logo
Spaceport Cornwall to help develop hypersonic defences

Spaceport Cornwall to help develop hypersonic defences

BBC News4 days ago
Spaceport Cornwall has been selected by the government to help develop hypersonic defence technology for the UK.The site based at Cornwall Newquay Airport is one of 90 organisations chosen to be part of the Ministry of Defence's £1bn Hypersonic Technologies and Capability Development Framework.The seven-year programme aims to research and develop hypersonic technology - such as guidance systems, warheads and liquid propellants - as part of the government's Strategic Defence Review.Spaceport bosses said the site's horizontal launch capabilities and location opposite RAF St Mawgan were beneficial for the scheme.
Ross Hulbert, head of engagement at Spaceport Cornwall, said the site was ready to support the testing, development and deployment of the UK's future defences."This is a defining moment for Spaceport Cornwall and demonstrates our commitment to supporting Britain's defence capabilities," he said."Our unique position as the UK's first licensed spaceport, combined with our world-class facilities and proximity to both civilian and military aviation infrastructure, makes us ideally suited to contribute to this vital national capability," he said.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Britain will benefit from Indian migrants, says Modi
Britain will benefit from Indian migrants, says Modi

Telegraph

time15 minutes ago

  • Telegraph

Britain will benefit from Indian migrants, says Modi

The UK will benefit from the arrival of more skilled workers from India under a new deal, Narendra Modi has said. India and the UK have agreed an arrangement which will make it easier for people from each country to go to the other and work on a temporary basis. The Indian prime minister said the deal will 'inject new energy into the service sectors of both countries' and the UK economy will 'benefit from India's skilled talent'. He confirmed a deal had been agreed on the so-called double contributions convention (DCC) as he signed a broader UK-India free trade deal alongside Sir Keir Starmer at Chequers in Buckinghamshire on Thursday. Sir Keir faced accusations of implementing a two-tier tax system when the DCC issue came to light in May. The deal means Indian workers employed by an India-based employer will be able to work in the UK for up to three years without paying National Insurance. They will continue to pay into Indian social security during that period, with reciprocal rules in place for UK workers who go to India. The change was a key demand made by Indian negotiators but it prompted a backlash from some opposition politicians in the UK who claimed it risked undercutting British workers. The deal comes a matter of months after Labour imposed higher National Insurance on British companies and follows calls from within Labour for the party to toughen its immigration stance amid the rise of Reform UK. Rachel Reeves, the Chancellor, increased National Insurance contributions for employers in last year's Budget in order to raise an extra £25bn in tax. The change took effect in April this year. The Tories have argued the move has suffocated economic growth. Speaking alongside Sir Keir at Chequers, Mr Modi said they had 'reached a consensus on the double contribution convention'. 'This will inject new energy into the service sectors of both countries, especially in technology and finance,' he said. 'It will promote ease of doing business, reduce cost of doing business and increase the confidence of doing business. 'Additionally the UK's economy would benefit from India's skilled talent. 'These agreements will enhance investments and generate new employment opportunities in both countries.' The Government said the arrangement 'is not expected to have a long-term impact on net migration'. Jonathan Reynolds, the Business and Trade Secretary, said it was 'completely false' to claim British workers could be undercut. On BBC Radio 4's Today programme he said: 'On this issue, I can tell you without a shadow of a doubt if you were to hire an Indian worker they would pay exactly the same taxes as a British worker, you would have higher costs because of the visa charges, the NHS surcharge. 'It is completely false to say any British worker is undercut by this deal. I would never agree a deal that undercuts the people I represent or grew up with. That is completely wrong. 'The specifics of this are that a person on a temporary secondment from an Indian company to the UK or a UK company to India pays into their own social security systems for a short period of time if they are here on a temporary basis.'

Plans for woodland battery energy farm in Overseal approved
Plans for woodland battery energy farm in Overseal approved

BBC News

time15 minutes ago

  • BBC News

Plans for woodland battery energy farm in Overseal approved

A battery energy farm is set to be built in Derbyshire after a planning application was Derbyshire District Council backed a bid for a site on Park Road in Overseal at a meeting on scheme, from Care Power (Overseal) Ltd, will involve chopping down 2.5 acres of National Forest woodland next to a recently-developed holiday lodge site, with more than 50 battery shipping containers taking their Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) said some residents called the decision "an utter disgrace". The facility will be able to store 50MW of electricity and provide power for 17,236 homes each will be connected by 7.5km of cabling to the former Drakelow power station the LDRS said. 'Significant benefits' Anne Hughes, chairman of Overseal Parish Council, had told the meeting that developing the site "would be a significant loss of amenity for residents"."We recognise the need for battery storage facilities, but they should be sited in industrial locations, which are available in South Derbyshire, not in the heart of the National Forest," she said."The elderly there [in a nearby retirement home] are fearful that their peaceful haven will be shattered by the noise, traffic and pollution."Jake Stentiford, agent for the applicant, said the scheme carried "significant benefits", including the avoidance of 9,600 tonnes of carbon emissions."It is an excellent opportunity for the country to deliver energy and national security and protect them from external shocks, with long-term improvements for the area," he to the LDRS, councillors had been deadlocked at six votes for and six votes against the scheme, with one, Labour's Ian Hudson, Gareth Jones used his casting vote to approve the said any bid to block the development could see "costs awarded against us time and time again"."Refusing this would be nothing other than a temporary reprieve," he added. "It is very clear that if we refuse this it will go to appeal and we would lose and probably have costs awarded."It would be a futile gesture."

Fears UK gas stockpile to drop for winter as British Gas owner plans sell-off
Fears UK gas stockpile to drop for winter as British Gas owner plans sell-off

The Guardian

time15 minutes ago

  • The Guardian

Fears UK gas stockpile to drop for winter as British Gas owner plans sell-off

Britain may have lower gas stockpiles going into the winter after the owner of British Gas indicated it plans to sell its stored gas to help reduce losses at a North Sea gas storage facility. Centrica said the financial losses from its Rough gas storage business were not sustainable, meaning it would aim to sell the existing gas at the site without restocking before winter. The FTSE 100 energy company is lobbying the government to help support the site, which lost £26m in the first half of the year, according to the company's financial results, after making £53m in profit a year ago. The dwindling returns from Centrica's gas storage business, combined with mild weather and falling wholesale energy prices, caused the company's profits to halve from more than £1bn in the first half of last year, to about £500m in the first six months of 2025. Chris O'Shea, Centrica's chief executive, said this year had 'seen more challenging conditions' for British Gas, which made £133m in operating profit in the first half of the year compared with £156m in the same months last year. He also took a swipe at the company's nearest household energy rival, Octopus Energy, for reportedly failing to meet the regulator's financial resilience targets, which were put in place to prevent energy companies from going bankrupt. Octopus is one of three big energy suppliers that have reportedly failed to meet Ofgem's financial thresholds and have been asked to present a plan to the regulator to show how they will meet the rules in the next two years. O'Shea said that it was 'outrageous' and 'criminal' that Ofgem had not stopped Octopus from acquiring new customers until it met the new rules, introduced after scores of suppliers collapsed during the energy crisis. He launched his attack on Octopus months after the supplier, founded by Greg Jackson, toppled British Gas from its position as Britain's biggest home energy provider for the first time in the almost four decades since the industry was privatised. Octopus called O'Shea's comments 'yet more naked self-interest' and suggested that British Gas 'obsess about their customers rather than their rivals'. Its spokesperson added that Octopus complied fully with Ofgem's rules. Sign up to Business Today Get set for the working day – we'll point you to all the business news and analysis you need every morning after newsletter promotion The two chief executives were also on opposing sides of the industry's debate over zonal energy pricing earlier this year: O'Shea cautioned against overhauling Britain's energy market, while Jackson was the most vocal supporter of the plans – which ministers have since been ruled out. O'Shea said that he did not expect a swift response from the government on Centrica's call for financial support for Rough, but the company was able to inject gas into the storage facility for this winter if a resolution was found. Centrica reopened Britain's largest gas storage site in late 2022 amid Europe's energy crisis, when rocketing prices helped make the facility financially attractive. But as European gas market prices cooled Rough has put financial pressure on the company.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store