Author: News Desk

Berlin: A revolutionary blood test known as Galleri, capable of detecting more than 50 types of cancer, could transform early diagnosis and treatment outcomes, according to results from a large-scale North American study. Developed by the U.S.-based biopharmaceutical company Grail, the Galleri blood test works by identifying tiny fragments of cancerous DNA that have broken away from tumours and circulate in the bloodstream. In a year-long trial involving 25,000 adults across the United States and Canada, the test demonstrated strong performance, successfully identifying a wide range of cancers, three-quarters of which currently have no screening programme. The test also proved…

England: A ‘game-changing’ HIV-prevention treatment has been approved for use in England and Wales. Cabotegravir (CAB-LA), an injection given every two months. It is designed to reduce the risk of infection in HIV-negative adults and young people, offering a significant alternative to the daily PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis) pills. Some individuals cannot take PrEP due to medical or other reasons, making CAB-LA a crucial option. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (Nice) issued draft guidance recommending the use of CAB-LA, marking it as the first injectable PrEP option and the first PrEP medicine to receive Nice approval. https://twitter.com/NICEComms/status/1979071210240508186 The…

New York: Spotify, the world’s largest music streaming platform, has announced that it is collaborating with major record labels on the responsible use of artificial intelligence (AI) in music, aiming to create AI tools that prioritize artists and songwriters while respecting copyright. The company will license music from the three record labels that dominate the industry: Sony Music, Universal Music Group, and Warner Music Group. Additional partners in the initiative include Merlin, a music rights firm, and digital music company Believe. Although the specific AI tools are not yet fully defined, Spotify has already begun developing its first products. Spotify…

London: Johnson & Johnson (J&J) is facing a major legal battle in the UK, where more than 3,000 claimants have accused the global healthcare giant of knowingly selling talcum powder contaminated with asbestos for decades. The claimants allege that they or their family members developed ovarian cancer or mesothelioma after using Johnson’s Baby Powder between 1965 and 2023. The collective lawsuit, filed by KP Law at the High Court in London, seeks damages against both Johnson & Johnson and Kenvue UK, a company that was spun off from J&J in 2023 and now operates as an independent business. The claim…

London: Plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) release nearly five times more planet-heating emissions than official data indicates, a report by Transport and Environment has revealed. These vehicles, which run on both electric batteries and combustion engines, have been promoted by European automakers as a way to cover long distances without fully relying on petrol or diesel, while still reducing emissions. However, the analysis found that PHEVs emit just 19 percent less CO2 than conventional petrol and diesel cars, far below the 75 percent reduction suggested under laboratory testing. The study examined data from the onboard fuel consumption meters of 800,000…

New Delhi: India’s Supreme Court has permitted the sale and use of so-called ‘green firecrackers’ during the upcoming Diwali festival, even as air quality in the capital city, Delhi, continues to plunge to ‘very poor’ and ‘severe’ levels. The top court’s ruling, issued on October 15, allows the sale and bursting of firecrackers that are said to emit 20–30 percent less pollution than conventional ones and produce minimal ash. Manufacturers claim these ‘eco-friendly’ crackers are a cleaner alternative; however, critics argue that even green firecrackers still release harmful substances that worsen air quality and pose serious health risks. Delhi has…

OpenAI has announced plans to relax restrictions on its ChatGPT chatbot, including allowing erotic content for verified adult users, in line with the company’s principle of ‘treat adult users like adults.’ The updated ChatGPT will also enable users to customise their AI assistant’s personality, offering options such as more human-like responses, friend-like behaviour, or heavy emoji use. The most significant change is scheduled for December, when OpenAI plans to introduce comprehensive age-gating that will permit adult content only to users who have verified their age. However, the company has not yet shared details on the age verification process or additional…

Cardiff: A new study conducted by scientists at Cardiff University has found that having peppermints can significantly boost alertness and wellbeing in people suffering from the common cold. The research offers a surprising yet simple aid for those battling seasonal illnesses. The study, published in the World Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, monitored 81 university students over a period of 10 weeks. The study During the study, 17 participants developed mild upper respiratory tract illnesses. Among them, six were given peppermints, another six were given butterscotch sweets, and five were not given any sweets. The remaining 64 participants, who…

Mexico City: The Mexican government announced on Monday that at least 64 people have died and 65 others remain missing after a week of torrential rains swept across the country, causing widespread flooding and landslides in parts of the Gulf Coast and central states. The severe weather was triggered by an unnamed tropical depression, which struck near the end of Mexico’s rainy season, battering already saturated land and causing rivers to burst their banks. Forecasters had been monitoring two Pacific hurricanes and several tropical storms, but the heavy downpours from the depression came unexpectedly, intensifying over regions that had endured…

London: Five major car brands are on trial in the UK over the diesel emissions scandal, commonly referred to as ‘dieselgate.’ The class action lawsuit, involving approximately 850,000 drivers, is being heard at the High Court and is expected to continue for three months, with judgment likely to be reserved until mid-2026. The dieselgate scandal first emerged in 2015 when Volkswagen was found to have installed defeat devices, software that gave false low emissions readings, on most of its diesel models. These devices allowed vehicles to pass emissions tests while emitting nitrogen dioxide up to 40 times above the legal…