Mazda has cut the price of its MX-30 electric SUV by more than £3,000, making it one of the cheapest new electric models on sale. Pricing for the MX-30 EV now starts at £27,995, for the entry-level Prime Line variant. The Exclusive Line costs from £29,995, while the range-topping Makoto is available for £32,395. All versions are equipped with LED headlights, parking sensors, reversing camera, adaptive cruise control, blind spot monitor and lane keep assist. In addition, the Exclusive Line sports heated front seats and keyless entry while the Makoto has a heated steering wheel, Bose sound syst ..read more

UK car production declined in March, down -27.1% year on year to 59,467 units, according to the latest figures published today by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). It was the first fall since August last year and is in line with expectations for a variable year, as manufacturers adjust factories to produce the next generation of cars, notably electric, winding down volumes of existing models in the process. An early 2024 Easter bank holiday also played a part, with fewer working days this March than the year before.  Volumes for the UK declined marginally, down just ..read more

A TikTok ban in the US could have a “potentially devastating” impact on some UK businesses, online traders are warning. President Biden has signed into law a bill that gives TikTok’s Chinese owner, ByteDance, nine months to sell its stake in the app or it will be blocked in the US. TikTok has said it will challenge this in court. Some 1.5 million UK businesses operate on the app, according to TikTok. Isobel Perl, founder of Perl Cosmetics in London, is worried about the possible impact of a ban as a quarter of her sales now come from the US. She told the BBC: “I mostly use TikTok t ..read more

  A TikTok ban in the US could have a “potentially devastating” impact on some UK businesses, online traders are warning. President Biden has signed into law a bill that gives TikTok’s Chinese owner, ByteDance, nine months to sell its stake in the app or it will be blocked in the US. TikTok has said it will challenge this in court. Some 1.5 million UK businesses operate on the app, according to TikTok. Isobel Perl, founder of Perl Cosmetics in London, is worried about the possible impact of a ban as a quarter of her sales now come from the US. BBC  If you paid full price fo ..read more

The US Senate has approved a controversial landmark bill that could see TikTok banned in America. It gives TikTok’s Chinese owner, ByteDance, nine months to sell its stake or the app will be blocked in the United States. The bill will now be handed over to US President Joe Biden, who has said he will sign it into law as soon as it reaches his desk. TikTok has told the BBC that it did not have an immediate response to the move. Previously Bytedance said it would oppose any attempt to force it to sell TikTok. BBC  Spotify turned the largest quarterly profit in its 18-year history as chief ..read more

Moisture analysis plays a crucial role in various industries, from pharmaceuticals to environmental science. By precisely measuring the water content in substances, businesses can ensure product quality, compliance with regulations, and sustainability in their operations. However, the environmental implications of accurate moisture analysis are particularly significant, influencing everything from waste management to pollution control. Importance of Moisture Control in Waste Management Effective moisture control is essential in waste management, impacting both the efficiency of processes and ..read more

Which? is calling on Virgin Media to urgently improve its customer service as new analysis from the consumer association finds it is the worst broadband firm for customer service.  Since late 2023, thousands of consumers have been in touch with Which? to share their experiences of shoddy customer service in sectors including energy, financial services, telecoms and travel. An overwhelming frustration shared in many of these stories is that companies are not providing prompt responses and resolutions when people get in touch about a problem.  Telecoms is currently one of the worst-pe ..read more

Tesla has cut its prices again in a number of major markets – including the US, China and Germany – as the electric car giant run by multi-billionaire Elon Musk faces falling sales. The move comes after it reported a sharp fall in its global vehicle deliveries in the first three months of this year. A price war has been intensifying between electric vehicle (EV) makers, with particularly fierce competition coming from Chinese firms. Tesla is due to report financial results for the first quarter of 2024 after the US market close on Tuesday. BBC TikTok could be banned in the US if the social me ..read more

Infant school children are increasingly online and given more digital independence by parents, according to Ofcom’s annual study of children’s relationship with the media and online worlds. Around a quarter of 5-7 year-olds (24%) now own a smartphone, while three-quarters use a tablet  (76%). Compared to a year ago, a higher proportion of 5-7s go online to send messages or make voice/video calls (59% to 65%) or to watch live-streamed content (39% to 50%). Similarly, overall use of social media sites or apps among all 5-7s has increased year-on-year (30% to 38%), with WhatsApp ..read more

A quarter of children under seven have their own smartphone, new figures reveal, with some as young as three owning the devices. Research from technology regulator Ofcom found a sharp increase in ownership of the devices by young children and widespread use of apps designed for teenagers. Ofcom’s annual study of technology use across Britain found that “infant school children are increasingly online and given more digital independence by parents”. It comes as Rishi Sunak considers a crackdown on use of phones and social media by under-16s. Telegraph  The UK’s terror watchdog ..read more