Podcasts about North Sea

Former Maine state Senate President Troy Jackson effectively secures the Democrat nomination to challenge Republican Senator Susan Collins, despite questions surrounding his record - Editor-in-Chief of The Maine Wire Steve Robinson weighs in. A former Army soldier accused of anti-government extremism allegedly sets a fire and fires a pellet gun outside a Manhattan federal building housing immigration courts and ICE offices. Andy Burnham becomes the UK's seventh prime minister in a decade, replacing Keir Starmer as Labour leader and promising stability while signaling a possible shift on North Sea drilling. President Trump says his Qatari-donated Air Force One will be grounded for about a month this fall while it receives additional security upgrades.   Birch Gold: Text MK to 989898 and get your free info kit on gold   Lean: Discover why LEAN is becoming the choice for real weight‑loss results—shop now at https://TAKELEAN.com use code MK. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Today's top stories, with context, in just 15 minutes.On today's podcast:1) The US and Iran exchanged strikes for a 10th consecutive day as mediators sought to revive a truce, with the US targeting military command centers and Iran attacking US military sites in Kuwait and Jordan. The Houthi militant group in Yemen threatened shipping in the Red Sea, and the Saudi-led coalition said it is taking steps to protect ships sailing in the area. Oil prices have surged and US retail gasoline prices have climbed back over $4 a gallon, potentially hurting Trump and his Republican Party before midterm elections.2) The Trump administration vowed to impose a fresh 50% tariff on some Canadian goods over what it said was unfair treatment of American alcohol, cars and dairy. The items subject to the new tariff include milk, hockey equipment, beer and plywood — but not major resource imports such as energy, potash and critical minerals. The tariffs are being applied under Section 338 of the 1930 Tariff Act, which gives the president the power to impose duties of as much as 50% on countries deemed to discriminate against US commerce.3) President Trump said he had a “very good conversation” with new UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham and that they would be meeting in the “not too distant future." Trump and Burnham discussed many subjects, including the outstanding relationship between the US and the UK, North Sea oil, trade, and demining the Strait of Hormuz. Burnham's office said the prime minister congratulated Trump on the World Cup tournament and invited the president to visit Manchester in one of his first calls as UK leader.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of the ZenRUN Podcast, I chat with the wonderfully adventurous Jos Middleton - mental health leader, ultra runner, traveller, volunteer, reluctant road marathoner and someone who seems genetically incapable of doing anything by halves. Jos grew up in Scarborough in the north of England, surfing in the freezing North Sea, playing sport and dreaming of one day living in Australia. Her early adventures weren't exactly uneventful. At just 13, Jos broke two bones and fractured and displaced another in her neck after hitting a sandbar while surfing. She somehow paddled back to shore, sat on the beach for several hours, carried half the family's belongings back to the car - and only then went to hospital. Years later, a climbing fall at the You Yangs left her with three fractures in her heel, four pins and weeks unable to walk. Two enormous accidents. Two reminders that Jos is very lucky to be both alive and moving. And moving is something she has always loved. Jos trained as a mental health nurse after growing up in a rather unusual home - quite literally inside the nursing home her mum purchased so she could care for Jos's father, who had Alzheimer's disease. After moving to Australia in 2009, Jos spent five years working in Melbourne before heading off with her partner to find “Australia”. They lived in a tent, climbed, mountain biked, worked on sheep stations and travelled their way around the country. While working on a remote South Australian property, a farmer told Jos that he believed she had saved his life. Jos hadn't been consciously working as a mental health nurse. She had simply spent time beside him, listened, helped and joined him in the daily work of the property. That experience planted the seed for what would become Jos's career in rural and remote mental health. Today, she leads a mental health and wellbeing program across Far North Queensland, with a strong focus on supporting First Nations communities. So where does running fit into all of this? Jos arrived at running later. A few occasional parkruns and a relaxed 21-kilometre trail “picnic with friends” eventually led to plans to travel to Sierra Leone and complete a half marathon. COVID stopped the trip - but it didn't stop the ripple effect. Instead, Jos and her friends created Makeways Foundation (https://makewaysfoundation.org/) , which collects second-hand sporting clothing and equipment from around Australia and sends it to Sierra Leone. The foundation has now shipped multiple containers, opened Sierra Leone's first second-hand sportswear store, employed local staff and a running coach, supported young athletes and created running opportunities within local communities. Last year, Jos finally made it to Sierra Leone and completed the marathon alongside the people the foundation supports. And because Jos doesn't do things by halves, her first ultramarathon wasn't exactly a gentle local event. She chose the 50-kilometre Simpson Desert Ultra in Birdsville. Naturally. Since then, Jos has completed events including Three Marathons in Three Days, Run Larapinta, Surf Coast Century, Margaret River Ultra, Kuranda to Port Douglas, the Sierra Leone Marathon and the Wheelbarrow Race - an event where competitors push an empty wheelbarrow over multiple days. She is now stepping temporarily away from the trails after “falling into” the Melbourne Marathon ballot, while also dreaming of taking on Marathon des Sables in 2028. We talk about adventure, running later in life, surviving injuries, fitting training around constant work travel, the Cairns heat, strength training, community and why Jos wants to continue running forever. Jos's approach to events is wonderfully refreshing. She isn't chasing a particular placing or allowing a finishing time to determine whether the experience was worthwhile. She wants to enjoy the adventure, dig deep, feel grateful for every step and bring some joy to the experience. And when things become difficult? Jos doesn't want to quit while sitting comfortably in the chair. She wants to stand up and give it another go - even if she only manages two more steps. Jos's Running Tips Plan around real life Jos travels regularly for work, so she asks for her training plan early and works out where each session can realistically fit. She packs her running gear before travelling rather than hoping an opportunity appears. Include strength work When knee pain appeared during a run, Jos realised she had a choice: ignore it and potentially follow a path of ongoing problems, or actively strengthen her body. She now includes personal training, physio exercises and strength sessions alongside her running. Find the right support Working with a coach who understood injury recovery helped Jos rebuild her running and improve her form. Be flexible when injured Running is important to Jos, but it isn't her entire identity. When she can't run, she cycles or finds another way to move rather than believing everything has been taken away. Stop comparing hot-weather pace Running through a Cairns summer slows Jos down, but she reminds herself that the conditions are temporary. Training in the heat can also create an endurance advantage when racing in cooler conditions. Choose an experience-based goal Rather than judging every event by time or placing, Jos focuses on enjoying the adventure, embracing the challenge, digging deep and finding gratitude along the way. Stay grateful for movement Jos's body has been through some enormous challenges. Even when it struggles, she remains grateful that it continues to let her move, explore and run. Pass the Baton Jos answers Nagiska Mayes's question: “When you eventually look back on your running life, what's one thing you'd love to know you gave a go - whether it's a race, a challenge, an experience, or something deeply personal?” Her answer takes us into backyard ultra thinking, endurance and why she never wants to quit while still sitting in the chair. Jos then passes a thoughtful new question to the next ZenRUN Podcast guest. What did she ask? You'll need to listen to the episode to find out. This is a beautiful conversation about running, adventure, community, purpose and what can happen when we remain curious enough to keep giving things a go.

Morse code transcription: vvv vvv Brad Pitts children are dropping their dads surname heres why I did the same Laos says it cannot determine cause of tourist deaths linked to methanol What is gazundering and how can it be avoided Russian online retail warehouses hit by deadly Ukrainian strikes 16 World Cup viral moments from Posh Spices slow reaction to Haalands bromance Burnham to announce plans for new North Sea oil and gas drilling Teen stuck on M25 for eight hours on first drive White House defends Argentina team over Falklands banner Control, threats, disfiguring surgery My life inside Jeffrey Epsteins cult Doctors didnt spot my condition for so long I was left permanently disabled

Morse code transcription: vvv vvv Control, threats, disfiguring surgery My life inside Jeffrey Epsteins cult Laos says it cannot determine cause of tourist deaths linked to methanol Teen stuck on M25 for eight hours on first drive 16 World Cup viral moments from Posh Spices slow reaction to Haalands bromance Doctors didnt spot my condition for so long I was left permanently disabled Brad Pitts children are dropping their dads surname heres why I did the same White House defends Argentina team over Falklands banner What is gazundering and how can it be avoided Russian online retail warehouses hit by deadly Ukrainian strikes Burnham to announce plans for new North Sea oil and gas drilling

Morse code transcription: vvv vvv Russian online retail warehouses hit by deadly Ukrainian strikes Burnham to announce plans for new North Sea oil and gas drilling Teen stuck on M25 for eight hours on first drive Laos says it cannot determine cause of tourist deaths linked to methanol White House defends Argentina team over Falklands banner Brad Pitts children are dropping their dads surname heres why I did the same What is gazundering and how can it be avoided 16 World Cup viral moments from Posh Spices slow reaction to Haalands bromance Doctors didnt spot my condition for so long I was left permanently disabled Control, threats, disfiguring surgery My life inside Jeffrey Epsteins cult

Morse code transcription: vvv vvv Control, threats, disfiguring surgery My life inside Jeffrey Epsteins cult 16 World Cup viral moments from Posh Spices slow reaction to Haalands bromance Brad Pitts children are dropping their dads surname heres why I did the same What is gazundering and how can it be avoided Doctors didnt spot my condition for so long I was left permanently disabled White House defends Argentina team over Falklands banner Russian online retail warehouses hit by deadly Ukrainian strikes Burnham to announce plans for new North Sea oil and gas drilling Teen stuck on M25 for eight hours on first drive Laos says it cannot determine cause of tourist deaths linked to methanol

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast Monday 20th of July 2026, National's planned change to sex consent laws is getting very political, Labour Justice Spokesperson Camilla Belich shares her thoughts. Business Correspondent Vicky Pryce has the latest on Fifa's giving the Spain and Argentina World Cup Final the full super bowl treatment with its first-ever halftime show featuring Madonna and Justin Bieber, Sky News and Fox News Sports Presenter Alex Thomas has the latest from final. Plus, UK/Europe Correspondent Gavin Grey has the latest on Andy Burnham, reported to be ready to allow new oil and gas drilling in the North Sea after he becomes UK prime minister and Andrew Tate and his brother Tristan, arrested in the US after British authorities announced they were bringing further charges against them. Get the Early Edition Full Show Podcast every weekday on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New Zealand First wants to spend a billion bucks looking for oil and gas fields to make our country rich again. Well, richer. A bit more like the place our kids go to earn a living, Australia, who've pulled in $430 billion in mining royalties over the past decade alone. A bit more like Norway, where per person GDP is $153,000, one of the highest in the world, ours is only about $85,000. The Norwegians, of course, got a big boost from oil post 1960s and have a $2-trillion wealth fund, which pays for the stuff the Greens and Labour here could only dream of. And herein lies one of two big problems with this country. The first one is not that we don't more children out of poverty or a generous welfare state or universal pensions. The problem is how you pay for them. Debt is a downward spiral but is how we've been operating since 2019. That's the last time the books actually balanced. So, there is logic in dragging oil and gas up out of the ocean to pay stuff, especially as the rest of the world, especially the US, is doing it anyway. Which brings us to the second problem with this issue, and Winston's plans for it, and that's the opposition. What's the point in us spending a billion bucks to look for oil the next government won't let anybody drill for? The only way this makes sense is if you get the big parties to agree with each other, we actually need another feather in our bow, economically speaking. Right now, Andy Burnham is having this very debate with his top advisors, including Mike Munro who worked for Jacinda Ardern. The British press is reporting Burnham is about to announce plans for new oil and gas drilling in the North Sea. Labour banned it. Burnham's a union guy, a worker guy, a more commonsense guy, so they say, and therefore he is about to turn the black tap on again. Chris Hipkins is not that guy for the New Zealand Labour party. And until the Opposition puts down its giant no sign, then spending a billion bucks looking for oil is throwing money down the dunny.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

BBC News has been told that one of the first announcements by Andy Burnham, when he becomes prime minister, will facilitate new drilling for oil and gas in the North Sea. The Labour manifesto in 2024 ruled out any new licences to drill but said extraction would be allowed close to existing fields. In other news: South East Water has apologised to thousands of customers in the Tunbridge Wells area of Kent who have lost supplies -- or have low pressure; and Britain's Josh Kerr has broken the men's world record for running a mile by nearly half a second.

Your morning briefing. All the news you need to start your day.On today's podcast:(1) President Donald Trump devoted a prime-time address to reviving unsubstantiated claims that the 2020 election was stolen and raising doubts about the security of the upcoming midterms, turning his attention to a years-long grievance at a perilous moment for his presidency.(2) Trump's renewed focus on America's biggest geopolitical rival comes as divisions continue to deepen within his own Republican base over the US-Israel war with Iran.(3) The US launched fresh strikes against Iran as hostilities across the Middle East continued to escalate and shipping traffic slumped in the critical Strait of Hormuz.(4) Japanese memory chipmaker Kioxia Holdings Corp.’s market capitalization halved in just a month since becoming the nation’s most valuable company, on growing concerns the AI-driven rally in the sector has gone too far.(5) Within days of taking office incoming Prime Minister Andy Burnham is preparing to announce new drilling for oil and gas in the North Sea as well as taking public control of Thames Water. Burnham approaches the gates of Downing Street along a path littered with short-tenured former leaders whose support quickly evaporated on contact with the realities of reviving the UK economy.(6) Netflix forecast a second consecutive quarter of slowing sales growth, contributing to investor anxiety about the streaming giant’s future. The company projected revenue of $12.9 billion in the current quarter and earnings of 82 cents a share, both a little shy of analysts’ expectations.Podcast Conversation: Are you an Iliad person or an Odyssey person? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Five years ago, a 21-year-old activist stood on a TED stage next to the CEO of Shell and accused him of making ‘evil decisions' wreaking ‘devastation on communities around the world'. And then walked off. Christiana was moderating. She went into that panel believing dialogue itself could be the mechanism for change - that an honest conversation could move a company like Shell. What she didn't know is that the activist, Lauren MacDonald, had a different plan. It wasn't a quiet moment to be talking about oil and gas. A couple of weeks later, COP26 would openan hour away, in Lauren's home city of Glasgow. Five months earlier, the International Energy Agency had said something it had never said before: if the world is serious about net zero, there's no room left for a single new oil field, anywhere. Lauren was campaigning to stop Cambo, one of the biggest North Sea developments in a decade. Ben van Beurden, Shell's CEO at the time, was there to argue that oil and gas revenue was what would fund the transition away from it.Five years later, this is the first time Christiana and Lauren have spoken together publicly about that day. Cambo is paused, but it isn't dead. Its larger neighbour, Rosebank, is still waiting on a government decision - more than 80 UK MPs and MSPs signed a pledge against it this week alone. So what has actually changed - for Christiana, for Lauren, and for the fight itself?Learn More:

This week on Eavesdroppin' comedy podcast, Geordie & Michelle look at three missing persons cold cases that refused to stay buried...When 25-year-old Melanie Hall disappeared after a night out in Bath in 1996, police believed answers would come quickly, but nearly 30 years later, her murder remains unsolved. In Germany in 1994, the body of an unidentified man was found floating in the North Sea, weighed down with cast-iron cobblers' shoe lasts, but decades later, it remains a mystery, despite an unexpected connection to Australia. And in London, an unhoused man discovered frozen to death in a Chelsea doorway remained unidentified for more than 30 years before a simple clue finally identified him... Connecting all three cases is the work of Locate International, the volunteer-led charity that revisits long-forgotten missing person and unidentified body cases using genealogy, DNA, archival research and fresh investigative thinking. So, why did it take three decades to identify The Chelsea Man as Vincent Akpiroroh? Could advances in forensic science finally solve the mystery of the North Sea Man? And will Melanie Hall's killer ever be brought to justice? So grab a brown lemonade and settle in as the duo chat school photos, placentas and more on Eavesdroppin'. And remember, wherever you are, whatever you do, just keep Eavesdroppin'!*Disclaimer: We don't claim to have any factual info about anything ever and our opinions are just opinions not fact, sooorrrryyy! Don't sue us!Please rate, review, tell your friends and subscribe in all the usual places – it really helps :) Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/eavesdroppinDo write in with your stories at hello@eavesdroppinpodcast.com or send us a Voice Note!Listen: http://www.eavesdroppinpodcast.comorhttps://podfollow.com/eavesdroppinYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqcuzv-EXizUo4emmt9PgfwFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/eavesdroppinpodcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Stuart Ward grew up on a council estate in Exeter, England, obsessed with pirate radio, chart positions, and — oddly — record labels. That obsession, plus a teenage belief that Sweden had cracked the code on a fairer society, eventually carried him across the North Sea, first as a chartered accountant, then as one of Swedish television and radio's most recognisable voices for decades.Stuart hosted Night Flight Scandinavia and Top Gear Nordic (a name he lifted straight from John Peel's old BBC show, nothing to do with cars), interviewed everyone from Paul McCartney to Barry Humphries to Pelé, ran the Polar Music Prize — often called the Nobel Prize of music — and, in between all of it, tried and failed to build a political career in the UK Labour Party before finding his footing instead in Swedish politics. He also spent over a decade at the Swedish Embassy in Bangkok and lived in Thailand for eighteen years.In this episode, Stuart and host Bob Wells talk about chasing a dream with zero self-confidence, what changes when you go from radio to television, the etiquette of never looking starstruck, and why curiosity — not talent — might be the real secret behind a rich life.In This Episode You'll LearnHow a working-class boy from Exeter who could name every record label on the UK charts ended up in the Swedish music businessWhy Stuart moved to Sweden as a chartered accountant in 1973 — and why he stayedThe real story behind the name "Top Gear Nordic" (hint: it's a John Peel tribute, not a car show)What it was like trading a UK parliamentary candidacy for a life with the man he loved, at a time when that wasn't something you talked about openlyThe unglamorous technical side of early live TV versus the freewheeling looseness of radioWhy one veteran cameraman told Stuart he had a rare gift for getting people to open up on cameraStuart's interviews with Paul McCartney (who ended up interviewing him), Barry Humphries/Dame Edna, John Cleese, Pelé, and Björn BorgThe Swedish concept of Jantelagen — a kind of built-in social suspicion of standing out — and how it echoes attitudes Stuart encountered growing up in EnglandHow Stuart came to run the Polar Music Prize, founded by ABBA's co-creator Stig Anderson to bridge classical music's snobbery and popular music's lack of respectWhy the King of Sweden presents the Polar Music Prize the same way he presents the Nobel Prizes — and the historical reason the Nobel Peace Prize alone is awarded in Oslo, not StockholmThe office politics and "dinosaurs" Stuart contended with while running a prestigious international prizeLife after presenting: over a decade working at the Swedish Embassy in Bangkok, eighteen years living in Thailand, and returning to Sweden to restart his political career with the Social DemocratsWhy door-to-door canvassing at 77 has led to some surprising language moments — including conversations in fluent Thai that stopped Swedish neighbours in their tracksStuart's take on what actually produces a zest for life: curiosity, self-belief, and refusing to assume the world only exists in whatever room you happen to be standing inResources;The Polar Music Prize Royal Swedish Academy of MusicYouTube: Stuart Ward Top GearQuestion or comment? Send us a text message.www.undercurrentstories.com

Well folks, it's a week of unprecedented political shifts and fast-moving news. This week, Lesley and Fraser digest a historic transition as Keir Starmer departs and Andy Burnham takes over as the new Prime Minister. We unpack the massive policy choices landing immediately on the new PM's desk—from splitting the Treasury to making defining calls on North Sea energy.Meanwhile, Reform UK launches a bizarre, hostile bid to criminalize the Scots Gaelic language in election materials, Nigel Farage braces for a resumed standards committee investigation in Clacton, and fresh historic accounts stir up the debate on independent campaign funds. Finally, we reflect on the tragic murder of Anne Widdecombe, the toxic rush of social media narratives, and why the simple, civil connections of community—and a bit of no-nonsense Scottish gardening—keep us grounded.1. More in Common 11 focus groups say Burnham's election at Makerfield is final chance for labour/uk/andy burnham       https://www.moreincommon.org.uk/research/makerfield/ 2. Farage and cryptoJohn Harris - https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2026/jul/12/nigel-farage-cryptocurrency-rightwing-politicians-money-uk3. Farage security  The i Paper team report that Farage turned down an offer of taxpayer-funded security including a bodyguard, car and trained driver last year.4. Manchesterism - Prof Mike Danson on Gtr Glasgow Gtr Manchester comparisons https://bellacaledonia.org.uk/2026/07/08/on-no-10-north-and-the-limits-of-manchesterism/5. Leave Ann Widdicombe's sexual history out of it column by Rebecca McCurdy https://www.heraldscotland.com/newsletters/bulletin/1897/?nid=1897&ref=eb ★ Support this podcast ★

Mindset: The Moment We Stopped Listening to No | Tom Caulfield & James Whittle The Tempest Two InterviewMost people wait until they feel ready. Tom Caulfield and James Whittle know that day never comes, so eighteen months after taking up climbing for the first time, they set off up El Capitan anyway.Known as The Tempest Two, Caulfield and Whittle rowed 3,000 miles across the Atlantic Ocean unsupported in 54 days with no prior rowing experience, then spent 18 months learning to climb before summiting El Capitan in three days, sleeping on ledges the width of a pizza tray along the way.In this episode of the ActionCOACH Business Growth Podcast, they explain why they banned the word can't, what a bias to action actually looks like day to day, and how doing one uncomfortable thing a year built the mindset behind it all.What You'll Learn:- Removing Can't From Your Vocabulary: Why Tom and James banned the word can't entirely, and how Carol Dweck's growth mindset research shaped their thinking on limiting beliefs.- The Bias To Action Method: How announcing a goal publicly before you know how to achieve it builds accountability and forces you to figure out the how afterwards.- Training The AMCC, Your Willpower Muscle: The brain region proven to grow when you do things you don't want to do, and why it levels the playing field for everyone.- 18 Months To El Capitan: How two novice climbers went from the worst in their gym to summiting El Capitan in three days, waking up next to Alex Honnold and Tommy Caldwell.- The Crisis Playbook: Level-headed, share it, no ego. How Tom and James righted their boat after capsizing mid-Atlantic and narrowly avoiding a collision with a tanker.- The Misogi Challenge: The ancient Japanese ritual reframed as doing one incredibly hard thing every year, and why it builds a life full of stories.- Next Up, A 400K Swim: A preview of The Tempest Two's next world-first challenge, a relay swim across the North Sea from Scotland to Norway. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Một năm trước, trong diễn văn khai mạc Tuần lễ Công nghệ Luân Đôn (London Tech Week 09-13/06/2025), thủ tướng Anh Keir Starmer đã nêu ra chiến lược lấy việc phát triển trí tuệ nhân tạo AI làm bàn đạp thúc đẩy tăng trưởng kinh tế giai đoạn 2025-2030. Sau một năm lên kế hoạch, với khoản đầu tư gần 100 tỷ bảng vào các trung tâm dữ liệu, vào y tế và giáo dục, ngành AI của Anh đã đạt được tiến bộ gì và giúp cho tăng trưởng kinh tế tới đâu? Thông tín viên Nguyễn Giang từ Luân Đôn giải thích: Anh Quốc đánh cược vào AI RFI : Đầu tiên, xin Nguyễn Giang nói về việc triển khai chiến lược AI của Vương quốc Anh?   Nguyễn Giang : Quan sát những gì Anh quốc đã và đang làm hơn một năm qua, tôi thấy họ đặt trọng tâm của kế hoạch phát triển AI vào các Khu vực Tăng trưởng Ai, tức AI Growth Zones, gọi tắt là AHGZ, với ba mục tiêu: hỗ trợ tăng trưởng kinh tế, tạo đột phá công nghệ và cân bằng, kết nối các vùng miền của Vương quốc Anh. Mô hình AI Growth Zones (Khu vực Tăng trưởng AI) tạo ra các cụm siêu trung tâm dữ liệu (hyperscale data centres) và điện toán hiệu năng cao. Chính phủ Anh đã phê duyệt hàng loạt khu vực trọng điểm ở hạt Oxfordshire (Culham - trung tâm đầu tiên), Đông Bắc Anh (Blyth & North Tyneside), xứ Wales (Wylfa) và gần đây nhất là Scotland (khu vực Lanarkshire - tháng 1/2026). Họ chia ra để mọi khu vực địa lý chính của Vương quốc Anh đều có cơ hội tiếp cận AI.  Khu quan trọng nhất là hành lang công nghệ Oxford-Cambridge (thực tế là cùng Luân Đôn lập ra một Tam giác High-Tech). Xin nhắc là từ Luân Đôn tới Cambridge và Oxford khoảng cách chỉ chừng hơn 100 km. Các đại học lớn, kể cả phòng thí nghiệm nguyên tử quan trọng nhất của Anh (Arbington), cũng nằm trong tam giác này. Điều này giảm được chi phí giao thông, hút được nguồn nhân lực chất lượng cao và tạo điều kiện cho việc kết nối băng thông cho hệ thống điện toán. Nhưng Anh cũng lập các vùng AI Growth Zone ở cả Wales, miền bắc Anh và Scotland là có ý duy trì nhiều động cơ kinh tế cho các vùng đất kia. RFI: Cho tới nay thì các khoản đầu tư được khu vực tư nhân đăng ký vào các khu vực tăng trưởng AI này là bao nhiêu? Nguyễn Giang : Mục tiêu chung là phải đạt tới 100 tỷ bảng Anh đầu tư từ khối tư nhân vào hạ tầng AI thông qua cơ chế này. Ở vùng Đông Bắc (North East AIGZ), quỹ đầu tư Blackstone đã cam kết bỏ ra10 tỷ bảng Anh để xây dựng trung tâm dữ liệu tại Blyth, đồng thời mở đường cho 20 tỷ bảng bổ sung từ các đối tác khác. Chính phủ Anh cũng trực tiếp chi ngân sách tài trợ ban đầu hơn 2,5 tỷ bảng để kích hoạt hệ thống điện toán quốc gia. Điều đáng chú ý là phần cam kết từ cả hai phía. Về phía mình, chính phủ Anh cam kết giá điện đặc biệt cho data centre tại các vùng có thặng dư năng lượng (ví dụ: giảm từ 14 đến 24 bảng/MWh tùy khu vực, tiết kiệm tới 80 triệu bảng/năm cho một trung tâm 500MW). Để đẩy nhanh tiến độ thiết kế các trung tâm dữ liệu, họ ưu tiên đưa chúng vào danh mục Hạ tầng Quốc gia Trọng yếu (Critical National Infrastructure - CNI), cho phép rút ngắn thời gian chờ đấu nối vào lưới điện quốc gia lên đến 5 năm và cắt giảm quy trình phê duyệt quy hoạch từ 18 tháng xuống còn 12 tháng. Còn về phía các nhà đầu tư cùng đối tác ở địa phương thì họ tìm cách bố trí quỹ đất tối thiểu 100 mẫu Anh (acres) đã được dọn sẵn hoặc đủ tiêu chuẩn sẵn sàng xây dựng trước 2028, cam kết tạo ra hàng nghìn việc làm chất lượng cao (như vùng North East cam kết tạo 5.000 việc làm), và phối hợp với các đại học địa phương (Newcastle, Durham...) xây dựng chương trình đào tạo nhân lực AI. Họ cam kết sẽ kết nối với các đại học địa phương. Hiện đang làm nghiên cứu trong một đại học ở Luân Đôn và đã dự nhiều khóa học, hội thảo, tôi thấy một xu hướng rõ rệt: các đại học Anh đang xóa bỏ, thậm chí đóng nhiều khoa ở các trường khắp cả nước trong các bộ môn khoa học xã hội, nghệ thuật, ngôn ngữ, nhưng lại đang mở rất nhiều khóa, ngành liên quan đến trí tuệ nhân tạo, từ mảng nghiên cứu, phát triển công nghệ tới ứng dụng Ai trong đủ mọi lĩnh vực. Xem ra đây là tương lai mới cho giáo dục đại học. RFI: Một câu chuyện nhiều nước nói tới là các trung tâm dữ liệu tiêu thụ điện năng rất lớn. Vậy ở Anh, nguồn năng lượng điện đến từ đâu? Có nằm cạnh nhà máy điện hạt nhân? Nguyễn Giang : Đúng thế, năng lượng là "nút thắt" lớn nhất của hạ tầng AI, và chiến lược của Anh là áp sát nguồn phát năng lượng sạch quy mô lớn, nhưng không chỉ giới hạn ở điện hạt nhân. Điện nguyên tử không phải tất cả, nhưng đây là một trục xương sống cho AI. Ví dụ điển hình nhất là North Wales AI Growth Zone, nơi được thiết kế cặp đôi chiến lược (strategically paired) nằm ngay cạnh dự án Lò phản ứng mô-đun nhỏ (SMR) đầu tiên của Anh tại Wylfa. Sự kết hợp này nhằm cung cấp nguồn điện tải nền (baseload) cực kỳ ổn định và khổng lồ cho các cụm chip AI mà không làm quá tải lưới điện dân dụng. Ngoài ra thì tại vùng North East (Blyth), các trung tâm dữ liệu dùng nguồn điện đến từ các trạm tiếp bờ của điện gió ngoài khơi lớn nhất thế giới ở Biển Bắc (North Sea) và mua cả năng lượng qua cáp ngầm kết nối thủy điện từ Na Uy. Tại Scotland, họ tận dụng nguồn năng lượng tái tạo thặng dư (gió và thủy điện) vốn thường bị nghẽn, không thể truyền tải về miền Nam. Các báo Anh gần đây hay đăng các câu chuyện thú vị như nhà nông nào đó ở vùng quê bán trang trại, lò sản xuất bánh mì, trạm xay bột cho công ty Ai để xây data centre. Theo một điều tra của nhà báo Henry Mawhood cho trang báo nghề cá ở Anh thì thực ra câu chuyện không đơn giản như vậy nhưng đúng là các vùng ven biển phía Tây đảo Anh, từ Weston-Super-Mare tới Cumbria (England), rồi miền Nam xứ Wales và duyên hải Đông Bắc Scotland, người ta đang có kế hoạch xây hai thứ: các nhà máy điện nguyên tử mini, các trạm nhận điện qua cáp ngầm từ Bắc Âu (Na Uy) và các trạm đón tuyến cáp truyền dữ liệu xuyên Đại Tây Dương, nối Anh với Hoa Kỳ. Vì thế, đúng là có những nơi nhà nông được mời chào bán lại các miếng đất, nhà xưởng, ít nhất với diện tích 1-2 trăm mét vuông, để chứa data centre. Trong tháng 6 năm nay, có câu chuyện mang tính biểu tượng ở Anh. Thủ tướng Kier Starmer đã thăm một nhà máy xà phòng cũ có 130 năm tuổi ở Warrington, hạt Cheshire, để dự lễ khai trương dự án trung tâm dữ  liệu. Tức là họ biến một điểm công nghiệp rất là cũ thành trung tâm dữ liệu, dùng nguồn điện, nước có sẵn.  RFI: Theo anh, công suất cho điện dùng vào trí tuệ nhân tạo ở Anh có đủ không? Nguyễn Giang : Theo các báo chuyên ngành đánh giá thì điện ở Anh, gồm cả điện nguyên tử, hiện tại là đủ cho lộ trình giai đoạn 1 nhờ chiến lược phân bổ vùng. Ví dụ, riêng trung tâm dữ liệu AI tại Blyth đang tăng tốc để đạt công suất 1,1 GW (Gigawatt) trong vòng 6 năm tới, biến nó thành một trong những cụm dữ liệu lớn nhất châu Âu. Bằng cách đặt data centre tại nơi "nguồn phát" dư thừa, Anh giải quyết được bài toán tổn thất truyền tải và giá điện cao. RFI: Cho tới nay, việc sử dụng AI trong y tế, tài chính và giáo dục tại Anh ra sao? Nguyễn Giang : Theo chỉ số tâm lý AI (EY AI Sentiment Index) tính đến giữa năm 2026, bức tranh ứng dụng của Anh như sau: Trong Dịch vụ Sức khỏe Quốc gia (NHS- tức Y tế công) thì kế hoạch 10 năm của Anh đã đưa AI từ giai đoạn thí điểm sang tích dợp hệ thống toàn diện. AI hiện là "trợ lý số" bắt buộc ở nhiều khâu: các công cụ "Ambient Scribing" (AI ghi âm cuộc thoại bác sĩ - bệnh nhân tự động chuyển thành hồ sơ bệnh án) phổ cập mạnh mẽ; ứng dụng NHS App tích hợp AI thành cổng sàng lọc bệnh tự động. Đặc biệt, Bộ Y tế Anh vừa tung ra mô hình "MHRA AI Airlock / Sandbox" (tháng 6/2026) để thử nghiệm AI trong việc dự đoán tác dụng phụ của thuốc, giúp NHS giảm bớt gánh nặng chi phí 2 tỷ bảng/năm do phản ứng ngược của thuốc gây ra. Mạnh và sâu hơn là ứng dụng trong tài chính dùng công nghệ số (fintech). Trên thực tế thì tỷ lệ ứng dụng AI ở Anh trong ngành này đã đạt 75%. Các ngân hàng và công ty tài chính Anh đang dùng AI sâu trong phát hiện gian lận (anti-frauds), trong giao dịch tự động và tuân thủ pháp lý (compliance). Vào tháng 1/2026, Cơ quan Quản lý Tài chính (FCA) đã mở cuộc điều tra Mills Review để đánh giá toàn diện tác động dài hạn của AI đối với dịch vụ tài chính tiêu dùng, đồng thời tích hợp sâu công cụ Agentic AI (AI tự chủ) vào hệ thống vận hành. Trong giáo dục đại học, Anh đang chuyển mạnh từ các ngành xã hội sang công nghệ. Hiện Bộ Giáo dục đã chuẩn hóa hơn 400 chương trình thạc sĩ chuyên sâu về AI và 28 trung tâm đào tạo tiến sĩ (CDT). Các trường đại học lớn như Edinburgh (với Bayes Centre), Cambridge, Oxford hoạt động như các lõi R&D chuyển giao công nghệ trực tiếp cho doanh nghiệp trong các AI Growth Zones. RFI:  So với Liên Âu thì Anh Quốc đi trước hay sau về công nghệ AI trong ứng dụng vào kinh tế và các ngành nghề? Nguyễn Giang : Có thể nói về mặt thương mại, hạ tầng và đầu tư thì Anh đi trước. Anh hiện đứng đầu châu Âu và thứ 4 thế giới về năng lực nghiên cứu cũng như thu hút vốn đầu tư mạo hiểm cho AI (riêng năm 2024 đạt gần 3 tỷ bảng). Do lợi thế về nguồn dữ liệu tập trung của NHS và thị trường tài chính London, các tập đoàn Mỹ (Google, Microsoft, OpenAI) chọn Anh làm bãi đáp hạ tầng lớn hơn so với Liên Âu Ưu thế của Anh là có tốc độ tích hợp AI vào dịch vụ công như trong y tế công (NHS) đồng bộ hơn nhờ cơ chế quản lý tập trung, trong khi EU bị phân mảnh theo từng quốc gia thành viên. Nhưng so sánh Anh và Pháp thì bức tranh lại hơi khác RFI:  Anh và Pháp được cho là hai quốc gia châu Âu hành đầu, cạnh tranh với Hoa Kỳ, Trung Quốc về AI nhưng cũng cạnh tranh với nhau? Nguyễn Giang : Các thông tin do hai chính phủ Anh và Pháp công bố dần dần cho thấy sự khác biệt, ưu điểm và nhược điểm của mỗi bên trong chiến lược phát triển AI. Tôi xin điểm ra một số nhỏ: Anh đã triển khai các trung tâm dữ liệu nhanh hơn Pháp. Vì ở Pháp, dù Hội nghị thượng đỉnh Choose France cam kết cắt giảm thủ tục hành chính của Pháp, nhưng Pháp cũng bị ràng buộc bởi các quy định quản lý đất đai và bảo vệ môi trường chặt chẽ của Liên Hiệp Châu Âu nên thủ tục làm tốn thời gian hơn trong việc giải phóng mặt bằng quy mô lớn. Pháp muốn đi nhanh nhưng vẫn phải tuân thủ luật Liên Âu (EU AI Act), còn Anh thì có môi trường pháp lý thoáng hơn, gần với Hoa Kỳ hơn, và thái độ ‘pro-innovation' có vẻ đang tốt hơn Pháp. Trong việc xây dựng hệ sinh thái tài chính và thương mại kỹ thuật số thì Anh có sẵn Luân Đôn là trung tâm Fintech số 1 châu Âu, kết nối truyền thống mạnh mẽ trong thế giới nói tiếng Anh với New York, với Singapore, Hồng Kông nên giúp các AI Growth Zone dễ dàng kết nối trực tiếp giải pháp AI vào thị trường tài chính toàn cầu. Thêm vào đó, việc sở hữu Dữ liệu tập trung của Y tế công NHS là lợi thế độc quyền mà Pháp không có. Anh dễ dàng thu hút các tập đoàn y sinh AI lớn đến thiết lập trung tâm tính toán, vì họ có thể tiếp cận kho dữ liệu y tế khổng lồ hàng đầu thế giới thông qua các cơ chế an toàn số (như MHRA AI Airlock). Thế nhưng, về quy mô vốn đầu tư hạ tầng khổng lồ bằng tiền nước ngoài (FDI Magnitude) thì Pháp đang hơn Anh. Ví dụ, Hội nghị Choose France, tập đoàn SoftBank đã cam kết chi tới 75 tỷ euro (trong đó 45 tỷ euro giải ngân trước 2031) để xây dựng cụm trung tâm dữ liệu AI khổng lồ công suất 5 GW tại Dunkerque. Bên cạnh đó là 10 tỷ euro từ Brookfield và 7,5 tỷ euro từ quỹ MGX (UAE). Hiện chưa rõ cuộc chạy đua đường dài về AI (AI race) giữa Anh và Pháp ra sao, nhưng cả hai nước đều đang đổ tiền vào. Tổng thống Emmanuel Macron công bố trong tháng 6/2026 khoản đầu tư 1,55 tỷ euro tiền công vào công nghệ quantum và bán dẫn (semiconductors). Cùng lúc, chính phủ Anh cũng trực tiếp chi ngân sách tài trợ ban đầu hơn 2,5 tỷ bảng để kích hoạt hệ thống điện toán quốc gia kết nối AI. RFI: Nếu làm tốt, các kế hoạch này có giúp kinh tế Anh tăng trưởng giai đoạn 2027-2030 không? Nguyễn Giang : Anh Quốc đang hy vọng kế hoạch AI Growth Zones và chuyển đổi số này được thực thi trơn tru, Nhờ đó mà tác động lên giai đoạn 2027-2030 sẽ có thể phát huy tác dụng qua ba kênh: Một là người ta hy vọng có dòng vốn dịch chuyển mạnh từ Mỹ sang Anh, không chỉ với con số 100 tỷ bảng đầu tư hạ tầng cam kết đến năm 2030 và còn có các cam kết mới. Các đầu tư này sẽ trực tiếp đóng góp vào GDP thông qua xây dựng và mua sắm thiết bị công nghệ cao ở Anh. Hai là AI sẽ làm tăng hiệu suất của y tế và tài chính, dịch vụ công. Lấy ví dụ ứng dụng AI giúp rút ngắn thời gian chẩn đoán của bác sĩ, cắt ngắn thời gian chờ được khám bệnh, và gián tiếp giải phóng hàng tỷ bảng Anh áp lực ngân sách (thời gian, giờ công) cho phép tái đầu tư tiền vào các khu vực kinh tế tạo ra thặng dư cao hơn. Và thứ ba là tác động lan tỏa (Spillover effects). Đây là điều cần chờ xem. Thế nhưng theo các mô hình dự báo, khi các AI Growth Zones đi vào hoạt động ổn định từ năm 2027, các ngành kế toán, tài chính, năng lực tính toán trong sản xuất v.v. sẽ nhờ giải pháp AI mà giảm được chi phí. Qua đó, giá trị chung của toàn chuỗi cung ứng ở Anh sẽ tăng lên, cùng sức cạnh tranh của hàng hóa Anh. Chúng ta sẽ không thấy ngay lợi ích này, nhưng đây là quá trình chuyển đổi, có người nói là cuộc cách mạng cơ sở hạ tầng lớn nhất từ thế kỷ 16 nên cần phải có  thời gian để “hưởng lợi”, nhìn từ góc độ của Anh Quốc.

This week, shadow energy secretary Claire Coutinho lambasted a “scandal” within NESO after she claimed senior managers had ordered operators to hide how close the gird was to failing last month.    In this episode of Energy Voice Out Loud, Aberdeen features lead Ryan Duff is joined by renewables reporter Michael Behr and E-FWD editor Ed Reed   First up, Ed discusses the situation with NESO and the politicisation of the grid and the upgrades it needs to deliver on the UK's clean power ambitions. This came after Coutinho pointed to the frequency of the grid dropping below the normal operating limit of 49.80Hz on 23 June. NESO ultimately disputed claims, but there is proving to be a shortage of analysts and industry commentators willing to put their heads above the parapet on the matter. What is the current state of decommissioning in the North Sea and what is causing contracts to be awarded? Our trio of reporters discuss and ask you to provide you two cents.    Next, Micheal talks us through the rules for the next allocation round (AR). This week the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) announced the strike price ceilings for the various technologies that are able to take part in AR8. Deepwater wind was added to the same pot as floating and this has led to a debate as to whether this technology will be the hot new thing in UK waters. Also, the trio of reporters ask if the AR scheme is still fit for purpose and what should replace it if not.    Finally, Ryan asks if all that cash that is set to be spend on UK North Sea decommissioning is finally set to be delivered. This week, Apache handed out contracts for work on its Beryl platform and ACE Winches founder Alfie Cheyne opened a new firm with managing director Ross Anderson, Blue Ocean Decom. For more energy news, analysis and insight, visit Energy Voice: https://www.energyvoice.com/ Listen to Energy Voice Out Loud: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5oOm2X6UsU1eybnTCoBFJx Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/energy-voice-out-loud/id1508117133 Podbean: https://energyvoiceoutloud.podbean.com/ Follow Energy Voice: LinkedIn: https://uk.linkedin.com/company/energy-voice X: https://x.com/EnergyVoiceNews Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/energyvoicenews/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@EnergyVoiceNews Energy Voice Out Loud brings you news, analysis and expert insight from across the energy sector, covering oil and gas, renewables, policy, investment, the energy transition and the people shaping the industry.  

GB2RS News Sunday the 12th of July 2026 The news headlines: Upcoming IARU Region 1 Conference WRTC 2026 is supported by the RSGB Have you enabled RSGB app notifications on your mobile device? The IARU Region 1 Conference is held every three years. The next one will be in September 2026 and will be hosted by the Austrian member society ÖVSV, which is also celebrating its centenary. Reports and proposals on a wide range of amateur radio topics are available from the conference website at conf.iaru-r1.org/documents  The scope includes the more regular topics such as band plans, spectrum matters, EMC and youth. This particular event will also consider updates for amateur radio development, operating and organisational matters. The RSGB has contributed several inputs. More about the event will be shared via the Society's comms channels and a future edition of RadCom. This year's World Radiosport Team Championship is taking place in East Anglia in the UK between the 8th and 13th of July. The RSGB is an official partner to the event and representatives from the Society have been on site throughout the week. The team has been supporting various activities including media liaison to raise awareness for WRTC 2026, the RSGB and amateur radio as a whole. You can see coverage of the event in a range of radio and online outlets including BBC Radio Shropshire, BBC News Online, Shropshire Live and the East Anglia Gazette. Links to the coverage are available on the RSGB website. Volunteers at the RSGB National Radio Centre have been busy welcoming competitors, referees, and supporters of WRTC to the Centre, with some enjoying time operating the GB3RS station. Keep up to date with more WRTC news, including the winners of the Championship, by visiting  wrtc2026.org Remember to enable RSGB app notifications on your mobile device to be the first to hear when the Society releases the latest edition of RadCom and its sister publications. You'll also be notified when new editions are added to the collection of back issues. For iOS devices, go to Settings then tap Apps. Locate the RSGB app in the list, and toggle to allow notifications. For Android devices, go to Settings, navigate to Notifications and then tap on App notifications. Locate the RSGB app in the list and toggle to allow notifications. If you haven't yet downloaded the RSGB app, get the links by going to rsgb.org/radcom RSGB General Manager Steve Thomas, M1ACB visited the RSGB National Radio Centre earlier this month. Steve was on site to deliver two awards to volunteers including the Norman Keith Adams prize and another for outstanding services to the Centre. The RSGB National Radio Centre Coordinator Martyn Baker, G0GMB is currently looking for friendly and enthusiastic radio amateurs to join this successful team. If you are able to volunteer a minimum of one, or preferably two, days per month, find out more about the role by visiting rsgb.org/volunteers  Don't forget to listen out for all of the stations that will be on the air today, the 12th, during the 145 Alive event. From 1100 to 1400UTC, many hundreds of operators will be on the air using 145MHz FM and 144MHz SSB. For more information, go to the 145 Alive Facebook page or email 145aliveuk@gmail.com Please send details of all your news and events to radcom@rsgb.org.uk  The deadline for submissions is 10am on Thursdays before the Sunday broadcast each week.    And now for details of rallies and events Today, the 12th, McMichael Radio and Electronics Rally is taking place at White Waltham Airfield, Maidenhead, SL6 3LW. The doors are open from 8am for traders and to the public from 9am. The entry fee for visitors is £4 per person. More details are available at mcmichaelrally.org.uk On Sunday the 19th, Lincoln Short Wave Club Summer Radio Rally will take place at The Festival Hall, Caistor Road, Market Rasen, LN8 3HT. The doors open at 10am and admission costs £3. This in an indoor event and ample free car parking will be available. For more information email m5zzz@outlook.com Amateur radio will feature at the Electromagnetic Field EMF 2026 event taking place from the 16th to the 19th of July at Eastnor Castle Deer Park, Eastnor, Ledbury, Herefordshire, HR8 1EN. AMSAT-UK, the British Amateur Television Club and the UK Microwave Group are teaming up to showcase satellite communications, amateur television and microwave radio experimentation. Throughout the weekend, they plan to demonstrate how radio amateurs communicate via satellites in both low-earth orbit and geostationary orbit, including contacts and digital amateur television via the QO-100 satellite. They also hope to demonstrate microwave operating techniques and experimental radio systems used on the higher amateur bands. Visitors can see live satellite ground-station setups, microwave equipment, an amateur television demonstration and learn how hobbyists build and operate space-related radio technology. Special event callsign GB26EMF will also be active on site. If you are attending the event, drop by to explore satellites, video over radio and the microwave spectrum. More details are available at amsat-uk.org Now the Special Event news To mark the centenary of the New Zealand Association of Radio Transmitters, special callsign ZL100C is on the air until Thursday the 6th of August. QSL via the Bureau and Logbook of the World. Special callsign DL0SOP is active until the 31st of July for the 68th edition of the Sea of Peace Award. QSL via Club Log's OQRS, Logbook of the World and eQSL. More information, including the rules and how to apply for an award, is available at dl0sop.darc.de Now the DX news Emil, DL8JJ is active as OX/DL8JJ/P from Greenland until Tuesday the 14th of July. He is operating CW from the main island, NA-018, as well as from Tasiilaq, NA-151. Aldir, PY1SAD is active as 8R1TM from Guyana until Sunday the 26th of July. He operates using CW, digital modes and SSB on the 160 to 6m bands as well as via satellite. QSL via Logbook of the World, eQSL, QRZ.com  or directly to Aldir's home call. Now the contest news Today, the 12th, the UK Microwave Group 24, 47 and 76GHz Contest runs from 0800 to 1700UTC. Using all modes on 24 to 76GHz frequencies, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator. The GR2HQ Challenge and IARU HF Championship started at 1200UTC yesterday, the 11th, and ends at 1200UTC today, Sunday the 12th of July. Using CW and SSB on the 160 to 10m bands, where contests are permitted, the exchange is signal report and ITU Zone. The UK is in Zone 27. On Tuesday the 14th of July, the RSGB 432MHz FM Activity Contest runs from 1800 to 1855UTC. Using FM on the 70cm band, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator. Also, on Tuesday the 14th of July, the RSGB 432MHz UK Activity Contest runs from 1900 to 2130UTC. Using all modes on the 70cm band, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator. On Wednesday the 15th of July, the RSGB 80m Club Championship runs from 1900 to 2030UTC. Using SSB on the 80m band, the exchange is signal report and serial number. On Thursday the 16th of July, the RSGB 70MHz UK Activity Contest runs from 1900 to 2130UTC. Using all modes on the 4m band, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator. On Saturday the 18th of July, the RSGB 70MHz Trophy Contest runs from 1400 to 2000UTC. Using all modes on the 4m band, the exchange is signal report, serial number, locator and your two-letter postcode. On Sunday the 19th, the RSGB International Low Power Contest runs from 0900 to 1600UTC. Using CW on the 80, 40 and 20m bands, the exchange is signal report, serial number and transmitter power. Now the radio propagation report, compiled by G0KYA, G3YLA and G4BAO on Thursday the 9th of July 2026. We have had another week of mixed HF propagation. We started with a Kp index of 6.33 on Saturday the 4th of July which was caused by a coronal mass ejection, or CME. This caused a strong G3 geomagnetic storm and auroral conditions. A check on the bands on the 4th of July showed poor HF propagation with lower maximum useable frequencies, or MUFs, and weak and watery signals from the NCDXF beacons on 14.100MHz. But conditions have since improved and we had a Kp index of less than 3 over the past few days which means the ionosphere has returned to normal. Meanwhile, the solar flux index declined from a high of 203 on Thursday the 2nd of July to a low of 116 on Wednesday the 8th of July. That's quite a change and means that HF propagation has declined somewhat. An Earth-facing coronal hole has now passed with few effects and currently there is nothing of significance rotating into view. Solar flare activity has also declined with only two M-class flares over the past three days. So, the big question is: what happens next? Active region 4482 on the Sun continues to be a major threat. A solar flare and accompanying CME could soon ruin our chances of good HF conditions. The declining solar flux index hasn't helped either. Again, NOAA predicts the solar flux index will be in the 120 to 145 range over the coming week with a Kp index of 2 to 3. So, good news overall. DX to be worked this week includes D73G on Ch'ongsan Island; T22TT from Tuvalu; TY5FR in Benin; RT9K, the Arctic Legends IOTA DXpedition; JK1HFB/JD1 in Ogasawara, OX3LX from Greenland; and VP5G operating from Turks and Caicos. And now the VHF and up propagation news from G3YLA and G4BAO The weather is becoming a talking point in terms of the heatwave developing over much of the country, but especially in the south. This has propagation implications too. It's all being driven by a large area of high pressure, which for much of the coming week resides to the north and west of the British Isles. This will give a north-easterly breeze over the south-eastern half of the UK which means it will be blowing in from the North Sea, possibly with areas of low cloud at times. The propagation implication is that this represents almost ideal tropo potential. This is especially the case when the low cloud moves inland and we find a marked contrast between the hot dry air above the inversion and the cool, moist and shallow cloud layer below. However, in high summer the daytime heating over the land degrades the lift during the morning as the temperature inversion gets broken down by the strong sunshine. Northern areas will see the occasional weakening front clip the northwestern fringes of the UK to offer up the only rain scatter prospects available at first. However, some models are starting to suggest a breakdown by the end of the week, so more rain scatter and an end to the tropo. The prospects for aurora depend upon the Kp index, which at the moment is mostly cycling between 1 and 3. This is not anything to generate radio interest, for which a Kp index of 7 is nearer the mark. Meteor showers are still in the random state with the next shower, the Delta Aquarids, coming late in the month. The Sporadic-E season is doing well this year, particularly for digital modes. There have also been events for CW and SSB up to 2m at times. However, not all parts of the country experience an opening, so watch the clusters for early notice of workable paths. EME now, and declination reaches maximum today, the 12th, so Moon window lengths will peak along with maximum Moon elevation. Path losses are still falling, until perigee tomorrow, the 13th. 144MHz sky noise is moderate until Tuesday the 14th when the Sun and Moon are close in the sky, then low for the rest of the week. And that's all from the propagation team this week.

Norway turned North Sea oil into $2 trillion in the bank. Britain turned it into tax cuts, unemployment cheques and a housing bubble. We unpack the tale of two oil finds, why one country nailed it and the other blew it, and what it says about how nations really make, and lose, their fortunes. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Allen covers a storm that damaged ENGIE’s South Dakota wind farm, Sumitomo exiting two Belgian offshore farms, Envision’s loss in Denmark, and Continental building its own wind farm. Sign up now for Uptime Tech News, our weekly newsletter on all things wind technology. This episode is sponsored by Weather Guard Lightning Tech. Learn more about Weather Guard’s StrikeTape Wind Turbine LPS retrofit. Follow the show on YouTube, Linkedin and visit Weather Guard on the web. And subscribe to Rosemary’s “Engineering with Rosie” YouTube channel here. Have a question we can answer on the show? Email us! Happy Monday everyone. Sometimes … Mother Nature reminds the wind industry who is really in charge. Late last month … hurricane-force winds ripped through Hyde County, South Dakota … tearing into the Triple H Wind Farm operated by French energy giant Engie. One hundred and thirty-one miles per hour … as strong as a Category Four hurricane. More than twenty of the site’s ninety-two turbines … damaged. The two-hundred-fifty-megawatt complex is out of service … and turbine supplier GE Vernova is on-site now … assessing the wreckage. No injuries … but the governor declared a state of emergency. The machines that harvest the wind … taken down by the wind itself. Now … while one wind farm goes dark in the American plains … ownership is reshuffling across the North Sea. Japan’s Sumitomo Corporation has exited two Belgian offshore wind farms … selling its stakes to joint venture partner Jera Nex BP. That is the partnership between oil major BP and Japan’s largest power generator Jera. Jera Nex BP now has full ownership of the two-hundred-nineteen-megawatt Northwester 2 … and has raised its stake in the one-hundred-sixty-five-megawatt Nobelwind to eighty percent. Both farms operate out of Ostend, Belgium … and have been generating power since 2017 and 2020. Sumitomo walks away … Jera Nex BP doubles down. Meanwhile … in Denmark … China’s Envision Group is seeing red for the first time in fifteen years. The company’s global innovation center in Silkeborg … a strategic research hub for wind turbine components and advanced manufacturing … posted a loss of just under one-point-three million Danish kroner. That is a swing of more than one hundred fifteen percent from last year’s profit. The culprit is not the technology … it is the currency. The U.S. dollar fell nearly twelve percent against the Danish krone in 2025 … and Envision’s books took the hit. Revenue also dropped eighteen percent … but management says the underlying operations remained stable. The machines still work … the math just changed. And speaking of money flowing into wind … a Turkish energy company just tapped an unusual source. Aksa Enerji … the largest publicly listed independent power producer in Turkiye … has secured one hundred twenty-four million dollars in financing backed by China’s export credit agency Sinosure. The money will fund a one-hundred-megawatt wind-plus-storage project in the southern province of Mersin. This is the first renewable energy project in Turkiye to receive a license as a storage-integrated facility. Aksa now operates power plants across seven countries … with more than three gigawatts of total capacity. Chinese capital … backing Turkish wind … with battery storage baked in from day one. Now … here is a story that might surprise you. Continental … the German tyre maker … yes … the tyre company … is building its own wind farm. Three Nordex turbines … each standing two hundred sixty-seven meters tall … right next to its tyre factory in Korbach, Germany. When they are online … those turbines and the factory’s existing solar panels will cover two-thirds of the plant’s electricity demand. Fifty-five gigawatt-hours a year … powering rubber mixing and extrusion lines … directly from the wind. Continental calls it a model for its production sites worldwide. Cheaper power … more predictable costs … and less exposure to volatile energy markets. The wind industry just gained a tyre company as a customer … and a competitor for electrons. And finally … south of the border. Mexico has eight gigawatts of wind power installed today … more than thirty-three hundred turbines across sixteen states. But the next chapter is already being written. The government plans to add nearly seven gigawatts of new wind capacity this term … part of a broader push for thirty-two gigawatts of new generation overall. More than two gigawatts of wind projects are pending allocation right now … and the industry estimates this next wave could mobilize four to five billion dollars in investment … building thirteen to fourteen new wind farms before the decade is out. The final decisions come in October. Here is what stands out this week. The wind industry is no longer just selling kilowatt-hours to utilities … it is selling energy independence directly to manufacturers … and that changes the customer base entirely. At the same time … capital for new wind projects is coming from places it never came from before … export credit agencies … cross-border joint ventures … and government allocation programs with billions on the line. The money is there … but so are the risks … currency swings … extreme weather … and the constant reshuffling of who owns what. For wind energy professionals … the takeaway is simple … the industry is growing … but the business model around it is getting more complex by the quarter. The turbines keep turning. And that’s the state of the wind industry for the 5th of July 2026. Join us for the Uptime Wind Energy podcast tomorrow.

The artist and sculptor Sir Anish Kapoor talks to John Wilson about his career and cultural influences. Renowned for his innovative, often monumental works, Kapoor gained international recognition in the late 1980s. He represented Britain at the Venice Biennale in 1990 and won the Turner Prize the following year. His public artworks include Cloud Gate in Chicago, the Orbit sculpture next to the London Arena, commissioned to mark the 2012 Olympics, and the 110m-long structure of giant rings and connecting wires known as Temenos in Middlesborough. In 2025 a piece called Butchered, a collaboration with Greenpeace, was installed on to an active Shell oil rig in the North Sea as a protest against the fossil fuel industry. The Hayward Gallery in London is one of several cultural institutions around the world that is hosting major exhibition of the work of Anish Kapoor in 2026.Producer: Edwina Pitman

Allen covers SunZia coming online as America’s largest wind farm, Ørsted’s stance on Chinese turbines, a record floating platform leaving China, Canada’s first offshore wind bidders, and a centuries-old North Sea shipwreck. Sign up now for Uptime Tech News, our weekly newsletter on all things wind technology. This episode is sponsored by Weather Guard Lightning Tech. Learn more about Weather Guard’s StrikeTape Wind Turbine LPS retrofit. Follow the show on YouTube, Linkedin and visit Weather Guard on the web. And subscribe to Rosemary’s “Engineering with Rosie” YouTube channel here. Have a question we can answer on the show? Email us! Good Monday everyone. America just switched on the biggest wind farm it has ever built. Out in New Mexico … a vast field of spinning turbines called SunZia. Enough power for more than a million homes across the Southwest. It is a landmark. It may be the last landmark for some time. After this year … forecasters expect annual onshore wind additions to fall … all the way to twenty thirty. The tax credits that powered the boom … expire this year. Add tariffs … supply troubles … local opposition … and a federal permitting freeze. One developer put it plainly. Capital investments … frozen. Solar is cheaper now. Batteries are faster. And the wind industry did not see the breadth of the campaign against it. So the biggest American wind farm ever … arrives just as the road ahead narrows. Now … cross the Atlantic to Denmark. Ørsted … the offshore giant half-owned by the Danish state … is being asked a hard question. Will it buy Chinese wind turbines? Its chief executive will not say no. Right now … he says … it is not expected. But they are keeping an eye on it. Analysts call that a wake-up call. Because the Chinese builders offer lower cost … faster delivery … and bigger rotors. And if a European champion turns east for turbines … that is a signal Europe is losing its edge. Not everyone is buying it. Britain has banned Chinese turbines from its offshore projects. The competitiveness fight … is just beginning. Now set to sail from southern China. The world’s largest tension-leg floating wind platform. Sixteen megawatts. More than three hundred meters tall … and nearly eight thousand tons. It left port headed for the deep sea. And its power will run straight to an offshore oil field … clean wind … feeding fossil-fuel production. China connected more than three-quarters of the world’s new offshore wind last year. As the shallow sites fill up … the industry moves into deeper water. And the deep water … is where floating wind grows up. Across the Pacific … a brand-new frontier is opening. Canada cleared the first bidders for its very first offshore wind farms. Off the coast of Nova Scotia … seven qualified players … from nine countries. The province dreams big. A megaproject called Wind West … forty gigawatts … far more than the region could ever use itself. The first phase alone … an estimated sixty billion dollars. Enough surplus power to supply a quarter of all Canada’s demand. The formal call for bids comes later this year. And finally … a story that comes up from the seabed. While surveying the site of a future wind farm in the North Sea … Ørsted found something far older than any turbine. Three lead ingots … resting beside the bones of a wooden shipwreck. Late sixteen-hundreds … maybe early seventeen-hundreds. A Dutch vessel … likely bound for home … lost on the run from England to the Netherlands. Seventy kilograms each … mined, it seems, in the very English hills they will now return to. And that’s the state of the wind industry for the 28th of June 2026. Join us for the Uptime Wind Energy podcast tomorrow.

For almost two years, the war on the Continent had been raging. The Battle of Verdun has already happened, but the real bloodshed had not even started yet, with the Battle of the Somme only a month away.While the European land armies have been fighting on a scale not seen since Napoleon a century earlier, major conflicts at sea were rare in spite of the major belligerents having great and powerful fleets. Like two heavyweight boxers wary of each other, the surface fleets of the Royal Navy and the Kaiserliche Marine stared at each other across the North Sea, throwing a jab here or there, but not committing for a hard fight.Then, in the early morning hours of May 31st, Vice Admiral Franz von Hipper's I Scouting Group got underway from the Jade estuary and headed north.This episode, we are going to look back at the Battle of Jutland with Simon Harley, naval historian, Associate Fellow of the Royal Historical Society, and co-editor of The Dreadnought Project online resource. For his day job he sells vintage British motorcycle spares.You can at this link, or via the Spotify widget below.Show LinksSimon Harley on XBattle of Jutland Timeline, Imperial War MuseumThe Dreadnought ProjectThe Fighting Fleets, by Ralph Delahaye PaineCastles of Steel: Britain, Germany, and the Winning of the Great War at Sea, by Robert K. MassieClash of Fleets: Naval Battles of the Great War, 1914-18, by Vincent O'Hara, Leonard R HeinzSummaryIn this episode, naval historian Simon Harley discusses the Battle of Jutland, its strategic lessons, leadership personalities, and technological aspects, providing insights relevant to modern naval strategy.Sound bites“The German fleet has assaulted its jailer but it's still in jail”“Luck really does play a massive part in naval battles”“Always make sure you've got the bigger fleet”Chapters00:00: Introduction to the Battle of Jutland05:04: Context of World War I and Naval Warfare11:46: Intelligence and Communication Failures19:26: Leadership Dynamics in Naval Command27:02: Shipbuilding and Technological Advancements30:26: The Cordite Controversy32:33: Tactical Decisions and Luck in Naval Warfare35:08: Fire Control Systems: A Comparative Analysis37:15: Strategic Objectives of the German and British Navies40:25: Mines and Their Impact on Naval Strategy52:08: Lessons from Jutland: Fleet Size and Preparedness

Secretary Chris Wright is the Best Energy Secretary in the United States history, in my opinion, and today is a great example of that. His Department of Energy approval for the Aalo Atomics reactor start is huge for the United States. And on the other side of the Pond in the UK, you have the complete opposite, and you can see Ed Miliband banning North Sea oil production, but buying North Sea oil and gas from Norway. This is shades of Jennifer Granholm! We cover 10 Big stories today on the Energy News Beat Stand Up. 1. Advanced Nuclear Energy Approvals (Opening Story)The podcast leads with a major milestone: Secretary Chris Wright approved the Allo-X Critical Test Reactor to reach critical mass. This represents a landmark achievement for U.S. nuclear energy, with hopes to reach criticality before July 4th. The host also mentions other advanced reactors like Tetra's Mark Zero and Valar Atomics' high-temperature gas reactor reaching zero power criticality in Utah.2. Oil Market Volatility & Strait of Hormuz DisruptionsExtensive discussion of crude oil market fluctuations driven by geopolitical tensions. Jeff Curry (from CNBC) argues that recent price declines are temporary, with underlying market conditions remaining tight. The podcast covers:Previously trapped crude being released through the Strait of HormuzShipping risks and limited operational lanesTanker attacks and captains avoiding the straitPredictions of future price spikes due to depleted SPR and Cushing reserves3. Middle East Energy Politics & Supply RoutesSaudi Arabia resuming tanker loadings at Ras TanuraIraq reversing pipeline flows to route crude northward to TurkeyIran's declining relevance due to reduced transit feesQatar's LNG challenges and alternative routing around the Strait of Hormuz4. EU Methane Regulations & Energy SecuritySecretary Chris Wright and other officials warn that proposed EU methane regulations could disrupt European oil and gas supply. The host criticizes these regulations as a wealth transfer that increases consumer costs without climate benefits.5. UK Energy Policy CriticismEd Miliband (UK Energy Secretary) vetoed a proposal to increase North Sea oil and gas drilling, despite the UK still relying on 40% natural gas. The host criticizes this as economically counterproductive.6. Refining Economics & California's ImpactDiscussion of refining costs and how California's regulatory overreach creates massive price disparities:Texas refineries: $5/barrel to refine gasolineCalifornia refineries: $15/barrel to refine gasolineCalifornia drivers pay $2.16 more per gallon than TexasCalifornia must import 40-60% of gasoline from Asia7. AI Boom Driving Natural Gas DemandTennessee Valley Authority reports electrical demand is exceeding forecasts due to AI and hyperscaler data centers, forcing massive natural gas expansion. The host emphasizes natural gas won't disappear anytime soon.8. Grid Infrastructure CrisisNew York faces a tightening electricity supply as AI data centers and new manufacturing seek grid connections by 2030—equivalent to the load of an entire New York City. The host criticizes politicians for ignoring the need for 24/7 dispatchable power and the physics of AC grid requirements.9. Political Commentary & Election IntegrityThe host calls for the "Save America Act" to ensure legal registered voters in elections, criticizing Senator Thune and broader election integrity issues, particularly in California.The podcast weaves together energy market realities, geopolitical tensions, regulatory policy, and infrastructure challenges into a comprehensive view of current U.S. energy security concerns.1.Aalo-X Gets the Approval to Turn On the Aalo-X Critical Test Reactor Secretary Chris Wright Signs the Critical Notice – A Landmark Milestone for U.S. Advanced Nuclear and AI Power2.Jeff Currie: Oil Market in Surplus Today, But That Tells Us Nothing About Tomorrow3.Saudi Arabia Starts Loading Tankers at Ras Tanura's Sea Port4.Iraq Set to Accelerate Hormuz Bypass5.Iraq Cuts West Qurna/2 Output Under Force Majeure as Tankers Remain Unavailable6.U.S., Qatar, Nigeria, and Algeria Warn Proposed E.U. Methane Regulations Could Disrupt Europe's Oil and Gas Supply7.Ed Miliband Vetos Plan to Boost Oil Output for Defense Fund8.Phillips 66 CEO Mark Lashier warned of greater refining and petrochemical earnings volatility from Hormuz disruptions9.AI Boom Forces Tennessee to Plan Massive Natural Gas Expansion10.Politicians have broken America's grids – And Consumers pay the price – Through the noseCheck out the Energy News Beat SubStack https://theenergynewsbeat.substack.com/A shout-out to Steve Reese and the Reese Energy Consulting group for sponsoring the Podcast https://reeseenergyconsulting.com/.Data2 if you have any business systems, can you trust A? Well, they have the patent on validation. . https://data2.zoholandingpage.com/energyAnd we have WellDatabase rolling in as a new sponsor. https://welldatabase.com/

James Timmins, VP of Engineering at Everpoint Services, joins to discuss how recycled wind turbine blades become BladeBlok, a drilling fluid additive for oil, gas, and geothermal wells. Sign up now for Uptime Tech News, our weekly newsletter on all things wind technology. This episode is sponsored by Weather Guard Lightning Tech. Learn more about Weather Guard’s StrikeTape Wind Turbine LPS retrofit. Follow the show on YouTube, Linkedin and visit Weather Guard on the web. And subscribe to Rosemary’s “Engineering with Rosie” YouTube channel here. Have a question we can answer on the show? Email us! Welcome to Uptime Spotlight, shining light on wind energy’s brightest innovators. This is the progress powering tomorrow Allen Hall: James, welcome to the podcast. Thank you. There has been a lot of activity at EverPoint Services. So I wanna back up first because if you’re not familiar with EverPoint Services, they are a recycler f- for renewable projects.  James Timmins: So we’re a, a renewable energy service company that specializes in, um, decommissioning and remediation services for, uh, wind and solar assets. Allen Hall: So when a solar farm gets hit by hail and the panels are broken, EverPoint comes up and cleans up that mess to, to allow the repair to happen.  James Timmins: Correct, yes.  Allen Hall: And on the wind turbine side, you’re t- decommissioning wind turbines, but you’re also taking the [00:01:00] blades.  James Timmins: Yes. So it’s our responsibility to haul off the damaged, I guess, the scrap. And, um, obviously there’s a very healthy market for scrap steel that you find in the tower base- Yes … but the fiberglass is a little less straightforward when it comes to disposal and/or recycling.  Allen Hall: So typically with the fiberglass blades or any composite that’s, that’s being recycled, th- there’s really two techniques that are being implemented right now. Uh, well, really three. Let’s go over three of ’em. One of ’em is you can just bury them. They’re c- essentially construction materials, so you can bury them. Not ideal, but it has happened in the past. The second is they grind up the, the blades and use ’em in, uh, c- the cement-making process, where they’re burning some of the things that are combustible there and using it for fuel, but also the fiber can help with the cement. Does, does that sound right? Correct. And, and then the third one I’ve seen is just as a reinforcement product. [00:02:00] So it’s, uh, they chop up the fiber in different lengths, they clean it up, and you can u- use it as an additive to different products. Yes. And, and that generally has been the marketplace in the blade recycling area for- Going on 20 years now probably Yes Until now. And that’s where Everpoint has really changed the game because you’re thinking about blade recycling a completely different way.  James Timmins: Correct. So my background is oil and gas. I was a drilling engineer, uh, for major oil companies, so it was my job to plan, execute, and oversee drilling operations. So I worked kind of all over the world, and this project started as an icebreaker at a friend’s birthday. I had never met Tyler Goodell before. I- Wait,  Allen Hall: wait, wait. So you’re at a birthday party-  James Timmins: Yes …  Allen Hall: and your kids are having fun. They’re eating cake. Oh,  James Timmins: we were at a dive bar, so we- Oh, okay … yeah, watching a band, uh- … sitting over a bucket of Lone Stars and yeah.  Allen Hall: Okay. That’s the [00:03:00] best place for new ideas to occur clearly. So you’re, you’re, you’re at a birthday event, you’re hanging out, and what happens?  James Timmins: He asked me what, what I would do with tens of thousands of tons of scrap fiberglass.  Allen Hall: And you get asked that every day, or is it- No. Okay.  James Timmins: And I thought it was a weird question, and I kinda put it in the back of my mind. And about 15 minutes later I was like, “Well, I have an idea that we could, uh- Put at least some of that to work. Allen Hall: And what was that idea?  James Timmins: The idea was that we could grind it to a specific particle size distribution and use it as a fluid loss additive in oil, gas, and geothermal drilling operations.  Allen Hall: Okay. That’s a unique application.  James Timmins: Yes.  Allen Hall: So I think we need to walk into what happens when we’re drilling an oil well or any sort of well, I suppose. Uh, there’s unique things that happen that require specialty fluids or specially …  James Timmins: Uh, specialty additives you could say. Additives.  Allen Hall: Yes. [00:04:00] So- Okay. That’s a, that’s a good way to describe it. All right. So, uh, I’m drilling a well. I’m in Texas. I’m an oil tycoon. I wanna drill this well. What am I doing?  James Timmins: So you have what’s called drilling mud, which is pumped down the drill string through the bit. Um, helps cool the bit, um, power down hole tools, and sweep the cuttings out, which is the- Okay … drilled up rock.  Allen Hall: Yep.  James Timmins: So there’s a, a hydrostatic pressure that the fluid column exerts on the formation. And if that fluid column exerts more pressure than the formation can stand, it splits open like a fracture. Allen Hall: Okay.  James Timmins: In this case, an accidental fracture. Or you could have just a porous formation of, uh, low pressure. And so you have this pressure imbalance from the wellbore where the fluid wants to flow to the area of low pressure. And, uh, this mud is $300 or $400 a barrel. And if you’re- Whoa … losing 100 barrels an hour, the costs add up really quick. Can’t drill ahead. Um, it’s what’s called non-productive time. [00:05:00] So you’re spending 80 or $100,000 a day for all this equipment to be out there, and you’re not drilling ahead, so.  Allen Hall: Okay. So as the, the drill bit goes down into the formation, you’re hitting rock. You hit a crack in a rock, or you create a crack in a rock. All your drilling mud, and it’s not really mud, right? No, it’s- It’s, it’s a special compound-  James Timmins: Yes … that we call mud. Very,  Allen Hall: uh,  James Timmins: yeah, it’s drilling fluid, I guess, is the technical term. Okay . But, um- I’ve  Allen Hall: heard mud used universally.  James Timmins: It kinda looks like chocolate milk most of the time.  Allen Hall: There you go. Yeah. Okay. So it’s an expensive fluid. You’re pushing it down in, but then you get a, a crack or a formation that you run into, and all that precious fluid goes running off somewhere else. Yep. So which it doesn’t allow you to cool the bit, which basically stops all drilling.  James Timmins: Correct.  Allen Hall: Okay, that’s a big problem.  James Timmins: And in worst case scenario, the fluid column falls and the pressure on the formation falls, and then the well starts flowing and you have a well control problem, so. Allen Hall: So now you got a big problem.  James Timmins: Yep. [00:06:00] Allen Hall: All right. So now you have fluid coming back at you that you’re not ready for.  James Timmins: Correct, yeah.  Allen Hall: Okay, that seems like quite the mess.  James Timmins: Yeah, so it’s actually one of the… You know, in some parts of the world, one of the top drivers of non-productive time and cost. So it’s a, kind of a problem as old as the oil field itself, but… Allen Hall: Okay, c- ’cause at the end of the day, you would like to have a specific hole tapped at a specific location pulling-  James Timmins: Yes …  Allen Hall: hopefully petroleum products from that area or whatever you’re going for. It’s could, could be gas- Yeah … uh, off of that site, but you have to have some constraints about it, right? Right. You d- d- to control everything. Okay. So n- that sets the problem. All right. We’re gonna run to this, uh, area where we’ve, we’ve cracked the found- the, the rock or there’s porous rock and we’re pumping this, a really expensive fluid down it and we would like to stop that from happening. How does that end up involving wind turbine blade recycling? James Timmins: So we grind this material to a specific size and you mix it at a certain [00:07:00] concentration. Could be two pounds per barrel of mud or 80, uh, depending on the severity of the losses. But, um, this mixture is pumped down into the formation and this, um, kind of acts like a… Technical term is bridging. So this, these fibers from the recycled turbine blades cannot fit through all of the pore spaces. Sure. And gradually they be- begin to accumulate on the wall of the, the wellbore. So they- Okay … uh, eventually it’s kinda like a clogged sink with… You know, you get enough- So you get enough hair in the sink … chopped vegetables. Yeah. Yeah. It, it eventually will stop flowing.  Allen Hall: Oh, well, who hasn’t experienced that? So it’s, it’s… So you, you wanna put things down into this hole that prevent the fluid from running off. Recycled blades seems like a very viable option just because it’s in an inert substance, it’s pretty durable.  James Timmins: It is.  Allen Hall: It’s tough. It can handle high temperatures [00:08:00] and it now can be pumped.  James Timmins: Yes.  Allen Hall: Wow. All right. So that’s a, that’s a remarkable idea. But ideas and products, there’s usually a long distance between those two.  James Timmins: Correct, yes.  Allen Hall: So from initial concept to where you are today, walk through what you had to go do to make this into a real product.  James Timmins: Uh, so we… I basically have- was familiar with these types of products in the past, but at the level I was at, I was not getting into the granular detail-  Allen Hall: Sure James Timmins: of the qualification of the product, of the spec of the product. So, um, I kind of had to do a lot of research reading technical papers online about product development for this particular type of product. So, um, I started with a, basically in my garage, um, a geologist sieve. Okay. I got a sample of shredded fiberglass, which I think was, was like five-inch shred. So I [00:09:00] bought a blender from Target, not knowing what else to use, and I stuffed it down in, with a crescent wrench and blended it up and broke the blender and eventually got enough usable material to, uh, start testing it in a lab. And so-  Allen Hall: Oh …  James Timmins: there are third-party labs that do these kind of tests, and they’re all industry standard, um, prescribed methods, so they’re called mud checks and, uh, what’s called a pore plugging apparatus, which is like a, either a ceramic disc that’s simulates a formation and it’s porous, it’s got a certain permeability, or you have what’s called a slotted liner, which is a stainless steel plate with two-millimeter slots on it. And you put the mixture in, and you pressurize it, and if it stops it, then you know it works. So- So  Allen Hall: you’re plugging a hole- Yeah … in a laboratory,  James Timmins: basically. Exactly, and it’s under high temperature and pressure, so it’s designed to simulate kinda downhole conditions. But-  Allen Hall: [00:10:00] Wow. Yeah Okay, so- Got a  James Timmins: little into the weeds,  Allen Hall: but So you’re, no, you’re in your garage, you chop up some material, you go, “All right, let’s go check this out.” You, you get a, a- an independent laboratory to try it, and they say it works.  James Timmins: Yes.  Allen Hall: And then it’s, then you’re off to the races now because- Well, that’s what I thought … you opened Pandora’s box  James Timmins: Yeah … a  Allen Hall: little  James Timmins: bit. So I was not expecting how much, how rigorous the t- the qualification would be on the industry side as well. Right. Sure. Yeah So, um, that was kind of the starting line for, uh, product qualification, but, um, I had a very coarse particle size, thinking that would be adequate because I was not familiar with what’s actually used.  Allen Hall: What the ingredients are, yeah.  James Timmins: Right. So, um, I was kinda shopping it around to friends, and they’re like, “It’s a niche product where it is right now. It needs to be finer.” So that’s kind of been the process is, okay, it needs to be [00:11:00] this particle size D50, which is 50th percentile mean particle size, basically. And so then the question is how do we get there? And- Right … so- Grinding composites  Allen Hall: can be difficult because- It is … they’re tough, and they’re, as you have learned with the, the- The- blender experiment  James Timmins: Right … chopping them is not easy. Right. Very abrasive, uh, very high tensile strength. It’s basically designed not to be cut or not to be torn. Um-  Allen Hall: Right. That’s why we love it …  James Timmins: not to be, not to ever degrade in weather. So it has been an ongoing Kind of research project to find out what’s the best equipment for this, uh, can we do this at, you know, a reasonable cost? ‘Cause it’s not gonna be as cheap as grinding up or, you know, picking up sawdust from a sawmill or- Right … or chopping up cedar trees or whatever. So- Which  Allen Hall: are generally soft and easy to, to chop and-  James Timmins: Right. And not nearly as abrasive and so- Right … we [00:12:00] have identified, um, a process that we think is economical, and we’ve demonstrated it in, you know, kind of a small commercial run. But, uh, you know, it’s kind of going back and forth to consumers and them saying, “We want this product size,” and then me going back and forth to our partners saying, “Can we do this? Can we do a lot of it? Can we do it-”  Allen Hall: Right. The quantity’s gonna  James Timmins: be big. Right. Exactly. So, you know, talking to equipment manufacturers, they’ll all tell you that their product, their, their machine can handle this material. And they’re usually all right, but, you know- Can they  Allen Hall: handle the quantity?  James Timmins: Exactly. Without- They can do it for a month, or, you know, six months, and then it’s, well, do we have to overhaul the whole machine now ’cause this- That’s it … yeah.  Allen Hall: It’s, those composites are rough on blades.  James Timmins: Yep.  Allen Hall: So you’ve, you’ve broken through that barrier. You obviously have figured out a way to, to chop the material down or grind the material down into the right particle size. So [00:13:00] now you have a material that is, one, clean, is using existing blades right off the turbines, being ground down, and is a, a product that will be consumed by industry in large quantities. James Timmins: Yes.  Allen Hall: So all these blades that have, that were gonna be recycled anyway because of the age of the turbine now have a home-  James Timmins: Yes …  Allen Hall: in the oil and gas industry, which is sort of ironic, right? Right. The renewable industry is taking over oil and gas. At the same time, we’re supporting it in a way, but, uh, the product is called what? James Timmins: BladeBlock.  Allen Hall: BladeBlock. Okay. Great name. So BladeBlock is then, is a product that’s, it comes in a, in a bag, or is it a cylinder? Is it a truckload?  James Timmins: Comes in whatever the customer wants it to come in.  Allen Hall: Okay.  James Timmins: So 50-pound sacks, uh, super sacks, or bulk trucks.  Allen Hall: So it must have a really unique, uh, application i- in terms of, I have a big problem where I can’t use off-the-shelf expensive mud. I need to f- fill this hole relatively quickly. [00:14:00] I’m just gonna go grab some BladeBlock and solve this problem right now.  James Timmins: Yes.  Allen Hall: And, and it… So that changes the industry quite a bit. So places that you may have had trouble drilling wells in, you can now drill wells.  James Timmins: Yes.  Allen Hall: That’s remarkable. So what has been the response from the industry? James Timmins: Uh, they love it. Um- I bet … they love the idea. They, they kind of giggle at the irony of- … you know, oil and gas solving a renewable problem. Um, and-  Allen Hall: And a renewable problem solving an oil and gas problem.  James Timmins: Right. We are selling on the performance and the cost of the product, but there is also a sustainability and circular economy, you know, aspect as well that is marketable, and there’s still an appetite on both the operator side and the oil field service side for that. Allen Hall: This is not a… We’re in Texas at the moment, but this is not a Texas, Oklahoma, N- uh, New Mexico kind of problem. You’re actually fixing problems globally with BladeBlock.  James Timmins: Yes.  Allen Hall: So the product is, [00:15:00] although made in the United States, can be shipped anywhere I would assume. Yep. So, uh, y- are you getting any requests outside of the United States for it? James Timmins: We have talked to overseas partners, I guess, kind of industry leaders overseas, and there is definitely some interest. Um, we are also talking to, uh, service companies domestically headquartered who have operations internationally who have expressed interest in, uh, using it overseas. But, I mean, right now, you know, we’re close enough to the ship channel that we can ship it wherever they want it. That’s amazing.  Allen Hall: And it’s a patented product also,  James Timmins: right? Yes. So- We are in the… I guess, we’ve received our notice of allowance, and we’re in the final stages of issuance, so.  Allen Hall: So you have a, a patented, US patented, or is it, is it a world patent? Are you, you going outside the United States- Uh, we will … on patent? James Timmins: Yes.  Allen Hall: Wow. All right. So you have eventually a somewhat global patent, so to speak. That’s not how it works, but it… that’s essentially [00:16:00] what you’ll have, uh, for BladeBlock to solve problems globally. Would, would that also involve, like, offshore wells too? Yes. Do they have the same problem? So I’m thinking of Texas ’cause we’re here, but offshore of the coast of Norway where they’re drilling wells, or in the North Sea or-  James Timmins: Persian Gulf. Yeah …  Allen Hall: Persian Gulf, sure, that they can use BladeBlock to solve some of their problems- Yes … which they couldn’t have solved today.  James Timmins: Yeah.  Allen Hall: So d- have they abandoned wells because of this problem?  James Timmins: Yes. Um, especially in certain formations you have what are called vugs, which are basically just large limestone caves that have been-  Allen Hall: Limestone  James Timmins: is tough. Yeah … so you can put a whole car down there if you want- … and, uh, still not fill it in. So, um, you know, this product, it basically is practically inexhaustible from you know, it’s… We’re kind of only limited by how much we can manufacture on- How much you can  Allen Hall: process …  James Timmins: right. So, um- It’s kind of a good problem to have for us, but  Allen Hall: [00:17:00] Yes. It changes the whole dynamic of blade recycling, because the blade recycling effort up to this point has been the operator or the OEM pays the recycler to grind the blades, and then they have to find a way to source out that material. But the, basically everybody’s trying to reuse the material because it, it does have value. How do we best reuse this, right? This is what the recycling efforts are on the recyclable blade, uh, resin systems that are happening. But you’re just taking the existing blades that weren’t meant to be recycled and recycling now in a product that has a lot of value.  James Timmins: Correct, yes. So obviously the biggest challenge everyone faces is the economics of it. And you-  Allen Hall: You know how many people have been working on that problem? Literally thousands of people have been working that problem, and you guys figured it out at a birthday event.  James Timmins: Yeah, uh- … totally out of left field. Um, it, it just, it’s one of those things that sticks in the back of your head, and you think about it for 10 minutes, and you’re like, “Oh, uh, why-” But  Allen Hall: I have [00:18:00] a, I have a solution. Like, we can use it here. Yeah, which, you know, most people, that would never have occurred to.  James Timmins: Right. And it’s kind of a technical rabbit hole, like the drilling fluid is- It is … it’s, it’s, so it’s not a whole lot of people out there thinking about lost circulation material- … uh, on a daily basis. Um, but that was, you know… The problem with so many of these applications is you’re competing with, in some cases, literal dirt and sand. We pay f- five cents a pound for sand or concrete filler, fly ash, whatever, and it’s like, well, you’re never gonna process it that cheap, or you’re never gonna way to, to be able to economically process it that cheaply, so. Allen Hall: Sure, but there’s unique applications where those things don’t work.  James Timmins: Right.  Allen Hall: And you can now make an unprofitable drill hole profitable.  James Timmins: Yes.  Allen Hall: That’s a game changer. So this is remarkable, and I, I know you guys have been working on this for a couple of years, and it’s, EverPoint has always been, [00:19:00] and we’ve talked to EverPoint for a couple of years now on the podcast of, when we talk to recyclers, we don’t act- we actually have talked to a number of recyclers, but we don’t have them on the podcast because it’s, seems like the amount of material coming into their facility and the amount of material going out are not the same. Correct. They’re landfilling them or whatever’s going on, which is, it, it to me is trouble, right?  James Timmins: Right.  Allen Hall: You, your, EverPoint has always been, “We are actually gonna do what we say we’re gonna do. We’re gonna take the solar panels, we’re gonna recycle, we’re gonna…” You’ll be able to follow it. Correct, yeah. Which is one of the technologies that EverPoint brought, is you could follow your recycling product all the way from the site to where it finally ended up at. That was remarkable. That was an industry-changing, uh, idea, and I appreciate that EverPoint was doing that. Now, you’re actually turning it into a viable product called Blade Block. Game changer. Now, our podcast is probably not heard by a lot of oil and gas folk, but the, you know, the word does spread and we [00:20:00] have almost two million YouTube subscribers at this point. How do people get ahold of you to purchase BladeBlock? Do they go onto your website? Are they-  James Timmins: Yeah. I mean, LinkedIn, website.  Allen Hall: Okay. However.  James Timmins: Yeah.  Allen Hall: So- And, and what’s your website address?  James Timmins: It’s everpointservices.com.  Allen Hall: Okay. And you’re based in Texas?  James Timmins: We are. Houston.  Allen Hall: In Houston, right. So the, everybody that is interested in having improved oil and gas drilling mud, uh, can use BladeBlock now, and it’s a viable product that’s being offered, it’s patented, it’s gonna ship globally. It’s the right time and it’s the right way to recycle your blades. So if you have a, a wind turbine farm that’s being decommissioned, there’s a lot of repowering happening right now, uh, there should be a lot of, of blade material available to make BladeBlock with. So congratulations. That’s remarkable. James Timmins: Thank you so much.  Allen Hall: James, so thank you so much for being on the podcast. Of course. It was great to meet you.  James Timmins: Nice to meet you as  [00:21:00] well.

With the UK and Europe sweltering in yet another record-breaking heatwave, will we ever actually reach net zero? How close are we to a “lights out” scenario due to the Iran war, and how did we become so dependent on Russian oil? Is North Sea drilling for oil and gas a matter of national security, or an environmentally reckless fantasy? Join Rory and Alastair as they answer all these questions and more in this week's edition of Question Time, with the European Commissioner for Energy and Housing, Dan Jørgensen. __________ Enjoy Rory and Alastair's interview with Steve Rosenberg by searching ‘Leading' on Spotify, Apple, or YouTube. Go deeper into the world of The Rest Is Politics by signing up for our free newsletter HERE, featuring exclusive interviews, analysis and weekend reads from Alastair and Rory. Join The Rest Is Politics Plus. Start your free trial at therestispolitics.com to unlock exclusive bonus content – including Rory and Alastair's miniseries – plus ad-free listening, early access to episodes and live show tickets, exclusive newsletters, discounted book prices, and a private chatroom on Discord. The Rest Is Politics is powered by Fuse Energy. Stop overpaying for energy. Switch at fuseenergy.com/politics and get a free TRIP+ subscription. Get our exclusive NordVPN deal here ➼ nordvpn.com/restispolitics It's risk-free with Nord's 30 day money back guarantee ✅ __________ Instagram: @restispolitics Twitter: @restispolitics Email: therestispolitics@goalhanger.com __________ Social Producer: Celine Charles Video Editor: Josh Smith, Bruno Di Castri Assistant Producer: Daisy Alston-Horne Producer: Evan Green Exec Producer: Chris Sawyer General Manager: Tom Whiter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ten years on, the UK's decision to leave the European Union is increasingly seen as more than a single referendum result. Critics argue it reflected a wider crisis of political imagination, with Brexit supporters misreading both Britain and the world, while the promised future never arrived. The referendum held on 23 June 2016 remains one of the defining decisions in modern British history. Supporters promised sovereignty, control, lower red tape, new trade deals and a more dynamic “Global Britain”. Critics are unequivocal that Brexit has left Britain poorer, weaker and less able to deal with global shocks 10 years after voters chose to leave the European Union. Opponents argue that many of those promises have not been met. Britain is more constrained, less attractive to investors and still divided over what Brexit was supposed to mean. Nevertheless, the vote marked the moment Britain “changed track”, Colin Hay, professor of political science at Sciences Po in Paris, tells RFI. “Its relationship with the European Union and its relationship with the rest of the world has changed fundamentally from this moment onwards,” Hay said. “And 10 years on, we can see that very clearly now.” Two years after Brexit 'got done', poll shows many Britons want new referendum A changed Britain Brexit is hard to judge as a normal policy decision, Hay argues, because voters were asked to choose a direction without knowing what form leaving the EU would eventually take. “People didn't know what the Brexit that they were voting for, if they voted for it, would turn out to be, and now they can see, and there's a certain amount of buyer's remorse, I think,” Hay says. One of the strongest attacks on Brexit has come recently from Michael Heseltine, the former Conservative deputy prime minister, who called it a “self-imposed disaster” and a “con”. He also said those who sold it should “hang their heads in shame”. For Hay, Heseltine was pointing to a real problem in British politics – especially the way Europe moved from a low-profile issue to the central question shaping political life. “The question of Britain's relationship to Europe was – until UKIP came along and until the Brexit referendum – a relatively low salience issue,” Hay said. “Since 2016 and since the campaign, it has been the single dominant issue, which has influenced everything else.” That change helped Nigel Farage, UKIP and later Reform UK become powerful forces in British politics, while also damaging the Conservative Party. 'Rogue state' UK stands by new Brexit legislation which breaks international law Economic costs The economic impact of UK's departure from the European Union is now clearer than it was at the time of the referendum, Hay tells RFI, though he adds that Brexit cannot be separated entirely from the other shocks Britain has faced over the past 10 years. “I think it's as clear as it could be, but there's a caveat in that, and that is that a lot's happened in Britain over the last 10 years, lots happened in the world over the last 10 years, and to identify and to isolate the Brexit effect is actually quite tricky,” he says. The Bank of England has tried to measure the impact, estimating “a drop of 6 percent of GDP lost, as it were, to Brexit”. But the wider cost may be greater because Brexit also affected Britain's ability to deal with later crises, including Covid and the Ukraine war, he argues. Five years on, has Brexit put Britain at a disadvantage in EU talks? “Britain is less well placed to deal with those shocks and challenges today than it would otherwise have been in the absence of Brexit,” Hay continues. The idea of a newly liberated “Global Britain” was always weak, because the UK already had many favourable trade terms through its EU membership. “I think the idea of a kind of new ‘Global Britain' liberated from Europe was always a bit of a myth, frankly,” Hay says. The promise of “Singapore-on-Thames” also failed to deliver. Britain was already a relatively lightly regulated European economy and had long been highly deregulated in financial services. “There's been a marginal move in the direction of light regulation, but it's not really achieved any positive gain for the British economy overall,” Hay said. Countdown to Brexit: Polls predict Leave campaign wins Campaign arguments However, the Leave campaign was highly effective in attacking warnings from economists, diplomats, businesses and officials with “Project Fear”. That tactic weakened the role of evidence in the debate, while the Leave side also used the promise that Brexit would free up money for the National Health Service. “I think the Brexit campaign was most effective in a sense, because it was able to discredit and disable any evidence, any expertise that was brought on the remain side of the debate to the table,” Hay says. The campaign, led in part by Farage and his populist message, encouraged voters to reject not only the EU but also “the form of expert technocratic governance associated with that”, he argues. At the same time, Leave campaigners used a simple financial promise. “They plastered a big number on big red buses and implied that a vote for Brexit would liberate the public finances and allow high levels of investment in the NHS, amongst other things,” Hay says. The result did not match that promise, he adds. EU and UK clash in first post-Brexit legal battle over North Sea fishing ban “Anyone who's tried to be treated in a British hospital in the 10 years since 2016 knows that that didn't turn out very well,” Hay says. Brexit supporters often argue that the vote was not mainly about economics but about sovereignty and control. Farage and others have also claimed that Brexit failed because it was never properly implemented. Hay explains that argument was easy to make and had been repeated since Theresa May's time as prime minister, when she faced pressure to deliver a harder and more economically costly form of Brexit. But public opinion has shifted over the past decade. “I think the argument that Brexit was not properly implemented, and that's why it's not turned out as well as it could have done, has not particularly been accepted by the public,” says Hay. Around 20 to 30 percent of those who voted for Brexit would now vote remain if given the chance again, he estimates. Burnham wins key UK poll, paving way for bid to challenge PM Starmer Uncertain future Meanwhile, Keir Starmer's government has been trying to rebuild bridges with the EU while avoiding a return to the divisions of the Brexit years. The debate inside Labour is also becoming more complex, with questions over how far any future leader could go in rebuilding Britain's relationship with the EU. For Hay, Britain's uncertainty 10 years after Brexit is closely tied to economic weakness. “It's much easier to be confident about Britain if it has a stronger economy,” he says. “The Labour administration assumed it would have more fiscal space to do positive things every single time it looks at the books,” Hay said. “It finds there's no money in the coffer, and if there's no money in the coffer there's not much you can do.” Ten years after the vote, Brexit remains more than a question of treaties, borders and trade. It is also a question of what Britain was promised, what was delivered and how much control the country really gained.

Welcome to another episode of The Temple of Surf Podcast. This week, we are honored to welcome Oscar González Torres, founder of Surfer's Hell, one of Europe's most respected names in Beligium Surf Culture. Based in Ostend, Belgium, Surfer's Hell has become synonymous with quality craftsmanship, surfboard innovation, and an unwavering dedication to the surfing lifestyle. In this fascinating conversation, Oscar shares the remarkable story behind Surfer's Hell and how a passion for surfing grew into a brand recognized throughout Europe and beyond. From shaping surfboards and developing innovative designs to building a community around surfing, Oscar's journey is a testament to the power of dedication, creativity, and love for the ocean. Surfing is often associated with tropical destinations such as Hawaii, California, Australia, and Indonesia. However, Oscar proves that world-class surf culture can thrive anywhere there are waves and passionate people. Through Surfer's Hell, he has helped establish Belgium as an important part of the European surfing landscape while remaining true to the core values that have always defined the sport. Throughout the episode, we explore the art of surfboard design and the role that craftsmanship plays in creating surfboards that truly connect with surfers. Oscar discusses the evolution of modern surfboard shaping, the importance of understanding wave conditions, and why choosing the right surfboard can dramatically improve a surfer's performance and enjoyment. We also discuss how surf culture has evolved over the decades. From the early days of experimentation and innovation to today's highly competitive and commercialized surf industry, Oscar offers unique insights into what has changed and what remains timeless. Creativity, individuality, and a deep connection with the ocean continue to define surfing at its best. The conversation also touches on custom surfboards versus mass-produced boards, the challenges facing independent surfboard manufacturers, and the importance of preserving authentic surf culture in a rapidly changing world. Whether you are a beginner surfer, a dedicated longboarder, a surfboard collector, or someone passionate about surf history, there is something valuable in this episode for you. Topics covered include surfboard shaping, surfboard design, custom surfboards, handcrafted surfboards, surf culture, European surfing, North Sea surfing, longboarding, alternative surfcraft, surfboard innovation, entrepreneurship, craftsmanship, and the future of independent surf brands. Oscar González Torres has spent decades helping surfers find the right equipment while promoting a vision of surfing rooted in authenticity and passion. His story is not only about building a successful business but also about preserving the spirit of surfing for future generations. If you enjoy conversations about surfing, surfboard design, surf history, surf culture, and the people who dedicate their lives to the ocean, this is an episode you won't want to miss. Please subscribe, leave a review, and share this episode with your fellow surfers. Welcome to The Temple of Surf Podcast. Enjoy the show.   #TheTempleOfSurf #OscarGonzalezTorres #SurfersHell #SurfPodcast #SurfboardDesign #SurfboardShaping #CustomSurfboards #HandmadeSurfboards #SurfCulture #Surfing #Longboarding #AlternativeSurfcraft #EuropeanSurfing #NorthSeaSurfing #Surfboards #Shaper #WaveRiding #SurfIndustry #SurfHistory #Craftsmanship  

So the ‘King of the North' has cleared the first step in his quest to be prime minister of the UK. Andy Burnham's victory in the Makerfield by-election was certainly impressive and it looks clear that Labour will be in the midst of a leadership contest very soon. Yet Burnham rarely stuck his neck out to offer any policy alternative to Keir Starmer, merely offering a change of personnel at the top. What does that mean for his party and the country? Meanwhile, the Conservatives pulled off a victory in Aberdeen South that was almost as impressive, campaigning against shutting down North Sea oil and gas production. Clearly, there is a constituency for defending jobs and livelihoods against Net Zero policies. But will it bring any wider benefit to Kemi Badenoch and co? While Reform have, for a while, realised they wouldn't win, but they will still feel deflated that it wasn't even close, especially having done so well in the local council elections in the area. What does the result mean for the party's future and what do they need to do to win hearts and minds? The AoI's Claire Fox, Alastair Donald, Geoff Kidder and Rob Lyons got together the following day to discuss all this and more.

    Recently I was messaging with LLM guest mixer, Roquen Lómë, about Type records - an experimental record label that was active from 2003 to 2013. Founded by John Twells & Stefan Lewandowski in the U.K., Type released some creative music in those ten years ranging from delicate piano to sculptured noise to glitchy electronica to ambient to psych folk. I thought it would be fun to create a mix of music from Type records catalog - then I looked at that catalog and, wow they sure did release a ton of music. There's no way to make an exhaustive review of their releases so I decided to go chronologically through some of my favorites. That still only scratched the surface, I think I have more than 40 Type records in my collection.  It was nice listening to some of the recordings for the first time in years and I hope you too enjoy this little trip into the past. Cheers!   T R A C K L I S T : 00:00   Mokira - Untitled #3 (Album 2003) 04:25   Deaf Center - Walk (Neon City 2004) 07:21   Golden - Door of Our Home (Corduroy Road 2005) 10:37   Julien Neto - I(one) (Le Fumeur de Ciel 2005) 13:35   North Sea & Rameses III - Night Blossom Written in Sanskrit (Night of the Ankou 2005) 19:19   Xela - Bobble Hats In Summer (For Frosty Mornings And Summer Nights 2007) 25:08   The Alps - Trem Fanstasma (iii 2008) 31:14   Richard Skelton - Grange (Marking Time 2008) 34:00   Koen Holtkamp - You Mean The World To Me (Field Rituals 2008) 36:20   Grouper - We've All Time To Sleep (Dragging a Dead Deer Up A Hill 2008) 39:12   Helios - Hope Valley Hill (Caesura 2008) 44:05   Black To Comm - Hotel Freund (Alphabet 1968 2009) 47:57   Jóhann Jóhannsson - Pods (And in the Endless Pause There Came the Sound of Bees 2009) 50:55   Ezekiel Honig - Drafting Foresight (Folding In On Itself 2011) 54:35   Sylvain Chauveau - The Unbroken Line (Singular Forms (Sometimes Repeated) 2010) 57:41   end

Felony ep. 830 Roger Ley has self-published eight novels and one anthology of speculative stories. He was born and educated mainly in London, but spent some of his formative years in Saudi Arabia. Later, he worked as an engineer in the oilfields of North Africa and in the North Sea before starting a career in higher education teaching computer-aided engineering. His early articles appeared in publications including The Guardian, Reader's Digest, The Oldie, and Best of British. His short stories have been published on a multiplicity of websites and broadcast on BBC Radio. He lives in Suffolk (UK). Visit his website at rogerley.co.uk His Amazon author page is at https://www.amazon.com/stores/Roger-Ley/author/B01KOVZFHM More TTV Stories by Roger Ley: https://talltaletv.com/tag/roger-ley/ 'Guardian' by Roger Ley: https://talltaletv.com/guardian/   ---- Listen Elsewhere ---- YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/c/TallTaleTV Website: http://www.TallTaleTV.com   ---- Story Submission ---- Got a short story you'd like to submit? Submission guidelines can be found at http://www.TallTaleTV.com   ---- About Tall Tale TV ---- Hi there! My name is Chris Herron and I'm an audiobook narrator. In 2015, I suffered from poor Type 1 diabetes control which lead me to become legally blind for almost a year. The doctors didn't give me much hope, predicting an 80% chance that I would never see again. But I refused to give up and changed my lifestyle drastically. Through sheer willpower (and an amazing eye surgeon) I beat the odds and regained my vision. During that difficult time, I couldn't read or write, which was devastating as they had always been a source of comfort for me since childhood. However, my wife took me to the local library where she read out the titles of audiobooks to me. I selected some of my favorite books, such as the Disc World series, Name of the Wind, Harry Potter, and more, and the audiobooks brought these stories to life in a way I had never experienced before. They helped me through the darkest period of my life and I fell in love with audiobooks. Once I regained my vision, I decided to pursue a career as an audiobook narrator instead of a writer. That's why I created Tall Tale TV, to support aspiring authors in the writing communities that I had grown to love before my ordeal. My goal was to help them promote their work by providing a promotional audio short story that showcases their writing skills to readers. They say the strongest form of advertising is word of mouth, so I offer a platform for readers to share these videos and help spread the word about these talented writers. Please consider sharing these stories with your friends and family to support these amazing authors. Thank you!   ---- legal ---- All stories on Tall Tale TV have been submitted in accordance with the terms of service provided on http://www.talltaletv.com or obtained with permission by the author. All images used on Tall Tale TV are either original or Royalty and Attribution free. Most stock images used are provided by http://www.pixabay.com , https://www.canstockphoto.com/ or created using AI. Image attribution will be declared only when required by the copyright owner. Common Affiliates are: Amazon, Smashwords  

Byford Dolphin was a semi-submersible, column-stabilised drilling rig operated by Dolphin Drilling, a subsidiary of Fred Olsen Energy. Byford Dolphin was registered in Hamilton, Bermuda,[3] and drilled seasonally for various companies in the British, Danish, and Norwegian sectors of the North Sea. In 2019, Dolphin scrapped the rig.[5] The rig was the site of several serious incidents, most notably an explosive decompression in 1983 that killed four divers and one dive tender, as well as critically injuring another dive tender.[6]

We can't avoid catastrophic warming without also capturing and storing carbon dioxide — both the carbon we've already emitted and the carbon we continue to emit through industries that are tough to decarbonize, like steel, petrochemicals, and cement.Europe is a leader in Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS), with a goal of storing at least 50 million tons of captured CO2 a year by the end of this decade.So this episode, we team up with Germany-based reporter Sam Baker from the DW podcast “Living Planet.” We follow carbon dioxide from its source at a cement plant, all the way to its final resting place under the North Sea. And we look beyond the hype to see if Carbon Capture and Storage could be a real climate solution. Or just another way for the fossil fuel industry to keep on drilling.

We can't avoid catastrophic warming without also capturing and storing carbon dioxide — both the carbon we've already emitted and the carbon we continue to emit through industries that are tough to decarbonize, like steel, petrochemicals, and cement.Europe is a leader in Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS), with a goal of storing at least 50 million tons of captured CO2 a year by the end of this decade.So this episode, we team up with Germany-based reporter Sam Baker from the DW podcast “Living Planet.” We follow carbon dioxide from its source at a cement plant, all the way to its final resting place under the North Sea. And we look beyond the hype to see if Carbon Capture and Storage could be a real climate solution. Or just another way for the fossil fuel industry to keep on drilling.

The Herald of Free Enterprise: How a Routine Ferry Crossing Became One of Britain's Deadliest Peacetime Disasters | Shipwrecks and Sea Dogs On the night of March 6, 1987, the roll-on/roll-off ferry Herald of Free Enterprise left the Belgian port of Zeebrugge bound for Dover with nearly 500 passengers and crew aboard. Minutes after clearing the harbor, the ship rolled onto its side in shallow water, claiming 193 lives in one of the most consequential maritime disasters of the 20th century. In this episode of Shipwrecks and Sea Dogs, host Rich Napolitano traces the chain of small failures, design flaws, and operational pressures that turned a routine cross-Channel run into catastrophe. Topics discussed include the open bow doors that let the North Sea pour onto the car deck, the free surface effect that capsized the ship in under two minutes, the frantic rescue effort in freezing water, and the Sheen Inquiry that famously diagnosed the ferry operator's culture as suffering from a "disease of sloppiness." This disaster reshaped international maritime safety law and changed RO-RO ferry future designs. **

Gavin landed back in Australia just the day before recording, and he and Ken settle in for a full debrief on WDC 2026 in Athens. From the venues and the social activities to all four of Gavin's games and the top board, this one covers it all. Intro Ken sets up the episode – this one is going to be almost entirely about WDC 2026 Athens, because Gavin was there and has only just landed back in Australia (as at the time of recording) (15 secs) He notes the DBN coverage gave a strong account of the boards and Ed's player interviews, but plenty of the magic from Spyros Dovas and his organising team didn't make it to the stream (45 secs) Drinks are introduced: Ken is on one of his home-brew lagers with a kick, and Gavin is working through a leftover Sicilian Nero d'Avola that has turned a little sour – a fitting metaphor, he suggests, for how his first round went (1 min 45 secs) The tournament in aggregate Ken asks Gavin to give a broad overview – location, numbers, facilities, atmosphere (2 mins 45 secs) Around 106 players registered, though some didn't show due to last-minute issues. Approximately 5 Australian players couldn't attend because their original flights were routed through the Middle East (3 mins 30 secs) The geopolitical context: as of recording, the Middle East airspace situation was in week nine of its shutdown, forcing Australian travellers to reroute via Singapore, Hong Kong, or Malaysia. Some also baulked at the US transit option due to the documentation requirements (4 mins 30 secs) Despite the drop-outs, the turnout was excellent and genuinely representative – a heavy European component split between the UK and the rest of Europe, a strong French contingent, players from the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, Poland, and Norway, a good number of Americans and a couple of Canadians (including Chris Brand), around 10 Australians, and a couple of Kiwis (Dominick Stephens and Craig Purcell). The local Greek contingent, given the Athens club had only been running for about 18 months, was especially impressive (3 mins 30 secs) Tournament format: three regular rounds followed by a fourth round of tiered top boards. Rather than a single top board, the format featured seven simultaneous top boards – the top 7 players went to the premier board, players 8–14 played the second tier, 15–21 the third, and so on down through the field. Crucially, players who volunteered to sit out for round four to help with numbers kept their ranking position (7 mins) Ken and Gavin discuss how the tiered format means the fourth round is never a dead rubber – every board is still competing for something meaningful (8 mins 15 secs) Discussion of the central clock arrangement: effectively federation-based rather than a literal single clock, with the two main venues coordinating their start times by communication (9 mins 30 secs) The venues The main venue was the upstairs function space of a beachside restaurant operation – excellent location right on the waterfront, but somewhat cramped for negotiations once all the boards were in (9 mins 45 secs) As a result, boards were redistributed to the secondary venue: the Anchor bar, about 150–200 metres down the road. Gavin played two games in each location and considered the Anchor the better play space – more open, well ventilated, and with a large covered outdoor area next to a (drained) pool (11 mins) The colour-coded sash system made it easy to identify players by country but created the amusing challenge of locating your specific Italy in a room full of Italys from different boards (13 mins) The third venue – an outdoor shaded area – was reserved for the premier top board. Unlike Milan's car park, this one had good shade and plenty of room for spectators around the giant shadow board (13 mins 30 secs) Pre-tournament social activities Gavin outlines the structure: you could do as much or as little as you liked. He landed well due to a useful 5.5-hour Singapore layover that helped reset his body clock, and flew over on the same flight as tournament director Jamal Blakkarly (16 mins) They were met at Athens airport by Spyros, his wife, and daughter, who drove them to breakfast at a beautiful harbour-side restaurant in one of the small inlet bays east of Piraeus (18 mins 15 secs) Pre-tournament island stay: Gavin spent two days on Serifos, the island Spyros recommended and which has personal significance to his family (his grandfather was christened there). Spyros provided a detailed Google Map of the best spots. With the tourist season barely starting, Gavin got excellent last-minute accommodation at a family-run hotel and had the beaches almost entirely to himself (18 mins 45 secs) The island was so off-season that locals were literally still painting their furniture and kerbs in preparation. Gavin did the recommended hikes and swims, and the hotel gifted him a dry-bag left behind by a previous guest (20 mins 30 secs) Back in Athens overnight, Gavin caught up with a multinational squad of players including Shane, Brandon, Max, Zoe, Justin Law, Bradley Grace, and Karthik. They had dinner at an Italian restaurant with the Acropolis lit up above them (22 mins 30 secs) Hydra day trip (Wednesday): players caught the fast ferry from Piraeus out to Hydra (about 1.5 hrs). The island has a refined Venetian-Greek port feel, with rustic paths and rock beaches beyond. The group visited the Museum of the 1821 Greek Revolution, full of local history and artefacts. Gavin wore one of his Diplomacy shirts and ended up being an ambassador for the hobby to an American grandmother and her debate-champion granddaughter from North Carolina – and pointed them towards David Hood and the local hobby there (24 mins 15 secs) The water temperature at the beach was about 4–5 degrees colder than Australia, which meant the Europeans loved it and Gavin did not go in (26 mins 30 secs) Acropolis and Athens tour (Thursday): guided tour of the Acropolis by what Spyros described as the best guides operating there, followed by a walk through the Plaka and past the Panathenaic Stadium (venue of the first modern Olympics in 1896), then a seafood lunch at a beautiful harbourside restaurant (30 mins) Temple of Poseidon (Thursday evening): the most popular activity – the bus was packed. About halfway there, Spyros took everyone on an unannounced detour to a beach bar where they had the place to themselves, a wonderful surprise. The Temple itself sits on a peninsula with 270-degree sea views. Spyros told the story of how the Aegean got its name from that location, and a huge group photo was taken (31 mins 15 secs) Tournament production values Gavin describes the production as setting new high-water marks for tournament organisation – high enough that the Chicago 2027 organising team would be wondering how to match it. Every player had a colour-coded sash matching their country, a branded WDC Athens notepad in their country colour, and a matching pen for every round (33 mins) The awards were 3D-printed Greek god statues for the podium finishers, complemented by a full suite of themed awards for the top players in each country and for notable gameplay (34 min) Special awards included: the Ajax Award for 8th place overall (the brilliant fighter who just missed out); the Archimedes Award for the most innovative play; the Leonidas Award for the player who fought on against insurmountable odds; and professionally screen-printed awards for best performance as each of the seven Great Powers (35 mins 45 secs) Gavin's games Round 1 – France – Board: Agkystri (View game) Gavin introduces his first game and the board composition: he played France, with Danae Stamataki (Austria-Hungary, local Greek player who topped the board on 10 supply centres and won best Austria), Sabrina Ahuja "Sabi" as England, Brian Ecton as Germany, Jean-Louis Delattre as Italy, Teo Ananiadis as Russia, and Frank Oosterom from the Netherlands as Turkey (37 mins 15 secs) The plan was a Western Triple working with England and Germany, with the goal of neutralising a strong-looking Italy early. It didn't come together as intended (37 mins 45 secs) The infamous mis-order: Gavin had two builds and intended fleet Brest plus a second build. Instead he built fleet Brest and placed the build directly in MAO, effectively waiving his second build. The DBN commentators interpreted this as a genius strategic waive; Ken's interpretation was somewhat more grounded. Gavin confirms Ken was correct (39 mins) The other players on the board didn't share DBN's generous reading of the situation. Germany immediately moved into Burgundy and kept flipping between fronts as his position allowed. Italy kept pressing France throughout. Gavin found himself squeezed down to a single unit in the English Channel (40 mins 30 secs) Final turn plan: England agreed to convoy an army across to Picardy to support Gavin back into Brest. Instead, Sabi walked into an open Paris. Gavin ended the game with zero supply centres and was eliminated (42 mins 15 secs) Gavin notes he made his disappointment known professionally, and that he subsequently had a drink with Sabi – but not that night (44 mins 15 secs) Round 2 – England – Board: Lemnos Not covered by DBN. Gavin played England; the board included Dominick Stephens (New Zealand) as Germany, Chris Brand (Canada) as Russia, Ruben Sanchez as Italy, Roberto Perego (Italy) as France, Robert Schuppe as Turkey, and Anastasia "Nastja" Styles as Austria-Hungary (46 mins) The plan was a Northern Alliance of England, Germany, and Russia. It unravelled immediately when Chris opened Moscow to Livonia and Dominick interpreted it as aggressive – resulting in a Germany-Russia war from the outset (46 mins 15 secs) Gavin adapted: knowing Germany was occupied in the east, he gave Russia some space and opened into Belgium, with Dominick and Chris both honouring his request to take Norway unopposed via fleet (46 mins 45 secs) Dominick and Gavin worked to grind down Roberto Perego's France, who ground out a hard-fought game staying alive on 2 centres. Ruben Sanchez's Italy played a deft game, flipping between alliances with Turkey and Austria (49 mins 15 secs) Dominick topped the board on 10; Ruben came in at 9; Gavin finished at 7. The game was meant to run to 1909 but drew earlier when the position stabilised. Gavin reflects he may have drawn too early, with both Dominick and Ruben suggesting he had room to push for another two centres (50 mins) Round 3 – Germany – Board: Symi (View game) Gavin played Germany. The board included Shane Armstrong (Australia) as France, Mikalis Kamaritis as Italy, Alex Maslow (USA) as Russia, Steven Hogue (USA) as Austria, Alex Lebedev (Russia) as England, and Jack Johns as Turkey (51 mins 15 secs) The strategic context: only Mikalis Kamaritis and Alex Lebedev were realistically in contention for the top board from this game. Shane and Gavin identified this early and committed to supporting the player they believed deserved to be there (52 mins 45 secs) Shane and Gavin opened with a Sealion against England, while Gavin also walked a careful line with Alex Lebedev, who initially felt more threatened by France than Germany. Austria was eliminated in 1903, and England in 1904 (53 mins 45 secs) A notable moment: Gavin slipped an army from the North Sea into an unoccupied London – a move he acknowledged was unnecessary, created friction with Alex Lebedev, and which he would not make again. He apologised on the day (56 mins 15 secs) Mikalis told Gavin and Shane to wait until 1905 – and delivered. He launched from his eastern position, took two dots off Russia and one off Turkey in a single year, then steamrolled from there. Alex Maslow was a strong and enjoyable player who nearly flipped the alliance but ultimately couldn't (56 mins 15 secs) The game agreed to a draw of 10-10-14 (Shane-Gavin-Mikalis), which the three felt would get Mikalis comfortably onto the top board. In the final adjudication Mikalis took one extra dot away from Shane, making the final scores 15-10-9 (58 mins 15 secs) Round 4 – Austria – Board: Myconos (View game) Gavin made it onto the fourth round, placed into the 6th top board. The board featured Shane Armstrong again as Turkey, Emmett Wainwright as England, Patrick Jacobson as France, Nathan Lester as Germany, Cameron Taylor as Italy, and Richard Bolton as Russia (59 mins 30 secs) The standout introduction: Nathan Lester, son of Dan Lester (who Gavin played against at Bangkok WDC). Same voice, same playing style, same persuasive meta-game arguments – but with a mullet and dressed like he's in an 80s rock video, and without the beard-stroking (1 hr 0 mins 45 secs) Gavin and Shane, having just played together in Round 3, ended up as Austria and Turkey respectively – not a natural alliance. Gavin didn't trust it but it held. Italy and France both kept fighting hard throughout (59 mins 45 secs) The game drew in 1906, with Shane and Emmett both finishing on 8, Gavin on 6 as Austria. Everyone then rushed across the road to watch the top board (1 hr 3 mins 45 secs) The top board Ken asks about Mikalis's diplomatic style. Gavin: exceptional situational awareness, communicates clearly and directly, asked and answered the "what do you want from this game?" question in a way that built immediate trust, and was good to his word on timing (1 hr 4 mins) Gavin arrived at the top board mid-1906 (his own game had just drawn). The top board was played outdoors under a well-shaded tree with plenty of room for negotiations, guarded by two or three people ensuring other players and passing members of the public couldn't crowd the board (1 hr 5 mins) The giant shadow board: a massive life-size replica board was set up nearby so all spectators could follow the game without approaching the real board. Andrew Goff read out the orders and the shadow board was updated after each adjudication – the same setup used at Milan WDC (1 hr 7 mins 45 secs) When Gavin arrived, he felt Bradley Grace had the game. The shift came late – Mikalis made a decisive move in the endgame that separated him from a closely matched France/Germany contest (1 hr 9 mins) Congratulations to Mikalis Kamaritis – well deserved, Gavin says. And to Bradley Grace: so close, but it will happen (1 hr 9 mins) The awards ceremony included Mikalis receiving both the championship belt and a traditional olive laurel wreath – a detail that was not captured in the DBN stream. Ken flags this as something future broadcasts should consider covering (1 hr 11 mins 15 secs) A Best Shane Cubis Award was also created – won by a Greek player who loudly lobbied Spyros for an award on the basis of how much he'd helped out. An AI-generated image of Shane Cubis in 1901 attire featured on the award, to the complete bafflement of the European and American contingents (1 hr 12 mins 50 secs) Game hobby and future WDCs The Chicago Windy City Weasels delivered a presentation promoting WDC 2027, enthusiastically received by the assembled players (1 hr 13 mins 15 secs) The 2028 bid: Melbourne was the only bid, and it was unanimously approved. Andrew Goff (Goffy) presented it. WDC 2028 Melbourne will be held at the MCG – the Melbourne Cricket Ground – with the conference rooms used for regular play, and the premier top board played on the MCG wicket itself. The countdown timer will run on the MCG scoreboard. Notionally scheduled for the last weekend of February 2028 – the weekend after the Formula One Grand Prix and the weekend before the first AFL round (1 hr 14 mins 30 secs) For international context: roughly equivalent to playing at Yankee Stadium, Madison Square Garden, the Camp Nou, or Bayern Munich's Allianz Arena. English players will recognise the MCG as where English cricket hopes traditionally come to die (1 hr 15 mins 15 secs) Also at the game hobby: a unanimous vote to amend and modernise the WDC charter, which dates from around 2000–2001 and doesn't reflect current online play, email communication, or the organisational structures of the Asia-Pacific and European hobbies. Four representatives (from NADF, the Asia-Pacific Diplomacy Association, and the European and UK hobbies) will draft amendments to be presented at WDC 2027 Chicago, with ratification at WDC 2028 Melbourne (1 hr 18 mins) Wrap up Gavin acknowledges the full organising effort: approximately 10 people working behind the scenes alongside Spyros and Jamal to make everything run. The Greek hobby and Athens Diplomacy Club can be enormously proud (1 hr 20 mins 30 secs) The Armistice Party: held between rounds three and four in the venue near the pool area. A DJ with a custom app allowed all attending players to nominate up to 10 songs each, with the crowd then voting in real time from four options for what came next. Gavin describes it as stunningly well thought through (1 hr 22 mins) Ken summarises: meticulously planned, wonderful venue, brilliant location, great games, fantastic people. Gavin: you got it in one. Thank you to Spyros, Jamal, and everyone they played with (1 hr 23 mins) Addendum – recorded one week later Ken and Gavin explain the addendum: a few things were either forgotten or lost in the original recording, so they've caught up a week later to cover them (1 hr 25 mins 45 secs) The Cane Toad The Cane Toad tournament will not run in 2026 – Gavin has made the decision to rest it for the year and bring it back bigger and better in 2027 (1 hr 26 mins 30 secs) Reasons: Gavin no longer lives in Brisbane where the tournament has historically been based, and several attempts to get a local game going have been completely unsuccessful. He feels it would be unfair to interstate players to travel to Queensland only to play mostly other interstate players rather than a meaningful proportion of locals (1 hr 27 mins 30 secs) He also flags cost-of-living pressures and fuel costs as factors, noting that the fuel excise which had been removed is about to be reinstated (1 hr 28 mins 45 secs) Ken and Gavin have a brief riff on whether cane toads actually hibernate, and whether the tournament might one day move to a different Queensland location (1 hr 28 mins 45 secs) Gavin shares a long-held dream of running the Cane Toad on the beach under a sun-safe setup. Council regulations require public liability insurance – but the Asia Pacific Diplomacy Association is in the process of organising exactly that for tournament directors, which may open the door in future (1 hr 29 mins 15 secs) Tournament news The Sydney Cup is on the weekend of 4–5 July. Gavin would love to go but has used up his diplomacy credits between Greece and starting a new job – it'll have to stay in the bank for now (1 hr 30 mins 45 secs) A New Zealand tournament is being discussed for the week before WDC 2028 Melbourne (late February 2028). Three New Zealand players who attended WDC 2026 in Athens have flagged interest in hosting something, on the logic that if you're travelling all the way from Europe or the US, a short hop across the Tasman to New Zealand is well worth building into the itinerary (1 hr 32 mins) Ken enthusiastically endorses the idea and encourages anyone planning for WDC 2028 Melbourne to factor in a week in New Zealand beforehand (1 hr 33 mins 30 secs) Challenge for next episode Over his birthday lunch, Gavin's son surprised him with an accurate recall of his WDC result. This leads Gavin to issue a challenge for the next episode: both Ken and Gavin will do some homework and come back with three or four online diplomacy resources that people may not know about, to raise awareness of what the community has put together over the years (1 hr 34 mins 45 secs) Around the grounds VDiplomacy gets an introduction for any listeners who aren't familiar: a sibling platform to WebDiplomacy, it hosts classic games but is particularly known for its range of variants (1 hr 36 mins 30 secs) The Dionysus Reimagined game recap – the ancient Greece variant Ken and Gavin set up in the lead-up to WDC Athens. Ken soloed, eliminating Gavin in the final year. Gavin notes that technically his last dot was taken so late that his result registers as a survive rather than an elimination (1 hr 38 mins 45 secs) Gavin played Athens and found himself defending on all fronts from early on: Sparta (who built only armies and had nowhere to go but north), the Macedonians pressing from the north, Byzantium late in the game, and Rhodes. Ken played Byzantium and credits his early token luck as a key advantage, picking up all his bid supply centres including one he expected to bounce – giving him fleet dominance in the Aegean from the start (1 hr 40 mins) The bid mechanics are recapped for any listeners unfamiliar with the variant: each player has 4 tokens to bid on non-core supply centres; outbid or bounce and you don't get the build. Ken's fortunate opening bids gave him a decisive early position (1 hr 40 mins 30 secs) A practical tip for vDiplomacy players: always open the large map after adjudication. The small map can omit orders that didn't go through, making moves look different from what was actually played. Ken noted several instances in the Dionysus game where support orders that failed simply weren't visible on the small map (1 hr 45 mins 45 secs) Ken congratulates himself on the win and notes the ratings gap between the two has now closed to around 100 points (1 hr 47 mins 30 secs) New game announced: Gavin has set up a Pirates game titled Ahoy Mateys on vDiplomacy. Gunboat, 2-day 2-hour phase length. Ken explains the extra 2 hours: it gradually shifts the adjudication time back toward Australian time zones in games where everyone readies up early (1 hr 48 mins) Pirates variant overview: a 13-player variant set in the golden age of piracy in the Caribbean, created by Gavin in collaboration with Ollie (the vDiplomacy site administrator). The 13 players are broken into three factions (1 hr 51 mins 45 secs): Europeans – Spain, England, France, and Holland, who nominally control supply centres across the map but must capture them to make them count Pirates – five pirates, four historical (Montbas, Brasiliano, de la Cueva, and Johnson) and one fictitious: El Guapo, borrowed from the movie The Three Amigos Privateers – one per European power, operating as private navies with letters patent. They can attack anyone except their sponsoring power (and vice versa). The Dunkirkers serve Spain, Henry Morgan serves England, François Le Jones serves France, and the Rocherson serves Holland Unit rules: all units are fleets, but there are two types – Clippers (move up to two spaces, standard attack strength) and Frigates (move one space, attack at 1.5x strength). A single clipper cannot defend against an attacking frigate, but a clipper supported by another clipper can. Five marked spots on the board allow transformation between unit types (1 hr 57 mins 45 secs) Special rules: a voodoo witch's hut in Cuba allows a fleet on the north coast to teleport to the south coast and vice versa. And a 14th non-playing character – a Hurricane – spins up each storm season in a random sea territory, moves randomly in the fall turn, and destroys anything in its path with an effectively unstoppable attack strength, also resetting any supply centre it passes through to neutral (1 hr 59 mins) Ken commits to reading the full rules before play begins, notes Pirates has a genuine following on vDiplomacy with games regularly in progress, and suspects he may get slaughtered (2 hr 1 min 15 secs) Gavin and Ken wrap up the show (2 hr 2 mins 15 secs) Venue: At home Drinks for the interview: Ken: One of his home brews – a lager with a bit of a kick Gavin: A Baliamo Nero d'Avola from Sicily – opened two weeks prior, which he noted had become a little sour and bitter compared to its fresh opening, much like his first round at the tournament Just a reminder you can support the show by giving it 5 stars on iTunes or Stitcher. And don't forget if you want to help pay off the audio equipment… or get the guys more drunk, you can also donate at Patreon, plus you get extra podcast episodes! Lastly, don't forget to subscribe so you get the latest Diplomacy Games episodes straight to your phone. Thanks as always to Dr Dan aka "The General" for his rockin' intro tune.

In the Middle Ages, hell was useful because it was vaguely defined. Canonical scriptures scarcely mention hell, leaving much to the imaginations of early Christians, who used it to sort out who belonged within the faith. Translating hell: Vernacular theology and apocrypha in the medieval North Sea (Manchester University Press, 2026) by Dr. Stephen C. E. Hopkins explores how hell became a place for literary experiments with local challenges in theology and identity. Following the reception and transformations of two popular hell apocrypha, it argues that they served as this role because of their liminal textual authority. As noncanonical scriptures, apocrypha afforded medieval writers space to revise their hells (since they were not actually scripture), while also encouraging readers to revere those experiments as valid (since they seemed like scripture). The book brings together adaptations from early medieval England, Iceland, Ireland, and Wales, placing the early vernacular theologies of the North Sea in comparative conversation. This interview was conducted by Dr. Miranda Melcher whose book focuses on post-conflict military integration, understanding treaty negotiation and implementation in civil war contexts, with qualitative analysis of the Angolan and Mozambican civil wars. You can find Miranda's interviews on New Books with Miranda Melcher, wherever you get your podcasts.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network

Jeff Lederer is a Saxophonist/clarinetist/composer who has been included in the Downbeat Critics' and Readers' poll each year since 2014.  He leads ensembles including the “Shakers n' Bakers”, “Sunwatcher Quartet,” and “Brooklyn Blowhards” and is the founder and director of the Visionary Youth Orchestra.  Mr. Lederer also plays in the groups of Matt Wilson, Bobby Sanabria, Allison Miller, Jimmy Bosch, and many others.  Lederer was named as a “Musician to Watch in 2017” by JazzWise magazine in London and has appeared in the North Sea, Molde, Monterey, Chicago, Earshot Seattle, Azores, and Guimaraes Jazz festivals, where he was the 2017 artist-in-residence.  Lederer is currently serving as Director of Jazz Studies and Professor of Jazz Saxophone at Long Island University.  Jeff's cross-stylistic composition/arranging projects include “Los Sazones”, a salsa reimagining of Vivaldi's “Four Seasons” which was commissioned by the Ravinia Festival for the Chicago Symphony and has been performed by many major orchestras, including the Los Angeles Philharmonic at the Hollywood Bowl. As an educator, Jeff is currently Director of Jazz Studies and MTEP (Music Technology, Entrepreneurship and Production) at Long Island University Post Campus.  Jeff has worked with Jazz At Lincoln Center Education programs and is the founder of the Visionary Youth Orchestra for the Vision Festival. He has taught workshops and residencies in jazz and saxophone at the University of Miami, New England Conservatory, Dartmouth College, SUNY Binghamton, University of Northern Iowa, and many other leading jazz departments. 

Jeremy Kyle unpacks the latest poll as Reform UK widens its lead over Labour, as Makerfield's by-election intensifies pressure on Sir Keir Starmer's leadership. GMB leader, Gary Smith warns Labour's Net Zero and North Sea stance is pushing economically insecure union members towards Reform. David Lammy challenges JD Vance over Henry Nowak's murder, amid policing scrutiny, sentencing questions, and a kirpan law review.Wake up with Talk Breakfast in full on YouTube, DAB+ radio, Samsung TV Plus or the Talk App on your TV from 6am every morning. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the Middle Ages, hell was useful because it was vaguely defined. Canonical scriptures scarcely mention hell, leaving much to the imaginations of early Christians, who used it to sort out who belonged within the faith. Translating hell: Vernacular theology and apocrypha in the medieval North Sea (Manchester University Press, 2026) by Dr. Stephen C. E. Hopkins explores how hell became a place for literary experiments with local challenges in theology and identity. Following the reception and transformations of two popular hell apocrypha, it argues that they served as this role because of their liminal textual authority. As noncanonical scriptures, apocrypha afforded medieval writers space to revise their hells (since they were not actually scripture), while also encouraging readers to revere those experiments as valid (since they seemed like scripture). The book brings together adaptations from early medieval England, Iceland, Ireland, and Wales, placing the early vernacular theologies of the North Sea in comparative conversation. This interview was conducted by Dr. Miranda Melcher whose book focuses on post-conflict military integration, understanding treaty negotiation and implementation in civil war contexts, with qualitative analysis of the Angolan and Mozambican civil wars. You can find Miranda's interviews on New Books with Miranda Melcher, wherever you get your podcasts.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/intellectual-history

In the Middle Ages, hell was useful because it was vaguely defined. Canonical scriptures scarcely mention hell, leaving much to the imaginations of early Christians, who used it to sort out who belonged within the faith. Translating hell: Vernacular theology and apocrypha in the medieval North Sea (Manchester University Press, 2026) by Dr. Stephen C. E. Hopkins explores how hell became a place for literary experiments with local challenges in theology and identity. Following the reception and transformations of two popular hell apocrypha, it argues that they served as this role because of their liminal textual authority. As noncanonical scriptures, apocrypha afforded medieval writers space to revise their hells (since they were not actually scripture), while also encouraging readers to revere those experiments as valid (since they seemed like scripture). The book brings together adaptations from early medieval England, Iceland, Ireland, and Wales, placing the early vernacular theologies of the North Sea in comparative conversation. This interview was conducted by Dr. Miranda Melcher whose book focuses on post-conflict military integration, understanding treaty negotiation and implementation in civil war contexts, with qualitative analysis of the Angolan and Mozambican civil wars. You can find Miranda's interviews on New Books with Miranda Melcher, wherever you get your podcasts.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/european-studies

In the Middle Ages, hell was useful because it was vaguely defined. Canonical scriptures scarcely mention hell, leaving much to the imaginations of early Christians, who used it to sort out who belonged within the faith. Translating hell: Vernacular theology and apocrypha in the medieval North Sea (Manchester University Press, 2026) by Dr. Stephen C. E. Hopkins explores how hell became a place for literary experiments with local challenges in theology and identity. Following the reception and transformations of two popular hell apocrypha, it argues that they served as this role because of their liminal textual authority. As noncanonical scriptures, apocrypha afforded medieval writers space to revise their hells (since they were not actually scripture), while also encouraging readers to revere those experiments as valid (since they seemed like scripture). The book brings together adaptations from early medieval England, Iceland, Ireland, and Wales, placing the early vernacular theologies of the North Sea in comparative conversation. This interview was conducted by Dr. Miranda Melcher whose book focuses on post-conflict military integration, understanding treaty negotiation and implementation in civil war contexts, with qualitative analysis of the Angolan and Mozambican civil wars. You can find Miranda's interviews on New Books with Miranda Melcher, wherever you get your podcasts.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/religion

Sookie goes undercover to get intel on Bill's whereabouts and imperils herself in the process. Tara and Franklin's meetcute turns meetTerrifying right quick! Eric apparently smells like the North Sea and isn't insulted about it (question mark?) The Jason pendulum continues to swing! Rewatch, Listen & Laugh we start a new weekly segment, Ash is brave and admits that her REWATCHER picker might be broken and Alaina leans in to appreciation of Eric! And don't forget to follow us at @the_rewatcher on Instagram for special bonus content!!  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Artificial intelligence is viewed with less optimism in the U.S. than in other countries. The reason for that could be related to messaging around the rapidly advancing technology: In America, the focus is on potential job loss; elsewhere, AI is pitched as an economic boon. Also: today's stories, including how the Israeli military is escalating its campaign against Hezbollah in Lebanon; how skyrocketing energy costs have the U.K. looking for solutions — including more drilling for oil and gas in the North Sea; and how one group of widows in Kosovo show that loss does not have to define a life. Join the Monitor's Linda Feldmann for today's news.

The US public's tastes and habits are fragmenting, leading to new consumer behaviours. The shift from a handful of TV networks to an endless supply of streamed shows and social media clips is just one of many causes. Investment manager Dave Bujnowski discusses the characteristics that determine which growth companies should thrive in the resulting ‘high entropy' environment.Dave Bujnowski is an investment manager in our US Equity Growth Team and co-manager of the Baillie Gifford U.S. Equity Growth Fund and our American Fund. In this conversation, he tells Short Briefings… host Leo Kelion about his work with anthropologist Dr Grant McCracken, studying the causes and effects of the fragmentation of American culture. They believe that US culture is a system that has entered a ‘high entropy state' – meaning that tastes and habits no longer change in an orderly manner. The result is “tremendous instability” and a sense of “continual pandemonium”. This shift, they argue, has implications for growth companies and helps explain why some are struggling to maintain mass-market appeal. But the disorder also plays to others' advantage, and they have sought to identify which will thrive and why. Portfolio companies discussed include:·      Cloudflare – the service that protects websites from attack and optimises their performance·      DraftKings – the sports gambling platform that lets Americans bet on sporting events·      Samsara – the Internet of Things specialist helping companies track and make sense of data·      SharkNinja – the home appliance company behind the CREAMi ice-cream maker·      Shopify – the ecommerce platform serving merchants ·       Resources:Dr Grant McCrackenShort Briefings on Long Term Thinking podcast archiveThe Long View collectionThinking in SystemsWhen systems fragment: entropy, cultural change and the next great US companies  Companies mentioned include:·      Alphabet (Google)·      Amazon·      Cloudflare·      DraftKings·      Meta·      Netflix·      Samsara·      SharkNinja·      Shopify·      SpaceX Timecodes:00:00  Introduction02:05  System-level thinking03:20  How change happens06:10   Entropy and fragmentation08:15   A conversation with Cloudflare's CEO10:20   Ants and anthropology13:25   Grant McCracken on North Sea culture15:15   The causes of splintering culture17:05   New consumer behaviours19:15   Challenging times for lululemon21:00   Shopify and agility23:10   Agentic commerce25:40  SharkNinja and new niches28:30  DraftKings and cultural anchors30:40  Samsara's entropy antidote32:10   Finance and space: systems to watch33:50  Book choice  Glossary of terms (in order of mention): Entropy: In this podcast, a metaphor for systems becoming more fragmented, varied and harder to predict.Cash flows: The money moving into and out of a business.Market cap: The total stock-market value of a company: share price multiplied by number of shares.S&P 500: A major US stock-market index of large companies.Second law of thermodynamics: A physics principle often simplified as the tendency of energy in a closed system to spread out over time. Mainframe: A large, central computer used by organisations to process major computing tasks. Big iron: Informal technology term for large, powerful central computers. MMA: Mixed martial arts, a full-contact combat sport. Delulu: Internet slang for optimistic or unrealistic self-belief. Short for ‘delusional'. Traffic aggregation: Bringing together large numbers of users or customers in one place, often online. Total addressable market (TAM): The total potential market size for a product or service if it reached all possible customers. Prediction markets: Markets where people trade contracts based on the likelihood of future events. Internet of Things: Everyday equipment connected to the internet so it can collect and share data.     

For nearly two decades, net zero has sat at the heart of Britain's policy agenda. Once framed as a clear moral imperative, it saw political parties promising to slash carbon emissions and ministers racing to position the UK as a leader on the international stage. But as economic pressures and global instability mount, that consensus is beginning to fray.Recent shocks – from the pandemic to war-driven energy crises – have exposed the fragility of supply chains and the risks of overreliance on external energy sources. While renewables like wind and solar can supplement carbon fuels, they also raise questions around cost, subsidy and reliability. At the same time, drilling for oil in the North Sea is penalised. So where does this leave Britain? As a relatively small contributor to global emissions, is the UK leading the way in adopting net zero – or putting its own economic resilience at risk?Listen here to a section of our recent live debate, where Lord Lilley and journalist Liam Halligan went up against Bob Ward, of the influential Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change and the Environment, and Shahrar Ali, former deputy leader of the Green party. Chaired by The Spectator's assistant editor, Isabel Hardman. Become a Spectator subscriber today to access this podcast without adverts. Go to spectator.co.uk/adfree to find out more.For more Spectator podcasts, go to spectator.co.uk/podcasts.Contact us: podcast@spectator.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Reform UK is currently the most popular party in Britain. If voted into government, it wants to end all subsidies for renewable energy, ban battery energy storage, end net-zero targets, drill for more oil and gas in the North Sea and encourage fracking on British soil. This week on Zero, Akshat Rathi asks Reform’s deputy leader Richard Tice about the party’s climate and energy plans, and why he calls it “net stupid zero.” Explore further: Read the full annotated transcript of this conversation Worst Start to Wildfire Season Raises Alarm as El Niño Threatens Scientists Ditch Worst-Case Climate Scenario For Good Reasons Zero is a production of Bloomberg Green. Our producer is Oscar Boyd. Special thanks to Sommer Saadi, Mohsis Andam, Sharon Chen and Laura Millan. Thoughts or suggestions? Email us at zeropod@bloomberg.net. For more coverage of climate change and solutions, visit https://www.bloomberg.com/green.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's EV News Briefly for Sunday 17 May 2026, everything you need to know in less than 5 minutes if you haven't got time for the full show.Patreon supporters fund this show, get the episodes ad free, as soon as they're ready and are part of the EV News Daily Community. You can be like them by clicking here: https://www.patreon.com/EVNewsDailyRIVIAN OPENS R2 CONFIGURATOR EARLYRivian has opened the R2 configurator for reservation holders, with production already underway in Normal, Illinois and some areas seeing delivery windows as short as 1–6 weeks. Only the R2 Performance is currently available at $57,990, offering 656 hp, 330 miles of range, and a 3.6-second 0–60 time, with the R2 Premium and R2 Standard following later in 2026 and 2027 respectively.RIVIAN ASSISTANT REACHES R1 OWNERSRivian has rolled out its AI-powered voice assistant to existing R1T and R1S owners via firmware update 2026.15, replacing Amazon Alexa and activated by saying "Hey, Rivian" or through steering-wheel controls. The system handles navigation, HVAC, and media playback, requires a Connect+ subscription, works only in English, and processes voice recognition on-device to reduce latency.USED EV PRICES LEAD UK MARKETUsed EVs led the UK used car market for price growth in April 2026 for the first time this year, with prices rising 1.1% month on month — the strongest increase of any fuel type. Higher fuel costs and rising demand for alternative-fuel vehicles drove the surge, with used EV sales volumes up 33% in March and April combined compared to January and February.GREEN TECH NOW SHAPES HOME BUYINGResearch by E.On Next found that 93% of 1,000 prospective UK homebuyers want green energy features such as solar panels and EV charging in their next property, with 70% now considering energy technology non-negotiable. Rising energy costs are the main driver for 52% of respondents, and E.On Next's own sales reflect the trend, with solar and battery sales up 182% and heat pump sales up 129% since February 2026.GRIZZL-E CLUB HITS 10,000 MEMBERSCanada's Grizzl-E Club reached 10,000 members on May 14, 2026, doubling its membership in roughly two months since passing 5,000 in March. Run by United Chargers, the no-fee programme uses Clean Fuel Credits to fund free home charging hardware, lifetime warranties, and energy cashback, with members having received CA$300,000 in rewards to date.GERMAN TRIAL TURNS PARKED EVS INTO FERRY BATTERIESA German research project called BIDI-EL will test using parked EVs at a North Sea ferry terminal as temporary energy storage to help charge electric ferries when they return to port. Led by Osnabrück University and ferry operator Norden-Frisia, the €164,894-funded trial combines solar panels, existing fixed battery storage, and EV batteries to maximise renewable energy use, running until January 2027.RISING POWER BILLS HIT EV CHARGING SATISFACTIONThe J.D. Power 2026 U.S. EVX Home Charging Study found that rising electricity costs and poor owner education are reducing EV satisfaction, with Level 1 portable charger satisfaction dropping 12 points year-over-year to 569 out of 1,000. Only 12% of owners have enrolled in utility smart charging programmes despite 69% awareness, and just 20% of buyers received home charging guidance from their dealer.DISNEYLAND AUTOPIA GOES ELECTRIC IN 2027Disneyland will replace the petrol-powered cars on its iconic Autopia ride with electric vehicles in 2027 as part of Disney's goal to reach net-zero emissions by 2030, following a $56,000 settlement with the California Air Resources Board over emissions violations. Original Autopia car designer Bob Gurr, now 94, confirmed the new electric cars will keep the same dimensions and track layout, with upgraded lighting and sound effects added.