Author: Web Desk

California: A series of lawsuits have been filed in California accusing ChatGPT of encouraging users toward self-harm and suicide. The seven cases, filed by the Social Media Victims Law Center and Tech Justice Law Project, claim the chatbot’s interactions led to severe psychological distress and deaths among users across the United States. The plaintiffs state that ChatGPT was initially used for general help with research, writing, and personal guidance but evolved into a manipulative and emotionally influencing presence. According to the filings, the chatbot allegedly reinforced harmful thoughts rather than directing users toward professional support, in some cases acting as…

London: Amazon has expanded its low-cost e-commerce platform, Amazon Bazaar, to 14 new international markets in an effort to strengthen its presence in the global value retail space. The expansion highlights Amazon’s strategy to compete with fast-growing Chinese rivals such as Shein and Temu, which have gained strong traction among consumers seeking affordable goods. Amazon Bazaar, launched in Mexico last year, offers a wide range of budget-friendly products including home goods, apparel, and fashion accessories. According to the company, most products are priced under $10, with some as low as $2. The new markets include Hong Kong, the Philippines, Nigeria,…

Texas: Tesla shareholders have approved a $1 trillion compensation package for Chief Executive Elon Musk, marking one of the largest corporate pay deals in history. The approval, announced during the company’s annual shareholder meeting in Austin, Texas, has highlighted continued investor confidence in Musk’s ability to steer Tesla into a future shaped by robotics and artificial intelligence. More than 75 percent of Tesla shareholders have voted in favour of the plan. The decision follows months of debate among investors, some of whom raised concerns over Musk’s influence and the company’s slowing sales. The new pay deal will depend on Musk…

Washington: The United States has faced severe disruptions in air travel as the ongoing government shutdown has forced the cancellation of thousands of flight operations nationwide. According to Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, up to 10 percent of domestic air travel across 40 major airports will be reduced if the funding impasse continues. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has stated that the decision to cut services is necessary to maintain safety as air traffic controllers report fatigue from working without pay. Approximately 1.4 million federal employees, including air traffic staff and park wardens, are either on forced leave or continuing their…

Vienna: The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) has reported that opium farming in Afghanistan has decreased by one-fifth in 2025, marking another significant fall since the Taliban banned poppy cultivation in 2022. The latest UN survey has found that the total area used for opium poppy cultivation has been estimated at 10,200 hectares this year, compared with 12,800 hectares in 2024. This 20 percent reduction follows a brief rebound seen last year but remains far below pre-ban levels when around 232,000 hectares were under cultivation. According to the UNODC’s annual assessment, opium harvests have fallen even faster…

London: Vibe coding has been announced as the Word of the Year 2025 by Collins Dictionary, highlighting the growing influence of artificial intelligence in everyday language and technology. The term, coined earlier this year by Andrej Karpathy, former Tesla AI director and founding engineer at OpenAI, describes a new way of creating software, not by typing lines of code, but by simply describing what the software should do. According to Collins, the choice reflects a broader cultural shift in how humans communicate with machines. Instead of learning programming syntax, users can now ‘vibe code’ by telling an AI system what…

New York: Zohran Mamdani has become the new mayor of New York City after a decisive win over Andrew Cuomo and Curtis Sliwa, making history as the city’s youngest mayor since 1892 and the first Muslim mayor of African origin. The victory has reflected a significant shift within the Democratic Party towards a more progressive vision. Mamdani entered the mayoral race with limited financial support and almost no party backing. Yet, the campaign’s focus on working-class priorities and inclusive governance has resonated strongly with urban voters. Known for advocating free childcare, improved public transport and increased government involvement in social…

Kentucky: A UPS cargo plane has crashed near Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport in Kentucky, killing at least seven people and injuring 11 others, according to Governor Andy Beshear. Authorities have said that the fatalities could increase as rescue efforts continue at the crash site. The aircraft, an MD-11F model, erupted into flames shortly after takeoff at around 17:15 local time (22:15 GMT) on October 4, sending thick black smoke into the sky. The crash caused a massive fire, engulfing nearby businesses including a petroleum recycling company. Governor Beshear said that the three UPS crew members on board were likely…

Washington: The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has stated that major airports in the United States have been hit by significant delays and cancellations due to widespread absences among air traffic controllers. The situation has been described as a result of ‘immense stress and fatigue’ from the ongoing US government shutdown, which has become the longest in the nation’s history. More than 16,700 flights have been delayed and 2,282 cancelled between October 31 and November 2, according to FlightAware, a US-based flight tracking platform. The disruptions have continued into November 3 evening across major hubs such as Chicago O’Hare, Dallas Fort…

Melbourne: Jamie Melham has created Melbourne Cup history by guiding Half Yours to a commanding win at Flemington, finishing three lengths clear of Goodie Two Shoes, trained by Ireland’s Joseph O’Brien and ridden by Wayne Lordan. Middle Earth secured third place in the two-mile race, which is widely regarded as ‘the race that stops a nation’. Half Yours, the 8-1 favourite, surged ahead in the final stages to secure the win, adding to its Caulfield Cup triumph last month. The double victory made Melham the first woman to win both the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups in the same year. The…