Author: Abhirami Priya

London: Amber weather warnings have been issued across parts of the UK as Storm Boelo brings powerful winds, heavy rainfall and the risk of flooding, with the strongest conditions expected in Scotland, Northern Ireland and northern England. The Met Office warnings came into force at 9 pm on October 24, with gusts of 60–70mph forecast across affected areas and the possibility of winds reaching 80mph in exposed coastal locations. The storm’s impact was already being felt on October 24, with gusts reaching 75mph at South Uist Range in the Western Isles of Scotland, according to the Met Office. The forecaster…

Paris: Luxury stores across France have boarded up their windows and increased security ahead of fresh protests scheduled for October 24, following widespread looting and vandalism during demonstrations last weekend. France, the world’s most visited country, attracts international shoppers who spend heavily on luxury goods, including Chanel handbags and Hermès scarves. However, renewed unrest poses another challenge for luxury brands already facing slowing demand and weaker consumer sentiment. Several retailers have opted to close their stores or reduce opening hours rather than risk further damage. A Rolex retailer and a De Beers store near Paris’ Place Vendome were set to…

London: Drought and extreme summer heat are changing the UK’s autumn season, causing trees to lose their leaves earlier than usual and affecting the colours traditionally seen across gardens and woodlands. At Wisley Garden in Surrey, south-east England, several drought-sensitive tree species, including birch, beech and sycamore, had shed much of their foliage by mid-October. Birch trees, which usually display bright yellow leaves in autumn, have lost their canopy early, leaving their pale bark exposed. The phenomenon, known as a ‘false autumn,’ occurs when extreme heat and dry conditions stress trees, prompting them to shed leaves prematurely to reduce water…

London: UK lawmakers have criticised the National Health Service’s (NHS) gradual rollout of Mounjaro, warning that the current plan will leave most eligible patients without access to the weight-loss drug for years and widen inequalities between those who can afford private treatment and those who cannot. The House of Commons Health Committee stated that only around 6 percent of eligible people would receive or be taking Mounjaro during the first three years of its NHS rollout. MPs described the plan as insufficient and called on the government to accelerate access to the medication. Mounjaro, also known as tirzepatide, belongs to…

Taipei: Taiwan is preparing for heavy rainfall and powerful winds as Typhoon Champi moves close to its eastern coast, bringing wind gusts of up to 191 km/h (119mph), disrupting air travel across East Asia and prompting authorities to issue urgent safety warnings. The storm is expected to bring as much as 90cm (35 inches) of rain through October 24, with the heaviest downpours forecast for the same day. Although it remains unclear whether the typhoon’s eye will make landfall, Taiwan’s weather authorities currently consider a direct landfall unlikely. Champi is moving northwest before turning northeast and is expected to slow…

Paris: French health authorities have reported the first known human infection with the Shamonda virus, a pathogen that primarily affects livestock. The patient, who was severely immunocompromised and hospitalised for a serious medical condition, died earlier this month. “Despite circulating in Africa and Asia for several decades, the Shamonda virus has never previously been detected in humans,” the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control said in a joint statement. Authorities said there was “no health risk to the general public identified at this time,” adding that the infection appeared to be ” an exceptional case involving a severely immunocompromised…

London: Barclays plans to reduce its workforce by around 5,000 positions as the banking group continues to modernise its operations and expand the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in its business processes. The bank stated that approximately 1,000 positions had already been eliminated, with a further 4,000 job cuts expected to be completed by the end of 2026. The reductions represent around 5 percent of its global workforce, with most affecting operational and functional roles. Barclays described the changes as part of an ongoing modernisation strategy, noting that investment in AI complements broader efforts to simplify its operations and improve…

Milan: Smart glasses that resemble conventional eyewear are facing increased scrutiny from European regulators and privacy advocacy groups, raising questions about whether the market can sustain its rapid growth as EssilorLuxottica prepares to report its third-quarter results. The Ray-Ban maker launched its Meta smart glasses in 2023 in partnership with Meta. The devices feature cameras and recording capabilities, and their popularity has helped drive rapid expansion in the AI-powered eyewear market. Global shipments of AI-enabled glasses rose to 8.4 million units in 2025, up from around 2.1 million in 2024, according to research firm Omdia. EssilorLuxottica’s Meta-branded eyewear accounted for…

Austin: AstraZeneca has partnered with Oracle to use artificial intelligence (AI) and real-world healthcare data to improve clinical research, identify eligible patients for trials, and monitor potential safety risks. The collaboration will combine AstraZeneca’s drug development expertise with Oracle’s AI technology and healthcare data capabilities to improve patient matching and support clinical research. Initial work will focus on cancer, cardiovascular, respiratory, immunology, and rare diseases, with the technology also offering potential to support earlier diagnosis of serious conditions. The first project will focus on hypertension research in Abu Dhabi, in partnership with UAE-based healthcare company M42. Patient recruitment remains a…

London: The annual Orionid meteor shower is expected to reach its peak this week, giving skywatchers an opportunity to see bright streaks produced by dust from Halley’s comet as it enters Earth’s atmosphere. The shower occurs every October when Earth travels through a trail of debris left by the famous comet. The tiny particles enter the atmosphere at speeds of around 66 kilometres per second, heating the surrounding air and creating the brief flashes of light known as meteors. This year, the Orionids are forecast to peak overnight on October 21–22. Under ideal viewing conditions, observers could spot between 10…