Author: BBC

The government has announced a relaxation of electric vehicle (EV) sales targets to help the car industry in the face of recent tariffs from the US.A ban on producing new petrol and diesel cars will still come into effect in 2030, but manufacturers will now have more flexibility on annual targets as well lower fines. Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander told BBC Breakfast its changes were not a “silver bullet” but part of the solution to responding to US tariffs.UK opposition parties said Labour’s measures would not be enough to boost the car industry.President Donald Trump has imposed a 25% levy…

An artist whose official portrait of Donald Trump was publicly lambasted by the president said his comments are “directly and negatively impacting” her business, threatening its future.British-born artist Sarah A Boardman painted Trump’s official portrait for the Denver State Capitol Gallery of Presidents, where it hung for six years.In January Trump described Ms Boardman’s picture as “truly the worst” in a post on Truth Social, adding that is had been distorted and the artist had lost her talent as she aged. It was later removed.In a statement Ms Boardman said her business was now in “danger of not recovering”.”President Trump…

Tom GerkenTechnology reporterNintendoNintendo has been the talk of the gaming world this week after it finally unveiled details of the much-anticipated Nintendo Switch 2, the sequel to the third-best selling console ever made.Despite excitement over its upcoming launch in June, fan conversations have been dominated by one topic – the price of its games.The console itself is priced similarly to its rivals – Sony’s PlayStation 5 and Microsoft’s Xbox Series X.But the games are a different story: Mario Kart World, which is being launched alongside the Switch 2, comes in at £74.99.”It makes it inaccessible, it’s a lot to drop…

Men are more likely to die prematurely than women – and worse at seeking care when they need it.

London Borough of SuttonParents, like Zana, are taught how to cook low-cost, healthy mealsResidents in south London have been learning how to use a slow cooker to dish up healthy meals on a budget for their families. Sutton Council has been providing free lessons at “Slow Cooker Club” in an effort to tackle food poverty in the area. The local authority said it was also using the club to provide helpful advice to lower income and vulnerable residents.Family Hubs and Children’s Centres lead Claire Borg, who came up with the idea, said: “I had no idea the course would be…

Getty ImagesRichard and Philip Burton, seen here with Richard’s then wife Elizabeth Taylor, remained close throughout their lives Richard Burton was a global icon – famed for his powerful, baritone voice and passionate yet tumultuous relationship with fellow megastar Elizabeth Taylor.But until now, few had ever heard of Philip Burton.Philip was Richard’s school teacher who spotted his potential, became his legal guardian, lent him his name and helped propel him to international stardom.”It was a friendship built for the ages, an unlikely friendship,” said Ed Talfan, a producer on new biopic Mr Burton, which was released in UK cinemas on…

Jessica MurphyBBC News, TorontoGetty ImagesUS President Donald Trump has granted TikTok a second 75-day extension to comply with a law that requires the hugely popular video app to either sell its US operation or face a ban in the country.”We do not want TikTok to ‘go dark’,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “We look forward to working with TikTok and China to close the Deal.” The platform is currently owned by Chinese company ByteDance.Trump’s first extension was granted after he took office in January and was set to expire on Saturday.The social media platform, which says it has more than…

Family handoutSusan was no more than puzzled when she saw the first results from her home DNA testing kit.Now a woman in her mid 70s, she had never known much about her grandfather, and paid for the private test to see if it threw up anything unusual.”I did notice there was a lot of Irish heritage, which as far as I knew was wrong,” she says.”But I just pushed it aside and didn’t think any more of it. I stopped paying for my subscription and that was that.”Except it very much wasn’t.It took another six years for Susan – not…

Annabelle LiangBusiness reporterAlamyThe Nike Air Jordan 1 is, in some ways, the iconic US shoe. It’s a popular sneaker line by a large American brand, created four decades ago for homegrown basketball legend Michael Jordan.But although Nike sells most of its products in the US, almost all of its shoes are made in Asia – a region targeted by President Donald Trump’s tariffs salvo against foreign countries he accuses of “ripping off” Americans.Nike’s shares fell 14% the day after the tariffs announcement, on fears over the impact they could have on the company’s supply chain.So what will all this mean…

Russell Brand has been charged with rape, indecent assault and sexual assault between 1999 and 2005.The charges relate to four separate women.The comedian and actor has been interviewed multiple times by police since an investigation by the Sunday Times, the Times and Channel 4’s Dispatches in September 2023 revealed multiple serious allegations against him.The 49-year-old has previously denied the allegations, calling them “very, very hurtful”.The Metropolitan Police’s detective superintendent Andy Furphy, who is leading the investigation, said: “The women who have made reports continue to receive support from specially trained officers.”The Met’s investigation remains open and detectives ask anyone who…