International
Zuckerberg’s Meta Faces Competition Lawsuit in U.S.
The trial will extend until July 2025. If the FTC wins this first phase, a second and even tougher stage would begin, aiming to argue that forcing Meta to sell Instagram and WhatsApp would directly benefit competition and consumers.
Zuckerberg is back in the news, this time not to announce the purchase of another company, but quite the opposite.
Union Rayo, reported that this time, Zuckerberg has had to defend himself in a trial that could redefine the history of digital business.
The U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has taken Meta (the parent company led by the mogul) to court, accusing them of eliminating competition through “killer acquisitions” (buying the competition to shut it down).
That’s exactly the case here, and Zuckerberg might have to say goodbye to his last two purchases: WhatsApp and Instagram. How legal is it to buy your competitors so they won’t outshine you? That’s for a judge to decide.
This trial has been open since April 14, and it has revealed some incredible facts, such as that the purchase of those last two social networks, WhatsApp (one billion dollars) and Instagram (19 billion dollars), could be an illegal strategy.
On the stand, Zuckerberg himself admitted that Facebook is no longer used to connect with family and friends. Want to know more about what’s happening to Meta? We’ll tell you below.
“Facebook no longer serves its original purpose”
During his testimony, Zuckerberg admitted that the social network that made him a billionaire is no longer what it used to be.
Today, he explained, Meta is no longer about personal relationships.
Meta is focused on content, discovering viral trends, and following global conversations.
He said it himself: what used to be a platform to share pictures of your cat with distant relatives or childhood classmates is now a showcase where the algorithm is in charge.
Justifying the most controversial acquisitions
The trial also focused (a lot) on Meta’s two most controversial acquisitions: Instagram (in 2012) and WhatsApp (in 2014). Zuckerberg defended both decisions.
He said those platforms wouldn’t have survived without Meta’s investment, and now they’re essential tools for billions of people. Basically, his argument was: “We didn’t destroy them, we made them bigger”
The FTC’s accusations: a strategy to eliminate competition?
In search of a solo reign? Of course, the FTC didn’t see it that way at all.
During the trial, internal emails were shown where Zuckerberg described Instagram as a “terrifying threat” that had to be neutralized “at all costs”.
A rejected 6 billion dollar offer for Snap in 2013 was also revealed, which, according to prosecutors, proves a systematic policy of eliminating rivals.
Was it then a strategy to get rid of the competition? Naturally, the ghost of monopoly is hanging over them, since they have 2 billion direct users between WhatsApp and Instagram alone, with these two companies generating more than half of Meta’s advertising revenue.
“We are not a monopoly”
Meta insists it’s not acting alone. Platforms like TikTok, Reddit, YouTube and X (formerly Twitter) are cited as direct competition.
The company also reminds everyone that all of its acquisitions were legally approved at the time. And of course, undoing them now would just be changing the rules of the tech game.
What’s coming: a battle
The trial will extend until July 2025. If the FTC wins this first phase, a second and even tougher stage would begin, aiming to argue that forcing Meta to sell Instagram and WhatsApp would directly benefit competition and consumers.
What’s at stake?
Basically, the future of how large digital platforms work.
If Meta loses, it wouldn’t be surprising if other giants like Google or Amazon start facing similar lawsuits.
Pressure against big tech isn’t new, but this time, the one on the ropes is Zuckerberg. And this time, there’s no “like” button to save him
International
NASA’s Satellite Crashing Back to Earth After 14 Years in Orbit
The spacecraft weighting 1,300 pound is called Van Allen Probe A, has been orbiting the planet for nearly 14 years and is now predicted to re-enter Earth’s atmosphere within the next day or two.
Photo: X
A satellite launched by NASA more than a decade ago is expected to return to Earth soon.
The spacecraft weighting 1,300 pound is called Van Allen Probe A, has been orbiting the planet for nearly 14 years and is now predicted to re-enter Earth’s atmosphere within the next day or two.
The space agency earlier estimated that the probe would begin re-entry around 7:45 p.m. ET on Tuesday (March 10), though the timing could vary by as much as 24 hours.
According to NASA, the risk of damage on the ground is extremely low.
Most of the more than 600-kg spacecraft is expected to burn up due to intense heat while passing through Earth’s atmosphere.
However, some small components may survive the re-entry. Scientists estimate that the chance of debris harming a person is about one in 4,200, which the agency describes as minimal.
International
FAO Food Price Index rises in February for first time in five months
International quotations for skim and whole milk powders increased notably amid strengthening import demand from North Africa, the Near East and Southeast Asia, while world butter prices registered their first monthly rise since reaching an all-time high in June 2025.
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) reported that the world food commodity prices rose in February, ending a five-month downward trend, as higher quotations for wheat, most vegetable oils and several meat types outweighed declines in cheese and sugar prices.
According to the new update released by the global food body, the he FAO Food Price Index, which tracks monthly changes in the international prices of a basket of globally-traded food commodities, averaged 125.3 points in February, up 0.9 percent from its revised January level while still 1.0 percent below its level a year earlier.
The FAO Cereal Price Index increased by 1.1 percent from January, driven primarily by higher world wheat prices reflecting reports of frosts in parts of Europe and the United States of America as well as ongoing logistical disruptions within the Russian Federation and the wider Black Sea region. International coarse grain prices also posted a modest increase, while the FAO All Rice Price Index edged up by 0.4 percent from the previous month, supported by sustained demand for basmati and Japonica varieties.The FAO Vegetable Oil Price Index increased by 3.3 percent in February, reaching its highest level since June 2022.
International palm oil prices rose amid firm global import demand and seasonally lower outputs in Southeast Asia, while world soyoil prices increased on expectations of supportive biofuel policy measures in the United States of America.
The FAO Vegetable Oil Price Index increased by 3.3 percent in February, reaching its highest level since June 2022.
Rapeseed oil prices rebounded, driven by prospects of stronger import demand for Canadian supplies. By contrast, sunflower oil prices eased moderately, partly due to rising export supplies from Argentina.
The FAO Meat Price Index increased by 0.8 percent from January, as ovine meat prices reached an all-time high and bovine meat prices rose on the back of strong import demand from China and the United States of America. Prices of pig and poultry meats edged up slightly from January.
The FAO Dairy Price Index declined by 1.2 percent, driven primarily by lower cheese prices.
International quotations for skim and whole milk powders increased notably amid strengthening import demand from North Africa, the Near East and Southeast Asia, while world butter prices registered their first monthly rise since reaching an all-time high in June 2025.
The FAO Sugar Price Index was down by 4.1 percent from January and by as much as 27.3 percent compared with February 2025 amid expectations of ample global supplies in the current season.
International
Trump says U.S.will build $300 billion new refinery backed by India’s Reliance Industries
The new refinery, located at the port of Brownsville in Texas, will “strengthen our National Security, boost American Energy production, deliver Billions of Dollars in Economic impact, and will be THE CLEANEST REFINERY IN THE WORLD,” Trump said.
° U.S. President Donald Trump takes a question as he speaks during a press conference at Trump National Doral Miami in Miami, Florida, U.S., March 9, 2026.Kevin Lamarque | Reuters
President Donald Trump said that the U.S. will get its first oil refinery in 50 years, funded by investments from Indian billionaire Mukesh Ambani’s Reliance Industries.
“THIS IS A HISTORIC $300 BILLION DOLLAR DEAL — THE BIGGEST IN U.S. HISTORY,” Trump said in a post on Truth Social, on Tuesday.
He thanked India’s largest privately held energy company, Reliance Industries, “for this tremendous Investment.”
Reliance owns the world’s largest oil refinery in Jamnagar, India, and has a market capitalization of $206 billion, according to LSEG data.
The new refinery, located at the port of Brownsville in Texas, will “strengthen our National Security, boost American Energy production, deliver Billions of Dollars in Economic impact, and will be THE CLEANEST REFINERY IN THE WORLD,” Trump said.
The refinery is designed to process 100% American shale oil and is being developed by America First Refining.
Source: CNBC
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