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Meta's shock announcement that it would halt its fact-checking operations in the US has stunned media outlets and netizens around the world. Now a purported reason behind the Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp owner's move has been revealed. Zuckerberg's own post regarding his injury while training for a mixed martial arts (MMA) bout could not become viral due to censorship restrictions, New York Post reported quoting Wall Street Journal. «Tore my ACL sparring and just got out of surgery to replace it. I was training for a competitive MMA fight for early next year, but now that’s delayed a bit. Still looking forward to it after I recover. Thanks to everyone for the love and support,» Meta CEO posted in November 2023.

The wildfires that erupted this week across Los Angeles County are far from contained, but they're already expected to be the costliest in U.S. history and among the worst natural disasters

Meta offices. According to The New York Times, facilities managers across Meta’s offices in Silicon Valley, Texas, and New York were instructed to remove the menstrual products, which had previously been provided for non-binary and transgender employees. As per the reports, this move was part of Meta’s broader strategy to align its internal policies with the anticipated values of the incoming political leadership. The company implemented a range of changes, such as eliminating transgender and nonbinary customisation options from its Messenger app and revising its «Hateful Conduct» guidelines. In a major policy shift, Meta ended its US fact-checking program and introduced a community-based notes system, inspired by the model used on X. CEO Mark Zuckerberg defended the move, stating that traditional fact-checking had been perceived as politically biased and had undermined public trust.

Sexual Frequency with Cardiovascular Diseases Incidence and All-Cause Mortality has highlighted the positive impact of regular sexual activity on heart health. Submitted to the National Library of Medicine, the research underscores how sexual health is intricately connected to overall physical and emotional well-being. Cardiovascular diseases (CVD), including ischemic heart disease and stroke, remain the leading causes of death and disability globally. According to the Journal of the American College of Cardiology (JACC), from 1990 to 2022, CVD resulted in approximately 19.8 million deaths worldwide, contributing to significant loss in both life expectancy and quality of life.

MAGA star Donald Trump wants to Make America Greater Again. In sq kms, that is. We all know of the US annexing nearly 13 lakh sq km of Mexican territory after winning the war with Mexico in 1848; buying 76,800 sq km in present day southern Arizona and southwestern New Mexico — the area known as Gadsden Purchase — from Mexico in 1854; buying Alaska from Russia in 1867; annexing independent Hawaii in 1898; procuring 117 sq km of Guantanamo Bay to set up a US detention camp in 1903, which the Cuban communist government has considered illegal since it came to power in 1959. There's, of course, the United States of America itself, carved out of lands not 'owned' by anyone when it was occupied by Native Americans, then turned into a British colony, and ultimately an independent nation state in 1776 according to Westphalian sovereignty norms invented in 17th century Europe. But less well known is America's territorial losses. The Panama Canal Zone, which it acquired in 1904 from private and public Panamanian owners, was returned to Panama in 1979, formally ceding its control in 1999. In Oceania, Japan-occupied Marshall Islands, which the US occupied after WW2, got its independence in 1979. The same 'transition' model was followed with Federated States of Micronesia and Palau, both of which officially gained independence from US 'trusteeship' in 1990 and 1994, respectively.

Frequent travellers who swear by “never checking a bag” are not chuffed to be travelling lighter. Gautam Sinha, founder and creative director of artisanal leather brand Nappa Dori that also makes travel luggage, flies frequently within India and to Dubai, London, and Sri Lanka to manage his many stores. He is concerned that it will be a major disadvantage to travellers, and says, “It has been proven by the experience of similar structures in European and American budget airlines that the consumer ends up paying a lot more for a basic flight.” One thing he is sure of: “It will definitely make people think more before they pack now.”

homebuyers and businesses who were counting on sharply lower interest rates to lower the cost of buying everything from refrigerators to homes, AP reported. Employers added 256,000 jobs last month, up from 212,000 in November, the Labor Department reported Friday. Unemployment, which was expected to hover around 4.2 per cent, fell to 4.1 per cent last month. Health care companies added 46,000 jobs, retailers 43,000 and government agencies at the federal, state and local levels 33,000.

Shark Tank India has returned for its fourth season on Sony Entertainment Television. The Indian version of the popular American show is also available for streaming on SonyLIV and OTTplay Premium. The format remains the same, where aspiring entrepreneurs pitch their business ideas to a panel of investors, hoping to secure funding. In the latest episode, Kiran Shah, an entrepreneur, presented his no-sugar ice cream brand, Go Zero, and sought a Rs 1 crore investment in exchange for equity. Entrepreneur Kiran Shah introduced his no-sugar ice cream brand, Go Zero, to the Sharks. Shah asked for a Rs 1 crore investment in his business. Go Zero has gained significant popularity with its unique products over the last 50 years, and the parent brand, Apsara Ice Creams, is well-known as one of the leading ice cream chains in Mumbai. Seeing a growing demand for zero-sugar products, Kiran and his team decided to expand their business, leading them to pitch the new venture on Shark Tank India. Kiran valued his ice cream business at Rs 100 crore and asked for Rs 1 crore in exchange for 1 per cent equity. With his pitch, he managed to capture the interest of all the Sharks, including Anupam Mittal, who is lactose intolerant. Kiran shared his goal of generating Rs 33 crore in revenue within the year, showcasing his ambitious vision for the brand's growth.

Los Angeles Department of Water and Power: «Do not drink or cook with the tap water… Do not treat the tap water yourself.» This alert, aimed at Pacific Palisades and surrounding neighbourhoods affected by the Palisades Fire, is part of a series of advisories stemming from the growing wildfires that have already ravaged the region, reported America's NPR. The growing concern? Wildfires like the ones tearing through Los Angeles can dangerously compromise local drinking water systems, a problem experts say is becoming more common as wildfires intensify. According to Andrew Whelton, a professor of civil engineering at Purdue University who has studied wildfire-related water contamination, the damage can be severe. «They will find contamination,» Whelton explained. «The question is how high is it? Where is it? What parts of the communities will have to have restrictions,» he told the American broadcasting organisation.

Wall Street investors will be eyeing a number of factors including the lead up to Donald Trump's Inauguration Day 2025 as the US Stock Market indexes — S&P 500, Dow Jones, and Nasdaq — were down by over one per cent. On Friday, the US stocks dropped on worries that good news on the job market may prove to be bad for Wall Street by keeping inflation and interest rates high. The Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 1.6 percent to 41,938.45, and the broad-based S&P 500 Index fell 1.5 percent to 5,827.04. The tech-focused Nasdaq Composite Index retreated 1.6 percent to 19,161.63. U.S. inflation data in the coming week could test the nerves of stock investors and further inflame worries about rising Treasury yields and uncertainty over Donald Trump's policy plans, Reuters reported.

Former US President Donald Trump's legal battles could soon affect his ability to travel internationally, as many countries have strict entry requirements that bar individuals with felony convictions. With Trump facing 34 felony charges related to his involvement in a hush money scheme during the 2016 election, his criminal record could complicate travel to several nations that enforce such policies. According to Newsweek, G7 countries like Canada, the United Kingdom, and Japan, along with others such as Israel and China, have policies preventing convicted felons from entering their borders. These restrictions could hinder Trump’s ability to travel abroad if his convictions stand, raising questions about how this might impact his international dealings, especially if he pursues a second term in office. These entry bans vary across countries. Some, like Canada and Japan, will deny entry to anyone with a felony conviction, while others, such as Brazil and Cambodia, may not check criminal records at the border but could deny entry if a conviction is discovered later.

Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Saturday demanded answers from the government on the value of the rupee reaching its «lowest level ever» against the US dollar. The rupee declined 18 paise to breach the 86-mark against the US dollar for the first time on Friday. It settled at 86.04 against the US currency. «The value of rupee against the dollar has reached its lowest level ever. For the first time in history, the value of one dollar has become 86.4 rupees,» Priyanka Gandhi said in a post in Hindi on X. She said during Manmohan Singh's tenure, when the value of one dollar was 58-59 rupees, Narendra Modi used to link the value of the rupee with the prestige of the government.

export of nuclear energy technologies, so the sanctions are seen as a form of unfair competition from unfriendly states," it said. «For nearly three years, we have operated under growing sanctions pressure, adapting successfully and remaining prepared for any scenario. Rosatom continues to meet all its commitments to partners in full,» Rosatom said in a statement. President Joe Biden's administration announced Friday that it's expanding sanctions against Russia's critically important energy sector, unveiling a new effort to inflict pain on Moscow for its grinding war in Ukraine as President-elect Donald Trump gets set to return to office vowing to quickly end the conflict. Two Indian companies-Skyhart Management Services and Avision Management Services- and senior officials from Rosatom which specialises in nuclear energy, nuclear non-energy goods and high-tech products were among the over 150 entities and individuals, including major Russian oil producers Gazprom Neft and Surgutneftegas, Russian insurance companies, and shadow fleet vessels, were imposed with restrictions.

Wasfi Maasarani, a prominent singer and a symbol of the Syrian uprising, took the stage to celebrate «Syria's victory.» The Wednesday performance marked Maasarani's return to Syria after 13 years of exile. While living in Los Angeles, Maasarani had continued to support the Syrian revolution through his music, touring across the US and Europe, reported AP. The concert was organized by the Molham Volunteering Team, a humanitarian group founded by Syrian students, and also coincided with the one-month anniversary of a rapid insurgency that ousted former President Bashar Assad. Maasarani's revolutionary anthems, along with those of late singer and activist Abdelbasset Sarout, played a pivotal role in galvanizing opposition throughout Syria's 14-year uprising-turned-civil war, which began in 2011, reported the news agency.

Arjun Sen, a marketing professional was at the peak of his career when his life took an unexpected turn when he was diagnosed with cancer at the age of 32. What began as a routine day at work quickly spiralled into a life-altering event when he started vomiting blood during a meeting. His medical reports revealed a grim reality, with doctors giving him only 100 days to live. From a life of promotions and achievements, he was suddenly faced with a devastating challenge. In an interview with Humans of Bombay, he revealed that he was determined to fight against all odds and chose not to give up. He shared that breaking the news to his family and friends was one of the hardest parts, especially since he was living in the USA and had to rely on phone calls to share his condition. The reactions ranged from tears to sympathy, which added to the emotional toll. There were moments when he felt too overwhelmed to even talk to people. A pivotal moment came during a conversation with his young daughter, who asked, “Dad, are you dying?’ ‘Will you be there at my wedding?.. These questions reignited his determination. He began focusing on healthier habits, adhered strictly to his medical regime and invested all his resources into treatment. Encouragement from his medical team and friends, who referred to him as a “future cancer survivor”, kept his spirits high. As his health gradually improved, he started channelling his energy into writing, connecting with people, and cherishing time with his loved ones.

Subscribe to enjoy similar stories. A technology tussle between the two superpowers is never far away. This week the Wall Street Journal reported a breach of American telecoms networks by a Chinese hacking group known as “Salt Typhoon", which was seemingly intended to glean knowledge about American wiretapping activities.

ByteDance, and potential data-sharing with the Chinese government.

National Food Security Act (NFSA) of 2013 has been instrumental in reducing child stunting in India, preventing stunting in approximately 1.8 million children across eight states, reported TOI, citing a study published in the American Economic Association's Journal on Applied Economics. The evaluation highlights the impact of expanded food grain distribution under the Act on child nutrition, stunting, and dietary diversity. The study, conducted by Aditya Shrinivas of IIM Bangalore alongside researchers from the universities of California and Calgary, found that the Public Distribution System (PDS) under the NFSA improved not just nutrition but also household welfare. By increasing daily wages and overall income, the PDS provided crucial support to poor households, who are primarily net labor suppliers. Additionally, it helped vulnerable families withstand climate shocks such as poor rainfall or drought. The NFSA standardized entitlements to 5 kg of staple grains per person per month at subsidized rates—Rs 3 per kg for rice and Rs 2 per kg for wheat. Before the Act, states had discretion over prices and quantities offered under the PDS. This shift from per-household to per-individual entitlements particularly benefited larger families, prompting less generous states to expand their food distribution programs.

Barack Obama, turned to Kimberly Clausing, a former member of the Biden administration and author of a book extolling the virtues of free trade. «Everyone in this room agrees with your book,» Furman said. «No one outside of this room agrees with your book.» The academics and policy wonks gathered in the hotel conference room laughed, but the comment captured something real: After decades of helping shape policy on weighty matters such as taxes and health insurance, economists find that their influence is at a low ebb.