Labour donor Dale Vince urges ‘rigorous financial scrutiny’ of Sizewell C costs

The government’s new value for money tsar has been challenged to examine the costs of a nuclear power station to be given final approval next year, as ministers attempt to shore up private investment for the project.New nuclear plants are a key part of the government’s plan to have clean power by 2030. The Sizewell C reactor, billed as generating enough energy to power 6m homes, is expected to be given the final go ahead in June’s review of public spending. Its projected costs are in excess of £20bn.However, Labour donor and green energy entrepreneur Dale Vince has written to the chair of the governments’ new Office for Value for Money (OVfM), David Goldstone, arguing that a nuclear plant already being built has seen spiralling costs

Trump versus trade: the global economic outlook for 2025 in five charts

Unpredictable change will sweep through America, while old problems, from war to inflation, are likely to afflict other countriesThe global economy is entering the new year with rising geopolitical tensions looming over its prospects, as the world’s leading central banks attempt to cut interest rates after the worst inflation shock in decades.Donald Trump’s second term in the White House is expected to dominate the economic agenda. Global trade tensions are on the horizon as the president-elect threatens to impose sweeping tariffs on US imports.Britain’s economy is faltering while inflationary pressures remain. The largest economies of the eurozone are engulfed in political turmoil

‘All people could do was hope the nerds would fix it’: the global panic over the millennium bug, 25 years on

Just before midnight on New Year’s Eve, 25 years ago, Queen Elizabeth II stepped off a private barge to arrive at London’s Millennium Dome for its grand opening ceremony. Dressed in a pumpkin-orange coat, she entered the venue with Prince Philip, taking her place alongside Tony and Cherie Blair and 12,000 guests to celebrate the dawn of a new millennium. At the stroke of midnight, Big Ben began to chime and 40 tonnes of fireworks were launched from 16 barges lined along the river. The crowd joined hands, preparing to sing Auld Lang Syne. For a few long moments, the Queen was neglected – she flapped her arms out like a toddler wanting to be lifted up, before Blair and Philip noticed her, took a hand each, and the singing began

‘Godfather of AI’ shortens odds of the technology wiping out humanity over next 30 years

The British-Canadian computer scientist often touted as a “godfather” of artificial intelligence has shortened the odds of AI wiping out humanity over the next three decades, warning the pace of change in the technology is “much faster” than expected.Prof Geoffrey Hinton, who this year was awarded the Nobel prize in physics for his work in AI, said there was a “10% to 20%” chance that AI would lead to human extinction within the next three decades.Previously Hinton had said there was a 10% chance of the technology triggering a catastrophic outcome for humanity.Asked on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme if he had changed his analysis of a potential AI apocalypse and the one in 10 chance of it happening, he said: “Not really, 10% to 20%.”Hinton’s estimate prompted Today’s guest editor, the former chancellor Sajid Javid, to say “you’re going up”, to which Hinton replied: “If anything

Jessie Diggins opens Tour de Ski with first sprint win in three years

Jessie Diggins launched her bid for a third Tour de Ski title with a dramatic victory on Saturday in the opening 1.4km freestyle sprint in Toblach, Italy.“This was a huge surprise,” Diggins said after her first World Cup sprint win in three years, a triumph that left the three-time Olympic medalist elated and surprised. “I kind of thought I was getting old and not ready to have another sprint victory, so this was amazing.”The win was particularly special for Diggins, as Toblach was where she earned her first career podium during a previous Tour de Ski

Which sport won 2024? Australia audiences feast on free-to-air despite streaming boom | Jack Snape

The Matildas may have offered the nation a historic ratings bonanza last year, but in 2024 the list of Australia’s most-watched sporting broadcasts returned to orthodoxy despite a shift from the old idiot box towards smart TVs and gadgets.Free-to-air live sports dominate the list of most watched programmes. So dominant are sporting events only The Sign episode of Bluey (audience of 2.28m) and the announcement of the winner of The Block (2.19m) muscled into the overall top 10