In a recent survey, 72% of prison officers say they are frequently stressed at work, 45% say they have been assaulted at least once. So what motivates them – and how do they cope?
ChatGPT ‘nearly kills’ woman after giving confident advice about a poisonous plant/ (@rawbeautybykristi/Instagram)
Millions of people now treat AI chatbots as a first stop for everyday questions, from recipes to home projects. But one YouTuber has warned that misplaced trust in those answers can be dangerous, after her best friend was repeatedly reassured by ChatGPT that a highly toxic plant was safe.The warning came from Kristi, who shared the incident with her nearly half a million Instagram followers. In a series of posts and videos, she explained that her friend had sent photos of an unfamiliar plant growing in her garden to ChatGPT, asking a simple question: what plant is this?
When confidence replaces caution
According to screenshots Kristi shared, the chatbot identified the plant as carrot foliage. It listed the “finely divided and feathery leaves” as a classic sign of carrot tops and expressed confidence in its conclusion, saying it was “highly unlikely” to be poison hemlock. It also provided lists of common lookalikes, including parsley, coriander, shock horror, and Queen Anne’s lace.Concerned, Kristi’s friend asked directly whether the plant could be poison hemlock. ChatGPT reassured her multiple times that it was not.“I don’t know if you guys know this, you eat it, you die. You touch it, you can die,” Kristi told her followers, stressing the danger of poison hemlock. She later shared information she found independently, noting that hemlock causes systemic poisoning and has no antidote.The reassurances continued even after her friend sent additional images. ChatGPT again dismissed poison hemlock as a possibility, saying the plant did not show smooth, hollow stems with purple blotching, despite Kristi pointing out that those features appeared clearly visible in the photos. At one point, the chatbot even suggested the plant might be carrot foliage growing in a shared school garden where Kristi’s friend works.
(@rawbeautybykristi/Instagram)
Alarmed, Kristi ran the same images through Google Lens, which immediately identified the plant as poison hemlock. Her friend then uploaded the photos into a separate ChatGPT session on her phone and, this time, was told the plant was poisonous.“She’s a grown adult and she knew to ask me beyond what ChatGPT said, thank God,” Kristi said. “Because what if she wasn’t? They would literally be dead. There is no antidote for this.”In a strongly worded caption accompanying her post, Kristi wrote:“Chat GPT NEARLY k*lled my best friend by telling her that POISON HEMLOCK was CARROT. It not only said it was POSITIVE it doubled down over and over CONFIRMING with ABSOLUTE certainty that it was in fact NOT poison hemlock, that it was IN FACT wild carrot. Spoiler, it’s poison hemlock. Which there is NO antidote for and is EXTREMELY deadly.She ended with a blunt warning to her audience:“This is a warning to you that ChatGPT and other large language models and any other AI, they are not your friend, they are not to be trusted, they are not helpful, they are awful and they could cause severe harm.”
A deadly lookalike
Poison hemlock (Conium maculatum) is not an obscure toxin. In ancient Athens, it was the state’s chosen method of execution, most famously used to kill Socrates in 399 BCE. Modern medicine understands its effects in far greater detail, but the outcome can be the same. According to the Cleveland Clinic, every part of the plant is poisonous, seeds, roots, stems, leaves and fruit, and ingestion can be fatal even in small amounts.
The difference between poison hemlock (Conium maculatum) and carrot (Daucus carota), both in the same family, lies in toxicity, stem markings, and leaf texture.
The danger lies partly in how easily hemlock is mistaken for benign members of the carrot family. It closely resembles wild carrot or Queen Anne’s lace, with delicate, parsley-like leaves and clusters of small white flowers. The key warning signs, a hollow stem marked with purple blotches and rapid growth that can reach several feets, are often missed by non-specialists.Clinically, hemlock poisoning acts fast. Symptoms can begin within 15 minutes of ingestion and may include sweating, vomiting, dilated pupils, excessive salivation, dry mouth, rapid heartbeat, high blood pressure, confusion, muscle twitching, tremors and seizures. In severe cases, patients can develop muscle paralysis, dangerously low blood pressure, kidney failure and central nervous system depression. The plant’s toxic alkaloids disrupt the neuromuscular junctions that control muscle movement; when the respiratory muscles fail, breathing stops. There is no specific antidote. Diagnosis relies largely on symptoms and exposure history, sometimes aided by a sample of the plant itself.
Why mistakes like this matter
That combination, visual similarity to harmless plants, rapid onset of symptoms and the absence of an antidote, is precisely why botanists and clinicians warn against casual identification. Kristi’s account shows how easily a confident but incorrect AI response can short-circuit that caution, turning a routine question into a near-miss with a poison once used to end the life of one of history’s most famous philosophers.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that a long-anticipated document on U.S. security guarantees is “100% ready” for signing, with Kyiv now waiting for its American partners to confirm the date and place before the agreement moves to ratification in both the U.S. Congress and the Ukrainian parliament.
“For us, security guarantees are first and foremost guarantees of security from the United States. The document is 100% ready,” Zelenskyy said Sunday at a joint press conference in Vilnius, Lithuania, with the presidents of Lithuania and Poland, according to a translation of his remarks from Reuters.
Zelenskyy reiterated at the press conference that Ukraine views membership in the European Union as another core security guarantee and is aiming to join the bloc by 2027, the Ukrainian president’s office said in a statement on its website.
His remarks come after Ukraine, Russia and the United States held trilateral talks in Abu Dhabi for two days over the weekend.
Polish President Karol Nawrocki, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda attend a press conference following a Lublin Triangle meeting in Vilnius, Lithuania, on Jan. 25, 2026.(Yauhen Yerchak/Anadolu via Getty Images)
Zelenskyy said on X that the discussions, which involved political and military representatives from all three sides, were “constructive” and focused on potential parameters for ending his country’s war with Russia.
The talks in the United Arab Emirates followed a meeting in Moscow on Thursday between Russian President Vladimir Putin, U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff, President Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner and head of the Federal Acquisition Service Josh Gruenbaum.
Russia’s President Vladimir Putin meets with U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff, Jared Kushner and Federal Acquisition Service Commissioner Josh Gruenbaum at the Kremlin in Moscow on Jan. 22, 2026.(Alexander Kazakov/Pool/AFP via Getty Images)
Putin aide Yuri Ushakov said the “extremely frank” discussions lasted roughly four hours and included U.S. officials updating Moscow on their recent conversations with Ukrainian and European leaders, according to a summary of the meeting from the Kremlin.
Territorial issues remain a key obstacle in the negotiations, with Moscow pressing Kyiv to relinquish parts of eastern Ukraine’s Donbas region that Russian forces do not fully control.
U.S. officials told Axios that negotiations examined the full range of unresolved issues, from Russia’s territorial demands in the Donbas to control of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant and potential steps to prevent a return to fighting.
Another U.S. official told the outlet a second round of talks is scheduled to take place on Feb. 1.
xAI and Grok logos are seen in this illustration taken, February 16, 2025.— Reuters/File
The European Union on Monday hit Elon Musk’s X with an investigation over AI chatbot Grok’s generation of sexualised deepfake images of women and minors, in the latest step of an international backlash against the tool.
Grok faces an outcry after it emerged that users could sexualise images of women and children using simple text prompts such as “put her in a bikini” or “remove her clothes”.
“In Europe, we will not tolerate unthinkable behaviour, such as digital undressing of women and children,” said European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen.
“It is simple — we will not hand over consent and child protection to tech companies to violate and monetise. The harm caused by illegal images is very real,” she said in a statement to AFP.
EU tech commissioner Henna Virkkunen said the probe would “determine whether X has met its legal obligations” under the bloc’s Digital Services Act (DSA), which is designed to police internet giants.
She said the rights of women and children in the EU should not be “collateral damage” of X’s services.
Brussels said it was investigating whether X had properly mitigated “risks related to the dissemination of illegal content in the EU, such as manipulated sexually explicit images, including content that may amount to child sexual abuse material”.
Three million images
According to research published on Thursday by the Centre for Countering Digital Hate (CCDH), a nonprofit watchdog, Grok generated an estimated three million sexualised images of women and children in a matter of days.
As part of the new probe, the EU said it was widening an existing investigation into X aimed at tackling the spread of illegal content and information manipulation.
Musk’s social media platform, formerly known as Twitter, has been the target of an investigation since December 2023 under the EU’s digital content rules.
Brussels slapped a $140-million fine on X in December for violating the transparency obligations of the DSA, triggering angry reactions from US President Donald Trump’s administration.
The breaches included the deceptive design of its “blue checkmark” for supposedly verified accounts and failure to provide access to public data for researchers.
The EU has insisted it will enforce its rules despite pressure from Washington.
The dispute over tech regulation comes as the bloc has grappled with the Trump administration on multiple other fronts — from the Ukraine war to trade to Greenland.
Parents are reportedly spending an average of £234 each year on vitamins and supplements for their children, primarily to enhance immunity and focus, a new survey suggests.
A substantial 92 per cent of parents have purchased vitamins and supplements for their child over the past year.
Multivitamins emerged as the most popular choice at 89 per cent, followed by Vitamin C (65 per cent), Vitamin D (61 per cent), probiotic yoghurts (56 per cent), and iron (51 per cent).
Clearpay’s internal sales data reveals a significant increase in demand for certain products, with magnesium for children soaring by 296 per cent year-on-year.
Looking ahead, 44 per cent of parents intend to increase their spending on children’s supplements this year. The main reasons cited for these purchases include boosting immunity (51 per cent), avoiding illness (36 per cent), and improving focus and concentration (24 per cent).
Sales of magnesium for children are up 296 per cent year-on-year (Alamy/PA)
Nearly one in five parents (17 per cent) said they bought vitamins and supplements to avoid their children being off school or nursery.
On average, parents spend just £7 more on supplements for themselves, with adult magnesium supplement sales increasing the most at 296 per cent and vitamin D by 231 per cent year-on-year.
However, 63 per cent of parents say it is becoming increasingly expensive to buy vitamins and supplements for their children, while 44 per cent struggle to know which products are genuinely effective.
Clearpay chief executive Rich Bayer said: “While many households continue to contend with rising costs across the board, health is clearly something parents want to continue investing in.
“Vitamins and supplements have become routine in how parents support their children’s health, and this is now a regular expenditure.”
OnePoll surveyed 2,000 UK parents of children under 18 between January 9-14.
City pollution harming your hair? A dermatologist and a hair expert share scalp-first solutions for stronger, shinier hair.
Pollution has quietly become one of the biggest stressors for your hair and scalp.
Every city woman knows the pattern: glossy, bouncy hair one day, limp and lifeless the next. Between traffic fumes, construction dust, humidity, and seasonal smog, pollution has quietly become one of the biggest stressors for hair and scalp health. These fine airborne particles don’t simply hover around us. They settle on the scalp, clog follicles, disrupt oil balance, and weaken hair at the root. Over time, the damage shows up as frizz, breakage, dullness, and even hair fall.
“The scalp is an extension of your skin, and it’s the foundation of healthy hair. When pollutants, oil, and sweat build up, they clog follicles, inflame the scalp, and weaken the barrier that supports growth. The result is hair that feels lifeless, frizzy, and prone to breakage,” explains Dr Geetika Mittal Gupta, aesthetic dermatologist and founder of ISAAC Luxe.
Why Scalp Health Can’t Be Ignored
Scalp care is often overlooked in conversations about pollution and beauty. Shawn Lim, Head of Beauty Research at Dyson, points out that maintaining balance at the scalp is essential to preserving hair quality. “Maintaining a balanced scalp environment, is essential to preserving your hair’s natural texture, shine, and resilience,” she explains.
She further adds, “The scalp has approximately 1,00,000 hair follicles and sebaceous glands and keeping it healthy plays an important role in helping hair strands look and feel their best.” City living, however, exposes the scalp to pollution, sweat, humidity, and styling residue – making regular cleansing and hydration non-negotiable.
Dr Geetika agrees, noting, “We often think of pollution as affecting our lungs or skin, but it has a direct impact on the scalp too. It can lead to dandruff and other problems such as an itchy, bumpy and oily scalp. If left untreated, inflammation of the scalp can affect hair loss and retention.”
Cleansing Away The City
Urban smog traps microscopic pollutants that cling to the scalp and hair cuticle, leaving strands dry, dull, and brittle. Over time, these particles can penetrate the scalp surface, causing irritation and altering the hair’s natural oil balance.
According to Shawn, “Key symptoms of an unhealthy scalp to watch out for include itchiness, irritation and dryness. Scalp issues are also linked to rough hair, reduced shine and hair breakage.”
Dr Geetika recommends timely cleansing, especially after high-exposure days. “Wash your hair regularly, especially after high exposure days. Gentle cleansing removes pollutants before they can oxidise or block follicles. Follow it with a lightweight conditioner or serum that seals in moisture and adds a layer of protection.”
Style Smarter, Not Hotter
Heat styling can amplify pollution-related damage, worsening dryness and scalp sensitivity. Tools that regulate temperature can make a noticeable difference. Dyson’s Supersonic Nural dryer is designed for fast, intelligent drying with no heat damage, helping maintain scalp comfort and hair shine.
“With pollution causing so much issues across the nation where the scalp is already inflamed, it’s important to avoid additional stress from hot tools,” says Dr Geetika.
Build A Scalp-First Ritual
Think of scalp care the way you think of skincare. “Using hair care treatments filled with natural ingredients and antioxidants will help keep your scalp and hair clean and protected against the effects of oxidative stress. Active ingredients in hair care products reduce oxidative stress and rebalance microbes, helping to maintain the scalp in the healthiest condition,” explains Shawn.
Dr Geetika suggests weekly gentle exfoliation followed by nourishing serums. “Antioxidants like green tea, niacinamide, and vitamin E protect against pollution-induced inflammation, while hydrating ingredients like hyaluronic acid and peptides strengthen the scalp barrier,” she says.
Pollution may be an unavoidable part of urban life, but hair damage doesn’t have to be. With mindful cleansing, scalp-focused care, intelligent styling tools, and consistent nutrition, city women can protect their hair from environmental stressors. In a polluted world, healthy hair starts at the scalp and thrives with science, technology, and a little daily discipline.
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First Published:
January 25, 2026, 16:31 IST
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Prince William, Harry’s cousin ‘confirms’ major family fued
Prince William and Prince Harry’s cousin seemingly confirmed the major family feud with a new message.
Princess Diana’s niece Lady Eliza Spencer delighted her followers on Instagram with a series of photos from her engagement party, which took place in Cape Town.
Ahead of her wedding with businessman Channing Millerd, the socialite’s new post featured her sisters Lady Amelia and Lady Kitty, and their mother, former model Victoria Aitken.
The Spencer clan was all smiles in their intimate family celebration. However, Lady Eliza’s father, Charles Spencer, was absent and was felt by netizens.
The British model captioned her post, ‘the people we love most’, which did not include her father, hinting that the rumours about the Spencer family rift are true.
It is also important to note that Charles Spencer did not take part in his other two daughters, Kitty and Amelia’s weddings in 2021 and 2023.
Fans took to the comments section of Eliza’s post and raised concerns about the growing distance between Charles and his family.
“Where is Charles Spencer?” a social media user wrote.
Another fan lauded Victoria for creating a “loving and beautiful family.”
However, no official remark was made by Harry and William’s uncle about his absence from Eliza’s wedding festivities.
People waves Bangladeshi flags on top the Ganabhaban, the Prime Minister’s residence, as they celebrate the resignation of PM Sheikh Hasina in Dhaka, Bangladesh.— Reuters/File
Police chief tried in absentia, his whereabouts unknown.
Five ex-police officers sentenced to varying terms.
Court says culprits committed crimes against humanity.
A Bangladesh court on Monday sentenced Dhaka’s fugitive former police chief and two senior colleagues to be hanged for crimes against humanity committed during the rule of ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina.
All three, including the capital’s former police chief, Habibur Rahman, were tried in absentia, and their whereabouts are not known.
The verdict comes ahead of elections on February 12, the first in the South Asian country of 170 million people since Hasina’s overthrow in August 2024.
Five other ex-police officers were sentenced to varying terms.
The case concerned the killing of six protesters in Dhaka on August 5, 2024, the day Hasina fled to India as protesters stormed her palace.
Up to 1,400 people were killed between July and August 2024 when Hasina’s government launched a brutal campaign to silence the protesters, according to the United Nations.
“The police forces […] opened fire with lethal weapons […] causing death to the aforesaid six persons,” judge Golam Mortuza Mozumder read to the court in Dhaka.
The court heard how Rahman sent messages to police units ordering the use of lethal force to crush the protests.
Chief prosecutor Tajul Islam said he was satisfied with the verdict against the three men, although he wanted tougher sentences for the five others found guilty who were handed prison terms.
“The court said their crimes have been proved and they committed crimes against humanity,” Islam told the reporters after the verdict.
In November, the same court also sentenced Hasina — who remains in hiding in India — to death for crimes against humanity. She refused to attend the trial and denies the charges.
In that case, former interior minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal was also sentenced to death in absentia after being found guilty of crimes against humanity.
Ex-police chief Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun, who was in court and had pleaded guilty, was sentenced to five years’ imprisonment.
An expert has claimed that fashion icon Victoria Beckham is privately enjoying spotlight amid ongoing family rift with son Brooklyn.
Entertainment expert Rob Shuter made this claim days after Brooklyn Beckham and his celebrity parents, David and Victoria Beckham, dominated UK media as their son exploded on social media saying he had no wish for a reconciliation.
The 26-year-old said that his parents have been controlling narratives in the press about his family and tried to “ruin” his relationship with his wife Nicola Peltz Beckham.
Rob Shuter said Victoria is privately enjoying the spotlight even as the drama plays out publicly as painful and deeply personal.
The insider tells the expert, “Victoria would never admit it. But she’s absolutely thriving on the attention. She’s a brand — and controversy keeps the brand alive.”
Following Brooklyn explosive accusations Victoria has stayed conspicuously silent. “No denials. No clarifications. No emotional statements.”
The close confidant said that restraint by Victoria is very much intentional.
The source said, “Victoria knows exactly how this works. Silence creates mystery, and mystery creates relevance. Every headline keeps her name trending — and she’s very aware of that.”
Moreover, the friends of Victoria have said the former Spice Girl has long mastered the art of turning personal turbulence into public currency.
“She’s survived far worse scandals than this,” another source said and added “Compared to past scrutiny, this is manageable — and even useful.”
Moong dal popcorn recipe: A crunchy, high-protein snack made at home (Image source: AI-Generated)
Moong dal popcorn looks like an equally enjoyable and crunchy version of the normally sweet popcorn that combines the fun times of munching while being healthier than the conventional form of popcorn. When you want to eat an equally healthier version of your normally sweet popcorn that combines the fun moments you experience while having your popcorn without the risk of adding more calories to your body, then the moong dal popcorn recipe is the best choice for you. In the moong dal popcorn recipe, moong dal is used to make the popcorn crunchy without affecting the health of the consumer, since it is healthier than the conventional yellow popcorn that has been deep-fried while being prepared by the majority of the population today for their consumption.
Moong dal popcorn recipe: A step-by-step process
Follow this recipe to make these yummy moong dal popcorn and eat a tasty snack without any guilt: Ingredients
½ cup split yellow moong dal
Water for soaking
1–2 tbsp oil (for shallow frying or popping)
Salt to taste
½ tsp chaat masala or roasted cumin powder (optional)
Red chilli powder or black pepper (optional)
Steps to make moong dal popcornWash the moong dal thoroughly and soak it in enough water for 6–8 hours or overnight. This step is important, as properly soaked dal pops better and becomes crisp when cooked.Drain the soaked dal completely and spread it on a clean cloth or paper towel. Let it air-dry for 30–40 minutes until there is no surface moisture left. Drying helps prevent spluttering and ensures even popping.Heat oil in a heavy-bottomed pan or kadai over medium heat. To test if the oil is ready, drop in one dal. It should puff up immediately.Add a small batch of soaked dal to the hot oil and quickly cover the pan with a lid. The dal will begin to pop and puff up, similar to popcorn. Shake the pan gently for even cooking.Once the popping slows down, turn off the heat and remove the dal using a slotted spoon. Sprinkle salt and spices while the dal is still hot, then toss well to coat evenly.
The best way to enjoy moong dal popcorn
Moong dal popcorn is best consumed fresh and hot. It goes well with your evening tea or as a light movie-time snack. Being rich in protein and fibre, moong dal helps this snack to keep you fuller for a longer time without the heavy feeling of fried snacks.It’s best consumed fresh, but you can store it in an airtight container for up to one day.
