BIZBBC NewsWED 21 OCT 2026 / 11:02 PM CDT

No order, no seat: Starbucks China rolls out new store policy

Taking a seat at a Starbucks in China? Just make sure you're also ordering something there.

A new policy by Starbucks China takes effect across all its 8,000 stores on Thursday, making it mandatory for people to purchase items if they want to sit in its cafes.

Starbucks China said the move was part of efforts to improve the "in-store experience" for customers. The company is facing stiff competition from homegrown brands such as Luckin Coffee.

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The 'trillion pound' oil fund the government believes Britain could have built

For the first time, the Treasury calculates how much the UK could have raised by investing North Sea proceeds.

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Southwest Airlines cuts 2026 profit forecast on higher fuel

Southwest Airlines became the third major U.S. airline this month to cut its 2026 profit forecast due to higher fuel prices.

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GM aims to develop vehicles in as little as two years with AI, software push

General Motors is targeting a roughly two-year vehicle development cycle as it expands its use of artificial intelligence, simulation and vehicle software.

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The vulnerabilities with PHP, a programming language widely used across the internet, have been described as the most significant ever found by AI.

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No order, no seat: Starbucks China rolls out new store policy

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