Brighter UK economy gives Reeves a springboard for March statement

Record public finances accompany stronger retail sales and business activity but some analysts express caution

Politico owner Axel Springer joins rival Telegraph bid led by Dovid Efune

Sale to Lord Rothermere, Daily Mail owner, referred to regulators on media plurality and competition grounds

‘It’s survival of the fittest’: the UK kebab chain seeking an edge with robot slicers

German Doner Kebab aims to open at 25 new sites this year with self-service screens and healthy options aimed at gen Z

Man receives £42,000 bill for data roaming charges after Morocco holiday

Andrew Alty thought O2 bill was a mistake, but daughter’s TikTok use allowed massive uncapped charges to accrue

Asos co-founder dies in fall from 18-storey building in Thailand

Police say UK entrepreneur Quentin Griffiths fell from 17th floor of an 18-floor condominium on 9 February

Consultancy co-founded by Peter Mandelson falls into administration

Global Counsel stops trading after number of clients cut ties over former ambassador’s relationship with Jeffrey Epstein

Australia-US minerals deal underpinned decision to allow Alcoa to keep clearing WA forest, document reveals

Document also shows US miner had been unlawfully clearing land for 15 years despite warnings from department

Nvidia reportedly plans to invest $30bn in OpenAI’s next funding round

Chip manufacturer to invest in return for stock after previous ‘circular’ $100bn deal dissolved earlier this month

How to win friends and influencers: Labour’s new social media strategy is a step into the future

There was a backlash when No 10 invited online content creators inside its doors. But in a fast-changing media landscape, this solves two problems at once, says deputy Opinion editor Kirsty Major

Aston Martin issues another profit warning and sells F1 naming rights for £50m

Struggling British carmaker says earnings for 2025 will be worse than City forecasts as US tariffs hit sales

Hinkley Point C nuclear plant delayed to 2030 as costs climb to £35bn

French utility company EDF says operations in Somerset will start a year later as delay costs firm €2.5bn

Hospitality workers: tell us about the worst or rudest customers you ever dealt with

We would like to hear your story of serving a nightmare patron

Art and antiques help lift retail sales in Great Britain to biggest monthly rise since 2024

January increase of 1.8% beats forecasts and was also driven by shoppers snapping up jewellery online

UK reports record-breaking budget surplus of £30.4bn in surprise boost for Rachel Reeves

Largest January total since records began in 1993 is sharp reversal from December’s £11.6bn deficit

France and Germany agreed to build the fighter jet of the future. Now they can’t agree who is in charge

FCAS, which also involves Spain, is imploding at a high-stakes moment for Europe, as threat rises from Russia