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Apple Reports Record iPhone Sales, While Trump Warns UK on China Ties
Apple reported record iPhone sales for the final three months of last year, driven by the new iPhone 17 range, the tech firm announced Thursday. Revenue rose by 16% compared to the same period last year, reaching $144 billion, marking the strongest growth since 2021, according to the BBC. The surge in sales was attributed to increased demand in China, Europe, the Americas, and Japan.
However, other areas of Apple's business experienced declines. Sales of wearables and accessories, including the Apple Watch and AirPods, fell by roughly 3%, while Mac computer sales decreased by just over 7%, the BBC reported. Apple chief executive Tim Cook said the company was in "supply chase mode" to meet the high demand for iPhones.
In other news, former U.S. President Donald Trump warned the UK against pursuing closer ties with China, following British Prime Minister Keir Starmer's visit to Beijing. According to The Guardian, Starmer's trip aimed to secure lower tariffs and better access to the Chinese market. Trump stated it was "very dangerous" for the UK to do business with China, just hours after Starmer hailed progress in the economic relationship. Starmer, the first British prime minister to visit Beijing in eight years, promised a more stable relationship.
Meanwhile, Waymo, the US driverless car firm owned by Google-parent Alphabet, hopes to launch a robotaxi service in London as early as September, according to the BBC. A pilot service is scheduled to launch in April. Local Transport Minister Lilian Greenwood said the government is "supporting Waymo and other operators through our passenger pilots, and pro-innovation regulations to make self-driving cars a reality on British roads." The UK government plans to change regulations in the second half of 2026 to enable driverless taxis to operate in the city, the BBC reported.
Additionally, millions of low-income households in the UK will continue to receive £150 off their energy bills for another five years. The government confirmed the extension of its Warm Home Discount scheme, which has been in place since 2011, according to BBC Business. The scheme will now run until the winter of 2030-31. Ministers said the extension would help with the ongoing high cost of living, largely fueled by increased energy costs. While charities welcomed the continuation, several said £150 was insufficient to adequately support struggling households.
Finally, Donald Trump signed an executive order on Thursday laying the groundwork to impose tariffs on goods from countries that provide oil to Cuba, The Guardian reported. The White House stated that the order, which declares a national emergency, aims to increase pressure on Cuba's Communist government, citing Cuba's ties to hostile powers. The order establishes a process for the US secretaries of state and commerce to assess tariffs against countries selling oil to Cuba.
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