Manchester restaurant owner devastated at having to close

The government is set to announce its intention to build a new rail link between Birmingham and Manchester, the BBC understands. Previous plans for the HS2 high-speed rail line had included a line between the two cities, but that part of the project was scrapped by Rishi Sunak’s government. On Wednesday, the government is expected…

Drivers could be paying more than they should for petrol and diesel after the UK’s competition watchdog said fuel profit margins remain at “persistently high levels” despite prices at the pump having fallen. The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) also challenged retailers’ claims that this was a result of higher operating costs, and said competition…

At a bakery in central London, stock has been flying off the shelves. “I’ve sold, like, 100 this morning,” a staff member tells the BBC. But it’s not baked goods driving queues out of the door – customers are here to buy eclipse glasses. They are among those hoping to catch a safe glimpse of…

A review is being launched into the way business rates are calculated for pubs and hotels in England and Wales, and could lead to a reform of the system. The Treasury says business rates expert Jerry Schurder will lead the review into rate valuations and report back in March 2027, with the government calling for…