Image copyright Getty Images The choice of food on supermarket shelves will start dwindling this weekend because of a shortage of carbon dioxide, the Food and Drink Federation (FDF) has warned. CO2 is used to stun farm animals, put fizz in carbonated drinks and is used in packaging, but is in short supply. FDF chief […]
Image copyright Getty Images Image caption Australia was the first country to introduce mandatory plain packaging for tobacco products Australia has won a major trade dispute over its pioneering plain packaging for cigarettes, in a decision handed down by the World Trade Organization (WTO). The WTO rejected complaints from Cuba, Honduras, Dominican Republic and Indonesia […]
Image copyright PA Eyebrows have been raised by an influential survey that ranks Sports Direct above tech titan Apple as a firm “trailblazing in global commerce”. In a new index of the world’s top 30 international retailers, Mike Ashley’s sports chain comes fourth. It’s beaten by Amazon and the UK’s Boohoo and Asos, but it’s […]
Image copyright Getty Images Image caption Dreaming about that Oscar acceptance speech? For many of us, meetings are a boring waste of time but technology could soon help make them more interesting and productive. What do you do during a boring meeting? I canvassed some opinions on Twitter and the results were enlightening. Some people […]
Image copyright Getty Images Image caption Tata owns the UK’s largest steelworks at Port Talbot Tata Steel and ThyssenKrupp are close to agreeing terms on a merger that will create Europe’s second-biggest steelmaker, after Arcelor Mittal. Senior City sources said the deal – which has been under negotiation for more than a year – could […]
Image copyright Getty Images Debate over the future of ATMs in the UK has intensified ahead of a cut in the fee operators receive from banks. The start of a reduction, over the course of four years, in the fee paid each time a cash machine is used takes effect on Sunday. Link, which oversees […]
The “Made in China” label has until now been taken to mean fast and cheap. But Beijing wants to raise their game, pushing Chinese products to the forefront when it comes to technology, design and quality. How will they do that and why is the US worried? The BBC’s Karishma Vaswani explains. Camera: Muhammad Fahmi […]
Image copyright AFP/Getty Image caption The Federal Reserve administers annual “stress tests” on the largest banks operating in the US Deutsche Bank’s US division has failed the second round of the Federal Reserve’s annual two-stage stress tests, designed to assess how well the sector could withstand another financial crisis. The German lender suffered from “widespread […]
Image copyright BAE Systems British defence giant BAE Systems has won a multi-million pound contract from the Australian government to build nine new warships, marking a significant victory for British military exports. BAE beat Italian and Spanish rivals to win a large slice of the £20bn spending programme. The ships will be built in Australia, […]
Image copyright Getty Images Amazon has said it is buying online pharmacy PillPack, sending shares in rival healthcare firms tumbling over fears of competition from the online retail giant. Shares in pharmacy chains CVS Health and Walgreens Boots Alliance plunged more than 8% in early trade. The announcement confirmed earlier speculation that Amazon was interested […]
Image copyright AFP Image caption The dealings with armed groups took place before Lafarge merged with Holcim Cement giant LafargeHolcim says its French subsidiary is under formal investigation in France over claims it funded a terrorist group in Syria. The subsidiary is also accused of complicity in crimes against humanity and endangering lives in Syria. […]
Image copyright Getty Images Pubs insist there will be no beer shortage on Thursday despite England’s World Cup game and good weather expected to create a huge demand. A CO2 gas scarcity had seen pubs warn some beer, cider and fizzy drink brands were out of stock or running low. The British Beer and Pub […]