meta's financial results confirm it's not all doom and gloom in the tech sector. plus.. the latest episode of america's culture wars. disney takes legal action against florida's governor. hello and welcome to asia business report. i'm karishma vaswani. we begin with meta and its surprising quarterly results. shares of the facebook—parent are up nearly 12—percent in extended trading after the company reported its first sales increase in nearly a year and forecast second—quarter revenue above market expectations it confirms the view that digital advertisers are betting

on well—established platforms such as facebook and instagram in the face of challenging economic conditions. those concerns have led meta and other tech giants to embark on a cost—cutting campaign that has so far resulted in 150,000 lay—offs across the sector. for more on meta's results and what they say about the state of big tech let's bring in ray wang, founder of tech advisory firm, constellation research. yeah, they showed that the digital add is fine, yeah, they showed that the digitaladd is fine, and i think that's a really important piece. and what you mentioned earlier is important. advertisers are flocking to the big platforms. if you don't have the users and the eyeballs, they are not going to be there. they were able to keep their monthly active users still at 2.99 billion, almost at 3 billion intact, and they were able to drive sales up 3% and give guidance that was much higher in between the 29.5

billion to 32 billion range. and that is coming on the heels of 20,000 job cuts and this year of efficiency that mark zuckerberg has ushered in. is zuckerberg has ushered in. is that what has led to the brighter outlook? hasn'tjust been about cost cutting, efficiency and therefore better traffic? . �* , efficiency and therefore better traffic? . �*, ., ., traffic? that's one part of the sto . i traffic? that's one part of the story. i think— traffic? that's one part of the story. i think the _ traffic? that's one part of the story. i think the other - traffic? that's one part of the story. i think the other part i story. i think the other part of the story is the fact that wheels are starting to take hold. that will require some investment and it's coming from job cuts, but more importantly the bulk of the job cuts are being used to pay for the meta— verse aspect of the meta—. that is going to require a tonne of tech over the next two to three years, and that is where the job cuts were put into play. bet on the meta— verse, do you think that that is likely to yield strong results, or the kind of future that mark zuckerberg is hoping facebook and meadow will move into? it’s and meadow will move into? it's one art and meadow will move into? it's one part of _ and meadow will move into? it�*s one part of the strategy. i think the other part is really getting more monetisation capabilities within facebook.

but at the moment, meta— really has to focus on finishing the meta— verse to fulfil their promise of more immersive experiences and more opportunities to sell add and targeted personalisation. that will be that big driver in the future, but it is not all going to happen at once. the barriers are there, the headsets are clunky. they last for a short period of time. they need more advancement. and if they can get to that, they will get more people on board.— people on board. what do you think this _ people on board. what do you think this signals _ people on board. what do you think this signals for - people on board. what do you think this signals for big - think this signals for big tech? it is notjust met out that we have seen results from, we have seen at their peak tech firms reporting. the we have seen at their peak tech firms reporting.— firms reporting. the good news is that microsoft _ firms reporting. the good news is that microsoft did _ is that microsoft did better—than—expected. there was some growth going on which is the cloud part of the business, thatis the cloud part of the business, that is important. we are about to see what amazon does tomorrow in terms of their earnings as well. and we also saw some good growth overall in terms of what is happening with overall tech companies from service now to others that show that enterprise tech is doing well. that's what people are looking for a.

ray wong speaking to me a little earlier. another tech giant that will be reporting financial results later today is samsung. the south korean company shared its guidance recently estimating an operating profit of around 419 million dollars. the drag on earnings would likely be from the fall in prices for memory chips. but the conglomerate also has a smartphone division that looks dominant. itjust recently edged out rival apple in terms of market share. for a closer look at the state of the smartphone industry, and the competition there, sanyam chaurasia of canalys joins us now. samsung has a stable area in terms of global shipments. however, the brand, the premium segment, especially from apple, apple has got a 66% share in the market. and what is noteworthy is that the gap between apple and samsung is also global and narrow the last

few years. we see that, what we expect this year from samsung is to focus more on this segment. they will have more in the premium segment in order to maintain their market share. staying with big tech, microsoft's 68.7—billion—dollar deal to buy us video game company activision blizzard has been blocked in the uk by the competition and markets authority. the proposed takeover would see microsoft acquire such hit titles as call of duty and candy crush. but the regulator said it was concerned the deal would offer reduced innovation and less choice for gamers in the fast—growing cloud gaming business. microsoft and activision hit out at the decision and said they would appeal. let's turn to washing now because republicans in the us the house of mouse wading into legal waters — disney is suing the governor of florida ron de santis. the company claims mr de santis and his officials violated its constitutional rights. the media giant says the governor has waged a campaign of retaliation against disney after it criticised a law promoted by the florida state government.

against �*woke' corporations and ron desantis' war against �*woke' corporations is dividing republicans, with some worried the party is straying from its roots as the party of big business. the bbc�*s north america business correspondent michelle fleury reports from new york. the escalating feud between the biggest company and a potential white house contender is now headed to court. disney filed its suit on the same to the officials appointed by governor rhonda santos voted to block development plans for the florida theme park. the entertainment time and claims it is a victim of a relentless campaign to weapon eyes government power against disney. a spokesman for mr d santos dismissed the lawsuit as an attempt to undermine the will of the voters in his state. this battle started last year after the firm spoke out against a law banning discussions of sexual orientation or gender identity in primary schools often referred to as the don't say 93)’ referred to as the don't say gay law. the florida governor and likely presidential candidate has clearly decided that taking on a company perceived by his face as woke is good for politics, but still

a fight with one of the states biggest employers and taxpayers comes with costs, of which this lawsuit may only be the first. shares in first republic have tumbled nearly 30% to a new record low amid renewed fears the us bank could be the next to collapse. the sell—off extended steep declines from a day earlier after the bank said customers had pulled $100bn in deposits in in march. first republic has been under pressure since a series of us bank failures last month sparked fears of a wider crisis. to india now — because the country is estimated to overtake china as the world's most populous country by the end of april, with more than i—point—li billion people, according to the united nations. india's youth demographic make up 65% of that massive number and experts agree — that's a huge potential for economic growth. but — there are not enough women in the workforce.

and efforts are under way to change this, as arunoday mukharji went to find out. a few years ago, this would have been a rare sight. and what once was a male dominated manufacturing industry. gabriel and auto parts company employs over 20% of women, and this woman is one of them. it has been six years since she travelled over 1700 km from her hometown to work in this factory in the small town. translation: i factory in the small town. translation:— factory in the small town. translation: i wanted to try something _ translation: i wanted to try something new, _ translation: i wanted to try something new, something i something new, something challenging. if i had remained there, i would challenging. if i had remained there, iwould not challenging. if i had remained there, i would not have achieved all of this. i probably would not have been able to work at all. it is probably would not have been able to work at all.— able to work at all. it is a welcome _ able to work at all. it is a welcome change, - able to work at all. it is a i welcome change, especially because women account for less than 20% of india's manufacturing sector. companies like gabriel say it make sense to invest in female employees, since their attrition rate is much lower than male workers.

india is the leasing companies push for more gender diversity in the workforce. while they are trying to get more women in, that challenge remains in ensuring that they stay on for the long term rather than dropout mid—career. this woman works in hr and is on her daily rounds at the factory. 0ne rounds at the factory. one of india's leading motorcycle makers will stop eight years ago, the engineering and management management graduate focus on motherhood after having two children in quick succession. getting back to work was tough.— succession. getting back to work was tough. don't look at the compensation _ work was tough. don't look at the compensation package, . work was tough. don't look at i the compensation package, but they are saying is 20 or 30% back on what we are growing. hang on, that is behind the career i've been in forfour years. career i've been in for four ears. ,, , career i've been in for four ears. , , ., career i've been in for four ears. ,, , ., ., ., years. she is not alone. in india, years. she is not alone. in indie. only _ years. she is not alone. in india, only 3296 _ years. she is not alone. in india, only 3296 of- years. she is not alone. in india, only 3296 of women | years. she is not alone. in - india, only 3296 of women work india, only 32% of women work after they get married. she finally found work after their

progress programme for women who have dropped out. it offers flexible working hours, mentoring and training to women trying to reenter the workforce. in india, nearly half the population is female, and yet, in the last two decades, the number of working women fell by nearly 15%. a majority of indian women worked in the agriculture sector. i in the agriculture sector. 1 think creating long—term opportunities in rural areas where women don't have to look at the agricultural work, but they can look at manufacturing, second tech date next secretary work, it would be a the productive potential of women. while there is change committee has a long way to go if it wants to turn its rising population to be a boon and not a burden. fascinating report there. and that's it for this edition

of asia business report. thanks for watching. preparing to take flight. it is here in brackley that is the base for this epic mission. what the tour is about is a personal challenge that is centred around aviation, to visit 120 centred around aviation, to visit120 airfields around the uk to commemorate the 120th year of the flight of the wright brothers.- year of the flight of the wright brothers. this tour, 2023, is — wright brothers. this tour, 2023, is part— wright brothers. this tour,

2023, is part of— wright brothers. this tour, 2023, is part of the - wright brothers. this tour, | 2023, is part of the aviation fellowship. 2023, is part of the aviation fellowship-— fellowship. we fly to more destinations _ fellowship. we fly to more destinations than - fellowship. we fly to more destinations than any - fellowship. we fly to more | destinations than any other airline _ destinations than any other airline commercial predominantly and hardest to reach — predominantly and hardest to reach places. an amp is actually— reach places. an amp is actually about to launch a malaria _ actually about to launch a malaria campaign, so flights that— malaria campaign, so flights that are _ malaria campaign, so flights that are subsidised by amazing supporters who make sure that they— supporters who make sure that they receive the medication and help that — they receive the medication and help that they need to fight some — help that they need to fight some of the most preventable diseases _ some of the most preventable diseases. ., , , , diseases. one of the best he is that we have — diseases. one of the best he is that we have is _ diseases. one of the best he is that we have is on _ diseases. one of the best he is that we have is on the - diseases. one of the best he is that we have is on the sunniest day, it'sjust great that we have is on the sunniest day, it's just great and to be able to experience that aspect of life is just brilliant. able to experience that aspect of life isjust brilliant. he's now completed his challenge across the south of england. he will not focus on airfields across wales and scotland. hello, i'm jack with the catch up. ed sheeran's been in court today to deny that this song... # when your legs don't work like they used to before.# sounds like this song...

# i've been really trying, baby...#. well, people related to marvin gaye's co—writer argue that warner music group and sony music publishing, all owe the money for allegedly stealing the song. i'm here forjustice, protecting my father's intellectual properties. all i'm expecting is his name to be honoured. some other stories for you then... and movement in sudan — loads of people are being moved out of the country because of fighting there. leaders have agreed to stop it for 72 hours. the first uk flight touched down at stansted, carrying around 200 people. loads more to come though, as over 2,000 brits are registered with the foreign office there. microsoft's $68 billion deal to buy activision has been blocked in the uk. if it went ahead, microsoft would have owned the call of duty franchise, but the group of people who make sure the gaming market

is fair said the move would offer gamers less choice. both companies say they'll appeal. and i'm going to leave you with 10 seconds of inspiration, because ellie goldstein, who has down's syndrome, has been revealed as a cover starfor vogue here in the uk. the new issue focuses on disabled people from the worlds of fashion, sports and the arts. she told the bbc she wants to be a role model to others in the industry. ellie, you totally are. see you later.

hello, i'm qasa alom, from the bbc sport centre. coming up on the programme... manchester city overwhelm premier league leaders arsenal to take the charge in the title race. inter milan beatjuventus to make the final of the coppa italia. and a huge scalp taken in the world snooker championship — seven time winner ronnie 0'sullivan is out. only one place to start —

the confrontation billed as a potential title decider was a one—sided affair