and an record holiday season and an eye—watering $570 billion in annual sales. and happy birthday facebook. 20 years after its launch, it is back on investors�*s friend list. ajump investors�*s friend list. ajump in profits have meant meta shares have soared. hello. here's your top business stories and we are starting in the united states where apple has pressed reset on a year of falling sales, returning to growth in the last three months of 2023. it's thanks to strong demand for the iphone 15. that's its latest handset. later today the tech giant will launch with vision pro headset which it hopes could become the next must have gadget but for wall street the party has been spoiled by much weaker than

expected sales in china, where a real estate collapse and rising youth unemployment is hitting demand for apple's gadgets. erin delmore reports. for apple, a big gadgets. erin delmore reports. forapple, a big highlight gadgets. erin delmore reports. for apple, a big highlight — the first revenue growth in a year. they reported a 2% rise in overall fiscal first quarter sales, taking a year of declining sales. it's thanks to sales of the iphone 15 which hit stores in september. but a low light does make a decline in sales in china, to the tune of 13%. apple is missing out on one of its key markets. the world's second economy is grappling with a slowdown thanks to a property market crisis, slow growth and high unemployment a young people which is weighing on iphone sales and, increasingly, chinese consumers are opting for phones made by huawei which are powered by chips made in china. apple is on the verge of

releasing its vision pro headset, meanwhile. this is apple's entry into spatial computing that's running apps over the real—world information you're already taking in. fans call it augmented reality but will they drop $3500 on headset? apple's other wearable products like its airport headphones and apple watch showed weak demand. they top sales estimates for the quarter but declined 11% year over year. the vision pro is apple's big bit to make a splash in a product category that's not it signature smartphone. it hit shelves on friday. erin delmore. let's bring in ross frislie, co—founder of the tech and entertainment site polygon. hejoins us from new and entertainment site polygon. he joins us from new york. thank you for being with us. we all remember back when the launch of a new iphone generated serious hype and cues

around the corners of apple stores. those days are gone but i wonder did the iphone 15 get something special? have something special? have something special? have something special? is that why we are seeing a rebound in sales? 1 we are seeing a rebound in sales? ~ . , ., sales? i think we are starting to see with — sales? i think we are starting to see with their _ sales? i think we are starting to see with their phones - sales? i think we are starting to see with their phones in i to see with their phones in particular people are kind of going in these cycles where they will have the phone for maybe two years and will trade it in but will stay within apple's ecosystem and this is kind of that cycle coming back around with a pretty enhanced phonein around with a pretty enhanced phone in addition to, yeah, people who are kind of due for new phones about point. the iphone has — new phones about point. the iphone has always _ new phones about point. the iphone has always been the cash cow for apple and the thing that generated the most excitement historically. what do you make of the vision pro? can it live up to what the iphone achieved?- can it live up to what the iphone achieved? yeah, it's really tricky _ iphone achieved? yeah, it's really tricky because - iphone achieved? yeah, it's really tricky because it - iphone achieved? yeah, it's really tricky because it is i iphone achieved? yeah, it's really tricky because it is a l really tricky because it is a space that apple has never really gotten into before and at a price point of $3500, it

is like astronomically high and way beyond most consumer price points, even in that marketplace, the headset marketplace. i've used it. it's very cool. some of the videos you can watch unbelievable, like the best imax experience you've ever had. but at that price i do not think it is a mass—market product yet. i think they are playing long—term and will make it smaller, cheaperand long—term and will make it smaller, cheaper and more viable if it's going to catch on. �* ., ., , ., on. and how worrying would you sa is on. and how worrying would you say is the _ on. and how worrying would you say is the slowdown _ on. and how worrying would you say is the slowdown in _ on. and how worrying would you say is the slowdown in china - say is the slowdown in china for apple? are they more vulnerable than any other company that has china — facing business? company that has china - facing business? ., ,., company that has china - facing business? ., ., company that has china - facing business?— business? you sort of mention to the economy _ business? you sort of mention to the economy there - business? you sort of mention to the economy there and - business? you sort of mention to the economy there and i - business? you sort of mention to the economy there and i do| to the economy there and i do think that's an impact and then, yeah, while way taking a big chunk out of their marketplace. 0bviously any company based in china will have the edge in being able to put out products to their consumers at a much cheaper

price point —— huawei taking a big chunk. 0n price point —— huawei taking a big chunk. on a apple is concerned and aware of them but i do think they have an edge on the hardware side so maybe that would be enough long—term to push them kind of in the marketplace.— push them kind of in the marketplace. push them kind of in the marketlace. ,, . ~' ,, marketplace. russ, thank you forjoining us— marketplace. russ, thank you forjoining us and _ marketplace. russ, thank you forjoining us and giving - marketplace. russ, thank you forjoining us and giving us . forjoining us and giving us your review of the vision pro. not sure if you are planning to actually buy one when it launches.— actually buy one when it launches. ., ., launches. are you? i do not know that _ launches. are you? i do not know that my _ launches. are you? i do not know that my wife - launches. are you? i do not know that my wife will - launches. are you? i do not know that my wife will let l launches. are you? i do not i know that my wife will let me! if only she would!— if only she would! indeed. thank you _ if only she would! indeed. thank you for _ if only she would! indeed. thank you forjoining - if only she would! indeed. thank you forjoining us. | if only she would! indeed. - thank you forjoining us. apple one of the us tech giants we've been hearing results from in the last few hours and we will talk more about amazon and about meta a little bit later but first, let's stay, come back here to the uk, with the bank of england. they've held interest rates at 5.25%. it's the highest level for nearly 60 years but will stay there for the time being. andrew bailey, the time being. andrew bailey, the governor, says major progress has been made in getting soaring prices under control and the bank's decision—makers are now considering when they may be

able to cut the cost of borrowing. faisal islam has the story. lights at the end of the rate rise tunnel. the bank of england is brewing some rate cuts which cannot come soon enough for many business owners such as stephen, who runs a distillery and restaurant in chatham, in kent. successive raid chatham, in kent. successive rapid rate _ chatham, in kent. successive rapid rate rises _ chatham, in kent. successive rapid rate rises is _ chatham, in kent. successive rapid rate rises is somethingl rapid rate rises is something that, for the business community, you really see very quickly the reductions in investment which are then filtering through. i mean, definitely seeing that. but res - ite definitely seeing that. but respite came _ definitely seeing that. but respite came from - definitely seeing that. but respite came from the bank's new forecast. inflation should fall to its target of 2% as early as spring as energy bills fall. changing thinking at the bank. , ., ., , bank. the question for us has chanced bank. the question for us has changed from _ bank. the question for us has changed from how _ bank. the question for us has changed from how restrictive | bank. the question for us has i changed from how restrictive do you need to be, how high do you need to get interest rates and for how long do you need to maintain them before you cut them? and that's a very good move forwards.—

move forwards. many householders, - move forwards. many householders, manyl move forwards. many _ householders, many businesses who have been squeezed tight as part of your policy will be wondering, "hang on a minute. inflation will hit its target of 2%. is it now time to take your foot off the pedal and give some breathing room to this household? we give some breathing room to this household?— this household? we think inflation _ this household? we think inflation will _ this household? we think inflation will be _ this household? we think inflation will be about - this household? we think inflation will be about the target in the spring, april, may, june time. unfortunately i don't think it will stay there. the tanker is turning on rate cuts here at the bank of england. they are discussing them. but when tankers turn things get choppy so there is a big split here on exactly when the cuts will come, and there is a presentational problem does make for public, businesses the government might think that when inflation falls to target next couple of months the rate cuts will come very quickly. this is one of 2.3 million homeowners whose mortgages will stilljump this mortgages will still jump this year. mortgages will stilljump this year. she has had to curtail

her maternity leave by several months to help pay for mortgage and grocery hikes. £31!" months to help pay for mortgage and grocery hikes.— and grocery hikes. our mortgage was raised _ and grocery hikes. our mortgage was raised by — and grocery hikes. our mortgage was raised by 30, _ and grocery hikes. our mortgage was raised by 30, almost - and grocery hikes. our mortgage was raised by 30, almost 4096, l was raised by 30, almost a0%, which is really significant. 0n which is really significant. on top of that, adding almost 30% increases in the groceries. that meant the money that we saved for the maternity leave now will have to go to the mortgage repayment. for the next two years or even longer. rate cuts won't prevent the ongoing squeeze but they are on the way at some point for those who can wait. faisal islam, bbc news. the uk's finance minister jeremy hunt has welcomed the fall in inflation, saying it is proof of his economic policies are working. he is under growing pressure from some in his own party to cut taxes when he unveils his spring budget next month. this of course as the uk gears up for an election most likely this year. mr; most likely this year. my overall picture _

most likely this year. if! overall picture here most likely this year. m overall picture here is most likely this year. mg overall picture here is of inflation falling dramatically faster than most people predicted and the economy being much stronger than the bank of england upgrading its forecast for this year next year and the year after and what it says is we've taken difficult decisions, the plan is working but now is not the time to junk plan by a big spending spree, £28 billion a year more, as other parties want to do. we need to stick to the plan because it is working. jeremy hunt. michael _ because it is working. jeremy hunt. michael huesler- because it is working. jeremy hunt. michael huesler is - because it is working. jeremy hunt. michael huesler is a i hunt. michael huesler is a chief market analyst at cmc markets. good news, isn't it, that inflation is forecast to fall more rapidly than we had expected previously. most investors now are banking on a rate cut may be injune? what are your thoughts? rate cut may be in june? what are your thoughts?— are your thoughts? good morning- _ are your thoughts? good morning. it's _ are your thoughts? good morning. it's definitely l are your thoughts? good i morning. it's definitely my thinking. certainly, the energy price cap falling in april will help inflation to fall back,

pull back the target which is currently at 11%. and when you think about one year ago, we were about 10.5 so progress has been made. but i think we are focusing on the wrong thing here — it's not really about whether or not we get a rate cut in june whether or not we get a rate cut injune this year. i think we will get a rate cut this year. it's really how many we get. inaudible has already fallen, we have seen in the guild market, so we've seen a significant easing of policy and rates since the summer of last year but the bigger question is if that can continue.— question is if that can continue. ., ., continue. indeed, mortgage holders hoping _ continue. indeed, mortgage holders hoping it _ continue. indeed, mortgage holders hoping it will - continue. indeed, mortgage holders hoping it will not. continue. indeed, mortgage| holders hoping it will notjust be one but will be the first of many happen in the summer but in addition to that, that inflation could fall quite precipitously, there's also a warning it could take up towards the end of the year and i don't know what difference could make to the prospect of there being more rate cuts beyond the first one. mr; there being more rate cuts beyond the first one. my base case is always _ beyond the first one. my base case is always we _ beyond the first one. my base case is always we will - beyond the first one. my base | case is always we will probably see three, the markets have got

slightly more than that. i think the biggest problem is the narrow focus on headline cpi. it's at 4%. the mpc talked about this yesterday, services inflation could go back up to 6.6%. food price inflation in december is at 8%. so there are still significant inflationary pressures out there which could slow down the process of inflation returning to target, and i think that's what the bank of england is concerned about and it was borne out by the split votes that we saw yesterday, so i think there are challenges ahead, significant challenges, and really it's a question of whether we see three or four rate cuts by the end of the year.— end of the year. michael houston. _ end of the year. michael houston, -- _ end of the year. michael houston, -- hewson. i end of the year. michael l houston, -- hewson. stay end of the year. michael - houston, -- hewson. stay on a houston, —— hewson. stay on a similar subject but in the us because the federal reserve chairjerome powell — traders's hopes of a much interest rate cut when he was speaking on wednesday. the us economy is

performing unexpectedly strongly, but the fed raising borrowing costs to a two decade long hi in its own fight against inflation. 0fficial against inflation. official data showed employers created more than 200,000 newjobs in december with unemployment remaining atjust 3.7%. we will have the latest coming out in a few hours' time later today. the chief economist at hhi services company adp, who does its own inch —— research into the us economy, including a much watched monthly employment survey. let's focus on the non—farm payroll. what do we expect and what influence could it have on the fed?— it have on the fed? good morning- _ it have on the fed? good morning. we _ it have on the fed? good morning. we are - it have on the fed? good i morning. we are expecting another solid report. it may not reach the 200,000 more than that we saw in december but there is consensus that 185,000 so it's a really strong level of growth. and what it tells the fed is they can just sit

tight on interest rates, much like the bank of england. sit tight, make sure that inflation does not go back to 2% because it is not a foregone conclusion that inflationary pressures will not rise again. l that inflationary pressures will not rise again. i mean, from your— will not rise again. i mean, from your surveys, - will not rise again. i mean, from your surveys, your i from your surveys, your knowledge of the us employment sector, what's the mood like right now? i know your survey for raniere showed unemployment was 107,000 jobs —— your survey showed 100,000 —— was 107,000 jobs —— your survey showed 100,000 "107,000 was 107,000 jobs —— your survey showed 100,000 —— 107,000 jobs were added. showed 100,000 --107,000 'obs were added.— were added. manufacturing is a very interest — were added. manufacturing is a very interest rate _ were added. manufacturing is a very interest rate sensitive i very interest rate sensitive sector and with rates at near over 20 year highs, the sector has been in a virtual recession for more than a year and also, white—collar industries so information tech, professional

business services, we have seen a slowdown in hiring that's rather significant, hitting the headlines in a big way in january with company earnings reports and these were sectors that may be over invested in employees and last year, they were rightsizing so there is no—one note to the us labour market but what we do know is unemployment still remains very low. diving into the numbers, i'm diving to fight here, is it the case that its employers are feeling great, yes, we are growing, let's hire more people or the case that there aren't people out there to feel the few jobs that we have available? lt few jobs that we have available?— few jobs that we have available? , , ., available? it depends on the industry- _ available? it depends on the industry- i — available? it depends on the industry. i mean, _ available? it depends on the industry. i mean, honestly,| industry. i mean, honestly, employers were doing a lot of replacement hiring and so, we don't expect the big job numbers at the us experience over the course of 2022. in 2023. a normal labor market of 100,000 plusjobs in fantastic,

wejust have something 100,000 plusjobs in fantastic, we just have something bigger. i think what we are seeing right now with employers is, they are afraid to let people 90, they are afraid to let people go, the holding onto their labor and the hiring selectively for those need to fill positions, they may not be hiring with abundance like they did earlier, just to grow their business, it's really more selective in targeting going. adp, thank you very much for joining us today. around the world and across the uk, this is bbc news. bbc news, bringing you different stories from across the uk. it's a trip down memory lane. the vintage fair not only attracts the local community but hundreds from across the country. but the growing health and safety regulations to comply with means organisers simply don't have the funds

to go ahead with the event this year. the increased legislation we've got to meet, some of which we're aware of and some were not known, with additional costs which we have to raise and a lot of it has come to light following the issues following the recent christmas market that the town council held and cancelled their event for this year. the town council said they took the decision to cancel the market because traffic management, medical, electrical and anti—terrorism teams are needed, all of which costs money. i live with bbc news, the german in our business leaders spoke out last week against the rise of right—wing extremism, saying it's a threat to the's economy. the anti—immigration afd party is now running second in the national polls. the chief executive of the software giant asap, that's among those

warnings warning that far right politics risk i'm in attractiveness to foreign labor and investment.— and investment. when you're walkinu and investment. when you're walking around _ and investment. when you're walking around here - and investment. when you're walking around here in i and investment. when you're walking around here in the i walking around here in the campus, and you see a lot of people from the uk but is well from asia, from the united states and we need dad. we need these people to come to germany so we are completely against any kind of next because we need to halve those talents coming to us to in a way to boost the economy and that's why it was time indeed to speak up, not only for myself but for the german economy on its own. there's lots more on the economic and political challenges facing germany on talking business with aaron hassell hers, you can see that this weekend writing on bbc news. including of that interview. now, the social media giant matter, the owner of facebook, instagram and

what's up, safe to say that its boss and founder mark zuckerberg is having a safer, better day than it did on wednesday. back then, he faced a target of criticism when he and other social media bosses right before the senate to answer child safety on their platform. 0n answer child safety on their platform. on thursday, meadow shares sought after it announce profits tripled year on year, thanks to a surge in users, lower costs and higher ad sales. —— meta. and it declared its first ever dividend, 50 cents per share to be paid every quarter. it is the latest twist and determine history of the social media giant, this weekend, facebook celebrates its 20th birthday. we look back at the side that changed the world. it all started like this, facebook or the facebook as it was then, launch pro mark zuckerberg student digs at harvard in 200a. 0ver zuckerberg student digs at harvard in 200a. over the

years, more and more features have been added and the design slowly tweak into what it is today. but the impact of the famous blue up was almost instant and famous blue up was almost instantand in famous blue up was almost instant and in the last 20 years, it is ordered society politics and business in profound ways. here are four ways that facebook changed our world. one, facebook was the social media game changer. 0ther social media game changer. other social network existed like myspace and beebo but mark zuckerberg site really took off. it is less popular the use to be but the company insist it is still growing. it's the biggest social network in the world with 2 billion daily use, the most being in india and the us. two, facebook made the internet political, it was instrumental in movement like the arab spring and become a key place for campaigning and debate on elections around the world. for good, and bad. in 2018, facebook agreed with the un report that it said it had failed to prevent its platform from being used to incite off—line violence against

people in my ma. three, facebook made data, valuable and less personal. facebook proved that collecting our likes and dislike is extremely lucrative, facebook parent company meta is an advertising giant and company meta is an advertising giantand take company meta is an advertising giant and take the lion share of global digital ad money alongside google but it's also proven what kongorong with all the data collection. facebook has been fine hundreds of billions of dollars multiple times for mishandling are data, most famously in the cambridge underdog scandal. for, facebook excited matters dominance. with the success of facebook, mark zuckerberg build an empire. what's apt, instagram and long queues, they say that more than 3 billion people lose at least one of their products every day. this dominance has not come from innovation but either from buying rivals or copying their ideas, the app disappearing stories feature copied snapchat, instagram reels is a company's answer to

tiktok and threat is an attempt to replace twitter. and now with the company pushing heavily into a! and metaverse, who knows what the future holds. who knows indeed, staying in the world of technology because of the number to make your eyes water. 574 million dollars, that is the amount of revenue that the online retail giant amazon rate did last year. rounded off by a regular holiday season. amazon has been battling to readjust after a poster pandemic slump, it laid off around 28,000 staff and has been revamping its delivery systems as well as investing heavily in al. let's speak now to professor michael wade who is professor of innovation and strategy at the imd business school in lausanne in switzerland. the queue for joining us today. lots of people who guess amazon deliveries on a daily basis, they won't find those revenue numbers terribly surprising.

it's often forgotten that amazon has also a leader in cloud computing so, where is the balance? how much is each those contributes to its figures?— those contributes to its fiaures? ., �* , figures? indeed, that's right. the line share, _ figures? indeed, that's right. the line share, the _ figures? indeed, that's right. the line share, the revenue l the line share, the revenue still comes from the online sales so about 170 billion that they are going in the fourth quarter, 115 of that came through the direct sales or commissioners on third—party sellers but in there as well was 24 billion dollars in revenue from the aws cloud services division which is about 14% of the total. interesting stuff, we have been hearing, bringing more numbers into the equation.— into the equation. about 'ob cards and fi into the equation. about 'ob cards and some i into the equation. about 'ob cards and some were i into the equation. about job cards and some were close. into the equation. about jobl cards and some were close to 30,000 have been cut since the pandemic. what do you think that reveals about amazon's growth, its direction, strategy, we have always known that the company of a very much on the bottom line and on cost, doesn't it?—

doesn't it? they have done, they have — doesn't it? they have done, they have to _ doesn't it? they have done, they have to because i doesn't it? they have done, they have to because the i they have to because the margins are very slim so they have to focus on cost and they hired massively during the pandemic so some of those carts i think i trending back to normal levels but i think we look at a company like amazon, it is massive so, total number of employees according to their earnings they came out yesterday, 1.5 million people work for the company and that is just full—time people under contract, it's about the size of munich or barcelona. the 30,000 people sounds a lot but it's only 20% of that. aha, 30,000 people sounds a lot but it's only 2096 of that.— it's only 2096 of that. a drop in the ocean. _ it's only 2096 of that. a drop in the ocean. either - it's only 2096 of that. a drop in the ocean. either threat l it's only 2096 of that. a drop. in the ocean. either threat on the horizon to amazon? could anyone take its leading position? i'm thinking of that chinese company which is increasingly making a splash on the world stage, becoming synonymous with selling high —

hyper cheap consumer goods. we are hyper cheap consumer goods. - are seeing the emergence of new chinese giants, we have ali express for a while, in the last few years, making big splash in the fast fashion area and the more, they have the sites on amazon. although the numbers look good, the revenue numbers look good, the revenue numbers were up 14% so clearly, it hasn't yet taken a big bite out of amazon's online sales revenue but certainly the company needs to keep an eye on these players that are extremely aggressive as they've beenin extremely aggressive as they've been in their coal i am chinese market, taken that aggressiveness and that innovation, the ramification and everything else they put into the online sales taking outside to china a lot of the world. ~ . ., ., ~ , world. michael from imd business _ world. michaelfrom imd business school, - world. michaelfrom imd business school, thank l world. michael from imd i business school, thank you very much forjoining us today. stay with us here on bbc news,

breakfast is next for viewers in the uk and i'll be back for viewers and the rest of the world with more of your top stories. untilthen, by buyer. —— bye—bye. hello. full uk forecast in a moment. first of all, i thought i'd reflect on storm ingunn that came across the north atlantic wednesday and hit sweden and norway wednesday night, bringing what looks like being record—breaking winds, sustained winds of 122 miles an hour, parts of norway, and 116 miles an hour in sweden. unimaginable strength of the winds. there were even stronger gusts. the gusts that we recorded were even much stronger than those that hit southern england in the great storm of 1987 — one of the most powerful storms i've ever seen, storm ingunn. now it's the lovely end to the day on thursday, fine sunsets many of you spotted caused by the clear skies illuminating the cloud out west. but it is the cloud that's going to be winning the battle, i suppose, over the next few

hours, progressively turning quite cloudy, a few patches of drizzle around, some rain into western scotland, but very mild air, again flowing in off the atlantic. we see high pressure to the south, weather fronts to the northwest where it will be windy. gusts of wind reaching 50 odd miles an hour across northern scotland, where it'll be damp and drizzly across western areas. elsewhere, a lot of cloud to start the day. but given it's quite windy, i suspect we will see some sunny breaks breaking through across parts of east scotland, to the east of the pennines, probably eastern parts of wales, and maybe eastern side of both antrim and downs. so you might see some glimmers of sunshine. either way, it will be a very mild day. the air gets a little bit cooler across northern areas on saturday, say cooler, temperatures coming a bit closer to average, sunshine and showers working in here. again, it's quite blustery. england and wales having the thickest of the cloud with some patches of light rain coming and going. temperatures 14 degrees, again, well above average for this

time of the year. the average in london is nine degrees. for sunday's forecast, again, we've got the mild air with us, but thicker cloud this time, so probably a higher chance of seeing some damp weather at times. the far north of scotland, again, quite blustery with some showers working in here. for most of us, temperatures again on the mild side, ten to 14 degrees pretty widely. but then after this mild run of weather, might be something of a shock to the system to see the weather turns a lot colder next week. and for some of you, that means a return of seeing some snowfall. now it's a little bit less certain just how cold it gets further southwards across england and wales. but it could be that we see some snow. for the time being, the models are picking up thick cloud with outbreaks of cold rain at times.

good morning, welcome to breakfast with nina warhurst and charlie stayt. 0ur headlines today. the man police are hunting after a corrosive substance was thrown on a woman and her children is a convicted sex offender. the teenage killers of brianna ghey will be named today, as they're sentenced for the 16—year—old's murder. the changing face of facebook — it's 20 years since mark zuckerberg launched the website which changed the social media landscape forever. good morning. problems with sewage and leaks, but water bills in england,

wales and scotland will go up next by year — and by more than the cost—of—living. i'll have all the details. a night of redemption for marcus rashford. after a troubled few days, he returns with a goal, as manchester united edge a seven goal thriller at wolves. and today it's cloudy, it's blustery, but it is also pretty wild for early february. full details here on breakfast. good morning. it's friday, the 2nd of february. it's emerged that the man police are hunting in connection with a corrosive liquid attack in london, is a convicted sex offender who was granted asylum to stay in the uk, having twice been refused. abdul ezedi, who is 35, remains at large after the attack in clapham on wednesday, which left 12 people injured, including two young children. he also suffered a serious facial burns during the incident. rajini vaidyanathan has the latest.