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United States and Saudi Arabia deepen alliance with energy and critical minerals agreements
The United States and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia are strengthening their strategic ties by formalising two major agreements focused on energy collaboration and critical mineral supply chains
U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on energy cooperation and a Memorandum of Cooperation (MOC) on critical minerals during a delegation visit led by President Donald J. Trump.
These agreements show essential steps forward in U.S–Saudi relations, hoping to strengthen global energy security, promote technological innovation, and secure critical mineral resources vital for emerging industries.
Improving energy cooperation
The energy MOU signed between Secretary Wright and Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Energy, H.R.H. Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman Al Saud, outlines plans to promote collaboration in various energy sectors.
These include petroleum refining, electricity generation technologies, energy storage systems, and the use of artificial intelligence to drive innovation in the energy industry.
The agreement also emphasises expanding access to clean cooking solutions in developing nations and developing energy infrastructure across both countries.
The two nations also agreed to cooperate on civil nuclear energy, covering areas such as safety, security, nonproliferation, next-generation reactor technologies, and uranium mining.
Building minerals partnership
The U.S. and Saudi Arabia also established a new framework for joint action on critical minerals, signed by Secretary Wright and H.E. Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources, Bandar Alkhorayef.
The MOC aims to secure and diversify global supply chains for essential minerals used in clean energy technologies, electronics, and defence industries.
Both nations will explore opportunities for joint ventures in the mining, refining, and processing critical minerals. The agreement also supports investment in research institutions and workforce training programs, fostering innovation and ensuring a steady supply of materials crucial to modern technologies.
Strategic investment and future vision
These investments work alongside the announced $600 billion investment commitment from Saudi Arabia.
Together, these developments show a deeper economic and strategic relationship between the two countries and a strategic relationship between the two countries, focused on energy resilience, technological advancement, and mutual prosperity.
As global energy demands grow and competition for mineral resources intensifies, the U.S.-Saudi partnership is positioned to play a central role in shaping a secure and sustainable energy future.
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UK and Norway work together on new clean energy partnership
The United Kingdom and Norway have announced a new agreement to accelerate the transition to clean energy, support investment, and boost job creation
The partnership is part of a UK-Norway Strategic Partnership and will focus on renewable energy opportunities in the North Sea hoping to cement both countries as leaders in the green energy transition.
Driving investment in offshore wind and green hydrogen
The shared commitment to invest in offshore wind and green hydrogen projects is central to the new Green Industrial Partnership.
The North Sea is set to play a pivotal role in this strategy, with both nations agreeing to collaborate on large-scale renewable energy infrastructure.
This includes grid development, the protection of offshore installations, and reducing obstacles to developing a cross-border carbon dioxide storage hub.
With the potential to power over 120 million homes through offshore wind by 2030, the North Sea could become a renewable energy powerhouse. Research indicates closer cooperation between the UK and Norway could generate up to 51,000 new jobs, reduce household energy bills, and inject up to £36 billion into the UK economy.
A strategic focus on energy security and economic growth
The agreement comes when energy security has become a critical issue for Europe. By investing in locally generated clean energy sources, both the UK and Norway aim to reduce dependence on volatile fossil fuel markets.
The partnership also supports the UK Government’s mission to become a clean energy superpower and reduce household energy costs.
As part of the agreement, the UK and Norway will explore opportunities to unlock the vast carbon storage capacity beneath the UK’s seabed, estimated at up to 78 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide. This could be vital to Europe’s broader efforts to reduce emissions and reach climate targets.
Boosting green industry and jobs
In addition to its environmental and energy security benefits, the partnership is expected to bring substantial economic advantages. By aligning innovation, infrastructure, and industrial capacity strengths, the UK and Norway aim to create thousands of clean energy jobs and develop new green industries.
Norwegian and British companies are already playing a leading role in this transition. Norwegian energy giants such as Equinor, Statkraft, Fred Olsen, and Vårgrønn have significantly invested in UK renewable projects, including offshore wind, carbon capture and storage, and hydrogen production.
Part of a wider UK-Norway strategic partnership
This new energy agreement builds on decades of collaboration between the UK and Norway in the energy sector.
It also forms part of a wider Strategic Partnership covering defence, trade, climate change, and security. With shared goals in climate diplomacy and rainforest protection, both countries are working closely to implement the Paris Agreement and promote global sustainability.
The clean energy partnership reflects the UK’s “Plan for Change,“ which seeks to position the country as a hub for renewable innovation, job creation, and climate leadership.
With growing momentum behind the green transition, the UK and Norway’s enhanced cooperation could set a new standard for international collaboration in the renewable energy sector.
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UK solar-powered car parks will cut costs and improve clean energy
Motorists and businesses across England, Wales, and Northern Ireland could soon see the benefits of solar-powered car parks under new government proposals to cut energy bills and improve access to electric vehicle charging
The change is part of the Plan for Change, which focuses on delivering cheaper, cleaner energy while improving energy security and supporting the UK’s transition to net zero.
Creating solar-panelled car parks
The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero has launched a call for evidence to explore how installing solar canopies in car parks, known as solar carports, can help reduce costs, support EV adoption, and better use underutilised urban space. These solar carports generate electricity and provide shaded parking for motorists, improving the customer experience during hot weather.
Initial estimates suggest that a car park with 80 spaces could save up to £28,000 per year on electricity bills if all the solar energy generated is used on-site.
These savings are based on forecasted commercial energy prices from 2025 to 2054, assuming a load factor of 11% and full self-consumption of the electricity produced.
Businesses could also earn additional income by selling excess power back to the grid or through long-term power purchase agreements.
More accessible charging points for EVs
For drivers, the rollout of solar carports means access to more EV charging points, cheaper charging costs, and cooler parking during heatwaves. This move complements the government’s £2.3 billion investment to support the switch to electric vehicles, which has helped increase the number of public EV chargers in the UK to over 76,500.
In addition to supporting electric vehicles, the government is introducing the Fuel Finder scheme to help petrol and diesel drivers save at the pump.
Under the scheme, all petrol stations must share price updates within 30 minutes of any change. This real-time price transparency is expected to drive competition and save motorists between 1 and 6p per litre on average.
Making solar panels mandatory in car parks is already implemented in some countries like France and Slovenia, and the UK government is now considering a similar approach. If widely implemented, solar carports could significantly contribute to the UK’s goal of reaching 45 to 47 gigawatts (GW) of solar capacity by 2030. Since July alone, nearly 3 GW of solar capacity has already been approved, enough to meet the annual electricity needs of one million homes.
The success of solar carport’s so far.
Several large-scale installations already show the potential of this approach. Bentley Motors in Cheshire has the UK’s largest solar carport, with 10,000 panels supporting its manufacturing operations. Eastbourne District General Hospital became the first in the country to run partially on power from a solar carport, cutting its emissions by 222 tonnes in one year.
At the Metrocentre in Gateshead, over 5,300 rooftop and carport solar panels now generate 40% of the centre’s electricity needs.
The solar sector already supports around 17,500 jobs across the UK, which could grow with further investment in solar infrastructure. By converting car parks into energy-generating assets, the government hopes to reduce electricity bills, create jobs, support the EV transition, and ensure the UK remains on track to becoming a clean energy superpower.
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