Tuesday, May 19, 2026

Swatch boss says crowds are 'good news' after watch launch sparks chaos

Nick Hayek Jr says the pocket watch launch saw "overcrowding like hell" at a small number of its UK stores.

UK unemployment rate unexpectedly rises

The number of UK job vacancies also fell to its lowest level in five years as the initial impact of the Iran war on businesses starts to be seen.

Monday, May 18, 2026

Tube strikes called off by RMT union

The Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union calls off a series of 24-hour strikes starting on Tuesday.

Sunday, May 17, 2026

Inside the secretive and lucrative world of orchid breeding

It can take a decade to bring a new orchid to market, so breeders keep their hi-tech processes secret.

Swatch stores close for second day after crowds

The launch of a new £335 pocket watch has drawn criticism after queues of shoppers built up again.

How can the PM improve the lives of Londoners?

The BBC Politics London show asks three bodies which policies could improve Londoners' lives.

Saturday, May 16, 2026

Trump and Xi conclude 'very successful' talks but few deals confirmed

There were plenty of choreographed ceremonies but no trade breakthroughs after the two-day visit.

Friday, May 15, 2026

Haggling prices and chasing debts - tradespeople hit with cost of living headache

More than half of tradespeople have seen an increase of late payments compared to a year ago, a survey finds.

'They took £20,000 I didn't owe': Parents hit by child maintenance errors

John Hammond is one of 30 parents who told BBC Your Voice they'd experienced problems with the CMS.

Thursday, May 14, 2026

Big tech bets on new mascots in bid to seem more cuddly

The likes of Apple, Microsoft and Google are all putting cartoon characters centre stage.