Successful debut flight for Europe’s Vega-C rocket
Watch Vega-C leave the launch pad at the Kourou spaceport in French Guiana Europe has given a successful debut to its new Vega-C rocket. The medium-lift vehicle was sent up from French Guiana to deliver seven satellites to orbit, the largest of which will test Einstein’s general theory of relativity. Vega-C has enormous importance for […]
Economy slips into recession after interest rate hikes
Getty Images New Zealand’s economy has fallen into recession after the country’s central bank aggressively raised interest rates to a 14-year high. Its gross domestic product (GDP) fell by 0.1% in the first three months of the year, official figures show. That followed a 0.7% contraction in the previous quarter, which means the economy is […]
The cost of speaking up against China
Women who made allegations last month of rape and sexual abuse in Chinese detention camps have been harassed and smeared in the weeks since. Rights groups say the attacks are typical of an aggressive campaign by China to silence those who speak up. Jeremy Meek/BBC Qelbinur Sedik at her home in the Netherlands this week […]
Would you eat chicken grown in a lab?
BBC With the world’s population likely to reach 11 billion by the end of this century, there will be increasing pressure on farmers to maximise their use of agricultural land, and also on scientists to contribute to ensuring we all get enough nutrition. The sci-fi food of the future could change the way we eat […]
‘If a comet hits Earth, life will turn to pain’
“When – not if – it happens, the effects could will be catastrophic.” For Jay Tate, the danger of a comet or an asteroid hitting the Earth is an ever-present threat that too few people take seriously. He is the director of the Spaceguard Centre, near Knighton, in Powys, a working observatory which tracks “near-Earth […]
Welsh farmers to be paid more for protecting nature
Getty Images Could farmers do more to help tackle climate change? Wales is to plough ahead with major reforms to agriculture that would see farmers paid to help protect nature and fight climate change. The Welsh government said its long-awaited Agriculture Bill marked an “historic” moment. Industry leaders added that the new legislation would “define […]
UFU Chief says draft agriculture policy ‘sitting on shelf’
House of Commons Wesley Aston appeared before the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee on Wednesday Plans for a new agriculture policy for Northern Ireland are “sitting on a shelf” as there is no minister in place, the Ulster Farmers Union (UFU) has said. Chief executive Wesley Aston made the comment while giving evidence to the Northern […]
Apple boss Tim Cook makes surprise China visit
VCG/Getty Images Tim Cook, centre, is mobbed during his visit to an Apple store in Chengdu, China Apple chief executive Tim Cook has made a surprise visit to China. Though in an upbeat mood as he met gamers in the city of Chengdu, the company faces flagging iPhone demand in the country, analysts suggest. It […]
Remember Pastygate? Budgets that backfired
Getty Images Budget day is a chancellor’s day to shine. It’s when the prime minister’s number-crunching sidekick finally gets a chance to step out of the shadows. The pay-off for all that poring over the figures is that for once they are the most important person in the room. But despite all the preparation and […]
Zuckerberg to meet with UK culture secretary
Getty Images Mark Zuckerberg has said his company is, in theory, open to regulation Mark Zuckerberg is to meet with the UK’s culture secretary at the company’s headquarters in California on Thursday. It follows 18 months in which the Facebook founder refused to address a parliamentary committee investigating accusations of significant failings at the social […]