Will Great Britain’s offshore wind subsidy auction mean lower energy bills?

Great Britain has secured enough new offshore wind to power 12m homes after the most competitive – and financially generous – subsidy auction on record.The competition to secure renewable energy support contracts was considered a crucial test of the government’s pro-growth agenda and its ambition to achieve a clean power system by 2030.In response, Ed Miliband, the energy secretary, said the “historic auction” had proved the government’s doubters wrong. The biggest single procurement of offshore wind in the UK and mainland Europe would now bring forward investment of £22bn into the sector and create 7,000 new jobs, he said.Here we look at how the renewable energy auction promises to help the British government meet its clean energy targets

Economic conflicts are world’s greatest risk, WEF survey suggests

Economic conflicts between major powers are the greatest risk facing the world over the next two years, according to experts polled ahead of next week’s Davos summit.Among 1,300 business leaders, academics and civil society figures surveyed by the World Economic Forum (WEF), “geoeconomic confrontation” was identified as the most pressing threat.These clashes were cited by 18% of respondents. With war still raging in Ukraine, “state-based armed conflict” was the second most-common risk identified at 14%. Extreme weather events was third, chosen by 8% of respondents

Crypto coin firm touted by Eric Adams denies allegations of ‘rug pull’ scam

The cryptocurrency launched by New York City’s former mayor Eric Adams is already in hot water, and now the company behind it is being forced to defend itself from accusations that it scammed people.Investors and cryptocurrency watchers say the asset, dubbed NYC Token, surged to about $580m shortly after it hit the market on Monday and then rapidly plummeted in value. Observers speculated that someone behind the scene may have carried out what’s known in the crypto world as a “rug pull” – when the creators of the asset quickly sell their investments.The company behind the coin has denied any wrongdoing.In a statement posted on X, NYC Token said it was aware of the allegations but rejected claims of a rug pull

Trump says Microsoft will pay more for its datacenters’ electricity

Donald Trump said he is partnering with tech companies to ensure the large energy-hungry datacenters vital for AI do not drive up electricity bills in the US. On Tuesday, the US president announced that Microsoft was “first up”.“We are the ‘HOTTEST’ Country in the World, and Number One in AI. Data Centers are key to that boom, and keeping Americans FREE and SECURE but, the big Technology Companies who build them must ‘pay their own way.’” Trump wrote on Truth Social

Windrush and the rise of wandering Caribbean cricket clubs that fuelled talent in English game

In the early 1980s there were scores of “Caribbean” cricket clubs playing across England, many of them bearing evocative names such as New Calypsonians, Island Taverners, Paragon, Starlight and Carib United.Mostly these clubs operated under the radar – as wandering sides renting pitches on municipal grounds that were outside the traditional league structures. With few physical records of their existence, their history has been in danger of being lost as numbers have plummeted since the late 1990s.Thankfully, though, there are at least a few people dedicated to documenting the players and personalities who made up such a vibrant part of the domestic game from the late 1940s. And now there’s a new book, Windrush Cricket, by the University College London associate professor of history Michael Collins, setting out their origins and impact

Emma Raducanu recovers in Hobart to post first win in over three months

Emma Raducanu offered an impressive demonstration of her resilience at the Hobart International as she rallied from an overnight second-set deficit in her rain-delayed first-round match to defeat Camila Osorio of Colombia 6-3, 7-6 (2).The victory marks Raducanu’s first win since September after struggling with a foot injury in the final weeks of the 2025 season. She had contested just one match this season after being sidelined for much of the off-season, losing in three sets to Maria Sakkari in the United Cup. Considering those recent challenges, this is a positive start for Raducanu, who will next face Magdalena Frech, the WTA No 57.“These ones mean so much more,” Raducanu said of her tight victory