David Lidsky's Blog, page 294

Saudi Arabia will host the 2034 World Cup. Groups call FIFA’s human rights record a ‘sham’

The win will kick off a decade of scrutiny on Saudi labor laws and treatment of workers mostly from South Asia needed to help build and upgrade 15 stadiums.

Saudi Arabia was officially confirmed Wednesday by FIFA as host of the 2034 World Cup in men’s soccer, giving the oil-rich kingdom its biggest prize yet for massive spending on global sports driven by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

The Arctic just got a dire climate report card—and under Trump things could get much worse

NOAA scientists have documented profound change in the frozen north as U.S. government science itself faces an uncertain future.

WASHINGTON, D.C.—The icy region at the top of the globe, lashed by wildfire and pelted with increasingly heavy precipitation, has tipped into “uncharted territory,” scientists reported Tuesday.

Thank your Amazon driver with a free $5 tip this holiday season

As Amazon gears up for a monumental sales season, their Thank My Driver feature makes it easy to spread gratitude with a no-cost $5 tip for delivery drivers.

Amazon is letting customers tip their delivery drivers at no extra charge. The company is bringing back Thank My Driver, a holiday promotion that allows anyone who shops on Amazon the ability to give a $5 tip to the drivers dropping packages on their doorsteps.

‘Monument Valley 3’ is here, and it’s breaking free from its M.C. Escher–inspired origins

The new game, made in partnership with Netflix, uses a more open world to explore themes of climate change.

The long-awaited mobile game Monument Valley 3 is here at last, and it’s breaking free from its original M.C. Escher–inspired confines to tackle a new theme: the ever-encroaching threat of climate change. 

Here’s what New York subway trains looked like at Christmas in the 1930s, according to social media influencers

People are dressing up in vintage outfits to ride the New York Transit Museum’s holiday nostalgia train cars—and you can too, for just the price of a MetroCard swipe.

It’s beginning to feel a lot like Christmas. This holiday season, social media influencers are hopping aboard a vintage New York City subway train to travel back in time, taking to TikTok and Instagram to share their outfits and experiences.

How McDonald’s was involved in almost every major news story this past year

It’s not just you: America’s most quintessential restaurant keeps showing up in headlines, including the CEO-shooter manhunt to a high-profile Trump campaign stunt.

As we look back on 2024, it’s surprising how frequently McDonald’s has played a role, or at least been involved, in major news events.

More Luigi Mangione crowdfunding campaigns pop up, but experts urge caution

Those who want to contribute to the legal defense of the alleged UnitedHealthcare CEO shooter should wait, say experts.

With the largest peer-to-peer fundraising site removing campaigns for the suspected shooter of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, supporters of Luigi Mangione are taking their efforts to other platforms, where they’re finding an environment that’s a bit more welcoming.

GM is pulling the funding for its Cruise robotaxi company

GM said it will fold Cruise employees into existing teams. It’s unclear if there will be layoffs.

General Motors is pulling funding from robotaxi company Cruise in order to focus on its own autonomous and assisted-driving systems.

Federal judge temporarily blocks Kroger’s $25 billion merger with Albertsons

The FTC argued that the Kroger-Albertsons merger would eliminate competition between the top two traditional grocery chains, leading to higher prices and reduced bargaining leverage for unionized workers.

A U.S. judge blocked the pending $25 billion merger of U.S. grocery chains Kroger and Albertsons on Tuesday, siding with the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) in a win for the Biden administration.

These 20 companies offer the best compensation in 2024, according to employee ratings

A new list from Comparably ranks companies based on how well their employees say they’re paid. Paycom, BCG, and Adobe came out on top.

Want a raise? You may want to look for a job at Paycom, Boston Consulting Group, or Adobe.