Thursday, April 30
Zohran Mamdani, a New York City mayoral candidate, identified as both "Asian" and "Black or African American" on his 2009 Columbia University application. Mamdani, born in Uganda to Indian parents, explained he aimed to capture the fullness of his background, as the form lacked a specific category for Indian-Ugandans.
Russian boxer Anastasia Luchkina is under fire after a video surfaced showing her giving an e-cigarette to Dana, an orangutan at a Crimean safari park. The endangered orangutan has since exhibited disturbing behavior, including loss of appetite and lethargy. Veterinarians are examining Dana, fearing she may have ingested the nicotine cartridge, while the incident has sparked widespread outrage and condemnation.
The US EPA has placed 139 employees on leave after they publicly criticised President Trump's environmental policies, accusing the administration of deregulation and ignoring scientific consensus. The EPA defended its action, citing a zero-tolerance policy for undermining the administration's agenda.
Sophia Hutchins, a 29-year-old transgender activist, entrepreneur, and Donald Trump campaign surrogate, tragically died in an ATV accident near Caitlyn Jenner's Malibu home. Hutchins' ATV collided with a car, sending her into a ravine. She was a close friend and manager of Jenner, and known for her political involvement and support of Trump.
Google has launched Veo 3, its advanced AI video creation tool, for Gemini users across the Middle East. Veo 3 transforms simple text prompts into realistic, eight-second videos with synchronized audio, dialogue, and effects. With cutting-edge physics and lip-syncing, it challenges competitors like OpenAI’s Sora, marking a new era of accessible AI-powered video production in the region.
The outburst ignited a social media firestorm. Critics noted the hypocrisy: Americans routinely devour burgers, tacos, fries, and pizza by hand, yet Gill condemned hand-eating as “uncivilised.” Many pointed out that billions eat with their hands daily, labelling his comments as pure racism. Images of President Trump eating pizza with his bare hands swiftly made the rounds, mocking the idea that hand-eating is somehow barbaric. In the end, people across Asia stood up for the common practice of eating with one’s hands, underlining that dining customs run deep in culture and are not to be dictated by Western lawmakers with fragile sensibilities.
A ferry, KMP Tunu Pratama Jaya, sank in rough seas near Bali, Indonesia, shortly after departing from Ketapang port in East Java. The incident resulted in at least four fatalities, with many individuals still missing. The ferry was carrying 65 people and 22 vehicles. Search and rescue operations are ongoing, involving multiple boats amidst challenging wave conditions.
