like it or loathe it, it is bigger and more controversial than ever. facebook closes in on 2 billion users but can it see off the controversy. also france and youth unemployment. also in the programme, china s answer to boeing prepares for its maiden flight. we start with facebook, because despite the ongoing controversy over everything from fake news to extremist and violent content, the social networkjust keeps getting bigger and more profitable. facebook has been warning for some time it can t keep growing at this rate but the latest results show no sign of a slowdown yet. take a look at these numbers. facebook made profits ofjust over $3 billion in the first three months of this year. that s a jump of more than 76% on the same period last year and more than investors were expecting. facebook is creeping ever closer to two billion users 1.91; billion people are now actively using the social media platform every month, up 17% on this time last year. but in recent months t
are shaping up. and harnessing the power of sd printing in health care. we meet the firm that s revolutionising the way artificial limbs are made making them cheaper and easier for those who need them most. and as you are hearing. like it or loath it facebook is bigger more profitable and more controversial than ever. what do you think about that? has it got too much influence? just use the #bbcbizlive. hello and welcome to business live. we start with facebook because despite the ongoing controversy over everything from fake news to extremist and violent content the social networkjust keeps getting bigger and more profitable. facebook has been warning for some time it can t keep growing at this rate but the latest results show no sign of a slowdown. facebook made profits ofjust over $3 billion in the first three months of this year. that s a jump of more than 76% on the same period last year and more than investors were expecting. and it is creeping ever clos
took a lead after round one are still ahead. election process has months to go. it s scheduled to wrap up in march. beljan belgian police have ruled out terrorism. authorities are puzzled about the reasons for carrying out this gun and grenade attack in downtown. those are the top stories from cnn, the world news leader. i m zain vergee. world business today starts now. hello and welcome to world business today, it s thursday, december 15th and i m nina dos santos at cnn london. and in hong kong, these are the top stories. export angst, disappointing stock day and manufacturing malaise sound alarm bells here in asia. cracks are appearing in the eu s agreement that was men to the save the single currency. and chinese internet senses are way in as anger over a land grab continues. debt and economic distress have dragged western economies down over the past few years, it seems as though asia had been appearing to defy gravity. now it seems the signs are that th