Tesla experienced a 3% decrease in annual revenue in 2025, marking the first time the electric vehicle (EV) maker's revenue has fallen, as the company shifts its focus to artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics, according to BBC Technology. Profits also fell 61% in the last three months of the year. The company, led by Elon Musk, announced plans to end production of its Model S and Model X vehicles, repurposing its California manufacturing plant to produce its line of humanoid robots, known as Optimus.
This shift comes as China's BYD overtook Tesla in January as the world's biggest EV maker, according to BBC Technology. Musk's involvement in other ventures has also drawn scrutiny.
In other news, 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 BBC Technology. The UK government plans to change regulations in the second half of 2026 to enable driverless taxis to operate in the city, though a specific date has not been given. A pilot service is scheduled to launch in April. Local Transport Minister Lilian Greenwood stated, "We're supporting Waymo and other operators through our passenger pilots, and pro-innovation regulations to make self-driving cars a reality on British roads," according to BBC Technology.
Meanwhile, in Myanmar, at least 170 people were killed in military air strikes during the country's weeks-long election period, the United Nations reported, according to BBC World. The UN rights office stated that "credible sources" counted the civilian deaths, as well as 408 military aerial attacks from December 2025 to late last week, when the third and final round of voting was held. The election has been widely denounced as a sham by numerous countries and human rights groups. The Union and Solidarity Party (USDP), backed by Myanmar's military, won an overwhelming victory, according to state media.
In the UK, the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) banned advertisements from cryptocurrency firm Coinbase, according to BBC Technology. The ASA upheld complaints that the ads "trivialised the risks of cryptocurrency," which is largely unregulated in the UK. The ads depicted the UK in various states of disrepair alongside a satirical slogan and the exchange's logo. Coinbase said it disagreed with the watchdog's decision, stating, "While we respect the ASA's decision, we fundamentally disagree with the characterisation of the ads and the trivialisation of cryptocurrency."
Finally, Ukraine experienced a relatively quiet night after Donald Trump said Russian President Vladimir Putin had agreed not to attack Kyiv and "various towns" during a cold snap, according to BBC World. The Kremlin confirmed it had agreed to cease attacks on Kyiv until Sunday to "create favourable conditions" for peace talks. Air raid alerts sounded in just eight Ukrainian regions overnight into Friday, with two minor injuries recorded in Zaporizhzhia. Temperatures in the capital, Kyiv, are due to plummet to -24C (-11F) over the coming days.
Discussion
Join the conversation
Be the first to comment