Entertainment
Oracle fired up to 30,000 employees at 6:00 a.m. without any warning
Oracle Corporation, a major American multinational technology company, announced the elimination of major jobs on Tuesday, March 31.
The layoff, which is estimated to affect between 20,000 to 30,000 workers, accounting 18% of Oracle’s 162,000-person global workforce, arrived without any prior warning.
A brief formulaic message circulated around 6:00 a.m. EST with the title “Oracle Leadership.”
Employees in the US, India, and other countries received the same termination emails nearly simultaneously.
The message notified them of the termination of their roles due to organizational changes and that the day of the message was their last working day. Additionally, it also noted that information regarding severance packages would be sent via DocuSign.
For many affected employees, access to internal systems was denied immediately.
The most affected teams were Revenue and Health Sciences, and SaaS and Virtual Operations, in Oracle’s cloud computing business, which reportedly lost at least 30% of the workforce.
The massive layoffs are related to Oracle’s ambitious and debt-fueled push into artificial intelligence infrastructure development.
Oracle has taken on $58 billion in new debt in two months as it rushes to build artificial intelligence data centers.
The company’s shares have fallen by 30% since September 2025, and some banks are reportedly no longer lending to Oracle on its projects.
The news came amid Oracle reporting a 95% jump in net income, surpassing $6.13 billion last quarter.
Entertainment
Taylor Swift sued by Vegas performer for trademark infringement over “The Life of a Showgirl”
Taylor Swift is facing a new lawsuit over her latest album, “The Life of a Showgirl,” which accuses the singer of trademark infringement.
Filed Monday in federal court by Las Vegas performer Maren Wade, the complaint claims Swift titled her hit record despite being aware of its resemblance to the title of a column that Wade penned for Las Vegas Weekly called “Confessions of a Showgirl,” centered around anecdotes about her experiences in the entertainment industry. The column was first published in 2014, the document said, and Wade later adapted it into a live show and book by the same name.
Wade obtained a registered trademark for “Confessions of a Showgirl” from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office in 2015. The trademark eventually received “incontestable” status, signaling the owner’s right to exclusively use it after having done so consistently for a period of years, according to the lawsuit and the trademark office.
When Swift later applied to register a trademark of her own for “The Life of a Showgirl,” the office denied her application, allegedly on the grounds that its title was “confusingly similar” to Wade’s already established one, Wade’s attorney, Jaymie Parkkinen, told CBS News in a statement.
“They continued using it anyway, expanding it across a coordinated commercial program and distributing it through retail channels reaching millions of consumers” the lawsuit said, referring to Swift’s team. It added that Wade “was never contacted” about the name.
The lawsuit claims that Swift’s album title undermined Wade’s personal brand, after the performer had spent more than a decade building it.
“She registered it. She earned it,” said Parkkinen. “We have great respect for Swift’s talent and success, but trademark law exists to ensure that creators at all levels can protect what they’ve built. That’s what this case is about.”
Wade’s complaint said similarities between “Confessions of a Showgirl” and “The Life of a Showgirl” are “immediate,” as both titles “share the same structure, the same dominant phrase, and the same overall commercial impression.” It also said the brands “are used in overlapping markets and are directed at the same consumers.”
In addition to trademark infringement, the suit also accused Swift and UMG Recordings of unfair competition and, specifically, false designation, a law that prohibits goods or services circulated in commerce from misrepresenting their origins to consumers. UMG Recordings is a branch of Universal Music Group, to which Swift is signed. The lawsuit also named Bravado International Group Merchandising Services, Inc., another branch of UMG.
Wade is seeking unspecified damages for “the irreparable harm to her business, reputation, and goodwill” as a result of the alleged trademark violation, as well as a court order that would prevent Swift from continuing to use the title of her hit album.
Swift’s commercial success “does not depend on the continued use of any single designation,” the lawsuit argued, while “Confessions of a Showgirl” is Wade’s only trademark and the basis of her “professional identity and career.”
“It is not one mark among hundreds,” the complaint said. “It is the only one she has.”
Entertainment
King Charles important annual tradition hit with setback as warning issued
King Charles and Queen Camilla have upheld the crucial responsibility to carrying on some of the most important traditions that exist in the royal family.
The Maundy Thursday is a beloved tradition by Charles and he has never missed it save for 2024 when he had been recovering from his cancer diagnosis.
Observed on the final Thursday before Easter Sunday at the at St Asaph Cathedral in north Wales, it commemorates the Last Supper and the importance of humility and service to others. The monarch especially makes the trip to Wales.
He will be distributing special coins community members before returning to England for the Easter Sunday service at St George’s Chapel.
However, the service may not go smoothly as planned as anti-monarchy groups have announced their plans to protest in light of the Andrew-Epstein scandal and answer the burning questions of the public.
Republic released a statement that they will be heckling the members of the royal family during the service and demand how much did they know about the horrifying details that have come out in the Epstein files.
“On Maundy Thursday The King and Queen will be at St Asaph Cathedral in north Wales when 154 people will be given specially-struck silver coins in recognition of their Christian service to their churches and communities,” it read.
“The Royal Maundy service is an ancient tradition with rich symbolism from the Last Supper. Republic will be protesting the Royal Maundy service in St Asaph THIS THURSDAY.”
They added, “We’ll be asking Charles ‘What did you know?’ about the Andrew scandal. Join our demo, pledge to protest with us in Wales, link in bio! #NotMyKing #AbolishTheMonarchy #Epstein.”
The uproar has continued as the public has expressed their dismay over the delayed action taken for the shamed Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor. There are grievances about why the royals are still protecting the disgraced ex-prince despite the heinous allegations against him.
Entertainment
Rain, strong winds likely in Karachi from April 1
Rain is likely to begin in Karachi from the night of April 1, with the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) saying the chances of showers will be higher on April 2 as a westerly weather system enters Balochistan via Iran.
The Met Office said there would also remain a possibility of rain in Karachi on April 3, while rainfall in some areas could reach 50mm or more.
It warned that strong winds may also accompany the system, with wind speeds likely to reach 50 kilometres per hour or more.
According to the department, the weather system may continue to affect the country until April 4.
In a fresh advisory issued on Monday, the PMD warned of widespread rain, thunderstorms and strong winds across much of the country from April 1 to 4 as a westerly wave moves into southwestern Balochistan before gradually spreading to nearly all provinces over the following days.
Sindh is expected to be among the last provinces affected, with Karachi, Hyderabad, Sukkur, Larkana and several other cities likely to receive rain, thunderstorms and isolated hailstorms from April 2 through April 4.
The Met Office warned of serious secondary hazards during the period, saying windstorms and lightning may damage weak structures, electricity infrastructure, billboards and solar panels, while standing crops in Sindh and other provinces may also be at risk from hail and strong winds.
It added that daytime temperatures are expected to fall noticeably across the country during the spell and advised the public, tourists and travellers to exercise caution and avoid non-essential travel.
The PMD said the weather system is expected to persist beyond April 4 and that an updated advisory would be issued in due course.
All concerned authorities have been directed to remain vigilant and take necessary measures to prevent any untoward situation during the forecast period, the department said.
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