April 19 (UPI) — U.S. Customs and Border Protection is expected to launch a website on Monday to process refund requests for some Trump administration tariffs, although there are limits to which ones will be processed.
The first phase of tariff refunds comes after the Supreme Courtruled in February that President Donald Trump could not use the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) to generate revenue by imposing tariffs.
Although Trump decided to use Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974 to justify new tariffs after the Court’s decision, the administration still is required to refund duties collected under the now-nullified tariffs.
CBP has estimated that it owes about $166 billion in refunds, with the agency’s announcement of phase 1 expected to take care of the vast majority of expected claims, NPR reported.
The website is specifically aimed at letting businesses request refunds, and experts have said that consumers are unlikely to be affected by the refunds, CBS News reported.
“[The Consolidated Administration and Processing of Entries] is being deployed in phases, and CBP will launch the first phase of CAPE on April 20,” the agency said in an update last week.
“Phase 1 is limited to certain unliquidated entries and certain entries within 80 days of liquidation,” the agency said.
The refunds are linked to lawsuits filed in December by Costco and other companies — more than 50 companies brought filed suit for refunds — asking for duties to be returned to them if the Supreme Court ruled against the administration.
In March, CBP raised concern in court that it could not immediately handle refunding the duties based on 53 million entries from 330,000 importers who had paid tariffs as of March 4.
Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. speaks during a House Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies hearing on the budget for the Department of Health and Human Services in the Rayburn House Office Building near the U.S. Capitol on Thursday. Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI | License Photo
WASHINGTON — A man carrying a gun and a cellphone entered a federal credit union in a small town in central Virginia in May 2019 and demanded cash.
He left with $195,000 in a bag and no clue to his identity. But his smartphone was keeping track of him.
What happened next could yield a landmark ruling from the Supreme Court on the 4th Amendment and its restrictions against “unreasonable searches.”
Typically, police use tips or leads to find suspects, then seek a search warrant from a judge to enter a house or other private area to seize the evidence that can prove a crime.
Civil libertarians say the new “digital dragnets” work in reverse.
“It’s grab the data and search first. Suspicion later. That’s opposite of how our system has worked, and it’s really dangerous,” said Jake Laperruque, an attorney for the Center for Democracy & Technology.
But these new data scans can be effective in finding criminals.
Lacking leads in the Virginia bank robbery, a police detective turned to what one judge in the case called a “groundbreaking investigative tool … enabling the relentless collection of eerily precise location data.”
Cellphones can be tracked through towers, and Google stored this location history data for hundreds of millions of users. The detective sent Google a demand for information known as a “geofence warrant,” referring to a virtual fence around a particular geographic area at a specific time.
The officer sought phones that were within 150 yards of the bank during the hour of the robbery. He used that data to locate Okello Chatrie, then obtained a search warrant of his home where the cash and the holdup notes were found.
Chatrie entered a conditional guilty plea, but the Supreme Court will hear his appeal on April 27.
The justices agreed to decide whether geofence warrants violate the 4th Amendment.
The outcome may go beyond location tracking. At issue more broadly is the legal status of the vast amount of privately stored data that can be easily scanned.
This may include words or phrases found in Google searches or in emails. For example, investigators may want to know who searched for a particular address in the weeks before an arson or a murder took place there or who searched for information on making a particular type of bomb.
Judges are deeply divided on how this fits with the 4th Amendment.
Two years ago, the conservative U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit in New Orleans ruled “geofence warrants are general warrants categorically prohibited by the 4th Amendment.”
Chief Justice John Roberts sided with the court’s liberals in a 4th Amendment privacy case in 2018.
(Alex Wong / Getty Images)
Historians of the 4th Amendment say the constitutional ban on “unreasonable searches and seizures” arose from the anger in the American colonies over British officers using general warrants to search homes and stores even when they had no reason to suspect any particular person of wrongdoing.
The National Assn. of Criminal Defense Lawyers relies on that contention in opposing geofence warrants.
Its lawyers argued the government obtained Chatrie’s “private location information … with an unconstitutional general warrant that compelled Google to conduct a fishing expedition through millions of Google accounts, without any basis for believing that any one of them would contain incriminating evidence.”
Meanwhile, the more liberal 4th Circuit in Virginia divided 7-7 to reject Chatrie’s appeal. Several judges explained the law was not clear, and the police officer had done nothing wrong.
“There was no search here,” Judge J. Harvie Wilkinson wrote in a concurring opinion that defended the use of this tracking data.
He pointed to Supreme Court rulings in the 1970s declaring that check records held by a bank or dialing records held by a phone company were not private and could be searched by investigators without a warrant.
Chatrie had agreed to having his location records held by Google. If financial records for several months are not private, the judge wrote, “surely this request for a two-hour snapshot of one’s public movements” is not private either.
Google changed its policy in 2023 and no longer stores location history data for all of its users. But cellphone carriers continue to receive warrants that seek tracking data.
Wilkinson, a prominent conservative from the Reagan era, also argued it would be a mistake for the courts to “frustrate law enforcement’s ability to keep pace with tech-savvy criminals” or cause “more cold cases to go unsolved. Think of a murder where the culprit leaves behind his encrypted phone and nothing else. No fingerprints, no witnesses, no murder weapon. But because the killer allowed Google to track his location, a geofence warrant can crack the case,” he wrote.
Judges in Los Angeles upheld the use of a geofence warrant to find and convict two men for a robbery and murder in a bank parking lot in Paramount.
The victim, Adbadalla Thabet, collected cash from gas stations in Downey, Bellflower, Compton and Lynwood early in the morning before driving to the bank.
After he was robbed and shot, a Los Angeles County sheriff’s detective found video surveillance that showed he had been followed by two cars whose license plates could not be seen.
The detective then sought a geofence warrant from a Superior Court judge that asked Google for location data for six designated spots on the morning of the murder.
That led to the identification of Daniel Meza and Walter Meneses, who pleaded guilty to the crimes. A California Court of Appeal rejected their 4th Amendment claim in 2023, even though the judges said they had legal doubts about the “novelty of the particular surveillance technique at issue.”
The Supreme Court has also been split on how to apply the 4th Amendment to new types of surveillance.
By a 5-4 vote, the court in 2018 ruled the FBI should have obtained a search warrant before it required a cellphone company to turn over 127 days of records for Timothy Carpenter, a suspect in a series of store robberies in Michigan.
The data confirmed Carpenter was nearby when four of the stores were robbed.
Chief Justice John G. Roberts, joined by four liberal justices, said this lengthy surveillance violated privacy rights protected by the 4th Amendment.
But he described the Carpenter decision as “narrow” because it turned on the many weeks of surveillance data.
In dissent, four conservatives questioned how tracking someone’s driving violates their privacy. Surveillance cameras and license plate readers are commonly used by investigators and have rarely been challenged.
Solicitor Gen. D. John Sauer relies on that argument in his defense of Chatrie’s conviction. “An individual has no reasonable expectation of privacy in movements that anyone could see,” he wrote.
The justices will issue a decision by the end of June.
Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. speaks during a House Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies, one of seven congressional committees he testified before Thursday. Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI | License Photo
April 16 (UPI) — Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. on Thursday testified before seven congressional committees, often clashing with Democrats about decisions he has made about vaccines and department priorities.
The testimony is Kennedy’s first trip to the Capitol this year and the first time that he has appeared before Congress in more than seven months, The Washington Post reported.
In addition to unilaterally remaking the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s vaccine advisory committee and the agency’s recommended childhood vaccine schedule — which were blocked by a federal judge in March — he has changed the Food and Drug Administration‘s recommendations on diet and shepherded medications through federal approval processes while allegedly ignoring data on them.
Kennedy also was asked by members of Congress about the Trump administration’s 12.5% budget request decrease, which amounts to about $16 billion that it sought for its fiscal year 2027 budget proposal, NPR reported.
“Our children are the sickest generation in modern history — decades of failed policy, captured agencies and profit-driven systems have caused it,” Kennedy said during a hearing before the House Ways and Means Committee.
“Parents across this country demanded change — and we are delivering it,” he said.
Kennedy said that the measles vaccine “certainly” could have saved the life of a child who died in Texas last year during an outbreak in the state.
More than 1,700 measles cases have been reported through the first 3 1/2 months of 2026, compared to more than 2,200 reported in all of 2025.
He also was asked by Rep. Linda Sanchez, D-Calif., about ending an influenza vaccine public awareness campaign while investing money in marketing efforts for his remade food pyramid.
“You suspended this pro-vaccine messaging campaign, but somehow you’re spending taxpayer dollars to drink milk, shirtless in a hot tub with Kid Rock?” Sanchez asked.
Kennedy also was accused of “diminishing science” by Rep. Bradley Scott, D-Ill., with his support for $5.7 billion in cuts to the National Institutes of Health meant for drug development.
“Nobody wants to make the cuts,” Kennedy said in response to several questions about reducing the HHS budget, but said the nation needs “to tighten our belt” because of the national debt, which he blamed on Congress.
First lady Melania Trump speaks during a House Ways and Means Committee roundtable discussion on protecting children in America’s foster care system in the Longworth House Office Building near the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday. The bipartisan group of lawmakers are looking to address challenges children in foster care face, including barriers to education and educational advocacy, housing, employment opportunities, financial independence, and technology. Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI | License Photo
Avid Technology, the editing software company, is the latest entertainment industry player to introduce AI into its toolbox.
The company behind industry-standard platforms Pro Tools and Media Composer said it is entering a multiyear partnership with Google Cloud.
The goal is to implement both generative and agentic AI so that users can turn the “mostly manual process into an intelligent, AI-assisted experience,” Avid said in a statement Thursday morning.
“The primary bottleneck in Hollywood is manual labor [in editing] and managing thousands of hours of high-risk footage,” Avid Chief Executive Wellford Dillard told The Times. “This isn’t us just adding a new tool. It’s going from static files sitting on hard drives, to living data that understands its context.”
Google’s Gemini models and Vertex AI will be embedded directly into Avid’s processes, offering customers a chance to accelerate their editing time. Avid’s Media Composer, the editing system used on most professional film and TV productions, will now include a Gemini extension that could enhance metadata and generate B-Roll.
The company said that, overall, using AI on its platforms enables systems to understand the context of every file — allowing users to describe what they need based on visual movements, on-screen dialogue and emotional cues.
Dillard said that when someone uses Media Composer for editing, it can often be frustrating to click in and out of the application in search of the right shot buried within hours of footage. Now, he said, clients can describe the shot to AI, which could find it faster.
Anil Jain, global managing director at Google Cloud, said that these tools can do both simple functions like tweaking a scene’s background, or achieve more complex tasks, like creating promotional material.
“Most storytellers don’t get excited about putting together a promo, but if they could leverage AI to help do it a lot faster, then it becomes more interesting, gets it done and opens up the possibility of more creative time,” Jain said.
Ramesh Srinivasan, a professor of information studies at UCLA, said these kinds of deals are the “new normal” and that “almost every single industry is being sort of eaten up by the Pac-Man of AI.”
“Editing is a task that involves creativity and human artisanship. An editor is not just someone who mechanically reproduces a number of steps. They have a sense of storytelling in mind,” said Srinivasan. “In terms of AI-created content, the initial research is showing that it is flattening creativity. It’s putting out the dominant patterns that it can copy, rather than reflect, the specific diverse and creative ways we can write, or edit.”
To Dillard, Avid’s CEO, incorporating AI is a way to ensure that creators can make enough content to keep up with audiences’ increasing demands.
“The demand for content is almost insatiable, and dollars are limited. This work can help compress those production timelines [and make] more content,” Dillard said. “Our hope is that we’re actually enabling the world, within the same budget constraints that the studios have today. You’re producing more content, and you are also opening the doors for smaller production houses to be able to produce more content competitively.”
Europe, Middle East and Africa President of Snap, Ronan Harris (L), and Wifredo Fernandez, director of global government affairs at X, leave No. 10 Downing Street in London on Thursday morning after meeting Prime Minister Keir Starmer to discuss ways to protect children safe when they are on social media . Photo by Neil Hall/EPA
April 16 (UPI) — British Prime Minister Keir Starmer put the big five social media firms on notice Thursday that he was considering state intervention, including the nuclear option of a ban, if they did not do more to protect children from being harmed by their products.
Starmer warned executives from Meta, Snap, Google, TikTok and X at a meeting in Downing Street that something had to give, saying a ban on children accessing their platforms would be “preferable to a world where harm is the price” for social media use.
“Things can’t go on like this, they must change because right now social media is putting our children at risk. In a world in which children are protected, even if that means access is restricted, that is preferable to a world where harm is the price of participation,” said Starmer.
“I am determined we will build a better future for our children, and look forward to working with you on this. I do think this can be done. I think the question is not whether it is done, the question is how it is done,” he added.
Executives attending the meeting included Google U.K. managing director Kate Alessi, Markus Reinisch, a public policy principal at Meta, and X’s global government affairs director Wifredo Fernandez.
TikTok was represented by Alistair Law, director of public policy for northern Europe, while Snap was represented by Europe president Ronan Harris.
Starmer put to the firms the negative impacts of social media use on children’s ability to concentrate, their sleep, relationships and the way they view the world that have been flagged by parents and child experts.
“It’s clear to me that parents aren’t asking us for tweaks at the edges, they’re asking us whether a system that clearly isn’t working for children should be allowed to continue at all. Companies have to grip this and work with us to do better by British children,” he said.
No. 10 had earlier acknowledged that some of the tech firms had “stepped up” by disabling autoplay of videos for children by default and providing better tools to parents to limit the amount of time their children spend looking at screens, but took a much tougher line at Thursday’s meeting.
Starmer’s Labour administration has previously pushed back on pressure from parents, educators and child safety advocates for an Australia-style ban for children younger than 16 on fears it could drive them onto the dark web and make them more vulnerable when they eventually begin using the apps by hindering development of their digital skills.
Most social media sites operating in Britain do not permit children younger than 13 to use their products.
However, in the past three months, Starmer’s administration has twice been forced to use its House of Commons majority to override two efforts by the House of Lords, the upper chamber of Parliament, to amend a government bill to include a ban for children younger than 16.
The most recent of these was on Wednesday in which the government defeated the Lords’ latest attempt to force through a ban, but with a reduced majority from the previous vote on March 10. More than 240 of 650 MPs either failed to show or abstained.
In January, 60 Labour Party backbenchers signed a letter urging Starmer to bring forward a ban.
The government managed to fend off the first challenge in March by launching a three-month public consultation on how to proceed with anticipation inside his administration growing that Starmer will yield to pressure for a ban when the findings are published in the summer.
Children race to push colored eggs across the grass during the annual Easter Egg Roll event on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington on April 21, 2025. Easter this year takes place on April 5. Photo by Samuel Corum/UPI | License Photo
New rules have come into force for Brits this week across a number of European holiday hotspots, but there’s an app that could help you swerve potentially long queues
The app could make the EES process simpler – but it’s only available in certain locations(Image: Getty Images)
Brits heading to the likes of France, Spain, Portugal and Greece will face new entry requirements as Europe’s new Entry/Exit System (EES) has come into force. Airports across the EU are braced for potential travel chaos as non-EU visitors, including Brits, will need to have biometric information such as facial images and fingerprints taken when they enter the EU.
Personal data from your passport will also be collected when you enter an EU border, and the system will record entry and exit dates to allow overstays to be easily flagged. EES is set to replace passport stamps in the long run.
However, getting to grips with the new technology has proven tricky at some airports, with many Brits reporting longer queues on arrival and when departing the EU. While EU passport holders have their own lanes, Brits must queue with other non-EU nationalities and go through the new system.
An official app could potentially speed up the process for Brits and other non-EU citizens, although many travellers are unaware of its existence.
The Travel to Europe app is available on Apple’s App Store or Google Play and claims it can “speed up your border check”. Holidaymakers heading to the EU first need to download the app and register. At the moment, the app is only available at selected border crossing points, including Sweden and Portugal, although the developers claim more will be added soon.
Families flying together can add co-travellers to the app so their details are in one place. You simply need to add details of your journey such as the date and time you’ll arrive and depart, and can scan your passport using your phone. You then take a selfie and answer some questions. This can be done up to 72-hours before your flight.
The app then generates a QR code for each passenger which can be scanned at a self-service kiosk or by passport control staff. Simply follow the signs or directions from airport staff to the pre-registration queue. Of course, there’s no guarantee of entry and staff may still carry out additional checks, but for many passengers this could speed up the process for them.
Travellers have been warned to “expect chaos” in the coming months in popular holiday hotspots such as Tenerife. Reports of hours long queues and confusion caused by the new system have surfaced. And while the EES implementation date has avoided the busy Easter weekend, May half-term is just a few weeks away, which could potentially put more strain on the system.
Have a story you want to share? Email us at webtravel@reachplc.com
Samsung announced that it is ending its Samsung Messages texting app in July when it will stop working and become unavailable for download, and is encouraging users to switch to Google Messages for their texting purposes. File Photo by Erdem Sahin/EPA-EFE
April 6 (UPI) — Samsung said on Monday that it will discontinue its messages app and told users to upgrade to Google Messages as their default method for sending texts.
The move is being billed as an upgrade, as Google Messages includes spam and scam filters, RCS-enabled messaging, artificial intelligence features because the app is integrated with Google’s Gemini, and the ability to continue chats across multiple devices without interruption.
The Samsung Messages app will not be available to download and will stop functioning in July, Samsung said in an end-of-service announcement.
Samsung Messages was the pre-installed, default texting app on all the company’s smartphones until 2021, CNET reported.
In 2024, it stopped pre-installing it and gradually started to motivate users to switch to the Google service with the release of its Galaxy Z Flip 6 and Z Fold 6 phones, and the Galaxy S26 — the newest version of its flagship smartphone — is not able to download the app.
“Once the Samsung Messages app is discontinued, sending messages via Samsung Messages on your phone will no longer be possible, except for emergency service numbers or emergency contacts defined on your device,” Samsung said in the announcement.
In the announcement, Samsung said that depending on the operating system on the device, some users may receive a notification in Samsung Messages about migrating to Google Messages, if the user opts for it.
For some users, the company said, Google Messages will not instantly be set as the default texting app and may not appear in the home screen doc, with Samsung providing instructions for accomplishing both.
It also noted in the announcement that watches launched before the Galaxy Watch4 do not support Google’s texting app, and that Samsung devices released before 2022 will require users on both ends of a text conversation to switch to Google Messages for full RCS conversations to be available.
RCS, or Rich Communication Services, is a SMS/MMS standard that has been adopted by most messaging apps, including the iMessage app on iPhones, that provides end-to-end encryption, ensuring a “more dynamic and secure conversation,” according to Google.
President Donald Trump speaks during the annual Easter Egg Roll on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington on April 6, 2026. Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI | License Photo
Intel (INTC) has been in ongoing discussions with at least two large customers, including Amazon (AMZN) and Google (GOOG) (GOOGL), for its advanced packaging services, Wired reported, citing multiple sources.
Intel’s ambitions for its advanced packaging business depend largely on
March 27 (UPI) — The U.S. Department of Homeland Security announced Friday that Transportation Security Administration employees will begin receiving paychecks as the department’s shutdown continues.
There was movement on Capitol Hill toward ending the shutdown and partially funding DHS on Friday. After the Senate unanimously voted to pass a bill that would fund the department, aside from Immigrations and Customs Enforcement, the U.S. House rejected the bill outright.
House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., said the House will pursue its own bill that would fully fund the department for 60 days. Johnson said the Senate’s bill would not move forward because it did not include funding for ICE.
President Donald Trump was also critical of the Senate-passed bill, saying it “wasn’t appropriate.” He signed an executive order to direct payment toward the more than 60,000 TSA employees.
“Today, at the direction of President Trump and the Secretary of Homeland Security Markwayne Mullin, TSA has immediately begun the process of paying its workforce,” a DHS spokesperson said in a statement to UPI. “TSA officers should begin seeing paychecks as early as Monday, March 30.”
Alan Fyall, associate dean of the University of Central Florida’s Rosen College of Hospitality Management, told UPI that news of TSA receiving pay is welcome, though for some it may be too late.
“If they’re going to get paid, that’s excellent,” Fyall said. “I’m sure there are quite a few who have left and probably won’t return.”
As of Friday, TSA agents were on their second pay period without receiving a paycheck.
On Wednesday, Ha Nguyen McNeill, deputy administrator of the TSA, told the House Homeland Security Committee that more than 480 workers have resigned and workers have missed $1 billion in pay.
“Most people in lower to middle salaries, if you miss two paychecks, that’s a problem,” Fyall said. “That’s not unique to TSA agents. As they would say, ‘do the math.'”
This is the second time the government has at least partially shut down, affecting the pay of TSA workers, in the past six months. The TSA has been shut down for more than 85 days this fiscal year.
“Many of our workforce have missed bill payments, received eviction notices, had their cars repossessed and utilities shut off,” McNeill told the House committee. “Some are sleeping in their cars, selling their blood and plasma and taking on second jobs to make ends meet.”
When the shutdown ends, Diego Bufquin, professor of practice at the Freeman School of Business at Tulane, told UPI he expects relief to come to TSA workers and travelers quickly, though the end of spring break adds to the long lines.
“We’re not going to have this resolved by this weekend,” Bufquin said. “Lines are going to be very long this weekend. There will be lots of complaints from passengers for sure.
“The thing is that the job market right now is not looking fantastic either,” Bufquin said. “I don’t think those TSA agents who are now considering switching jobs are in a good spot to easily find jobs in other sectors, given the current job market.”
Fyall said that the air travel industry as a whole is “resilient,” though the repeated government shutdowns will cause some travelers to change their habits, opting for direct flights when possible.
“If it’s a one-off, everybody complains but life gets back to normal pretty quickly,” Fyall said. “One of the things about the long queues is you might be waiting 3 or 4 hours, but that tells you that they’re doing their job properly. You want to get on your plane and be secure.”
President Donald Trump stands with U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins during an event celebrating farmers on the South Lawn of the White House on Friday. Photo by Aaron Schwartz/UPI | License Photo
A Los Angeles County jury on Wednesday found Meta and YouTube liable in a social media addition case. File Photo by Adam Vaughn/EPA
March 26 (UPI) — A California jury has found Meta and YouTube liable for negligently designing addictive social media platforms that harm children, in a landmark verdict that could have lasting implications for the tech industry.
The Wednesday verdict marks the first time technology companies have been found liable for creating addictive online products, amid increased scrutiny of the industry and a wave of litigation.
“This jury saw exactly what we presented from the very first day of trial: that these companies built digital spaces designed to negatively influence the brains of children, and they did it on purpose,” Mark Lanier, lead trial counsel and founder of The Lanier Law Firm, said in a statement.
“The evidence showed that Meta and YouTube knew their platforms were hooking children and harming their mental health, and instead of fixing the problem they kept developing features to maximize the time kids spent on their apps. Now a jury has told them that is not acceptable, and you are being held accountable.”
UPI has contacted Meta and YouTube for comment.
The verdict follows a seven-week trial centered on a now-20-year-old plaintiff known to the court by her initials K.G.M., who testified that her use of Instagram, owned by Meta, and YouTube, an Alphabet product, from a young age caused her to develop anxiety, depression, body dysmorphia and suicidal thoughts.
During the trial, she testified that the platforms’ addictive design features, including algorithm-generated recommendations, beauty features and push notifications caused her severe mental harm.
“[The plaintiff] put a human face on what these companies have known for years: that their platforms were engineered to hook young users, and that the children most vulnerable to trauma were the ones they were most effectively reaching,” Rachel Lanier, co-lead counsel and managing attorney of The Lanier Law Firm’s Los Angeles office, said in a statement.
In its verdict, the jury found Meta 70% responsible for the harm the plaintiff suffered and YouTube 30% responsible, and ordered the Mark Zuckerberg-owned tech behemoth and Google‘s video-sharing service to pay her a combined $6 million, half for compensatory damages and half for punitive damages.
Of the punitive damages, Meta is to pay $2.1 million and YouTube $900,000.
This was the first trial in a much larger consolidated case involving more than 1,600 plaintiffs seeking to hold social media companies responsible for the harm they suffered from using those products.
“This is a major victory for the public, for social media users and for child safety,” Libby Liu, CEO of nonprofit legal organization Whistleblower Aid, told UPI in an emailed statement.
“Each successful lawsuit paints a crystal clear picture showing that Meta is not above the law and can and should be held accountable.”
The verdict came down a day after a New Mexico jury found Meta liable for misleading consumers about the safety of its products, ordering the company to pay $375 million in civil penalties for violating the state’s consumer protection laws.
During the trial, state prosecutors showed that Meta’s design features enabled predators to engage in child sexual exploitation, while demonstrating that Meta intentionally designed its platforms to addict young people.
Following the verdict in Los Angeles County, New Mexico Attorney General Raul Torrez, a Democrat, celebrated it as “another critical step toward justice that puts Meta and other big tech executives on notice that they cannot evade responsibility for design choices that jeopardize child safety.”
“We will seek court-mandated changes to Meta’s platforms that offer protections for kids,” he said in a statement.
The rulings come as more attention is being paid to the effects social media has on youth, resulting with Australia in December banning those under the age of 16 from social media, while other countries are considering similar restrictions.
A Los Angeles jury has found Alphabet’s Google and Meta liable for $6 million in damages in a landmark social media addiction lawsuit. The case involved a 20-year-old woman who said she became addicted to the apps at a young age due to their platform design. Meta says it plans to appeal the decision.
British holiday firms are reporting a boom in bookings up to 235% compared to this time last year, as the Iran war forces people to cancel far-flung destinations and look closer to home instead
10:30, 21 Mar 2026Updated 12:51, 21 Mar 2026
The Great British seaside holiday is undergoing a revival thanks to the Iran war(Image: PA)
Brits are looking again at holidays closer to home this summer as fears grow that the Iran war could ground flights and spike plane ticket prices by up to 50%.
Contingency plans being drawn up would see holidaymakers hit by airlines ‘rationing’ their operations, including a reduced schedule, higher prices and cancellation of less profitable routes.
It comes as other destinations beloved by British tourists have ended up Iran’s crosshairs.
Cyprus, Turkey and Abu Dhabi are some of the destinations thrown into doubt this year thanks to the Middle East crisis – but holidaymakers are already making ‘staycation’ bookings instead for the likes of Norfolk, Pembrokeshire and the Isle of Wight as they eye up a safer, more certain getaway.
David Land, who works at the University Technical College in Durham, was forced to cancel upcoming stays in Dubai and the Maldives for his wife Barbara’s birthday – and has lined up “sunny Cornwall” as an alternative.
“I’m a bit of a foodie, so I quite like the idea of seeing how many restaurants I can go to, in terms of Paul Ainsworth’s, Rick Stein’s”, he said, aiming to spend four or five days “at least” in the Land of Saints.
David and his wife, who are both in their 70s and tied the knot in 1979, went on one of their first holidays together on the beaches of Northumberland – and he’s also considering a return there this year.
“I would say the majority of our holidays have been abroad, in Europe, the Middle East, the Indian Ocean – but we’ve been saying ‘Why can’t go on a holiday more in the UK’?”, he told the Mirror. “Apart from the need to pack appropriate clothing, it’s a lovely place to go – as long as the people doing it don’t try to rip us off, as happened a bit around Covid.”
‘We’re not going to listen to Donald Trump’
Asked why he hasn’t chosen to simply reschedule his existing foreign holidays, he said: “We’re not going to listen to Donald Trump when he says the war’s going to be over in ‘three or four weeks’. There’s no confidence that we would be able to go back, not until the war stops, and even then we’d have to know that it’s not going to start again.”
Businesses across the UK tourism industry are already reporting a boom in bookings not seen since the pandemic, with Google searches for ‘best staycations’ up 40% since Trump launched his bombardment of Iran.
Business is booming, say British travel firms
Samantha Evans, founder of Humphreys of Henley, said her luxury travel firm has experienced the “busiest start to the year on record”, with the “safe and deeply enriching” surrounds of the English countryside attracting both domestic guests and those from further afield, particularly the United States.
She told the Mirror: “Luxury hotels are reporting an increase in domestic demand over the next three months. British guests are choosing to stay closer to home, but still want exceptional, experience-led travel – so they’re trading airports for the countryside rather than cancelling plans altogether.”
Rental agency Habitat Escapes told the Mirror that their bookings are up 235% this week compared to the same date last year, with the majority for Silverlake Estate in Dorset and the remainder for Lower Mill Estate in the Cotswolds.
And industry expert Emily Keogh, a former judge for The Hotel Magazine Awards, said there was renewed interest in “spontaneous countryside escapes and coastal getaways that can be booked at relatively short notice” because of the new difficulties in international travel.
Others believe this is part of a movement back towards British holidays that began well before the Middle East crisis, as Matthew Price, CEO of travel firm Awaze, said: “This trend of staying closer to home is part of a broader pattern of behaviour we’ve seen in the UK for a number of years, where holidaymakers are choosing staycations over going abroad. From coastal to countryside getaways, the quality and variety on offer in the UK means a domestic break can feel just as exciting as going overseas.
He revealed bookings were up 26% for Cottages.com, alongside a 10% rise in summer bookings for Hoseasons. While the South West remains a popular destination, regions like the North West and Southern Scotland are seeing “the strongest year-on-year growth for the peak summer period”, Mr Price said.
And the Great British holiday may benefit too from rising jet fuel prices, which experts have warned could push up the cost of plane tickets very soon.
Jet fuel shortages threaten cancellations and price hikes
European jet fuel prices reached an all-time high of $1,698 per tonne this week – more than double the $830 per tonne before the air strikes on Iran – and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz is sending alarm bells ringing among airline bosses.
While European airlines have stressed that they are currently operating with normal levels of fuel, Scandinavia’s SAS became the first this week to admit it had introduced a “temporary price adjustment” in response to the soaring prices, with more expected to follow.
Experts now predict a potential 30% to 50% hike in plane tickets for European summer holidays if the fuel crisis drags on, potentially costing an extra £600 for a family of four heading to the Canary Islands, Greece or Morocco.
Long-haul flights would see even steeper price increases, with a family trip to Australia going up by an eye-watering £2,400.
James Noel-Beswick, head of commodities at market intelligence firm Sparta Commodities, told the BBC: “I think we’re weeks away from maybe flight cancellations or delays due to lack of jet fuel, rather than months.”
An end to the age of cheap foreign holidays is likely to help tip the balance back in favour of domestic holidays when it comes to cost, as ‘staycations’ have long been criticised for poor value for money – especially when it comes to accommodation.
You can expect to pay at least £500 for five nights in a budget holiday let near St Ives – but in Malaga, the equivalent would set you back just £350.
Air travel chaos threatens holiday favourites
British holidaymakers preparing to head to Spain on their Easter getaways have meanwhile been warned to expect chaos at airports, with a national baggage handler strike threatening to cause missed connections and delayed boarding.
And there’s mounting uncertainty around Turkey, where three Iranian missiles have been intercepted since the beginning of the conflict, and popular Brit destination Cyprus, which saw the RAF base on the island’s southern coast come under drone attack.
Foreign Office chiefs currently advise anyone travelling to either country to be aware of the risks of ‘regional escalation’.
The Citizens Advice Bureau say holidaymakers who are unsure over a trip they have booked in the months ahead should get in touch with their travel provider – but don’t cancel before speaking to them, as you may lose your right to a refund.
Top 10 destinations for British summer holidays:
The top 10 UK destinations for summer staycations, based on consumer research of 2,000 UK adults by Sykes Holiday Cottages:
Saturday’s Google Doodle shows how the mathematical constant pi is useful for easily calculating the area of a circle, the formula for which is A=πr2. Image courtesy Google
March 14 (UPI) — Saturday’s Google Doodle celebrates everyone’s favorite math holiday, Pi Day.
The Doodle features an animated illustration of how the mathematical constant is used in equations dealing with a circle’s circumference and diameter.
“Long before modern technology, the Greek mathematician Archimedes popularized an innovative approach: He approximated the value of pi by sandwiching a circle between two 96-sided polygons to determine its precise upper and lower bounds,” a Google post about the Doodle reads.
“Today, we honor this mathematical legacy as enthusiasts worldwide celebrate with pi-reciting contests and slices of pie.”
The value of pi is roughly 3.14, but since it’s irrational, the number of decimal places beyond .14 go on infinitely. There are contests worldwide in which math lovers memorize and recite as many digits of pi as possible.
Last Pi Day, in 2025, a 10-year-old British boy recited 280 digits of pi from memory in 1 minute, breaking a Guinness World Record.
Pi Day is celebrated March 14 each year because the date is typically expressed as 3/14. Those less interested in math often choose to celebrate the day by eating a slice of their favorite pie.
If you’re on the hunt for the perfect spring getaway, this beach needs to be on your radar.
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This spot has some of the best views in the country(Image: Getty)
As the UK welcomes warmer weather and springtime approaches, the allure of the beach becomes irresistible. With an abundance of stunning coastlines to choose from in the UK, deciding on the perfect spot can be a challenge.
Thankfully, the experts at Go Outdoors have done the hard work for you, compiling a list of the crème de la crème by analysing data from across the country. The research considered spring temperatures, rainfall records, sunshine hours and Google reviews of UK beaches, culminating in a definitive list of the nation’s top springtime beaches.
Taking the top spot is a breathtaking beach boasting 7.8 hours of daily sunshine during spring and minimal rainfall.
This idyllic location is none other than Cuckmere Haven in East Sussex, which achieved an impressive score of 9.60 out of ten in the Go Outdoors study. Visitors can enjoy picturesque river walks, a vast coastline and views of some of the country’s most renowned cliffs.
The beach itself is a sight to behold, but there’s also plenty to discover in the surrounding area. It offers one of the best vantage points of the Seven Sisters – England’s iconic white cliffs – and you can meander along the Cuckmere River towards the sea, reports the Express.
Praise for the beach abounds on TripAdvisor, with one gentleman enthusing: “Absolutely stunning scenery. Long walks and perfect for the family I loved every second of walking these beautiful cliffs. You can also see the Seven Sisters the whole time for those are into history.”
Another commented: “Wow – this iconic sight takes your breath away! The cliffs are blindingly white and the beach and surrounding countryside is so pretty. Everyone should see this once in their lifetime.”
Numerous visitors caution that some of the pathways around the beach can become muddy and slippery, so proper footwear is essential – though there are ample spots to pause and rest along your journey.
Calum Jones, author and outdoor enthusiast at GO Outdoors, advised: “When planning your spring beach trip, keep in mind that British weather can still be unpredictable. Bring a waterproof jacket to stay dry in case of sudden showers, choose supportive, waterproof footwear for any slippery sand or rocks, and layer your clothing so you can easily adjust to changing temperatures.
“Sun protection is also important, even in spring. Apply a generous layer of suncream before you head out, and don’t forget a cap and sunglasses to shield yourself from harmful UV rays.”
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This is the best beach for spring(Image: Patricia Hamilton via Getty Images)
As temperatures begin to climb, thoughts naturally turn towards seaside escapes. There’s nothing quite like the sound of crashing waves and the sensation of sand between your toes – but with countless stunning locations dotted around the UK, how do you decide where to visit?
For an ideal spring beach getaway, you’ll want maximum sunshine, pleasant temperatures and minimal rainfall – and that’s precisely where the specialists at Go Outdoors come in. They’ve put together a ranking of Britain’s finest beaches based on average spring temperatures, precipitation levels, hours of sunshine and Googlereviews to identify the absolute cream of the crop.
Every beach featured received a rating out of 10 according to its weather conditions, rainfall and visitor feedback.
Taking the top spot is Cuckmere Haven with an impressive score of 9.60. This breathtaking beach sits in East Sussex and boasts a remarkable 7.8 hours of daily spring sunshine alongside just 52mm of monthly rainfall.
Those visiting the beach can first take in spectacular views of the Seven Sisters — England’s famous white cliffs overlooking the channel — before embarking on a picturesque stroll along the Cuckmere River as it winds its way towards the coast. Hear the cries of seagulls circling above, and feel the fresh sea breeze against your skin, reports the Express.
Claiming second position is Southwold Beach with a rating of 8.68 out of 10. This expanse of sand extends from the River Blyth’s mouth, passing Southwold Pier which offers plenty to discover.
There are arcade games and numerous cafés and restaurants where you can pop in for refreshments or a bite to eat. Securing the third spot, and boasting the highest Google review rating amongst all the beaches, is Druridge Bay Beach.
Google reviews rate this beach at a stellar 4.9 out of five, and the Go Outdoors research awarded it an impressive overall score of 8.53 out of 10.
The beach itself extends for seven miles, and the adjacent woodlands are teeming with wildlife such as roe deer and red squirrels.
March 11 (UPI) — The British Cabinet Office has released files from its investigation into former ambassador to the United States Peter Mandelson on Wednesday as it digs into his ties to deceased sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein.
The first batch of documents revealed that Mandelson may have been briefed on classified information before being given security clearance when he was appointed as ambassador. They also show that he requested a large government payout when he was terminated last year.
Mandelson was arrested and then released last month in London over suspicion of misconduct in public office. The allegation stems from emails released in the Epstein files in which Mandelson appears to be sharing market-sensitive confidential information with Epstein.
Documents released by the Cabinet Office share some details after his appointment as ambassador in December 2024. Within days of his being appointed, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office offered to brief Mandelson on highly classified information while he was still being vetted.
Emails about the briefing were shared Dec. 23, 2024, about three days after the announcement of Mandelson’s appointment. It was not until Jan. 30, 2025, that Mandelson received an email confirming that he had cleared the vetting process.
It was in this email that he received a formal offer of employment.
When Mandelson was terminated from his position in September, he requested to be paid the full amount on his contract — more than 500,000 euros or $578,625. Instead, he was paid 75,000 euros or $86,793.75 to terminate the contract.
“As the documents show regarding his severance payment, Peter Mandelson initially requested a sum that was substantially larger than the final payment, not just two or even three times, but more than six times the final amount,” said Darren Jones, chief secretary to the prime minister at the Cabinet office.
“Despite the fact that he was withdrawn from Washington because he had lost the confidence of the prime minister, the government obviously found that to be inappropriate and unacceptable.”
Google’s Doodle is celebrating the launch of Artemis II. The mission will send astronauts around the moon and back for the first time in 50 years.
