The AI telling farmers when to harvest
Will farmers want AI tools to help judge when to pick fruit, or is their own intuition enough?
Thursday, 29 October 2026
Independent coverage of global markets, trade and finance
Will farmers want AI tools to help judge when to pick fruit, or is their own intuition enough?
Children should be introduced to the world of work at the start of primary school, says the author of a major report into youth activity in the UK.
Inflation may be increasing at a slower pace than expected, the markets might be cheering, and the Fed will likely soon be cutting, but Diane Swonk isn’t popping Champagne.
U.S. inflation rose less than expected in August, while consumer spending remained strong in Washington. The softer price data reduced urgency for another October Federal Reserve rate hike, though one by year-end remain…
The FTSE 100 was down 54 points as Thursday afternoon wore on, apparently unmoved by the rather more cheerful mood across the Atlantic.
High street bakery brand Greggs has announced plans to shut four of its factories and cut 740 jobs.
Consumer prices posted a smaller-than-expected increase in August from a year ago, according to the Federal Reserve's primary inflation gauge, the Commerce Department reported Wednesday.
Female DIY experts and tradeswomen talk about their experiences of a traditionally male-dominated domain.
Nigerian billionaire Aliko Dangote and Kenya's President William Ruto are set to break ground on a $16bn (£12bn) oil refinery in Lamu, on Kenya's northern coast.
During the COVID-19 pandemic-era boom, it almost seemed reckless not to invest in real estate. Low mortgage rates and sustained demand for rentals and fix-and-flip properties delivered tidy returns for investors on a fa…
Since Labour took office over a year ago, Britain’s economy has delivered mixed signals. Growth briefly surged early in 2025 but has since stalled, inflation remains stubbornly high, and government debt has soared to ne…
US President Donald Trump hosted a meeting of top technology bosses on Tuesday for what he called "an extraordinary gathering" of the minds that are "building America's Golden Age".
The meeting at the White House came as some tech bosses and experts have called for tighter rules around AI.
An advert for Huel meal replacement shakes has been banned by the advertising watchdog for encouraging or condoning "irresponsible" dietary practices.
It's hard to miss the explosion of DIY content that has hit our social media feeds over the last decade.
As heatwaves scorched Europe this summer, workers at a US battery company noticed an uptick in demand.
Carnival Corporation approaches its September 29 fiscal Q3 earnings release with record customer deposits and robust booking levels extending into 2026. However, profitability faces headwinds from volatile fuel costs an…
Household energy prices are set to soar in January, with a typical annual bill forecast to jump by £276, figures shared with the BBC reveal.
OpenAI on Tuesday unveiled "dots," a new artificial intelligence (AI) assistant they say can proactively carry out tasks on a user's behalf.
Chinese AI developer Moonshot is conducting an internal review after researchers were able to persuade two of its popular Kimi models to tell them how to make biological weapons and carry out assassinations.
Gold prices reversed course and edged higher on Thursday after a U.S. inflation reading was largely in line with expectations, easing some concerns about imminent Federal Reserve rate hikes and pushing the dollar and…
A venue of private members club Soho House is being investigated by the local council after a former member of staff raised concerns about rats and out-of-date food allegedly being served.
For years, a household budget had a little give. A slightly higher electric bill one month could be absorbed by a slightly cheaper grocery run the next. That cushion is gone for most U.S. consumers, and the bills doing …
Oura has pulled its plan to sell shares in its business on the US stock market, in a move which would have valued the firm at $15bn (£11.3bn), just days after announcing it.