Author: BBC

The US Commerce Department has announced plans to impose tariffs of up to 3,521% on imports of solar panels from four South East Asian countries.It comes after an investigation that began a year ago when several major solar equipment producers asked the administration of then-President Joe Biden to protect their US operations. The proposed levies – targeting companies in Cambodia, Thailand, Malaysia and Vietnam – are in response to allegations of subsidies from China and the dumping of unfairly cheap products in the US market.A separate US government agency, the International Trade Commission, is due to reach a final decision…

Comedian and pantomime star Andy Ford is reflecting on his 56th year in showbusiness. He spoke to BBC Radio Bristol about his memories of Sir David Suchet and the late Dame Barbara Windsor. The family entertainer and comedian will be embarking on his new show, Flippin’ World Tour of the West Country, later this month.

In an NHS survey, 48% of men said they felt pressure to “tough it out” when it came to potential health issues.

US Vice-President JD Vance has arrived in the Indian capital, Delhi, where he is due to hold talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi amid global trade tensions sparked by Washington’s tariff policies.The talks are likely to focus on fast tracking a much-awaited bilateral trade deal between the two countries.Vance is also expected to go on a sightseeing tour of Agra and Jaipur with his family.His visit comes as countries across the world rush to negotiate trade deals before US President Donald Trump’s 90-day pause on reciprocal tariffs ends on 9 July. “The two sides will also exchange views on regional…

Annabelle LiangBusiness reporterGetty ImagesTo leave or not to leave? China, home to more than a billion consumers, is Apple’s second-largest market Every iPhone comes with a label which tells you it was designed in California.While the sleek rectangle that runs many of our lives is indeed designed in the United States, it is likely to have come to life thousands of miles away in China: the country hit hardest by US President Donald Trump’s tariffs, now rising to 245% on some Chinese imports.Apple sells more than 220 million iPhones a year and by most estimates, nine in 10 are made…

Annabel RackhamCulture reporterJames WelshJames Welsh, 36, is a YouTuber with thousands of views on his Labubu unboxing videosJames’ reaction as he unboxes a rare, limited edition Labubu toy can only be described as pure, unadulterated joy.The YouTuber delightedly holds up a brown plush monster, which has been described by collectors as “cute”, “ugly”, “creepy” and everything in between.Labubus are furry snaggletoothed gremlins, which are designed by Hong Kong-born artist Kasing Lung and sold by Chinese toy company Pop Mart.They’re almost always sold out online and long queues often form outside the selected shops that stock them. Labubus are also primarily…

RNIBAs well as an influencer, author, broadcaster and RNIB ambassador, Lucy Edwards is hoping to become a mum Blind content creator and TikTok star Lucy Edwards says she’s “so excited” to be on a health kick to undergo IVF for gene editing purposes, but reveals the dilemma she faced in deciding to screen out the very gene that made her blind.”I’m so broody,” the 29-year-old tells the BBC Access All podcast.Lucy and her husband Ollie married at Kew Gardens two years ago and are now ready to start a family – but there are complications to consider.Lucy has the rare…

DHL Express is suspending deliveries to the US worth more than $800 (£603) because of a “significant increase” in red tape at customs following the intruduction of Donald Trump’s new tariff regime. The delivery giant said it will temporarily stop shipments from companies in all countries to American consumers on Monday “until further notice”.It added that business-to-business shipments will still go ahead, “though they may also face delays”.Previously, packages worth up to $2,500 could enter the US with minimal paperwork but due to tighter customs checks that came into force alongside Trump’s tariffs earlier this month, the threshold has been…

Richard Irvine-Brown & Liv McMahonBBC NewsWicked JoyfulThese action figures may look like they were made by machine in a factory – but really they were hand-madeArtists and creatives are pushing back against a recent trend using artificial intelligence (AI) to generate “starter pack” images of people as toys – which they say may be in danger of risking their livelihoods.Since the start of April, thousands of people have uploaded their photos to generate images of themselves as dolls, despite warnings of damaging the environment, giving away personal information, and devaluing creativity.Nick Lavallee, who has made custom action figures for six…

Abigail TaylorBBC News NIGetty ImagesClodagh Rodgers came fourth in EurovisionClodagh Rodgers, who represented the United Kingdom in the Eurovision Song Contest in 1971, has died at the age of 78.Rodgers, from Warrenpoint, County Down, came fourth with the song Jack In The Box.She was chosen to represent the UK at the contest being held in Dublin, during the Troubles.Her son, Sam Sorbie, shared her death on social media “after battling an illness for the last three years”.”Mum has lived an incredible life, full of love and happiness,” Mr Sorbie said.”Her fantastic career performing, travelling the world, devoting her life to…