The Elon Factor: Bitcoin spikes as Tesla buys $1.5bn of the currency

Tesla has reported it bought about $1.5bn (£1.1bn) of the cryptocurrency Bitcoin in January and expects to start accepting it as payment in future. The news caused the price of…

Economic Reform: Cuba opens up its economy to private businesses

Cuba has announced it will allow private businesses to operate in most sectors, in what is a major reform to its state-controlled economy. Labour Minister Marta Elena Feito said the…

Broadcasting: Chinese broadcaster CGTN’s UK licence revoked

China’s state-owned broadcaster has had its licence to broadcast in the UK revoked by media watchdog Ofcom. Ofcom said the company that owns the UK licence for China Global Television…

Covid Chaos: Royal Dutch Shell suffers major loss as Covid dries up demand

Oil giant Royal Dutch Shell sank to a net loss of $21.7bn (£16bn) last year after the coronavirus pandemic caused demand to slump. The announcement comes after two of its…

The Elon Factor: Dogecoin takes off after tip by Elon Musk

Dogecoin, a cryptocurrency which started off as a joke, has jumped in value by 50% after inventor Elon Musk dubbed it “the people’s crypto”. Cryptocurrencies such as Dogecoin and Bitcoin…

Covid Chaos: Exxon realises first loss in decades as pandemic drives demand down

Oil giant Exxon Mobil suffered its first annual loss in decades last year as the pandemic prompted energy use to plunge. The firm lost $22.4bn (£16.4bn) as energy prices dropped…

The Fish Wars: EU bans UK shellfish imports

The EU has told British fishermen they are indefinitely banned from selling live mussels, oysters, clams, cockles and scallops to its member states. As the UK is now a separate…

Recall:Tesla recalls US vehicles over failing touchscreens

Tesla is to recall large numbers of Model S and Model X cars in the US over failing touchscreens regulators warned could increase the risk of crashes. The National Highway…

Hands in the Tip Jar: Amazon settles claims that it pocketed delivery drivers’ tips

Amazon has agreed to settle allegations it cheated some drivers out of tips from customers for more than two years. Under a deal with the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC)…

Windfall: Google’s parent company, Alphabet sees record growth

Google parent Alphabet saw record revenues for the second straight quarter despite the pandemic as advertisers unleashed spending during the holidays. Cutbacks by travel and entertainment advertisers were more than…