How the UK contributes to global deforestation
Getty Images / BBC Cocoa, palm oil, pulp and paper, rubber, soy, timber, beef and leather. It’s estimated that an area the size of the UK was used abroad every year between 2016 and 2018, to meet British demand for these natural materials. People everywhere rely on things like these for everyday products and our […]
America’s first Native cabinet secretary
Sam Cabral BBC News, Washington Getty Images To some, she’s New Mexico politician Deb Haaland. To Native Americans, she’s Auntie Deb. And Auntie just took the helm at the 172-year-old federal agency that most closely oversees Native affairs. The Senate on Monday confirmed Ms Haaland as Interior Secretary by a vote of 51 to 40, […]
Sourdough or sourfaux? Artisan bread label row erupts
Daniel Thomas Business reporter, BBC News Getty Images Independent bakers says real sourdough should not contain baker’s yeast Sourdough bread has become a major food trend over the last few years, with loaves flying off the shelves at independent bakeries and cafes, often for high prices. But with major supermarkets now getting in on the […]
People ‘rediscovering books’ as lockdown sales jump
Rebecca Marston Business reporter, BBC News Bloomsbury Crescent City: House of Earth and Blood was one of Bloomsbury’s best selling titles People have “rediscovered the pleasure of reading” in lockdown, publisher Bloomsbury has said, after reporting its best half-year profits since 2008. The firm, best known for publishing the Harry Potter books, said profits jumped […]
‘No recovery in sight’ for retailers
Getty Images Scottish retailers have warned that there is “no recovery in sight” after reporting a sharp fall in high street sales. New figures from the Scottish Retail Consortium (SRC) found a 6% year-on-year drop in total sales in September. Food sales were up by 3.7%, but the non-food category plummeted by 14.2%. SRC described […]
No room at food warehouse in Cardiff
Operations manager Jake Rattenbury took the BBC behind the scenes at a Cardiff warehouse where food is being stockpiled A cold storage firm says it has run out of room because the food industry is stockpiling in the run-up to Brexit. Cardiff-based Wild Water has rented extra space in Newport, Bristol and Staffordshire, and bought […]
Israel releases Palestinian prisoners after Hamas hands over four hostages’ bodies
Watch: Released Palestinian prisoners reunite with families in the West Bank Hamas has handed over what it says are the bodies of four Israeli hostages from Gaza, in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners. Israel is testing DNA samples to confirm they are the remains of Shlomo Mansour, 86, Ohad Yahalomi, 50, Tsachi Idan, 50, […]
Minister says NI schools must cater for key workers
BBC First Minister Arlene Foster said schools were being repurposed and “unfortunately the educational work that goes on [in schools] has come to an end”. All schools should be prepared to cater for key workers’ children from Monday, Education Minister Peter Weir has said. He said only children, up to and including year 10, whose […]
India’s bailout may not be enough to save economy
Arunoday Mukharji BBC News, Delhi Millions of people in India are struggling for food during the country’s coronavirus lockdown Mohammad Alam is one of thousands of workers standing in a food queue in India’s capital, Delhi. The factory where he worked shut down after Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced a 21-day lockdown to stop the […]
Venezuelans cross into Colombia as crisis deepens
Katy Watson BBC South America correspondent, Cúcuta Thousands of Venezuelans are searching for a new life in Colombia At 05:00 in the morning, a steady stream of Venezuelans heads into Colombia. Many have queued overnight, waiting patiently for the Simón Bolívar International bridge to open. Some 25,000 people cross the bridge into Colombia every day. […]