Latest News

Q & A: Expecting gas price rises?
What is the likelihood of another round of increases in utility bills in 2008?

Vatican gives Latin online boost
The Roman Catholic church gives an ancient tongue a 21st Century makeover with a website in Latin.

Tackling under-age online sales
Young people are using the anonymity of the web to buy goods suitable only for adults but software could stop that.

Pupils suspended over online game
Dozens of students at North East Lincolnshire College are suspended for downloading an internet game.

Boom times for virtual playgrounds
More than 150 virtual worlds are being created that are aimed at children. How many will survive in 12 months time?

EU issues airline website threat
The European Commission says it will punish airlines that fail to clean up their online booking procedures.

Air passengers misled by websites
One in three European consumers buying plane tickets online is being misled, the European Commission warns.

Bust-up with the boss?
Workers accused of theft or damage could soon find themselves blacklisted on a register to be shared among employers. It will be good for profits but campaigners say innocent people could find it impossible to get another job.

Next welcomes warm weather sales
Shares in clothing retailer Next rise after it said warm weather had improved its sales after a tough start to the year.

Google faces human rights votes
Google faces motions at its shareholders' meeting on Thursday covering censorship and human rights.

Bournemouth homes get fast fibre
A company which offers super-fast broadband via the sewers announces its first 'fibre city'.

Smoking ban continues to hit Rank
Gaming firm Rank says it is continuing to feel the impact of the UK-wide smoking ban at its Mecca bingo halls .

Microsoft 'moves on' from Yahoo
Microsoft says it is the & #34;end of the story & #34; with Yahoo, dashing hopes it will raise its offer for the internet firm.

Ryanair increases travel charges
Ryanair increases its check-in charges to £4 per passenger and £8 per bag, the second increase this year.

Microsoft walks away from Yahoo
Software giant Microsoft drops its bid to buy internet firm Yahoo after the two sides fail to agree a price.

Good times return to Oil City
In Oil City, where the petroleum business was born, small independent producers are rediscovering the meaning of & #34;black gold, writes the BBC's Matt Wells.

Yahoo shares boosted on bid hopes
Shares in Yahoo jump 7% on expectations Microsoft is preparing to increase its bid for the internet company.

Profits, bookings rise at Expedia
Expedia, the online travel agency, reported a rise in net income to $51.3m (£26m) from $34.8m a year earlier.

Microsoft weighs options on Yahoo
Microsoft has yet to decide if it will increase its $44.6bn (£22.4bn) for Yahoo, go hostile or walk away from the deal.

Time Warner to spin off cable TV
Media company Time Warner announces plans to spin-off its cable TV unit and reports a fall in profit.