Chinese factories boom while Japan's are in reverse

Firms are balancing reopening as Covid restrictions ease against rising costs of energy and higher wages.

Customers to be warned of energy bill rises from April

The government says all help is under review as energy firms write to customers to warn of bill rises.

High Street chain closures slow with takeaways thriving

Banks saw the most closures, while takeaways, convenience stores and amusement arcades performed best.

China hits out at US over TikTok ban on federal devices

Beijing accuses Washington of attempting to use state power to suppress foreign companies.

The tiny diamond sphere that could unlock clean power

A diamond sphere made in Germany was key to December's breakthrough fusion experiment in California.

Eggs and margarine drive food inflation to record 17.1%

Rising prices put more pressure on household finances, with one in four shoppers struggling, research finds.

Amazon UK workers walk out on strike in pay row

Union members at a distribution centre in Coventry take a second day of action in a row over pay.

Japan ad giant Dentsu named in Olympics bid-rigging complaint

The competition regulator is investigating alleged corruption in planning and sponsorship.

Elon Musk defends racist tirade by Dilbert creator Scott Adams

Twitter's CEO accused US media of racism after multiple newspapers dropped the popular cartoon.

Ron DeSantis tightens his control over Walt Disney World

Walt Disney World's self-governing district is now under the control of Florida's governor.

Canada bans TikTok on government devices

The federal government says the video app is an "unacceptable" risk to privacy and security.

Lidl limits sales of tomatoes, cucumbers and peppers

The discount supermarket follows rivals by restricting sales of certain fruit and vegetables.

Bao Fan: Missing Chinese billionaire assisting authorities, firm says

Bao Fan's disappearance this month renewed concerns of a potential crackdown on finance and tech figures.

The high-tech weeding machines cutting herbicide use

Using AI technology, the latest weeding systems can automatically find and spray individual weeds.

Job centre staff to get bonuses for getting people work

The government's pilot scheme aims to get more Universal Credit claimants into employment.

Labour says UK risks falling behind Poland

Sir Keir Starmer says that without new policies, living standards will fall below those in eastern Europe.

Fruit and vegetable shortages 'to last four weeks', says George Eustice

The former environment secretary said supermarkets have to "work to get it right" on supplies.

The pub bosses that closed their kitchens to stay afloat

Soaring gas, food and staffing costs have made some pubs move away hot meals.

Signal would 'walk' from UK if Online Safety Bill undermined encryption

Bosses of the messaging app fear the Online Safety Bill could force it to weaken its users' security.

UK phone repair apprenticeship needed, says firm

Repair firm says there is no industry standard training for fixing smartphones and other devices.

Netflix cuts prices for subscribers in more than 30 countries

The streaming giant has faced increasing competition from rivals including Amazon, HBO and Disney.

Is it cheaper to study in a coffee shop or at home?

As prices rise, are there cheaper places than home to work or study?

How hospitals could avoid future PPE chaos

Innovative ways to use personal protective equipment have emerged since the Covid-19 pandemic.

Therese Coffey under fire over work longer hours comment

Therese Coffey is accused of blaming poor people after she suggests those struggling could work more.

US names businessman Ajay Banga to lead World Bank

Raised in India, Ajay Banga led Mastercard for more than a decade.

Vegetable shortages could last for up to a month

The environment secretary says shortages of some fruit and vegetables could go on for up to four weeks.

Steel industry fears more job cuts without help

Industry group UK Steel welcomes plans for help, but says there could be more cuts before support begins.

Qantas: Australian airline's profits soar back after record Covid losses

The A$1bn profit follows a troubled few years for the airline, full of delays, staff shortages and criticism.

Arsenal Women earn 30% more but still behind men

Accounts show a boost in earnings, but the women's team still earns far less than some male players.

Train information systems working again after outage

National Rail says some systems, including journey planners, have been fixed after a earlier fault.

Starbucks launches olive oil coffee drinks in Italy

The world's biggest coffee chain entered the Italian market in 2018 and has around 20 stores in the country.

Seattle becomes first US city to ban caste discrimination

But a Hindu advocacy group says the ordinance "unfairly singles out and targets an entire community".

My Money: 'I have 25p left in my bank account'

Alannah, a 27-year-old blogger from Scotland, shares her weekly spending diary.

US Supreme Court wary of removing tech firms' legal shield

A bereaved family accuses YouTube of abetting a terrorist group by recommending its videos to users.

Microsoft defends $69bn Activision deal

Opponents, including Sony, challenged the proposal at an EU hearing held behind closed doors.

Gambling: Government expected to tighten regulation on sector

A forthcoming government white paper on gambling is expected to tighten regulation in the sector.

How ASML became Europe’s most valuable tech firm

ASML machines make computer chips - with technology so advanced the firm is caught in geopolitical rivalry.

Firms stick to four-day week after trial ends

A trial involving nearly 3,000 workers has found working shorter hours makes staff happier and healthier.

Councils get more funds for vulnerable households

The Household Support Fund goes to local authorities in England to help those struggling the most.

Twitter to charge users for text-message authentication

Elon Musk said Twitter was being "scammed" by phone companies over fake authentication-text costs

UK supermarkets face tomato shortages

Harvests in Europe and Africa have been disrupted by bad weather, a retail body says.

Tesco boosts staff pay by a further 7%

The supermarket has raised its workers' pay three times in the the last 10 months.

Brewdog: UK craft beer giant expands into China

The firm says its Punk IPA and other beers will be brewed in the country by the end of next month.

Afghanistan: Taliban to turn ex-military bases into special economic zones

The first sites will be in Afghanistan's capital, Kabul and the northern province of Balkh.

Bus cuts: How a city's bus service was quietly cut in half

Britain's bus network has shrunk by 14%, but some places have been harder hit, BBC analysis finds.

The race across Europe to build green steel plants

A project is under way in northern Sweden which will drastically cut CO2 emissions in making steel.

Strikes update: How Monday 20 February’s walkouts will affect you

What you need to know about ambulance and Border Force workers' strikes, by the BBC's Zoe Conway.

Instagram and Facebook to get paid-for verification

The move comes after Twitter introduced a subscription-based verification service last year.

Brexit: What can we expect from a deal on NI Protocol?

With talk of an agreement as early as next week, what could the UK-EU compromise look like?

Co-op cuts best before dates from 150 fruit and veg products

Shoppers will be asked to use their judgement as to whether fruit and veg has gone off.

Why is the UK economy lagging behind the US, Germany and others?

Projections suggest the UK recovering slower than other countries - and the reasons go beyond Brexit.

Germany: Flights cancelled as strikes wipe out air travel

More than 2,300 flights, affecting 300,000 passengers, have been cancelled across Germany.

UK retail sales unexpectedly rise in January

Sales volumes rose by 0.5% last month following a drop in December, according to official figures.

Energy giant Santos accused of Australia dolphin deaths

A former employee alleges Santos' oil spill led to far greater damage on marine life than reported.

US regulator charges cryptocrash boss Do Kwon with fraud

Terraform Labs founder Do Kwon has been accused of "orchestrating a multi-billion dollar" crypto scheme.

What's the cheapest way to stay warm in bed?

How could you keep warm at night for the lowest cost?

Man Utd sale: Qatari bid for Old Trafford club expected as deadline approaches

As Friday's deadline approaches, who will join Sir Jim Ratcliffe in submitting a bid to buy Manchester United?

British Gas owner Centrica sees profits soar as energy bills rise

The energy firm's profits surged after oil and gas prices jumped as a result of the war in Ukraine.

Australia: Vegan milk recalled in New South Wales over botulism case

Regulators have recalled the Inside Out Unsweetened Almond Milk in New South Wales.

US-China chip war: ASML says China employee stole data

Leading chip equipment maker ASML says it reported the breach to Netherlands and US authorities.

Is Disney's magic spell wearing off?

Under pressure to boost profit, Disney is doing what has worked for 100 years: rebooting the classics.

Flybe: Administrators unable to find buyer after collapse

Administrators confirm that rescue talks have ended without a deal for the troubled airline.

David Malpass: World Bank leader who was called climate denier quits

The White House has called for reforms to make the World Bank more responsive to climate issues.

Lufthansa tech failure leaves planes grounded

Thousands of passengers have had flights cancelled after broken cables caused IT problems for the airline.

McDonald's puts up prices on five menu items

The fast food chain says rising food and energy costs mean its prices are going up.

UK inflation: Price rises slow but remain close to 40-year high

UK inflation, a measure of the cost of living, fell to 10.1% in the year to January.

Elon Musk donates almost $2bn of Tesla shares to charity

Also on Wednesday, Mr Musk hinted he plans to find his successor to lead Twitter by the end of 2023.

Sandwich chain Subway explores sale of business

The company is facing rising costs and increasing competition from rival fast food companies.

United flight 1722: US to investigate Boeing 777's mysterious nosedive

Passengers reportedly screamed as the flight from Hawaii plunged 1,400ft before the plane recovered.

Huel adverts that implied shakes cut food bills ruled misleading

Adverts implied Huel diet shakes saved customers money on food, watchdog says.

Ford to cut one in five jobs in the UK

The carmaker will cut 1,300 jobs, mainly at its research and development site in Essex.

Buy now pay later firms face clampdown under new rules

Lenders will have to do better affordability checks on borrowers and offer clearer information on loans.

Council tax: Millions facing 5% increases from April

Most councils that can hike by 5% without a local vote are planning to do so, research suggests.

Adani: India watchdog probing Hindenburg fraud allegations

The conglomerate had more than $100bn wiped off its stock market value after the claims.

The apps getting your wardrobe back under control

New apps are encouraging users to wear their old clothes more or buy second hand.

Lilt drink brand to be scrapped after 50 years and rebranded

Owner Coca Cola is rebranding the soft drink as Fanta Pineapple & Grapefruit.

Courier firm DX Group accused by rival of espionage

DX Group confirms a rival company has accused it of offering its staff bribes to get information.

Amazon: Unionised Coventry workers announce strike escalation

Workers at a Coventry distribution centre became the first UK Amazon employees to strike last month.

Renters leave London at highest rate in decade, research shows

Many people in their mid to late 30s are moving to neighbouring counties and the Midlands.

Heathrow sees busiest January since start of Covid

The airport says it is "back to its best" after 5.4 million passengers passed through it last month.

Net zero targets 'may mean higher taxes'

Economist Lord Stern says public and private investment is needed to reach climate goals by 2050.

Mars Wrigley factory fined after two workers fall into chocolate vat

Two workers were rescued when a hole was cut in the bottom of a partly-full Mars Wrigley chocolate tank.

Why are BP, Shell, and other oil giants making so much money right now?

Oil and gas producers are making billions while bills soar. Should governments tax them more?

New rail strikes ballot to start soon - RMT's Mick Lynch

Mick Lynch says the union will keep talking to rail firms, after it rejected an offer on pay on Friday.

Plans to dim City of London's skyscrapers to save energy

The City of London Corporation plans curfew times for new developments to switch off or dim lights.

Diabolical HMRC service hurts economy - accountants

A leading accountants' group claims that understaffing is causing delays for companies.

Cost of living: My mortgage deal is ending - what are my options?

Nearly two million households will see their mortgage deal end this year, so what should they think about?

AstraZeneca: Jeremy Hunt 'disappointed' by drugs firm's low tax move

AstraZenaca chose Republic of Ireland for £320m factory because of the UK's "discouraging" tax rate.

Tech layoffs: Yahoo to slash 20% of its workforce

Yahoo adds to the growing list of tech companies cutting jobs as consumer and corporate spending shrink.

Energy bills extra support ruled out by Chancellor

Jeremy Hunt says the government does not "have the headroom" to give household additional help.

UK economy narrowly avoids recession

Official figures show that the economy saw zero growth between October and December.

Kanye West: Adidas warns of losses from Yeezy fallout

The sportswear giant cut ties with the rapper and designer, known as Ye, over anti-Semitic comments.

'Double-deposit' leaving first-time home buyers stuck

First-time buyers in Scotland say the Home Report system is making it harder to get on the property ladder.

Lack of used cars drives second-hand sales lower

Last year used car sales fell 9%, as drivers hung onto their vehicles for longer.

Droughts leave cargo riverboats high and dry

Falling river levels are affecting the use of cargo riverboats around the world.

Mobile and broadband price hikes to be investigated

The communications regulator is concerned about uncertainty around mid-contract price rises.

'Investing in the artist makes me feel more involved in the song'

Swedish company Corite allow fans to invest in the music of their favourite artists.

Adani: How the billionaire's empire lost $100bn in days

The business tycoon has seen billions wiped off his wealth after a US investment firm's scathing report.

Disney to cut 7,000 jobs in major shake-up of firm

The cuts come as boss Bob Iger presented his set of financial figures since his shock return to the firm.

Twitter outage sees users told they are over daily tweet limit

Some users reported being notified they were over the tweet-per-day limit, even if they had not posted.

Biden agenda clashes with reality of divided Congress

President Joe Biden may not be out of ideas. But he might be out of time.

NFT images of furry Birkin bags violated trademark rules

Hermes, which owns the brand, has won a landmark case against an artist who created NFTs of the famous bag.

Hundreds face job cuts at Nationwide building society

Nationwide Building Society, which has its headquarters in Swindon, is due to cut 450 staff.

UK regulator opposes Microsoft deal to buy Activision

The Competition and Markets Authority says it would lead to higher prices and fewer choices for gamers.

US-China trade hits record high despite rising tensions

Imports and exports between the world's two biggest economies totalled more than $690bn last year.

UK economy likely to avoid recession - think tank

The National Institute of Economic and Social Research predicts the economy to grow marginally in 2023.

Civil servants set to strike on Budget day

The PCS union plans a second walkout as the row with the government over pay escalates.

Energy giant BP sees record profits of $28bn

The firm's profits more than double after energy prices surged last year following the invasion of Ukraine.

Adani Group: Can embattled India tycoon recover from $100bn loss?

The group's valuation has plunged after a short-seller raised fraud allegations. What's the way out?

Trial of scrapping train return tickets extended

The transport secretary will explain how tickets can be simpler for passengers in a speech on Tuesday.

South Africa's power cuts hit vineyards: No power, no pinot

The country's worst-ever energy crisis lead to fears for South Africa's wine industry.

Digital pound likely this decade, Treasury says

The Treasury and Bank of England will formally start a consultation for the digital currency, on Tuesday.

Prepayment meters: Magistrates told to stop allowing forced installations

Magistrates have been told to stop authorising warrants for energy firms to forcibly install prepayment meters.

Tech lay-offs: Dell to cut workforce

Dell adds to the growing list of technology companies cutting jobs as consumer and corporate spending shrinks.

M&Co: Renfrewshire clothing chain to close all 170 stores

The Scottish company, which used to be known as Mackays, employs almost 2,000 people across the UK.

Britishvolt set to be bought by Australian firm

Recharge Industries has been named as the preferred bidder for the collapsed UK battery start-up.

Has the Brexit fishing promise come true?

Boris Johnson said his Brexit deal would mean lots of extra fish caught in the UK - has this happened?

Cost of living: Call for better pension saving deal for young and low-paid

Current rules disproportionately affect young and ethnic minority workers, a think tank says.

How NHS strikes on Monday 6 February will affect you

What you need to know about strikes by nurses and ambulance workers by the BBC's Zoe Conway.

Farewell radiators? Testing out electric infrared wallpaper

Pilots are being run around the UK to see if electric wallpaper could be an efficient way to heat homes.

Energy firms given Tuesday deadline for prepayment meter action

Business Secretary Grant Shapps said energy firms need to refocus their efforts on customers who had prepayment meters forcibly installed

Courts waved through warrants for prepayment meter fitting

Magistrates told it is "irrational" not to grant applications by energy suppliers, leaked document shows.

Energy Ombudsman complaints at a record high

The most common complaints include incorrect billing, poor customer service and problems switching suppliers.

Musk found not guilty of fraud over Tesla tweet

Tesla boss Elon Musk is cleared of fraud charges over a tweet about taking the carmaker private.

'I'm obsessed with my smart meter'

Smart meter in home displays can be a useful budgeting tool but for some they become a source of stress.

Twitter: Number of staff suing goes up daily - lawyer

One former senior manager tells the BBC the treatment of workers by Elon Musk was "unjustifiable".

PG&E to stand trial over deadly California wildfire

Pacific Gas & Electric will face trial for manslaughter over its role in a deadly Californian wildfire.

Bill Gates would rather pay for vaccines than travel to Mars

The Microsoft co-founder also believes artificial intelligence will "dramatically" transform humanity.

Cost of living: Car insurance pushed up by paint and energy prices

There was an 8% rise in the cost of cover in the last three months of 2022, figures show.

Can Sri Lanka trade its way back to prosperity?

Ben Chu, Newsnight's economic editor, takes a closer look at the country's economic woes.

Argentina unveils new 2,000-peso banknote as inflation bites

The new 2,000-peso note comes after the country's annual inflation rate soared to 95% last year.

EDF suspends forced prepayment meter installations

The move comes after British Gas was heavily criticised for practices around installing prepayment meters.

Strikes Update: How Friday 3 February’s strike will affect you

With train drivers in England on strike and teachers walking out in Scotland, what do you need to know?

King Charles will not appear on new Australia $5 note

The new note will feature a "design that honours the culture and history of the First Australians."

Mortgages: What happens if I miss a payment?

Homeowners are worried about higher mortgage costs, but lenders must help those struggling.

Facebook: Quarter of global population used site daily in December

The firm's shares surge, as boss Mark Zuckerberg declares 2023 a "year of efficiency".

Fed announces smaller rate rise as inflation cools

The US central bank announces its smallest rate rise in nearly a year.

Adani calls off share sale after price plunges

Gautam Adani, one of Asia's richest people, has seen his firms lose more than $90bn in market value.

British Steel considering 800 job cuts in Lincolnshire

The plans, which have not been formally submitted, come as the firm struggles with high energy prices.

HSBC staff get a uniform of jumpsuits and jeans

The shift to casual wear for the bank's UK branch staff comes after BA unveiled jumpsuits for cabin crew.

House prices fall for fifth month in a row

The price of the average property in January was £258,297, a decline of 0.6% on December.