Roblox bans Under 13s messaging each other, Robot dogs patrol Trump’s resort

Roblox has announced it will block under-13s from messaging others on the online gaming platform as part of new efforts to safeguard children. Child users will not be able to send direct messages by default unless a verified parent or guardian gives them permission. Parents will also be able to view and manage their child's…

Amazon launches cut-price outlet Haul, Shakespeare ‘not as good as AI’

Amazon has launched a new outlet called Haul which caps the price of products on sale at $20 (£15.79), in an effort to take on low-cost retailers Temu and Shein. The online shopping giant unveiled Haul as a mobile-only experience available in its Shopping app for US customers on Wednesday. It says shoppers can expect…

VW and Rivian launch joint venture, Elon Musk to lead ‘DOGE’

Volkswagen Group (VW) and Tesla rival Rivian have launched a joint venture, with the German car giant increasing its investment in the partnership. The two companies say the deal is now worth $5.8bn (£4.55bn) - up from an initial pledge from VW of $5bn. Shares in the US electric vehicle (EV) maker jumped more than 9%…

BYD Sealion 7 comes to UK, solar cell turns any wall into solar panel

BYD Sealion 7 Specifications for the new Sealion 7 from Chinese EV specialist BYD have been revealed, with the new SUV set to target high-end versions of everything from the Hyundai Ioniq 5 and Kia EV6 to the Peugeot E-3008 and Volkswagen ID.5 when it arrives at the end of this year. BYD has confirmed three powertrain options for the…

Spanish brands triumph in Which? rankings of international hotels

A new Which? survey of the best and worst international hotel brands shows well-known brands languishing near the bottom of the table, as three Spanish-owned chains take joint top spot. The consumer watchdog surveyed more than 2,000 members about their experiences staying at international hotel brands in the last year, receiving responses for 37 chains.…

Is my Air Fryer spying on me? Evidence of excessive smart home surveillance

Which? research has found evidence of excessive smart device surveillance - from air fryers demanding permission to listen in on your conversations and sharing data with TikTok, to TVs wanting to know your exact location.  The consumer association rated products across four categories and gave them overall privacy scores for factors including consent and what…

BYD revenues overtake Tesla’s, Reddit makes profit for first time

The Chinese electric vehicle giant BYD has seen its quarterly revenues soar, beating Tesla's for the first time. It posted more than 200bn yuan ($28.2bn, £21.8bn) in revenues between July and September. This is a 24% jump from the same period last year, and more than Elon Musk's company whose quarterly revenue was $25.2bn. However,…

6 tips to help you save big for Halloween

  Halloween may be the time for frightful fun and eerie excitement, but the costs of costumes, decorations, and sweets can quickly turn from treat to trick. Thankfully, celebrating the spooky season doesn’t need to give your wallet a scare. Nathan Hussey, the founder of online clothing shopping assistant Sizify, has shared his top tips…