The world’s first patient to have brain surgery with live artificial intelligence assistance has successfully had his tumour removed. Rhys Hibbert, a father-of-two from Bedfordshire, could have lost his sight without the operation, said surgeons at University College London Hospital. The AI tool analysed a video feed of the operation as it happened and advised surgeons on how to avoid crucial but hidden vessels and nerves in the brain. It allowed them to safely remove as much of the tumour as possible. “From a patient safety perspective, I can see absolutely the benefit. There are no road signs inside our…
Author: Arafat Hasib
India, the world’s largest consumer of sugar, is trying to avoid a bittersweet festive season. Sugar prices have jumped nearly 40% in the past two months, prompting the government to import 1 million tonnes for the first time in nearly a decade. The move comes as demand surges from August, with festivals such as Ganesh Chaturthi, Dussehra and Diwali leading into the busy wedding season. Food and beverage companies also begin stocking up for one of their busiest sales periods, adding pressure on wholesale prices. Production is now expected to be 30.6 million tonnes in the current season, which runs…
A panel of 12 jurors is expected to begin deliberations this week in the trial of Lindsay Clancy, the Massachusetts mother charged with murdering her three small children at their home in suburban Boston. In a case that has captivated the American public, Clancy has not disputed that she killed them, but her lawyers argue she should not be held legally responsible because she was suffering from severe mental illness. Clancy is charged with three counts of first-degree murder in the January 2023 deaths. If convicted, she faces life in prison without parole. Here are some of the most notable…
Andy Burnham has promised to keep up the pressure on Russia despite Moscow’s “outrageous threats”, on his first official visit to Ukraine as UK prime minister. Burnham met Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and chaired his first meeting of the “coalition of the willing”, set up by the UK and France under his predecessor Sir Keir Starmer. He said the coalition was “doing everything we can” while urging the US Congress to “ratchet up” economic pressure on Russia. The government has agreed to hand over blueprints for British-made components for the Scalp missile, a French version of the UK’s Storm Shadow…
Two local authorities will use artificial intelligence (AI) to help bridge multi-million pound budget gaps. West Northamptonshire Council (WNC) identified a £24m budget gap for 2027/28, while North Northamptonshire Council (NNC) will need to find £13.6m. Both councils have started cost cutting measures including using artificial intelligence (AI) across services like adult social care — an area where they have previously seen a spending increase. A study by the Shared Data Unit identified that 218 upper-tier councils would need to make a total of £3.2bn in cuts. Both councils, controlled by Reform UK, have introduced AI in adult social care to improve…
It’s been more than 18 months since the last trailer for Grand Theft Auto 6 was released. A few weeks ago, developer Rockstar announced it would break its long silence with a special “extended look” at the highly anticipated video game in a Netflix special. But the run-up to the splashy preview has been potentially overshadowed by a string of apparent leaks which appear to show footage of GTA 6 in action. Rockstar has not publicly acknowledged the clips, nor replied to any requests for comment, since the first leaks appeared on Wednesday. But there’s plenty to suggest the material…
One year after Donald Trump returned to the White House, American voters say his promise to quickly improve the economy has delivered uneven results, with experiences varying sharply depending on age, income, and location. The BBC spoke with voters across the political spectrum to assess how everyday Americans feel about prices, jobs, and financial security. Their responses reveal modest improvements for some, but persistent strain for many others. Lower Prices for Some, but Not All In rural Michigan, 72-year-old Republican Mary Anne Dagata says food and fuel costs have eased significantly compared with early last year, when shortages pushed prices…
Iran is experiencing the most serious domestic unrest since the 1979 Islamic Revolution. Widespread protests began in late December after a sharp collapse in the value of the Iranian rial and soaring inflation, prompting ordinary traders and citizens to strike and take to the streets. Within weeks, protests spread nationwide, demanding economic and political change. The government has responded with a ferocious crackdown: live ammunition, arrests, and a near-total communications blackout. Mortuary videos and hospital reports reveal a rapidly rising death toll, with more than 20,000 reportedly arrested in just a few weeks. Legal penalties have hardened, and protesters are…
Job creation in the United States slowed sharply at the end of 2025, capping off the weakest year for employment growth since the height of the Covid pandemic. According to data released by the US Labor Department, employers added just 50,000 jobs in December, a figure that came in below expectations. Despite the modest hiring, the unemployment rate edged down to 4.4%. Overall job gains across 2025 were the smallest recorded since 2020, when the pandemic triggered widespread layoffs and business closures across the country. Throughout the year, companies have been navigating an uncertain environment shaped by sweeping policy shifts…
The White House has confirmed that President Donald Trump and his advisers are actively weighing different approaches to bringing Greenland under US control — including the potential use of military force. the White House described the acquisition of Greenland, a semi-autonomous territory of Denmark and a fellow Nato member, as a matter of US national security. The comments came shortly after several European leaders publicly backed Denmark, which has rejected Washington’s renewed push to claim the Arctic island. Over the weekend, President Trump again insisted that the United States “needs” Greenland for security purposes. Denmark’s Prime Minister, Mette Frederiksen, warned…
A recent visit to an operating theatre in Edinburgh has offered a rare, up-close view of how cutting-edge neuroscience and surgery are being used to deepen understanding of Alzheimer’s disease, the most common form of dementia. While a definitive cure remains out of reach, researchers say new approaches and early breakthroughs are building hope that treatments will continue to improve. At Edinburgh Royal Infirmary, a piece of brain tissue normally treated as medical waste during surgery was instead collected for research with the patient’s consent. Neurosurgeons worked to remove a tumour deep within the brain, drilling through the cortex the…
Japan’s population is aging faster than anywhere else. Nearly 30% of people are over 65, second only to Monaco. Last year, more than 18,000 people with dementia went missing, and almost 500 were found dead. These cases have doubled since 2012. With fewer young workers and limits on foreign caregivers, the demand for care is rising. Health care costs are expected to reach 9 trillion yen in 2025 and could climb to 14 trillion yen, or 90 billion US dollars, by 2030. Japan is resorting to technology to help resolve this crisis, not to replace people, but to assist.…
A boat repeatedly targeted by the US military in September was on its way to meet another vessel bound for Suriname, not necessarily the United States, according to the admiral in charge of the operation, as reported by two sources. Adm. Frank Bradley said intelligence showed the smaller boat was supposed to deliver drugs to a larger ship headed to a South American country, but that second ship was never found. Bradley argued the shipment could have ended up in the US, which he said justified the strike. US drug agencies report that trafficking routes through Suriname usually go…
