Author: Buzzo

Apple’s board has asked its investors to vote against a proposal to end its Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programmes.It comes after a conservative group, the National Center for Public Policy Research (NCPPR), called on the technology giant to abolish its DEI policies, saying they expose firms to “litigation, reputational and financial risks”.Apple’s directors say the NCPPR’s proposal is unnecessary because the company has appropriate checks and balances in place. Other major US firms, including Meta and Amazon, have rolled back DEI programmes ahead of the return to the White House this month of Donald Trump, who has been highly…

An 18-year-old Dalit woman from the southern India state of Kerala has accused 64 men of sexually abusing her since she was 13 years old. Police have arrested 28 people in connection with the case so far – the men are in custody and have not made any public statement.The accused, who range between 17 and 47 years of age, include the woman’s neighbours, sports coaches and her father’s friends, police told the BBC.The woman reported the alleged abuse after a team of counsellors working under a government scheme visited her house.Police have registered about 18 cases under India’s various…

AR Bernard, a prominent Brooklyn pastor appointed to Mayor Adams’ latest Charter Revision Commission, resigned from the panel Friday after the Daily News pressed questions about whether he was legally able to serve on it.The resignation came after The News asked Adams’ office late Thursday for comment about the fact that Bernard, who leads the city’s largest evangelical church, maintains a residency on Long Island. Under city law, members of Charter Revision Commissions must be New York City residents.“Reverend Bernard has informed the commission that he will be stepping down due to the time commitment that serving would require,” Frank…

An emergency task force arrived in Russia’s southern Krasnodar region on Sunday as an oil spill in the Kerch Strait from two storm-stricken tankers continues to spread a month after it was first detected, officials said. The task force, which includes Emergency Situations Minister Alexander Kurenkov, was set up after Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday called on authorities to ramp up the response to the spill, calling it “one of the most serious environmental challenges we have faced in recent years.”Kurenkov said that “the most difficult situation” had developed near the port of Taman in the Krasnodar region, where…

This game will forever be known as the “Divisional Doink” for the Washington Commanders, as Zane Gonzalez’s field goal to beat the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the Wild Card Round, 23-20, got a little help from the goal post. Getting the ball with 4:41 left to play in the fourth quarter after the Bucs tied it with a field goal at 20 apiece, Jayden Daniels and the Commanders’ offense were methodical with their drive, knowing that burning the right amount of clock could end in a game-winning field goal at the buzzer. There were a few crucial plays on the drive to…

Thousands of rainbow lorikeets and hundreds of flying foxes have been hospitalised in Queensland in the past year with a mysterious paralysis that can affect the animals’ ability to fly, swallow and even breathe.Lorikeet paralysis syndrome has struck birds in Queensland and New South Wales since at least 2012, and a similar syndrome was identified in flying foxes five years ago.Scientists don’t yet know whether the two syndromes have the same cause, but they overlap geographically and cases occur seasonally, spiking each December and January.In 2024, the RSPCA admitted 1,079 flying foxes to its wildlife hospital in Wacol, Brisbane, and…

Ankit SrinivasThe Mahakumbh Mela is taking place in the northern city of PrayagrajMillions of people are gathering in the northern Indian city of Prayagraj in Uttar Pradesh state to participate in the Mahakumbh Mela, the world’s largest gathering of humanity. Devout Hindus from all parts of the world have arrived here (and will continue to do so) over the course of six weeks to take a holy dip at Sangam – the confluence of India’s most sacred Ganges river with the Yamuna river and the mythical Saraswati. Hindus believe taking a dip in the sacred waters cleanses people of sins.Authorities…

A New Jersey mayor is proposing the idea of a reverse congestion pricing toll after New York City implemented its controversial congestion pricing toll last week.Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop, who is also running for governor of the Garden State, floated the idea, according to Fox 5 New York.”New Jersey has the same opportunity to push the buttons that New York is pushing against us,” Fulop told the outlet. “We could do that to them, but the goal is to get to a table to have a reasonable solution.”EX-NY STATE SENATOR TAUNTS NEW YORKER UPSET WITH CONGESTION TOLL: ‘GET OVER…

Our annual assessment of the world’s business bigwigs

Senior bankers at Lloyds could be at risk of having their bonuses docked if they fail to follow company orders to be in the office at least two days a week.Lloyds Banking Group – which owns the Halifax, Lloyds and Bank of Scotland brands – has confirmed it is reviewing office attendance as part of performance-related bonus targets for its most senior employees. That includes hybrid staff who, in 2023, were ordered to be in the office at least 40% of the time, which typically amounts to two days a week for those on full-time contracts.Ged Nichols, the general secretary…