Author: BBC

Gemma HandyBusiness reporter, St John’s, AntiguaGemma HandyAntiguan cannabis grower Michaelus Tracey says that a lot of effort is put into developing new strainsRub the leaf and inhale the fragrance, Michaelus Tracey is saying.The musky scent of this cannabis plant is distinctly different from the citrusy aroma of another that he is also holding.To the untrained eye, the neat rows of flowering cannabis crops in front of us are indistinguishable from each other.Yet master cultivator Tracey can identify the separate varieties by their smell and the shape of their leaves.Nine strains are being grown here at Pineapple Road, a farm deep…

Jessica MasonJessica says women-specific health issues are too often dismissedA woman with cervical cancer who waited years to be diagnosed says she has “lost her faith in doctors”.Jessica Mason went back and forth to her GP and hospital with swelling, bleeding and pain in her vagina but says she was “fobbed off” before “begging” for a scan which revealed cancer requiring urgent treatment.The 44-year-old believes she was only referred for an MRI because she “broke down in tears” to a doctor, adding: “I knew there was something wrong.”A Senedd health committee report into gynaecological cancer has found women have been…

Ryanair has reported a sharp fall in quarterly profits after it was fined by Italy’s competition watchdog for abusing its market position over travel agencies.The budget airline posted post-tax profits of €30m (£26m) for the three months to December, down from €149m (£112m) a year earlier – an 83% drop.But the company remained confident saying it expected passenger numbers to grow by 4% to almost 208 million this year. It expects average fares to increase by between 8% and 9% this year, more than the 7% it predicted in November.In December, the Italian regulator fined Ryanair €256m (£222m) for “abusing…

Liv McMahonTechnology reporterGetty ImagesTikTok has announced a deal allowing it to continue operating in the US.But with the platform’s future in the country seemingly secured, its 200 million American users are expected to see some changes.What is the US TikTok deal?A majority-American board now owns and operates a separate entity controlling TikTok in the US.Backed by mostly US investors, the newly established TikTok USDS Joint Venture LLC is governed by a board of seven directors.TikTok chief executive Shou Zi Chew is among them, and its Chinese owner ByteDance will retain a 19.9% stake in the business.The content recommendation algorithm at…

A new NHS database of genes linked to cancer could enable patients and their families in England to find out whether they are at risk of developing the disease.People will be able to have their genetic information compared to the world-first register of 120 genes known to increase the likelihood of getting cancer, NHS England has said.Those identified as having an inherited risk will be offered routine check-ups and screening for certain cancers, including breast and prostate cancer. Patients could also be tested to see whether they would respond better to particular treatments, allowing for personalised care.Health Secretary Wes Streeting…

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…