Author: News Desk

Washington DC:  The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued warning letters to four major retail chains for continuing to sell baby formula linked to a nationwide outbreak of bacterial illness in infants, despite the products having been recalled, according to information published on the regulator’s website. The retailers named in the letters, Walmart, Target, Kroger, and Albertsons, were found to have kept recalled ByHeart Whole Nutrition Infant Formula on store shelves even after being notified of the recall in November. The FDA letters are dated December 12. Nationwide outbreak caused The illness associated with the recalled formula is…

London: People in England needing urgent dental care are being denied access to NHS services despite guidance stating that emergency treatment should be available, with some patients resorting to dangerous self-treatment such as pulling out their own teeth, according to Healthwatch England. Patients suffering sudden dental emergencies, including broken teeth, abscesses, or severe tooth pain, are supposed to receive urgent care through their NHS dentist or by calling NHS 111. However, research by the patient watchdog found that many people in acute pain are unable to secure appointments. In some cases, individuals have been forced to travel more than 100…

London: Mortgage borrowing by first-time buyers has reached unprecedented levels, as rising wages and looser affordability checks enable purchasers to buy homes that were previously beyond their financial reach. New analysis shows that easing lending rules and improving market conditions are significantly reshaping the entry point to the UK housing market. According to property agent Savills, the average first-time buyer borrowed a record £210,800 in the year to September. During the same 12-month period, first-time buyers accounted for 20 percent of all spending in the UK housing market, the highest share recorded since at least 2007. In total, mortgage lenders…

Sydney: Australia’s decision to take on powerful technology companies by enforcing a social media ban for under-16s has triggered global attention, with governments, safety advocates, and parents worldwide closely monitoring the outcome. While Australia has moved decisively, several other countries, particularly in Europe, are advancing similar measures, as others, such as the UK and the US, adopt a more cautious, observant stance. Europe moves closer to social media ban Across Europe, momentum is building to restrict young people’s access to social media. Denmark has announced plans to ban social media for under-15s, with Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen warning that mobile…

Zurich: FIFA has revealed that more than five million ticket requests have been submitted since the latest sales phase for the 2026 World Cup opened on December 11, despite mounting criticism over the cost of attending matches. According to football’s world governing body, fans from over 200 countries have applied for tickets, with the group-stage match between Colombia and Portugal in Miami on June 27 emerging as the most in-demand fixture. However, the ticket pricing structure for next year’s tournament, hosted across the United States, Canada, and Mexico, has sparked widespread concern. The Football Supporters’ Association (FSA) has labelled the…

New York: Snoop Dogg, the iconic rapper and entertainment figure, has teamed up with the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee (USOPC) to support America’s Olympic and Paralympic athletes outside of competition. Dogg announced his new role on LinkedIn under the title ‘Coach Snoop, Team USA.’ This volunteer position is focused on celebrating and encouraging US Olympians and Paralympians as they prepare for the world’s premier winter sports stage. Snoop Dogg will work alongside the extensive USOPC network of coaches, staff, medical professionals, administrators, and partners who play a role in helping Team USA athletes pursue their goals. According to…

London: New police figures show that Snapchat is the most frequently used social media platform in reported child exploitation and abuse offences in the UK. In 2024, a total of 122,768 child sexual exploitation offences were recorded, up 7,279 cases (6 percent) from 2023. Online child sexual exploitation and abuse increased by 26 percent, accounting for 51,672 crimes, or 42 percent of the total. Snapchat was linked to 11,912 offences, while WhatsApp and Instagram recorded 1,870 and 1,705 offences, respectively. Acting Chief Constable Becky Riggs, the national lead for child protection and abuse investigations, stressed that social media platforms must…

San Francisco: Apple CEO Tim Cook met with members of the US House to raise concerns about new federal legislation that could require the company to verify users’ ages on its App Store, a move Apple says would force it to collect highly sensitive information from millions of people, including children. The proposed law, known as the App Store Accountability Act, seeks to ensure that minors are kept away from harmful online content by confirming their ages before they download or use apps. Apple is instead urging lawmakers to place responsibility on parents, allowing them to choose whether to disclose…

Nottingham, England: Doctors are warning that heavy and prolonged consumption of energy drinks could significantly elevate the risk of heart disease and potentially trigger severe medical events such as strokes. Energy drinks, widely consumed worldwide, typically contain over 150mg of caffeine per litre, high glucose-based sugar levels, and various additional chemical ingredients. Although non-alcoholic, these beverages are often marketed as performance boosters, leading to high daily intake among certain groups. Real case study The alarm was raised after doctors in Nottingham, England, treated an otherwise fit and healthy man in his 50s who suffered a stroke and continues to experience…

Mountain View: A promotional close-up image shows a smiling woman with long red hair wearing Google’s latest black, thick-rimmed glasses with slightly translucent lenses, signalling the tech giant’s renewed push into wearable technology. Google has confirmed that it is preparing to launch new AI-powered smart glasses in 2026, marking its return to a market it once entered with enormous ambition but ultimately exited in disappointment. Google previously unveiled Google Glass in 2013, presenting it as a groundbreaking leap in personal technology, despite its unusual design with a bulky mini-screen perched above the right eye. While excitement was high, the product…