Venice kicked off its annual carnival with a vibrant boat parade on the Grand Canal on February 2, 2026, marking the start of festivities themed around the upcoming 2026 Winter Olympics, according to Euronews. Dozens of brightly decorated boats, crewed by rowers in elaborate costumes, traversed the lagoon as crowds gathered on bridges and along the banks. The procession concluded near the Rialto Bridge, where confetti rained down on the boats and spectators, Euronews reported.
The carnival, which runs until February 17, will feature parades, masquerade balls, and other events, Euronews stated. The "Olympus" theme is intended to tie the carnival to the 2026 Winter Olympics.
In other news, Starbucks is implementing new technologies, including AI robots, to improve efficiency and customer service, BBC Business reported. The coffee chain is testing AI robots to take orders at drive-thrus and virtual personal assistants to help baristas with recipes and schedules. Scanning tools are also being used to manage inventory and address out-of-stock issues, according to BBC Business. Starbucks CEO Brian Niccol did not rule out price increases as the company attempts to reverse sluggish profits, BBC Business noted.
Meanwhile, in Kyiv, Ukraine, a shift in public sentiment regarding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict has emerged, Al Jazeera reported. Despite initial support from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for Israel at the start of the war in Gaza in October 2023, protesters in Kyiv rallied in solidarity with Palestine in August, linking the experiences of the two war-torn communities, according to Al Jazeera.
In Tampa, Florida, the Tampa Bay Lightning hockey team paid tribute to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers before their Stadium Series game against the Boston Bruins on Sunday night, Fox News reported. Lightning players arrived at Raymond James Stadium, home of the Buccaneers, wearing full "Creamsicle" throwback Bucs uniforms, including pads and helmets.
Lalo de Almeida, a documentary photographer based in São Paulo, Brazil, is showcasing his award-winning images of the Pantanal wildfires in a major exhibition in London, The Guardian reported. His photo essay "Pantanal Ablaze" won first place in the environment stories category at the World Press Photo contest in 2021. De Almeida also won the Eugene Smith grant in humanistic photography and World Press Photos long-term project award for his work "Amazonian Dystopia," which documents the exploitation of the world's largest tropical forest, according to The Guardian.
Discussion
AI Experts & Community
Be the first to comment