Author: News Desk

Seattle, Washington: Amazon has reinforced its return-to-office (RTO) policy, instructing corporate staff to spend 5 days a week in the office, as part of its ongoing effort to shift away from remote work. The company, which initially introduced a flexible hybrid model in 2021, is now pushing for more in-person collaboration, citing the importance of office culture and teamwork. The change will come into force from January. In an internal memo, Amazon’s HR chief noted that while remote work had been effective during the pandemic, it was crucial for employees to reconnect in physical office spaces to foster innovation, communication,…

Menlo Park, California: Meta has announced a ban on Russian state media outlets across its platforms, including Facebook and Instagram, due to concerns over ‘foreign interference activity’. The decision comes as part of Meta’s ongoing efforts to combat disinformation and propaganda campaigns, particularly those tied to government actors. The move is seen as a direct response to Russian state-backed operations aiming to influence public opinion during the ongoing geopolitical tensions related to the war in Ukraine. The company said in a written statement that, “After careful consideration, we expanded our ongoing enforcement against Russian state media outlets. Rossiya Segodnya, RT…

Abu Dhabi: The United Arab Emirates has launched its ambitious “Invest in the Emirates” campaign, extending a global invitation to the world’s top innovators, talents, and entrepreneurs to explore unparalleled opportunities within the country’s dynamic business landscape. The Invest UAE campaign takes place in major cities like Cannes, Munich, Paris, London, Zurich, Geneva, and New York. The campaign is introduced by Idris Elba, who will invite entrepreneurs and business leaders to bring their ideas to the UAE, where they can not only become reality but also reach global markets. The invest UAE offers a comprehensive resource for investors. The “Invest…

Afghanistan: The United Nations has shown concerns over the Taliban’s announcement of its suspension of polio vaccination campaigns in Afghanistan. Afghanistan is one of two countries in which the spread of the infectious paralyzing disease has never been stopped. The other is Pakistan. The World Health Organization (WHO) reported 18 polio cases in Afghanistan this year, all but two in the south of the country. That’s up from six cases in 2023. Earlier this year, the Taliban-controlled government made many controversial health decisions which made United Nations’ authorities grow concerned. In June, a Taliban Health Ministry stated that Afghanistan has recorded…

Shanghai: Shanghai has been hit by Typhoon Bebinca (Category 1 storm), the strongest to impact the city in 75 years. The typhoon caused landfall, bringing extreme winds and heavy rainfall that have led to widespread damage. According to the China Meteorological Administration, Typhoon Bebinca struck the coastal area of Lingang New City in eastern Shanghai around 7:30 local time (23:30 GMT). Thousands of residents in the Shanghai metropolitan area have been evacuated as Typhoon Bebinca strikes, with all flights at the city’s two main airports grounded. The China Meteorological Administration has issued a red alert, the highest level, as winds…

Palm Beach, Florida: Former President Donald Trump has confirmed he is ‘safe and well’ following an attempted assassination at his Florida golf course, which the FBI is now investigating. The incident occurred when a Secret Service agent noticed an AK-47-style weapon protruding from bushes ahead of where Trump was playing. The agent quickly engaged the suspect. The witnesses states that, the suspect fled the scene in a black Nissan but was soon apprehended by local authorities. A sheriff pulled the vehicle over, leading to the arrest of the potential suspect. Law enforcement later discovered a cache of items in the…

Yangon: Myanmar is grappling with severe flooding after Typhoon Yagi struck the country, bringing torrential rains and powerful winds. The typhoon has caused extensive damage, resulting in significant loss of life and widespread destruction. Heavy rainfall from the storm led to rivers overflowing and urban areas becoming submerged. More than 230,000 people have been displaced due to severe flooding in Myanmar, officials report. The ruling junta has requested international aid to address the crisis, with Naypyidaw the capital among the hardest-hit areas. Floods have claimed at least 33 lives, according to the military. Temporary relief camps have been established for…

Vatican City: Pope Francis has weighed in on the upcoming US election, urging voters to ‘choose the lesser evil’ amidst criticism directed at key candidates Kamala Harris and Donald Trump. The Pope’s comments reflect his concerns over the moral and ethical implications of the election choices face by the American voters. Pope did not directly name Kamala Harris or Donald Trump but referred to their policies and genders. He emphasized that Catholics should vote, stating, “Not voting is unacceptable. You must vote.” Pontiff also commented that, “”You must choose the lesser evil. Who is the lesser evil? That lady, or…

Houston: NASA astronauts Barry Butch Wilmore and Sunita Williams, currently stationed aboard the International Space Station (ISS), have openly expressed the challenges they are facing as their mission extends until 2025 in a live Q&A from the Space Station. Boeing’s inaugural astronaut mission concluded with the Starliner capsule safely returning to Earth while test pilots Barry Butch Wilmore and Sunita Williams are still aboard the spacecraft, remaining in space. Wilmore, the ISS Commander and Williams, a Flight Engineer have both acknowledged the strain of their prolonged stay. Wilmore stated that, “We encountered issues that made us uneasy about returning to…

Geneva: The World Health Organization (WHO) has unveiled comprehensive updates to its influenza care guidelines, reflecting the latest medical advancements and public health strategies. These revisions aim to improve prevention, diagnosis, and treatment, particularly in light of lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic. A multidisciplinary Guideline Development Group, consisting of content experts, clinicians, patients, ethicists, and methodologists, reviewed the available data to create these recommendations. They followed established standards for reliable guideline development, utilizing the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) methodology. Influenza is a global viral disease, causing around a billion cases annually, including 3–5 million severe…