Author: BBC

Lily JamaliReporting fromSan FranciscoGetty ImagesMark Zuckerberg leaves court on MondayMeta boss Mark Zuckerberg has taken the witness stand in a landmark antitrust trial to defend his company against allegations that his company operates a social media monopoly.His testimony is part of a case first brought by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) in 2020 during the final days of the first Trump administration.The US competition watchdog alleges Meta unfairly dominated the market through its acquisitions of photo-sharing app Instagram in 2012 and the messaging service WhatsApp in 2014.The FTC is seeking to break up Meta by forcing a spinoff of Instagram…

The White Lotus star Aimee Lou Wood has called a Saturday Night Live (SNL) sketch that impersonated her using exaggerated prosthetic teeth “mean and unfunny”.The British actress said the US comedy programme “punched down” on her and suggested the sketch was misogynistic.In a series of Instagram posts, Wood wrote that she was happy to be made fun of “when it’s clever and in good spirits” but that there “must be a cleverer, more nuanced, less cheap way”.Wood, 31, said she had received “apologies from SNL” after sharing her criticism. The BBC has contacted broadcaster NBC for a response.The actress’s role…

Patients with advanced skin cancer could be fast-tracked to take part in a “revolutionary” trial of a new cancer vaccine.The needle-free injection boosts the immune system’s response and helps it attack and recognise cancer cells to help stop the disease returning.The trial is being coordinated by the Southampton Clinical Trials Unit, which is based at the city’s university, and is aiming to expand the number of patients able to take part.Melanoma is the fifth most common cancer in the UK and accounts for about 4% of all new cancer cases but research shows it is on the rise.The NHS will…

Gemma HandyBusiness reporterReporting fromSt John’s, Antigua Getty ImagesGuyana, and the wider Caribbean region, are concerned Trump’s price hikes will increase the cost of their importsThe Caribbean nation of Guyana is breathing a sigh of relief after US President Donald Trump announced a 90-day pause on the introduction of higher tariffs on a number of countries.Guyana, which is nestled between Venezuela and Suriname on the South American mainland, had been singled out for rates of 38% on many of its exports.Following Trump’s change in policy, it now faces tariffs of only 10% – the same as all countries apart from Canada,…

Lily JamaliReporting fromSan FranciscoReutersA trial in the landmark antitrust case against social media giant Meta kicks off in Washington on Monday.The US competition and consumer watchdog alleges that Meta, which already owned Facebook, bought Instagram in 2012 and WhatsApp in 2014 to eliminate competition, effectively giving itself a monopoly.The FTC reviewed and approved those acquisitions but committed to monitor the outcomes. If the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) wins the case it could force Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg to sell off both Instagram and WhatsApp.Meta previously said it was sure it would win and experts have told the BBC it is…

Getty ImagesMinecraft Movie star Jack Black joined SNL cast member Michael Longfellow in a recent Saturday Night Live sketchUS TV institution Saturday Night Live has entertained viewers and created comedy stars for 50 years. Can a British version reach the same heights?For five decades, the phrase “Live from New York, it’s Saturday night!” has boldly opened episodes of Saturday Night Live, with its tried and tested mix of topical sketch comedy, celebrity cameos and big-name musical guests.Now, the stateside staple is to come live from London after Sky announced that a “star-studded” UK spin-off, fronted by British comedic talent, will…

Dominic HughesGlobal health correspondentGetty ImagesEscherichia coli bacteria – also known as E. coli, the bug that causes food poisoning – is one of the bacteria that is showing greater resistance to front-line antibioticsMore than three million children around the world are thought to have died in 2022 as a result of infections that are resistant to antibiotics, according to a study by two leading experts in child health. Children in Africa and South East Asia were found to be most at risk. Antimicrobial resistance – known as AMR – develops when the microbes that cause infections evolve in such a…

Natalie ShermanBBC NewsReporting fromNew York, New YorkBBCDays after Richard Medina went looking for a smartphone to beat new tariffs, the US announced the devices would be exempt from the dutiesWhen his camera stopped working on his iPhone recently, New Yorker Richard Medina didn’t waste any time. With the threat of tariff-fuelled price hikes on smartphones bearing down, he quickly called his phone company for a new one. “I said, ‘We’ve got to switch this out now,'” the 43-year-old recalled. “Let’s take care of it.”The move was a sign of the pressure rising across the US, where households are being buffeted…

Microsoft has begun the rollout of an AI-powered tool which takes snapshots of users’ screens every few seconds.The Copilot+ Recall feature is available in preview mode to some people with Microsoft’s AI PCs and laptops.It is the relaunch of a feature which was dubbed a “privacy nightmare” when it was first announced last year. Microsoft paused the rollout in 2024, and after trialling the tech with a small number of users, it has begun expanding access to those signed up to its Windows Insider software testing programme.The BBC has approached Microsoft for comment.Microsoft says Recall will be rolled out worldwide,…

Rumeana Jahangir & Chris LongBBC NewsGetty ImagesThe Stone Roses was one of the biggest bands in the UK in the early 1990sMusic fans wondering what Pulp would do for an encore have finally got their answer as the Britpop legends announced they would be releasing their first new album for almost a quarter of century in June.The first single from the upcoming More takes a familiar path to their much-loved previous songs, with singer Jarvis Cocker drawing on his own experiences and interactions for its lyrics.Its main inspiration though is not the band’s native Sheffield or Cocker’s meandering life through…