Truckers strike four shipping companies at Southern California ports
Tractor-trailer drivers who haul freight from the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach went on strike on Monday against four trucking companies, a Teamster union official said, in a move that could revive labor tension at the nation’s busiest…
RHS Sunflower seed giveaway
April 14-20 is National Gardening Week, the RHS’ annual attempt to get us off the sofa and onto the beds with a series of events and initiatives. It has extra oomph because 2014 is also the 50th anniversary of Britain…
UK construction growth bolsters economic recovery hopes
Britain’s construction industry grew at the fastest pace in nearly a year in February, bolstering expectations that the UK will escape a double dip recession. February data from economic research firm Markit signalled a solid rise in construction output, extending…
‘Stem rust’ fungus threatens global wheat harvest
The world’s leading crop scientists issued a stark warning that a deadly airborne fungus could devastate wheat harvests in poor countries and lead to famines and civil unrest over significant regions of central Asia and Africa. Ug99 — so called…
Italian vintners forced to harvest crops early due to sultry summer
Italy is set for one of its smallest wine harvests after an arid, torrid summer – and will almost certainly cede its title as the world’s biggest wine producer to France. Growers say scorching temperatures and meagre rainfall have affected…
Banks fail to meet targets to increase lending to small business
Banks failed to increase lending to small businesses in the first three months of 2010, despite political pressure to free up the credit markets. The Bank of England’s latest credit conditions survey found that credit made available to small business…
Tackling the problem of really slow ADSL broadband
As you have discovered, in our new competitive broadband market, the buck frequently doesn’t stop anywhere. Demon is your internet service provider (ISP), but it sounds as though your broadband is actually provided by BT Wholesale. However, OpenReach looks after…
Sri Lanka’s tea growers have gone organic
Until quite recently, Sri Lanka had disappeared from the British tea connoisseur’s map. While European tea lovers have always rated top Ceylon estates highly, here the 60s Ceylon Tea centres – which served up a cup of heartburn-inducing tannic brew…
Small businesses: the importance of knowing your market
So you’ve had a lightbulb moment and come up with a business idea. Now you need to ask yourself a simple question: “‘Will my idea work?” The only way to answer this is by doing research. But, even though the…
The experts’ step-by-step guide to cyber security
Where does cyber security fall on your to-do list? If it’s not a priority, it should be because 60% of small businesses suffered a breach in the year leading up to October 2014. The worst of these breaches disrupted operations…
Farmers fall prey to rice rustlers as price of staple crop rockets
Knee-deep in muddy water, her face smeared with sandalwood paste and a broad-brimmed hat for protection against the broiling sun, Samniang Ketia grins broadly at her good fortune to be in the rice growing business as she replants shoots for…