Sep 29, 2023
New York City: State of emergency declared over flash flooding
A state of emergency has been declared in New York City as strong storms bring flash flooding. "I am declaring a state of emergency across New York City, Long Island, and the Hudson Valley due to the extreme rainfall we're seeing throughout the region," she said on X, formerly known as Twitter. A state of emergency was also declared in the New Jersey town of Hoboken, just across the Hudson River from New York City. In New York City, Mayor Eric Adams, warned people it was a time for...
Sep 26, 2023
Amazon: US accuses online giant of illegal monopoly
US regulators have sued Amazon, alleging that the internet giant is illegally maintaining monopoly power. The Federal Trade Commission said Amazon uses "a set of interlocking anticompetitive and unfair strategies" to push up prices and stifle competition. Amazon said the lawsuit was "Wrong on the facts and law, and we look forward to making that case in court". It is the latest tech giant to be sued by US regulators. The FTC, along with 17 state attorneys, claims that Amazon is a "Monopolist"...
Sep 25, 2023
French family planning agency turns to British TV show Sex Education
A French family planning agency has launched a campaign encouraging young people to talk about sex, inspired by the hit British TV show Sex Education. Le Planning Familial said it was promoting its free helpline with Netflix as part of its "Fight for access to sex education for all". In France, sex education was made compulsory in 2001. The posters - advertising "La Hotline Sex Education" - highlight five example questions inspired by the series, including "Is foreplay sex?", "How do I know...
Sep 22, 2023
US Senator Bob Menendez and wife charged in bribery inquiry
New Jersey Democratic Senator Robert Menendez has been indicted for allegedly accepting hundreds of thousands of dollars in bribes, according to the Justice Department. Prosecutors say Mr Menendez and his wife accepted gold bars and envelopes of cash from New Jersey businessmen. Prosecutors allege Mr Menendez and his wife Nadine accepted bribes including cash, gold, payments toward a home mortgage and a luxury vehicle from three New Jersey men: Wael Hana, Jose Uribe and Fred Daibes. "Behind...
Sep 21, 2023
Rupert Murdoch steps down as Fox and News Corp chairman in favour of son Lachlan
Media mogul Rupert Murdoch says he is stepping down as chairman of Fox and News Corp, with his son Lachlan to head both companies. Lachlan Murdoch, 52, is the son of Rupert Murdoch and his second wife, Anna Maria dePeyster. The Murdoch move falls a year before the US presidential election, in which right-leaning Fox News has significant influence. Journalist Michael Wolff is set to release a highly anticipated tell-all book about Fox's ruling family in just a few days, titled "The Fall: The...
Sep 19, 2023
Johnny Kitagawa: Japan firms cut ties with boyband agency over sex abuse
Major Japanese brands are cutting ties with the country's biggest talent agency after it was engulfed by a sexual abuse scandal. Johnny and Associates is Japan's biggest J-pop and boyband talent agency. Last month, an independent investigation into the agency found its late founder, Johnny Kitagawa, had abused hundreds of boys and young men over a six-decade career as one of the most powerful entertainment figures in Japan. Nissan Motors told the BBC: "Due to conduct by Johnny & Associates...
Sep 19, 2023
Elon Musk: Social media platform X, formerly Twitter, could go behind paywall
Elon Musk has suggested that all users of X, formerly called Twitter, may have to pay for access to the platform. Mr Musk has long said that his solution for getting rid of bots and fake accounts on the social media platform is charging for verification. Although there is a clear financial interest for the company to charge users, Mr Musk insisted that getting people to pay for the service is aimed at tackling bots. Mr Musk's conversation with the Israeli prime minister also touched on...
Sep 17, 2023
Brazil: 14 killed after plane crashes in Amazon
Fourteen people have been killed in a plane crash during bad weather in the Brazilian Amazon on Saturday. The small propeller plane was nearing the end of its 400km trip between Manaus, the capital of Amazonas state, and the remote jungle town of Barcelos when it went down. Amazonas state security secretary Vinicius Almeida said initial information suggested the plane crashed after running out of runway when it descended into Barcelos during heavy rain and low visibility. Brazilian news site...
Sep 15, 2023
US car workers strike as contract talks hit deadline
The strike will start from midnight eastern time at GM's Wentzville mid-size truck plant, Ford's Bronco plant in Michigan, the Toledo Jeep plant owned by Stellantis. Workers said the companies could afford to be more generous, after years of record profits. A 10-day strike by all workers at the three firms could cost the car companies nearly $1bn and workers nearly $900m in lost wages, according to estimates by the Anderson Economic Group. Labour tensions in the US have been rising, as a...
Sep 15, 2023
Apple to update iPhone 12 in France over radiation
Apple will update its iPhone 12 in France after fears about radiation, the country's digital minister says. Sales of iPhone 12 were halted in France after a regulator detected too much electromagnetic radiation. Mr Barrot said that the radio frequency regulator would test the new update to check its compliance before iPhone 12 is allowed back on sale in the country. In a statement sent to AFP news agency, Apple said the radiation finding in France was "Related to a specific testing protocol...
Sep 15, 2023
UAW strike: Biden says striking car workers deserve 'fair share'
US President Joe Biden has sided with workers who have gone on strike in a pay dispute with three of America's biggest car-makers. His relations have been strained at times, including last year, when he signed a bill to block a strike by US rail workers. The UAW in May said it would not endorse his re-election campaign, citing concerns that government subsidies for firms working on electric vehicles had not been accompanied by commitments to workers. Outside of the Ford plant involved in the...
Sep 13, 2023
France halts iPhone 12 sales over radiation levels
France has ordered Apple to stop selling the iPhone 12 for emitting too much electromagnetic radiation. The ANFR has advised Apple that if it cannot resolve the issue via a software update, it must recall every iPhone 12 ever sold in the country. The iPhone 12 was first released in September 2020, and it is still sold worldwide. It said the iPhone 12 was recognised as being compliant with regulations on radiation levels worldwide. The news first broke on Tuesday in France - the same day that...
Sep 8, 2023
Apple shares slide after China government iPhone ban reports
Shares in Apple have fallen for a second day in a row after reports that Chinese government workers have been banned from using iPhones. China is Apple's third-largest market, accounting for 18% of its total revenue last year. The reports came ahead of the launch of the iPhone 15, which is expected to take place on 12 September. There has been no official statement from the Chinese government in response to the reports. The reports came as tensions between Washington and Beijing remain high.
Sep 6, 2023
Amazon rainforest: Deforestation rate continues to fall
The rate of deforestation in Brazil's Amazon rainforest has dropped by 66.1% this August compared to the same month last year, satellite data from space research agency Inpe suggests. The Brazilian environment minister said the new government of President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva had been key in bringing about the fall. Mr Lula's government says it is committed to stopping deforestation completely by 2030. Almost 60% of the Amazon rainforest is located in Brazil. Last month, President Lula...
Sep 4, 2023
New iPhone, new charger: Apple bends to EU rules
Apple's latest iPhone will almost certainly feature a USB-C charge point when it is unveiled on 12 September. Most new Apple products such as the latest iPads already use USB-C, but the firm had argued against the EU rule. Lightning to USB-C adaptors are already available from other electronics brands including Amazon, and all iPhones since the iPhone 8 which launched in 2017 have supported wireless charging. As the current iPhone 14 now looks to be the last Apple device to exclusively use...
Sep 3, 2023
Why your burger may not always look like the advert
Burger King has said the burgers it sells do not have to look "Exactly like the picture" and that all the products featured in its advertising materials are "The same burgers served to guests all across the UK". But diners sometimes feel the gulf between the image and what is served stretches credulity. She agrees the online image of Burger King's Whopper - the burger that's at the centre of the US court case - does make it look as though the meat patty is larger than the bun it sits on. In...
Sep 1, 2023
X, formerly Twitter, to collect biometric and employment data
People signed up to its subscription service, X Premium, can choose to provide a selfie and photo ID for verification. The policy also states X may collect employment and educational history. In May, X Corp acquired a tech recruiting service called Laskie, according to reports. It states: "We may collect and use your personal information to recommend potential jobs for you, to share with potential employers when you apply for a job, to enable employers to find potential candidates, and to...
Aug 30, 2023
Netflix: Streamer's expansion into gaming is 'natural extension'
Netflix says games are a key part of its proposition to stay relevant with audiences in years to come, and is slowly ramping up plans to offer more gaming experiences to subscribers. Leanne Loom, vice president of external games at Netflix, tells BBC News: "Games are one of the biggest forms of entertainment out there today, so it really is just a natural extension for Netflix to include them as part of the subscription."The lines between the different ways we enjoy our entertainment are...
Aug 30, 2023
Burger King faces legal claim over size of Whopper
Burger King must face a lawsuit that alleges it makes its Whopper burger appear larger on its menus than it is in reality, a US judge has ruled. The lawsuit accuses the fast food giant of misleading customers by showing the burger with a meatier patty and ingredients that "Overflow over the bun". "The plaintiffs' claims are false," Burger King told the BBC. Rivals McDonald's and Wendy's are facing a similar lawsuit in the US. The class action lawsuit against Burger King alleged that the...
Aug 29, 2023
Toyota halts all Japan assembly plants due to glitch
Japanese car making giant Toyota has suspended operations at all of its assembly plants in its home country due to a glitch in its production system. On Tuesday morning, Toyota suspended operations at 12 of its 14 assembly plants in Japan. In total, the 14 plants are estimated to account for around a third of Toyota's global production. Toyota suspended operations at some of its production lines in Japan due to the coronavirus lockdown in China's economic hub Shanghai. "Due to the impact of...
Aug 26, 2023
Jacksonville shooting: Several dead at Dollar General store in Florida
A gunman killed several people in Jacksonville, Florida, before being shot dead by police, local media say. The unidentified man opened fire and barricaded himself in a Dollar store, triggering a standoff with officers. Jacksonville Mayor Donna Deegan told local TV channel WJXT: "One shooting is too much but these mass shootings are really hard to take." There have been over 28,000 gun deaths in the US so far this year, according to the Gun Violence Archive website. Speaking at the scene of...
Aug 22, 2023
Justin Trudeau criticises Facebook blocking news during wildfire emergency
As wildfires raged in Canada, many users and media companies have complained that the social media platform is blocking information related to the emergency. Facebook banned news on its platform in response to a Canadian law that asks Facebook to share profits with news outlets.
Aug 21, 2023
Storm Hilary: Hollywood and Disneyland among iconic locations hit
Tropical Storm Hilary is battering Southern California with heavy winds and rain, putting 26 million people under flood warning. See how some of Hollywood's most iconic locations are being hit.
Aug 21, 2023
Canada wildfires: Drone footage shows scale of destruction in Northwest...
Enterprise in Canada's Northwest Territories is burnt to the ground as wildfires continue to grip the country.
Aug 21, 2023
Leftist leads Ecuador presidential poll count amid spike in violence
Left-winger Luisa Gonzalez is leading in Ecuador's presidential election overshadowed by the assassination of one of the candidates. With nearly 80% of the votes counted, electoral officials say she has 33%, while her closest rival Daniel Noboa, a businessman, is on 24%. The top two candidates will now go into a run-off on 15 October. The poll was combined with a referendum, in which voters chose to end oil drilling in the Amazon. Sunday's voting was peaceful, much to the relief of...
Aug 21, 2023
Canada wildfires: Trudeau criticises Facebook over news ban amid crisis
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has accused Facebook of putting "Profits ahead of people's safety" after it blocked news amid devastating wildfires in the country. Facebook banned news on its platform in response to Canadian law forcing it to share profit with news outlets. Wildfire evacuees have said the ban has impacted their ability to share critical news with each other. The company has blocked news on Facebook and Instagram in Canada since 1 August, after the country's parliament...
Aug 18, 2023
Wildfire evacuees frustrated by Facebook news ban in Canada
Mr Osted said he has been left frustrated by his inability to share news articles on Facebook during the active emergency situation, due to Meta's ban on news content for Canadian users. Meta - which owns Facebook and Instagram - began blocking access to news for its Canadian users on 1 August, not long after Canada's parliament passed an online news bill that will require platforms like Google and Meta to negotiate deals with news publishers for content. As Meta rolls out the ban as part of...
Aug 18, 2023
The moment a Southwest Airlines plane catches fire mid-flight
Video from on board a Southwest Airlines flight show flames bursting near the engine of a Boeing 737 shortly after take-off on a flight from Houston to Cancun on Tuesday. The plane made an emergency landing and safely returned to the airport in Houston. In a statement, Southwest Airlines said the plane had a "Mechanical issue shortly after take-off" and has been grounded. The Federal Aviation Administration is now investigating the incident.
Aug 18, 2023
Twitter, now X, to remove blocking feature - Musk
The blocking feature will be removed for users of X, formerly Twitter, Elon Musk has announced, claiming the feature "Makes no sense". The X boss said users will still be able to block people from directly messaging them, however. If the policy goes ahead, it is not clear if all those accounts which are blocked will automatically become unblocked. The block button is an established tool for those who feel attacked, bullied or simply want to shut out an account with whom they have a strong...
Aug 16, 2023
VinFast: Vietnam EV maker valued at more than Ford or GM
Vietnamese electric vehicle maker VinFast's stock market valuation has soared above Ford and General Motors on its first day of trading. Instead of a conventional share sale, VinFast went public using a shell company, or special purpose acquisition company. Several EV makers - including Lordstown Motors and Faraday Future - have gone public using Spacs in the last three years. In the first half of the year VinFast delivered 11,300 EVs, according to a company presentation. Last year, the...