Modern tech allows salad to be grown in winter
A company based in south-east London is using advanced farming technologies with the aim of changing the face of food production. New funding will enable Vertical Future, in Deptford, to expand its food production in the UK and abroad. The firm’s produce, such as fresh salad veg, is already being used in local restaurants. Gustav […]
Cinema box office takings at 50% of pre-pandemic levels
Ian Youngs Entertainment & arts reporter Disney Black Widow was one of the biggest summer hits, but its takings were hit by the pandemic UK cinema box office takings in the month since all Covid restrictions were lifted in England were half of their pre-pandemic level. Box office tracker Comscore said £65.7m was spent on […]
Anti-obesity programmes in primary schools ‘don’t work’
Philippa Roxby Health reporter, BBC News Getty Images Children were encouraged to do an extra 30 minutes of exercise every day School programmes encouraging children to take more exercise and eat healthily are unlikely to have any real effect on childhood obesity, a study in the British Medical Journal suggests. More than 600 primary school […]
Who should I vote for? Compare party policies
BBC Political parties in Scotland are campaigning ahead of the election on 6 May. To help you decide who you might vote for, use this policy guide to compare where the parties stand on the key issues. This guide is a concise summary of the main policies being put forward by each party. The policy […]
Will Taiwan’s banks stay stuck in a ‘1980s’ time warp?
Erin Hale Business reporter, Taiwan Catherine Chou Like many new arrivals Catherine Chou found Taiwan’s banks frustrating Walking into a Taiwanese bank for the first time, two years ago, was something of a misadventure for Catherine Chou. The Taiwanese American professor had relocated to Taipei to wait out the end of Covid-19, but she was […]
Coronavirus prompts PM into obesity crackdown
Getty Images The prime minister is set to announce new measures to curb obesity next week, and they are expected to include a ban on TV junk food adverts before 21:00. It comes amid growing evidence people who are overweight or obese are at greater risk from coronavirus. The measures are yet to be finalised […]
Rapid tests for asymptomatic people to be rolled out
Asymptomatic testing for Covid can help “break the chains of transmission”, Matt Hancock says Regular rapid testing for people without coronavirus symptoms will be made available across England this week, the government has said. The community testing regime – expanded to cover all 317 local authorities – uses rapid lateral flow tests, which can return […]
End of ‘lifeline’ tax cut will hit hospitality sector
BBC Pub owner Alex Clarke said reduced VAT and government support had been “vital” to his businesses A temporary reduction in VAT to 5% for certain hospitality businesses introduced during the pandemic, has come to an end. How are firms preparing for the increase in “lifeline” government tax again? The value added tax relief applied […]
Visa scheme planned to ease problems
Reuters Drivers have queued at some petrol stations, despite reassurances over supplies Ministers are working on plans for a temporary visa scheme to make it easier for foreign lorry drivers to come to the UK. Final details of exactly how the initiative will work are expected to be announced this weekend. Any changes to immigration […]
Donald Trump to announce raft of new trade tariffs including on steel
Reuters President Donald Trump has said he will announce a 25% import tax on all steel and aluminium entering the US, a move that will have the biggest impact in Canada. Trump also said that there would be an announcement later in the week about reciprocal tariffs on all countries that tax imports from the […]