Author Archive
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New flood cameras up and running
New flood warning cameras are up and running across Staffordshire, Derbyshire, Leicestershire and the West Midlands. The system, which is entirely solar powered, will monitor three watercourses across Staffordshire, Derbyshire and Leicestershire and seven across the West Midlands. The aim is to ensure that local residents are alerted if their properties are at risk of flooding - residents signed up to the Environment Agency’s flood warning service will ...
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Manufacturers see fall in export orders
New export orders fell at the fastest pace in three years, according to the CBI, possibly down to the continued strength of sterling. Total new domestic orders reduced over the quarter for the first time since April 2013 and manufacturers’ optimism about both their business situation and export prospects for the year ahead fell to the greatest extent since October 2012. Total unit costs stabilised over the three months to October, but output prices fell ...
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Processed meat “carcinogenic to humans”
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has classified processed meat as “carcinogenic to humans” having concluded that its consumption causes colorectal cancer. WHO experts claim that each 50 gram portion of processed meat eaten daily increases the risk of colorectal cancer by 18%. “For an individual, the risk of developing colorectal cancer because of their consumption of processed meat remains small, but this risk increases with the amount of meat consumed,” says Dr Kurt Straif, head of WHO’s ...
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Boost for UK business in Chinese e-marketplaces
UK Trade and Investment (UKTI) has signed agreements with five Chinese e-marketplaces estimated to be worth £1 billion to UK companies over the next three years. The signings took place at "China: The Retail Opportunity", a one-day conference held in London as part of the Chinese State Visit when UKTI signed memorandums of understanding with the following e-marketplaces: JD Worldwide Netease/Kaola XIU.com Mogujie Ctrip According to official figures, in China e-marketplaces account for 90% of all e-commerce transactions ...
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Maize stubble alert
The Environment Agency is urging farmers to cultivate maize stubble as soon as possible before any wet weather sets in. Apparently, stubble left in after harvest can lead to excessive runoff, causing localised flooding and where large amounts of soil enter a watercourse this can cause a pollution incident. The Agency comments: ...
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Businesses warned of new spoof email scam
Businesses are being warned of a new email scam which involves a criminal sending an email to a member of staff in a company’s finance department which appears to be from a senior colleague, such as the finance director or chief executive. According to Financial Fraud Action UK, fraudsters use software which manipulates the characteristics of an email, including the sender address, so that it looks genuine. This means the spoof email appears in the recipient’s ...
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Renewables bring down wholesale cost of energy
A new report claims that renewables are cutting the wholesale price of energy and lessening the impact of subsidies on bill payers. The study, published by Good Energy and backed by the University of Sheffield, claims that wind and solar brought down the wholesale cost of electricity by £1.55 billion in 2014 – meaning that an overall net cost for supporting the two renewable sources last year was £1.1 billion, 58% less ...
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Simpler price comparisons for supermarket groceries
The Government is to look into ways supermarket price comparisons can be made simpler for shoppers, Consumer Minister, Nick Boles, announced today (15 October 2015). The plans are set out in the Government's response to the Competition and Markets Authority's investigation into a super-complaint made by Which? alleging misleading pricing practices in ...
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More offices to homes conversions
Housing and Planning Minister, Brandon Lewis, has announced new measures that should make it easier to turn underused office buildings into new homes. First introduced in 2013, temporary permitted development rights have enabled offices to be converted to new homes without having to apply for planning permission. These rights were set to expire on 30th May 2016 but will now be made permanent. In addition the rights will in future allow the demolition of office buildings ...
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UK sets record for low carbon growth
The UK tops the G20 in PwC's 2015 Low Carbon Economy Index, with a record breaking 10.9% year-on-year decline in greenhouse gas emissions linked to energy usage. The analysis describes the performance as “exceptional” but cautions that it owes more to “circumstance than policy” with the closure of coal fired power stations, strong economic growth and a warmer winter among the factors. Key findings are as follows: The UK lowered its energy related emissions by 8.7% ...
