<p>Facebook recently sent an email to its employees asking them to preserve internal documents and communications, dating back to 2016, for legal reasons. This comes as multiple governments are launching inquiries into the social media giant, following a series of revelations by the whistleblower's documents.&nbsp;</p>

<p>A Facebook spokesperson said, "On Tuesday, Facebook sent a legal hold notice to all personnel. Document preservation requests are part of the process of responding to legal inquiries."</p>

<p>Frances Haugen, who is a Facebook data scientist turned whistleblower, appeared before a UK Parliamentary committee and said that Facebook will fuel more violent unrest around the world. This is because of the way its algorithms are designed to promote divisive content.</p>

<p>"The events we're seeing around the world, things like Myanmar and Ethiopia, those are the opening chapters because engagement-based ranking does two things: one, it prioritises and amplifies divisive and polarising extreme content and two it concentrates it," she said.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/frances-haugen-to-testify-about-facebook-and-online-harm-423860"><strong>Also read |&nbsp;Frances Haugen to testify about Facebook and online harm</strong></a></p>

<p>Haugen said she had come forward "because now is the most critical time to act". She further explained Facebook groups increases online hate as she said that the algorithms that prioritise engagement take people with mainstream interests and push them to the extremes.</p>

<p>As per Haugen, the company could add moderators to prevent groups from being used to spread extremist views.</p>

<p>These reports have raised a range of questions about the company’s workings, including the impact it can cause on a person's mental health.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Facebook has called the reports a “coordinated effort to selectively use leaked documents to create a false picture about our company”.&nbsp;</p>


Facebook recently sent an email to its employees asking them to preserve internal documents and communications, dating back to 2016, for legal reasons. This comes as multiple governments are launching inquiries into the social media giant, following a series of revelations by the whistleblower's documents.

Facebook recently sent an email to its employees asking them to preserve internal documents and communications, dating back to 2016, for legal reasons. This comes as multiple governments are launching inquiries into the social media giant, following a series of revelations by the whistleblower's documents. A Facebook spokesperson said, "On Tuesday, Facebook sent a legal hold notice to all personnel. Document preservation requests are part of the process of responding to legal inquiries." Frances Haugen, who is a Facebook data scientist turned whistleblower, appeared before a UK Parliamentary committee and said that Facebook will fuel more violent unrest around the world. This is because of the way its algorithms are designed to promote divisive content. "The events we're seeing around the world, things like Myanmar and Ethiopia, those are the opening chapters because engagement-based ranking does two things: one, it prioritises and amplifies divisive and polarising extreme content and two it concentrates it," she said. Also read | Frances Haugen to testify about Facebook and online harm Haugen said she had come forward "because now is the most critical time to act". She further explained Facebook groups increases online hate as she said that the algorithms that prioritise engagement take people with mainstream interests and push them to the extremes. As per Haugen, the company could add moderators to prevent groups from being used to spread extremist views. These reports have raised a range of questions about the company’s workings, including the impact it can cause on a person's mental health. Facebook has called the reports a “coordinated effort to selectively use leaked documents to create a false picture about our company”.

Facebook asks staff to preserve records dating back to 2016 amid inquiries

<p>Canada's health industry is now bracing for staff shortages and layoffs, as deadlines for vaccine mandates loom across the country. This comes in when the unions are pushing federal and provincial governments to soften hard-line stances.</p>

<p>In hospitals and nursing homes, a shortage of workers would strain the overburdened workforce which is now dealing with nearly two years of the pandemic.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Devon Greyson, assistant professor of public health at the University of British Columbia said that it is still not clear how the workers will respond.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"A shortage of workers can mean people's health and well being. It's scary," Greyson said.</p>

<p>He added, "We're in an ethical situation where it's also scary not to ensure that all health workers are vaccinated. So it's a bit of a Catch-22."</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/finally-canada-secures-release-of-two-nationals-detained-in-china-for-three-years-415766"><strong>Also read |&nbsp;Finally, Canada secures release of two nationals detained in China for three years</strong></a></p>

<p>Prime Minister Justin Trudeau unveiled one of the strictest vaccine mandates in the world last week as he said that unvaccinated federal employees will be sent on unpaid leave.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Also, he made COVID-19 shots mandatory for air, train and ship passengers.</p>

<p>Layoffs have already started to hit. One hospital in southern Ontario last week dumped 57 employees, representing 2.5 per cent of staff after its vaccine mandate came into effect.&nbsp;</p>

<p>A long-term care home in Toronto put 36 per cent of its staff on unpaid leave after they refused to get vaccinated.</p>

<p>Quebec is offering C$15,000 bonuses to help attract and retain about 4,300 full-time nurses. With this, some 25,000 healthcare workers who are yet not fully vaccinated ahead of an October 15 deadline might have to face suspension without pay, said Christian Dubé, the province's health minister.</p>

<p>Alberta has one of the lowest vaccination rates in Canada, and its hospitals have been overwhelmed by the fourth wave.</p>


Canada's health industry is now bracing for staff shortages and layoffs, as deadlines for vaccine mandates loom across the country. This comes in when the unions are pushing federal and provincial governments to soften hard-line stances.

Canada's health industry is now bracing for staff shortages and layoffs, as deadlines for vaccine mandates loom across the country. This comes in when the unions are pushing federal and provincial governments to soften hard-line stances. In hospitals and nursing homes, a shortage of workers would strain the overburdened workforce which is now dealing with nearly two years of the pandemic. Devon Greyson, assistant professor of public health at the University of British Columbia said that it is still not clear how the workers will respond. "A shortage of workers can mean people's health and well being. It's scary," Greyson said. He added, "We're in an ethical situation where it's also scary not to ensure that all health workers are vaccinated. So it's a bit of a Catch-22." Also read | Finally, Canada secures release of two nationals detained in China for three years Prime Minister Justin Trudeau unveiled one of the strictest vaccine mandates in the world last week as he said that unvaccinated federal employees will be sent on unpaid leave. Also, he made COVID-19 shots mandatory for air, train and ship passengers. Layoffs have already started to hit. One hospital in southern Ontario last week dumped 57 employees, representing 2.5 per cent of staff after its vaccine mandate came into effect. A long-term care home in Toronto put 36 per cent of its staff on unpaid leave after they refused to get vaccinated. Quebec is offering C$15,000 bonuses to help attract and retain about 4,300 full-time nurses. With this, some 25,000 healthcare workers who are yet not fully vaccinated ahead of an October 15 deadline might have to face suspension without pay, said Christian Dubé, the province's health minister. Alberta has one of the lowest vaccination rates in Canada, and its hospitals have been overwhelmed by the fourth wave.

Canada: Overworked healthcare sector brace for staff shortages with upcoming vaccine mandates

<p>A new survey has revealed that staff shortages can now be seen in every sector, including farming and hospitality, in the UK. This is putting &nbsp;“severe pressure” on medium-sized businesses.</p>

<p>More than a quarter of the 500 firms said that the lack of staff was putting pressure on their operations. This contributed to the reduction of stock thus disrupting the supply chain.</p>

<p>Some firms have considered cutting production, while others have planned to raise prices.&nbsp;</p>

<p>As per the report, &nbsp;the knock-on effects for consumers could be “significant." The report has been released by accountancy and advisory firm BDO.</p>

<p>DO partner Ed Dwan was quoted by The Guardian as saying, "Brexit, global supply chain issues and the long tail of Covid-19 has created a perfect storm for UK businesses."</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/watch-uk-fuel-crisis-as-people-wait-in-queues-man-rides-horse-into-gas-station-mocks-those-waiting-to-fill-up-on-fuel-417393"><strong>Also read |&nbsp;Watch: UK Fuel crisis, as people wait in queues, man rides horse into gas station, mocks those waiting to fill up on fuel</strong></a></p>

<p>“After navigating the challenges of the pandemic and hoping for some respite, businesses have found themselves facing more major disruption, with those across almost all sectors reporting staff shortages.</p>

<p>“This is an era of upheaval, and the challenges faced by the UK’s mid-tier – the engine of the UK’s economy – points to a long road ahead,” Dwan said.</p>

<p>Shortages of workers in the wake of Brexit and the COVID-19 pandemic have sown disarray through some sectors of the world's fifth-largest economy, disrupting deliveries of fuel and medicines and even raising fears of a mass cull of livestock.</p>

<p>British ministers have for days insisted the crisis is abating or even over, though retailers said more than 2,000 gas stations were dry and Reuters reporters across London and southern England said dozens of pumps were still closed.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/british-army-set-to-delivering-fuel-in-uk-from-monday-government-417516"><strong>Also read |&nbsp;British army set to delivering fuel in UK from Monday: Government</strong></a></p>

<p>Queues of often irate drivers snaked back from those gas stations that were still open in London.</p>

<p>The Petrol Retailers Association (PRA), which represents 65 per cent of Britain's 8,380 forecourts, said members reported on</p>

<p>Thursday that 27 per cent of pumps were dry, 21 per cent had just one fuel type in stock and 52 per cent had enough petrol and diesel.</p>


A new survey has revealed that staff shortages can now be seen in every sector, including farming and hospitality, in the UK. This is putting “severe pressure” on medium-sized businesses.

A new survey has revealed that staff shortages can now be seen in every sector, including farming and hospitality, in the UK. This is putting “severe pressure” on medium-sized businesses. More than a quarter of the 500 firms said that the lack of staff was putting pressure on their operations. This contributed to the reduction of stock thus disrupting the supply chain. Some firms have considered cutting production, while others have planned to raise prices. As per the report, the knock-on effects for consumers could be “significant." The report has been released by accountancy and advisory firm BDO. DO partner Ed Dwan was quoted by The Guardian as saying, "Brexit, global supply chain issues and the long tail of Covid-19 has created a perfect storm for UK businesses." Also read | Watch: UK Fuel crisis, as people wait in queues, man rides horse into gas station, mocks those waiting to fill up on fuel “After navigating the challenges of the pandemic and hoping for some respite, businesses have found themselves facing more major disruption, with those across almost all sectors reporting staff shortages. “This is an era of upheaval, and the challenges faced by the UK’s mid-tier – the engine of the UK’s economy – points to a long road ahead,” Dwan said. Shortages of workers in the wake of Brexit and the COVID-19 pandemic have sown disarray through some sectors of the world's fifth-largest economy, disrupting deliveries of fuel and medicines and even raising fears of a mass cull of livestock. British ministers have for days insisted the crisis is abating or even over, though retailers said more than 2,000 gas stations were dry and Reuters reporters across London and southern England said dozens of pumps were still closed. Also read | British army set to delivering fuel in UK from Monday: Government Queues of often irate drivers snaked back from those gas stations that were still open in London. The Petrol Retailers Association (PRA), which represents 65 per cent of Britain's 8,380 forecourts, said members reported on Thursday that 27 per cent of pumps were dry, 21 per cent had just one fuel type in stock and 52 per cent had enough petrol and diesel.

Staff shortage hampering every sector in the UK, says survey

<p>In what can be termed as a unique incident, a post of a Jaipur-based company’s CEO has gone viral. The post was shared on Instagram by Vervelogic, a Digital Solutions provider. &nbsp;</p>

<p>Several netizens are praising the CEO and several people have also asked for a job in the company. &nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Watch:&nbsp;</strong>Quirky bikes on display at Toy Museum in St Petersburg</p>

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<p>In the post on the official handle, CEO Abhishek Jain shared a information for employees that the company has declared a holiday for its employees on September 3. &nbsp;</p>

<p>It was done to ensure the employees can watch the premiere of the final season of 'Money Heist', which is scheduled to release on the day. &nbsp;</p>

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<p>The CEO called it ‘Netflix and chill holiday’ and told to avoid false leave emails and mass bunks. “Everyone can take a day off and enjoy the show without made-up excuses,” said Jain.</p>

<p><strong>Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/hollywood/news-mission-impossible-sues-insurance-company-over-7-covid-19-shutdowns-409545" hreflang="en">'Mission: Impossible' sues insurance company over 7 COVID-19 shutdowns</a></strong>&nbsp;</p>

<p>A unique way to 'thank employees', the post seems to have won several hearts and got many praises. It was also flooded with 'how can I apply for a job here?' comments. &nbsp;</p>

<p>It seems to have become a precedent, which others could take note of.&nbsp;</p>


In what can be termed as a unique incident, a post of a Jaipur-based company’s CEO has gone viral. The post was shared on Instagram by Vervelogic, a Digital Solutions provider.

In what can be termed as a unique incident, a post of a Jaipur-based company’s CEO has gone viral. The post was shared on Instagram by Vervelogic, a Digital Solutions provider. Several netizens are praising the CEO and several people have also asked for a job in the company. Watch: Quirky bikes on display at Toy Museum in St Petersburg × In the post on the official handle, CEO Abhishek Jain shared a information for employees that the company has declared a holiday for its employees on September 3. It was done to ensure the employees can watch the premiere of the final season of 'Money Heist', which is scheduled to release on the day. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Verve Logic (@vervelogicin) × The CEO called it ‘Netflix and chill holiday’ and told to avoid false leave emails and mass bunks. “Everyone can take a day off and enjoy the show without made-up excuses,” said Jain. Also Read: 'Mission: Impossible' sues insurance company over 7 COVID-19 shutdowns A unique way to 'thank employees', the post seems to have won several hearts and got many praises. It was also flooded with 'how can I apply for a job here?' comments. It seems to have become a precedent, which others could take note of.

In a first, Indian CEO declares ‘Netflix and chill holiday’ for staff, gets flooded with employment requests

<p lang="EN-US" paraeid="{e86decf1-d495-481c-b3f4-7ea2b0c1fb50}{49}" paraid="358586426" >Indian government decided to&nbsp;evacuate its&nbsp;embassy officials in Kabul, including the ambassador&nbsp;and bring them back home, a spokesperson for foreign ministry confirmed&nbsp;in New Delhi&nbsp;on Tuesday.&nbsp;</p>

<p lang="EN-US" paraeid="{becf9f77-046c-445c-bc3c-6f18f1a22c53}{104}" paraid="1877306842" >As per reports, an&nbsp;Indian Air Force C-17 aircraft had taken off from Kabul&nbsp;on Tuesday. The aircraft has landed&nbsp;in Jamnagar, Gujarat. It was carrying more than&nbsp;120 Indian&nbsp;embassy&nbsp;officials.&nbsp;</p>

<p lang="EN-US" paraeid="{becf9f77-046c-445c-bc3c-6f18f1a22c53}{104}" paraid="1877306842" >As part of the emergency evacuation in view of the prevailing situation in the Afghan capital,&nbsp;the&nbsp;staff&nbsp;of Indian embassy in Kabul&nbsp;was brought inside the secure areas of the airport safely&nbsp;late&nbsp;on Monday, reports said&nbsp;citing&nbsp;people familiar with the development.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p lang="EN-US" paraeid="{fad2d922-b822-4f48-b854-cef58068d232}{125}" paraid="1096833056" >In a tweet,&nbsp;External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said, “In view of the prevailing circumstances, it has been decided that our Ambassador in Kabul and his Indian staff will move to India immediately.”&nbsp;</p>

<p lang="EN-US" paraeid="{e2c90aff-b41e-42fe-bf1f-08d2535e91df}{181}" paraid="603645639" >The situation has worsened in Afghanistan&nbsp;after the country was&nbsp;taken over by the Taliban.&nbsp;Thousands of people in desperation to flee&nbsp;the&nbsp;country&nbsp;thronged Kabul's airport on Monday.&nbsp;</p>

<p lang="EN-US" paraeid="{e2c90aff-b41e-42fe-bf1f-08d2535e91df}{175}" paraid="738692707" >On Monday, an&nbsp;IAF&nbsp;heavy-lift transport aircraft brought back some personnel to India. The&nbsp;Tuesday's flight is the second one to bring the officials.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p lang="EN-US" paraeid="{3751d252-2eb6-4ab7-904c-240b8639f2e0}{86}" paraid="1402124653" ><em>(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;</em></p>


Indian government decided to evacuate its embassy officials in Kabul, including the ambassador and bring them back home, a spokesperson for foreign ministry confirmed in New Delhi on Tuesday.

Indian government decided to evacuate its embassy officials in Kabul, including the ambassador and bring them back home, a spokesperson for foreign ministry confirmed in New Delhi on Tuesday. As per reports, an Indian Air Force C-17 aircraft had taken off from Kabul on Tuesday. The aircraft has landed in Jamnagar, Gujarat. It was carrying more than 120 Indian embassy officials. As part of the emergency evacuation in view of the prevailing situation in the Afghan capital, the staff of Indian embassy in Kabul was brought inside the secure areas of the airport safely late on Monday, reports said citing people familiar with the development. In a tweet, External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said, “In view of the prevailing circumstances, it has been decided that our Ambassador in Kabul and his Indian staff will move to India immediately.” The situation has worsened in Afghanistan after the country was taken over by the Taliban. Thousands of people in desperation to flee the country thronged Kabul's airport on Monday. On Monday, an IAF heavy-lift transport aircraft brought back some personnel to India. The Tuesday's flight is the second one to bring the officials. (With inputs from agencies)

India brings back its embassy staff from Kabul; flight lands in Jamnagar 

<p lang="EN-US" paraeid="{0b5cb76a-57ff-448f-ba7d-8a146e7c0a41}{249}" paraid="108784712" >A&nbsp;birthday&nbsp;celebration is one of those happy moments where&nbsp;the&nbsp;joy grows manifolds with the presence of loved ones.&nbsp;But sadly, not everybody is lucky.&nbsp;</p>

<p lang="EN-US" paraeid="{2834a801-b32f-4392-abcd-1dd4791bc1fd}{237}" paraid="395042705" >In a video posted on&nbsp;Twitter, a&nbsp;restaurant's&nbsp;staff&nbsp;and other diners&nbsp;won praise and warmed hearts after joining with a woman,&nbsp;who was celebrating her birthday alone&nbsp;by cutting a cake.&nbsp;</p>

<p lang="EN-US" paraeid="{c74c14bd-64e3-4596-bdc9-deec3e7cd64a}{133}" paraid="1516947202" >The heart touching moment was captured on&nbsp;the CCTV camera.&nbsp;The selfless&nbsp;gesture was highly&nbsp;appreciated by netizens on social media.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">This lady was celebrating her birthday — by herself — until she was joined by other patrons and staff once they realize she's celebrating all alone.<br />
<br />
Humanity. Break out the tissues…<a href="https://t.co/Ho17MysEpw">pic.twitter.com/Ho17MysEpw</a></p>
— Rex Chapman🏇🏼 (@RexChapman) <a href="https://twitter.com/RexChapman/status/1416432175344283653?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 17, 2021</a></blockquote>
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<p>The video has already garnered over 1.8 million views. The&nbsp;caption of the clip says,&nbsp;"Woman who is celebrating her birthday by herself is joined by other patrons and staff once they realize she's alone."&nbsp;</p>

<p lang="EN-US" paraeid="{d2d34a30-cdd8-4f77-ace7-af999db3d54f}{2}" paraid="1997359778" >In&nbsp;it,&nbsp;a woman wearing a mask&nbsp;can be&nbsp;seen sitting alone with a birthday cake in front of her&nbsp;on the table.&nbsp;She starts to clap and sing to herself in order to celebrate her birthday. She gets filled with joy&nbsp;when she sees&nbsp;restaurant staff and other diners join her in the celebration. The woman is seen wiping off tears after she was touched by their&nbsp;gesture. They&nbsp;also&nbsp;hug&nbsp;her and wish her well.&nbsp;</p>


A birthday celebration is one of those happy moments where the joy grows manifolds with the presence of loved ones. But sadly, not everybody is lucky. In a video posted on Twitter, a restaurant's staff and other diners won praise and warmed hearts after joining with a woman, who was celebrating her birthday alone by cutting a cake.

A birthday celebration is one of those happy moments where the joy grows manifolds with the presence of loved ones. But sadly, not everybody is lucky. In a video posted on Twitter, a restaurant's staff and other diners won praise and warmed hearts after joining with a woman, who was celebrating her birthday alone by cutting a cake. The heart touching moment was captured on the CCTV camera. The selfless gesture was highly appreciated by netizens on social media. This lady was celebrating her birthday — by herself — until she was joined by other patrons and staff once they realize she's celebrating all alone. Humanity. Break out the tissues…pic.twitter.com/Ho17MysEpw — Rex Chapman🏇🏼 (@RexChapman) July 17, 2021 × The video has already garnered over 1.8 million views. The caption of the clip says, "Woman who is celebrating her birthday by herself is joined by other patrons and staff once they realize she's alone." In it, a woman wearing a mask can be seen sitting alone with a birthday cake in front of her on the table. She starts to clap and sing to herself in order to celebrate her birthday. She gets filled with joy when she sees restaurant staff and other diners join her in the celebration. The woman is seen wiping off tears after she was touched by their gesture. They also hug her and wish her well.

Restaurant staff win hearts by joining woman celebrating birthday alone 

<p>More than 150 employees at the Houston Methodist hospital in&nbsp;Texas&nbsp;were fired or resigned after failing to comply with orders to get a Covid-19 vaccination to continue working there, a hospital spokeswoman said Tuesday.</p>

<p>Officials Houston Methodist told its staff they needed to have received a Covid vaccination by June 7 or be suspended for two weeks.</p>

<p>Hospital spokeswoman Gale Smith told AFP that 153 employees "either resigned in the two-week suspension period or were terminated today.</p>

<p>"The employees who became compliant during the suspension period returned to work the day after they became compliant," she said.</p>

<p>Nearly 200 staff had been suspended, the New York Times reported, and protests were staged against the mandatory vaccine rule.</p>

<p>Last month, 117 staff members&nbsp;filed a lawsuit against the hospital, accusing it of "forcing its employees to be human 'guinea pigs' as a condition for continued employment."</p>

<p>The lawsuit was dismissed by a judge who said the vaccines' safety was not at issue, and that&nbsp;<strong>Texas</strong>&nbsp;law only protects employees from refusing to commit a crime.</p>

<p>"Receiving a Covid-19 vaccination is not an illegal act, and it carries no criminal penalties," Judge Lynn Hughes wrote.</p>

<p>The judge also reprimanded one of the main plaintiffs behind the lawsuit, nurse Jennifer Bridges, for the analogy that the threat of being fired for not getting vaccinated was like "forced medical experimentation during the Holocaust."</p>

<p>"Equating the injection requirement to medical experimentation in concentration camps is reprehensible," Hughes wrote.</p>

<p>But Bridges, who was one of the staff to have lost their job in the protest, told AFP Tuesday their legal push was receiving more support.</p>

<p>"117 people joined us initially. Now we're about to add another 70. We want Methodist to be held accountable for their actions. We want the public to see that we should not have lost our jobs and that Methodist is not properly giving people informed consent or talking about adverse reactions," the 39-year-old said.&nbsp;</p>

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<p>"I&nbsp;chose not to get this shot because the risks for me are too great. I've personally seen adverse reactions within employees and patients. Everything from severe headaches to blood clots, to paralysis, to even death," she said.</p>

<p>"At my age, my benefits from getting this vaccine aren't much at all because I only have a one per cent chance of dying from the virus anyways."</p>

<p>Houston houses the world's largest medical complex, the&nbsp;Texas&nbsp;Medical Center, a sprawling district that includes hospitals and research universities.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The Medical Center employs more than 106,000 health care workers in all and sees some 10 million patients a year.</p>

<p>As of Tuesday, 65.4 per cent of adults in the United States had received one or more doses of the Pfizer, Moderna or Johnson &amp; Johnson shots.</p>

<p>And yet, surveys show that health care workers have been among the greatest vaccine sceptics.</p>


More than 150 employees at the Houston Methodist hospital in Texas were fired or resigned after failing to comply with orders to get a Covid-19 vaccination to continue working there, a hospital spokeswoman said Tuesday.

More than 150 employees at the Houston Methodist hospital in Texas were fired or resigned after failing to comply with orders to get a Covid-19 vaccination to continue working there, a hospital spokeswoman said Tuesday. Officials Houston Methodist told its staff they needed to have received a Covid vaccination by June 7 or be suspended for two weeks. Hospital spokeswoman Gale Smith told AFP that 153 employees "either resigned in the two-week suspension period or were terminated today. "The employees who became compliant during the suspension period returned to work the day after they became compliant," she said. Nearly 200 staff had been suspended, the New York Times reported, and protests were staged against the mandatory vaccine rule. Last month, 117 staff members filed a lawsuit against the hospital, accusing it of "forcing its employees to be human 'guinea pigs' as a condition for continued employment." The lawsuit was dismissed by a judge who said the vaccines' safety was not at issue, and that Texas law only protects employees from refusing to commit a crime. "Receiving a Covid-19 vaccination is not an illegal act, and it carries no criminal penalties," Judge Lynn Hughes wrote. The judge also reprimanded one of the main plaintiffs behind the lawsuit, nurse Jennifer Bridges, for the analogy that the threat of being fired for not getting vaccinated was like "forced medical experimentation during the Holocaust." "Equating the injection requirement to medical experimentation in concentration camps is reprehensible," Hughes wrote. But Bridges, who was one of the staff to have lost their job in the protest, told AFP Tuesday their legal push was receiving more support. "117 people joined us initially. Now we're about to add another 70. We want Methodist to be held accountable for their actions. We want the public to see that we should not have lost our jobs and that Methodist is not properly giving people informed consent or talking about adverse reactions," the 39-year-old said. Also Read | Under pressure, Hong Kong's pro-democracy publication Apple Daily announces closure "I chose not to get this shot because the risks for me are too great. I've personally seen adverse reactions within employees and patients. Everything from severe headaches to blood clots, to paralysis, to even death," she said. "At my age, my benefits from getting this vaccine aren't much at all because I only have a one per cent chance of dying from the virus anyways." Houston houses the world's largest medical complex, the Texas Medical Center, a sprawling district that includes hospitals and research universities. The Medical Center employs more than 106,000 health care workers in all and sees some 10 million patients a year. As of Tuesday, 65.4 per cent of adults in the United States had received one or more doses of the Pfizer, Moderna or Johnson & Johnson shots. And yet, surveys show that health care workers have been among the greatest vaccine sceptics.

More than 150 Texas hospital staff fired or quit over vaccine ruling

<p>Three researchers from China's Wuhan Institute of Virology (WIV) sought hospital care in November 2019, months before China disclosed the COVID-19 pandemic, the Wall Street Journal reported on Sunday, citing a previously undisclosed US intelligence report.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The newspaper said the report, which provides fresh details on the number of researchers affected, the timing of their illnesses, and their hospital visits, may add weight to calls for a broader probe of whether the COVID-19 virus could have escaped from the laboratory.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The report came on the eve of a meeting of the World Health Organization's decision-making body, which is expected to discuss the next phase of an investigation into the origins of COVID-19.&nbsp;</p>

<p>A National Security Council spokeswoman had no comment on the Journal's report but said the Biden administration continued to have "serious questions about the earliest days of the COVID-19 pandemic, including its origins within the Peoples Republic of China."&nbsp;</p>

<p>She said the US government was working with the WHO and other member states to support an expert-driven evaluation of the pandemic's origins "that is free from interference or politicisation."&nbsp;</p>

<p>"We're not going to make pronouncements that prejudge an ongoing WHO study into the source of SARS-CoV-2, but we've been clear that sound and technically credible theories should be thoroughly evaluated by international experts," she said.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The Journal said current and former officials familiar with the intelligence about the lab researchers expressed a range of views about the strength of the report's supporting evidence, with one unnamed person saying it needed 'further investigation and additional corroboration’.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The United States, Norway, Canada, Britain and other countries in March expressed concerns about the WHO-led COVID-19 origins study, and called for further investigation and full access to all pertinent human, animal and other data about the early stages of the outbreak.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Washington is keen to ensure greater cooperation and transparency by China, according to a source familiar with the effort.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The Chinese Embassy in Washington did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Sunday.&nbsp;</p>

<p>On Sunday, China's foreign ministry noted that a WHO-led team had concluded a lab leak was extremely unlikely after a visit in February to the virology institute. "The US continues to hype the lab leak theory," the ministry said in response to a request for comment by the Journal. "Is it actually concerned about tracing the source or trying to divert attention?"&nbsp;</p>

<p>The Trump administration had said it suspected the virus may have escaped from a Chinese lab, which Beijing denies.&nbsp;</p>

<p>A State Department fact sheet released near the end of the Trump administration had said "the US government has reason to believe that several researchers inside the WIV became sick in autumn 2019, before the first identified case of the outbreak, with symptoms consistent with both COVID-19 and common seasonal illnesses." It did not say how many researchers.&nbsp;</p>

<p>China refused to give raw data on early COVID-19 cases to the WHO-led team probing the origins of the pandemic, according to one of the team’s investigators, potentially complicating efforts to understand how the outbreak began.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies) &nbsp;</em></p>


Three researchers from China's Wuhan Institute of Virology (WIV) sought hospital care in November 2019, months before China disclosed the COVID-19 pandemic, the Wall Street Journal reported on Sunday, citing a previously undisclosed US intelligence report.

Three researchers from China's Wuhan Institute of Virology (WIV) sought hospital care in November 2019, months before China disclosed the COVID-19 pandemic, the Wall Street Journal reported on Sunday, citing a previously undisclosed US intelligence report. The newspaper said the report, which provides fresh details on the number of researchers affected, the timing of their illnesses, and their hospital visits, may add weight to calls for a broader probe of whether the COVID-19 virus could have escaped from the laboratory. The report came on the eve of a meeting of the World Health Organization's decision-making body, which is expected to discuss the next phase of an investigation into the origins of COVID-19. A National Security Council spokeswoman had no comment on the Journal's report but said the Biden administration continued to have "serious questions about the earliest days of the COVID-19 pandemic, including its origins within the Peoples Republic of China." She said the US government was working with the WHO and other member states to support an expert-driven evaluation of the pandemic's origins "that is free from interference or politicisation." "We're not going to make pronouncements that prejudge an ongoing WHO study into the source of SARS-CoV-2, but we've been clear that sound and technically credible theories should be thoroughly evaluated by international experts," she said. The Journal said current and former officials familiar with the intelligence about the lab researchers expressed a range of views about the strength of the report's supporting evidence, with one unnamed person saying it needed 'further investigation and additional corroboration’. The United States, Norway, Canada, Britain and other countries in March expressed concerns about the WHO-led COVID-19 origins study, and called for further investigation and full access to all pertinent human, animal and other data about the early stages of the outbreak. Washington is keen to ensure greater cooperation and transparency by China, according to a source familiar with the effort. The Chinese Embassy in Washington did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Sunday. On Sunday, China's foreign ministry noted that a WHO-led team had concluded a lab leak was extremely unlikely after a visit in February to the virology institute. "The US continues to hype the lab leak theory," the ministry said in response to a request for comment by the Journal. "Is it actually concerned about tracing the source or trying to divert attention?" The Trump administration had said it suspected the virus may have escaped from a Chinese lab, which Beijing denies. A State Department fact sheet released near the end of the Trump administration had said "the US government has reason to believe that several researchers inside the WIV became sick in autumn 2019, before the first identified case of the outbreak, with symptoms consistent with both COVID-19 and common seasonal illnesses." It did not say how many researchers. China refused to give raw data on early COVID-19 cases to the WHO-led team probing the origins of the pandemic, according to one of the team’s investigators, potentially complicating efforts to understand how the outbreak began. (With inputs from agencies)

Wuhan lab staff sought hospital care before COVID-19 outbreak disclosed: WSJ

Ambulance technicians Itxaso Garcia Giaconi and Marisa Arguello de Paula work the frontline of the coronavirus pandemic in Spain, one of the countries worst hit by the disease.

A day in the life of frontline ambulance staff in coronavirus hit Spain

Inside Air Force One - America's most famous plane used by US Presidents

<p>Office-sharing startup WeWork is planning to cut as many as 4,000 jobs as a part of a turnaround plan put in place by top shareholder Japan's SoftBank Group&nbsp;after it took control of the company this week, Financial Times reported on Wednesday.</p>

<p>The job cut will amount to just under a third of WeWork's global workforce, and about 1,000 of the cuts will hit employees such as janitorial staff, the report said, citing people with direct knowledge of the plans.</p>

<p>SoftBank agreed to spend more than $10 billion&nbsp;to take over WeWork on Tuesday, giving a near $1.7 billion payoff to the startup's co-founder Adam Neumann to relinquish control.</p>

<p>WeWork was not immediately available for comment.</p>


Office-sharing startup WeWork is planning to cut as many as 4,000 jobs as a part of a turnaround plan put in place by top shareholder Japan's SoftBank Group after it took control of the company this week, Financial Times reported on Wednesday.

Office-sharing startup WeWork is planning to cut as many as 4,000 jobs as a part of a turnaround plan put in place by top shareholder Japan's SoftBank Group after it took control of the company this week, Financial Times reported on Wednesday. The job cut will amount to just under a third of WeWork's global workforce, and about 1,000 of the cuts will hit employees such as janitorial staff, the report said, citing people with direct knowledge of the plans. SoftBank agreed to spend more than $10 billion to take over WeWork on Tuesday, giving a near $1.7 billion payoff to the startup's co-founder Adam Neumann to relinquish control. WeWork was not immediately available for comment.

WeWork plans to lay off 4,000 staff: Report

<p>Union Ministry of Home Affairs on Wednesday announced a scheme to give recognition to the trainers and other support staff working in police training institutions of State and Central Police Forces.</p>

<p>"The Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India has instituted a scheme for the award of Union Home Minister's Medal for Excellence in Police Training to the trainers and other support staff working in police training institutions of State and Central Police Forces," read a press release from the Bureau of Police Research and Development (BPRD).</p>

<p>The ministry revealed that it has received over 560 nominations for the award out of which 245 were recommended as eligible for the year 2017-18.</p>

<p>The nominations for the award were scrutinised by the Institution Level Committee and the Headquarters Level Committee of each nominating organisation.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The final recommendation was made by a BPRD committee which was then approved by the Ministry of Home Affairs.</p>

<p>"The objective of the institution of the Union Home Minister's Medal for Excellence in Police Training is to accord due recognition to the work of trainers in enhancing the quality and standard of training in Police Training Institutions in the States/UTs and CPOs/CAPFs," the press release further said.&nbsp;</p>


Union Ministry of Home Affairs on Wednesday announced a scheme to give recognition to the trainers and other support staff working in police training institutions of State and Central Police Forces.

Union Ministry of Home Affairs on Wednesday announced a scheme to give recognition to the trainers and other support staff working in police training institutions of State and Central Police Forces. "The Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India has instituted a scheme for the award of Union Home Minister's Medal for Excellence in Police Training to the trainers and other support staff working in police training institutions of State and Central Police Forces," read a press release from the Bureau of Police Research and Development (BPRD). The ministry revealed that it has received over 560 nominations for the award out of which 245 were recommended as eligible for the year 2017-18. The nominations for the award were scrutinised by the Institution Level Committee and the Headquarters Level Committee of each nominating organisation. The final recommendation was made by a BPRD committee which was then approved by the Ministry of Home Affairs. "The objective of the institution of the Union Home Minister's Medal for Excellence in Police Training is to accord due recognition to the work of trainers in enhancing the quality and standard of training in Police Training Institutions in the States/UTs and CPOs/CAPFs," the press release further said.

Home Ministry launches scheme to award trainers, support staff in police institutions

<p>New York's La Guardia airport faced major delays Friday as air traffic control struggled with staff shortages in the final hours of a partial government shutdown that President Donald Trump later announced he was suspending.&nbsp;</p>

<p>An FAA spokesperson said the disruption caused by a "slight increase in sick leave" during the record five-week halt, which has also hit nearby Newark and Philadelphia airports.</p>

<p>"We've mitigated the impact by augmenting staffing, rerouting traffic and increasing spacing between aircraft when needed," the spokesperson added.</p>

<p>"The results have been minimal impacts to efficiency while maintaining consistent levels of safety in the national airspace system."</p>

<p>The New York region's third-largest airport, LaGuardia primarily serves domestic flights.</p>

<p>By early afternoon the FlightAware flight tracking site reported that some 267 departing flights and 272 arrivals had experienced delays, accounting for 44 percent of all traffic.</p>

<p>Most federal workers in American airports were on their 35th day of working without pay due to a feud between Democratic lawmakers and Trump, who is demanding cash for a US-Mexico border wall.</p>

<p>Trump announced in the afternoon he would temporarily end the shutdown after reaching a deal with Democrats to fund the government for the next three weeks, while dropping previous insistence on immediate funding.</p>

<p>Passenger Chris O'Connor said she faced an about an hour delay to her flight after boarding, exiting and then being boarded again.</p>

<p>"I feel bad for them, not getting paychecks," she said of the various unpaid federal employees including screening agents and air traffic controllers, who are now set to receive back pay.</p>

<p>The impact of the deadlock on aviation security had caused experts and Democratic lawmakers to raise alarm.</p>

<p>House Speaker Nancy Pelosi warned on Twitter that the shutdown was "pushing our airspace to the breaking point."</p>

<p>Democratic National Committee chairman Tom Perez warned that "when our air traffic shuts down, the damage to our economy is enormous, millions of Americans are affected and our national security is endangered."</p>

<p>Without commenting on possible causes for the delays or how to resolve them, White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders said the president had been briefed and the White House was monitoring the situation.</p>

<p>- Aviation leaders' warnings -<br />
Earlier this week, leaders of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association, Air Line Pilots Association and Association of Flight Attendants warned that if the deadlock did not end soon, flights could be cut back around the country.</p>

<p>Control tower staffing is at a 30-year low due to no-shows and the national flight grid was only holding up due to overtime work by controllers, some of whom are working 10-hour days and six-day working weeks.</p>

<p>Air traffic controllers, transportation security officers, safety inspectors and air marshals were not furloughed and have been working without pay.</p>

<p>"As predicted, the system is starting to unravel. This is only the beginning. Our safety professionals from @NATCA are fatigued, worried, and distracted," tweeted AFA-CWA flight attendant union president Sara Nelson.</p>

<p>United Airlines said it wasn't anticipating significant disruptions, but added that it was an illustration of the "escalating impact of the government shutdown" and the need for the federal government to re-open.</p>

<p>Inside terminals in major airports, passenger inspection times are lengthening due to an increasing number of workers for the Transportation Safety Administration not showing up.</p>

<p>The TSA said this week there was a 7.6 percent absence rate, compared to three percent a year ago.</p>

<p>Many of the workers are facing financial difficulties and some are unable to pay for transport to get to work or for childcare.</p>


New York's La Guardia airport faced major delays Friday as air traffic control struggled with staff shortages in the final hours of a partial government shutdown that President Donald Trump later announced he was suspending.

New York's La Guardia airport faced major delays Friday as air traffic control struggled with staff shortages in the final hours of a partial government shutdown that President Donald Trump later announced he was suspending. An FAA spokesperson said the disruption caused by a "slight increase in sick leave" during the record five-week halt, which has also hit nearby Newark and Philadelphia airports. "We've mitigated the impact by augmenting staffing, rerouting traffic and increasing spacing between aircraft when needed," the spokesperson added. "The results have been minimal impacts to efficiency while maintaining consistent levels of safety in the national airspace system." The New York region's third-largest airport, LaGuardia primarily serves domestic flights. By early afternoon the FlightAware flight tracking site reported that some 267 departing flights and 272 arrivals had experienced delays, accounting for 44 percent of all traffic. Most federal workers in American airports were on their 35th day of working without pay due to a feud between Democratic lawmakers and Trump, who is demanding cash for a US-Mexico border wall. Trump announced in the afternoon he would temporarily end the shutdown after reaching a deal with Democrats to fund the government for the next three weeks, while dropping previous insistence on immediate funding. Passenger Chris O'Connor said she faced an about an hour delay to her flight after boarding, exiting and then being boarded again. "I feel bad for them, not getting paychecks," she said of the various unpaid federal employees including screening agents and air traffic controllers, who are now set to receive back pay. The impact of the deadlock on aviation security had caused experts and Democratic lawmakers to raise alarm. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi warned on Twitter that the shutdown was "pushing our airspace to the breaking point." Democratic National Committee chairman Tom Perez warned that "when our air traffic shuts down, the damage to our economy is enormous, millions of Americans are affected and our national security is endangered." Without commenting on possible causes for the delays or how to resolve them, White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders said the president had been briefed and the White House was monitoring the situation. - Aviation leaders' warnings - Earlier this week, leaders of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association, Air Line Pilots Association and Association of Flight Attendants warned that if the deadlock did not end soon, flights could be cut back around the country. Control tower staffing is at a 30-year low due to no-shows and the national flight grid was only holding up due to overtime work by controllers, some of whom are working 10-hour days and six-day working weeks. Air traffic controllers, transportation security officers, safety inspectors and air marshals were not furloughed and have been working without pay. "As predicted, the system is starting to unravel. This is only the beginning. Our safety professionals from @NATCA are fatigued, worried, and distracted," tweeted AFA-CWA flight attendant union president Sara Nelson. United Airlines said it wasn't anticipating significant disruptions, but added that it was an illustration of the "escalating impact of the government shutdown" and the need for the federal government to re-open. Inside terminals in major airports, passenger inspection times are lengthening due to an increasing number of workers for the Transportation Safety Administration not showing up. The TSA said this week there was a 7.6 percent absence rate, compared to three percent a year ago. Many of the workers are facing financial difficulties and some are unable to pay for transport to get to work or for childcare.

Delays at New York airport due to shutdown staff shortages

<p>Chinese drone-maker DJI has placed 45 employees under investigation for alleged fraud that could cost the company more than one billion yuan ($150 million) in losses, the firm said Monday.</p>

<p>The world's top civilian drone maker said in an internal memo that most of the employees involved in the fraud worked in the supply chain, and 29 were fired while 16 were reported to the police.</p>

<p>The case is expected to involve more than 100 people and many people will be facing a sentence in jail, according to Friday's memo, whose authenticity was confirmed by a company spokeswoman on Monday.</p>

<p>The initial investigation is just "the tip of the iceberg," the spokeswoman told AFP.</p>

<p>The memo said the employees fraudulently inflated the prices of parts for personal financial gains.</p>

<p>The staffers received kickbacks from suppliers that charged double or triple the price to sell parts to DJI, the memo said.</p>

<p>A company spokeswoman said DJI has established a special anti-corruption group to conduct in-depth investigations.</p>

<p>"DJI will not tolerate corruption because of the rapid development and will not stop its development because of corruption," she told AFP.</p>

<p>The company has become the latest in a string of Chinese tech firms dealing with internal misdeeds in recent months.</p>

<p>China's dominant ride-hailing firm Didi Chuxing uncovered more than 60 cases of corruption within the company last year.</p>

<p>Yang Weidong, former president of Alibaba's video-streaming platform Youku, stepped down and was put under investigation in December on suspicion of accepting improper payments, according to Chinese media.</p>


Chinese drone-maker DJI has placed 45 employees under investigation for alleged fraud that could cost the company more than one billion yuan ($150 million) in losses, the firm said Monday.

Chinese drone-maker DJI has placed 45 employees under investigation for alleged fraud that could cost the company more than one billion yuan ($150 million) in losses, the firm said Monday. The world's top civilian drone maker said in an internal memo that most of the employees involved in the fraud worked in the supply chain, and 29 were fired while 16 were reported to the police. The case is expected to involve more than 100 people and many people will be facing a sentence in jail, according to Friday's memo, whose authenticity was confirmed by a company spokeswoman on Monday. The initial investigation is just "the tip of the iceberg," the spokeswoman told AFP. The memo said the employees fraudulently inflated the prices of parts for personal financial gains. The staffers received kickbacks from suppliers that charged double or triple the price to sell parts to DJI, the memo said. A company spokeswoman said DJI has established a special anti-corruption group to conduct in-depth investigations. "DJI will not tolerate corruption because of the rapid development and will not stop its development because of corruption," she told AFP. The company has become the latest in a string of Chinese tech firms dealing with internal misdeeds in recent months. China's dominant ride-hailing firm Didi Chuxing uncovered more than 60 cases of corruption within the company last year. Yang Weidong, former president of Alibaba's video-streaming platform Youku, stepped down and was put under investigation in December on suspicion of accepting improper payments, according to Chinese media.

Staff fraud may cost China's DJI drone maker $150 million

<p>Poland adopted legislation on Friday that will ban most Sunday trading by 2020, with opinion surveys showing that consumers have mixed feelings about the move in the heavily Catholic EU state.&nbsp;</p>

<p>First presented last year by Poland`s Solidarity trade union as a citizens` initiative bill, the new legislation limits shopping to the first and last Sundays of the month as of March 2018.</p>

<p>Trade will only be allowed on the last Sunday of the month in 2019 before a wider ban takes effect in 2020 that will allow shopping on seven Sundays per year, including two before Christmas and one before Easter.</p>

<p>The move applies to foreign-owned hypermarket chains as well as other non-Polish players, but will still allow online shopping as well as smaller locally-owned shops including bakeries and petrol stations to do business.</p>

<p>Lawmakers in Poland`s right-wing dominated 460-seat parliament passed the ban with 254 votes in favour to 156 against and 23 abstentions.</p>

<p>The Solidarity trade union says it sought the move to ensure retail staff gets free weekends, but opposition politicians and other critics argue that it will limit job opportunities for students and cramp cross-border shopping from the Baltic states, Belarus, Ukraine, and Slovakia.</p>

<p>Solidarity is allied with Poland`s governing conservative Law and Justice (PiS) party, which is closely tied to the powerful Roman Catholic Church, long an advocate of shutting shops on Sundays for religious reasons.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Sunday shopping became a popular family pastime in Poland with the advent of the free market after the 1989 collapse of communism, but surveys published this week suggest that consumers have mixed feelings.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The independent Kantar TNS pollsters found that 76 percent of respondents supported a compromise that would allow Sunday shopping, but also give retail workers two free weekends per month.</p>

<p>However, the Warsaw-based CBOS agency found that 58 percent of respondents supported a blanket Sunday shopping ban, while just 37 percent were opposed. It also found that 52 percent of respondents said they shop on Sunday.</p>

<p>Switzerland and Norway limit Sunday shopping, while Austria has a blanket ban.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Up to now, stores in Poland have remained closed for 12 days a year for major national or religious holidays.</p>


The Solidarity trade union says it sought the move to ensure retail staff gets free weekends, but opposition politicians and other critics argue that it will limit job opportunities for students and cramp cross-border shopping from the Baltic states, Belarus, Ukraine, and Slovakia

Poland adopted legislation on Friday that will ban most Sunday trading by 2020, with opinion surveys showing that consumers have mixed feelings about the move in the heavily Catholic EU state. First presented last year by Poland`s Solidarity trade union as a citizens` initiative bill, the new legislation limits shopping to the first and last Sundays of the month as of March 2018. Trade will only be allowed on the last Sunday of the month in 2019 before a wider ban takes effect in 2020 that will allow shopping on seven Sundays per year, including two before Christmas and one before Easter. The move applies to foreign-owned hypermarket chains as well as other non-Polish players, but will still allow online shopping as well as smaller locally-owned shops including bakeries and petrol stations to do business. Lawmakers in Poland`s right-wing dominated 460-seat parliament passed the ban with 254 votes in favour to 156 against and 23 abstentions. The Solidarity trade union says it sought the move to ensure retail staff gets free weekends, but opposition politicians and other critics argue that it will limit job opportunities for students and cramp cross-border shopping from the Baltic states, Belarus, Ukraine, and Slovakia. Solidarity is allied with Poland`s governing conservative Law and Justice (PiS) party, which is closely tied to the powerful Roman Catholic Church, long an advocate of shutting shops on Sundays for religious reasons. Sunday shopping became a popular family pastime in Poland with the advent of the free market after the 1989 collapse of communism, but surveys published this week suggest that consumers have mixed feelings. The independent Kantar TNS pollsters found that 76 percent of respondents supported a compromise that would allow Sunday shopping, but also give retail workers two free weekends per month. However, the Warsaw-based CBOS agency found that 58 percent of respondents supported a blanket Sunday shopping ban, while just 37 percent were opposed. It also found that 52 percent of respondents said they shop on Sunday. Switzerland and Norway limit Sunday shopping, while Austria has a blanket ban. Up to now, stores in Poland have remained closed for 12 days a year for major national or religious holidays.

Poland adopts 'gradual ban' on Sunday shopping

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