Image copyright AFP Like it or loathe it, the consumer is king – or even, queen – and no more so than over Christmas. The spike in festive spending between November and January typically makes up 40% of a retailer’s takings. For many, the season’s tidings weren’t particularly cheerful (if not perhaps as bleak as …
Only a small percentage of the African continent is mapped in any detail. This has huge consequences for disaster relief and also for urban planning, as people pour into cities at an unprecedented rate. In Zanzibar, East Africa, the World Bank is funding a new mapping initiative which is becoming a model for how other …
Media playback is unsupported on your device Media captionAfrica’s drone mapping experts A lack of accurate maps is a big problem in parts of Africa: for disaster relief agencies, local authorities and people looking for safe places to build homes. Could cheap survey drones and local volunteers help plug the gaps? Khadija Abdulla Ali is …
Dynamite was invented by the Swedish engineer Alfred Nobel, who went on to found the international prizes for peace, science and literature which bear his name. But what was it about dynamite that prompted Alfred Nobel to become such a great philanthropist? Aaron Heslehurst explains. Video producer: Jeremy Howell Source by [author_name]
Image copyright Aspall Image caption Aspall’s American owners plan to invest up to £10m over the next three years Cider maker Aspall has revealed the first details of a £10m expansion plan. The upgrade to its site near Debenham, in Suffolk, will include a new processing building, weighbridge for vehicles and extra storage tanks. Manager …
Image copyright AFP/Getty Images Image caption Amber Rudd will make her first major welfare speech on Friday Around 15,000 families with three or more children will not have their universal credit capped, the work and pensions secretary will say on Friday. A two-child limit on the benefit came into effect in April 2017 – but …
Image copyright Eddie Mitchell Image caption There were sightings of drones at Gatwick in December Some of the sightings of drones at Gatwick Airport before Christmas were in, or close to, takeoff and landing zones, the BBC understands. Their appearance in critical areas underlines the threat to aircraft. The incident caused severe disruption for two …
Image caption Sergio Bucher joined Debenhams from Amazon The chief executive of Debenhams has been voted off the retailer’s board, but will remain in his role, the troubled retailer has said. Two major shareholders, Mike Ashley’s Sports Direct, and Landmark Group, voted against Mr Bucher’s re-election. The board said it had “full confidence” in plans …
Image copyright Getty Images Image caption Honda employs about 3,400 people at its Swindon plant Honda UK has said it will shut down its Swindon factory for six days in April as part of its preparations for any disruption caused post-Brexit. The Japanese-owned car giant said the move was to ensure it could adjust to …