Author: Web Desk

London: AI slop has emerged as a dominant force in YouTube’s recommendation system, with new research indicating that more than 20 percent of videos shown to first-time users fall into this category. The study, conducted by video-editing company Kapwing, has analysed 15,000 of the world’s most popular YouTube channels, covering the top 100 channels in every country. Researchers have identified 278 channels that contain only AI slop, defined as low-quality, algorithmically generated videos designed primarily to farm views and advertising revenue. Collectively, these channels have amassed more than 63 billion views and 221 million subscribers. Kapwing has estimated that the…

New York: Snow has brought widespread disruption across New York and neighbouring states after a powerful winter storm swept through the north-eastern United States during peak travel season. New York City has recorded its most significant snowfall since January 2022, with Central Park measuring 4.3 inches, while other parts of New York state have seen accumulations of up to 7.5 inches, according to the US National Weather Service. The heavy snow has prompted New York Governor Kathy Hochul to declare a state of emergency across more than half of the state’s counties ahead of the storm’s arrival. Authorities have warned…

London: Climate-related disasters have dominated 2025, with cyclones, floods and wildfires inflicting some of the highest losses ever recorded, according to an annual report by Christian Aid. The charity has estimated that the 10 costliest climate-related disasters of the year alone resulted in more than $120 billion (£95 billion) in insured losses, while the true cost in lives, displacement and destroyed livelihoods has remained far higher. South-east Asia has been among the worst affected regions. Cyclones and floods during the autumn months have killed more than 1,750 people and caused damages exceeding $25 billion (£19 billion). In China, widespread flooding…

Washington: US holiday travel has been heavily disrupted as winter storm Devin has caused widespread flight cancellations and delays across the country, affecting millions of passengers during one of the busiest travel periods of the year. According to airline tracking service FlightAware, a total of 1,581 flights within, into or out of the US have been cancelled, while 6,883 flights have been delayed as of December 26 afternoon. The disruption has occurred as severe winter weather conditions have spread across large parts of the Midwest and the northeast. The US National Weather Service has warned that winter storm Devin is…

New Delhi: India’s solar waste is becoming an increasingly urgent issue as the country’s renewable energy transition accelerates. Over just a decade, India has become the world’s third-largest solar power producer, with solar energy now contributing more than 20 percent of installed electricity capacity. From vast solar parks to millions of rooftop installations, panels have spread across urban and rural landscapes as part of India’s climate strategy. Government data has shown that nearly 2.4 million households have adopted rooftop solar systems under subsidy schemes. While this expansion has reduced dependence on coal, experts have cautioned that solar panels, although clean…

Washington: US forces have carried out coordinated airstrikes against Islamic State-linked militants in north-west Nigeria, according to statements from President Donald Trump and US military officials. The operation has been described as part of a broader US effort to counter extremist groups operating across West Africa. US President Donald Trump has said the military launched ‘powerful and deadly strikes’ against Islamic State elements, claiming the group had carried out violent attacks against civilians. Nigerian Foreign Minister Yusuf Maitama Tuggar has said the action was a joint operation targeting terrorist groups and stressed that it was not directed at any specific…

Brussels: US visa bans have drawn sharp condemnation from European leaders after Washington barred five prominent figures involved in regulating American technology companies, escalating a growing transatlantic dispute over digital governance and free speech. The restrictions have targeted Thierry Breton, the former European Union commissioner central to drafting the Digital Services Act, along with four anti-disinformation campaigners based in Germany and the UK. European governments have argued that the measures represent political pressure aimed at weakening Europe’s ability to regulate its own digital space. France’s president Emmanuel Macron has accused Washington of coercion and intimidation, stating that Europe’s digital rules…

Kyiv: Ukraine has detailed an updated peace proposal that introduces the possibility of demilitarised zones in parts of the country’s east, marking a significant shift in negotiations aimed at ending the conflict. Ukraine has said the proposal forms part of a 20-point framework developed with US officials, with Russia expected to respond after consultations with Washington. Volodymyr Zelensky has described the plan as the central framework for ending the war, stating that it includes security guarantees from the United States, Nato and European partners. These guarantees would involve a coordinated military response should Russia launch another invasion of ukraine. On…

London: UK climate records have shown that 2025 is likely to surpass all previous years for average annual temperature, with provisional data indicating a national mean of about 10.05C. That figure would narrowly exceed the previous record of 10.03C set in 2022, although final confirmation will depend on weather conditions during the final days of December. The Met Office has calculated the projection using observed temperatures up to December 21, assuming remaining days follow long-term seasonal averages. While a colder end to the year could still influence the outcome, meteorologists have said the current data makes a new UK record…

Washington: Amazon has blocked more than 1,800 job applications after identifying suspected attempts by North Korean operatives to secure remote technology roles using stolen or fabricated identities, highlighting growing risks facing global employers. The development has underscored how cyber-enabled labour fraud has expanded alongside the rise of remote work, particularly within the US technology sector. According to Amazon’s chief security officer Stephen Schmidt, the company has detected a sharp rise in fraudulent applications over the past year, with submissions linked to North Korea increasing by nearly one-third. Amazon has identified that the applicants were targeting remote IT positions, with the…