South Sudan Hospital Hit by Airstrikes, Aid Workers Missing
An unknown number of aid workers are missing after airstrikes hit a hospital in South Sudan's Jonglei state, near the Ethiopian border, on Tuesday night, according to medical charity Doctors Without Borders (MSF). The hospital, run by MSF, was reportedly struck by government of South Sudan forces, the organization said.
MSF also reported that its health facility in Pieri, also in Jonglei state, was looted by unknown assailants on the same day, rendering it "unusable for the local community." The South Sudan government has yet to comment on the airstrike.
UK Research Fund Faces Cuts, Pauses New Grants
In other news, UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), the public body responsible for spending £8 billion of taxpayer money annually on research and innovation in the UK, is facing "hard decisions" on funding future projects. According to an open letter from UKRI boss Ian Chapman, the government has instructed the organization to "focus and do fewer things better," which "will result in negative outcomes for some." The changes, which represent a major reorganization of how Britain's scientific research and innovation is prioritized and funded, have angered many in the research community. Chapman said the changes have not yet been finalized but are expected to be fully implemented by.
US Seeks to Counter China's Mineral Dominance
The United States has launched an effort to establish a trade zone for critical minerals, essential for manufacturing products ranging from smartphones to weapons, in an attempt to challenge China's dominance in the industry. On Wednesday, the State Department hosted the first Critical Minerals Ministerial event, attended by countries and organizations including the UK, European Union, Japan, India, South Korea, Australia, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Delegates discussed the availability of and access to minerals crucial to the manufacture of various products.
Pinterest Fires Engineers for Tracking Layoffs
Meanwhile, Pinterest has sacked two engineers for tracking which workers lost their jobs in a recent round of layoffs. The company recently announced job cuts, with chief executive Bill Ready stating in an email he was "doubling down on an AI-forward approach," according to an employee who posted some of the memo on LinkedIn. Pinterest told investors the move would impact about 15% of the workforce, or roughly 700 roles, without saying which teams or workers were affected. The engineers reportedly "wrote custom scripts improperly accessing confidential company information to identify the locations and names of all dismissed employees."
Quiz Enters Administration Again, Job Losses Announced
Fashion chain Quiz has entered administration for the third time in six years, resulting in 109 job losses in Scotland. Administrators stated that the company, founded in 1993, had been struggling over the past year, with poorer-than-expected sales over the Christmas period. The chain's 40 stores and seven concessions remain open but will be holding clearance sales and not accepting refunds. Its online store is now closed. The 109 redundancies will be made across Quiz's head office in Glasgow and distribution centre in Bellshill, Lanarkshire. The chain employs around 565 people, with 40 stores.
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