Author: BBC

Marc AshdownBusiness correspondent Getty ImagesSome artists have banned filming on phones at their concertsWhen Sir Paul McCartney performed at the Santa Barbara Bowl, he promised fans an intimate gig. But the former Beatle went a step further than most by agreeing to engineer a makeshift “lockdown” on selfies and filming at the concert.All 4,500 fans had to place their mobile phones in lockable pouches for the duration of the concert, and enjoyed the gig completely “phone-free”.”Nobody’s got a phone,” McCartney declared during his 25-song setlist. “Really, it’s better!” he added.Getty ImagesSir Paul McCartney’s performance in California in September had a…

Lily JamaliNorth America Technology correspondentGetty ImagesEvery month, hundreds of millions of users flock to Pinterest looking for the latest styles.One page titled “the most ridiculous things” is filled with plenty of wacky ideas to inspire creatives. Crocs repurposed as flower pots. Cheeseburger-shaped eyeshadow. A gingerbread house made of vegetables.But what would-be buyers may not know is the tech behind this isn’t necessarily US-made. Pinterest is experimenting with Chinese AI models to hone its recommendation engine.”We’ve effectively made Pinterest an AI-powered shopping assistant,” the firm’s boss Bill Ready told me.Of course, the San Francisco-based tastemaker could use any number of American…

Iolo Cheung,BBC WalesandJacob Morris,Newyddion S4CTessa MarshallTessa Marshall says without access to abortion, she would probably have a 13-year-old child nowA candidate for the Senedd election in May has said she hopes sharing her own experience of having an abortion aged 15 will empower others to “understand the importance” of women’s health and rights.Tessa Marshall, 28, said going through the experience while studying for her GCSEs “changed” her life, and led her to understand issues such as bodily autonomy and sex education.Marshall spoke openly about the topic for the first time while addressing sixth form students at a recent school hustings…

As babies grow up, parents are often left with clothes that have barely been worn and now have very little use. But one mother is trying to change that.Since launching a swap shop for children’s clothes three years ago, Victoria Greenfield-Coleman, from Eynsham in Oxfordshire, has supported 240 families.She said the programme, which had received an “incredible” response, was all about “hopefully helping new parents”.The swap shop takes place at St Leonard’s Church in Eynsham every other month, with the latest edition on from 9:30 to 12:30 GMT on Saturday.At the events, families exchange clothes their children have grown out…

Suranjana Tewari,Asia business correspondentandLily Jamali,North America technology correspondentWatch: Does TikTok’s US deal threaten the company’s global ambitions?TikTok has closed a deal that will allow the hugely popular short-video app to continue operating in the US, it announced on Thursday.The deal comes after a years-long tussle between Washington and Beijing that began in Trump’s first term in the White House when he tried unsuccessfully to ban the app over national security concerns.The platform was due to be banned in the US in January 2025 if its Chinese owner, ByteDance, failed to sell its US operations to American investors. But US President…

The Health Secretary has admitted the NHS is “falling short” on meeting demand for adult autism and ADHD diagnosis.Speaking to BBC Radio Oxford, he was responding to a question about adult referrals having been paused in Oxfordshire since 2024.But he said it was a national issue that he was “very worried about”.When asked if it was an epidemic the government was failing to cope with, he responded “in a nutshell, yes”.Streeting said: “We’re trying to, as a government, understand what’s driving this increase.”Is it simply awareness and a positive awareness that means that people who would have just gone unsupported…

Katy AustinTransport correspondentGetty ImagesPassengers at Britain’s biggest airport, Heathrow, can leave liquids in containers up to two litres in their bags while going through security, after it finally completed the rollout of new high-tech CT scanners.Electronics such as laptops can also be left in luggage, while clear plastic bags for liquids no longer have to be used.Heathrow said it was now the biggest airport in the world to have the new equipment fully rolled out across all its terminals.It said the scanners, which provide better images of cabin bags, could service “thousands of passengers an hour with significantly greater efficiency,…

Blue Origin, the rocket company owned by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, says it will launch more than 5,400 satellites to create a new communications network.Named TeraWave, it will offer continuous internet access around the world, with the ability to move large amounts of data much more quickly than rival services.But even after launching thousands of satellites, Blue Origin would still have far fewer in orbit than Elon Musk’s Starlink, which currently dominates the satellite internet market.Starlink – part of Musk’s rocket firm SpaceX – also offers internet and phone services to individual customers, while Blue Origin says TeraWave will be…

Kate MorganWales community correspondentDandelion & Rose PhotographyChloe, pictured after she began medication for her extreme sickness, could not face another pregnancyA woman who almost terminated her second pregnancy because of severe sickness says sterilisation is now her best option due to difficulties accessing treatment.Chloe, 26, said she couldn’t face another pregnancy because of hyperemesis gravidarum (HG), which causes prolonged severe nausea and vomiting that may last until birth.Plaid Cymru MS Lindsay Whittle has called for better access to Xonvea – an anti-sickness medication which is not routinely available in Wales.The Welsh government said it recognised the debilitating impact extreme pregnancy…

UK government borrowing was significantly lower last month, due to more income from taxes and higher National Insurance Contributions outweighing spending, figures show.In December government borrowing – the difference between public spending and tax income – was £11.6bn, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) said.It is down £7.1bn – 38% – from the previous December, and lower than what many economists had predicted, but still higher than that borrowed in the same month in 2023.Tom Davies, Deputy Director for the ONS public service division, said the fall was a result of “receipts being up strongly on last year whereas spending…