Monthly Archives: March 2026

Oracle lays off people to reduce expenses during AI buildout

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Oracle laid off some workers on Tuesday, according to two employees and LinkedIn posts.The changes come as Oracle attempts to minimize costs.This year, the company’s stock has fallen roughly 30% as anxieties about AI have fueled a software sell-off.Oracle began laying off staff on Tuesday, according to two affected employees and multiple social media postings.The cuts appear to have affected staff worldwide, but the full scope of the layoffs could not be determined immediately.

More than a dozen people announced on LinkedIn on Tuesday that they had been affected by the layoffs.According to LinkedIn posts analyzed by Division Insider, affected roles appear to include employees from Oracle’s cloud computing division. Several of the employees that posted were software developers.Oracle’s representative declined to comment.Oracle has around 162,000 full-time employees as of May 2025, according to its most recent 10-K filing.

Oracle lays off people to reduce expenses during AI buildout

The changes are part of Oracle’s efforts to reduce costs. Earlier this month, Oracle officials encouraged investors not to be concerned about the company’s huge data center spending because it is “very, very good” at cost-cutting.Business Insider revealed in January that Oracle was having difficulty securing funding for Stargate, its $500 billion data center collaboration with OpenAI. Oracle launched a $50 billion debt offering in February to fund its infrastructure expansion.Oracle stock has fallen over 30% this year. Fears that AI would replace traditional software tools have caused a widespread sell-off in software equities.

Oracle lays

During an earnings call earlier in March, Oracle Chairman Larry Ellison downplayed similar concerns, telling analysts that the so-called SaaSpocalypse will be a problem for other companies but not his.The layoffs are the latest example of technology corporations decreasing headcount. Amazon announced in January that it would lose approximately 16,000 corporate jobs, months after laying off 14,000. Last year, Microsoft announced that it will remove approximately 15,000 roles.Last week, Meta began laying off hundreds of employees, following years of downsizing that resulted in the elimination of thousands of positions. 

Rec Room closed due to inability to become sustainably profitable

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Rec Room, a VR conversation and game platform, will cease operations on June 1, 2026. The title will be closed exactly ten years after its release.Rec Room developer Rec Room stated that they never found out how to efficiently monetize the experience, which was offered on a variety of VR platforms such as Meta Quest, PlayStation VR, and Pico.The game was also playable on console and PC without VR gear, and it included a suite of user-generated content (UGC) tools that allowed users to construct their own play experiences known as ‘Rooms.Rec Room was free to use; however, it did have purchaseable in-game currency in the form of tokens that could be spent on cosmetics. Rec Room Plus, an optional premium membership for $7.99/month, provides unique privileges like discounts, exclusive merchandise, and a monthly token allowance.

Rec Room closed due to inability to become sustainably profitable

Rec Room

The top UGC rooms had almost 500 years of playtime each. That is a large group of individuals enjoying a lot of fun. This community has accomplished tremendous things, which we will always be proud of. Even now, millions of people visit this joyful and welcoming place each month,” according to a blog post announcing the closure.Our expenses always exceeded the revenue we generated. We spent a long time trying to figure out how to make the numbers work. But with the current shift in the VR market, combined with larger challenges in gaming, the route to profitability has become so challenging that we’ve made the sad decision to shut things down.”Rec Room had already cut off almost half of its personnel in August 2025, citing the need to change depending on the “financial trajectory of the company.”In 2021, the studio raised $145 million, valued at $3.5 billion. It raised over $300 million in capital over its history. 

Lamar Odom said recalling the past is ‘like swimming in a quagmire of trauma

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The two-time NBA champion, who dribbled into the Kardashians’ reality while concealing a drug habit, is now a recovering addict nearing 60 days of recovery as we speak on March 24. (Odom completed a 30-day rehab term in February, following an arrest for driving under the influence the previous month.Odom has pleaded not guilty, and the bench trial is set on July 7. “Every recovering addict knows that you want to kind of stay away from things that were traumatizing in your life,” Odom says in an interview with USA Today.The 46-year-old, who has been sober since January 28, appreciates the opportunity to voice his thoughts, but revisiting the traumas and misdeeds in interviews comes at a cost.(His present companion has not been confirmed.) “And I attempt to get out of it, but the story keeps pulling me back in.But I know I’m bigger than this scenario, and I aim to help a lot of others by sharing my story. Not just via the story, but in everyday life, we may all conquer addiction.”

Lamar Odom believes a day at a Nevada brothel might be ‘a hit,’ but is concerned they may ‘want to finish the job

On Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2015, Odom was discovered unresponsive at a now-demolished brothel about 80 miles outside Las Vegas. “They need to hurry, please,” a person at the Love Ranch urged in a 911 call, “because he’s got blood hanging out of his nose and white stuff coming out of his mouth. They can’t wake him up.”Odom spent nearly three months rehabilitating at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. He claims he had 12 strokes and six heart attacks, but he eventually overcame doctors’ predictions that he would never walk or speak again.At the time of the event, Love Ranch staff told the Nye County Sheriff’s Office that Odom had used cocaine the day before and taken many sexual performance-enhancing tablets. However, Odom says he did not overdose on cocaine. “It was like a hit,” Odom describes what happened at the Love Ranch. “Obviously, they missed. I’m not sure if they want to finish the task.

Kobe Bryant advised Khloe Kardashian to undergo high-risk surgery, which had a 10% chance of success

In the documentary, Kardashian discloses that Odom’s lungs collapsed after his hospitalization. According to the host of the “Khloe in Wonder Land” podcast, Odom’s medical staff urged him to have surgery with a 10% chance of success or risk death on the operating table.

Lamar Odom said recalling the past is ‘like swimming in a quagmire of trauma

“Odom’s former Lakers colleague, the late Kobe Bryant, “helpedme make the choice to get the surgery,” Kardashian says in “Untold.” “We got his lungs to function, and he did not die. But he went into a coma.

Lamar Odom and KKhloeKardashian haven’t communicated, despite her participation in the documentary

Odom says he hasn’t spoken to or seen Kardashian, whom he divorced in 2016, since their televised reunion for Hulu’s “The Kardashians” in February 2025. Their meeting was occasionally unpleasant and tense. Kardashian responded to Odom’s overt friendliness with uneasy sentiments about their turbulent past.”To me, it didn’t really go well,” Odom admits. “It felt like she was on attack mode, but I can’t really invalidate her feelings, and I won’t. I nearly felt sorry for her as I walked away.Although I know she’s fine and has children (True and Tatum Thompson, with ex Tristan Thompson), I appreciate the pain I caused her.

New in iOS 26.5: Notification Forwarding and Apple Intelligence in China

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The first beta of iOS 26.5 has been released, with Apple Intelligence now available to customers in China and notification forwarding going beyond the EU.Apple began the iOS 26.4 beta testing cycle on Monday, less than a week after it was fully released to the public. The iPhone software upgrade bears the build number 23F5043g, which is up from 23E246 in the final version of iOS 26.4.

Apple Intelligence debuted in China.

According to many iOS users in China, including former leaker LoveToDream, Apple Intelligence features appear to have become available in the nation.Apple Intelligence first became available to customers in the United States with the iOS 18.1 upgrade. Apple eventually added support for regions and languages outside English. Users in China, however, will not obtain the AI-powered tools as rapidly.Apple Intelligence has to partner with a domestic AI company in order to launch in China, and the iPhone maker is said to have chosen Alibaba and Baidu.Throughout 2025, it was widely speculated that Alibaba’s involvement will include the development of a filtering layer for Apple Intelligence. In contrast, the iOS 26.5 developer beta on Monday refers to Baidu’s Wenxin Yiyan model rather than Alibaba’s.In any scenario,

Apple Intelligence customers in China will most likely be unable to access material that their government disagrees with or does not want made public. This effectively symbolizes a censored version of Apple Intelligence that is exclusive to China.While Apple Intelligence is now available to users of Monday’s developer beta, it has to be clear whether its China distribution is linked to the iOS 26.5 upgrade. The AI-powered feature set may also be available to Chinese customers running iOS 26.4 and earlier.

Notification forwarding is now available beyond the EU.

With the iOS 26.3 release, Apple implemented a notification forwarding capability to improve iPhone compatibility with non-Apple smartwatches. Initially, however, the functionality was only available within the European Union.

New in iOS 26.5: Notification Forwarding and Apple Intelligence in China

The new feature, located in the Notifications section of the Settings app, determines whether notifications from an iPhone can be seen on a non-Apple device.Notification forwarding was most likely intended to assure Apple’s compliance with the interoperability criteria outlined in the EU’s Digital Market Act. Essentially, the DMA forces Apple to make certain of its unique capabilities available on other manufacturers’ devices.Apple was similarly obliged to open up the iPhone’s NFC hardware, which aided Apple Wallet competitors. The iPhone maker later made the same capabilities available to developers in the United States, and it appears that notification forwarding will follow suit in iOS 26.5.Monday’s iOS 26.5 beta also allows developers to test end-to-end encrypted RCS communications. This capability has been available for testing since iOS 26.4’s second developer beta, but it has yet to be included in the public release.End-to-end encrypted RCS texting is still only available to developers and anyone who wants to test the technology.

There are no Siri improvements in iOS 26.5 yet.

While the iOS 26 version is most recognized for its Liquid Glass appearance, iOS 26.5 may bring Apple’s long-awaited Siri makeover. According to a February 2026 report, personalization options for the virtual assistant were being tried with iOS 26.5.Siri was expected to receive a significant update with the introduction of Apple Intelligence, which debuted at WWDC 2024. Apple’s virtual assistant was designed to improve in-app capabilities and contextual awareness, which Apple even promoted in ads.While the iPhone maker’s other AI-powered features, such as Image Playground and Writing Tools, were made accessible to the public, the contextually aware Siri was delayed.According to reports, Apple intends to deploy the Siri redesign with iOS 26.5 after failing to do so with the previous iOS 26.4 version. It’s unclear whether Siri will receive an update in iOS 26.5.Overall, based on the first developer beta, iOS 26.5 appears to be a more restrained release. Still, the software has only recently entered developer testing, so Apple has time to enable the much-anticipated Siri improvement later.

LeBron James’ triple-double leads the Lakers to victory over the Wizards in the absence of Luka Doncic

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Without Luka Doncic, the red-hot Los Angeles Lakers scarcely slowed down. LeBron James made certain of it.With Doncic out on Monday to serve a one-game suspension for his 16th technical foul of the season against the Brooklyn Nets on March 27.James had 12 assists and 10 rebounds to go with his 20 points, and LA’s offense worked, with six players scoring in double figures. Austin Reaves, Luke Kennard, and Jaxson Hayes all scored 19 points, with Reaves adding nine assists, while Rui Hachimura and Deandre Ayton scored 14 and 12, respectively, as the Lakers won their third straight game and 15th in their past 17 games.It was also James’ 1,228th career win, including playoffs, tying another Kareem Abdul-Jabbar record for most all-time.

LeBron James’ triple-double leads the Lakers to victory over the Wizards in the absence of Luka Doncic

LeBron James

“He’s very praiseworthy,” head coach JJ Redick told reporters after the game. “I’m not sure what more to say about him. At this stage. I’ve tried giving different versions of the same soliloquy about his lifespan.”Monday was about clinching a playoff position or the Pacific Division, which they had the opportunity to do. Los Angeles secured their victory over Washington, but they also required a loss by the Phoenix Suns, who pulled away from the Memphis Grizzlies in the fourth quarter to win, 131-105.On Tuesday, March 31, the Lakers will face the Cleveland Cavaliers, giving them a chance to win 50 games in a row for the first time since the 2009-10 and 2010-11 seasons. 

South Carolina routs TCU to reach sixth straight Final Four

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The road to the 2026 women’s collegiate basketball championship has taken shape in overpowering fashion, with four strong institutions (South Carolina Gamecocks, Texas Longhorns, UCLA Bruins, and UConn Huskies) securing their positions in the Final Four.South Carolina continues to appear practically unstoppable. The Gamecocks defeated TCU 78-52, securing their sixth consecutive Final Four appearance—an elite level of consistency rarely seen in NCAA history. Despite TCU’s strong start, South Carolina immediately seized control and never looked back.Their depth and scoring ability were on full show, with Joyce Edwards leading the way with 24 points and 12 rebounds. The team’s ability to dominate both ends of the court has made them the team to beat entering the semifinals.

Meanwhile, Texas provided one of the tournament’s most commanding performances, defeating Michigan 77-41. The Longhorns have won 12 consecutive games and appear to be peaking at the right time. Madison Booker led the team in scoring with 19 points, earning regional MVP honors.After experiencing some midseason challenges, Texas has completely transformed, playing with intensity and self-assurance. Their defense has been particularly impressive, limiting opponents’ shooting percentages while controlling the speed of play.UCLA’s route to the Final Four was not as straightforward, but it could have been just as significant. The Bruins trailed at halfway against a tough Duke team but rallied with a dominant second half to win 70-58. Senior Lauren Betts contributed 23 points and 10 rebounds to their comeback, demonstrating leadership and accountability.

South Carolina routs TCU to reach sixth straight Final Four

UCLA’s resiliency and ability to adapt under pressure could be crucial as they pursue their first national championship.On the other hand, UConn is continuing to build on its rich legacy. Despite a poor start, UConn recovered its flow in the second half, paced by Sarah Strong’s 21 points. Coach Geno Auriemma lauded the team’s tenacity and unity, stating that while they lack the swagger of previous groups, they play hard for one another.

TCU

With an unbeaten record and championship experience, UConn remains a strong contender.This year’s Final Four is remarkable because it includes the same four teams as the previous season, which is unusual in NCAA basketball. Fans throughout the United States can expect high-level action, tough matchups, and standout performances as these best programs compete for the national championship.With South Carolina facing UConn and Texas playing UCLA, the stage is set for an explosive matchup.Each team has a distinct strength—whether it is domination, momentum, resilience, or experience. One thing is certain: the journey to the title will be nothing short of exciting.

US food giant Sysco announces a $29 billion agreement for catering company Restaurant Depot

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Summary:

  • The deal will be financed with $21 billion in new and hybrid debt, with an additional $1 billion on hand.
  • Sysco shares are down roughly 8% in premarket trading.
  • Restaurant Depot shareholders will own approximately 16% of Sysco following the transaction.
  • Sysco suspends share repurchase program amid acquisition

Sysco (SYY.N) will buy catering supplier Jetro Restaurant Depot for $29 billion, including debt, boosting its presence among price-conscious independent eateries.Sysco’s shares, which have a market valuation of $39.2 billion, tumbled almost 8% in premarket trade after the firm announced that it will finance the acquisition with $21 billion in new and hybrid debt, as well as $1 billion in cash and equity.The acquisition would be the latest large deal across consumer-facing industries, following recent merger talks involving companies such as Unilever, Estee Lauder, and Pernod Ricard. Firms are seeking scale to withstand weakening demand and stubbornly increasing costs.

CASH AND CARRY HEFT

Jetro Restaurant Depot, a family-owned business, offers a wholesale cash-and-carry model where clients pay upfront for food, beverages, and takeaway containers. This complements Sysco’s delivery network that serves restaurants, hospitals, and hotels.

US food giant Sysco announces a $29 billion agreement for catering company Restaurant Depot

Sysco and Jetro Restaurant Depot will expand access to affordable, fresh food products and provide more choice and convenience for small independent restaurants and consumers, according to CEO Kevin Hourican in a statement. Restaurant Depot has approximately 166 warehouse locations across 35 U.S. states.Restaurant Depot shareholders will receive $21.6 billion in cash and 91.5 million Sysco shares, or approximately 16% of the merged company, according to the companies.Last year, US Foods (USFD.N) halted merger talks with Performance Food (PFGC.N), which would have combined the nation’s No. 2 and No. 3 food-service distributors to compete with industry leader Sysco and decrease costs.In June 2015, a US federal judge granted the Federal Trade Commission’s attempt to prevent Sysco’s $3.5 billion acquisition of US Foods.

The regulator said that the agreement would create a behemoth, potentially raising costs on items supplied to national customers.Sysco expects the transaction to increase profits per share by a mid- to high-single-digit percentage within the first year of closing, by the third quarter of fiscal 2027.The corporation has paused share repurchases and confirmed its yearly expectations. Sysco, a supplier of steaks, fillets, and frozen items to fast-food chains like KFC and Subway, upped its full-year profit prediction earlier this year, citing stable demand despite macroeconomic constraints.

Trump news at a glance: Generational divide over Iran war emerges at key conservative conference.

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Younger conservatives are dissatisfied with Donald Trump’s choice to initiate a war against Iran. Key US political articles from March 29.A generation gap has surfaced over the Iran conflict between elder guests and their political descendants at this year’s Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in Texas as the group’s leaders called for unity ahead of a difficult midterm election year for Republicans.Younger conservatives expressed dissatisfaction and even “betrayal” over Donald Trump’s commencement of strikes against Iran, claiming that the president’s actions contradict his previous promises to avoid foreign entanglements.Meanwhile, older conservatives were seeing past Trump’s campaign critique of military action to destabilize foreign regimes, claiming that the battle in Iran is a realistic decision motivated by dangers to the United States.

Maga’s fear over the Iran war is evident at CPAC.

CPAC is typically a source of hope, if not triumph. But, for the first time in a decade, the president did not attend, reportedly preoccupied with the war in Iran. In his absence, the crowd gathered in a large ballroom to hear well-known but less powerful Maga personalities discuss the direction of their movement. Their chief fear is how a president who campaigned on eliminating wars could be considering a ground invasion of Iran.

Iran accuses the US of planning a ground strike while offici

Iran has warned the US that it is ready to resist any ground assault, accusing Washington of secretly planning a land strike while outwardly seeking talks, as the war that has killed thousands of people and caused the most severe disruption to world energy supplies enters its second month.

Trump news at a glance: Generational divide over Iran war emerges at key conservative conference.

Lawmakers respond to reports. The Pentagon is preparing for ground operations in Iran.

US politicians have responded to allegations that the Pentagon is preparing for weeks of ground operations in Iran, as thousands of US troops gather in the Middle East and the fight appears to be approaching a more deadly phase.James Lankford, a Republican senator, told NBC’s Meet the Press that he had not ruled out assisting troops on the ground, but that “we need to know what the objectives are and what they’re actually doing.”

DHS has experienced the longest partial government shutdown in US history

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the fourth largest agency in the US government, had the longest partial closure in US history on Sunday. If the six-week partial shutdown continues into the weekend, it will be the longest closure ever, surpassing last year’s standoff, which lasted 43 days.

Despite bans, the US abortion rate remains stable, according to a new analysis

The abortion rate in the United States has remained stable despite total and partial restrictions in some states, owing primarily to cross-state travel and a major increase in telemedicine appointments, according to a recent analysis.Abortions in the United States climbed slightly last year, from 1.124 million to 1.126 million, according to Guttmacher Institute research. There is also a shift away from travel and toward telemedicine, in which clinicians may prescribe mail-order medications.

What else happened today?

In an apparent rebuke to the Trump administration, Pope Leo stated that God rejects the prayers of those who conduct war and have “hands full of blood.” The pontiff made the remarks on Sunday, as thousands of US troops arrived in the Middle East.According to organizers, more than 8 million people protested the Trump administration on Saturday in over 3,300 No Kings events in the United States and more than a dozen other countries.

MOSI to organize an Artemis II watch party

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On Wednesday, the Artemis II launch will be broadcast live in the Saunders Planetarium at the Museum of Science and Innovation in Tampa.Why it matters: You can witness NASA’s first crewed lunar mission in over 50 years inside an eight-story, 360-degree planetarium, one of the largest cinemas of its kind in America.The watch party coincides with the planetarium’s one-year anniversary and is part of the museum’s larger effort to turn itself into a full-day, multi-visit attraction.Since last April, there has been a film about Artemis II called “To the Moon.”MOSI’s watch party will include a live webcast of the launch and specialists answering audience questions. VIP tickets include food, drinks, and access to the dome’s rooftop and telescope.

MOSI to organize an Artemis II watch party

MOSI

Inside the room: I saw the Artemis II documentary in the planetarium last year, and I can’t describe how fantastic it was.Before the film began, the planetarium showed us the night skies above Tampa, and an attendant used a laser pen to point out constellations and explain their history.I thought the images were excellent (😉).If you go, general admission costs $30 for adults and $15 for children. VIP tickets cost $45, and they are only available to individuals 21 and older. 

The Vegas Golden Knights have announced changes to their coaching staff

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VEGAS (March 29, 2026) – Vegas Golden Knights General Manager Kelly McCrimmon announced today (March 29) the following changes to the team’s coaching staff: Bruce Cassidy has been released of his duties, and John Tortorella has been named head coach.”We thank Bruce Cassidy for his dedication to our hockey club and community over the past four seasons,” he stated.Bruce will be regarded with high regard by our organization for what he did here. With the stretch run of the 2025-26 regular season approaching, we believe a change is required for us to return to the standard of play expected of our team. We bring in John Tortorella, a Stanley Cup champion as well as one of the NHL’s most experienced and renowned coaches. His guidance will be invaluable to our team at this critical juncture in the season. We’re looking forward to welcoming John to Vegas.”

Tortorella has spent 23 seasons as an NHL head coach, the most recent with the Philadelphia Flyers (2022-25). Before coming to Philadelphia, he was the Columbus Blue Jackets’ head coach for six seasons (2015-21).He led Columbus to its first-ever second-round appearance in the Stanley Cup Playoffs in 2019, and after the Blue Jackets’ 2016-17 season, he was named the NHL’s top coach. Tortorella also served as head coach of the Vancouver Canucks (2013-14), New York Rangers (1999-00, 2008-13), and Tampa Bay Lightning (2000-08).

The Vegas Golden Knights have announced changes to their coaching staff

Vegas Golden Knights

Tortorella has coached 1,620 NHL games, ranking sixth overall and first among coaches born in the United States. His 770 wins rank second among American coaches and eighth among all NHL head coaches.Tortorella’s teams have won 56 more games in the postseason, including 12 visits to the Stanley Cup Playoffs overall. His teams won the division three times (2002-03, 2003-04, 2011-12), advanced to the conference finals twice (2003-04, 2011-12), and reached the Stanley Cup Final once (2003-04).For the first time in his career, the veteran coach’s name appeared on the Stanley Cup with Tampa Bay in 2004, and he also won the Jack Adams Award that year.

Tortorella is one of just four coaches in NHL history to have won the Jack Adams Award with two different teams.The Boston native has extensive international competition experience, most recently in February at the 2026 Olympic Winter Games, where he served as an assistant coach for the United States and helped the Americans win gold in Milan alongside forward Jack Eichel and defenseman Noah Hanifin.Tortorella was coaching at the Winter Olympics for the second time, having previously done so in 2010 when the Americans won a silver medal in Vancouver. Tortorella also served as an assistant coach for USA Hockey at the 2025 Four Nations Face-Off, as well as head coach for the 2016 World Cup of Hockey and the 2008 IIHF Men’s World Championship.