NAACP lawsuit accuses Elon Musk’s xAI of polluting Black neighborhoods near Memphis

Suit alleges the billionaire’s AI company is illegally spewing toxic pollutants from its datacenter in the Memphis area

A new lawsuit accuses Elon Musk’s artificial intelligence company of illegally spewing toxic pollutants into residential neighborhoods on the border of Tennessee and Mississippi.

The suit, filed on Tuesday in Mississippi federal court, alleges xAI is violating the Clean Air Act due to emissions from its makeshift power plant in Southaven, Mississippi, which powers its datacenter there. The NAACP, represented by environmental groups Southern Environmental Law Center and Earthjustice, says xAI has been polluting areas with homes, schools and churches, including in historically Black communities, by using dozens of methane gas generators without permits.

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source https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2026/apr/14/naacp-lawsuit-elon-musk-xai-memphis

Trump’s ‘DoorDash grandma’ had lobbied for ‘no tax on tips’ policy

Sharon Simmons was photographed delivering McDonald’s to Trump on Monday but company admits it was a stunt

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The DoorDash delivery driver who had a turn in the national spotlight on Monday by bringing a fast-food order to Donald Trump at the White House has publicly touted the president’s so-called “no tax on tips” policy before – causing some to question the encounter’s authenticity and the company to confirm it was a stunt.

Sharon Simmons had lobbied in July 2025 in favor of the policy, which DoorDash supports, testifying in Congress that she was based in Nevada and driving for the delivery platform because her husband’s cancer treatments had made it difficult to make ends meet otherwise.

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source https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/apr/14/trump-doordash-delivery-grandma-mcdonalds

US blockade of Iranian ports explained in two minutes

The BBC's security correspondent Frank Gardner explains how the US blockade of Iranian ports will work.

What the U.S. Blockade of Iran and the Strait of Hormuz Might Look Like #wanitaxigo

Australia news live: Labor to boost spending on military drones; suspected crocodile remains found on Adelaide roadside

Richard Marles says between $2bn and $5bn will be spent on uncrewed and autonomous capabilities

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Marles says Australia still hopes strait of Hormuz will reopen as Trump blockade begins

The defence minister, Richard Marles, said Australia still wants to see the strait of Hormuz open after the US naval blockade of Iranian ports began on Monday evening.

We are working with all of our partners around efforts that are being taken forward in respect of the straits of Hormuz and how Australia can best contribute. … We really need to see what plays out throughout the remainder of the ceasefire.

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source https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/live/2026/apr/14/australia-news-live-politics-asx-reactions-fuel-crisis-oil-prices-anthony-albanese-labor-angus-taylor-coalition-immigration-policy-ntwnfb

Christine Fréchette Is Chosen to Lead Coalition Avenir Québec #wanitaxigo

Fried nuggets and steamed sponges off menu in school food overhaul in England

Campaigners welcome first update of school food standards in 13 years, which aims to help lower obesity rates

The government is to announce an overhaul to school food standards in England that will lead to calorific classics such as fish and chips and steamed sponges being banned.

The new rules of the first major update to school food standards in 13 years will apply from September. They are part of efforts to lower the rates of childhood obesity, with data for 2024 released by the NHS in January showing that 24% of nursery and primary school children were overweight or living with obesity.

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source https://www.theguardian.com/education/2026/apr/12/school-food-overhaul-england-fried-nuggets-steamed-sponges