In a record-setting deal worth billions, Chinese heavy equipment manufacturer XCMG has agreed to deliver more than 200 of its 240-tonne electric haul trucks to Australian mining giants Fortescue in one of the biggest moves yet to decarbonize mining.

From pioneering its “world’s first” best-practice model for smart mining at China Huaneng’s Yimin Mine and winning the 2025 Decarbonizing Mining Award to ranking among the world’s top four open-pit heavy equipment makers, XCMG is rapidly building a reputation for building high-quality electric equipment options that can do all the work without any of the emissions.

Earlier this week, XCMG joined Fortescue, one of the world’s largest iron ore producers, at a grand signing ceremony in Beijing for a strategic cooperation agreement on green mining equipment solutions. Under the terms of the new deal, XCMG will deliver up to 200 of its massive, 240T battery-electric haul trucks to Fortescue, beating a similar deal posted last year and marking China’s largest-ever export order for green mining machinery.

It’s also one of the largest-ever EV sales, period.

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Big deal

Fortescue believes the deal isn’t just significant for its size and scope, but for building new global bridges in the quest for full decarbonization.

“The world once benefited from open trade and cooperation – now it is divided,” explains Fortescue Executive Chairman and Founder, Dr. Andrew Forrest. “Fortescue is showing that industry can help glue back that multilateral spirit. Not through rhetoric, but through practical alliances that prove heavy industry can follow a new path – one where profits rise as emissions fall.”

“China is scaling and manufacturing green technologies at unprecedented speed,” adds Forrest. “and “Our partnerships give Fortescue access to that capability.”

As for the trucks themselves, the new XCMG 240T electric haul trucks are absolute giants, built to handle payloads over 500,000 lbs., with a gross vehicle weight rating somewhat north of 380 (!) tonnes (that’s almost 420 Imperial tons, to you and me).

There’s enough power on tap from the big haul trucks’ 1,900 kW (2,550 hp) electric drive system to climb 17% grades and hit speeds up to 56 km/h (35 mph). That’s enough to make XCMG’s 240T one of the most powerful and capable EVs on the planet, slashing emissions without sacrificing hauling performance.

With Fortescue already saving hundreds of millions in fuel costs, this deal – big as it – is going to put an absolutely massive dent in global diesel demand.

SOURCES: Fortescue, Yahoo! Finance.

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The boss of Unite, Labour’s biggest union funder, has threatened to break its link with the party unless it changes direction.

Sharon Graham, general secretary of the union, told Sky News that, on the eve of a crucial party conference for the prime minister, Unite‘s support for Labour was hanging in the balance.

She told Sunday Morning With Trevor Phillips: “My members, whether it’s public sector workers all the way through to defence, are asking, ‘What is happening here?’

“Now when that question cannot be answered, when we’re effectively saying, ‘Look, actually we cannot answer why we’re still affiliated’, then absolutely I think our members will choose to disaffiliate and that time is getting close.”

Asked when that decision might be made, she cited the budget, on 26 November, as “an absolutely critical point of us knowing whether direction is going to change”.

Ms Graham, who became leader in 2021, has been a long-time critic of Sir Keir Starmer‘s agenda, accusing him of lacking vision.

The union has campaigned against his decision to cut winter fuel allowance for pensioners – which was later reversed – and has called for more taxes on the wealthy.

But the firm threat to disaffiliate, and a timetable, highlights the acute trouble Sir Keir faces on multiple fronts, after a rocky few months which have seen his popularity plummet in the polls and his administration hit by resignations and scandals.

There is now open discussion about his leadership, with Andy Burnham, the mayor of Greater Manchester, claiming he’s been urged by MPs to mount a challenge.

Unite has more than a million members, the second-largest union affiliated to Labour. It donates £1.5m a year from its membership fees to the party.

The union did not make an additional donation to Labour at the last election – as it has done previously – but was the biggest donor to its individual MPs and candidates. It has donated millions to the party in the past.

Any decision to disaffiliate would need to be made at a Unite rules conference; of which the next is scheduled for 2027, but there is the option to convene emergency conferences earlier.

Just 15 months into Sir Keir’s premiership, in which he has promised to champion workers’ rights, Ms Graham’s comments are likely to anger the Labour leadership.

Read more: Now is moment of ‘maximum danger’ for Starmer, Harriet Harman warns

Unite, earlier this year, voted to suspend former deputy prime minister Angela Rayner of her union membership because of the government’s handling of a long-running bin strike in Birmingham.

Ms Graham has described the left-wing party being launched by Jeremy Corbyn as a “sideshow” and has brushed off speculation of a leadership challenge by Mr Burnham.

This summer, she said if Unite dropped support from Labour it would “focus on building a strong, independent workers’ union that was the true, authentic voice for workers”.

The annual Labour Party conference kicks off in Liverpool from Sunday.

As a union affiliated with Labour, Unite has seats on the party’s ruling national executive committee and can send delegates to its annual conference.

Watch the full interview with Sharon Graham on Sunday Morning With Trevor Phillips from 8.30am on Sky News

England have been crowned Women’s Rugby World Cup champions for the third time after crushing Canada 33-13.

Two tries by Alex Matthews, plus one each from Ellie Kildunne, Amy Cokayne and Abbie Ward sealed it for the Red Roses.

England, ranked as the world number one going into the match, were ahead by 13 points by the end of the first half – as they played in front of a record-breaking home crowd of 81,885 at the Allianz Stadium in Twickenham, west London.

Canada mounted a spirited effort in the second half, but a decent spell of pressure was cut off when Matthews scored her second try of the afternoon.

A conversion took the Red Roses to 33 points, giving them a comfortable 20 point lead over the Maple Leafs.

The win marks the first time England won the Women’s Rugby World Cup in 11 years, after losing finals in 2017 and 2022.

Among the first to congratulate the Red Roses were the Prince and Princess of Wales, who also praised Canada and said: “You had an outstanding tournament. Both teams should be so proud!”

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer also praised the team and said: “You have shown the very best of England and inspired a generation.”

After watching the game with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, London’s mayor Sir Sadiq Khan posted a photo of the pair while congratulating England.

“Huge congratulations to (the Red Roses) on their fantastic victory,” he said, “another proud moment for women’s rugby.”

‘Pinch me moment’

Speaking to the BBC after being named player of the match, England’s 23-year-old flanker Sadia Kabeya said: “It’s a pinch me moment. It’s been years and years in the making, I am so happy we could pull it off.

“All props to Canada they are a great side and they put up a great fight here today.”

Ward also told the broadcaster: “Honestly as soon as the whistle went I just burst into tears. It’s truly been such a special day. A sold-out crowd at Twickenham. It was electric, in front of friends, family, it’s amazing.

“The last final loss, that was then. This is a new team, this is a new chapter of women’s rugby.”

Read more from Sky News:
Prince of Wales says 2024 was ‘hardest year’ of his life
Unite threatens to break link with Labour
Nuno Espirito Santo made new West Ham head coach

Headed into the final, the Red Roses were on a 32-game winning streak and won their seventh straight Six Nations title back in April.

England also won every one of their matches in the World Cup group stages, then secured victories over Scotland and France in the quarter and semi-finals, respectively.

It also marked the second-ever Rugby World Cup final for Canada, ranked second in the world behind England.

But despite their world ranking, Canada’s women’s team had to partly fund their way to the tournament.

A crowdfunding page under the name Mission: Win Rugby World Cup 2025 raised nearly $1m (£534,000) to help cover the costs of sending the team to England.