Author: Admin

ByteDance’s Singapore office was struck by a mass food poisoning incident on Tuesday, impacting 60 people, according to local authorities. The Singapore Food Agency and Ministry of Health, in a joint statement to CNBC, announced they are investigating suspected gastroenteritis cases linked to the tech giant’s office. “As of July 30, 2024, 60 individuals have reported gastroenteritis symptoms, with 57 seeking medical attention at hospitals,” the statement said. Local newspaper The Straits Times reported that the Singapore Civil Defence Force deployed personnel, ambulances, fire engines, and a mass decontamination vehicle to the scene after receiving medical assistance calls. A ByteDance…

On Thursday, OpenAI unveiled a prototype of its new search engine, SearchGPT, designed to deliver “fast and timely answers with clear and relevant sources.” Currently in alpha testing with a select group of users, SearchGPT is intended to be integrated into OpenAI’s popular ChatGPT in the future. This development has heightened concerns among Alphabet investors about OpenAI potentially capturing market share from Google by offering alternative methods for online information retrieval. SearchGPT aims to provide a more natural and intuitive search experience, allowing users to ask follow-up questions as if they were engaging in a conversation. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman…

On Thursday, the United States, Britain, and South Korea issued a joint advisory revealing that North Korean hackers have launched a global cyber espionage campaign aimed at stealing classified military secrets to advance Pyongyang’s prohibited nuclear weapons program. The hackers, known as Anadriel or APT45, are believed to be affiliated with North Korea’s Reconnaissance General Bureau, which has been sanctioned by the U.S. since 2015. The advisory reports that this cyber unit has breached or targeted a wide range of defense and engineering companies, including those involved in the production of tanks, submarines, naval vessels, fighter jets, and missile and…

Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, who has been in power since 2013 and is seeking a third term in the July 28 election, remains confident in his leadership of the OPEC nation, which has been under socialist rule for 25 years. In a recent state television broadcast, Maduro declared, “Come rain, shine, or lightning … we’re going to win by a landslide,” after announcing mock election results that he claimed showed an “irreversible victory.” At 61, Maduro—formerly a foreign minister and bus driver—displays notable energy and electoral confidence, despite strong support for his opponent, Edmundo González, among Venezuelans frustrated by years…

Kamala Harris will appear on the season nine finale of RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars this Friday on Paramount+, where she will advocate for voting rights. In the episode, Harris will kick off the show with a special message. “Each day we are seeing our rights and freedoms under attack, including the right of everyone to be who they are, love who they love, openly and with pride,” she said. “As we fight back against these attacks, let’s all remember no one is alone. We are all in this together, and your vote is your power. So please make sure…

WASHINGTON — Former President Barack Obama and Vice President Kamala Harris have maintained close contact since she announced her presidential candidacy on Sunday, engaging in multiple discussions throughout the week as she launches her campaign, according to four individuals familiar with their conversations. Privately, Obama has expressed full support for Harris’ candidacy and intends to endorse her in the near future, these sources disclosed. “He has been regularly in touch with her and believes she has had a strong start,” one source commented. Obama is among the few prominent Democrats who have yet to formally endorse Harris. While other party…

LONDON — King Charles III’s monarchy is poised to receive a salary increase exceeding £45 million ($60 million), marking a 53% rise in its official annual income, according to reports, amid Britain’s deepening cost of living crisis. The Sovereign Grant, which funds royal expenditures, will escalate from over £86 million ($110 million) in 2024-25 to about £132 million ($170 million) in 2025-26, driven by robust profits from the Crown Estate, a vast collection of U.K. land and property. Taxpayer-funded, the Sovereign Grant supports monarchial duties, official travel, thousands of engagements, royal staff, and the upkeep of occupied palaces. It is…

LOS ANGELES — Late Friday, four unions representing over 14,000 workers at Disney’s Southern California theme parks and resorts announced that their members have voted overwhelmingly to authorize a strike. The decision comes amidst allegations of unfair labor practices during ongoing contract negotiations. The strike authorization does not immediately trigger a walkout, as both parties could still negotiate a resolution. Should a strike proceed, it would mark the first at Disneyland in 40 years. Although the exact number of votes cast was not disclosed, the unions reported that 99% of participating members supported the strike authorization. “This vote demonstrates that…

The significance of the 2024 Paris Olympics for Brittney Griner will be profound, marking a pivotal moment in her career and personal life. As she prepares to represent her country for the third time in Paris, it will also be her first competition since enduring nearly ten months of detention in Russia on drug charges in 2022. In an interview with NBC News on Friday, Griner expressed her readiness and focus: “BG is locked in and ready to go. I’m happy, I’m in a great place. I’m representing my country, the country that fought for me to come back. I’m…

A global IT glitch affecting Microsoft’s cloud services on Friday also disabled Starbucks’ mobile app ordering system, causing widespread disruption for baristas and other employees. The issue led to temporary closures of some Starbucks locations and prompted frantic online pleas for assistance. CrowdStrike, a cybersecurity provider, issued a software update in the morning to address the problem, but technical difficulties persisted throughout the afternoon, impacting businesses like Starbucks. A spokesperson for Starbucks acknowledged the situation, stating, “Starbucks is among those companies affected by a widespread third-party systems outage, resulting in a temporary disruption of our mobile order ahead and pay…