Author: BBC

Jorn MadslienBusiness reporterGetty ImagesLarge American pickup trucks are difficult to drive around Europe’s old and narrow streetsDonald Trump is threatening to introduce big tariffs on EU car imports, unhappy that Europeans don’t buy more American vehicles. But why are US cars, with the notable exception of Tesla, not more popular in Europe?Italy’s ancient towns and cities, with their narrow, cobbled streets, offer an obvious explanation why, in the words of US President Donald Trump, Europeans “don’t take our cars”.Or as car industry analyst Hampus Engellau puts it: “Try to go around Italy in a big SUV. I’ve done it, and…

Graham FraserTechnology ReporterGetty ImagesTwo US lawmakers have strongly condemned what they call the UK’s “dangerous” and “shortsighted” request to be able to access encrypted data stored by Apple users worldwide in its cloud service.Senator Ron Wyden and Congressman Andy Biggs have written to national intelligence director Tulsi Gabbard saying the demand threatens the privacy and security of the US.They urge her to give the UK an ultimatum: “Back down from this dangerous attack on US cybersecurity, or face serious consequences.”The BBC has contacted the UK government for comment.”While the UK has been a trusted ally, the US government must not…

A specialist surgeon has been suspended from a world-renowned NHS hospital after children under their care were left with lasting injuries.A review was commissioned at Addenbrooke’s Hospital, Cambridge, after concerns were raised by the surgeon’s colleagues in October.Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust said an independent expert found operations involving nine children fell “below expected standards” on several occasions over the past two and a half years.The trust’s chief executive Roland Sinker said: “We are very sorry that this has happened and we apologise unreservedly to our patients and their families.”Addenbrooke’s is the East of England’s designated major trauma centre.The…

Regan MorrisReporting fromLos Angeles, CaliforniaGetty ImagesHollywood may be known as Tinseltown, a dream factory at the heart of the global entertainment industry. But nowadays crews are more likely to film in Atlanta, London, Toronto or Sydney than in Los Angeles.Cheaper labour and better tax breaks have lured producers away from the City of Angels for years. The wildfires, which killed at least 29 people and destroyed thousands of homes, have only added to this existential crisis.Now, many here are calling on the state – and studios and streaming services – to boost local production.”The best thing the studios could do…

Zoe Conway & Esyllt CarrBusiness correspondent & producerBBCMargaret Chappell cannot get help to fix her insulation under government schemes as it only applies to work done since 2022Homeowners who say their houses are being destroyed by unsuitable insulation are missing out on measures to fix it as the work was carried out too long ago.The government has found a “serious systemic” issue in homes fitted with insulation under two of its own schemes since 2022 – and ordered installers to put it right.But that won’t include 93-year-old Margaret Chappell whose work was done in 2021 and now her house is…

TikTok is again available on the US app stores of Apple and Google, after President Donald Trump postponed enforcement of a ban of the Chinese-owned social media platform until 5 April.The popular app, which is used by more than 170 million American users, went dark briefly last month in the US as the ban deadline approached. Trump then signed an executive order granting TikTok a 75-day extension to comply with a law banning the app if it is not sold. TikTok did not immediately respond to a request for comment from BBC News.According to Bloomberg, which first reported TikTok’s return…

Parents could save up to £540 per year by switching from premium baby milk formula to a basic brand, the regulator has said following a probe into the market.Parents can feel guilty about using lower-priced brands, because they think they are somehow inferior, the Competition & Markets Authority (CMA) said.But lower-priced formulas have the same nutritional value as the more expensive options, it said.The regulator has also recommended that formula should have plain packaging in hospitals, and parents should be allowed to buy baby milk in supermarkets using loyalty points and vouchers.At present parents are facing “poor outcomes” because of…

Scarlett Johansson has warned about the “misuse of AI” after a deepfake video purported to show her and other Jewish celebrities sending a message of protest to Kanye West.It comes after the rapper recently left the X platform following a tirade of anti-semitic posts, and also sold swaztika T-shirts on his website.In the fake video, Johansson and other stars including David Schwimmer and Jerry Seinfeld were depicted wearing a white T-shirt showing the Star of David on a hand giving a one-finger salute, above the word “Kanye”.The US actress said that while she had no time for “hate speech”, she…

Michael RaceBusiness reporter, BBC NewsGetty ImagesThe UK economy unexpectedly grew in the final three months of last year following a boost to the construction and services sectors. The economy expanded by 0.1% between October and December, according to official figures, despite analysts predicting it would contract.Growth in the quarter was driven by a range of industries, from pubs and bars to machinery manufacturers, having a strong December.However, with tax rises coming into force in April, concerns remain that economic growth will remain sluggish for sometime.Businesses have warned that paying more in National Insurance, along with minimum wages rising and business…

The former chief executive of Google is worried artificial intelligence could be used by terrorists or “rogue states” to “harm innocent people.”Eric Schmidt told the BBC: “The real fears that I have are not the ones that most people talk about AI – I talk about extreme risk.”The tech billionaire, who held senior posts at Google from 2001 to 2017, told the Today programme “North Korea, or Iran, or even Russia” could adopt and misuse the technology to create biological weapons.He called for government oversight on private tech companies which are developing AI models, but warned over-regulation could stifle innovation.Mr…