mata's financial results confirm it is not all doom and gloom in the tech sector — mike weir meta. plus the latest episode in american plasma wars, disney takes against florida's governor. hello and welcome to asia business report. i am welcome to asia business report. iam karishma welcome to asia business report. i am karishma vaswani it was that we begin the programme with meta and its surprising quarterly results. shares of the facebook parent are up nearly 12% in extended trading after the company reported its first sales increase in nearly a year, and

forecast that second—quarter revenue would be above market expectations. this 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. earlier i spoke to the founder of the tech advisory firm constellation research and it told me that meta has managed told me that meta has managed to keep eyeballs on its platforms and advertisers know that. , , ., ., that. they showed the digital at winter is _ that. they showed the digital at winter is falling _ that. they showed the digital at winter is falling and - that. they showed the digital at winter is falling and that l at winter is falling and that is important piece. what you mentioned earlier was 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 and what meta showed was that they were able to keep their monthly active users still at 2.99 billion, almost 3 billion, intact, and were able to drive sales up 3% and give a queue to guidance

was much higher. and that is coming on the heels of 20,000 job cuts and this year of efficiency that mark zuckerberg should end. 50 efficiency that mark zuckerberg should end-— efficiency that mark zuckerberg should end. so is that what has led to the _ should end. so is that what has led to the brighter _ should end. so is that what has led to the brighter outlook, - led to the brighter outlook, has just been about cost—cutting efficiency and therefore better profits? that's one part of the story first of the other part of the story is the fact that wheels are starting to take hold. that will require some investment and it is coming from thejob cuts but more importantly the bulk of the job cuts are being used to pay for the metaverse aspect of meta, and that will require a tonne of cutbacks over the next two to three years, that is why the job cuts were put into place. so years, that is why the “ob cuts were put into place._ were put into place. so this bet the metaverse, - were put into place. so this bet the metaverse, you - were put into place. so this i bet the metaverse, you think thatis bet the metaverse, you think that is likely to yield strong results, or the kind of future that zuckerberg is hoping facebook and meta will move into? i5 facebook and meta will move into? , ., .,

into? is one part of the strategy- _ into? is one part of the strategy. the _ into? is one part of the strategy. the other - into? is one part of the | strategy. the other part into? is one part of the i strategy. the other part is really getting more monitoring station capabilities but at the moment meta has to focus on finishing the metaverse to fulfil their promise of a more immersive opportunity. that will be their big driver in the future but i will not all happen at once. the barriers are there, the headsets are clunky, they last for a short period of time, they need more advancements, and if we can get to that they will at least get more people on board. what do ou think more people on board. what do you think this _ more people on board. what do you think this signals _ more people on board. what do you think this signals for - more people on board. what do you think this signals for big - you think this signals for big tech? it is notjust meta we have seen results from, we have seen other big tech firms reporting. seen other big tech firms reporting-— seen other big tech firms reporting. seen other big tech firms re-aortin. , , reporting. the good news is microsoft — reporting. the good news is microsoft did _ reporting. the good news is microsoft did better - reporting. the good news is microsoft did better than i microsoft did better than expected, there is some growth going on in the cloud part of the business. we are about to see what amazon does in terms of their earning in the cloud, and then we also saw some good growth overall, in terms of what's happening with overall tech companies from service now

to show that enterprise tech is doing well and that is what people are looking for. red; people are looking for. ray won: people are looking for. ray wong talking _ people are looking for. ray wong talking to _ people are looking for. ray wong talking to me earlier from constellation research. samsung electronics is also reported quarterly earnings confirming a massive 95% plunge in profit. a sharp global downturn in semiconductor demand has sent prices plummeting, meaning the south korea's operating profit came in atjust over $478 million. but the conglomerate also has a smartphone decision —— division that looks pretty dominant. itjust recently dominant. it just recently edged dominant. itjust recently edged out market rival apple in terms of market share. samsung will continue to face tough competition from apple though, particularly in the premium a smart particularly in the premium a sma i , particularly in the premium a sma . , , ., smart samsung, the brand faces stiff competition _ smart samsung, the brand faces stiff competition in _ smart samsung, the brand faces stiff competition in the - stiff competition in the premium segment is especially from apple. it has a good 86% in the upper $500 segment. the

gap between apple and samsung in terms of global shipment has narrowed the last few years, and we see that trend continue. we expect this year from samsung is to focus more on the premium segment. in order to maintain maikel scheffers to the house of mouse is wading into legal waters. ron desantis is being sued. it is claimed that it violated its constitutional rights. the the governor criticised a law created by the florida state government. shelf lairy reports now from new york.— now from new york. yes, the escalating _ now from new york. yes, the escalating feud _ now from new york. yes, the escalating feud between - now from new york. yes, the escalating feud between one | now from new york. yes, the i escalating feud between one of america's biggest companies and a potential white house contender is now headed to court. disney filed a suit on the same day that officials appointed by governor ron desantis voted to block developing plans for the florida theme park. the entertainment giant claims it

is a victim of a relentless campaign to weaponised government power against disney. a spokesman for mr desantis dismissed disney's desa ntis dismissed disney's lawsuit desantis dismissed disney's 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 gay law. the florida governor and likely presidential candidate has clearly decided that taking on a company perceived by his base is woke is good for politics, but starting a fight with one of the state's biggest employers and taxpayers comes with costs, of which this lawsuit may only be the first. michelle fleury reporting on that. shares in first republic have tumbled nearly 30% to a new record low amid renewed fears it could be selling. the

bank said customers had pulled $100 billion in deposits in march. first republic has been under pressure since a series of us bank failures last month sparked fears of a wider crisis. chinese police have visited the office of the us management and consultancy firm in shanghai and questioned its staff. a spokesman said the company is cooperating with chinese authorities but offered no further information. chinese authorities last month raided the office of the american corporate due diligence firm mensah group in traders are increasingly pessimistic about their prospects there according to a survey by the american chamber of commerce in china. 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 1.4 billion people according to the united nations. india's youth demographic makes up about 65%

of that massive number, and experts agree that is a huge potential for economic growth, but there aren't enough women in the workforce, and efforts are under way to change this as my colleague went to find out. a few years ago, this would have been a rare sight. in what once was a male dominated manufacturing industry. gabriel, and auto parts company, employs over 20% of women, and russia nene is one of them. it has been six years since she travelled over 1700 kilometres from her home town to work in this factory in the small town. translation: i wanted to try 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 this. i probably would not have been able to work at all. it would not have been able to work at all.— work at all. it is a welcome change. — work at all. it is a welcome change, especially - work at all. it is a welcome j change, especially because women account for less than 20%

of india's manufacturing sector. companies like gabriel say it makes sense to invest in female employees, since their attrition rate is much lower than male workers. india is slowly seeing companies push for more gender diversity in the workforce. while they are trying to get more women end, the challenge still remains in ensuring they stay on for the long term, rather than dropout mid—career. leaven your works in hr and is on her daily rounds at the tbs factory, one of industry —— one of india's leading motorcycle manufacturers. eight years ago the engineering and management graduate chose to focus on motherhood, after having two children in quick succession. getting back to work was tough. don't look at the compensation package, they are very polite about it, what they are saying is take a 20 to 30% cut on what we last drawn. like, i'm already behind in my careerfor years. already behind in my career for ears. ,, , already behind in my career for ears. , , ., already behind in my career for

ears. ,, , ., ., ., years. she is not alone. in india years. she is not alone. in india 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 at tvs under the progress programme for women who have dropped out. it offers flexible working hours, mentoring and training to women trying to re—enter 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 work in the agriculture sector. i think that creating non—farm opportunities in the rural areas, where women don't only have to look for agricultural work, but they can look at manufacturing or secondary sector work, would be the way to go if you wanted to reap the productive potential of women. while there is change, india still has a long way to go if it wants to turn its rising population to be a boon and not a burden.

that's it from us. thanks so much for watching. stay with bbc news. preparing to take flight. it is here at terrorist and aerodrome in brackley that is the base of a dollar onus to repay�*s epic mission. a dollar onus to repay's epic mission-— mission. what the right talk 2023 is about _ mission. what the right talk 2023 is about a _ mission. what the right talk 2023 is about a personal - 2023 is about a personal challenge that is centred on aviation, to visit 120 aviation, to visit120 airfields around the uk to commemorate the 120th year of powered flight by the right brothers. ., �* , powered flight by the right brothers— powered flight by the right brothers. ., �* , . ., brothers. dollar's wright tour 2023 is all —

brothers. dollar's wright tour 2023 is all in _ brothers. dollar's wright tour 2023 is all in aid _ brothers. dollar's wright tour 2023 is all in aid of _ brothers. dollar's wright tour 2023 is all in aid of the - 2023 is all in aid of the mission dealership. taste 2023 is all in aid of the mission dealership. we fly to more destinations _ mission dealership. we fly to more destinations than - mission dealership. we fly to more destinations than other airlines. _ more destinations than other airlines, we are about to release _ airlines, we are about to release a malaria campaign to make — release a malaria campaign to make sure people like dollar can help _ make sure people like dollar can help to give people the medication dash—mac the medication dash—mac the medication may need to break the fight — medication may need to break the fight preventable diseases will stop the fight preventable diseases will sto ., the fight preventable diseases will sto_ ., ., , , will stop one of the things is on a sunny _ will stop one of the things is on a sunny day, _ will stop one of the things is on a sunny day, flying - will stop one of the things is| on a sunny day, flying across the caecum is just great and be able to express that aspect of life is just brilliant. able to express that aspect of life isjust brilliant.— life is 'ust brilliant. dollar has life isjust brilliant. dollar has completed _ life isjust brilliant. dollar has completed his - life isjust brilliant. dollar. has completed his challenge across the south of england, he will now focus on airfields across wales and scotland. hello, i'mjack hello, i'm jack with the catch up. ed sheeran has been in court today to deny that this song... court today to deny that this son: . .. ~ , ., ,

song... live! when your legs don't work — song... live! when your legs don't work like _ song... live! when your legs don't work like that - song... live! when your legs don't work like that used - song... live! when your legs don't work like that used to i don't work like that used to before... don't work like that used to before- - -— before... sounds like this song--- — before... sounds like this song... lewer! _ before. .. sounds like this song... lewer! i've- before... sounds like this song... lewer! i've been| before... sounds like this - song... lewer! i've been really t inc, song... lewer! i've been really trying. baby. _ song... lewer! i've been really trying, baby. people _ song... lewer! i've been really trying, baby. people related i song... lewer! i've been reallyj trying, baby. people related to marvin gaye's _ trying, baby. people related to marvin gaye's co-writer - trying, baby. people related to| marvin gaye's co-writer argued marvin gaye's co—writer argued that ad, warner music group and sony music publishing all over the money for allegedly stealing the song. i the money for allegedly stealing the song.- the money for allegedly stealing the song. i am here forjustice. _ stealing the song. i am here forjustice, protecting - stealing the song. i am here forjustice, protecting my i forjustice, protecting my father's intellectual properties. all i am 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, is over 2000 brits are registered with the foreign office there. microsoft's $68 billion deal to buy activision has been blocked in the uk first up 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 of gamers less choice. both companies say they will appeal. i will leave you with ten seconds of inspiration, because ali goldstein, who has down syndrome, has been revealed as a cover star for syndrome, has been revealed as a cover starfor vogue syndrome, has been revealed as a cover star for vogue magazine in the uk. the new issue focuses on disabled people from the world of fashion, sport and the world of fashion, sport and the arts. she told the bbc she wants to be a role model to others in the industry. ali, 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 o'sullivan is out.