Core Viewpoint - The UK Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has initiated an investigation into Google to evaluate the impact of its search and advertising services on users and businesses, focusing on potential anti-competitive practices and data usage [1][2][4]. Group 1: Investigation Focus - The CMA will assess whether Google has leveraged its dominant market position to hinder competition and if there are barriers preventing new entrants into the market [2]. - A key area of interest is whether Google can influence the development of new AI services and if it prioritizes its own services, such as Google Shopping and Google Flights, over competitors [3][4]. - The investigation will also examine Google's collection and use of consumer data without informed consent, as well as its use of news articles without compensating publishers [4]. Group 2: Market Context - Google holds a significant market share in the UK, answering over 90% of general search queries and hosting more than 200,000 UK advertisers [4]. - The investigation is the first under the new digital markets competition regime that took effect on January 1, which allows the CMA to designate companies with strategic market status and impose new regulations [5][7]. - Effective competition among search engines could potentially reduce advertising costs for search results, estimated at nearly £500 per household per year [7]. Group 3: Global Investigations - The UK investigation follows similar scrutiny in the US and EU, where a federal court ruled that Google maintained an illegal online search monopoly, and the EU is examining restrictions imposed by Google on developers promoting competing services [8].

Core Points - Starbucks has reversed its North American policy, requiring patrons to make a purchase to use the facilities [1][2] - The new coffeehouse code of conduct aims to prioritize store spaces for paying customers and outlines prohibited behaviors [2][4] - This policy change marks a departure from the open-door policy established after a controversial incident in 2018 [5][6] Policy Changes - Patrons in the US and Canada must now buy something or leave the store [1] - The new code of conduct includes rules against vaping, smoking, discrimination, harassment, begging, and consuming outside alcohol [4] - Non-compliance with the rules may result in being asked to leave or police involvement [2][4] Background Context - The reversal of the policy comes amid challenges for Starbucks, including slowed sales and a recent change in leadership [6] - The previous open-door policy was implemented in response to a high-profile incident involving the arrest of two black men in a Philadelphia store [5][6]

Disney is being sued over Moana and Moana 2, with an animator claiming the films copied plot points from one of their screenplays.Animator Buck Woodall filed a lawsuit in California federal court on Friday that claims Disney stole elements of a screenplay he wrote for an animated film project called Bucky in the early 2000s. Mr Woodall, who is seeking damages of at least $10bn (£8.25bn), says he produced a screenplay and trailer for Bucky and began sharing details of the project with Jenny Marchick, former ...

Core Points - The Duchess of Sussex has postponed the release of her Netflix series "With Love" from January 15 to March 4 due to the wildfires in Los Angeles [1] - Meghan expressed gratitude to Netflix for their support in delaying the launch to focus on the needs of those affected by the wildfires in California [1] Series Description - "With Love" is an eight-part series produced by Meghan, featuring practical how-to's and candid conversations with friends [2] - The series emphasizes embracing playfulness over perfection and showcases how to create beauty in unexpected situations [2] - Meghan and her guests engage in various activities, including cooking and gardening, encouraging viewers to participate [2]

A soldier who exploded a Tesla Cybertruck outside the Trump hotel in Las Vegas used generative AI - including ChatGPT - to help plan the attack, police have said.Matthew Livelsberger, 37, a US Army Green Beret, fatally shot himself just before the truck blew up outside the hotel on New Year's Day. Police in Las Vegas say they have now reviewed Livelsberger's ChatGPT searches prior to the explosion.According to officers, the searches indicate he was looking for information on explosive targets, the speed at ...

The first indication of Mark Zuckerberg's capitulation to the MAGA movement came when he went to Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort for Thanksgiving in December.Following which Meta, worth $1.5tn, made a decidedly modest $1m contribution to president-elect Trump's inaugural fund. But it seems geeks bearing gifts wouldn't be enough to placate a president-elect who once threatened to jail the man he called "Zuckerschmuck," whom he accused of conspiring against him in the 2020 election.Trump news conference - as ...

Tesla has recalled almost 700,000 of its electric vehicles because of an issue with the warning light on the tyre pressure monitoring system.Its warning light may not remain illuminated between drive cycles, failing to warn the driver of low tyre pressure and increasing the risk of a crash, the manufacturer said. The issue affects some Model 3, Model Y and Cybertruck vehicles, Tesla added.It will be resolved through a free software update.Letters notifying owners of the affected cars are expected to be sent ...

Group 1 - Meta has donated $1 million to Donald Trump's inauguration fund, indicating an effort to mend ties with the president-elect [1][2] - The donation follows a history of strained relations between Mark Zuckerberg and Donald Trump, including threats made by Trump regarding Zuckerberg's influence on the election [1][6] - Zuckerberg and his advisers have engaged with key figures in Trump's administration, including a meeting with Marco Rubio and a private demonstration of Meta's smart glasses for Trump [3][4] Group 2 - The inauguration fund donation is intended to support events surrounding the swearing-in ceremony in January [3] - Zuckerberg's previous concerns about Trump's policies, such as the travel ban, highlight the complexity of their relationship [6]

A "technical issue" is impacting users of Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, Meta has said.In a statement on the X social media platform, the tech firm wrote: "We're aware that a technical issue is impacting some users' ability to access our apps. "We're working to get things back to normal as quickly as possible and apologise for any inconvenience."According to Downdetector, which allows people to report problems with popular apps and websites, shows a big spike in reports of issues with Meta services shor ...

Microsoft has said it is "investigating an issue" after users reported problems with Outlook and Teams.In a post on X, Microsoft 365 Status said: "We're investigating an issue impacting users attempting to access Exchange Online or functionality within Microsoft Teams calendar." Microsoft Exchange Online is a service that delivers email, calendar, contacts, and tasks from PCs, the web, and phones.Down Detector, a website that tracks outages, said problems started at approximately 8am on Monday morning.It sa ...