Where are England’s pongiest places?
BBC/ Derby Telegraph/ Getty The sweet smell of home can mean many things to many people – but if, to you, it conjures the intoxicating aroma of warm dog food, rotten eggs or cannabis, you could be an inhabitant of one of the places mentioned below. We hold our noses and get set to explore […]
How Nigeria and its president are being held to ransom
Nasidi Adamu Yahaya BBC Africa, Lagos Nigeria Police Force Suspected kidnappers carrying guns were arrested last week by police The pomp and ceremony of Muhammadu Buhari’s inauguration will not mask the huge challenges the 76-year-old Nigerian president faces during his second term in office – in particular the booming business of kidnapping for ransom. Even […]
Jobs threat as seafood firm plans closure of Annan factory
BBC About 450 jobs could be lost with the closure of the Pinneys site in Annan One of the largest private-sector employers in the south of Scotland has announced plans to close a major factory, with the loss of 450 jobs. Young’s Seafood said it would begin a consultation with staff on the future of […]
China’s ride-hailing giant Didi to launch in Australia
Getty Images Didi Dache and Kuaidi Dache merged in 2015 to form Didi Kuaidi, later renamed Didi Chuxing China’s ride-hailing giant Didi Chuxing is set to launch in Melbourne, Australia, from 25 June as it continues its international expansion. The firm, which recently launched in Mexico, has just completed a month-long trial in close-by Geelong, […]
‘UK not seeing risks to supplies right now’
Jennifer Meierhans BBC News Getty Images Households are protected against gas price rises, says Alok Sharma A spike in wholesale gas prices will not result in goods shortages or price hikes for customers in the UK, a climate change minister has said. COP26 president Alok Sharma said: “We do not see risks of supplies right […]
Government must show more urgency, says Ovo boss
Getty Images The government is showing “nowhere near enough urgency” in finding a solution to steep increases in gas and electricity prices, one energy boss has told the BBC. Ovo’s boss Stephen Fitzpatrick predicts the rise in wholesale gas prices and its impact on people will be “an enormous crisis for 2022”. The business secretary […]
US boss holds crisis gas talks with UK
Dearbail Jordan & Michael Race Business reporters, BBC News Getty Images The boss of a US company that supplies 60% of the UK’s food-grade carbon dioxide supply has held crisis talks with the government over shortages. Tony Will, chief executive of CF Industries, arrived in the UK earlier after the firm stopped production at its […]
Businesses ‘struggling to survive’ as bills rise
BBC Brad Cummings (right), pictured with Tiny Rebel co-founder Gareth Williams, says energy costs for Tiny Rebel brewery are “huge” and out of the firm’s control A “relentless rise” in energy bills could force some hospitality businesses to close, with one brewery owner saying their costs have almost tripled. Brad Cummings, co-founder of Tiny Rebel, […]
‘My dream job turned into a nightmare’
Lora Jones, Nalini Sivathasan & Samantha Everett BBC News BBC As a recent graduate in 2018, Matt thought he was entering the workforce as a junior executive in Newcastle Matt stood, phone in hand, taking photos of his hair on the floor. His topknot had just been cut off as a forfeit for losing out […]
Spain’s olive oil producers devastated by worst ever drought
Mark Lowen Andalucia, BBC News BBC Jaén province generates half of all Spanish oil Francisco Elvira picks his way through his scorched olive grove, stopping to inspect the stunted fruit on almost-bare trees. “Look at them,” he says in desperation. “They ought to be bursting with olives now, close to the harvest. But they’re empty. […]