Latest news with #AndrewCook
Daily Mail
a day ago
- Science
- Daily Mail
Britain must retain the means of making iron, says Sir Andrew Cook
Sir Andrew Cook is a leading British industrialist. 'Iron, Cold Iron, is the master of men all'. So reads Rudyard Kipling's memorable poem, and so might the steel men of Scunthorpe have recited with relief when learning their jobs had been saved from the Chinese wrecking ball. This steelworks, and its blast furnaces in particular, has been much in the news recently, the commentary fuelled more by ignorance and emotion than plain fact. For that fact is that a blast furnace, for all its association with the crag-jowelled ironmasters of nineteenth century England, is essential to any modern nation wishing to remain in what we still call the first world. Put aside the issues of pollution and climate change and consider instead the reality. You cannot make steel without iron, and you cannot make iron without a blast furnace. For iron does not exist naturally in its pure state. It is embedded within a brownish-coloured rock called iron ore. To extract the iron from the rock, the rock has first to be smelted. The term 'smelting', as you would expect, refers to melting plus something more. The 'something more' in this case is a chemical reaction which changes the fundamental composition of the material being smelted. In chemistry terms, the composition of the rock – iron ore – is changed into two separate materials, iron itself, and a residue which we call slag. This process can only be done in a blast furnace using coke, a fuel derived from coal, which provides both the heat and the carbon, the two being essential to the reaction. Iron ore plus carbon plus heat gives you iron plus slag. The slag goes mostly to waste – some is used to make roads. The iron is now ready to be made into steel. 'But can't you also make steel in an electric arc furnace? This is what we are told, and the arc furnace is so much greener. Isn't all that carbon dioxide that the blast furnace spews out avoided with the arc furnace?' I am sorry to disappoint you but the answer is 'No' on both counts. An electric arc furnace can only reprocess old scrap steel. Iron ore, being a rock, doesn't conduct electricity. Moreover, repeated recycling of old steel gradually de-purifies it, with levels of contaminants building up to a point where the steel cannot be used for certain essential purposes, notably military and medical use. So if you need pure steel, you need iron, and if you cannot supply the iron yourself, you have to import it. Someone, somewhere, has to use a blast furnace to make the iron from which is made the steel. Who is that someone? Well, if Britain has no blast furnaces, it has to be from across the English Channel, and possibly from a distant, and maybe potentially hostile part of the world. They can refuse to supply or charge us what they like. China uses its vast steel industry as a geo-political tool, its objective being to destroy those of weaker countries unwilling or unable to defend their own. Moreover, it is a known fact that the quality of Chinese steel cannot be trusted – just ask any construction worker. 'OK' you say, 'but what about the massive carbon footprint of the blast furnace?' Let there be no doubt, the blast furnace does emit a large quantity of carbon dioxide. But set this against three facts. Firstly, carbon dioxide is not a poison. It is an inert gas essential to plant growth. Without it, there is no food and the human race dies out. Secondly, if Britain does not have a blast furnace, the country's needs must be satisfied by someone else's. Global iron production indelibly emits a set quantity of CO2. The effect of Britain closing its blast furnaces on worldwide carbon emissions is precisely zero. And thirdly, don't get the idea the electric arc furnace is carbon-free. It also emits CO2, produced by its carbon electrodes, which steadily turn into gas as the melting process consumes them. As in most things, a balance must be struck. If Britain wishes to remain in the first rank of nations, it needs a steel industry, and this has to include at least one blast furnace. If it wishes to be self-sufficient in the manufacturing of steel products, essential to national security and well-being, it must retain the means of making iron. Britain has the skills, the equipment, and the essential coking coal from the Cumberland mine that has been short-sightedly refused planning permission by the authorities. Let common sense now overcome ignorance and emotion. The nation's security and industrial well-being are at stake.
Business Journals
2 days ago
- Business
- Business Journals
Food From the Bar campaign gives DC's legal community a chance to compete to take on hunger
Lawyers across the District spent the month of May competing against each other to see who could make the biggest impact on hunger. During the annual Food From the Bar campaign, now in its 17th year, DC law firms, law schools, law societies, and legal professionals went toe to toe, working to outdo each other in raising funds that will help families, children, and individuals in need. All told, the remarkable efforts of the 40 participating law firms and legal associations generated over $500,000 to support the Capital Area Food Bank's mission. These funds come at a critical time. Over the summer, children who rely on school meals for much of their nourishment no longer have access to them. And many parents have difficulty covering the increased grocery costs that result from having children home all day. The Capital Area Food Bank is there to help fill the nutritional gap that kids and families face during the summer months, and the DC legal community's support plays an essential role in making that possible. While the Food From the Bar campaign exists to address a serious issue, the lawyers who join in make it a point to have a lot of fun while they're working to achieve their fundraising goals. Participants have come together to raise money via everything from happy hours to trivia events to a pickleball tournament at Congressional Country Club. This enthusiasm and creativity from everyone involved is a significant reason for the campaign's ongoing success, and among the primary factors that have allowed it to generate the funds for nearly 10 million meals since it began. expand Players at a pickleball tournament organized through Food From the Bar, the DC legal community's campaign to raise funds that support neighbors facing food insecurity. Courtesy photo Food From the Bar's history of strong leadership is also a major contributor to its enduring impact. This year was no different, with Andrew Cook of K&L Gates and Kelly Fisher of DC Water and Sewer Authority co-chairing the committee of lawyers and other professionals that partner with the Capital Area Food Bank to organize and execute the campaign. Thanks to these individuals, along with the collective support of long-time partners DLA Piper, K&L Gates, Crowell & Moring, Thompson Coburn, Arnold & Porter, Akin — and many others — DC's legal community is continuing to help our neighbors get the good food they need to thrive — today and well into the future. To learn more about how the Food from the Bar campaign supports the Capital Area Food Bank's mission, and to get involved, please contact Megan Curran at mcurran@ The Capital Area Food Bank annually provides more than 60 million meals-worth of food to people in need by supplying food to hundreds of regional nonprofits. It also partners with area organizations to address hunger's root causes by pairing food with critical services such as education and health care.
The Sun
17-05-2025
- The Sun
Brit tourist fighting for his life after being ‘stabbed and thrown out of a car' in holiday hotspot as cops launch probe
A BRIT tourist has been fighting for his life after he was allegedly stabbed and thrown out of his car in a popular holiday hotspot. Andrew Joseph Cook, 36, from Manchester, was reportedly travelling with three foreigners inside a white Toyota SUV when he was attacked in Pattaya, Thailand. 6 6 Cops have now launched a manhunt for the driver who allegedly hauled him from the backseat of the SUV and tossed him out on the pavement. Cook was reportedly already injured and bleeding before being dumped. The driver is then alleged to have stabbed him on the pavement with a knife before fleeing from the scene with the group. His injuries on his chest and stomach were so deep that internal fat poured out. The left side of his face had also sustained a deep 10cm slash. The wounds were so deep that blood still flowed through the bandage that emergency responders put on. Footage shows a barely conscious Andrew lying on the pavement while paramedics tended to him. Andrew was then rushed to Pattaya Pathomkhun Hospital, where he is in intensive care. It is unclear if other people in the car were involved in the attack. A local taxi driver who witnessed the shocking attack immediately called the police. Knifeman on loose as 5 stabbed 'at London party' in early hours sparking major hunt The cabbie said: "A white Toyota Veloz drove into the parking lot. Two foreign men and one woman got out of the car. "I heard shouting and then the car sped away. The foreign man was lying on the ground in pain." The driver added he was scared for his life, so he did not interfere, but he was able to take a picture of the assailant's car and plate number. Police Lieutenant Colonel Suthiraphan Tapsri said: "We are urgently working on intercepting the car. It fled on Pattaya South Road, but there is still no sign of the perpetrator. "The British man is still unable to give a statement. Our initial investigation shows he knew the attackers, and an argument could have led to the attack." Officers are currently reviewing CCTV in the area to trace the car that the alleged attackers used to escape. It comes after a British nursing student was brutally stabbed to death in her Texas flat just days before graduating. Tamilore Odunsi, 23, was found dead with multiple stab wounds in the kitchen of her Houston apartment after police forced their way in during a welfare check. 6 6 6 Cops have revealed she had been living with a man she barely knew before her tragic death. The aspiring nurse, who moved from London to the US in 2022 to pursue her dreams, was just weeks away from qualifying and had posted to TikTok celebrating the milestone. Officers were called to the scene after a friend of her dad's raised the alarm when they couldn't get hold of her. Blood was spotted on the rear patio, and cops broke into the two-bed flat. Meanwhile, mum Karen Carter was brutally murdered outside her home in a French village by someone holding a grudge, her husband fears. The mum, 65, died from severe blood loss after being stabbed multiple times, as a 69-year-old former "female friend" remained in custody over the apparent murder.
Yahoo
04-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Three chip shops recognised among the best in the UK
Three West Sussex chip shops have been recognised among the best in the UK. Master Fryer shops in Crawley, Horsham, and Billingshurst received the National Federation of Fish Friers Quality Award. The award recognises fish and chip shops across the country for good quality products and high standards of hygiene. A spokesperson for The Master Fryer said: 'We are delighted to gain our place in the scheme once again. 'To be able to have got each one of our shops separately recognised as some of the best in the country is indeed an honour and a credit to our hardworking staff, who I would like to offer my sincere thanks for their continued hard work and efforts to main out excellent reputation. "I would personally like to thank all our customers, new and old. The support and encouragement they have offered has been great. 'It has motivated us to maintain our high standards which have been recognised with this accreditation.' To qualify for the award, stores are put through a series of inspections where the business is assessed on a number of factors. Staff at the Crawley and Billingshurst store (Image: The Master Fryer) These include the store's presentation, hygiene levels, cleanliness, staff training, equipment, frying, sales skills, and the quality of cooked products. The NFFF hope the award will encourage other outlets to raise their standards and signal to consumers that they can buy with confidence. President of NFFF, Andrew Cook said: 'The NFFF Quality Accreditation scheme is extremely comprehensive. 'Food safety is a key area that we examine together with other key aspects of the business including the preparation and cooking equipment, to the management of paperwork and the traceability of fish. 'The Master Fryer clearly takes pride in where it sources its fish and potatoes from. Achieving the NFFF Quality Accreditation provides reassurance to customer that they are being served cooked food using high-quality ingredients.' The stores will hold the accreditation for a year and retention is dependent on standards being maintained.
USA Today
10-02-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Idaho at Eastern Washington odds, tips and betting trends
The Eastern Washington Eagles (9-16, 5-7 Big Sky) aim to extend a three-game winning streak when they host the Idaho Vandals (11-14, 6-6 Big Sky) at 7:00 PM ET on Saturday, February 15, 2025 at Reese Court. The game airs on ESPN+. In this preview, we breakdown the Eastern Washington vs. Idaho odds and lines for this contest. No line has been set yet for the Eagles vs. Vandals matchup. Eastern Washington has put together a 7-16-0 record against the spread this season, while Idaho is 9-13-1. The Eagles have an 11-12-0 record going over the point total, while games involving the Vandals have a record of 15-8-0 when it comes to hitting the over. Over the past 10 games, Eastern Washington has a 3-7 record against the spread while going 4-6 overall. Idaho has gone 4-6 against the spread and 5-5 overall in its last 10 matches. Here's everything you need to get ready for Saturday's college hoops game. Check out: USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll Eastern Washington vs. Idaho prediction Eastern Washington 76, Idaho 72 Against the spread Eastern Washington has covered seven times in 23 matchups with a spread this season. Idaho has covered nine times in 23 chances against the spread this year. The Eagles score only 2.2 fewer points per game (72.9) than the Vandals give up (75.1). When Eastern Washington scores more than 75.1 points, it is 3-6 against the spread and 5-6 overall. Idaho is 4-2 against the spread and 6-2 overall when giving up fewer than 72.9 points. The Vandals put up only 0.3 fewer points per game (74.4) than the Eagles give up (74.7). Idaho has put together a 7-2 ATS record and a 10-1 overall record in games it scores more than 74.7 points. Eastern Washington is 4-6 against the spread and 6-6 overall when it gives up fewer than 74.4 points. Players to watch Eastern Washington Andrew Cook paces the Eagles at 15.0 points per game, while also putting up 1.8 assists and 3.7 rebounds. Nic McClain is tops on the Eagles at 3.6 assists per contest, while also averaging 3.9 rebounds and 12.3 points. Emmett Marquardt is tops on his squad in rebounds per game (4.7), and also posts 9.0 points and 1.3 assists. Defensively, he averages 0.6 steals and 0.8 blocked shots. Idaho Jack Payne gives the Vandals 9.9 points, 5.0 rebounds and 1.9 assists per contest. He also puts up 1.4 steals and 0.4 blocked shots. Kolton Mitchell leads the Vandals in assists (3.4 per game), and posts 11.0 points and 2.6 rebounds. He also puts up 1.5 steals and 0.0 blocked shots. Julius Mims is the Vandals' top rebounder (5.6 per game), and he averages 8.8 points and 0.8 assists.
