Author: News Desk

Washington/Detroit: A wave of outrage has erupted after X’s AI chatbot Grok was used to generate sexualized images of real people, raising global concerns over non-consensual and abusive AI content. Julie Yukari, a 31-year-old musician based in Rio de Janeiro, posted a New Year’s Eve photo of herself on X just before midnight, showing her in a red dress cuddling in bed with her black cat, Nori. Taken by her fiancé, the image quickly gained hundreds of likes. Soon after, Yukari noticed notifications revealing that other users were prompting Grok, X’s built-in artificial intelligence chatbot, to digitally alter her image…

London: The NHS has begun rolling out a chickenpox vaccine for the first time, marking a major expansion of the UK’s routine childhood immunisation programme. The vaccine will be offered alongside the MMR jab, which protects against measles, mumps, and rubella, in a combined MMRV dose. The move brings the UK in line with countries such as the United States, Canada, and Australia, where the combined vaccine has been available for years, and has been widely welcomed by health experts. The rollout follows a recommendation made in 2023 by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI). In England alone,…

Beijing: China’s BYD has overtaken Elon Musk’s Tesla to become the world’s largest seller of electric vehicles (EVs) for the first time. The company reported that sales of its battery-powered cars rose nearly 28% last year, reaching more than 2.25 million units. Tesla, which is expected to announce its full 2025 sales later this week, had analyst estimates suggesting it sold around 1.65 million vehicles for the year. The US company faced a difficult year due to a mixed reception to new models, concerns over Musk’s political activities, and growing competition from Chinese rivals. In October, Tesla introduced lower-priced versions…

London: Snowfall and freezing conditions are expected across much of the UK as 2026 begins, with the Met Office warning of a cold and potentially disruptive start to the new year. A yellow weather warning for snow and ice has been issued, covering large parts of England and Wales from midnight to noon on January 2. The warning indicates that some areas could see snow accumulations of up to 5cm, particularly on higher ground in parts of North Wales and northwest England. Separate yellow warnings have also been issued for Northern Ireland between midnight and 10 am on January 2,…

The New Year 2026 was welcomed with spectacular celebrations around the world, as major cities marked the occasion with fireworks, music, and large-scale public gatherings. In London, New Year celebrations featured a breathtaking display of around 12,000 fireworks, the result of months of careful choreography. As Big Ben’s famous chimes rang out at midnight, fireworks were launched from barges on the River Thames, lighting up the skyline near the London Eye. Once the bells faded, a specially curated New Year playlist began, blending some of the UK’s defining moments of the year with the biggest chart-topping songs of 2025. Across…

London: Christmas and New Year’s Eve celebrations were once commonly followed by next-day hangovers, but changing attitudes towards moderation have reshaped drinking habits, giving rise to a new industry buzzword: ‘coasting.’ The trend encourages consumers to opt for alcoholic drinks that are around half the strength of traditional versions, allowing them to enjoy the same number of drinks with fewer negative effects. Coasting typically involves choosing mid-strength options such as white wine, lager, or cocktails. These drinks occupy the space between standard alcoholic beverages and no- or low-alcohol alternatives, often referred to as ‘nolo.’ While there are currently no official…

London: Eurostar passengers are facing a second day of possible disruption after a power outage in the Channel Tunnel caused widespread travel chaos on December 30, leaving thousands affected during the peak New Year travel period. The incident was caused by a fault in the overhead power supply inside the Channel Tunnel, alongside a broken-down LeShuttle train, which together blocked all routes through the tunnel. As a result, multiple Eurostar and LeShuttle services were suspended, and some passengers remained onboard trains for several hours, including overnight, while trains were stationary near the tunnel entrances. Limited services resumed on December 30…

London: Social media often presents saunas and cold plunges as near-miracle cures, claiming they can boost immunity, burn fat, and resolve a wide range of physical and mental health issues, from joint pain to low mood. However, experts say the reality is far more nuanced. Dr. Heather Massey, Associate Professor of extreme environments and physiology at the University of Portsmouth, says that while many people strongly believe in the benefits of hot and cold exposure, there is not yet enough scientific evidence to confirm that these practices are categorically good for long-term health. Dr. Massey explains that the human body…

Los Angeles: Beyoncé has officially become a billionaire, making her the fifth musician to reach the milestone, according to Forbes. The Grammy-winning global star, aged 44, joins the ranks of the world’s wealthiest individuals following the extraordinary success of her Cowboy Carter tour. Forbes reports that the tour generated more than $400 million in ticket sales, alongside an estimated $50 million in merchandise revenue. This followed the success of her earlier Renaissance world tour, which grossed more than $579 million. The financial impact of these tours played a central role in elevating Beyoncé’s net worth to billionaire status. She now…

Dubai: Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo has said that he will not bring his playing career to an end until he reaches the landmark of 1,000 career goals. The 40-year-old forward scored twice in Al-Nassr’s 3–0 win over Al Akhdoud, taking his overall tally for club and country to 956 goals. Ronaldo joined the Saudi Pro League side in 2022 and signed a new two-year contract last July, extending his stay at the club beyond his 42nd birthday. Speaking after being named Best Middle East Player at the Globe Soccer Awards in Dubai on Sunday, Ronaldo admitted that continuing to play…