Business

Image copyright Getty Images Image caption Is Avenue Q’s Trekkie Monster puppet right about porn and the internet? Consider the opening lines of The Internet is for Porn, a song from the Broadway musical Avenue Q. Kate Monster: “The internet is really, really great.” Trekkie Monster: “For porn!” Kate Monster: “I got a fast connection […]

Image copyright Rockland Image caption Sri Lanka’s arrack producers are trying to take the spirit upmarket Distilled from the sap of the coconut flower, Sri Lankan arrack has been a local favourite for centuries. But now its makers are trying to take the spirit global, writes the BBC’s Ayeshea Perera in Colombo. It’s served in

Image copyright Rex Features Image caption Neil Woodford has apologised to investors for the situation People with pensions and savings invested in Neil Woodford’s now suspended flagship fund have expressed concern over how it was promoted. Mr Woodford – one of the UK’s most high-profile stockpickers – stopped money going in or out of his

Image copyright Getty Images Image caption Huawei Deputy Chairman Guo Ping shakes hands with MTS President Alexei Kornya Huawei has signed a deal with Russian telecoms firm MTS to develop 5G technology in Russia. The companies will develop next-generation 5G networks in Russia over the next year, reports said. The deal was agreed as China’s

Image copyright Reuters Italy could face disciplinary action over its failure to respect European Union spending rules. The European Commission found that Italy’s public debt stood at more than 130% of GDP in 2018 – far above the 60% limit which EU rules require. It warned that a “snowball effect” was likely to see the

Media playback is unsupported on your device Media captionFive numbers that explain US border crisis US President Donald Trump has said “not nearly enough” progress is being made in negotiations with Mexico to avert his threatened tariffs. Trump administration officials will meet for second day of talks with Mexico’s foreign minister in Washington on Thursday.

Image copyright Reuters Fiat Chrysler has withdrawn its merger proposal for French carmaker Renault, the Italian firm has said. The announcement followed a failed attempt by Renault board members to reach a decision on the offer. Renault said it had been unable to reach agreement because French government representatives had requested a postponement. The French

Image copyright Getty Images Rising rents mean young people are less likely to move to UK cities where average salaries are higher, a report indicates. The number of young people in private rented accommodation who moved for a new job has almost halved in 20 years. Despite the higher wages available, financial incentives for moving

Image copyright Woodford Investment Management Ltd St James’s Place, the wealth management group, has dropped high-profile stockpicker Neil Woodford as a manager of its £3.5bn high-income fund. It follows the decision by the Woodford Equity Income Fund to stop investors taking money in or out of the fund. Mr Woodford has said he is “extremely

Image copyright Getty Images Image caption The Bridgend plant opened in 1980 and employs 1,700 workers Ford Europe has called union leaders from Bridgend’s engine plant to its Essex headquarters on Thursday. There are renewed concerns for the factory’s future – it opened nearly 40 years ago and employs 1,700 workers. It comes just months