Users

• Viu CEO Janice Lee revealed at APOS 2026 that nearly 20% of the platform's long-form viewers have transitioned to watching microdramas. • The streamer is expanding its branded content and co-production efforts, highlighted by the Indonesia-set series “Abracadabra” produced with Samsung and starring Ji Chang-wook. • This shift matters as the short-form format attracts advertisers seeking rapid production turnarounds and higher engagement through pan-regional tentpole strategies.

High court hears identities of women accusing Andrew and Tristan Tate of rape withheld for fear they could be revealed Andrew and Tristan Tate are not being told the names of the women who have accused them of rape and human trafficking over fears the brothers might publish them on social media, the high court has heard.The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) authorised charges against the Tates in March 2024 in relation to the women’s allegations but their accusers’ identities have not been disclosed to the brothers or their representatives. The Tates have denied any wrongdoing. Continue reading...

• Viu CEO Janice Lee reports that nearly 20% of long-form users now watch microdrama, a growing format on the platform. • The platform is expanding its branded content and co-production efforts, including a partnership with Samsung for the series "Abracadabra" starring Ji Chang-wook. • This strategy allows for rapid turnaround times, making the short-form format attractive to brands looking for quick content.

New research suggests GLP-1 users are buying fewer snacks and treats such as crisps and chocolateBusiness live – latest updatesWeight-loss drugs are saving users’ households more than £400 a year on grocery bills, according to new research, which found use of GLP-1s has nearly tripled in the past two years to 1.9 million adults.Just more than 6.3% of households in Great Britain now include at least one GLP-1 user, according to the survey from Worldpanel by Numerator. This marks a sharp rise from 4.1% of households in 2025 and 2.3% in 2024. Continue reading...

• Apple has delayed the rollout of its new Siri AI features for iPhone users within the European Union. • The company claims it proposed a specific solution to ensure the AI tools were compliant with local laws, but EU regulators reportedly refused to engage or accept the proposal. • This conflict stems from the EU's strict regulatory environment, likely involving the Digital Markets Act (DMA), which aims to prevent tech monopolies and ensure fair competition.

• Apple announced at WWDC on June 8, 2026, that its major Siri AI overhaul will be blocked from EU iPhones and iPads at the launch of iOS 27 and iPadOS 27 this autumn. • The decision follows a regulatory deadlock with the European Commission, which rejected all of Apple's Digital Markets Act (DMA) compliance proposals, including the Trusted System Agent privacy framework. • This restriction affects approximately 450 million users, denying them the most significant update to the virtual assistant in its 15-year history.

Tech company says it ‘caught and disrupted’ NSO Group’s attempts to access accounts in Jordan and Lebanon A spyware firm has been targeting WhatsApp users with malicious links in contravention of a US court order forbidding it from doing so, Meta has said.In a post, Meta said WhatsApp had “caught and disrupted spear phishing attempts” by NSO Group, which a spokesperson said targeted a handful of users in Jordan and Lebanon. It had also caught the group creating “test accounts and groups” on WhatsApp. Continue reading...

• Apple and the European Union are engaged in a dispute over the delayed rollout of new Siri AI features for users within the EU. • The conflict involves mutual blame between the tech giant and EU regulators regarding the obstacles preventing the software's release. • This standoff highlights ongoing tensions between Apple and the EU over regulatory compliance and the deployment of advanced AI services in the region.

• Apple has announced that its new Siri AI features will not be available for iPhone and iPad users in the European Union as part of iOS 27 or iPadOS 27. • The company claims the delay is due to the European Commission refusing to accept any of Apple's suggestions regarding regulatory compliance over the past several months. • This standoff highlights the ongoing tension between Big Tech and EU regulators over digital competition and data privacy laws.

Social housing landlords to be able to evict perpetrators, while right-to-buy tenancy requirements to riseSocial housing landlords will be able to evict domestic abuse perpetrators under a new bill, which will also increase the tenancy required before residents qualify for the right-to-buy scheme from three to 10 years in England.The government said the bill, which will be debated in the House of Lords on Monday, would fix “the long-term decline in social housing” and offer new protections for social tenants who were subjected to domestic abuse. Continue reading...

• Tencent Financial Technology has linked PayPal to the WeChat Pay network, allowing U.S. users to make purchases across China via QR codes. • The integration connects Tencent's TenPay Global platform with PayPal World, with plans to roll out the service to other international markets in phases. • To incentivize adoption, Tencent is offering temporary fee waivers for foreign bank cards linked to WeChat Pay through 2026.

• China's fourth-generation independent superconducting quantum computer, "Origin Wukong 180," officially went online on May 9, 2026, and began accepting quantum computing tasks from users worldwide. • The 180-qubit system represents a significant advancement in China's quantum computing capabilities and marks progress toward building indigenous quantum technology infrastructure independent of foreign systems. • The launch demonstrates China's commitment to achieving technological self-sufficiency in emerging computing domains and competing with quantum research initiatives in the United States and Europe.

Rural dwellers reveal failings in backup plans, as campaigners call for deadline to be extended from 2027 to 2030“Every time there is a power failure I lose all means of communication with the outside world,” says Robert Dewar of life in a remote village in the Scottish Highlands since the landlines were transferred from the old copper cable network to broadband connections.Blackouts also knock out the village’s mobile phone signal. “Our most recent power cut lasted for 42 hours,” Dewar says. The interruption outlasted his five-hour emergency backup battery. “If I had had a heart attack there is damn all I could have done about it, except compose myself, say my prayers, and await the outcome.” Continue reading...

Lawyer for DoJ argued actions taken in public while in possession of a smartphone afforded no expectation of privacyThe US supreme court is considering whether sprawling warrants for smartphone location data infringe on Americans’ privacy rights and violate the constitution.Justices heard opening arguments in Chatrie v United States on Monday that concerned law enforcement’s reliance on so-called “geofence warrants” in difficult cases. The case was originally brought by Okello Chatrie, whose phone location data helped police in Richmond, Virginia, track him down after he robbed a bank at gunpoint and escaped with $195,000 in 2019. Chatrie pleaded guilty to armed robbery and was sentenced to 12 years in prison, but his lawyers argue none of the evidence against him should have been admissible in court. Continue reading...

Platform says it will reward original creators as it penalises ‘aggregators’ for flooding timelines with ‘stolen posts’Business live – latest updatesElon Musk’s X has reduced payments to users who post clickbait and recycle news stories as it warned account holders against “flooding the timeline” with low-quality content.Nikita Bier, X’s head of product, wrote on the social media platform that all “aggregators” – users who quickly repackage and repost news from other accounts – had received less money from the creator revenue sharing programme. Continue reading...

Fraudsters send emails claiming storage is full or nearly full, then trick people into clicking on links that can expose bank and personal detailsFor a while you’ve been getting messages from Apple saying “your iCloud storage is full”. They say you have exceeded your storage plan, so documents are no longer being backed up, and photos you take aren’t being uploaded.You have been resisting Apple’s efforts to get you to pay a minimum of 99p a month for more storage. But it seems that you can’t keep putting off the inevitable: you have received an email which says your iCloud account has been blockedand your photos and videos will be deleted very soon. To keep them you need to upgrade immediately, it says. Continue reading...

• Apple pushed iOS 19.4 on April 9, 2026, introducing Siri 3.0 with on-device multimodal AI for 1 billion US iPhone users. • Update adds contextual understanding and app automation, processing queries 3x faster without cloud reliance. • Addresses privacy demands post-EU probes, with Tim Cook stating 'AI belongs on device.'

Prosecutors say Anthony Odiong exploited his parishioners’ emotional dependency to engage in sexual conduct with themA Roman Catholic priest with ties to Texas and south-east Louisiana and criminally charged with abusing his position as a clergyman to pursue sex with three spiritually vulnerable female congregants faces being taken to trial on all of those cases at once.The Texas district attorney’s office prosecuting Anthony Odiong filed a motion seeking to consolidate the three cases in late March, ahead of a trial date that the Guardian understands has tentatively been set for 4 May. Prepared by McLennan county first assistant district attorney Ryan Calvert, the motion notes that Texas state law allows “a defendant [to] be prosecuted in a single criminal action” if the crimes alleged “are connected or … are the repeated commission of the same or similar offenses”. Continue reading...

FDA planned to fast-track applications for authorization, but agency reviewers raise alarm over addiction riskPopular nicotine pouch products have yet to be cleared for sale in the United States despite a fast-track Food and Drug Administration scheme, as agency scientists hesitate to authorize them due to potential risks to new users, including children, three sources told Reuters.New tobacco products like pouches, which users insert under their lip to get a nicotine buzz, must be authorised by the FDA in order to be legally sold in the US, the world’s largest market for smoking alternatives worth some $22bn. Continue reading...

Lawyers for paper say investigator’s disputed claims were used to recruit prominent figures to casePublic figures such as Doreen Lawrence and Elton John were “induced” to sue the Daily Mail’s publisher on the basis of a private investigator’s now disowned claims of illegal activity, the high court has heard.Seven people including Prince Harry have accused Associated Newspapers Ltd (ANL) of using unlawful information gathering to obtain stories. John’s partner, David Furnish, and the actor Liz Hurley are also among the group. ANL denies all the claims. Continue reading...

Ofcom says decision is ‘real win for children and families’ but some users raise concerns over privacyMillions of Apple iPhone customers in the UK will now have to confirm they are 18 or older to use all available services, including by showing a credit card or by scanning an ID.The move, believed to be a first for a European market, comes amid pressure on tech companies from the government to do more to protect children online. Continue reading...

• Google has expanded its Personal Intelligence feature to all US users after months of limited testing, allowing Gemini AI to access Gmail, Google Photos, and other services for highly personalized responses. • The feature enables Google to compete directly with Microsoft's Copilot and OpenAI's ChatGPT by leveraging user data for context-based AI responses. • Privacy concerns have emerged as the AI increasingly accesses personal information, raising questions about data protection as Google advances its AI integration into flagship products.