3 stories you should have on your radar this week
We're living in a world where's there's a constant plethora of news – and it can be hard to stay on top of it all. Here, our 'News To Know' round-up has you covered, with our pick of six big and under-the-radar stories (so that you can breeze your way through any conversation at brunch this weekend)...
1) Filters have been banned in parts of America
Instagram users in Texas and Illinois were confused this week to discover certain filters were no longer available to them, after Meta (the company that owns the likes of IG and Facebook) removed them. Why? In a nutshell, both states have pretty strict biometric data laws (meaning laws relating to personal data, including the likes of facial recognition), and now a lawsuit has been filed by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton.
Paxton is basically claiming that Meta are breaking Texas' Capture or Use of Biometric Identifier Act by learning people's faces without permission via filters, so Meta have scrapped them (probably temporarily) in both states as a precaution. So... no more hilarious dog ear clips, then?
2) Footballer Jake Daniels has come out as gay
Something that's pretty major given the sporting world's lack of LGBTQ+ role models. When speaking his truth, 17-year-old Jake who plays for Blackpool said, "I've known my whole life that I'm gay, and I now feel that I'm ready to come out and be myself. [Nobody should] have to change who [they] are just to fit in."
LGBTQ+ charity, Stonewall, who are supporting him, said: "We are proud that Jake has felt able to share his truth with the world. To come out publicly as the first openly gay player in men's professional football in the UK in the last 30 years takes courage."
3) The Queen made a surprise visit to open her namesake tube line
After months of ill health – which forced her to cancel several high-profile engagements at the last minute – the Queen made a surprise visit to Paddington station in London to open the Elizabeth Line (which will connect East to West London and beyond). Announcing the Monarch’s attendance at the opening, a Buckingham Palace spokesperson said in a statement: "In a happy development, Her Majesty The Queen is attending today's event to mark the completion of the Elizabeth line."
At the opening, Her Majesty unveiled a plaque stating that she had “officially opened” the Elizabeth line, and spent about 10 minutes at the station – during which time she topped up an Oyster Card, much to the amusement of social media users. "Seeing the queen top up an oyster card has to be the funniest thing I’ve seen," one royal fan tweeted.