Business

Image copyright Umpqua Bank Image caption Branches at this bank in Oregon welcome yoga classes as part of a “community hub” concept The Royal Bank of Scotland’s chief executive has ruled out any further branch closures for now, arguing that the group’s 800-strong UK network is “about the right size and shape to meet the […]

Image copyright Reuters Image caption The mine is being tunnelled in the North York Moors National Park near Whitby The company striving to develop the world’s biggest potash mine says the project is “at risk” if further funding can not be found. Sirius Minerals was aiming to raise £522m and said talks had fallen through

Media playback is unsupported on your device Media captionGrant Shapps: “I don’t think we’ve said it will definitely go ahead on the same date that was mentioned before” The government’s budget may be delayed, a cabinet minister has said. It had been set for 11 March, but the timetable was thrown into doubt after the

Image copyright PA Media The UK government was not involved in talks with China over building the HS2 high-speed rail line, Transport Secretary Grant Shapps has said. China’s state railway company told HS2 Ltd it could build it in just five years and for less money, according to a letter seen by Building magazine. But

Image copyright Getty Images Image caption Facebook is under increasing pressure to curb the spread of disinformation online Facebook boss Mark Zuckerberg has called for more regulation of harmful online content, saying it was not for companies like his to decide what counts as legitimate free speech. Citing China, Mr Zuckerberg also warned excessive control

Image caption Sandbags in Appleby-in-Westmorland, one of the northern towns flooded by Storm Ciara last week Just over 1% of government infrastructure spending in England will go towards flood defences, analysis by BBC News has found. Current figures show nearly £5bn is due to be spent on flood defences up until 2026, with a third

Image copyright Getty Images The dispute over subsidies to aircraft makers has escalated, with Washington imposing a higher tariff on Airbus and aeroplane parts from the EU. It will go up from 10% to 15% next month, while most other tariffs on EU exports to America, on a range of goods, standing at 25%, are

Image copyright HS2 The UK is in talks with China over giving Beijing’s state-owned railway builder a role in constructing the HS2 high-speed rail line. China’s state railway company said it could build the line in just five years and at a much lower cost, according to a letter seen by Building magazine. Government officials

Image copyright Michelle Keith Image caption Michelle Keith and Dinah Michelle Keith was distressed last April when her basset hound puppy ate some of the big chocolate Easter eggs she had laying on the top of a cupboard. Knowing that chocolate can be toxic for dogs, she knew she had to do something. But she

Image copyright Rob Matson Image caption Rob says the process has been “incredibly frustrating” Like many other would-be self-builders, Rob Matson from Oxted in Surrey has done plenty of research into what it would take to build a family home. The last piece in the jigsaw is finding a plot. He was hopeful when in