Author: BBC

Labour has promised to “pull up the shutters” for small businesses and entrepreneurs if it is elected in the UK general election.On Friday, the party said it would overhaul the business rates system to help High Street shops, as well as cracking down on the late payment of invoices.Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said that “hard-working small businesses have been held back”.The party first put forward a plan outlining how it wants to support Britain’s small businesses back in November.It has drawn praise from trade bodies for its proposals around the business rates system, which sets out taxes payable on…

Eminem has claimed his 11th number one single in the official charts this week with the track Houdini.It comes from his new album, The Death of Slim Shady (Coup de Grâce), and is the rapper’s first chart topping hit since Godzilla in 2020.The Detroit artist is best known for his collaborations in recent years, but his newest track is his first solo number one single in 19 years.Houdini is also the biggest opening week for a song since Dave and Central Cee’s hit Sprinter, which came out this time last year.Eminem, whose real name is Marshall Mathers, has sparked debate…

Getty ImagesApollo 8 astronaut Bill Anders, who snapped one of the most famous photographs taken in outer space, has died at the age of 90.Officials say a small plane he was flying crashed into the water north of Seattle, Washington.Anders’ son Greg confirmed that his father was flying the small plane, and that his body was recovered on Friday afternoon.”The family is devastated. He was a great pilot. He will be missed,” a statement from the family reads.Anders – who was a lunar module pilot on the Apollo 8 mission – took the iconic Earthrise photograph, one of the most…

The Conservatives are promising to bring in a new law if re-elected, which they say would curb “unnecessary restrictions” on drivers. The plans would include “unilaterally reversing” the expansion of the Ulez clean air scheme in London, and giving communities referendums on low-traffic neighbourhoods.Ministers have been trying to position themselves as being “on the side of drivers” for some time.But Labour criticised the announcement as “desperate stuff from a government that has run out of road”.If it retains power, the Conservative party says it would to introduce a bill to Parliament which it says would prevent any potential “pay per…

1 day agoBy Zoe Kleinman, Technology editorBBCThe Rabbit R1 looks like a bright orange box – with a bit of punch on the insideI’ve just spent the past few days with the latest gadget billed as being able to take on the smartphone: the Rabbit R1.I wanted to see if I could imagine this portable, artificial intelligence (AI) digital assistant one day becoming what my phone is now – something I can’t live without.You can see the thinking behind it: millions of people have played with AI-powered chatbots like ChatGPT, Claude and Gemini.Given that success with software, it seems the Next Big…

6 hours agoBy Jonathan Geddes, Frankie Allan, BBC Scotland NewsSub ClubIt’s the beating heart of the Scottish clubbing scene – and even thousands of miles away from Glasgow, James ‘Harri’ Hannigan and Domenic Cappello are reminded of the love for the Sub Club.“We used to joke when we’d go away that there’s always someone who’ll come up with a Sub Club T-shirt and a Sub Club tattoo,” says Domenic, one half of the duo at the core of the Jamaica Street venue.“We were in Penang [in Malaysia] in a bar joking about how there’s no chance this is going to happen, and as…

Denmark PM Mette Frederiksen has been left “shocked” after being attacked in the street in Copenhagen, her office says.The assault took place on a square in the centre of the city where a man walked up to her and hit her.The attacker has been arrested. European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen called it a “despicable act, which goes against everything we believe in and fight for in Europe”. “Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen was beaten on Friday evening at Kultorvet in Copenhagen by a man who was subsequently arrested. The prime minister is shocked by the incident,” the prime minister’s…

44 minutes agoBy Daniel Thomas, Lora Jones & Lucy Hooker, Business reporters, BBC NewsGetty ImagesThe biggest order 17-year-old Michaela says she ever made on Shein was for £150, when she bought “16 plus items”.Like millions of others, she’s a huge fan of the ultra-fast fashion giant, mostly because of how affordable it is. She also likes the way the influencers on YouTube she watches offer Shein discount codes, which makes her “buy more”.Over the last decade, Shein has gone from a little-known brand among older shoppers to one of the biggest fast fashion retailers globally.The Chinese firm – which also sells a…

Microsoft is making changes to a controversial feature announced for its new range of PCs powered by artificial intelligence after it was flagged as a potential “privacy nightmare”.The company billed the “Recall” feature for Copilot+ as a way to make users’ lives easier by capturing and storing screenshots of their desktop activity.But after people claimed hackers might be able to misuse the tool and its saved screenshots, Microsoft is making the feature opt-in instead.The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO), the UK’s data watchdog, had told the BBC it was “making enquiries” with Microsoft about the tool after concerns were raised.”We have…

PACEMAKER PRESS INTERNATIONALRose-Marie died suddenly in Blackpool, said presenter Robin ElliottThe Northern Ireland singer and entertainer Rose-Marie Kane has died.She was 68.Originally from County Down, the entertainer released 19 albums. She sold out the London Palladium on several occasions and appeared in The Royal Variety Show. She was also a television and radio personality and was a former judge in the BBC talent show Go For It.’Miss her terribly’Ms Kane grew up on a farm outside Newry and was the eldest of six children.A post on her Facebook page said: “It is with heavy hearts and enormous great sadness, that…