Why mature dating apps are coming of age

An increasing number of older people are turning to dating apps for mature people, in a quest for love.

'I still have confidence in package holidays'

New research suggests most people still want to book package holidays despite what happened after the collapse of Thomas Cook.

Trump sets date for signing US-China 'deal'

The US president says he will sign a limited agreement with China on 15 January.

Global markets end 2019 with healthy gains

Major share indexes end the year sharply higher despite a year of global financial uncertainty.

Carlos Ghosn lawyer stunned as Nissan ex-boss flees Japan for Lebanon

It is unclear how the ex-Nissan boss, who was awaiting trial, managed to flee to Lebanon.

Consumers' five biggest complaints revealed by Citizens Advice

Problems with used cars top the list as a charity urges people to keep records of poor service or goods.

Telecom giant MTN accused of paying bribes to Taliban, al-Qaeda

South African mobile company MTN responds to allegations it paid bribes to al-Qaeda and the Taliban.

'We can give a lot of the power back to the fans'

How two friends created an online storytelling platform with more than 80 million global users.

Huawei: 'Survival will be our priority' in 2020

The firm admits life will be "difficult" after the Trump administration banned the firm in the US.

National living wage to rise by 6.2% in April

The government says it will boost pay by more than four times the rate of inflation.

What were the top business stories of 2019?

It was a year of unrest and upheaval, with protests in Hong Kong, and US-China trade tensions.

Local shops urge action to save cash machines

The Link network should raise the fee it pays cash machine operators, say convenience store owners.

Nissan's ex-head Carlos Ghosn in surprise Lebanon arrival

It is unclear how Carlos Ghosn left Japan where he was on bail pending trial on corruption charges.

Germanwings strike forces 180 flight cancellations

Cabin crew at Lufthansa's low-cost carrier are staging a three-day walkout in a long-running dispute.

Student loans: Online accounts to undergo overhaul in 2020

The government says a new online service will offer graduates more up-to-date balance information.

Schools in Wales: New tax 'should fund school curriculum changes'

A leading economist proposes a new levy to make up for "pretty dire" funding for schools.

Tesla delivers its first 'Made in China' cars

The move comes as the US-China trade war US companies to shift production out of China.

Bank of England chief Mark Carney issues climate change warning

The world will face irreversible heating unless firms shift priorities, Mark Carney tells the BBC.

Hydrogen-powered drones could point way to future travel

Hydrogen-powered drones have several advantages to lithium ion-powered ones, says Dr Enass Abo-Hamed.

Ten brands that disappeared from the High Street over the last decade

Toys R Us, Borders, Maplin and BHS are some big names that have disappeared over the last decade.

UK railways need ‘radical overhaul’, campaigners say

A pressure group says ending "nightmare rail journeys" can happen - but only with major reforms.

New Year Honours: Former Ofcom head Sharon White becomes dame

Sharon White is recognised on the honours list for her public service at the telecoms regulator Ofcom.

Treasury 'to rewrite rules to favour the North'

The plan could hand fresh cash to Labour's former heartlands, which backed the Tories in election.

Amazon probed over plan to buy Deliveroo stake

The competition watchdog is worried the deal could increase the cost of getting food delivered.

Sriracha hot sauce recall over 'exploding' bottle fears

The popular sauce has been recalled in Australia and New Zealand over fears it may splatter when opened.

Bruce Lee's daughter sues fast food chain over image use

Shannon Lee alleges popular restaurant Real Kungfu has used her father's image without permission.

Boxing Day sales: Footfall slumps as bad weather hits UK

Online deals and the weather may have contributed to a fall in the number of people heading to the sales, experts say.

Business review of 2019: Boeing, Huawei and Brexit

2019 saw Boeing suffer a blow to its reputation after the second crash of a Boeing 737 Max airliner.

How the US-China trade war has changed the world

The bitter US-China trade battle has led to fundamental shifts in the global trading environment.

My Money: 'I'm exactly £1,000 lighter'

As part of a new BBC blog series, Angela Jansen shares what she spent her money on this week.

The island struggling to secure its future

After being hit by a hurricane, Puerto Rico is seeking ways to counter years of economic decline.

Monzo boss warned: 'Worst decision of your life'

Tom Blomfield, who founded mobile bank Monzo, describes his personal journey starting a business.

Brecon Carreg back under Welsh ownership after 36 years

Former commercial manager buys back mineral water business from a Belgian company.

Uber co-founder Travis Kalanick steps down from board

Ride-hailing firm's co-founder steps down from its board saying he wants to focus on other pursuits.

How do toy shops pick the right Christmas toys?

Buyers at Hamleys in London decide in March what kids are going to want for Christmas.

Christmas: Beware 'lethal' button batteries in toys

If accidentally swallowed, the tiny batteries can burn and choke young children, doctors warn.

Salmon producer steps up war on food fraud

A Scottish salmon farmer moves to tackle the sale of fake products ahead of a planned US expansion.

Why didn't the Bank of England appoint a woman?

Andrew Bailey will be the 121st governor in the Bank's history, and every one of them has been a man.

Heard it before? The rise of the anniversary album

Mariah Carey is just one of a host of artists cashing in on the mania for anniversary re-releases.

'Fashion industry's pollution made me cry'

Yael Aflalo on the trip to China that sparked the growth of her California-based Reformation chain.

Lloyd's of London whistleblowing hotline was down for 16 months

Regulators will monitor Lloyd's of London after a whistleblowing hotline was down for 16 months.

Boeing boss Dennis Muilenburg to step down

The firm said a change in leadership was necessary to restore confidence after the 737 Max crisis.

Tesco Christmas card factory in China denies 'forced labour'

A girl found a handwritten message, claiming to be from Chinese prisoners, in a Christmas card.

Vimto: Profit warning follows Middle East soft drinks tax

The soft drinks levy was introduced in Saudi Arabia and the UAE where Vimto sales are worth £7m.

Fund manager defends backing blacklisted Chinese surveillance firm

Fidelity International owns a stake in Hikvision, which is accused of contributing to human rights abuses.

Emanuel Ungaro: French fashion designer Emanuel dies aged 86

Clothes from the designer's fashion house have been seen on everyone from Jackie Kennedy to Katy Perry.

China to cut import tariffs on pork and tech parts

The world's second-largest economy will cut import duties on hundreds of goods from 1 January.

The Rise of Skywalker: Another hit for Star Wars despite falling sales

The opening weekend box office for The Rise of Skywalker fell short of previous films in the trilogy.

Thomas Cook staff say 'benefits system has failed them'

Thomas Cook staff say the benefits system has failed them, leaving them desperate and distressed.

Deutsche Bank whistleblower hits back at regulator

Anna Waterhouse has hit back after a damaging finding against her by the Dubai Financial Services Authority.

Tech trends 2020: New spacecraft and bendy screens

From new spacecraft to bendy screens, what to watch for in tech in 2020.

Tesco halts production at Chinese factory over alleged 'forced' labour

It comes after a girl reportedly found a message from Chinese prisoners in a box of Tesco Christmas cards.

Whirlpool: MPs call on washing machine firm to offer swift refunds

The company is recalling half a million washing machines but some MPs are calling on it to do more.

Sacla', Waitrose and Aldi pesto products recalled over peanut fears

The affected products include the brand Sacla' as well as supermarkets Waitrose and Aldi.

Cobham takeover: Boris Johnson defends £4bn sale to US equity firm

Critics say there are still national security questions over the sale of Cobham to a US equity firm.

Is Barbie's makeover working?

Barbie has been given a makeover to be more diverse and empowered - but will that give her a place under the Christmas tree?

UK approves £4bn takeover of defence company Cobham

The government has cleared Advent's £4bn takeover bid for British firm Cobham.

Dumfries and Galloway wind farm deal worth £104m agreed

The agreement involves two projects in southern Scotland where construction has yet to begin.

What does the Bank of England governor actually do?

It's the top job at an institution that can affect the finances of people across the UK, but what does it involve?

HSBC customers hit by two IT glitches within hours

The bank joked "the elves had just got out in our server rooms and run amok" before a second fault.

France Télécom suicides: Three former bosses jailed

The three are found guilty of "institutional moral harassment" that saw staff deaths in the 2000s.

Bank of England: What does the governor do?

Andrew Bailey has been appointed as the governor of the Bank of England.

Andrew Bailey's 'slow and steady' rise to power

Andrew Bailey, the new Bank of England governor, was an early favourite for the job.

VW hit with record fine in Australia over emissions scandal

The fine is to settle lawsuits over the German car giant's global emissions scandal.

Heathrow third runway 'delayed for 12 months'

The airport claims a decision by the aviation regulator to limit its spending will delay progress.

How the scramble for sand is destroying the Mekong

The Mekong river is being damaged by sand extraction, adding to calls for limits on sand usage.

Bank of England: Andrew Bailey tipped as new governor

Andrew Bailey, the Financial Conduct Authority boss, is the favourite to take over from Mark Carney.

Rail law proposal amounts to 'draconian' strike ban

A requirement to provide minimum services during strikes will reduce disruption, the government says.

Bank of England keeps interest rates on hold

Rates could be cut if global growth falters or Brexit uncertainty persists, the Bank indicates.

Retail sales fall sharply in November

Shoppers continued to keep a tight grip on spending amid uncertainty about Brexit and the election.

Boeing 'is not a trustworthy company anymore'

Zipporah Kuria, whose father died on board a 737 Max, met with the European aviation safety regulator.

Airbnb is not an estate agent, EU court rules

Airbnb will not need an estate agent licence to operate as it is an "information society service".

Hedge funds eavesdrop on Bank of England briefings

Traders may have had early access to market-sensitive information from Bank press conferences.

African swine fever: Fears rise as virus spreads to Indonesia

An outbreak of the deadly virus that has decimated pig herds in China has been detected in Indonesia.

Japan's workplaces rethink 'drinking with the boss'

In Japan, fears of harassment claims mean some bosses are hesitant to organise after-work drinks.

Apple, Google and Amazon decide to 'play nice' over smart home tech

Apple, Google and Amazon team up to ensure smart home devices work regardless of the voice assistant used.

Felixstowe: Strike dates set for UK's busiest container port

The Port of Felixstowe handles more than a third of the container cargo arriving in the UK.

Whirlpool names date for washing machine recall

The owner of the Hotpoint and Indesit appliances, some of which are a fire risk, will begin next month.

UK 'should tackle dominance of online giants'

Competition authority says the UK should have tougher rules for firms such as Google and Facebook.

YouTube's top earners: Eight-year-old Ryan tops list with $26m

Ryan's World is ranked number one for the second year in a row.

Bet365: UK's best-paid boss hits £320m jackpot

The co-founder of the Bet365 website receives another huge pay award as online gambling booms.

Washing machine recall: Whirlpool's online model checker still down

Half a million Hotpoint and Indesit appliances need to be fixed or replaced, but the recall website is down.

Auditors 'should not just be regular accountants'

The latest review of auditors suggests a new professional body for those reviewing company accounts.

Fiat Chrysler and PSA confirm merger deal

Unions at PSA's Vauxhall operation have previously raised concerns about the merger.

Dame Vera Lynn wins gin trademark battle

Halewood International fails to register the trademark "Vera Lynn" as cockney rhyming slang for its gin.

Instagram e-cigarette posts banned by ad watchdog

British American Tobacco and three other vaping companies have posts promoting e-cigarettes banned.

Every McDonald's in Peru shuts to mourn dead workers

The fast food giant shut every restaurant in the country after two staff were electrocuted at work.

'Mortgage prisoners' sue over 'unfair' rates

Homeowners, including former customers of Northern Rock and Bradford & Bingley, claim they have been overcharged.

'We swapped the Christmas do for a conference'

For Craig Unsworth, there are alternatives to the traditional, boozy festive party.

How much do the British spend on a night out?

Sarah, 30, says she could have paid for a holiday with the money she blew on one expensive night out.

How charity apps may be making us more generous

There are more ways than ever to give to charity - so are these innovations spurring our generosity?

How much should bosses be paid?

Do stock options encourage good performance or are they just another way to boost executive pay?

CEO Secrets: 'We help banish bad muzak!'

Brian D'Souza, the boss of a company called Open Ear, says he is helping to improve in store music.

The US steps up the hunt for crucial rare earths

The US is stepping up the hunt for crucial rare earth metals, to lessen its dependence on China.

Builder Persimmon lacks minimum house standards, report finds

Review also says the housebuilder's corporate culture needs to change.

Berkshire estate agents fined for forming fee-fixing cartel

Three Berkshire estate agents will pay fines of £605,000 between them after the CMA investigation.

Whirlpool washing machine danger revealed as recall launched

Half a million Hotpoint and Indesit machines are recalled, as Whirlpool faces another fire safety saga.

The Book People goes into administration

PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) has been appointed as the administrator while the troubled firm looks for a buyer.

Boeing suppliers' shares hit by production pause

The planemaker's parts-makers have been hurt by the decision to pause production of the 737 Max.

Samsung chairman Lee Sang-hoon jailed for union sabotage

Lee Sang-hoon is sentenced to 18 months in prison for undermining legitimate union activities.

Whirlpool boss apologises for recalling machines at Christmas

Jeff Noel says it is unfortunate timing, but after problems with some machines, customer safety comes first.

Pound erases election gains amid no-deal Brexit concern

The pound is back down to where it was before the UK general election as Brexit concerns resurface.

Wetherspoon hit by 'temporary' pigs in blankets shortage

Wetherspoon is informing customers about the issue via posters.

Sackler family 'transferred $10bn out of Purdue'

The family took far more money out of the OxyContin-producer after it admitted misleading marketing.

UK unemployment falls to lowest level since 1975

Employment rises to all-time high, while wage growth slows less sharply than in three months to September.

The gender gap is on course to close.... in 99 years

Global gender inequality will take a century to eradicate and the UK's ranking has fallen six places.

How an economist helped thousands get a new kidney

Kidney exchange has helped thousands get a new kidney, and led to the Nobel Prize for Alvin Roth.

Boeing to temporarily halt 737 Max production in January

Manufacturer says it will stop production of troubled jet involved in two deadly crashes.

Top tech firms sued over DR Congo cobalt mining deaths

A lawsuit accuses Apple, Google, Tesla, Microsoft and others of using cobalt mined by child labour.

BA strike threat removed after pilot pay deal

The airline and its pilots have struck a deal in a dispute that led to a mass walkout in September.

Shares surge as political and trade tensions ease

Investors have welcomed the election result as well as progress in resolving the US-China trade dispute.

Twitch sued for £2.1bn over Premier League by Russian firm

The Amazon-owned streaming giant is facing claims it illegally broadcast matches.

Workers secure fresh victory over Post Office

A judge's ruling over the IT system comes after the Post Office offered a £58m deal for workers.

Apple shareholders set to vote on human-rights policies

A US regulator ruled a freedom-of-expression motion filed by campaigners should be put to shareholders.

Pre-Christmas shopping discounts 'could hit 50%'

Discounting by retailers in the run-up to Christmas is predicted to reach record heights in 2019.

Northern rail delays: Cancellations as new timetable begins

Rail firm Northern had said 50 new trains would be introduced, but is reporting a shortage of drivers.

Two ex-Serco bosses charged with fraud over alleged tagging scandal

Nicholas Woods and Simon Marshall are charged over an alleged scandal involving tagging criminals.

More House of Fraser stores to close, warns Mike Ashley

Sports Direct says it will be closing 'unprofitable' House of Fraser stores in the next 12 months.

Water firms forced to cut bills by £50 by 2025

Water bills will come down after 1 April 2020 after the regulator set out new pricing rules.

Hallmark apologizes for pulling same-sex ads

The company withdrew the adverts under pressure from conservatives, then reversed its decision.

How a university dropout built a toy empire

Nick Mowbray went from sleeping on the factory floor to leading a multi-million dollar toy firm.

What does business want from Boris?

Many firms will welcome an end to the Brexit stalemate but firms want action elsewhere too.

Christmas lights from online sellers 'can be fire risk'

Which? says six out of 13 sets of Christmas lights it bought from online marketplaces were unsafe.

Climate change: Longest talks end with compromise deal

Exhausted delegates reach agreement on the key question of ambition with tricky issues postponed.

Faulty valve leaves thousands without water in Bedfordshire

About five thousand homes are still without water but Anglian Water hopes supplies will be restored.

British Steel takeover 'making progress'

China's Jingye denies a newspaper report suggesting its bid to rescue the firm could collapse.

Mesut Ozil: Arsenal-Manchester City game removed from schedules by China state TV

China's state broadcaster CCTV has removed Sunday's Arsenal-Manchester City game from its schedule after comments made by Gunners midfielder Mesut Ozil, state media has reported.

Jailed Post Office worker: I wanted to kill myself

The BBC speaks to people who were sent to prison after being accused of theft by the Post Office.

Last days of Long Clawson village butcher's shop

It has been run by three generations of the same family and originally delivered meat by horse and cart.

Post Office IT fiasco: 'Decade of hell' for accused

Those accused of false accounting and theft by the Post Office tell how their lives were devastated.

Switching broadband provider 'could save £120'

More than three-quarters of consumers who haggled were offered a better deal, according to Which?

Check your train time - new timetables begin

New rail timetables come in on Sunday, with more and speedier services promised on some routes.

Quadriga: Lawyers for users of bankrupt crypto firm seek exhumation of founder

Lawyers for Quadriga users say there are "questionable circumstances" behind Gerald Cotten's death.

What the Conservatives' win means for your money

Promises have been made and plans put in place that will have an effect on your finances after the election.

Tariffs on hold in early US-China trade deal

The so-called phase one deal will see billions of dollars in tariffs removed or delayed.

Viagogo's takeover of StubHub faces competition probe

The regulator is considering whether the takeover will lead to "a substantial lessening of competition".

Timetable set for Woodford fund repayments

Stricken investors in Neil Woodford's former flagship fund will receive their first payments on 20 January.

Businesses urge Johnson to secure trade deals

Bosses have called on the prime minister to secure the future terms of trade with the EU.

Qantas picks Airbus over Boeing for longest flights

The move marks a fresh blow to rival Boeing as it deals with the fallout from its grounded 737 Max jets.

How the snow globe became a million dollar idea

The BBC's Aaron Heslehurst explains how the snow globe became a million dollar idea.

Trump 'signs off' on deal to pause US-China trade war

The two sides have reportedly reached a deal days before another round of tariffs was due to start.

Pound soars on exit poll forecast of Tory majority

Sterling surges 2.2% to its highest level since last June after figures suggest an 86-seat majority.

Apology over railcards issued with missing photos

National Rail has apologised for a glitch which meant some railcards were issued without photographs.

Jamie Oliver's Fifteen Cornwall restaurant closes

The restaurant had trained more than 200 apprentices since it opened in Newquay, in 2006.

Trump says US and China 'very close' to trade deal

US stocks rally on the president's tweet, which comes days before another planned round of tariffs.

Inaccurate bills are energy customers' biggest complaint, charity says

Three in five say bills are the source of problems, as Citizens Advice rates the best and worst firms.

Championship 'bubble waiting to burst' with clubs posting record losses in Premier League 'gamble'

BBC Radio 5 Live's Investigations Unit explores the financial picture of the Championship - with one former chairman saying "thank God we're out".

Superdry founder 'pleased with progress' despite loss

The fashion chain's founder Julian Dunkerton says it will take two to three years to revive the brand.

Trump tariff deadline looms: 'It's very scary'

US customers could pay billions more for shoes each year if new tariffs on China take effect.

'My boss lets us book hangover days'

One firm lets employees work from the comfort of their own sofa, even after they've been out drinking.

'I order takeaways six nights a week'

Ben Roberts spends up to £1,600 a month ordering in, more than three times the national average for a year.

Chemists demand clarity on cannabis-related goods

Non-medicinal CBD is now on sale in High Street shops across the country, including chemists.

How millennials are changing the perfume business

Perfumers describe how they're adapting to calls for sustainable contents and gender-neutral smells.

BBC iPlayer stops working on some Samsung TVs

Eleven models are not expected to get a fix until after the Christmas holiday season.

Boeing: Regulator admits 'mistake' over aircraft crashes

The Federal Aviation Administration predicted accidents but took no action until a second crash.

Brexit: Free trade deals 'won't offset leaving EU'

New trade deals won't compensate for the economic damage of leaving the EU, Newsnight analysis finds.

Supercuts strikes rescue deal saving 1,000 jobs

The owner of the Supercuts and Regis hairdressing chains has been saved from administration.

France strike: PM Édouard Philippe outlines 'fairer' pension plan

Prime Minister Édouard Philippe outlines controversial plans he says will create a fairer system.

Nintendo Switch goes on sale in China with just one first-party game

Super Smash Bros is the only first-party Nintendo title approved for sale in the country.

Internet provider faces big GDPR fine for lax call centre checks

Internet company is accused of only asking for a name and date of birth before sharing personal data.

UK pub sector expands for first time in 10 years

Official figures show there were 320 more pubs in Britain this March than a year earlier.

Tata's Orb steel plant in Newport has two potential buyers

Tata previously said it was shutting the steelworks, putting up to 380 jobs at risk.

Post Office settles IT ‘fraud’ case for £58m

The Post Office has settled a long-running dispute with sub-postmasters over its Horizon IT system.

Amazon told to answer Deliveroo deal concerns in five days

The competition watchdog is worried the tie-up could increase delivery prices.

Stagecoach founders Brian Souter and Ann Gloag stepping down

Sir Brian Souter will step down as chairman while Dame Ann Gloag will also step back from the company.

The secrets of 'food porn' viral videos

Is the fashion for filming calorie-saturated food videos encouraging unhealthy eating?

Aramco shares jump in world's biggest ever market debut

The Saudi oil giant's share sale comes after months of uncertainty over the initial public offering.

'World's first' fully-electric commercial flight takes off

A fully electric seaplane flight has been hailed by operators as the start of a third "aviation era".

Most-viewed mansions of 2019 revealed

Castles and mirrored ceilings attracted clicks among window shoppers on a property website.

'I won't sleep for over 24 hours on election night'

Many currency traders will be working through the night on 12 December.

Can governments ever run out of money?

In the UK and US, political parties are promising spending splurges. Is more borrowing sensible?

WTO chief: 'Months' needed to fix disputes body

The world trade body has ground to a halt because the US has blocked the appointment of new judges.

Maurice Saatchi quits advertising firm he co-founded

M&C Saatchi shares have collapsed this year from a high of about £4 each to 103 pence.

Exxon wins New York climate change fight

A judge rules the firm did not mislead investors about climate change risks.

McDonald’s latest fast food chain to join vegan craze

The fast food chain will launch its first vegan meal option in the UK as more people cut down on meat.

USMCA: Agreement reached on Nafta trade deal replacement

Democrats in Congress agree to approve the new US-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA).

George Laurer, co-inventor of the barcode, dies at 94

The US engineer helped to perfect the technology to read barcodes, which revolutionised retail.

Thomas Cook customers get apology for refund delay

The body repaying cash owed after the firm's collapse says it is "working tirelessly" on payments.

UK economic growth slowest in nearly seven years

GDP rises by 0.7% last month year-on-year, the weakest since March 2012, official figures show.

Wetherspoon 'to create 10,000 jobs over four years'

The chain says it will invest £200m in new pubs and hotels, as well as enlarging existing ones.

Ted Baker bosses resign as firm issues profit warning

The chief executive and executive chairman at the High Street fashion retailer are to step down.

'Hackable' karaoke and walkie talkie toys found by Which?

Strangers could connect to the toys via Bluetooth in certain cases, the consumer body claims.

SoftBank selling its stake in dog-walking app - reports

The move would mark another disappointment in a bad year for the Japanese investment giant.

British power plant promises to go carbon negative

Drax, which generates 5% of UK power, says it will capture more carbon than it produces by 2030.

'I slept in a cupboard for three months'

Entrepreneur Mathias Mikkelsen was so desperate to get into a 'hacker house' he slept in a closet.

E-scooter company Unicorn goes bust after spending big on Facebook ads

The Texas-based company reportedly sold just 350 of its $699 commuter scooters.

LinkedIn loneliness video by Canterbury man goes viral

Mark Gaisford made a video about having no close friends and it went viral on social media.

Paul Volcker: Former US Federal Reserve chief dies aged 92

The former head of the US Federal Reserve was known for fighting inflation in the 1980s.

Thomas Cook refunds 40,000 customers by deadline

The figure is two-thirds the number the regulator hoped to refund at the end of a 60-day deadline.

'It's inexcusable we don't know who we can hire'

The Conservatives' immigration plans lack clarity, says the head of a UK business group.

Investors withdraw £100m from UK property funds

Many have been shaken by the suspension of withdrawals from a leading property fund last week.

Rise of SUVs 'makes mockery' of electric car push

Exhaust emissions from new cars have been increasing for the past three years, research suggests.

Billionaire John Caudwell goes head-to-head with Labour's John McDonnell

John Caudwell goes head-to-head with the shadow chancellor after he stated that nobody needs or deserves to be a billionaire.

'If HS2 doesn't come to Crewe, what then?'

The demise of Crewe's railway industry has hit people hard. What are their hopes for the future?

Tesco considers sale of Thai and Malaysian stores

The move comes as Britain's biggest retailer focuses on its domestic business in the wake of an accounting scandal.

General election 2019: Labour vows Budget 'to end austerity' in first 100 days

John McDonnell will also set out plans for "democratic control" of nationalised water and energy.

Scottish private sector output expands, says RBS survey

A regular RBS survey suggests there are "some positive signs" for firms, after output grows in November.

Polluting firms 'will be hit by climate policies'

Which business sectors will be winners and losers when, and if, climate change policies take affect?

How to have a more sustainable Christmas

From renting your tree, to sponsoring a turkey, a growing number of people are having a greener Christmas.

General Election 2019: Johnson insists no NI-GB goods checks post-Brexit

The PM says a leaked Treasury document that says there will be customs checks is "wrong".

China exports fall again as US trade war continues

The latest China trade data points to further signs of strain in the world's second largest economy.

Avanti starts running West Coast Main Line after Virgin franchise ends

The last Virgin train left Euston on Saturday evening, ending Britain's longest-running rail franchise.

HMV faces the music in Christmas crunch test

Canadian Doug Putman rescued the UK music chain, but will the festive season make or break it?

Trade disputes settlement system facing crisis

The World Trade Organization faces a crisis in its system for resolving disputes between members.

Virgin Trains: Final service departs as UK's longest-running rail franchise ends

The last Virgin train left London at 21:42, marking the end of Britain's longest-running rail franchise.

Seychelles: The island nation with a novel way to tackle climate change

The Seychelles has swapped 5% of its national debt for a cash injection to fight climate change and save its ocean.

Pensioner in £193,000 inheritance battle after sort code error

A 74-year-old had his share of an inheritance withheld after providing the wrong sort code number.

General election 2019: What to look out for on the economy

BBC Business Editor Faisal Islam looks at the economic issues at stake in the election.

Sweden's Ericsson to pay over $1bn to settle US corruption probe

The telecoms giant has agreed to pay to resolve bribery allegations, the US justice department says.

Elon Musk wins defamation case over 'pedo guy' tweet about diver

The Tesla founder did not defame UK diver who helped in dramatic Thai cave rescue, US jury finds.

Bug busters: The tech behind new vaccines

A revolution in the way vaccines are developed is raising hopes of faster protection from deadly infections.

Thomas Cook: 'They told me the money was safe'

Many angry Thomas Cook customers are still awaiting refunds for the holidays that never happened.

Labour pledges to electrify UK bus fleet

It wants to electrify UK buses by 2030, but the Tories say Labour would "scrap vital new roads".

US jobs growth jumps in November

The economy added a higher-than-expected 266,000 jobs, helped by the return of striking GM workers.

Eddie Stobart saved from collapse after crunch vote

Shareholders approve a lifeline for the company famed for its distinctive green and red lorries.

Lloyd's of London staff told to behave at Christmas parties

The centuries-old specialist insurance market has faced a raft of complaints about bullying and sexism.

Saudi Aramco's eight decades of history

Saudi Arabia's state-owned oil giant Saudi Aramco traces its history back to the 1930s.

West Coast Rail: Preston-to-Scotland rail fares to be capped

The UK's competition watchdog agrees a cap rail fares on certain routes between Scotland and Preston.

Macron pension reform: France braces for second day of strikes

Transport and services will once again be affected after 800,000 marched in protests on Thursday.

Garuda airline boss to lose job over smuggled motorbike

The boss of Indonesia's national airline is accused of not declaring the importation of a Harley Davidson.

Macron pension reform: Why are French workers on strike?

Hospital staff, police and transport employees join France's biggest strike in decades - but what for?

Uber had 6,000 US sexual assault reports in two years

The figures come as the ride-hailing company is under intense pressure globally over safety issues.

Cambodia's bicycle firms face bumps in the road

The Asian nation has built up a bike building industry, but human rights concerns could put the brakes on growth.

How the egg box became a million dollar idea

The BBC's Aaron Heslehurst explains how the egg box became a million dollar idea.

DeepMind co-founder Mustafa Suleyman switches to Google

The man behind controversial Streams app is to join Google to develop AI solutions.

Saudi Aramco raises $25.6bn in world's biggest share sale

The oil giant's listing is the biggest ever, surpassing that of China's Alibaba in 2014.

Thomas Cook customers face further refund delays

A third of the first Thomas Cook customers to claim refunds will not be paid within the 60-day target.

UK household debts see big increase

Debts including credit card debt and personal loans have risen 11% to £119bn in two years.

Plum: Users of money app complain of long delays for withdrawals

Users say they have had to wait days to get their money out and have struggled to get information.

Eddie Stobart faces crunch rescue vote

One of the troubled firm's largest shareholders wants to lend it £55m through costly, high-interest bonds.

British Steel's French site advertised for sale

China's Jingye has agreed to buy the whole company, but is reportedly furious about developments in France.

Lotus Evija: The £2.2m electric hypercar

The Lotus Evija goes into production next year and Click gets a look at what drivers can expect.

Macron pension reform: France braces for severe disruption amid strike

Transport and schools are severely affected as millions threaten to strike over pension changes.

Huawei launches a new legal challenge against US ban

The Chinese company filed the case after it was labelled as a security threat by Washington.

'I would sell a kidney for the Baby Yoda toy'

Star Wars fans really want toys of the Child, but it will not be out until next year.

Coral dredging: 'It's going to cause irreversible damage'

Cayman Islands campaigners are fighting to stop coral reefs being dredged for bigger cruise liners.

HSBC to bring in single overdraft rate of 40%

The move will as much as quadruple the rate it charges some customers.

Clintons strikes deal to avoid pre-Christmas collapse

The greetings card chain will be sold back to its existing owners, saving 2,500 jobs.

UK's biggest commercial property fund suspended

M&G blamed "Brexit-related political uncertainty" and difficulties in the retail sector for the freeze.

Pound surges to two-year high against the euro

The pound is the highest against the dollar in seven months and the highest against the euro since May 2017.

Who is Sundar Pichai and what does Alphabet do?

The chief executive of Google is now in charge of its parent company Alphabet.

Johnson backs tech tax despite Trump's threats

The prime minister set out his plan just hours after the US warned France of import tariffs.

'People of colour seem to be superglued to the floor'

Trevor Phillips says UK's biggest firms are failing to improve ethnic diversity in leadership roles.

Peloton exercise bike ad mocked as being 'sexist' and 'dystopian'

A Christmas ad for the exercise bike firm has been mocked on social media as being "out of touch".

Another Deliveroo TV ad banned for being misleading

The TV advert received the third highest number of complaints this year, the regulator says.

How robust is the world's financial plumbing?

The Swift system has securely transferred data for decades, but faces growing geopolitical pressure.

How China-US rivalry is dividing the internet

Will the rivalry between China and the US accelerate the division of the internet into two halves?

Conservatives pledge £4.2bn for trains, buses and trams

The party promises new spending on trains, buses and trams outside London.

Google co-founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin step down from parent firm

Larry Page and Sergey Brin are stepping down from Alphabet, with Google CEO Sundar Pichai to take over.

Trump warns of another year of trade tension

The US president says a deal with China may not come until after the 2020 election.

Iceland puts well-being ahead of GDP in budget

The Nordic nation's PM says modern governments need to value green energy and family welfare more.

Black Friday brings UK retailers 'welcome' boost

Sales volumes over the weekend in the UK rose by more than 7% from last year, Barclaycard says.

Sky to build huge new Elstree film studio

The media giant says 2,000 jobs will be created near the existing production site north of London.

TSB fails to meet gender balance target

The bank aimed for women to hold half of its senior jobs by 2020 but have had to push that to 2025.

Elon Musk 'pedo guy' defamation trial to begin

The Tesla boss is due to appear in court accused of defaming a British man during a 2018 cave rescue.

TikTok sent US user data to China, lawsuit claims

The class action accuses TikTok of "surreptitiously" transferring data of American users to China.

FaceApp may pose 'counterintelligence threat' says FBI

It comes amid rising US concern over security risks posed by products made by foreign technology firms.

'We try to make good food emotionally addictive'

John Vincent, co-founder of healthy fast food chain Leon, explains the ethos behind the company.

Raiding factories, freeing children

Nobel laureate Kailash Satyarthi has been freeing children from slavery for more than 30 years.

US mulls retaliation to French tech tax

The list of items that could be hit with tariffs includes cheese, sparkling wine, make-up and handbags.

Could you make money from renting your clothes?

A fashion industry executive is hoping to make clothing rental a popular trend in the UK.

Ferguson Marine shipyard taken into public ownership

The Ferguson shipyard move comes after administrators agree terms for the transaction with Scottish ministers.

Volkswagen: UK motorists begin mass claim over emissions scandal

About 100,000 UK car buyers start a compensation claim over the Volkswagen emissions scandal.

Trump to restore tariffs on steel from Brazil and Argentina

The US President says the countries' weak currencies and cheap exports are harming US farmers.

Android 'spoofing' bug helps targets bank accounts

Banking apps were hit by cyber-thieves who spoofed login pages to steal account details.

Amazon's AI musical keyboard 'sounds terrible'

The device automatically elaborates on tunes played by keyboardists, using a variety of musical styles.

Disabled workers face a 12.2% pay gap

The Office for National Statistics says London has the highest gap, with Scotland the narrowest.

Ted Baker probes £25m stock overstatement

The fashion retailer appoints a major law firm and independent accountants to carry out a review.

South Western Railway strike: 27-day walk out begins

It follows a row over guards on South Western Railway services, which run from London Waterloo.

Cyber Monday expected to rake in 'record US sales'

Retailers are poised for bumper Cyber Monday sales in the US after a record-breaking Black Friday.

Meng Wanzhou: Oil paintings and books for detained Huawei executive

Meng Wanzou is fighting extradition to the US on charges of violating sanctions against Iran.

Amazon pulls Auschwitz-themed Christmas ornaments

Poland's Auschwitz Memorial called on the retailer to halt sales of the "disturbing" merchandise

'Exploited' workers propping up the building sector

The construction industry is trying to crack down on the use of underpaid labour, but it's a huge task.

Brexit: Could the UK and EU sort a trade deal in months?

Even if the withdrawal agreement is approved, the future UK-EU trade relationship still requires much work.

General election 2019: Lib Dems won't support Labour nationalisation plans

Jo Swinson says Labour's plans to take utilities back into public ownership are "not the way forward".

'I match clothes with my pug'

We look at the trend for matching the clothes you wear with your children, dog, cat or even horse.

Labour pledges to cut rail fares by a third

The party vows to slash rail fares and make travel free for young people under the age of 16.

General election 2019: Labour plans central train ticket bookings

The party is proposing a "one-stop shop" for fares with no booking fees if it wins the election.

Mark Carney appointed UN envoy for climate action

The Bank of England governor will be mobilising private finance to take action on climate change.