| In today’s newsletter: The government has approved drilling in the Jackdaw gas field despite fierce opposition and evidence against itGood morning. After weeks of speculation, the secretary of state for energy and net zero, Miatta Fahnbulleh, approved drilling in the Jackdaw gasfield this morning. In a statement, published a few minutes before today’s First Edition, Fahnbulleh stressed that the government remains ‘resolute’ in achieving net zero by 2050. It has also announced a new wealth fund that will invest tax revenues from North Sea oil and gas into low-carbon projects. Even so, Fahnbulleh’s decision will be a monumental disappointment for climate campaigners (and I’d bet many readers of First Edition, too). So this morning’s newsletter is about two things: why the government approved Jackdaw, despite all of the arguments marshalled against it, and, in an attempt to strike a more hopeful note, what it can do to reduce the UK’s reliance on fossil fuels. That’s after the headlines.UK news | During the Covid-19 pandemic, and government failures caused the virus to spread ‘like wildfire’ among vulnerable and elderly people, a public inquiry has found.Europe news | Italy’s government is sending 500 soldiers to Milan and vowed a ‘firm response from the state’ after protests against the cost of living descended into clashes with police, vandalism and looting.Ukraine | The US has resumed sharing intelligence with Kyiv about Russian missile strikes, Volodymyr Zelenskyy said after a meeting with the US envoy Steve Witkoff in Norway.Media | Television channels BBC Three and BBC Scotland are to close and the Radio 4 Extra radio station will be scrapped, as part of the corporation’s drive to cut £500m in costs.UK news | RAF Typhoon fighters are to be used in efforts to protect Saudi Arabia from attack by Yemen’s Houthis, as western allies increase their intervention in the escalating conflict. Continue reading… |