Author: News Desk

Washington: The US auto safety regulator, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), has escalated its investigation into Tesla’s driver-assistance technology, The investigation focuses on how effectively it detects deteriorating road and visibility conditions. The move follows nine crashes linked to the system, including one fatal incident and two that resulted in injuries. The expanded probe now covers approximately 3.2 million vehicles across multiple models, representing nearly all Tesla vehicles sold in the United States. This marks a significant step forward in the investigation and could lead to a recall or other enforcement actions if regulators determine that a safety…

London: Amazon is launching its long-awaited generative AI-powered upgrade, Alexa+, in the UK, aiming to re-engage users and restore its voice assistant to a leading position in the market. Designed to be more conversational and intuitive, Alexa+ introduces a more human-like tone, capable even of delivering sports updates with empathy, such as softening the blow of a football loss for fans. Following its early access debut in the US last year, Alexa+ now arrives in one of Amazon’s most active markets, where Alexa-enabled devices are already present in more than half of UK households. The rollout will support devices released…

Kent: The UK Health Security Agency is continuing to investigate a meningitis outbreak linked to meningococcal disease in Kent, with 20 cases identified so far. As of 5 pm on March 17, nine cases have been laboratory confirmed, while 11 remain under investigation. Six of the confirmed infections are identified as group B meningococcal disease, a leading cause of bacterial meningitis. Two deaths have been reported, with no additional fatalities since the previous update. All confirmed cases linked to the outbreak involve young adults. One individual from Kent was treated at a London hospital, although no community links in London…

London: Instagram will discontinue end-to-end encryption for private messages from May 8, 2026, following years of criticism from law enforcement agencies and child safety organisations. The decision was quietly announced by parent company Meta through updates on Instagram’s help pages and a revised 2022 blog post. Once the change takes effect, Meta will be able to access the contents of all direct messages between users, something that was previously limited to chats where encryption had not been enabled. A Meta spokesperson said that the decision was based on low adoption of the feature, noting that only a small number of…

Alibaba Group has launched a new artificial intelligence platform for enterprises, intensifying competition in China’s rapidly evolving AI agent market following the surge in popularity of OpenClaw across the country’s tech sector. The platform, called Wukong AI Platform, is designed to orchestrate multiple AI agents within a single interface, enabling businesses to automate complex workflows. It can handle tasks such as document editing, spreadsheet updates, meeting transcription, and research, all in an integrated environment. The platform is currently available through an invitation-only beta programme. https://twitter.com/AlibabaGroup/status/2033756283615260885 The launch comes just a day after Alibaba announced a major reorganisation under the newly…

London: A large-scale review has found that cannabis is not an effective treatment for the most common mental health conditions, despite increasing global use for this purpose. Researchers determined that there is very limited evidence supporting the effectiveness of cannabis-based therapies, or cannabinoids, in treating conditions such as anxiety, Anorexia Nervosa, psychotic disorders, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, and opioid use disorder. Medicinal cannabis The study was conducted by experts from universities in Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne, and Bath, and is considered the most comprehensive analysis so far on cannabinoids for mental health and substance misuse. It was prompted by the increasing legalization…

California: World number one Aryna Sabalenka finally conquered her Indian Wells challenges, defeating Elena Rybakina 3-6, 6-3, 7-6(6) in a thrilling final to claim the desert title for the first time and secure her 23rd career crown. The win was sweet redemption for Sabalenka, who had lost her previous two Indian Wells finals, including a defeat to Rybakina in 2023, and had begun the year with another loss to the Kazakh in the Australian Open final in January. Rybakina, a two-time Grand Slam finalist, dominated the opening stages of the first set, breaking Sabalenka to take a 4-2 lead and…

Los Angeles: The Netflix animated blockbuster KPop Demon Hunters has secured two major honours at the Academy Awards, winning Best Animated Feature Film and Best Original Song. The film, which tells the story of supernatural K-pop stars battling dark forces, has captured the imagination of both children and adults worldwide since its release last year. Its empowering theme song Golden has also become a global music sensation, dominating international charts. At the awards ceremony, the voices behind the fictional girl group Huntr/x — Ejae, Rei Ami, and Audrey Nuna performed Golden for the audience. The performance took place in front…

Geneva: March 15 is marked as the International Day to Combat Islamophobia, a global observance aimed at raising awareness about discrimination and hostility faced by Muslims and promoting respect for religious diversity and human rights. Islamophobia, intolerance, and discrimination against Muslims have existed for many years, but have intensified in recent times. Factors such as the so-called ‘war on terror,’ economic insecurity, and increasing diversity in societies have contributed to the rise of anti-Muslim sentiment in several parts of the world. Media narratives and political rhetoric have often fuelled fear and resentment by portraying Muslims as extremists or security threats.…

Formula One has cancelled the Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Grands Prix scheduled for April due to the ongoing war in the Middle East, citing safety concerns for teams, staff, and the wider motorsport community. The races were originally scheduled for April 12 in Bahrain and April 19 in Saudi Arabia, but organisers reached a point where they had to decide whether to prevent further freight and equipment from being sent to the region. In a statement, Formula One said that the current regional situation left it with no option but to cancel the events after careful evaluation. The organisation confirmed…