Business

Image copyright PA John Lewis is seeking discounts from its landlords to cut costs, in a highly unusual move that highlights the huge pressures on retailers. The BBC has learned that the retail giant has been telling landlords in some locations that it will withhold 20% of this quarter’s service charge. These are the fees […]

Image copyright Speyside Distillers Image caption Patricia Dillon is managing director of Speyside Distillers in Scotland Scotch whisky should, in theory, have little do with planes – except perhaps as a mid-flight tipple. Which is why independent distillery boss Patricia Dillon wants to know why the Scotch whisky industry has been “dragged into” a row

Media playback is unsupported on your device Media captionHow Hong Kong got trapped in a cycle of violence Wealthy Hong Kong citizens are increasingly on the hunt for new passports as protests drag on and cast a cloud over the territory’s future. Many countries run “golden visa” schemes that offer resident or citizenship rights in

Image copyright JJPR Image caption Paul Hurst said he was passionate about keeping the Bennetts name alive A shop billed as the “world’s oldest department store” is to be bought out of administration by a local businessman. Bennetts has been in Derby since 1734 but went into administration in February. Administrators said a sale had

Image caption The two new greenhouses will supply 10% of Britain’s tomatoes Two giant greenhouses costing £120m are to be built next to sewage works to grow millions of tomatoes and bring 360 agricultural jobs. Work on the greenhouses – the UK’s largest – has already begun at Trowse, near Norwich, and Ingham, Suffolk. Heat

Image copyright Google Image caption Ineos said not all jobs would be lost if the plant closed A chemical plant on Teesside is facing closure after “decades of significant under investment”, putting jobs at risk. More than 220 people are employed at the Ineos acrylonitrile manufacturing plant at Seal Sands. The company said if the

Image copyright Maria Wilczek Image caption Justyna Dziubak told reporters that consumers should not be afraid to take on the banks Around half a million indebted Polish homeowners have won their fight to be freed from crippling Swiss franc mortgages. The Swiss currency has doubled in value since 2008, sending mortgage-holders’ debts soaring. Now, the

Image copyright Reuters Facebook and similar apps and websites can be ordered to take down illegal posts worldwide after a landmark ruling from the EU’s highest court. Platforms may also have to seek out similar examples of the illegal content and remove them, instead of waiting for each to be reported. One expert said it

Image copyright Getty Images Uber is testing new ground with an app to put casual workers in touch with employers, as it faces an increasingly tough climate for its core ride-hailing business. Uber Works will allow cooks, cleaners, bar staff and warehouse workers to compare and sign up for shifts. The app, which launches on

Image copyright Getty Images The UK’s economy may have tipped into recession following a downturn in the dominant service sector, according to closely-watched figures. The IHS Markit/CPS purchasing managers’ index for services fell to a six-month low of 49.5 in September. The 50 level divides growth from expansion. It suggests the economy shrank 0.1% in