• Sizewell C receives £170m funding injection to speed up construction start

    The facility is expected to cost at least £20bn and generate energy at a more expensive price when compared to renewables such as wind and solar. The project is planned to commence before 2024, with construction taking between nine and 12 years, depending on developments at the oft-delayed and over-budget Hinkley Point C nuclear power station. French energy giant EDF recently pushed back Hinkley Point’s first day of operation to September 2028. The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero said the £170m funding for Sizewell C would be used to prepare the site for future construction, procure key components from the project’s supply chain and expand its workforce. The plant is being positioned as providing reliable, low-carbon baseload power to the UK energy grid, with a lifespan of…

  • Virgin Media 02 to cut up to 2,000 jobs by December

    Mobile operator Virgin Media O2 is to slash up to 2,000 UK jobs by the end of this year, in the first large-scale round of layoffs the company has overseen since its creation in 2021.  The group said on Tuesday 25 July that it had briefed employee unions and representative groups on its proposals. The redundancies will  include  800 role reductions that were already announced, the BBC has reported. “As we continue to integrate and transform as a company, we are currently consulting on proposals to simplify our operating model to better deliver for customers, which will see a reduction in some roles this year,” the company said. “While we know any period of change can be difficult, we are committed to supporting all of our people.” The firm added it was supporting its staff as it has …

  • Sustainably grown barley trialled for whiskey-making in Scotland

    Barley makes up 63 per cent of Scotland’s cereal crop and is used for malting and distilling, as well as animal feed. Its production depends heavily on nitrogen fertilisers made from fossil fuels. Using more sustainable fertilisers will help make barley ‘greener’, but farmers and the whisky industry want to ensure that their use won’t make the crop less suitable for whisky production. A team of researchers from Heriot-Watt University and University College Dublin have been testing three types of sustainable fertilisers or biostimulants. Dr Angela Feechan, a plant pathologist at Heriot-Watt, said: “The Irish BioCrop project is carrying out field trials at the moment, and we’ll be using their grain. “They are investigating how biostimulants made from algae, bacteria and yeast perform…

  • British Gas predicted to reach record profits – report

    British Gas, the UK’s largest energy firm, is on course to report profits of £857m over the first six months of trading this year, according to Investec. UBS, however, has predicted a slightly lower figure of £687m. Centrica, the company’s owner, has already reported that the supplier’s interim profits will significantly exceed the previous record of £585m set in 2010, although it has not yet provided an exact figure. The surge in profits would represent a remarkable increase compared with the £98m earned during the same period in 2022. Centrica is also expected to sustain its own robust earnings, having recovered from pandemic-driven losses after posting a £135m loss in 2020.  The company explained this as a result of Ofcom’s increase in the energy price cap , a measure that aimed to…

  • Manufacturing exports to the EU decline in most regions in England

    An analysis of official data shows that the UK’s overall share of manufacturing exports to the EU increased in 2022 to 52 per cent from 50 per cent in 2019. However, this was a result of sharp increases in the share of exports to the EU from Northern Ireland and Scotland over the same period, without which the overall UK share of goods exports would be on a downward trend. Northern Ireland currently enjoys a unique ‘dual access’ position retaining access to the Single Market for goods and being able to trade goods freely into the rest of Great Britain, while in Scotland the oil and gas sector and its supply chains boosted exports to the EU during the ongoing Ukraine crisis. The share of goods exports to both Asia & Oceania and North America has remained relatively stable, the report found…

  • Elon Musk rebrands Twitter as ‘X’

    On Sunday night, Twitter’s headquarters were lit up with the company's new ‘X’ logo,   which has now replaced the company’s iconic bird on the website, and the profile badges of company employees. Elon Musk, the company’s owner, and Linda Yaccarino, Twitter’s new CEO, have both discussed plans to transform the social media platform into an “ everything app ” that would eventually provide payments, banking and commerce services.  Twitter’s official company name was changed to X Corp in April 2023, but the company had not yet rebranded on the platform.  This changed on Sunday evening, when Musk announced the company’s plans to rebrand the following day, saying that “soon we shall bid adieu to the Twitter brand and, gradually, all the birds”. He added: “If a good enough X logo is posted…

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  • Chinese driverless vehicles present spying risk, US transport chief warns

    It followed a letter earlier in the week from a bipartisan group of Representatives urging the Administration to investigate and limit the operations of such firms in the US. “Whether we are talking about hardware or software, in the same way there are concerns around telecom or TikTok, there are concerns around transportation technologies,” Buttigieg said in an interview with Reuters. The letter, which was sent by Representatives Tim Walberg (R-MI), Debbie Dingell (D-MI), Bob Latta (R-OH), and Marc Veasy (D-TX), admitted that advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) are the key to “reducing and even eliminating traffic fatalities”. “But Americans will not benefit from the future autonomous vehicles (AV) promise to bring if the United States continues its current trajectory of inaction…

  • TSMC delays opening of Arizona chip plant

    The company's chairman has revealed that TSMC has not been able to recruit enough skilled workers to install advanced equipment in the original timeline, and is now planing on sending Taiwanese technicians to train US workers.  The Arizona factory, which has been under construction since April 2021, was originally scheduled to begin production of 4 -nanometre chips in 2024. A second fab that will produce smaller, more complex 3nm chips is scheduled to open in 2026. TSMC made the announcement during its second-quarter earnings call on Thursday, July 20th. The company's chairman Mark Liu stated that TSMC was “encountering certain challenges, as there is an insufficient amount of skilled workers with the specialised expertise required for equipment installation in a semiconductor-grade facility…

  • Google launches AI tool to help journalists write news articles

    The paper reported that Google has held meetings with the NYT itself as well as the Washington Post and News Corp which owns the Wall Street Journal. The search giant reportedly said the tool, which has been dubbed Genesis, will help journalists to produce different writing styles and offer options for headlines rather than pitching it as a full-scale replacement. “These tools are not intended to, and cannot, replace the essential role journalists have in reporting, creating and fact-checking their articles,” Google said. But according to the NYT, some of the executives who were in the room while Google was pitching found the proposal “unsettling”. Earlier this month, the Associated Press signed a deal with OpenAI to explore the possibility of using generative AI to create news articles…

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  • Flying taxi factory to be built in Brazil

    On the 150th anniversary of the birth of Brazilian aviation pioneer Alberto Santos Dumont, Brazilian aeronautics firm Embraer and its subsidiary Eve Air Mobility have announced their plans to build a factory for  "electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft" or eVTOL.  The companies have already received orders for 2,850 eVTOLs worth about $1.5bn (£1.2bn), from 28 clients in several countries, including helicopter operators, airlines and flight-sharing platforms, according to AFP. Artist rending of flying taxi/ Eve Air Mobility Image credit: Eve Air Mobility The aircraft resembles small helicopters - according to designs - with enough space for up to six customers. The vehicles will be 100 per cent electric, allowing for emissions-free travel. Initially

  • India surpasses China in steel-making, but net zero clashes risk stranded assets

    Global coal-based steelmaking capacity increased significantly last year, to 380 million tonnes per annum (mtpa) in 2022 from 350 mtpa in 2021. GEM’s Global Steel Plant Tracker warns that the sector risks as much as $554bn (£430bn) in stranded assets as countries build out coal-based capacity while simultaneously working towards their carbon neutrality commitments. Steel already accounts for 7 per cent of annual global greenhouse gas emissions and demand is set to rise as the material is fundamental to building the energy transition, from wind turbines to electric vehicles, and to infrastructure growth in developing economies. New iron- and steel-making technologies, centred around using low-carbon hydrogen to produce direct reduced iron, have been developed and offer a viable solution…

  • Lords amend Ofcom's powers to scan encrypted messages

    The House of Lords has passed a series of amendments to the Online Safety Bill that aim to impose safeguards to Ofcom's powers to u se “accredited technology” to scan  encrypted messages  for child sexual abuse material.  Companies that provide encrypted messaging services - including Signal, WhatsApp and Apple - have opposed these powers, with some of them stating they would rather leave the UK   than provide a less-secure service to users.  However, the government has maintained the powers are necessary to prevent the distribution of child pornography and protect children from being exposed to harmful content. Government minister Lord Parkinson told peers he acknowledged "the concerns which have been aired about how these powers work with encrypted services" but he said strong safeguards…

  • National Grid to sell off 20 per cent of its gas network to Australian firm

    The sale follows the decision last year to sell off a 60 per cent equity stake in its UK gas transmission and metering business to a consortium which included Macquarie and British Columbia Investment Management Corporation from Canada. The investment takes the Consortium’s total ownership in National Gas to 80 per cent and is on equivalent financial terms to the original 60 per cent acquisition, which was completed in January this year. Final completion of the new deal will not occur until regulatory approval is confirmed, although Macquarie said it anticipates that it will be completed before the end of the year. The Consortium has also entered into a new option agreement with National Grid for the potential acquisition of the remaining 20 per cent shareholding in National Gas. This…

  • Rural bus services continue to decline as urban routes scoop up central funding

    The County Councils Network (CCN), which represents England’s local authorities, has undertaken a comprehensive review of rural bus services. It found that more than one in four routes have vanished over the last decade with passenger numbers dropping to a "historic low". The study concludes that many services in rural areas were already in state of "managed decline" but this trend has accelerated since the pandemic. The Department for Transport introduced its National Bus Strategy in 2021 which included plans to introduce new routes and simplify fares. It also created a requirement for local transport authorities to adopt partnerships with private bus operators or establish a franchising scheme. But the CCN report said that the “much-vaunted” strategy has done little to address the decline…

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  • UN officials call for AI regulation during Security Council meeting

    The meeting of the Security Council saw representatives of the 15 member countries listen to AI experts discussing whether AI was a ‘catastrophic risk for humans’ or a ‘historic opportunity’.  The meeting was held in London and chaired by foreign secretary James Cleverly, who said AI “knows no borders” and stressed the urgent “need to shape the global governance of transformative technologies”.  "No country will be untouched by AI, so we must involve and engage the widest coalition of international actors from all sectors," Cleverly said. "Our shared goal will be to consider the risks of AI and decide how they can be reduced through coordinated action." During its session, the chamber heard from Jack Clark, co-founder of leading AI company Anthropic, and professor Zeng Yi, co-director…

  • Renewable projects could boost support with local community finance – report

    According to a report from Onward, renewables typically have the public’s backing, even among rural voters who are most likely to see new projects near them. A total of 57 per cent of rural voters would support an onshore wind farm three miles from their home, while just 17 per cent oppose it, the poll showed. Even new grid infrastructure has marginal net support, with 31 per cent in favour and 30 per cent opposing. But small, vocal minorities will always push back against any development. These campaigns are effective at placing pressure on local and national politicians of all parties, and resulted in the effective ban on onshore wind projects in 2016.  According to Onward’s polling, over three quarters of rural voters agreed renewable energy projects should financially contribute in…

  • Jaguar Land Rover-owner to build £4bn battery factory in Somerset

    The Indian conglomerate has confirmed its plans to invest £4bn in the gigafactory, which has been described as “the most important investment in the UK automotive sector since Nissa’s arrival in the 1980s. The project will also receive an unnamed amount of public funding.   The EV battery factory will be located in Somerset, in the south-west of England. It will supply electric car models for the Range Rover, Defender, Discovery and Jaguar brands, among other Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) cars.  The plant is set to open in 2026, the government has revealed. Once in operation, the site is expected to produce an initial output of 40 gigawatt hours a year, making it one of Europe’s largest battery cell manufacturing sites.  The government - which has been holding secret talks with Tata to secure…

  • Great British Nuclear launched with remit to fund small modular reactors

    The grants follow the creation of Great British Nuclear (GBN), a public body established to help deliver the UK’s nuclear programme with the goal of providing 24GW of nuclear power by 2050. Energy secretary Grant Shapps said the body will help to boost the UK’s energy security and reduce dependence on “volatile” fossil fuel imports. The nuclear industry is estimated to generate around £6bn for the UK economy. Companies can register their interest with GBN to participate in a competition to secure funding support to develop products including small modular reactors (SMR). Unlike conventional reactors that are built on site, SMRs are smaller, can be made in factories and could transform how power stations are built by making construction faster, and less expensive. Hinkley Point C, the…

  • Nasa space laser used to measure rainforest canopies

    An international research team has used the data collected by Nasa’s Global Ecosystem Dynamics Investigation (GEDI) to improve current understandings of rainforest canopies - the place where the majority of the world’s species live. Launched in 2018, the space laser has provided the first detailed structure of the global rainforests. "Most of the world's species live in tropical forests and most of those make use of the canopy, and yet, we know so little," said Christopher Doughty, professor at the University of Northern Arizona. "Rainforest structure matters because it controls how animals access resources and escape predators, and these findings will help us understand tropical forest animal's susceptibility to climate change." Traditionally, rainforest researchers have divided them…

  • Microsoft signs 10-year deal to keep Call of Duty on PlayStation

    Microsoft and Sony have announced they have reached a licensing agreement that would allow the Call of Duty franchise to remain accessible on PlayStation, ending the battle between the companies that begun with the announcement of Microsoft’s takeover of video game maker Activision.  The agreement is similar to other licensing deals Microsoft has offered to appease regulator’s concerns over the acquisition, such as the one that will also bring Call of Duty to Nintendo until 2033. The deal is solely focused on the franchise - the largest one published by Activision - and does not make a mention of the firm's other products.  “We are pleased to announce that Microsoft and PlayStation have signed a binding agreement to keep Call of Duty on PlayStation following the acquisition of Activision…

  • Half of UK manufacturers using digital technologies to decarbonise, survey finds

    According to a survey from MakeUK, which represents UK manufacturers, 44 per cent said that digitalisation was their best method to make productivity improvements. The digital tools most commonly cited included data analytics, supply chain management and full automation of business processes including finance, human resources, manufacturing and procurement. The research also found that manufacturing businesses are investing in digital technologies more than ever before, with almost a quarter (24 per cent) having already made major investments while a further 23 per cent said they planned to do so. In terms of lowering the carbon footprint of their operations, 62 per cent of those who have adopted digital technologies reported savings in their energy costs. Over half said those savings…

  • Energy grid upgrade costs could be slashed with coordinated software approach

    Demand for electricity is expected to soar as decarbonisation efforts in industry and transport creates greater demand. This has prompted concerns that current infrastructure is not ready for the increased loads, especially considering the demand from a rapid switch towards electric vehicles. Researchers from Stanford University believe that many infrastructure upgrades may be unnecessary if proper software solutions are utilised instead. A coordinated approach led by data-driven networks would not only improve the reliability of the electric grid, but also help to reduce its peak load, they said. If implemented widely, they believe it would save utility companies and their customers billions of dollars in grid infrastructure upgrades. The study shows that, under status quo local control…

  • ChatGPT creator faces FTC investigation over misinformation claims

    OpenAI, the creator of popular generative AI chatbot ChatGPT is facing yet another legal challenge regarding its creation.  With this new probe, the US competition regulator aims to find out what the company's data privacy rules are and what action it takes to stop its technology from giving out incorrect information. As part of the investigation, the FTC has sent OpenAI a 20-page letter requesting detailed information on its AI technology, products, customers, privacy safeguards and data security arrangements, according to The Washington Post. The letter also requests information regarding the steps taken by OpenAI to address their products' potential to "generate statements about real individuals that are false, misleading, disparaging or harmful". OpenAI founder Sam Altman said he…

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  • Surgeons urge increased use of robotics in operations to improve outcomes

    Robotic-assisted surgery is already being used in many types of operations and has been shown to have benefits including reduced blood loss and pain, more efficient use of anaesthetics and shorter hospital stays.  RCS England said it has the potential to give greater precision during operations; result in fewer blood transfusions; free up hospital beds; increase patient satisfaction, and reduce recovery time. However, despite the rapid growth in its usage, there are no formal processes for providing robotic training in the UK or Europe, or expanding its use in hospitals. Unregulated adoption also has the potential to lead to varied accessibility, outcomes and could increase the risk of patient harm. In a new guide, 'Robotic assisted surgery - A pathway to the future', RCS England looks…

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