Business

Image copyright Getty Images Two Budgets this year will have a big impact on the money in our pocket – but in fact, we already know our finances are changing. Some policies have already been announced, some calculations completed, and some promises made that tell us how we will be affected. These are some of […]

Image copyright PA Media Image caption Various rates of VAT have been set for sanitary products The 5% rate of VAT on sanitary products – referred to as the “tampon tax” – will be abolished from January, the chancellor will announce. Last year’s Conservative manifesto pledged that the VAT rate would be reduced to zero,

Image copyright Getty Images Oil prices plunged about 10% on Friday, after a proposal by major oil producers to cut output collapsed. The plan had been intended to keep oil prices steady despite the hit to demand as the coronavirus slows travel, manufacturing and global supply chains. However, Russia declined to participate, with talks ending

Image copyright Nissan Image caption The new press is also being used in the production of the Juke model More than £50m has been invested in the Nissan plant in Sunderland as the firm gears up to build the new Qashqai. The Japanese car-manufacturer said its new press, which weighs 2,000 tonnes and took 18

Image copyright Getty Images A customer database left unsecured online by Virgin Media contained details linking some customers to pornography and explicit websites. The researchers who first discovered the database told the BBC that it contained more information than Virgin Media suggested. Such details could be used by cyber-criminals to extort victims. Virgin Media told

Image copyright Getty Images Starbucks branches have temporarily banned reusable cups in response to the coronavirus outbreak. The coffee chain said customers would still receive a 25p discount for bringing reusable cups with them, but drinks would be served in paper cups. Great Western Railway and LNER have banned reusable cups on trains – but

Image copyright AFP A leading supermarket executive has told the BBC he is baffled by Health Secretary Matt Hancock’s comments the government was working with retailers to ensure uninterrupted food supplies. His exact words were: “Matt Hancock has totally made up what he said about working with supermarkets. Mr Hancock told BBC Question Time: “We

Image copyright Getty Images Global stock markets have fallen sharply as investors continue to worry about the broader economic effects of the coronavirus. London’s FTSE 100 share index fell more than 3% and there were similar declines in other European markets. Earlier on Friday, markets in Asia had seen big falls, with Japan’s Nikkei share

Image copyright Chami Akmeemana Image caption Mongolian herding dates back well before the time of Genghis Khan Mongolia’s vast grasslands cover about three-quarters of the country, where nomadic herdsmen have maintained traditions stretching back centuries. But this world is changing – fast. About 70% of this once verdant land has now been damaged, mostly due

Image copyright Reuters Worried customers have been queuing to withdraw money from India’s Yes Bank after the country’s central bank seized control of the troubled lender. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) said it wanted to “quickly restore depositors’ confidence” in the bank. Depositors with Yes Bank can now only withdrawal the equivalent of about