UK Business News

Myners to probe record bank profits

City minister launches inquiry into giant profits racked up by investment banks amid continuing chaos in financial world

British Airways flies toward biofuel planes

The airline has taken a big step towards using biofuels in its jets by starting trials in conjunction with Rolls-Royce

• Your next trip may be powered by weeds

• Airlines to slash emissions, says BA chief

Winser to smarten up 3i retail investments

British fashion queen has been hired to advise 3i on its retail investments, which includes Agent Provocateur and Hobbs

Tata snubs Mandelson over electric car loan

The Indian car manufacturer rejects the business secretary's offer of a £10m loan for a technical centre in the Midlands

World Business News

BP battles Exxon over Ghana oilfield

British oil giant and American rival Exxon Mobil square up for battle over £2.4bn stake in oilfield off the coast of Ghana

• BP chief says oil mega mergers are dead

• BP poised to battle US rival for Ghana oil

UK company to help India harness tidal energy

Atlantis Resources forges deal with state of Gujarat to establish feasibility of power projects

Paris and Madrid sign high-speed rail deal

Service on the line is expected to start in 2012 and make travelling to Spain by rail a day trip for Londoners

Cyber-criminals cash in with net pharmacies

Unscrupulous online criminals are exploiting consumers desperate to have access to swine flu drugs sold through internet

Analysis

Dubai's debt crisis is a lesson to us all

If overborrowed Dubai can flirt with bankruptcy, then why not overborrowed Ireland, Greece, Iceland - and Britain?

Don’t expect much blood from Darling's axe

Anybody expecting the chancellor to issue bloodcurdling warnings of how much pain is on the way, will be disappointed

The end of the world will hit your turnover

How can it be a bad business decision long term to take better care of our planet and be more mindful of its resources?

Law  

Doctor to argue freedom of speech defence

A heart doctor being sued for criticising a US company’s research says scientists must be free to challenge such work

Polanksi on bail as Swiss consider extradition

Switzerland's top criminal court grants request by director, facing child sex charges, to be released on £2.7m bail

• US submits Polanski extradition request

• Swiss tipped off US over Polanski, e-mails show

Straight couple aim to form a civil partnership

Tom Freeman and Katherine Doyle want the same rights as a husband and wife but not in an institution closed to gays

Money  

Offshore tax amnesty extended into new year

Savers will have an extra five weeks to declare offshore accounts before the "new disclosure opportunity" ends

New deal for "near-prime" borrowers

One of the biggest "sub-prime" lenders returns after two years with deal aimed at the customers with a less than perfect credit history

• Popular mortgage deals fall below 5 per cent

• Developer discounts spark buy-to-let spree

Anthony Bolton to manage new China fund

The former manager of Fidelity Special Situations is returning to fund management

business travel  

How to bag the best seat on the plane and other cool tools

A new seat-finding service gets our business travel editor thinking about other technology he would like to see

Heathrow's terminal 2 closes after 54 years

The old Europa Building will be demolished to make way for a 30 million passenger a year mega-terminal

Bmi revamps Diamond Club frequent flyer scheme

Airline adds family membership and unveils new rules for complimentary upgrades