Author: News Desk

San Francisco: OpenAI has unveiled GPT-5, the highly anticipated new version of its ChatGPT artificial intelligence chatbot, promoting it as ‘smarter, faster, and more useful’ with PhD-level expertise across a range of subjects. Co-founder and CEO Sam Altman described the model as marking a new era for ChatGPT, and remarked that, “Having something like GPT-5 would be pretty much unimaginable at any previous time in human history.” The rollout began on August 7, for all users, with OpenAI claiming the model excels in coding, writing, and complex reasoning, while producing fewer ‘hallucinations,’ instances where AI generates inaccurate or fabricated information,…

New York: The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has officially approved Modeyso, a drug developed by Jazz Pharmaceuticals, for the treatment of diffuse midline glioma (DMG), a rare and aggressive brain tumor, in adults and children aged one year and older. The FDA announced the approval on August 7, marking a major advancement in cancer treatment as Modeyso becomes the first FDA-approved systemic therapy for DMG with a specific mutation that has progressed despite prior treatment. This rare form of cancer primarily affects children and young adults, forming in midline structures of the brain and spinal cord, such as…

London: If you enjoy eating potatoes, there’s a reason to be mindful of how they’re prepared. A new study has found that while baked, boiled, or mashed potatoes are relatively healthy, regularly consuming fried potatoes, such as chips or French fries, can significantly raise the risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Fried forms of potatoes, such as chips and French fries, were found to increase this risk, whereas healthier cooking methods like baking, boiling, or mashing showed far lower associations. The research, led by Seyed Mohammad Mousavi, a public health expert at Harvard University, involved an international team investigating the…

Uttarakhand, India: More than 100 people are missing and at least one person has died after a powerful cloudburst triggered severe flash floods in Uttarkashi district of Uttarakhand, India. The incident occurred around 1:30 pm on August 5, when a sudden, intense downpour caused the Kheerganga river to overflow, unleashing torrents of muddy water that submerged roads, buildings, and infrastructure in Dharali village. The floods left widespread devastation in the popular tourist village, located just 2 km from Harsil, home to a large Indian Army base and a nearby Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) camp. At least 10 soldiers stationed in…

London: Two advertisements by global fashion retailer Zara have been officially banned by the UK’s Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) for featuring models perceived as ‘unhealthily thin.’ The ASA concluded that the visuals were ‘irresponsible’ and stated that the ads must not be used again in their current form. It further instructed Zara to ensure that future campaigns are ‘prepared responsibly.’ The banned images previously appeared on Zara’s official app and website as part of a carousel showcasing clothing both on models and as standalone items. One of the adverts featured a short white ruffled dress, and the ASA noted that…

Beijing: China is responding to a growing outbreak of chikungunya in Guangdong province, where over 7,000 cases have been reported since July. The mosquito-borne virus, known for causing fever and severe joint pain that can linger for years, has triggered strict health protocols, reminiscent of COVID-19 control efforts. Foshan city, the epicenter of the outbreak, has enforced hospitalisation for all chikungunya patients, who must remain under mosquito nets and can only be discharged after a week or once they test negative. Although the virus does not spread from person to person, it can be transmitted when a mosquito bites an…

London: People coming off weight-loss jabs such as Wegovy and Mounjaro should receive structured follow-up care for at least 12 months to help them avoid regaining the weight. The recommendation comes from new guidance issued by the UK’s National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE). The advisory stresses that weight management must be approached as a long-term journey rather than a short-term fix. Research and experience show that many patients tend to regain most of the weight they lost after stopping treatment. For instance, in clinical trials, people who discontinued Wegovy regained around two-thirds of the weight they had…

London: Storm Floris is sweeping across the northern parts of the United Kingdom, prompting severe weather warnings and major travel disruption. A yellow wind warning issued by the Met Office came into effect at 6 am on August 4 and will remain active until 6 am on August 5. This has been upgraded to an amber alert for much of Scotland, effective from 10 am to 10 pm on August 4. The storm is expected to cause significant issues for transport. Train operators LNER and Avanti West Coast have issued urgent advisories, asking passengers not to travel north of Newcastle…

Geneva: Plastics have become a ‘grave, growing and under-recognised danger’ to both human health and the environment, with experts warning of a worsening plastics crisis in a major review published in the Lancet medical journal. The comprehensive analysis warns that the world is in the midst of a ‘plastics crisis,’ responsible for disease and death from infancy through old age, with at least $1.5 trillion in annual health-related damages globally. The plastics crisis is largely driven by the explosive increase in plastic production, which has surged more than 200-fold since 1950 and is projected to nearly triple by 2060, reaching…

Sydney: Tens of thousands of demonstrators braved pouring rain on August 3 to join the ‘March for Humanity’ across Sydney’s iconic Harbour Bridge, demanding peace and urgent aid deliveries for Gaza. The protest comes amid a worsening humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip, where over 60,000 people have reportedly died since Israel’s military campaign began nearly two years ago, according to Palestinian authorities. Participants, ranging from seniors to families with children, carried umbrellas and Palestinian flags, and some brought pots and pans to highlight growing hunger in the besieged enclave. “Enough is enough, when people from all over the world…