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Quality Street is making a big change to iconic flavors – will your favorite be affected?

Jeffrey Bailey — Sat, 23 Mar 2024 05:56:50 +0000

QUALITY Street is making a permanent change to two flavors in its iconic chocolate cubes.

The treats are a favorite among the British, so any change is sure to please and disappoint some fans.

Quality Street has made permanent changes to the tubsCredit: Nestlé UK

In October, Quality Street changed the shape of both The Purple One and Orange Crunch candies.

Now Nestle has confirmed that the move will be permanent and that shoppers will now see them in tubs and cartons of chocolate milk.

shapeshifter

It means both flavors will be in the form of the Caramel Swirl – another popular choice for Quality Street fans.

The chocolate has a more round shape and functions a swirled pattern on top.

The Orange Crunch has also permanently switched from foil packaging to paper packaging.

But don’t worry, the recipe for the chocolate milk has not changed.

Both treats are still in the purple or orange packaging, so choc fans can tell which is which.

They won’t replace the caramel crunch, so if that’s your favorite, don’t worry.

The price of tubs containing the newly formed candies will remain the same.

‘This is a mockery,’ shouts Quality Street fan, devastated by paper wrappers as she vows never to buy them again

‘Beloved sweets’

It comes after a successful trial in late 2023, which saw The Purple One released in a small number of The Purple One Bags.

Some chocolate fans may have also noticed the new Orange Crunch in a limited number of tubs, boxes and tins in the run-up to Christmas.

Jemma Handley, Senior Brand Manager for Quality Street, said: “Following a successful trial at Christmas, we will be rolling out new shapes for two of our much-loved sweets on a permanent basis.

“We know how iconic Quality Street sweets are and we’ve put a lot of care and attention into making sure they’re the same great-tasting The Purple One and Orange Crunch that people know and love in their iconic colored wrappers.”

The plot chickens…

This year, Nestle is also venturing into Easter and offering its Quality Street Golden Collection Incredible Egg.

An eagle-eyed shopper spotted it in B&M and posted it on social media, with one user saying: “I know which egg I want!”

The egg combines fudge and caramel pieces in a milk chocolate caramel flavor shell.

Plus, you can also get a pack of Quality Street caramels, fudge and toffees.

The Quality Street egg costs £12 in B&M, but it’s not listed online so you’ll have to head to the shops.

It follows an eventful Christmas for chocolate milk fans.

After a successful trial at Christmas, we are permanently rolling out new molds for two of our beloved sweets

Jemma HandleySenior Brand Manager for Quality Street

John Lewis brought back its pick ‘n’ mix stands, much to the delight of shoppers.

In addition, Nestle launched a new chocolate bar that combines two iconic Quality Street flavors: the Purple One and the Green Triangle.

The chocolatier also revealed that the Coffee Creme flavor made a welcome return at Christmas.

The popular brand will ditch its iconic glossy wrapping paper in 2022 in a move to become more eco-friendly.

What other foods are on the shelves?

In addition to the permanent change to Quality Street chocolate milk, there are still a number of food items on the shelves.

Australian favourites

An iconic chocolate biscuit branded “Aussie gold” has been launched in British supermarkets for the first time.

Chocolate fans are rejoicing because Tim Tams are finally on sale nationwide.

It’s not the first time British consumers have loved Australian snacks they’ve seen on the shelves.

In November they went all out on a Cadbury selection box full of Australian chocolate favorites not normally available in the UK.

They include Dairy Milk white chocolate Freddos, Scorched Peanut Bars, Snickers Butterscotch, Caramilk Twirls and regular Dairy Milk milk chocolate bars.

B&M bargains

Earlier this year, others shouted “It’s a party in my mouth” when B&M rolled out a new M&M flavor normally only seen in the land below.

The retailer is stocking a Mocha Mudcake version of the classic snack after launching it in July last year.

Now the quirky flavor has made its way to B&M, and shoppers are keen to take advantage of it.

Instagram page Newfoodfindsuk posted a photo of the 130 gram bag of candy online and almost 150 people liked the post.

Cadbury Twirl Bites in Caramilk and Strawberry were also launched last year.

Eagle-eyed foodies spotted the treats, titled “Aus Twirl” in B&M.

‘Nostaglic’ snacks

Retro food fans will also be happy to know that some of their favorite “nostalgic” snacks are back on the shelves.

Most people have a favorite chocolate bar or crunchy flavor they’d like to see again – and we can now reveal a few that do.

Aldi made biscuit lovers’ dreams come true when it revealed it would be bringing back the much-loved Elkes Sports Shortcake biscuits.

Cadbury’s iconic gold coins returned to supermarket shelves last September.

Nestle brought back a Quality Street fan favorite for Christmas last year.

The Hazelnut KitKat Chunky is back on the shelves after three years and shoppers can’t get enough of it.

More Moorish Morrisons

In addition, Morrisons began stocking Marmite crisps in February this year, after Walkers announced it would be discontinuing the flavour.

Cookie lovers rejoiced at the return of the McVities white chocolate cookie after nearly 20 years.

The tea break favorite was last on shelves in 2005 as a limited edition and made its return in July last year.

Elsewhere, Happy Faces were axed around 2015 and spotted back on shelves last year.

Do you have a money problem that needs to be solved? Get in touch by emailing squeezeteam@thesun.co.uk.

Moreover, you can join us Sun Money chats and tips Facebook group to share your tips and stories.

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Huge change in roaming tariff rules for holidaymakers: will you save money?

Jeffrey Bailey — Fri, 22 Mar 2024 23:17:02 +0000

MILLIONS of holidaymakers could save some money as new rules on roaming charges have been announced.

Ofcom has confirmed that from October 1, 2024, network operators must provide clear information to users abroad, including roaming charges and spending limits.

New rules can help prevent people from being hit with high mobile billsCredit: Alamy

Ofcom has ruled that network providers must provide clear information to holidaymakers abroadCredit: Alamy

They will have to tell users when they start roaming, including any ‘fair use’ or time restrictions that may apply.

‘Fair use’ determines how much of your UK data allowance you can use while roaming in Europe.

The watchdog said users should be informed how to set a spending limit and where to get help if they are unsure about roaming charges.

Before Brexit, you could use your existing calling, data and texting rates for free in Europe.

But Ofcom found that one in five (19%) holidaymakers are still unaware that they could face extra charges if they use their phone abroad.

A similar percentage (18%) say they do not research roaming costs before traveling.

Sue Davies, head of consumer protection policy at Which?, says these changes could help prevent people from being hit with high mobile bills they didn’t expect.

She said: “The new rules fall short because they do not suggest that providers should provide compensation to UK residents who accidentally fall foul of roaming charges, and they do not outline what this would look like.

“When Britain negotiates future trade deals, it must seize the opportunity to reduce the cost of roaming for consumers traveling around the world.

“The UK and EU must also reach an agreement on roaming charges so that people do not have to deal with excessive bills from providers.”

Easy ways to reduce your mobile bill

Cristina Luna-Esteban, Ofcom’s director of telecoms consumer policy, said: “The last thing holidaymakers want when returning from a trip abroad is an unexpected mobile phone bill.

“Currently, some customers are not receiving clear information from their carrier to help them manage their mobile usage and plan their spending.

“Our new protections ensure that you are told what it will cost when you start roaming, so you can be confident that you will not be faced with any surprises when it comes to your mobile bill while on holiday.”

ROAMING IN EUROPE

Those traveling with EE, Three, Vodafone, Sky and Voxi face varying charges.

This is what you have to pay when you roam abroad:

EE: £2.29 per day for contract customers, or if you have an Inclusive Extras plan you can buy a Roam Abroad Pass for £25 per month. £2.50 per day, or £10 for seven days, if you pay as you go. 50 GB “fair use” limit.

Three: £2 per day for contract customers, no charge for pay-as-you-go. You can buy a Data Passport for £5 for unlimited data in 89 countries. 12 GB “fair use” limit.

Vodafone: £2.25 per day, or buy a European roaming pass for £10 for 8 days or £15 for 15 days, if you are a contract customer. From £7 for eight days if you pay as you go. 25 GB “fair use” limit.

Sky: £2 per day. No ‘fair use’ limit.

Voxi: £2.25 per day for one day, £4 for two days, £10 for eight days or £15 for 15 days. 20 GB “fair use” limit.

O2 customers don’t have to worry about this as the company prides itself on being the only major mobile operator not to reintroduce roaming charges in Europe.

An O2 spokesperson said: “[We are] We save our customers money and offer them incredible value when they travel to the most popular vacation destinations.

“Our customers benefit from using their calls, texts and data as they would at home when they are in Europe, up to 25 GB, and wherever our customers go, we send them a text message when they arrive at their destination , where we explain any data limits and charges that may apply.”

Users should be clearly informed when their roaming charges abroad become applicableCredit: Alamy

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A new regulator can let football down, but the Premier League does not need to change

Jeffrey Bailey — Fri, 22 Mar 2024 22:28:01 +0000

I don’t imagine Pep Guardiola is sitting in his office thinking about ways to change a winning formula. So why do we even want that?

The Premier League is the market leader in football. It is the most watched, most loved and most trusted competition in the world.

The government is launching an independent football regulatorCredit: AFP

It attracts the biggest names to these shores and is also one of Britain’s most respected global exports.

But we’re told that’s not good enough. The game needs a government-approved regulator.

Hmm. Think for a moment about the regulators.

They’ve done a fantastic job cleaning up our rivers, haven’t they? And what about ridding the city of devious bankers?

Everywhere you look, heavily regulated industries have caused massive failures.

The General Dental Council claims it is the UK regulator for dental professionals.

Try to book an NHS appointment with your local dentist now. It’s nothing to laugh about, even if you still have teeth left.

This country has many great institutions and organizations, from our leading universities to our remarkable record in film, music, fashion and the arts. But I would say the Premier League is our biggest success story.

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There was a time when foreigners coming to Britain asked their taxi driver if they had ever met the Queen. But today they want to talk about the Premier League.

Voices have supported this regulator-will-make-things-better nonsense, saying: ‘The football pyramid is suffering. The greedy grabbers at the top are not giving any support to the lower leagues.” Waste.

Full Europa League quarter-final draw as Liverpool and West Ham learn their fate

About 16 percent of Premier League revenue goes directly to the rest of the pyramid and contributes to the championship title SIXTH richest competition in Europe.

The Premier League provides 94,000 jobs and pays £4 billion a year in tax revenue for the country. And remember: it’s played in Newcastle and Nottingham, Burnley and Brighton. It’s not just flashy old London Town.

Moreover, international fans follow not just one team, but the entire competition, because it is an exciting, unpredictable competition, with over a century of tradition and history.

The Premier League has competition from the Champions League and, to some extent, the NFL. It means we can compete for the biggest stars that children can see on their club pitch and dream of.

This legislation would make England the first major country to enforce a regulator.

So by common consent we have the best competition in the world, played in some of the best stadiums, but we want to risk that. Why?

‘We need another level of regulation, like a hole in the head’

I have heard supporters say that a regulator would not drive away investment or damage the competitive nature of the Premier League, but where is the evidence for that?

All we know is that a regulator is adding a new level of red tape to a game that used to be simple. Football has certainly had enough of people interfering. Some recent rule changes have baffled fans.

Good luck trying to decipher what is and isn’t a handball these days. We need another level of regulation, like a hole in the head.

We have been leading in the football world for many years. But it’s not guaranteed that this will last forever.

UEFA and FIFA are always trying to get a bigger piece of the football pie and if they had their way, the domestic leagues would just be cannon fodder for their own.

There are broken regulators everywhere you look and if you can find one that has actually improved our daily lives, you are a better man or woman than me.

Football. We are good at it. We are the envy of the world, with Latvian fans cheering on Liverpool, Manchurians supporting Manchester City, Luton fans in Liberia and Bulgarians loving Brighton.

If ever there was an own goal, this is definitely it.

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How Biden might try to force Israel to change its war strategy

Sabir Ansary — Fri, 22 Mar 2024 15:58:32 +0000

As the Biden administration increasingly clashes with Israeli leaders over the war in Gaza, the question often arises as to whether U.S. officials will try to exert some form of tougher influence if Israel ignores their pleas.

They could do this, critics say, to try to get Israel to allow more humanitarian aid into Gaza teetering on the edge of famine, to scale back its military campaign or to refrain from invading the city of Rafah in the Gaza Strip, where many civilians have fled.

Since Hamas’ terrorist attacks on October 7, which killed about 1,200 Israelis and took about 240 hostage, Israel’s attacks have killed more than 30,000 Palestinians in Gaza, according to the Health Ministry. President Biden has tried behind the scenes to influence Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu while showing strong support for Israel. Yet confrontations are lurking.

Israeli officials are expected to meet their American counterparts in Washington next week to express opposing views on plans to invade Rafah. And a growing number of former US officials say Biden must exert influence to distract Israel from what they call its disastrous war.

The Biden administration has done that increasingly spoken of the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, and mentioned this, among other things, in a draft resolution on the war that the country presented to the United Nations Security Council this week. The resolution called for an “immediate and lasting ceasefire” if Hamas releases all hostages – repeating the government’s position but with stronger language. Russia and China vetoed the resolution on Friday. Many countries have called for a ceasefire without conditions.

Mr. Biden would not be the first president to use hard levers if he chooses. Four administrations, from Gerald R. Ford’s to George HW Bush’s, have all withheld some form of aid or diplomatic agreement or strongly threatened that they would, said Martin S. Indyk, a special envoy to Israel -Palestinian negotiations in the Obama administration.

“In recent years, the willingness to use the aid relationship as leverage has declined dramatically,” he said. “The dependency relationship is there, ready to be used.”

American influence on Israel falls into three main categories. We’ll start with gun assistance, the most important.

Shipments of weapons

The United States is by far the largest supplier of military aid to Israel. In 2022, aid amounted to $3.3 billion. Since the war began, the Biden administration has urged Congress to pass funding legislation that would include $14 billion in additional aid, but that has been halted mainly for reasons unrelated to the war.

Israel is running out of much of its ammunition and needs the American shipments. The US government is working to approve new weapons orders and has accelerated orders that were in the pipeline before the start of the war.

Between October and around December 1, 2023, the United States transferred about 15,000 bombs and 57,000 artillery shells to Israel, US officials said late last year. From Dec. 1 to now, those total transmission numbers have increased by about 15 percent, a U.S. official said.

There have been more than a hundred transfers since October, but almost all of them have taken place without notice Congress over loopholes in disclosure rules.

Last December, Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken twice invoked rarely used emergency authority to send tank munitions and artillery shells to Israel without congressional review. These were the only two times the administration has publicly reported government-to-government military sales to Israel since October.

If Mr. Biden were to order a slowdown or halt some or most arms transfers, Israeli leaders would get the message, current and former U.S. officials said.

Mr. Biden has indicated he is aware of the concerns. He issued a memorandum in February, it established standards for compliance by all countries receiving US weapons, including compliance with international humanitarian law, and required countries to submit signed letters to the State Department pledging to commit would follow the rules.

Some supporters of the tougher approach argue that Biden should declare that Israel is violating a section of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, which states that the United States cannot provide weapons or other assistance to a country that “directly prohibits or otherwise restricts” it . or indirectly, the transportation or delivery of United States humanitarian assistance.” Eight Democratic senators sent a letter to Mr. Biden on March 11, urging him to do so.

They noted that the law does not prevent the U.S. government from providing defensive supplies to a country that violates the law, such as interceptor missiles for Israel’s Iron Dome.

Josh Paul, a former official at the State Department’s political-military bureau, which oversees arms transfers, said that if Mr. Biden were to take this action, Israel would face a difficult choice between continuing his campaign in Gaza or the stockpiling of ammunition for deterrence. must maintain against other hostile forces, especially Hezbollah and Iran.

“Cutting off certain weapons would force Israel to think about what the urgent needs are for its national security – is it using as many weapons as possible in Gaza?” said Mr Paul, who resigned in October in protest against the government’s war policy.

The State Department has not approved a request from Israel for 24,000 assault rifles, an order that The New York Times reported in November was being scrutinized by some U.S. lawmakers and State Department officials because of the potential for guns would fuel extremist settler violence against Palestinians. in the West Bank.

Many arms transfers involve weapons systems that Israel bought and paid for years ago and will soon be delivered, a former U.S. official and a current U.S. official said. At any given time, there are hundreds, possibly thousands, of open contracts for sale to Israel, the current US official said. The two Americans argued that it could be difficult to slow or suspend specific sales, and that such actions could expose the U.S. government to legal liability under contract law.

The former US official argued that halting the transfers could send a message to Iran and its partners that the United States is willing to abandon Israel in times of need. But this official was not aware of any formal intelligence assessment of the effect of such action.

Senator Jack Reed, a Rhode Island Democrat who heads the Armed Services Committee, made clear this week that he opposed putting conditions on military aid to Israel to try to influence its operations in Gaza.

“This is not the time to talk about conditioning,” Mr. Reed said. “We are Israel’s ally. They are our ally.”

The diplomatic shield

The United States has been a staunch ally of Israel in international institutions, where many countries have expressed outrage over civilian casualties in Gaza.

This is especially true at the UN. The Biden administration has shielded Israel from diplomatic condemnations and from resolutions calling on Israel to immediately end or suspend its war.

Less American support for Israel would open the country to stronger formal charges in the UN

Since the start of the war, the United States, as a member of the UN Security Council, has used its veto power to block three council resolutions calling for an immediate ceasefire without conditions.

Russia’s ambassador to the United Nations called the US-backed resolution a “hypocritical initiative” before blocking it on Friday.

The United States has also been outspokenly critical of the genocide case brought by South Africa against Israel at the International Court of Justice in The Hague. The court issued an interim ruling in January calling on Israel to prevent its armed forces from engaging in acts that would violate the 1948 Genocide Convention.

Sanctions

The Biden administration has refrained from imposing sanctions on Israeli officials but may be giving itself more leeway to do so. Such measures would likely be more aimed at curbing Israel’s policies and actions in the West Bank, where the current government has encouraged settlement expansion at the expense of Palestinians, than at curbing military operations in Gaza.

In late February, Mr. Blinken announced that the Biden administration deemed new Israeli settlements in Palestinian territories “contrary to international law” — a reversal of Trump administration policy and a return to a long-standing legal review by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

On March 14, the ministry imposed sanctions on three Israeli settlers in the West Bank, accusing them of “extremist violence” against Palestinians. The Biden administration took similar action against four Israelis on February 1.

Tough US sanctions have failed to change the behavior of leaders in a range of countries, from Russia to Iran and North Korea. But sanctions against Israeli officials, or the threat thereof, could have a greater impact because Israel is a U.S. partner, and because many Israeli officials have assets and family members in the United States and travel there frequently.

Farnaz Fassihi contributed UN reporting

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WhatsApp is bringing change that users are begging for and some are saying it’s ‘not enough’

Jeffrey Bailey — Fri, 22 Mar 2024 10:39:59 +0000

META has given WhatsApp users the opportunity to pin up to three important messages in chats, instead of one.

But WhatsApp users say it’s not enough.

In groups or even in one-on-one chats, users can pin all types of messages, from a standard text or image to polls and emojisCredit: Meta

Last year, the popular messenger launched the ability to pin a message in a WhatsApp chat.

This means that a message will be flagged for everyone in the chat and can be easily retrieved even after the conversation has continued – for a limited time.

Users can set a time limit for which the message will be pinned, with one week being the default amount.

If WhatsApp users want to earmark a message for longer, it is advisable to use the star function instead.

Meta boss Mark Zuckerberg announced yesterday that the app will increase the number of pins to a maximum of three messages per chat.

In groups or even in one-on-one chats, users can pin all kinds of messages, from a standard text or image to polls and emojis.

And in true WhatsApp fashion, messages are still end-to-end encrypted even when pinned.

However, users are still not satisfied.

“Three is not enough, make it five,” said one WhatsApp user Posted on X (formerly Twitter).

“There must be at least five,” another added.

WhatsApp is adding a brand new feature so your voice notes can only be played once

A third person tweeted: “What I like is pinning unlimited posts, not just 3”

“I want to spend without limits,” said a fourth.

How to pin a message on WhatsApp

Long press on the message and select ‘Pin’ from the context menu.
A banner will appear where you can select the duration of the pinned message: 24 hours, seven days, and 30 days.
In a group chat, admins have the option to select whether all members or only admins can pin a message.

WhatsApp – a brief history

This is what you need to know…

WhatsApp was created in 2009 by computer programmers Brian Acton and Jan Koum, former employees of Yahoo
It is one of the most popular messaging services in the world
Koum came up with the name WhatsApp because it sounded like ‘what’s going on’
After some modifications, the app was released in June 2009 with a messaging component, with 250,000 active users
It was originally free, but switched to a paid service to keep it from growing too quickly. In 2016 it became free again for all users
Facebook bought WhatsApp Inc for $19.3 billion (£14.64 billion) in February 2014
The app is especially popular because all messages are encrypted during transmission, locking out snoopers
In 2020, WhatsApp has more than 2 billion users worldwide

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F1 team forced to change name before Australian Grand Prix after ban imposed

Jeffrey Bailey — Thu, 21 Mar 2024 13:19:06 +0000

A FORMULA ONE team will be forced to change its name this weekend due to strict advertising laws in Australia.

The Stake F1 team will be renamed Kick Sauber during the Australian Grand Prix this weekend.

The Stake F1 team will be renamed this weekend due to advertising restrictionsCredit: The Mega Agency

Valtteri Bottas and Zhou Guanyu will race for Kick SauberCredit: Getty

The former Alfa Romeo team was renamed Stake earlier this year after a two-year sponsorship deal was struck with the online gambling company.

However, strict rules in Australia ban gambling advertising during live sports on both broadcast and online platforms between 5am and 8:30pm.

This means that the team’s other main sponsor, Kick, will take over the naming rights for the weekend.

The team will become Kick Sauber this weekend and later this year in Spain, Belgium and Qatar.

After the first two races of the year, Kick Sauber is one of four teams that have not yet scored any points.

Pit stop problems have prevented Zhou Guanyu and Valtteri Bottas from breaking into the top 10 so far this season.

Both drivers have expressed concerns about the problem ahead of this weekend’s race.

Bottas said: “We haven’t solved the problem 100 percent yet because there is a lead time for certain components and materials that we need, but I think we should be in a better place and I will be more confident this year if I the pit entrance.” weekend.

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“Fingers crossed that everything goes smoothly and hopefully we can run clean races and fight for points.”

Zhou added: “I think it was clear that we had to redesign the entire equipment system for the pit stop crew.

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“Of course we can’t really redesign at this point unfortunately, but we are already making a few adjustments to the wheel nut and wheel guns and getting the issue resolved. Fingers crossed we can get it all going.

“I think as a team we seem to have some good racing talent, we just need to clean up a bit this weekend.

“Obviously the pit stop is the key. I love the track, I love the place, the fans and the atmosphere is always one of the best of the year, so really happy and enjoyable to come to Melbourne.”

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Climate change caused an early heat wave in West Africa that was ten times more likely

Albert Elence — Thu, 21 Mar 2024 06:28:11 +0000

In mid-February, a remarkably early, record-breaking heat wave hit the southern part of West Africa. Climate change made this extreme heat ten times more likely, according to a new analysis by an international team of scientists. It also pushed the heat index about four degrees Celsius higher than it would have been without the extra greenhouse gases in the atmosphere from burning fossil fuels.

Officials saw the unusual temperatures coming and national weather agencies in Ghana and Nigeria warned the public. The Africa Cup of Nations football tournament took place in Ivory Coast during the heat wave and players had to take extra breaks during the matches to hydrate.

What was particularly striking about this heat wave was the onset of high temperatures so early in the year, when people had less time to adapt to rising temperatures. “Many, many people would not have acclimatized to the heat,” said Wasiu Adeniyi Ibrahim, head of the Nigerian Meteorological Agency’s central forecast office and author of the study.

During the heat wave, humidity increased the danger. During the worst of the event, temperatures rose above 40 degrees Celsius, or 104 degrees Fahrenheit. But the high humidity made the air feel even hotter. The heat index, which measures the combined effect of heat and humidity on the human body, rose to about 50 degrees Celsius or 122 degrees Fahrenheit.

Researchers have limited data on how this heat has affected people more broadly in West Africa, and whether it has led to many hospitalizations and deaths. But there is reason to believe there may be widespread damage, said Maja Vahlberg, a risk advisor at the Red Cross Red Crescent Climate Center and one of the authors of the analysis.

Many residents of the region do not have adequate access to water, energy and sanitation. That means that during heat waves, people have “very limited options for individual coping strategies, such as using air conditioning and drinking or showering more often,” Ms. Vahlberg said. About half of the region’s urban population lives in informal housing, including houses built with sheet steel, which retains heat.

The elderly, people with existing illnesses and outdoor workers are especially vulnerable to extreme heat.

The analysis, conducted by a group known as World Weather Attribution, took longer than similar studies the group’s scientists have conducted on other extreme weather events. West Africa has less data from weather stations than other parts of the world, making studies linking weather there to climate change more difficult to conduct. But last month’s extreme heat was an early sign, before spring had even started, of what would happen this summer in this region and across the Northern Hemisphere.

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Huge change to Easter eggs including Cadbury and Lindt – and fans won’t be happy

Jeffrey Bailey — Thu, 21 Mar 2024 00:04:35 +0000

CHOCOLATE fans are being hit this year by shrinking sizes and rising prices when picking up their Easter treats.

Several popular Easter eggs from brands such as Maltesers, Lindt and Cadbury now cost at least 50% more than a year ago.

Easter eggs have become smaller, while prices have remained the same or increasedCredit: Alamy

The overall price of chocolate has risen by 12.6% in a year, compared to a 5.6% increase for food and drink in supermarkets generally. Which? has found.

It comes after dry weather in West Africa led to a spike in global cocoa prices.

In the steepest example of inflation: Which? found that a 286g Maltesers Truffles Luxury Easter Egg at Waitrose rose from £8 to £13 in the month to the end of February, compared to the same time a year ago – an increase of 62.5%.

At Asda, a five-pack of 50g Lindt Gold Bunny Milk Chocolate rose from an average of £2 to £3.11 – an increase of 55.6%.

At Tesco, the price of a 250g Ferrero Rocher Golden Easter Egg rose on average from £10 to £15 – an increase of 50%.

Which? also found that at Ocado a 1kg Cadbury Mini Eggs Large Pouch cost an average of £8.86 last February but is now £12.95 this year, an increase of 46.2%.

At Sainsbury’s, the price of a Kinder Easter with Surprise 36g rose from an average of £1.50 to £2, or an increase of 33.3%.

All prices were averages in the one month to the end of February 2023, compared to the same period this year.

However, it is important to note that loyalty card or multibuy prices are not included in the Which? analysis.

I tried Cadbury mini egg dupes from major supermarkets – a bargain version was a huge disappointment

As well as price increases, the consumer champion also found examples of “shrinkflation” with a large Mars milk chocolate Easter egg falling from 252 grams last year to 201 grams in February at Morrisons and Tesco.

Similarly, a Terry’s chocolate orange Easter egg and mini eggs shrank from 230 grams last year to 200 grams this year at Asda, Morrisons, Sainsbury’s and Tesco, while a Smarties chocolate orange egg fell from 226 grams to 188 grams at Asda and Tesco.

While shoppers may think that downsizing is a sneaky tactic, there are no rules against it as long as the package is labeled with the correct size, weight and ingredients.

Which? retail editor Ele Clark said: “Easter eggs are a non-negotiable highlight of spring for many of us, but which ones? has discovered that paying for your chocolate haul will be trickier this year.

“To ensure you get the best value for your Easter chocolate, shop around and compare price per gram across different pack sizes, retailers and brands.”

All supermarkets and manufacturers of Mars, Smarties, Terrys and Twix have been contacted for comment.

Waitrose said: “We work incredibly hard to keep prices low and also have a wide range of special offers to help customers save even more.”

It added that eggs in the tracker are now actually cheaper – with Maltesers egg setters getting £8.50 back instead of £13.

Complete examples of Easter egg changes

BELOW are the results of the Which? tracker.

Price increases between February 2023 and February 2024:

Maltesers Truffles Luxury Easter Egg 286g – from £8 to £13 at Waitrose
Lindt 5 Gold Bunny Milk Chocolate 50g – from £2 to £3.11 at Asda
Ferrero Rocher Golden Easter Egg 250g – from £10 to £15 at Tesco
Cadbury Mini eggs, large bag 1kg – from €8.86 to €12.96 at Ocado
Kinder Easter with Surprise 36g – from £1.50 to £2 at Sainsbury’s

Examples of shrinking packaging between 2023 and 2024:

Mars milk chocolate large Easter egg – dropped from 252g to 201g at Morrisons and Asda
Terry’s chocolate orange Easter egg and mini eggs – dropped from 230g to 200g at Asda, Morrisons, Sainsbury’s and Tesco
Smarties chocolate orange egg – down from 226g to 188g at Asda and Tesco
Twix milk chocolate Easter egg – dropped from 246g to 200g at Tesco

A spokesperson for Mars Wrigley UK, which makes Mars, Maltesers and Twix, said the price increases are due to rising costs of raw materials and operations.

They added: “Reducing the size of some of our products and increasing prices is not a decision we have made lightly, but it is necessary for shoppers to still be able to enjoy their favorite Easter eggs without to make concessions on quality or taste.”

While Nestle, maker of Smarties, said: “Like any manufacturer, we have experienced significant cost increases, making our products much more expensive to manufacture.

“We have been working to be more efficient and absorb rising costs where possible.

“However, to maintain the same high quality and delicious taste that consumers know and love, it has sometimes been necessary to adjust the weight of some of our products.”

How can I save on my supermarket shopping?

There are plenty of ways to save money at your grocery store.

You can look for yellow or red stickers on products, which indicate when they are discounted.

If the food is fresh, eat it quickly or freeze it for another time.

Making a list should also save you money because you’ll be less likely to make hasty purchases when you go to the grocery store.

Choosing your own brand can be an easy way to save hundreds of dollars a year on your food bill, too.

This means ditching the ‘best’ or ‘luxury’ products and instead opting for ‘own’ or value-for-money lines.

Many supermarkets have shaky fruit and vegetable programs where you can get cheap prices if they are misshapen or imperfect.

For example, Lidl runs its Waste Not scheme, offering 5kg boxes of fruit and vegetables for just £1.50.

If you’re on a low income and a parent, you could potentially get up to £442 a year in Healthy Start vouchers, which you can also use at the supermarket.

In addition, many municipalities offer supermarket vouchers as part of the Household Support Fund.

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Climate change is ‘off the charts’: Damning report reveals how records were smashed for greenhouse gas emissions, global temperatures and sea level rise in 2023 – and scientists warn ‘changes are speeding up’

Albert Elence — Wed, 20 Mar 2024 23:22:38 +0000

Climate change is ‘off the charts’ and presents a ‘defining challenge’ to humanity, a damning new report warns today.

The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) says several climate records were broken and in some cases ‘smashed’ last year.

Greenhouse gas levels, surface temperatures, ocean heat and acidification, sea level rises, and Antarctic ice loss all escalating in 2023 due to fossil fuel emissions.

‘Sirens are blaring across all major indicators,’ said United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres.

‘Some records aren’t just chart-topping, they’re chart-busting – and changes are speeding-up.’

From greenhouse gas emissions to air surface temperatures, climate change indicators reached record levels in 2023

The WMO’s State of the Global Climate report, published today, confirms that the year 2023 broke ‘every single climate indicator’.

TEMPERATURES

WMO confirmd that 2023 was the warmest year on record, as already announced by the UN’s Copernicus climate change programme in January.

The global average near-surface air temperature for the year was at 2.61°F (1.45°C) above the pre-industrial average (1850 to 1900).

Before 2023, the two previous warmest years were 2016 (2.32°F/1.29°C above the 1850–1900 average) and 2020 (2.28°F/1.27°F above the 1850–1900 average).

What’s more, the past nine years – between 2015 and 2023 – were the nine warmest years on record.

But the experts admit that the shift to ‘El Niño’ conditions in the middle of 2023 contributed to a rapid rise in temperature from 2022 to 2023.

El Niño is natural climate phenomenon where there’s warmer-than-average sea surface temperatures in the central and eastern Pacific Ocean near the equator.

This graph shows annual global mean temperature anomalies (relative to 1850–1900) from 1850 to 2023. Data is from six temperature data sets, including the UK Met Office’s HadCRUT5

Global map of the planet’s oceans, showing the highest marine heatwaves in 2023, from moderate in yellow to extreme in dark brown

Why are temperatures compared to ‘pre-industrial’ levels?

Pre-industrial levels act as a benchmark for how much the Earth’s climate has changed.

The pre-industrial period is typically defined as the time before human activities – such as burning coal for heat – began to have a significant impact on the Earth’s climate.

By comparing current temperatures to pre-industrial temperatures, experts can isolate the effects of human activity from natural climate variability.

GREENHOUSE GASES

Temperatures are largely fueled by greenhouse gas emissions, and these continued to climb in 2023.

WMO says data for concentrations of the three main greenhouse gases in the air (carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide) are not yet available for the whole of 2023, but in 2022 they reached ‘new highs’.

Globally averaged concentrations were 417.9 parts per million (ppm) for carbon dioxide (CO2), 1,923 parts per billion (ppb) for methane (CH4), and 335.8 ppb for nitrous oxide (N2O).

Respectively, this marks an alarming rise of 150 per cent, 264 per cent and 124 per cent compared with greenhouse gas concentrations levels in the year 1750.

‘For more than 250 years, the burning of oil, gas and coal has filled the atmosphere with greenhouse gasses,’ said Dr Friederike Otto, climate lecturer at Imperial College London, who wasn’t involved in the report.

‘The result is the dire situation we are in today – a rapidly heating climate with dangerous weather, suffering ecosystems and rising sea-levels, as outlined by the WMO report.

‘To stop things from getting worse, humans need to stop burning fossil fuels. It really is that simple.

‘If we do not stop burning fossil fuels, the climate will continue to warm, making life more dangerous, more unpredictable, and more expensive for billions of people on earth.’

OCEAN HEAT

Although the main metric for measuring how hot the planet is getting is air temperatures, WMO also tracks how hot the world’s waters are getting.

Numerous adverse effects result from ocean warming, including accelerated melting of Earth’s ice sheets and sea level rise due to thermal expansion.

Ocean species are also threatened, including coral which become ‘bleached’ white due to the stress of higher temperatures.

When the ocean environment changes – if it gets too hot, for instance – coral stresses out and expels algae which makes it turn white. Pictured, coral bleaching on the Great Barrier Reef during a mass bleaching event in 2017

This graph shows anomalies in the heat of Earth’s oceans (relative to the 2005–2021 average) between 1960 and 2023

Meanwhile, CO2 dissolving in the ocean causes acidification of the waters, which makes it harder for marine life such as lobsters, shrimp and coral reefs to survive.

WMO says the overall temperature of Earth’s oceans have risen since 1960 and ‘it is expected that warming will continue’.

The Southern Ocean is the largest reservoir of heat, accounting for around 32 per cent of the ocean heat increase since 1958.

The Atlantic Ocean accounts for around 31 per cent, while the Pacific Ocean makes up around 26 per cent.

SEA LEVELS

Rising sea levels can cause disastrous flooding, forcing authorities to spend millions on flood defences and even force people to flee their homes.

This is largely being caused by the increased melting of land-based ice, such as glaciers and ice sheets.

Again, in 2023, global mean sea levels reached a record high since they first started to be tracked with satellites, in 1993.

Fossil fuels (coal, oil and gas) are the largest contributor to global climate change, accounting for over 75 per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions, according to the UN

Rising sea levels can cause disastrous flooding, forcing authorities to spend millions on flood defences and even force people to flee their homes. Pictured, flooding in Thailand

Graph shows the global average rise in sea levels since they first started to be tracked with satellites, in 1993

According to the WMO, average sea level rises went from 0.08-inch (2.13mm) per year between 1993 and 2002, to 0.13-inch (3.33mm) per year between 2003 to 2012, and finally 0.18-inch (4.77mm) per year between 2014 and 2023.

Although this may not sound like much, Professor Jonathan Bamber, director of the Bristol Glaciology Centre at the University of Bristol, said this could lead to catastrophic long-term change.

‘Our own research indicates that, if greenhouse gas emissions continue unabated, there is a small chance that we could experience up to a 2 metre rise by 2100,’ he said.

‘This would truly be catastrophic for civilisation with the potential to displace around a tenth of the population of the planet.

‘We are looking at the disappearance of small island nation states in the not too distant future and inundation of heavily populated coastal zones.’

MELTING ICE

Due to the higher surface and ocean temperatures, ice in the Antarctic reached a record low since records began in 1979.

September’s annual maximum – when Antarctic ice is usually at its greatest extent due to colder temperatures – was 6.54 million sq miles (16.96 million sq km).

This is roughly 5.7 million sq miles (1.5 million sq km) below the 1991-2020 average and 386,000 sq miles (1 million sq km2) below the previous record low maximum.

In the northern hemisphere meanwhile, the Greenland Ice Sheet – the world’s second-biggest ice sheet after Antarctic – continued to lose mass in 2023.

Combining the two ice sheets, average rates of mass loss increased from 105 gigatonnes per year from 1992-1996 to 372 gigatonnes per year from 2016–2020.

Sea ice plays an important role maintaining the Earth’s energy balance while helping keep polar regions cool due to its ability to reflect more sunlight back to space. Pictured, sea ice in the water off Cuverville Island in the Antarctic

Left graph shows daily Arctic sea-ice extent from January through December, showing 2023 (red line) against the climate normal (1991–2020, dark blue) and the record highest and lowest extents for each day (mid blue). Right image shows ice concentration on September 19, 2023, at the annual minimum Arctic ice extent. The yellow line indicates the median ice edge for the 1981–2010 period

The world’s glaciers – which reflect sunlight back into space and help keep the planet cool – likely suffered ‘the largest loss of ice on record’ since 1950.

In Switzerland, which relies on ice for the ski season, glaciers have lost around 10 per cent of their remaining volume in the past two years.

‘If that trend continues then we could see much of the Alps devoid of glaciers in a matter of decades,’ said Professor Bamber.

‘That is something that few, if any of us, would have expected see happen so rapidly.’

Climate scientists are constantly tracking sea ice extent throughout the seasons and comparing its size with the same months from previous years, in order to see how it’s changing. Data from National Snow and Ice Data Center has recently showed that sea ice extent is lower than the average since records began, regardless of time of year

A glacier is an accumulation of snow compacted over thousands of years to become solid ice. Glaciers are important sources of water as they hold about two-thirds of the Earth’s freshwater. Pictured, the Langtang Glacier in Nepal

Researchers also warn that extreme weather events including floods, tropical cyclones, drought, and wildfires, are linked with the warming of the planet and so will likely keep occurring.

These will hit ‘vulnerable populations’ in countries without the ability to respond adequately already hit by food insecurity, such as Somalia, Sudan and Syria.

‘Climate change can intensify existing inequalities and social and economic pressures, placing further pressure on the people and places who are already under stress and who have often done the least to cause climate change in the first place,’ said Dr Leslie Mabon, lecturer in environmental systems at The Open University.

Professor Tina van de Flierdt, head of the Department of Earth Science and Engineering at Imperial College London, called the new report ‘alarming’.

‘Generally, the data in the report reinforces that climate change is not a distant threat – it is here now, and it is already impacting lives worldwide,’ she said.

‘However, it is important to note that we are not yet locked into this trajectory.

‘The future is in our hands, and ongoing climate projects and greater use of clean energy sources offer hope for a just and resilient future.’

Droughts, floods, fires and typhoons: The 20 costliest climate disasters of 2023, revealed

From droughts, floods, wildfires and tropical storms, no corner of the globe was spared by disastrous climate events in 2023.

A new report reveals the 20 most financially costly climate disasters of the year – and all six of the world’s populated continents are on the list.

At the top is the shocking Hawaii wildfires in August, which killed at least 100 people and cost over $4,000 per person in damages.

Also featured are the storms in Guam in May – which cost almost $1,500 per head of population – floods in New Zealand, droughts in Spain and wildfires in Chile.

The post Climate change is ‘off the charts’: Damning report reveals how records were smashed for greenhouse gas emissions, global temperatures and sea level rise in 2023 – and scientists warn ‘changes are speeding up’ appeared first on USMAIL24.COM.

Major change in 500 local shops as a boost for holidaymakers traveling abroad

Jeffrey Bailey — Wed, 20 Mar 2024 15:44:54 +0000

This year there will be a BIG change to hundreds of local shops and holidaymakers will be excited.

Shoppers planning a trip abroad can now collect their travel money at their local convenience store.

Shoppers planning a trip abroad can now collect their travel money at their local convenience storeCredit: Alamy

It is the result of a collaboration between currency specialists Eurochange and PayPoint.

The change will be rolled out in 500 stores in the coming year.

Customers can click and collect more than 50 types of foreign currencies for next day collection.

It means jetsetters can simply head to the nearest corner shop to collect their holiday money, rather than having to go to a supermarket or post office.

This essentially saves them time and money from having to order the cash online and then potentially travel further to pick it up.

David Warwick, commercial director at Eurochange, said: “We are delighted to be working with PayPoint.

“Consumers traveling can now order and collect their foreign currency while picking up groceries or the morning newspaper.”

It’s also good news for retailers as they receive the cash pre-packaged and ready to use.

David added: “It will also be a very convenient service for shops. Retailers will receive pre-packed foreign currency instead of having to count it at the counter.”

Each store also offers competitive rates, potentially saving customers money.

“Fares will be competitive and the service will be supported by a special Eurochange customer competition, where people who order travel money from the store can ‘win their travel money back’ up to the value of £300,” David explained.

Although it is of course important to always shop around.

Compare travel money companies as they will show you how to get the best rates and any fees you may have to pay.

You can use comparison websites such as MoneySavingExpert Travel moneyMaxwhere you can compare pick-up and pre-order rates.

Anthony Sappor, director of retail propositions and partnerships at PayPoint, said: “Joining forces with Eurochange fits perfectly with our long-standing commitment to diversify our service offering and create new earning opportunities for our retail partners.

“There are now a growing number of essential community services offered through our platform and we look forward to expanding this further over the next twelve months.”

On the PayPoint website you can find the nearest PayPoint store that offers Eurochange.

Shoppers can collect from PayPoint seven days a week, early to late, although opening hours vary.

How else can I save money on vacation?

Buy ahead

Buying foreign currency before your trip gives you time to search for the best rates.

An important thing to avoid is buying cash at the airport on the day as exchange rates can be around 20% higher than normal.

So make sure you don’t have to run to the currency counter at your airport at the last minute.

Avoid using your credit card

If you use your credit card to purchase travel money, you will likely be charged cash withdrawal fees that increase costs even further.

If you don’t pay the bill monthly, you may also be charged higher interest.

And if possible, try not to use your credit card abroad, as you’re unlikely to get the best exchange rate unless you have one that offers good rates on foreign travel.

If you plan to use your credit card abroad, for example for a large purchase to get extra buyer protection under section 75, check the charges in the terms and conditions first to avoid any surprises later.

Maintain current rates

If you want to use a card instead of cash abroad because you are concerned about security, you can lock in the current rate by topping up a prepaid card.

If you would like to take advantage of the rates available when you travel, choose a debit card that offers good rates and no fees.

But make sure you read the T’s and C’s carefully as some come with high costs.

Options for holiday spending if you do not want to exchange money

THERE are several specialized cards that can offer you a great exchange rate.

These cards include travel credit cards and prepaid cards that allow you to pay abroad without fees or at a fixed exchange rate.

Travel credit cards: Travel credit cards allow you to spend money abroad without incurring fees or hidden charges.

But they may still charge you for withdrawing cash.

We recommend the Halifax’s Clarity Map as there are no charges for using it abroad, nor are there any charges for withdrawing cash.

But if you don’t pay off your balance in full, you will be charged interest at a rate of 19.9 percent.

And you’ll be charged interest on withdrawals until your balance is paid off too, at a rate between 19.9 and 27.95 percent, depending on your credit score.

In other words, just because you use plastic abroad doesn’t mean you don’t have to pay off these credit cards as you normally would.

Always pay off your balance before the end of the month with these cards to ensure that the money you’ve saved isn’t wiped out by paying interest.

To learn more about travel credit cards, read our guide here.

Prepaid cards: An alternative to carrying cash is to purchase a prepaid card.

These cards allow you to put a fixed amount of cash on the card at a fixed exchange rate.

So if the rate is good at the moment, you can put money on your card and it will remain even when you are on holiday.

Keep in mind that these cards can sometimes have hidden fees and charges, so be sure to read the fine print.

Do you have a money problem that needs to be solved? Get in touch by emailing money@the-sun.co.uk.

Moreover, you can join us Sun Money chats and tips Facebook group to share your tips and stories.

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