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Fierce earthquake rattles Taiwan, killing 9 and injuring more than 1,000

Taiwan is grappling with a devastating aftermath as a 7.4 magnitude earthquake off its eastern coastline resulted in at least nine fatalities and over a thousand injuries, with numerous individuals trapped under debris. This seismic event, occurring early Wednesday local time, is feared to escalate in its toll as rescue missions are underway. It marks the most severe earthquake to impact Taiwan since a 7.7 magnitude tremor in 1999 claimed approximately 2,400 lives.

Originating near Hualien County's rugged terrain, roughly 100 miles from Taipei, the quake caused significant structural damage, initiated landslides, and led to widespread power disruptions. It was succeeded by aftershocks, peaking at 6.4 in magnitude, and generated a minor tsunami, with waves reaching about a foot in height. Rescuers have already confirmed the safety of at least 70 individuals who were trapped in mines close to Hualien.

Positioned on the "Ring of Fire," a notorious hotspot for seismic and volcanic activity that encircles the Pacific Ocean, Taiwan is familiar with the risks posed by its geologic setting, which is accountable for the majority of the globe's earthquakes and a significant proportion of its volcanic eruptions.

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Cal-Maine Foods, the largest producer of eggs in the US, finds bird flu in chickens at a Texas plant

This week, a bird flu outbreak led to the euthanization of nearly 2 million chickens at a Texan facility specializing in egg production. This drastic measure is part of an ongoing battle against the virus that has seen over 82 million birds in the United States culled since 2022.

The virus, identified as H5N1, belongs to the influenza A group, which includes various flu strains that impact humans seasonally or epidemically. H5N1 is particularly adapted to bind to receptors in avian species, making bird-to-human transmission uncommon and generally resulting in mild conditions when it does occur. Since 2003, the global count of human fatalities due to H5N1 is under 500.

Cal-Maine Foods, the leading egg producer in the country, indicated that the culled chickens constituted a minor fraction (less than 4%) of its total bird population. A notable development in Texas saw the second-ever diagnosis of H5N1 in an American, who contracted the virus from cattle, underscoring the need for vigilance in monitoring and controlling such outbreaks.

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Amazon cuts hundreds of jobs in cloud computing unit

Amazon disclosed on Thursday that it is reducing its workforce within the Amazon Web Services sector, affecting several hundred positions, particularly in sales, marketing, and technological roles associated with its brick-and-mortar outlets. This move aligns with Amazon's strategic alterations in its approach to grocery retailing.

The company had earlier declared its decision to terminate the "Just Walk Out" technology, which had been operational in more than half of its Amazon Fresh stores across the country, allowing customers to bypass traditional checkout processes through advanced cameras and sensors. A significant workforce in India supported this system, and engaged in transaction monitoring and labeling. Shifting its focus, Amazon is now endorsing Dash Carts, which integrate a display and scanner within the shopping carts, enabling customers to scan their purchases while shopping.

This recent reduction in staff forms part of a series of cutbacks at Amazon, which has seen 27,000 positions eliminated since the end of 2022. These layoffs coincide with a deceleration in revenue growth within Amazon's cloud division, which is valued at approximately $90 billion.

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