Google's parent company Alphabet reported a surge in profits as it was caught in the crossfire of the US-China trade war. Sales for 2024 reached £280bn, up from £246bn in 2023. However, shares fell more than 7% in after-hours trading as sales in the final three months of the year fell short of expectations. Chinese regulators have opened a probe into Google on suspicion of breaking anti-trust laws, potentially focusing on its smartphone operating system Android. The growing trade war with China comes after last-minute deals were struck with Canada and Mexico to delay tariffs on their products.