in uranium mining for nearly two decades when he noticed a striking shift.

In 2011, the Fukushima nuclear plant disaster in Japan badly damaged the world’s view of nuclear power, and the price for the heavy metal – a critical component for nuclear fuel – cratered.

But the last five years has seen a reversal, with the global price of uranium spiking by more than 200%one of this year’s top-performing commodities.

Advertisement

Mr Curyer, an Australian-born businessman, credits this to a changing attitude that began soon after Microsoft founder Bill Gates touted nuclear energy as “ideal for dealing with climate change” in 2018.

Four years later, then-UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson pushed forward a policy of generating at least 25% of the country’s energy from nuclear.

Shortly after, the European Union voted to declare nuclear energy climate-friendly.

These events were “catalytic” for the uranium industry and a turning point for Mr Curyer’s company NexGen, which is behind the largest in-development uranium mine in Canada.

Advertisement

His phone began to ring with calls from investors worldwide – something that “had never happened in my previous 17 years in the industry”, he said.

NexGen A professional headshot of Leigh Curyer smiling, wearing a grey suit jacket, a light blue button-up shirt and a speckled dark blue tie.NexGen

Leigh Curyer is the head of NexGen, whose mine is the largest in development in Canada

NexGen, whose project is located in Canada’s remote, uranium-rich Athabasca Basin in northern Saskatchewan, is now worth nearly $4bn (£2.98bn), despite the fact that the mine won’t be commercially operational until at least 2028.

If fully cleared by regulators, NexGen’s project alone could push Canada to become the world’s largest producer of uranium over the coming decade, knocking Kazakhstan out of the number one spot.

Other companies have also rushed to Saskatchewan to capitalise on the boom, starting their own exploration projects in the region, while existing players re-opened dormant mines.

Advertisement

With its rich resources, Canada’s mining companies see the country playing a major role in the future of nuclear energy, meeting a demand for uranium that is poised to rise after nearly two dozen countries committed in COP28 climate conference to tripling their nuclear energy output by 2050.

Nuclear energy is often hailed for its low carbon emissions compared to other sources like natural gas or coal.

The World Nuclear Association estimates that 10% of power generated worldwide comes from nuclear sources, while more than 50% is still generated by gas or coal.

At this year’s COP29, the focus has been on ramping up funding for nuclear projects in the wake of a recent UN report indicating that current policies and investments fall short of what is needed to slow global temperature rise.

Advertisement

Canada’s role in supplying the commodity is made more urgent by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, particularly for the US, which had relied heavily on Russian-supplied enriched uranium to fire up its commercial nuclear reactors.

Mr Curyer believes his mine could prove to be “absolutely critical” to America’s nuclear energy future, as the US is now hunting for alternatives to Russia, including by ramping up exploration on its own soil.

Uranium can be found around the world, though it is heavily present in Canada, Australia and Kazakhstan.

But what makes Canada’s Athabasca Region unique is that its uranium is especially high grade, said Markus Piro, a professor of nuclear engineering at McMaster University.

Advertisement

Canada has set strict rules for the sale of its uranium to other countries, Prof Piro said, and mandates it only be used for nuclear power generation.

The country is also referred to as a “tier-one nuclear nation”, he said, due to its capability to produce nuclear fuel from the mining to the manufacturing stage.

Once mined, uranium is milled to produce what is called calcined yellowcake, and then enriched, either at facilities in Canada or overseas, to create fuel for nuclear reactors.

“We’ve got a one-stop shop here in Canada, not every nation’s like that,” Prof Piro said.

Advertisement

Canada is currently the world’s second largest producer of uranium, accounting for roughly 13% of the total global output, according to the Canadian government. NexGen anticipates that once its mine is operational, it will boost that to 25%.

Meanwhile, Cameco, which has been mining uranium in Saskatchewan since 1988 that supplies 30 nuclear reactors around the world, re-opened two of its mines in late 2022 to increase output.

CEO Tim Gitzel told the BBC that he believes “Canada could be a nuclear superpower around the world”.

Advertisement

But enthusiasm around nuclear energy is not without its critics.

Some environmental groups worry nuclear projects are too costly and come with timelines that do not meet the urgency of the climate crisis.

Data from the UK-based World Nuclear Association shows that 60 nuclear reactors are under construction across 16 countries, most of them in China, and a further 110 are in the planning stages.

Some are expected to come online this year – others won’t be ready until at least the end of the decade.

Advertisement

Meanwhile, more than 100 nuclear plants have been closed in the last two decades around the world, including New York State’s sole nuclear power plant, which was retired in 2021 due to high operating costs and environmental and safety concerns.

Plants were also shuttered in Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, and Quebec, Canada.

And not all of Canada is on board with the country’s uranium industry.

British Columbia sits on its own supply of uranium but has not allowed any nuclear plants or uranium mines to operate in the province since 1980.

Advertisement

Critics have also expressed concern about radioactive waste nuclear reactors leave behind for future generations.

Others fear another Fukushima-scale disaster, where a tsunami disabled three reactors, causing the release of highly radioactive materials and forcing mass evacuations.

“The risk is not zero, that is for sure” though t can be reduced, said Prof Piro.

“Even though amongst the general public there are mixed feelings about it, the reality is that it has produced very safe, very reliable and affordable electricity worldwide.”

Advertisement

The industry maintains the technology is both promising and viable.

Mr Gitzel of Cameco said the industry has learned from past safety errors.

“And the public is buying on,” he said. “I can tell you that we have in Canada great public support for nuclear power.”

A 2023 Ipsos poll indicates that 55% of Canadians support nuclear energy.

Advertisement
Getty Images A red school bus driving on a residential road with a lake and forest in the background, photographed in Saskatchewan's Uranium City in 1975. Getty Images

Uranium City, photographed in this 1975 photo, was once home to 2,500 residents

Still, past uranium booms in Canada have turned into dramatic busts.

North of NexGen’s proposed mine stands Uranium City, once home to 2,500 residents in its mid-20th Century heyday. In 1982, a major local mining firm shuttered operations over high costs and a soft market for uranium.

Now, Uranium City’s population is 91 people.

But investors argue that there is a true global burgeoning demand for the commodity that poses a golden opportunity for Canada.

Advertisement

NexGen anticipates that construction on its mine – which is awaiting clearance from Canada’s federal nuclear regulator – will begin early next year.

Mr Gitzel says around 100 other companies are now actively exploring Saskatchewan for deposits.

As to when it will be on the market remains unclear.

Mr Gitzel cautioned that some companies have started explorations in the past that never reached production stage. The timeline to get mining projects approved in Canada can also be lengthy.

Advertisement

“Building a mine is going to take five to 10 years, and so far, the only ones in operation are ours, so we will wait and see how it plays out,” he said.

For Mr Curyer, it is crucial that his project and others are realised in the next four years, for both Canada and the world.

“Otherwise, there is going to be a shortage in uranium, and that will subsequently impact power prices,” he said.

Source link

Advertisement
Continue Reading
Advertisement
Click to comment

You must be logged in to post a comment Login

Leave a Reply

Money

We’re the £7bn lottery duo – we’ve seen it all from £196m lotto winner to man who won TWICE & most popular 1st buys

Published

on

We're the £7bn lottery duo - we've seen it all from £196m lotto winner to man who won TWICE & most popular 1st buys

KATHY GARRETT and Andy Carter are a £7billion duo.

That’s the astonishing total which the National Lottery’s longest-serving winners’ advisers have handed out to those lucky punters who have hit the jackpot.

Kathy Garrett and Andy Carter are part of a team of seven who visit every lottery player who wins more than £50,000

6

Kathy Garrett and Andy Carter are part of a team of seven who visit every lottery player who wins more than £50,000Credit: Arthur Edwards / The Sun
Kathy dealt with builder Steve Thompson, 47, from Selsey, West Sussex, who won £105million on Euro-Millions in 2019

6

Advertisement
Kathy dealt with builder Steve Thompson, 47, from Selsey, West Sussex, who won £105million on Euro-Millions in 2019Credit: PA:Press Association
Les Scadding and wife Samantha celebrate their £45million jackpot in 2009

6

Les Scadding and wife Samantha celebrate their £45million jackpot in 2009Credit: Marc Giddings – The Sun

The pair have met more big winners than anyone else in the UK.

And to mark the lottery’s 30th anniversary they have revealed some of the secrets of the more than 5,000 happy winners who they have come to know as friends.

Kathy knows the identity of the mystery recipient of the biggest-ever prize — a mind-boggling £195,707,000 on the EuroMillions draw in 2022.

Advertisement

Remarkably, the winner has managed to remain anonymous and Kathy will not give any clue to their identity.

READ MORE ON LOTTERY WINNERS

But she does say: “They’ve done very well and are doing very well.

Eiffel Tower

“They understand that it’s a lot of money for them and they want to give something back, but to do it in an anonymous way.

“It’s life-changing for anybody to win on the lottery but when you win that sort of money you need an awful lot of support and help, which they have had.

Advertisement

“We guide them and introduce them to people that can help to make their journey a little bit easier.”

Paying off the mortgage is the next thing. But the lottery has paid for a lot of new hips, new knees, new teeth, new hair

Andy Carter

Andy, 50, has been a winners’ adviser for 18 years and has become a bit of a household name.

When winners call the National Lottery to claim their jackpot they will often ask: “Will Andy Carter be coming to see me?”

From reviving ‘dead’ pets to Ibiza benders and living in a caravan – how Lotto winners who scooped £194m splashed cash

Over the years Andy has found that winners tend to follow a similar pattern. He says: “Most will buy a new car straight away.

Advertisement

“Quite a few people will put a deposit on a car before we even get there and want to know, ‘When’s my money hitting the account?’

“Paying off the mortgage is the next thing. But the lottery has paid for a lot of new hips, new knees, new teeth, new hair.”

“And laser eye surgery,” adds Kathy, 60, a mum of four from Kent.

One of Andy’s most memorable winners, Les Scadding, now 68, won a £45.5million EuroMillions jackpot in 2009, then invested some of it in Newport County FC in South Wales — and became club chairman.

Advertisement

Remarkably, only one of the 5,000 winners they have dealt with wanted to tell no one — not even family.

Kathy says: “The reason he kept it a secret is that he wanted to surprise his partner and propose to her.

“He arranged to take her to Paris for the weekend and took her to a restaurant in the Eiffel Tower, where he proposed to her.

“Thankfully she said yes, and then he revealed that he’d also won the lottery. But he wanted her to accept his proposal before telling her he had won a million pounds.”

Advertisement

Private jet

The winner booked his romantic holiday in France using an idea that Kathy came up with — a concierge service that make dreams come true for lottery winners.

She says: “It’s proved very popular because some of these winners have never been on a holiday before, or they get a chef in to cook Christmas dinner for all the family, maybe hire a private jet to fly off somewhere.

“Once somebody literally went 200 miles up the road in their private jet and never left the UK.

“We had a lovely couple who won a lot of money last year and they took the whole family away on a private jet — and the dog went with them.”

Advertisement

Andy adds: “Someone said to me the other day, ‘What’s the point of me having this money if I can’t do stuff with the people I love?’.”

The duo’s phones often ping with photos of their big-winning clients on an exotic holiday.

Kathy says: “It’s lovely because you can see the difference their win is making to their lives and that they’re fully embracing it and enjoying it.”

Andy adds: “They could have thought of anyone but they think of you. There was a guy I dealt with who said, ‘I’m going to travel around the world and watch cricket’.

Advertisement

“Now I haven’t spoken to him for years, but every so often he emails a picture. He’ll be in Barbados, Sri Lanka or Sydney, in the great sporting arenas of the world.”

Kathy and Andy are part of a team of seven who visit every lottery player who wins more than £50,000.

They take with them a book in which punters can record their memories of the win — and a bottle of champagne that comes out when all the formalities are completed.

Often during that first meeting winners’ phones will be constantly pinging as news leaks out that they have won the jackpot.

Advertisement

Andy says: “Sometimes you turn up at people’s houses and the whole village or even the whole town knows.

You’ve got people knocking on the door when you’re there and messages are coming through saying, ‘Congratulations on your lottery win’.

The oldest winner I’ve paid was 105. It wasn’t going to make a massive difference to her life at that age but it gave her real pleasure to see that her family would benefit from it

Kathy Garrett

“The winner, who hasn’t gone public at this stage, will often look at their phone and say, ‘Oh, I haven’t seen him for years’.

“Nice news spreads fast and people are genuinely pleased. They like to know someone who’s won the lottery.”

Advertisement

Kathy, who was once hugged so hard by a delighted winner that she feared he would crack her ribs, says: “The oldest winner I’ve paid was 105.

“She lived in a little house and she had all her family around her.

“It wasn’t going to make a massive difference to her life at that age but it gave her real pleasure to see that her family would benefit from it.”

Another of Kathy’s winners, Doris Stanbridge, from Dorking in Surrey, was 70 when she won the lottery’s Set For Life game, which pays out £10,000 a month for 30 years.

Advertisement

Kathy says: “She will be 100 when she gets her last payment. She’s going to have a huge party if she makes it.

“Doris is great and really making the most of it, helping families and enjoying the holidays.” After 30 years, the odds of winning the lottery are just as vanishingly small as they have ever been, but Kathy and Andy say their big winners keep on playing — and some have hit the jackpot again.

Kathy says: “In 15 years I’ve paid five winners over £50,000 twice, which is absolutely incredible.”

Andy adds: “Last year I visited someone who had won and he said, ‘I think you may have seen my brother’.

Advertisement

“Two brothers had won the lottery, a year apart. One had won £2million and the other just under a million.”

And Kathy recalls: “I had two sisters — one won the lottery jackpot and the other won £1million, four years apart.”

Very emotional

Many punters give up work the moment they win, but some can’t let go of their jobs so fast — including a butcher who scooped the jackpot.

Kathy says: “It was coming up to Christmas and people were coming to collect their turkeys and he didn’t want to let them down by saying, ‘I’ve got an appointment’.

Advertisement

“He wanted to see me because he was going to get his lottery money but he couldn’t just shut up shop and focus on his win. So every two minutes he’d jump up to go and hand somebody their turkey.

“His customers had no idea he was disappearing into the back of the shop to see me.

“He stayed anonymous. He did carry on with the shop for a little while — and then changed direction.”

Andy says: “Builders are the ones that can’t walk away.

Advertisement

“They are so loyal, they don’t want to let anybody down, and even though they could pay for somebody else to do the work, they go and do it themselves.”

Kathy dealt with builder Steve Thompson, 47, from Selsey, West Sussex, who won £105million on Euro- Millions in 2019. Amazingly, he kept on working until all his customers’ jobs had been completed.

Syndicates are fun. I once went to a funeral parlour with some undertakers who had won. I even went to the Greggs factory to meet workers who had won £100,000 on EuroMillions. It was like Willy Wonka in there

Andy Carter

She says: “He was very, very emotional. At the beginning he was in tears because he just wanted to carry on as normal. It was a huge amount and it just took him a little while to get his head around everything.

“He’s fine. The whole family are really happy and they’ve built their own home.

Advertisement

“He wanted to help his friends still do the building work. Most winners are loyal — they’ve committed to something and they don’t want to let anybody down.

“So even though they have got over £100million now in their bank account they’ve still promised to fit the little old lady’s door for her up the road, and they want to carry on doing that.”

Andy says: “I have never met a winner who has told the boss to stuff his job.”

Over the years the pair have also paid out prizes to lots of family and workplace syndicates.

Advertisement

Andy says: “Syndicates are fun. I once went to a funeral parlour with some undertakers who had won. I even went to the Greggs factory to meet workers who had won £100,000 on EuroMillions. It was like Willy Wonka in there.”

In 2012, a dozen bus drivers in Corby, Northants, won £38million on EuroMillions and did quit their jobs — eventually.

Andy says: “There’s been Tesco’s workers, teachers, nurses, dance teams and pub syndicates.”

Most big winners never forget the numbers that won them the jackpot.

Advertisement

Some have the figures hidden within tattoos, others have even had them included in wrought-iron gates.

Mark and Ruth Chalmers, who scooped £1million on EuroMillions in 2018, had their winning Millionaire Maker code — MHSL49011 — carved into the stone wall outside their new home in Halifax, West Yorkshire.

Kathy says of the adviser team’s job: “We’re there for as long as we are needed.

“The bigger multi-million-pound winners stay in touch a bit more.

Advertisement

“Some haven’t told a lot of people about their win, so they like to tell us about the big events in their life. It’s the best job in the world.”

Mark and Ruth Chalmers, who won £1million on EuroMillions in 2018, had their winning Millionaire Maker code carved into the stone wall outside their new home

6

Mark and Ruth Chalmers, who won £1million on EuroMillions in 2018, had their winning Millionaire Maker code carved into the stone wall outside their new homeCredit: Anthony Devlin
Doris Stanbridge, from Dorking in Surrey, was 70 when she won the lottery’s Set For Life game, which pays out £10,000 a month for 30 years - she's planning a big 100th birthday

6

Doris Stanbridge, from Dorking in Surrey, was 70 when she won the lottery’s Set For Life game, which pays out £10,000 a month for 30 years – she’s planning a big 100th birthdayCredit: James Robinson
In 2012, a dozen bus drivers in Corby, Northants, won £38million on EuroMillions and did quit their jobs — eventually

6

Advertisement
In 2012, a dozen bus drivers in Corby, Northants, won £38million on EuroMillions and did quit their jobs — eventuallyCredit: Louis Wood – The Sun

Source link

Continue Reading

Business

Jay Powell says Federal Reserve in no ‘hurry’ to lower interest rates further

Published

on

Stay informed with free updates

Jay Powell backed a gradual approach to lowering interest rates, saying the US central bank does not need to be “in a hurry” amid a strong economy and a “bumpy” path down for inflation.

In a speech delivered in Dallas on Thursday, the Federal Reserve chair hailed the “remarkably good” performance of the world’s largest economy amid “significant progress” in taming the pace of price increases.

Advertisement

Given the economy’s resilience, Powell signalled little urgency to ease monetary policy quickly, instead cautioning there was still work to do to get inflation all the way back to the central bank’s 2 per cent target.

“The economy is not sending any signals that we need to be in a hurry to lower rates,” Powell said in prepared remarks. “The strength we are currently seeing in the economy gives us the ability to approach our decisions carefully.”

Last week, the US central bank opted to lower its benchmark policy rate by a quarter-point to a new target range of 4.25-4.75 per cent. Officials next meet in December for their final gathering of the year and appear on track to deliver a third-consecutive cut.

The Fed’s challenge is to take its foot off the economic brakes quickly enough to prevent any significant increase in joblessness, but also slow it enough to ensure that inflation is kept at bay.

Advertisement

“We are confident that with an appropriate recalibration of our policy stance, strength in the economy and the labour market can be maintained, with inflation moving sustainably down to 2 per cent,” Powell said on Thursday.

Officials more broadly have endorsed a gradual approach to lowering rates, given both the underlying strength of the economy as well as the stickiness of residual price pressures.

The latest consumer price index report released on Wednesday underscored how uneven the path down to the Fed’s 2 per cent is likely to continue to be. Powell on Thursday described it as “more of an upward bump than we had expected”, even as he said overall downward trend was “still intact”.

After several months of larger-than-expected drawdowns in inflation, the annual pace ticked up to 2.6 per cent following a third straight month in which “core” prices that strip out volatile food and energy prices rose 0.3 per cent.

Advertisement

Another metric of underlying inflation — one that focuses on prices for services that also exclude housing-related costs — ticked higher in October and now registers an annual pace of 4.4 per cent. Powell on Thursday said he expected inflation to continue to retreat, “albeit on a sometimes-bumpy path”.

Earlier on Thursday, Adriana Kugler, a Fed governor, affirmed that the central bank was ready to pause its rate-cutting cycle if warranted by the data.

“If any risks arise that stall progress or reaccelerate inflation, it would be appropriate to pause our policy rate cuts,” she said at an event in Uruguay. “But if the labour market slows down suddenly, it would be appropriate to continue to gradually reduce the policy rate.”

Advertisement

Economists have warned that the economic proposals put forward by president-elect Donald Trump, such as tariffs and deportations, could cause inflationary pressures to reignite.

Asked on Thursday how that may affect the Fed’s policy decisions, Powell said the central bank would be “careful about changing policy until we have a lot more certainty”.

He said the impact of tariffs “isn’t obvious until we see actual policies”, stressing that the Fed would “reserve judgment”.

Source link

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Money

Four ways to teach kids how to budget and value their money

Published

on

Four ways to teach kids how to budget and value their money

GIVING your children pocket money is a great way to teach them how to budget.

And encouraging them to earn their pennies is also a valuable lesson in responsibility.

Four ways to teach kids how to budget and value their money

7

Four ways to teach kids how to budget and value their moneyCredit: Getty

Here are some ideas to get kids managing their own cash.

Advertisement

CHORES: Children love a cash reward for little jobs such as tidying their room or helping with the cleaning.

This can also help instil the idea of working for your money — plus you get a helping hand around the house.

However, some parents may prefer kids learning to do their bit without a financial incentive.

READ MORE MONEY SAVING TIPS

BANK ON IT: Handing over physical pocket money is fine, but as more businesses become cashless, a card might be easier. It offers more protection if it gets lost as it can be cancelled, whereas cash could be gone for good.

Advertisement

From age 11, you can open a kids’ bank account, which is fee-free and comes with a debit card. Children are not allowed to go into an overdraft.

APPY SPENDING: There are a number of specific pocket money cards and apps which can be used by younger children, from the age of six.

Preloaded cards are similar to a debit card and the corresponding apps allow parents to keep an eye on where their kids are spending. You will usually get an instant alert when the card is used.

Some of these accounts come with a small monthly charge. However, there are free options. If you’re a NatWest customer, you can join Rooster Money for free, saving on the annual £19.99 charge. Or HyperJar offers a free prepaid debit card and app.

Advertisement

SAVINGS: It’s important to educate youngsters on the benefits of saving if they’ve got their eye on an expensive purchase or have a special occasion, such as a holiday, coming up.

I’m eight-years-old and own my first HOUSE – I saved up my pocket money from chores to buy it & it’s now worth £500k

You can set up physical envelopes or jars for cash.

Alternatively, HyperJar lets you create individual digital pots for different things.

Setting up savings accounts together is a good opportunity to talk about the idea of earning interest on your money.

Advertisement
  • All prices on page correct at time of going to press. Deals and offers subject to availability.

Deal of the day

Avon's Haul Of Fame beauty bundle is £47.50 until November 28

7

Avon’s Haul Of Fame beauty bundle is £47.50 until November 28Credit: Avon

PICK up the Haul Of Fame beauty bundle for £47.50, worth £95.25, until November 28. Available from Avon reps or avon.uk.com.

SAVE: £47.75

Cheap treat

The Best cherry Bakewell mince pies are £2.75 for a pack of four at Morrisons

7

Advertisement
The Best cherry Bakewell mince pies are £2.75 for a pack of four at MorrisonsCredit: Morrisons

TRY a new spin on a festive classic with Morrisons The Best Cherry Bakewell mince pies, £2.75 for a pack of four.

WHAT’S NEW?

ALDI has launched beers crafted from food waste.

Try Toast Brewing Another Round Session IPA, £1.99, or Freedom Brewing Misfits Summer Fruits Beer, £1.49.

Top swap

The gold cutlery set is £28 at Habitat

7

Advertisement
The gold cutlery set is £28 at HabitatCredit: Habitat
This set from The Range is only £13.99

7

This set from The Range is only £13.99Credit: The Range

GIVE your cutlery the Midas touch with this 16-piece set from Habitat, top, £28. Or the 16-piece gold set is £13.99 through The Range’s online marketplace, above.

SAVE: £14.01

Shop & save

Hobbycraft 32S sewing machine, down from £153 to £128

7

Advertisement
Hobbycraft 32S sewing machine, down from £153 to £128Credit: Hobbycraft

STITCH up some savings with the Hobbycraft 32S sewing machine, down from £153 to £128 in-store and online.

SAVE: £25

LITTLE HELPER

LIGHT up your home ready for festivities with 25 per cent off all Christmas tree lights at Homebase.

The deal takes this 16-strand net down from £24 to £18.

Advertisement

Hot right now

TAKE out a Sainsbury’s Bank pet insurance policy through Gocompare.com this month to get a £40 Sainsbury’s gift card.

PLAY NOW TO WIN £200

Join thousands of readers taking part in The Sun Raffle

7

Join thousands of readers taking part in The Sun Raffle

JOIN thousands of readers taking part in The Sun Raffle.

Every month we’re giving away £100 to 250 lucky readers – whether you’re saving up or just in need of some extra cash, The Sun could have you covered.

Advertisement

Every Sun Savers code entered equals one Raffle ticket.

The more codes you enter, the more tickets you’ll earn and the more chance you will have of winning!

Source link

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Business

Argentina stokes concerns it could quit Paris climate accord

Published

on

Unlock the White House Watch newsletter for free

Argentina said on Thursday it would “re-evaluate” its role in global climate talks after walking out of the COP29 summit, fuelling concerns that the South American country could become the first to follow Donald Trump’s threatened exit from the landmark Paris agreement.

Trump’s campaign said he would withdraw the US from the Paris climate accord on his return to the White House, as he did during his first term, leaving ministers and negotiators at COP29 in Azerbaijan to fret that other populist leaders could follow suit. 

Advertisement

Argentina’s libertarian President Javier Milei withdrew the delegation of negotiators his country had sent to the UN climate summit in Baku on Wednesday, a day after speaking to Trump by phone. 

Milei demoted Argentina’s environment portfolio to a junior departmental level after taking office last year as part of a sweeping austerity package and sharp ideological realignment of his country’s environmental and foreign policy. He has said human-caused climate change is “a socialist lie”.

Milei’s spokesperson told a press briefing on Thursday: “The [withdrawal of the COP29 delegation] will allow the new foreign minister to re-evaluate the situation, reflect on our position. It’s part of the measures that the foreign minister is starting to take in his new role.”

Ana Lamas, Argentina’s under-secretary for the environment, declined to comment further on whether the country was considering an exit from the Paris agreement. “The delegation is coming back to Argentina, for now there is no more information,” she told the Financial Times. 

Advertisement

Milei fired foreign minister Diana Mondino last month after Argentina sided with Cuba at a UN vote condemning the US’s economic sanctions on the Caribbean nation.

He and his new foreign minister Gerardo Werthein, a wealthy businessman who was until recently Buenos Aires’ ambassador to the US, are this weekend due to attend the Conservative Political Action Conference in Orlando, Florida, where they aim to meet Trump.

The US is the only country to have left the Paris agreement. Almost 200 countries signed the blueprint to limit the global average temperature rise. Former Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro threatened to withdraw, but did not follow through.

Many of the countries at the UN meeting have rushed to present a united front, arguing that even if the US quit the Paris agreement, the global context was very different from the first Trump term. Countries and industries had begun to make the shift to green energy as they took into account the further consequences of climate change, they maintained.

Advertisement

“The health of the Paris Agreement is quite good,” said Jennifer Morgan, Germany’s climate envoy, in Baku. “You have here a multilateral forum where countries work together to find solutions, despite geopolitical tensions, despite elections.

“We have been through elections in the past and have continued to move forward,” she said. The “costs and devastation” of climate change were prompting countries to act.

Another lead negotiator said: “The world has moved on. The economic case is strong for the transition — there are so many renewables all over the world.”

Advertisement

Argentina had been in charge of the so-called Sur negotiating bloc of countries at the two-week climate summit, and has been replaced by Brazil.

The Argentine delegation had submitted a statement to the COP29 opening meeting on Tuesday, declaring the nation’s opposition to “the imposition of regulations and bans promoted by the very countries that developed by doing the same things they are questioning today”. 

A central objective of the Baku summit is to set a new finance goal to help poorer countries shift to green energy and adapt to climate change, but the talks have been overshadowed by controversies during its opening days as well as the absence of more than half of the world’s leaders.

France also decided not to send a senior political official to the summit this week, after the host country’s President Ilham Aliyev used a speech at the event to accuse the “regime of President [Emmanuel] Macron” of “brutally” killing citizens during recent protests in New Caledonia.

Advertisement

Climate Capital

Where climate change meets business, markets and politics. Explore the FT’s coverage here.

Are you curious about the FT’s environmental sustainability commitments? Find out more about our science-based targets here

Source link

Continue Reading

Money

Asda shoppers rush to buy returning Christmas essential for kids that ‘will last for years’ – and it only costs £2

Published

on

Asda shoppers rush to buy returning Christmas essential for kids that ‘will last for years’ – and it only costs £2

PARENTS are flocking to buy this festive essential for kids, which only costs £2.

The Christmas Eve boxes from Asda are massively popular among savvy-shoppers who say they will “last for years”.

Asda's Christmas Eve box costs as little as £2

2

Asda’s Christmas Eve box costs as little as £2
Buyers can nab these from an Asda shop

2

Advertisement
Buyers can nab these from an Asda shopCredit: Getty

The box measures 27cm x 36cm x 12.6cm – meaning it has plenty of room to fill with trinkets.

Buyers can nab these from an Asda shop or online.

Though the website warns prices and promotions may vary when buying in-store.

As the big festive day quickly approaches, parents are on the hunt for a place to store their little one’s presents.

Advertisement

And amid the ongoing cost of living crisis, Brits are on the lookout for cheap gift boxes and hampers.

But with gift boxes selling for £100 from John Lewis or £85 at Fortnum and Mason, many might be left out of pocket.

Luckily, Asda’s Christmas Eve box costs as little as £2 – that’s cheaper than certain chocolate bars.

One happy customer said: “Have bought these boxes for about 10 yrs now always look nice and are strong.”

Advertisement

Whilst another commented: “These are perfect! Really good size and really good value for the price. Quite sturdy.”

For those with a sweet tooth the supermarket is also offering two boxes of Quality Street for just £9.

I’m a tight mum, my kids are getting yellow sticker deals as presents

Or for an even better deal, shoppers can get their hands on a chocolate advent calendar for a whopping £1.50.

This comes as B&M shoppers rush to fill their baskets with an item which is perfect for the upcoming festive season.

Advertisement

Bargain hunters have been getting excited about Christmas tree plates which cost just 10p, having been reduced from £4.

One eagle-eyed shopper got their hands on one at their local store before spreading the word on social media.

They took to the Facebook group Extreme Couponing and Bargains UK group to let others know.

The person wrote: “Christmas tree platters 10p each in B&M.”

Advertisement

On person commented: “If you see these please get me a couple xx.”

Source link

Continue Reading

Travel

The UK’s best roast dinners revealed – so does your local make the list?

Published

on

The Old Crown in Birmingham has the best roast dinner in the country, according to research by rail operator London Northwestern Railway

IF you’re a big fan of Sunday roasts, a new study has ranked the best in the UK – with the winning place going to a pub in Birmingham.

The study factored in everything from cost to tastiness, and it covers everywhere from London to Swansea.

The Old Crown in Birmingham has the best roast dinner in the country, according to research by rail operator London Northwestern Railway

12

Advertisement
The Old Crown in Birmingham has the best roast dinner in the country, according to research by rail operator London Northwestern RailwayCredit: instagram/@oldcrownbham

Rail operator London Northwestern Railway has pulled together a Roast Dinner Index, naming the UK’s best.

The research analysed factors such as price, value, popularity, and proximity to train stations to rank the top 10 Sunday roasts in the country.

Sara Paoloni, who is a travel expert at London Northwestern Railway, commented: “At London Northwestern Railway, we understand that enjoying a traditional roast dinner is a cherished part of British culture, especially during the festive season.

“Our Roast Dinner Index not only highlights the best places to indulge without straining your wallet but also emphasises the convenience of accessing these fantastic dining options easily.

Advertisement

“We hope this research inspires people to explore new culinary experiences while enjoying the comfort and value that these top-rated pubs offer.”

The Old Crown, Birmingham

Located in Digbeth, the Brummie boozer has the best Sunday roast in the country, according to the research.

Roasties in the pub start from £15.95, with the most expensive costing punters £18.95 for a mix of crispy pork and sirloin beef.

Each roast is served with roasted potatoes, maple glazed carrots, braised red cabbage & seasonal greens, a homemade Yorkie and slow-cooked gravy.

Advertisement

As a proud Brummie, I’ve been to the boozer and love its old-school charm with stained-glass windows and rustic desks.

Just be sure to bag a table early if you plan to spend your Saturday evening knocking back a pint because it can get very busy.

Located on the 40th floor of a skyscraper in central London, the Duck and Waffle runs a three-course Sunday roast for £55 per head

12

Located on the 40th floor of a skyscraper in central London, the Duck and Waffle runs a three-course Sunday roast for £55 per headCredit: instagram/@duckandwaffle

The Duck and Waffle, London

Located on the 40th floor of a skyscraper in central London, the Duck and Waffle runs a three-course Sunday roast for £55 per head.

Advertisement

Each roast dinner is served with spiced carrot purée, maple mustard glazed parsnips, Yorkshire pudding, roast potatoes and gravy.

There are a choice of starters too, including corn ribs, a lobster roll and a beef tartare.

For pudding, guests can order a Biscoff Cheesecake or a Sticky Toffee Waffle.

The Culpepper is located on Commercial Street near Aldgate East Tube Station in Central London

12

Advertisement
The Culpepper is located on Commercial Street near Aldgate East Tube Station in Central LondonCredit: instagram/@theculpeper
The ground-floor pub serves a range of roast dinner options, with mains from £22

12

The ground-floor pub serves a range of roast dinner options, with mains from £22Credit: instagram/@theculpeper

The Culpeper, London

Located on Commercial Street near Aldgate East Tube Station in Central London, the London boozer has the third-best roast dinner in the country.

Spread across four floors, the London building features a pub, a restaurant, a private dining venue and overnight accommodation for guests.

The ground-floor pub serves a range of roast dinner options, with mains from £22.

Advertisement

Diners can choose from chicken, beef, pork chops and butternut squash, with each roast accompanied by roast potatoes, red cabbage, carrots, gravy and a yorkshire pudding.

The Camberwell Arms was also named as having one of the best Sunday Lunches by the Guardian

12

The Camberwell Arms was also named as having one of the best Sunday Lunches by the GuardianCredit: instagram/@thecamberwellarms

The Camberwell Arms, London

The third London boozer on the list is the Camberwell Arms, which was also named as having one of the best Sunday Lunches by the Guardian back in 2017.

Here, roast dinners start from £18.80 per person, while share plates for two start from £50.

Advertisement

12

The Welsh House, Swansea

Swansea’s Welsh House was the only restaurant in Wales to feature on the rail operator’s Roast Dinner Index.

Located on the Waterfront, the Welsh restaurant and bar serves roast dinners from as little as £15.05

The Cultra Inn is set inside the landscaped grounds of the Culloden Estate and Spa

12

Advertisement
The Cultra Inn is set inside the landscaped grounds of the Culloden Estate and SpaCredit: instagram/@cullodenestate

Cultra Inn, Holywood

The Cultra Inn is set inside the landscaped grounds of the Culloden Estate and Spa.

Here, Sunday lunch is served from 12pm until 2.30pm every Sunday, with two-courses starting from £32.

Guests can order turkey, pork chop, Irish beef, salmon and butternut squash ravioli for their main dish.

Starters range from soup of the day, while desserts include cheesecake and brownie.

Advertisement
The Harwood Arms is only Michelin-starred pub in London

12

The Harwood Arms is only Michelin-starred pub in LondonCredit: instagram/@theharwoodarms

The Harwood Arms, London

The last London pub on the list is the Harwood Arms.

It’s the only Michelin-starred pub in London, with the Fulham pub already winning awards for its grub.

On a Sunday, the London boozer serves pork belly, a deer shoulder and skate wings.

Advertisement

Two-courses start from £64 per person.

The Pack Horse was named as one of the best 50 gastropubs in the UK

12

The Pack Horse was named as one of the best 50 gastropubs in the UKCredit: instagram/@thepackhorsehayfield
Its highest-priced main comes in at £30

12

Its highest-priced main comes in at £30Credit: instagram/@thepackhorsehayfield

The Pack Horse, Derbyshire

Named as one of the best 50 gastropubs in the UK earlier this year, the Pack Horse has also been praised for its Sunday Lunch.

Advertisement

The veggie main starts from £20, with the venison loin, the highest-price main, costing £30.

Roast dinners at the Hand and Flowers in Marlow cost £175 per person

12

Roast dinners at the Hand and Flowers in Marlow cost £175 per personCredit: instagram/@HandFMarlow

The Hand and Flowers, Marlow

Located in Buckinghamshire, the rustic pub serves one of the best roast dinners in the country.

Roast dinners come in at £175 per person, so it’s certainly a treat.

Advertisement
The family-run Owl & Otter is a gastropub in Burnopfield, County Durham

12

The family-run Owl & Otter is a gastropub in Burnopfield, County DurhamCredit: instagram/@theowlandotter

The Owl & Otter, Newcastle

The family-run Owl & Otter is a gastropub in Burnopfield, County Durham.

Its Sunday mains start from £15.95, including the nut roast and the roast chicken.

Other mains include beef and pork belly.

Advertisement

The top 10 best roast dinners in the UK

The top 10 best roast dinners in the UK: 

  1. Birmingham – The Old Crown
  2. London – The Duck and Waffle
  3. London – The Culpeper
  4. London – The Camberwell Arms
  5. Swansea – The Welsh House
  6. Holywood – Cultra Inn
  7. London – The Harwood Arms
  8. Derbyshire – The Pack Horse
  9. Marlow – The Hand and Flowers
  10. Newcastle – The Owl & Otter

Meanwhile, these are the most beautiful Wetherspoons in the UK.

And this is one of the country’s best hotels.

Source link

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Trending

Copyright © 2024 WordupNews.com