Microsoft said it has now sold 175m Windows 7 licences. Photograph: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images Microsoft added to the growing sense of recovery in the technology sector last night by reporting record quarterly revenues, driven by strong sales. The software giant pipped Apple, one of its greatest... 

Royal Dutch Shell CEO Peter Voser said ‘no comment’ when asked if the firm would pursue damages claims against BP. Photograph: Jim Watson/AFP/Getty Images Shell today refused to rule out pursuing damages claims against BP and other companies involved in the Gulf of Mexico disaster. The... 

Business failures are down but ‘the UK is not out of the woods yet,’ one analyst warned. Photograph: Darren Staples/Reuters The number of companies being wound up dropped sharply in the second quarter as Britain continued to haul itself out of recession, but experts warn that liquidations... 

Prime minister’s questions returns today for the first time after the summer recess. Photograph: PA 8.52am: My colleague Alok Jha has written a story previewing Vince Cable’s science speech. Cable is going to tell British scientists that they must improve their links with industry...