A tropical storm has brought destruction and fatalities to Australia as Cyclone Alfred made landfall near Brisbane, Queensland’s capital city. A body was found in floodwaters, and 13 military personnel were injured in a vehicle crash. The storm’s threat is not over, with officials warning residents to stay indoors and remain vigilant. Over 300,000 properties … Read more
The Oakland Athletics have secured their young outfielder Lawrence Butler with a seven-year contract extension worth $66.5 million, according to ESPN. The deal includes one club option and pays out the final two years of his free agent status. Butler had a breakout season last year, hitting .262/.317/.490 with 22 homers and 18 stolen bases. … Read more
Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP), led by Nigerian billionaire Adebayo Ogunlesi, has acquired the Panama Canal Ports for an estimated $23 billion. The deal comes after GIP’s acquisition of a UK airport and marks another significant expansion in the firm’s global infrastructure portfolio. The Hong Kong-based conglomerate Hutchison Port Holdings agreed to sell its shares in … Read more
Comedian Hannah Berner and her “Giggly Squad” podcast co-host Paige DeSorbo recently conducted interviews on the red carpet for Vanity Fair’s Oscars after-party event. However, one interview with rapper Megan Thee Stallion sparked controversy among TikTok users. During the conversation, both women fawned over Megan’s music, speaking in platitudes and talking over the hip-hop star. … Read more
For the second year in a row, billionaire Michael Bloomberg has taken the top spot on the annual Philanthropy 50 list, with a reported $3.7 billion donated to charitable causes in 2024. The media mogul attributes his generosity to wanting to experience satisfaction from giving, saying “I’ve never understood people who wait until they die … Read more
The Philadelphia Eagles have re-signed All-Pro linebacker Zack Baun to a three-year contract worth $51 million. The deal includes $34 million guaranteed at signing, and an additional $1.5 million in incentives and escalators. This makes Baun one of the highest-paid linebackers in the NFL. Baun had a remarkable season in 2024, going from being a … Read more
NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, who launched on a short mission to the International Space Station last year but were stuck in space for nine months, are finally returning to Earth. Their return comes after they spent nearly a year aboard the orbiting laboratory. The crew’s homecoming is expected to take place on … Read more
Google has announced two new AI-powered scam detection features for calls and text messages on Android devices. The goal is to protect users from sophisticated scams that may seem harmless at first but can quickly turn into riskier territory. The first feature, scam detection for messages, is now enabled by default in Google’s Messages app. … Read more
European equities have outperformed US stocks this year by the largest margin since 2000, according to Morgan Stanley. European stocks have risen on hopes of increased defense spending and an end to the war in Ukraine, which could stimulate growth. The German DAX index has gained nearly 17% so far this year, while France’s CAC … Read more
The UK has proposed a “coalition of the willing” to help Ukraine in its conflict with Russia, with around 20 countries expressing interest in joining the effort. The plan, spearheaded by the UK and France, aims to uphold any ceasefire in the war-torn country. However, Russia’s foreign minister Sergei Lavrov has warned that such a … Read more