Technology

Meta sees profits soar in first quarter
Meta sees profits soar in first quarter
by  AFP

Facebook-owner Meta on Wednesday said its quarterly profits soared last quarter as the company continues to see stellar ad growth across its family of world-leading social media apps. Last week, Zuckerberg unveiled the latest version of Meta AI, which is now being deployed as a beefed up smart assistant across its apps, which include Instagram, WhatsApp, Messenger and Facebook.

TikTok to fight US ban law in courts
TikTok to fight US ban law in courts
by  AFP

TikTok's CEO vowed Wednesday to fight in the courts to overturn a newly signed US law that could see the popular app banned due to allegations it is controlled by the China government. "We will keep fighting for your rights in the courts.

TikTok suspends rewards programme after EU probe
TikTok suspends rewards programme after EU probe
by  AFP

TikTok on Wednesday announced the suspension of a feature in its spinoff TikTok Lite app in France and Spain that rewards users for watching and liking videos, after the European Union launched a probe.

Italy fines Amazon over 'recurring' purchase option
Italy fines Amazon over 'recurring' purchase option
by  AFP

Italy's competition authority said Wednesday it had fined two Amazon companies 10 million euros ($10.6 million) for unfair commercial practices, for pushing customers into agreeing to "recurring" rather than "one-time" purchases online.

Chinese sellers go to TikTok school to reach buyers abroad
Chinese sellers go to TikTok school to reach buyers abroad
by  AFP

Donning hijabs and floor-length abaya gowns over shorts and tank tops, Chinese students at an e-commerce school perform into a smartphone camera as they learn how to sell the clothes to overseas TikTok users. It is the final day of a two-week course on selling products abroad via the short video app -- which despite being blocked in China is a platform more and more Chinese vendors are turning to.

China, future HQ: New ASML boss faces bulging in-tray
China, future HQ: New ASML boss faces bulging in-tray
by  AFP

Frenchman Christophe Fouquet takes the reins of Dutch chip giant ASML on Wednesday with a daunting to-do list, top of which will be steering business with China as semiconductors become a geopolitical battleground. Fouquet is the second Frenchman to run the Dutch firm, after Eric Meurice, and trade publication Bits&Chips said his nationality could cut both ways.