Author: BBC

Getty ImagesLuxury carmaker Rolls-Royce will expand its Goodwood factory and global headquarters to meet the growing demand for bespoke models.It will invest more than £300 million so it can build more highly-customised versions of its cars for its super-rich clientele.The 120-year old British brand came under full control of German carmaker BMW in 2003 and officially opened the site in West Sussex the same year. Rolls Royce says this expansion secures its future in the UK.Rolls-Royce sold 5,712 cars in 2024, down from its record of 6,032 in 2023, but the total value of its sales was higher due to…

OpenAI chief executive Sam Altman’s sister, Ann Altman, has filed a lawsuit alleging that he regularly sexually abused her between 1997 and 2006.The lawsuit, which was filed on 6 January in a US District Court in the Eastern District of Missouri, alleges that the abuse started when she was three and Mr Altman was 12.In a joint statement on X, with his mother and two brothers, Mr Altman denied the allegations, saying “all of these claims are utterly untrue.””Caring for a family member who faces mental health challenges is incredibly difficult,” the statement added.”This situation causes immense pain to our…

RuPaul’s Drag Race UK’s Bimini Bon Boulash has paid tribute to fellow star of the show The Vivienne after their sudden death at the weekend.Bimini, originally from Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, was a finalist in the second series of the BBC show after James Lee Williams, better known as drag queen The Vivienne, lifted the crown in 2019’s first season.Their death at the age of 32 was announced on Sunday.In a social media post, Bimini said: “My heart is heavy. The Vivienne was truly loved.”The performer, now based in London, went on to say on X: “A unique talent, sharp tongue…

Mark Norman / BBCA police investigation into allegations of preventable deaths and injuries at an NHS trust has doubled the number of cases it is looking at, BBC News can reveal.The claims centre on care and treatment provided by University Hospitals Sussex NHS Trust between 2015 and 2021.Sussex Police started looking in 2023 into an initial 105 cases, but BBC File On 4 Investigates has learned that number is now more than 200.The force says the investigation is “active and ongoing”, but it will “not be providing specific details around case numbers at this time”.Police became involved after two whistleblowers…

Next has said it will make an “unwelcome” rise to prices to help offset a £73m increase in staff wages and taxes. The High Street retailer said that costs will rise due to measures announced in the autumn Budget, including higher National Insurance payments by employers as well as an increase in the National Living Wage.Next expects prices to increase by 1%, which is below the current rate of inflation. More than half of companies are planning to lift prices over the next three months to help with higher costs, the British Chambers of Commerce business group said this week.Next…

The US has added several Chinese technology companies, including gaming and social media giant Tencent and battery maker CATL, to a list of businesses it says work with China’s military.The list serves as a warning to American companies and organisations about the risks of doing business with Chinese entities. While inclusion does not mean an immediate ban, it can add pressure on the US Treasury Department to sanction the firms.Tencent and CATL have denied involvement with the Chinese military, while Beijing said the decision amounted to “unreasonable suppression of Chinese companies”.The Department of Defense’s (DOD) list of Chinese military companies,…

Getty ImagesRuPaul has said his heart is “broken” after the death of James Lee Williams, better known as drag queen The Vivienne.”I join the entire Drag Race universe in mourning the loss of The Vivienne, an incredibly talented queen and a lovely human being,” he wrote on Instagram.The Vivienne, who was 32 and won the first series of RuPaul’s Drag Race UK in 2019, died over the weekend.Tributes have been pouring in to the drag star on social media, with the show saying they were “deeply saddened” by the news.In a post on X earlier, RuPaul’s Drag Race show also…

The government has unveiled a new pledge to cut the list of patients waiting more than 18 weeks for NHS treatment in England by nearly half a million over the next year.The plan will expand access to Community Diagnostic Centres and surgical hubs, alongside reforms designed to enhance patient choice and tackle inefficiencies.Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said it would create millions more appointments and “deliver on our promise to end the backlogs”.The British Medical Association (BMA) has welcomed the plan but was sceptical about whether it could be delivered.The government has billed the plan as an important milestone in…

Getty ImagesMore than half of companies are planning to raise prices in the next three months as they face a “pressure cooker of rising costs and taxes”, according to one of the UK’s largest business groups.The British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) said its survey of nearly 5,000 firms suggested confidence had “slumped”, falling to its lowest level for two years.Nearly two-thirds told the BCC they were worried about taxes following the Budget, which announced a rise in national insurance contributions (NICs) paid by firms from April.A Treasury spokesperson said the Budget delivered stability for business and more than half of…

Getty ImagesA US court has rejected the Biden administration’s bid to restore “net neutrality” rules, finding that the federal government does not have the authority to regulate internet providers like utilities.It marks a major defeat for so-called open internet advocates, who have long fought for protections that would require internet providers such as AT&T to treat all legal content equally.Such rules were first introduced by the Federal Communications Commission under former Democratic president Barack Obama but later repealed during Republican Donald Trump’s first term.The decision, just as Trump is poised to enter the White House for a second term, likely…