Author: BBC

Technology giant Meta is set to trial premium subscriptions for Instagram, Facebook and WhatsApp users in the coming months in its latest experiment with paid services.The new offerings would give access to features including expanded artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities.Under the plan, access to the platforms’ core services would remain free to use.The firm also plans to test subscriptions for features, such as its Vibes video generation app, which the firm says “can bring your ideas to life with new AI visual creation tools”.Meta announced Vibes in September as part of the latest version of the Meta AI app.It also aims…

Michelle RobertsDigital health editorGetty ImagesThe menopause is linked to changes in the brain similar to those seen in Alzheimer’s, according to a large UK study.The loss of grey matter in areas involved with memory and emotion might partly explain why women are generally at greater risk of dementia than men, researchers speculate.The findings come from nearly 125,000 women, of whom 11,000 had MRI brain scans. In the study, published in the journal Psychological Medicine, hormone replacement therapy (HRT) use did not appear to prevent the grey matter loss. Prof Barbara Sahakian, senior author and from Cambridge University, said: “The brain…

The European Union and India are set to announce a landmark trade deal after nearly two decades of on-off talks, as both sides aim to deepen ties amid tensions with the US.India’s Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agarwal said on Monday that negotiations had been wrapped up and the deal finalised.European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President António Luís Santos da Costa are in Delhi, where the announcement is expected.Both India and the EU are seeking to strengthen strategic and trade ties with the rest of the world as they contend with economic and geopolitical pressure from the…

Gemma HandyBusiness reporter, St John’s, AntiguaGemma HandyAntiguan cannabis grower Michaelus Tracey says that a lot of effort is put into developing new strainsRub the leaf and inhale the fragrance, Michaelus Tracey is saying.The musky scent of this cannabis plant is distinctly different from the citrusy aroma of another that he is also holding.To the untrained eye, the neat rows of flowering cannabis crops in front of us are indistinguishable from each other.Yet master cultivator Tracey can identify the separate varieties by their smell and the shape of their leaves.Nine strains are being grown here at Pineapple Road, a farm deep…

Jessica MasonJessica says women-specific health issues are too often dismissedA woman with cervical cancer who waited years to be diagnosed says she has “lost her faith in doctors”.Jessica Mason went back and forth to her GP and hospital with swelling, bleeding and pain in her vagina but says she was “fobbed off” before “begging” for a scan which revealed cancer requiring urgent treatment.The 44-year-old believes she was only referred for an MRI because she “broke down in tears” to a doctor, adding: “I knew there was something wrong.”A Senedd health committee report into gynaecological cancer has found women have been…

Ryanair has reported a sharp fall in quarterly profits after it was fined by Italy’s competition watchdog for abusing its market position over travel agencies.The budget airline posted post-tax profits of €30m (£26m) for the three months to December, down from €149m (£112m) a year earlier – an 83% drop.But the company remained confident saying it expected passenger numbers to grow by 4% to almost 208 million this year. It expects average fares to increase by between 8% and 9% this year, more than the 7% it predicted in November.In December, the Italian regulator fined Ryanair €256m (£222m) for “abusing…

Liv McMahonTechnology reporterGetty ImagesTikTok has announced a deal allowing it to continue operating in the US.But with the platform’s future in the country seemingly secured, its 200 million American users are expected to see some changes.What is the US TikTok deal?A majority-American board now owns and operates a separate entity controlling TikTok in the US.Backed by mostly US investors, the newly established TikTok USDS Joint Venture LLC is governed by a board of seven directors.TikTok chief executive Shou Zi Chew is among them, and its Chinese owner ByteDance will retain a 19.9% stake in the business.The content recommendation algorithm at…

A new NHS database of genes linked to cancer could enable patients and their families in England to find out whether they are at risk of developing the disease.People will be able to have their genetic information compared to the world-first register of 120 genes known to increase the likelihood of getting cancer, NHS England has said.Those identified as having an inherited risk will be offered routine check-ups and screening for certain cancers, including breast and prostate cancer. Patients could also be tested to see whether they would respond better to particular treatments, allowing for personalised care.Health Secretary Wes Streeting…

Marc AshdownBusiness correspondent Getty ImagesSome artists have banned filming on phones at their concertsWhen Sir Paul McCartney performed at the Santa Barbara Bowl, he promised fans an intimate gig. But the former Beatle went a step further than most by agreeing to engineer a makeshift “lockdown” on selfies and filming at the concert.All 4,500 fans had to place their mobile phones in lockable pouches for the duration of the concert, and enjoyed the gig completely “phone-free”.”Nobody’s got a phone,” McCartney declared during his 25-song setlist. “Really, it’s better!” he added.Getty ImagesSir Paul McCartney’s performance in California in September had a…

Lily JamaliNorth America Technology correspondentGetty ImagesEvery month, hundreds of millions of users flock to Pinterest looking for the latest styles.One page titled “the most ridiculous things” is filled with plenty of wacky ideas to inspire creatives. Crocs repurposed as flower pots. Cheeseburger-shaped eyeshadow. A gingerbread house made of vegetables.But what would-be buyers may not know is the tech behind this isn’t necessarily US-made. Pinterest is experimenting with Chinese AI models to hone its recommendation engine.”We’ve effectively made Pinterest an AI-powered shopping assistant,” the firm’s boss Bill Ready told me.Of course, the San Francisco-based tastemaker could use any number of American…