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GB Energy, the government’s clean energy firm, will be based in Aberdeen in a boost for the Scottish city that has fallen on tougher times as the North Sea oil and gas basin declines.

UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer made the much-anticipated announcement during his speech to the annual Labour party conference on Tuesday.

The government had promised to base the new state-owned vehicle in Scotland but had not confirmed which city it would be in. Other mooted locations included Glasgow and Edinburgh.

“The truth is it could only really ever be based in one place in Scotland,” he said. “I can confirm that the future of British energy will be powered as it has been for decades by the talent and skills of the working people in the ‘Granite City’ — with GB Energy based in Aberdeen.”

Basing GB Energy in Scotland was a centrepiece of the party’s offer to Scottish voters. Labour made strong gains north of the border in the general election on July 4, dealing a blow to the Scottish National party.

Industry leaders in Aberdeen, the heart of Scotland’s oil and gas sector, fear thousands of jobs are threatened by Labour’s pledge to stop issuing new licences for fossil fuels exploration in the North Sea, raising windfall taxes and ending investment allowances.

The energy industry argues these measures will create a cliff edge for the sector by accelerating the decline of North Sea production, causing more job losses than necessary and denuding the country of the expertise needed to advance the renewable industry.

Andrew Bowie, Scottish Conservative MP for West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine, said he welcomed the news but added: “Basing GB Energy in Aberdeen will in no way make up for the thousands of jobs that will be lost in the North Sea as a result of Labour’s dreadful policies on oil and gas.”

GB Energy, chaired by former Siemens UK chief executive Juergen Maier, aims to co-invest in new low-carbon technologies, accelerate wind, solar and nuclear power, and scale up local energy projects. With £8.3bn to deploy over five years, it hopes to create 650,000 jobs.

The firm is expected to work closely with Chris Stark, a former Scottish government official who led the UK’s Climate Change Committee and now heads up a unit overseeing the delivery of clean power by 2030.

John Swinney, Scotland’s first minister, invited Maier and Stark to address the Scottish government’s energy advisory board last week, as London and Edinburgh seek closer co-operation on delivering renewable energy to meet ambitious emissions reduction targets.

A bill legislating to set up the firm is expected in the new year.

MCDONALD’S has revealed an all-new item, which will delight lovers of its breakfast menu.

The fast-food giant will soon start selling mini hashbrowns across its 1,300 plus sites in the UK.

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The fried snack is expected to land in stores on October 16.

McDonald’s already sells larger hashbrowns as part of its regular breakfast menu which is available from 6am-11am.

These cost £1.19 and contain 127 calories.

However, these new treats will come in a bigger portion but will be smaller in size, with a five-piece single portion costing £1.49.

Meanwhile, the 15-piece sharebox will set customers back £2.99.

It is not yet clear if the hashbrowns will become a permanent menu item or will only be available for a limited period of time.

In 2022, the home of the Golden Arches added mini potato waffles to its morning menu but they were axed the following year.

At the time, fans said they tasted better than its hashbrowns.

The full list of McDonald’s breakfast menu items includes:

• Mighty McMuffin – £ 5.19
• Egg & Cheese McMuffin – £ 2.39
• Breakfast Wrap – £ 4.99
• Bacon Roll – £ 3.19
• Breakfast Roll – £ 3.39
• Cheesy Bacon Flatbread -£ 1.49
• Bacon & Egg McMuffin -£ 2.79
• Double Bacon & Egg McMuffin – £ 3.19
• Sausage & Egg McMuffin – £ 2.79
• Double Sausage & Egg McMuffin -£ 3.19
• Muffin with Jam -£ 1.49
• Hash Brown -£ 1.19
• Pancakes & Syrup – £ 3.49
• Pancakes & Sausage with Syrup -£ 3.99
• Porridge -£ 1.99

However, it is important to note some of these menu items might not be available at your local McDonald’s.

Changes at McDonald’s

News of a new menu item comes just one week after Maccies teased the return of its McRib.

A test notification for the boneless pork burger was sent out on the McDonald’s rewards app, sending customers into a frenzy.

When asked if the McRib is coming back, a spokesperson said: “McDonald’s is always looking to innovate with new and exciting menu items, as well as bringing back the fan favourites.

“If you’re keen to be the first to receive more info from McDonald’s stay tuned.”

The McRib was first added to the main UK McDonald’s menu in 1981 but was taken off just four years later.

All you need to know about McDonald’s

HERE’S all the crucial information about McDonald’s you’ve always wanted to know…

The burger, which comes with a boneless pork patty covered in barbecue sauce and topped with onions and pickles, has made temporary reappearances since.

What else is new at McDonald’s?

McDonald’s regularly shakes up its menu to make way for new items.

Earlier this month, the fast food chain shook up its menu to coincide with the launch of McDonald’s monopoly. 

To participate in the game you must collect stickers that represent train stations or colour-coordinated streets. 

If you are curious about how the game works and what prizes you can win, read our article here. 

To mark the return of its sticker peeling game McDonald’s has brought back a number of fan-favourites

These include:

• Mozzarella Dippers 
• Philly Cheese Stack.
• Chicken Big Mac, 
• Galaxy Chocolate McFlurry 
• Twix Chocolate McFlurry
• Twix Latte 

If you are keen to try any of these new menu items you will need to act quickly as they are set to be pulled from restaurants in about three weeks.

How to save money at McDonald’s

Did you know that you can end up being charged more based just on the McDonald’s you choose to eat at? 

The Sun previously found that a Big Mac meal can be 30p cheaper at restaurants which are two miles away from each other. 

Another way to cut back spending at McDonald’s is by ordering from the Savers menu or by taking advantage of its ‘3 for £3’ deal when it lands in stores. 

It is also worth bearing in mind that McDonald’s offers a discount on your next order if you fill out a survey online after visiting its stores. 

These can be found on the back of any receipt you get at McDonald’s.

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China has accused the parent company of Calvin Klein of boycotting cotton from its western Xinjiang region, threatening for the first time to put a US company with significant interests in the country on a national security blacklist.

Beijing’s threat to include PVH, a clothing maker whose brands include Calvin Klein and Tommy Hilfiger, on its “unreliables list” is likely to alarm international companies at a moment when China is struggling to attract foreign investors.

The Chinese commerce ministry said in a statement on Tuesday that PVH had 30 days to explain to authorities whether it had discriminated against Xinjiang-related products over the past three years.

In a separate notice, the ministry accused the group “of violating normal market trading principles and unreasonably boycotting Xinjiang cotton and other products without factual basis”.

International clothing companies have faced increasingly conflicting pressure from China and western governments over sourcing from cotton-rich Xinjiang. Beijing strongly rejects accusations by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and independent watchdogs that it is responsible for human rights abuses against Xinjiang’s mainly Muslim Uyghur ethnic group that include widespread use of forced labour.

China’s commerce ministry said PVH would be investigated by its “Unreliable Entity List Working Mechanism Office” — a national security-related body set up five years ago after the eruption of a trade war with the US.

The unreliables list mirrors the US commerce department’s “entities list”, which targets companies accused of human rights and other violations of American law.

Beijing’s implementation of the blacklist followed tightening US restrictions and sanctions on Chinese technology and exports, particularly on its telecom equipment maker Huawei.

But foreign lawyers argue that provisions of China’s blacklist are too vague, targeting companies accused of “endangering national sovereignty, security or development interests of China”.

China has publicly placed five US companies on the list, including military suppliers Lockheed Martin and Raytheon Technologies for selling weapons to Taiwan, but these groups do little or no business in China.

PVH could face fines, have its activities in China restricted or face other unspecified penalties. In a prepared statement, the New York-based company, which has subsidiaries registered in China and stores and warehouses in the country, said: “As a matter of company policy, PVH maintains strict compliance with all relevant laws and regulations in all countries and regions in which we operate. We are in communication with the Chinese Ministry of Commerce and will respond in accordance with the relevant regulations.”

The ministry statement said PVH’s alleged discrimination against Xinjiang products “seriously damages the legitimate rights and interests of relevant Chinese companies and endangers China’s sovereignty, security and development interests”.

Under the 2021 Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act, the US bans goods made in Xinjiang unless importers can prove they were not made using forced labour.

In a company filing this year, PVH said it had made “efforts” to confirm that materials covered by measures such as the US act “are not present in our supply chain”.

China’s commerce ministry rejected any suggestion the use of its blacklist might deter foreign investors.

China was “prudent in handling the issue of the Unreliable Entity List, targeting only a very small number of foreign entities that undermine market rules and violate Chinese laws”, it said. “Honest and law-abiding foreign entities have nothing to worry about.”

MILLIONS of hard-up households will receive a key energy bill discount worth £150 starting in just days and it’s available even if you’re not on the state pension or get pension credit.

The Warm Home Discount (WHD) is a £150 cut to your electricity or gas bill and is applied by your energy supplier once a year.

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In most cases those who qualify will receive the reduction automatically and do not need to apply.

If you live in England and Wales you will be eligible if you get the guaranteed credit element of pension credit or are on a low income and have high energy costs.

The scheme could provide a lifeline to millions this winter after the Government last month cut the number of households that will receive Winter Fuel Payments.

The scheme is administered by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, which will contact households who qualify for the discount by post between October and December.

These letters will let customers know that they are eligible for the discount and when the deduction will be applied.

If you think you are eligible for the scheme but have not received a letter by early January then you should check your energy account to see if it has been credited by £150.

If you have not been sent the cash then you should contact the Warm Home Discount helpline.

The phone number will be available via the Government’s website from next month.

You have until February 28, 2025 to contact the helpline depending on what qualifying criteria you meet.

But it is best to call before this date to make sure you do not miss out on the payment.

What is the Warm Home Discount?

The Warm Home Discount is usually applied between October and March as credit on your account, but this will depend on how you pay for the energy you use.

Usually the £150 is deducted from your electricity bill but if you have a dual fuel tariff then you can also get the money off your gas bill.

If you have a credit meter, your Warm Home Discount will be credited directly to your account.

Once it has been applied it will show on your next bill.

If you are a prepayment meter customer you will receive the voucher in the post with instructions on how to redeem it at your local Post Office.

If you are eligible then your energy supplier will apply the discount to your bill by March 31, 2025.

How do I qualify for it?

To qualify for the credit, households in England and Wales must fall into one of two categories – “core group 1” and “core group 2”.

Core group 1 is for customers who receive the Guarantee Credit element of Pension Credit and will be identified by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).

Meanwhile, core group 2 is made up of households who receive certain means-tested benefits or tax credits and have a “high energy cost score”.

This is based on the type, age and size of your property and is assessed by the Government.

The benefits that put you in core group 2 are: 

• Housing Benefit
• Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
• Income based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)
• Income Support
• The “Savings Credit” part of Pension Credit and Universal Credit

If you were not claiming any of these benefits on August 11, 2024 then you will not be entitled to the payment.

You may also be eligible if your household income falls below a certain threshold and you get tax credits.

If you do not fall into these groups then you need to apply directly via your energy supplier.

When will I receive the discount?

The dates that you will receive the reduction will depend on your energy supplier and when it is notified that you are eligible.

Ovo Energy will aim to pay the discount by the end of December or within six weeks of being told by the government which customers are eligible at the beginning of October.

But a select number of customers could be paid between January and the end of March if it takes longer to confirm that they qualify.

British Gas and Scottish Power have said that they will make all payments by March 31, 2025 at the latest.

EDF said that it will try to provide customers with their rebate by February 28, 2025.

All payments will be made by the end of March 2025.

What other help is available?

If you do not qualify for the Warm Home Discount then you may be able to get help with your bills through the Household Support Fund.

Last month the fund was extended to next spring and a further £421 million was added to the pot, which has been shared between councils in England.

It is up to each council how they allocate their portion, which means that how much you get and whether you are eligible will depend on where you live.

If you are on benefits, have a low income or are classed as vulnerable then you are likely to receive the help.

Contact your local council to see what help is on offer.

There is a tool on the Government’s website to help you find which council area you fall under.

You may also be able to get a grant on your energy bills if you are in debt.

Several energy firms including British Gas, Octopus Energy and Ovo offer up to £2,000 to help customers.

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

SUMMER may be drawing to a close, but there’s still time to make the most of a new National Trust pass that’s perfect for autumn day trips.

The Explorer Pass was launched earlier this year by the National Trust.

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The pass lets you visit sites across four, eight or 14 days from just £44 for a single parent family or £69 for two adults in the same household and their children.

That’s quite a saving on a full-year family membership which costs £99 for one adult and their youngsters or £159 for two adults and their children.

It’s an absolute bargain, given that one-day entrance into some of the more popular National Trust places can cost almost as much as the four-day Explorer Pass, so essentially you’re getting an extra three days of visits free.

Plus the pass includes parking, which can quickly add up at some sites if you’re not a member.

There’s a couple of National Trust sites that charge £5 for all-day parking if you’re a non-member, so once you’ve factored in entry costs and car parking fees, you may well be better off using an Explorer Pass, even if you won’t use all the days it comes with. 

Some of the more expensive places to visit include Cragside in Northumberland, which costs £60.30 for a two-adult family or £38 for a one-adult family.

And Quarry Bank Mill in Cheshire, family entrance costs £60.50 for the two adult option or £36.30 for single parents.

One thing to be aware of is that the one-off entrance price generally only covers up to three children, while the family memberships cover all the children or grandchildren of the named adults.

So if you’ve got a bigger family with more than three children in tow, family membership, whether with the Explorer Pass or the annual option, could be the way to go.

There has been a similar overseas visitor pass for foreigners holidaying in the UK for years, but you couldn’t buy it if you were living here.

So making this pass open to everyone is a great move, especially if you’re visiting a different area of England or Wales for a staycay and there’s a few different National Trust places you want to visit while you’re there.

If you only want a short-term pass to use while you’re away, this makes it a more affordable option, rather than paying for a year.

You can’t buy on arrival though, so you need to go online before your first visit to sign up.

And you also need to check that the properties you’re interested in visiting are covered by the Explorer Pass as there’s a list of almost 40 sites that aren’t included on the National Trust website.

This includes some like Stonehenge that fall under a reciprocal agreement with English Heritage. But do your research and you could be quids in.

We love a family day out at National Trust and if we had bought an Explorer Pass to cover my family of five to visit the four nearest sites to us, we would have saved almost £100 on entry fees, as paying to visit each place individually would have added up to £161.75, compared to £69 for a four-day family pass.

My top picks would include Belton House in Lincolnshire, which has a huge woodland play area with a miniature train ride through the trees, and the Children’s Country House at Sudbury Hall in Derbyshire, which has a museum full of toys from different eras you can try.

I’ve been blown away by the Summer of Play this year at all the National Trust places we’ve visited.

From garden games to den building to outdoor music making, there’s been so much to keep my boys busy that at some sites, we’ve had to go back for a second day just to do the bits we didn’t have time for first time around. 

My favourite was the hobby horse racing in the Garden of Imagination at Calke Abbey in Derbyshire, which we visited right at the start of the holidays.

It set the tone for all the other National Trust day trips we took over the summer, as we knew there would be loads of kids’ activities included. 

We also made the most of vouchers for free kids’ meals at National Trust cafes, a nice little bonus from the boys’ Starling Kite bank accounts.

So there’s lots of ways to keep costs down if you fancy a heritage visit but without a hefty price tag.

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Sir Keir Starmer will pledge to “recommit” Britain to internationalism and the rule of law when he attends the UN general assembly on Wednesday, as his aides push for meetings with Donald Trump and Kamala Harris.

The UK prime minister will use remarks at the annual high-level gathering in New York to frame Britain as a “reliable and trusted” global player under his leadership, after he arrives in the US for the third time in as many months.

He will also join calls for an end to the “devastating” conflicts in Gaza, Ukraine and Sudan when he attends the UN Security Council.

Last autumn, Starmer’s Conservative predecessor Rishi Sunak became the first British prime minister in a decade to skip the annual UN general assembly meeting.

Sunak also signalled his willingness to quit or derogate from the European Convention on Human Rights if it interfered with his Rwanda immigration policy, under which people identified as illegal migrants would be relocated to the African country.

UK government officials are attempting to line up meetings for Starmer with both the presidential candidates vying to succeed US President Joe Biden.

Downing Street officials stressed the talks, which would probably take place on Thursday if they happen, depended on whether they could align diaries with Harris and Trump.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who has travelled to the US this week to address the UN and press Biden for security guarantees before he leaves office, has also said he will meet Harris and potentially Trump while on the ground.

Starmer’s 48-hour trip to the US comes after he attended a Nato summit in Washington in July and returned for bilateral talks about Ukraine and the Middle East with Biden at the White House earlier this month.

Discussions about whether the US would approve Ukraine deploying western-supplied long-range missiles in Russia dominated Starmer’s last visit and are set to arise again. On Sunday, Biden told reporters he was yet to make a decision on allowing such usage.

Since taking office Starmer has launched a foreign policy reset on Europe, climate change and the “global south”.

At the UN he will vow to “return the UK to responsible global leadership” as he argues Britain’s reputation on the world stage is linked to its political stability and security at home.

It is part of his drive to distinguish his administration from successive Tory governments that were characterised by turmoil.

Starmer will say: “This is the moment to reassert fundamental principles and our willingness to defend them. To recommit to the UN, to internationalism, to the rule of law.”

He will argue on Wednesday that stepping up the UK’s international engagement is “undeniably in our self-interest” because it is key to solving global challenges that impact Britons domestically.

“War, poverty and climate change all rebound on us at home. They make us less secure, they harm our economy, and they create migration flows on an unprecedented scale,” he will tell fellow world leaders.

Starmer used his keynote speech at Labour’s annual conference in Liverpool on Tuesday to call for “restraint and de-escalation” at the border between Lebanon and Israel, as he urged all parties in the Middle East “to pull back from the brink”.

While he reiterated his call for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, he was interrupted by heckles from a pro-Palestinian protester. The incident came after chancellor Rachel Reeves was disturbed by an activist a day earlier, highlighting how Middle East policy remains a flashpoint among Labour members.