Author: News Desk

Sydney, Australia: Google and Meta will not be sponsoring the 2025 Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras, with event organizers stating that the companies no longer meet the festival’s partnership requirements. The two tech giants, both former sponsors, have scaled back their financial and public support amid broader reductions in diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives, particularly in the US. At the 47th annual Mardi Gras parade on Oxford Street next Saturday, 22nd Feb, the absence of Google and Meta will be notable. Meta had previously participated in the 2023 World Pride event in Sydney with a float and was…

Washington DC: The Trump administration has moved to revoke New York City’s congestion pricing program, arguing that it unfairly burdens working-class commuters while benefiting the city’s transit system. The program, which launched last month, imposes a $9 (£7.15) toll on vehicles entering Manhattan’s congestion zone between 60th Street and the southern tip of the island during peak hours. President Trump announced the decision on social media, declaring, “CONGESTION PRICING IS DEAD. Manhattan, and all of New York, is SAVED. LONG LIVE THE KING!” The administration contends that the federal government has jurisdiction over highways leading into the city and is…

Plano: KFC, the fast-food chain originally known as Kentucky Fried Chicken, is moving its US corporate headquarters from Louisville, Kentucky, to Plano, Texas, according to an announcement from its parent company, Yum Brands. The relocation will impact approximately 100 corporate employees and several remote workers, all of whom will receive relocation support. The move is part of Yum Brands’ broader restructuring plan, which will see KFC and Pizza Hut headquartered in Plano, while Taco Bell and Habit Burger & Grill remain in Irvine, California. In recent years, Texas has attracted numerous corporate relocations due to its lower taxes and business-friendly…

London: The UK government has initiated a major study to track the long-term effects of vaping on young people while rolling out an anti-vaping campaign targeting teenagers. The study, funded by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), will monitor 100,000 young people over 10 years, collecting health data and tracking their wellbeing and behaviors from ages eight to 18. With the long-term effects of vaping still unclear, officials hope this research will provide the most detailed insights yet into its impact on youth. Two additional studies will also contribute the latest findings on vaping. Public Health Minister Ashley Dalton stated that,…

Ontario, Canada: A Delta Air Lines flight from Minneapolis crash-landed and overturned while landing at Toronto Pearson Airport, leaving three passengers critically injured. Despite the severity of the incident, all 80 people on board—76 passengers and four crew members—survived, according to Deborah Flint, CEO of the Greater Toronto Airports Authority. Emergency responders transported 18 people to hospitals, including a child, a man in his 60s, and a woman in her 40s, who sustained critical injuries. Social media images show the aircraft flipped over on the snow-covered runway, missing at least one wing. The aircraft, a CRJ900 operating as Delta Flight…

San Francisco, USA: Meta has revealed its ambitious plans for Project Waterworth, a subsea cable system spanning 50,000km (31,000 miles) that will connect key regions, including the US, India, South Africa, Brazil, and other areas. This multi-billion-dollar project, once completed, will become the world’s longest underwater cable, revolutionizing global connectivity. The initiative aligns with Meta’s goal to enhance its AI capabilities and improve its technological infrastructure across the globe. Meta’s subsea cable will use a 24-fiber-pair system, offering higher capacity for data transfer. The tech giant envisions this project as a catalyst for economic cooperation, digital inclusion, and technological development…

Washington DC: President Donald Trump’s sweeping efforts to downsize the federal workforce have sparked a legal battle now heading to the Supreme Court. Trump’s administration has filed an emergency appeal seeking to overturn lower court rulings that temporarily reinstated Hampton Dellinger, head of the US Office of Special Counsel, after he was fired via email earlier this month. Dellinger, appointed by former President Joe Biden, argues that his dismissal violated federal law, which protects leaders of independent agencies from being removed by the president except for neglect, malfeasance, or inefficiency. A federal judge in Washington DC, issued a temporary order…

Wellington, New Zealand: New Zealand’s new tourism campaign, “Everyone must go!” has been met with ridicule and backlash, with many critics labeling it tone-deaf given the country’s current challenges. The NZD$500,000 campaign, aims to entice Australian visitors to New Zealand with radio and social media ads running between February and March. However, the slogan quickly became a target for mockery, with critics comparing it to a clearance sale or even a marketing campaign for the apocalypse. Tourism Minister Louise Upston defended the campaign, saying, “What this Tourism New Zealand campaign says to our Aussie mates is that we’re open for…

London: A fire erupted at the Chiltern Firehouse, a luxury hotel in Marylebone, forcing the evacuation of around 100 people on 14th of Feb, Friday. The London Fire Brigade (LFB) dispatched 20 fire engines and 125 firefighters to the scene, responding to the call at 2:52 PM. The fire started in ducting and spread from the ground floor to the roof of the four-storey hotel, reaching the second and third floors. The hotel’s restaurant is located on the ground floor. Crews worked for several hours in challenging conditions to contain the fire, preventing it from spreading to neighbouring buildings. While…

Munich: JD Vance shocked the Munich Security Conference (MSC) on Friday, 14th of February, with a forceful speech criticizing Washington’s allies, instead of Security and Defence. This year’s MSC was expected to address two key issues: ending the war in Ukraine without conceding to Russia and increasing Europe’s defence spending. However, US Vice President Vance took an unexpected approach, shifting the discussion away from these priorities. The 20-minute speech was met with near silence from the audience. Even an attempt at humour—”if American democracy can survive 10 years of Greta Thunberg scolding, you guys can survive a few months of…