A bad night of sleep leads to grogginess the next day, but may also point to serious health issues years before they appear. Researchers at Stanford Medicine have developed a new artificial intelligence system that can analyse detailed body signals from a single night of sleep and estimate a person’s risk of developing more than 100 different diseases. The system, called SleepFM, was trained using nearly 600,000 hours of sleep recordings from about 65,000 people. These recordings came from polysomnography, an in-depth sleep test that uses sensors to track brain activity, heart rhythms, breathing patterns, eye movements, leg motion, and other physiological signals throughout the night. Polysomnography is widely considered the most reliable method for studying sleep, typically conducted overnight in specialised laboratories. Beyond diagnosing sleep disorders, researchers realised these tests capture an extraordinary amount of information about how the body functions over several uninterrupted hours. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
07 January,2026 06:42 AM IST | Stanford | AgenciesThe Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2026 was set to open in Las Vegas on Tuesday, but early revelations came through. These include new TVs like LG 9 mm thick W6 Wallpaper, the Sweekar AI pet that physically grows as you play with it, Samsung’s “world’s largest” 130-inch TV, and robots that can literally bend over backwards. Among tech toys will also be Lego’s new Smart Bricks, part of a ‘Smart Play’ system. Each brick is equipped with chips that recognise other bricks, measure tilt and movement, generate sounds, activate LED lights, and much more. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
07 January,2026 06:37 AM IST | Las Vegas | AgenciesChinese heavy truck manufacturer SANY teamed up with Pony.ai to showcase a unique ‘human in the lead’ autonomous driving system that can help overcome regulatory concerns while also increasing fleet profits. This was the world’s first 5G+automation+electrification demonstration for heavy-duty trucks, which have gone to mass production. It is not yet entirely clear what level of automation SANY plans. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
07 January,2026 06:33 AM IST | Dubai | AgenciesThree Indian nationals were arrested in Sri Lanka for allegedly possessing 50 kg of cannabis. The cannabis that has been confiscated by the authorities is valued at LKR 500 million. As reported by news agency PTI, this is one of the largest narcotics hauls at Colombo International Airport. The police officials on Tuesday also asserted that the suspects, including two women, arrived at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) on a flight operated by SriLankan Airways from Bangkok. In a major drug haul at Colombo airport, two women suspects who hail from Mumbai, aged between 25 and 27, work as teachers. Police officials also added, “The three accused who have been nabbed at Colombo airport had attempted to flee through the green channel when they were arrested,” as per PTI. The narcotics bureau further emphasised that they were carrying 50 kg of Kush cannabis valued at LKR 500 million, making it the largest drug haul ever nabbed at the airport. Customs seizes 33.4 kg of hydroponic weed from 11 passengers at Mumbai Airport Earlier in December, officers of the airport commissionerate, Mumbai Customs Zone–3, seized 33.422 kg of hydroponic weed from 11 passengers arriving from Bangkok over a five-day period. According to the official press note, the seizures were made between December 11 and December 15, during which customs officers registered eight separate cases at Mumbai’s international airport. Highlighting the drug seizures, officers said that 16.482 kg of suspected drugs, valued at approximately Rs 16.48 crore in the illicit market, were recovered in four cases from five passengers based on passenger profiling. The accused had arrived from Bangkok on different flights and were arrested under the provisions of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985. In other cases, customs officers, acting on specific intelligence inputs, recovered 16.940 kg of suspected hydroponic weed, valued at around Rs 16.94 crore, from six passengers across four cases. These passengers had also arrived from Bangkok via various flights and were subsequently arrested under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act. The officer further added that the investigation in all the cases is still underway. (With inputs from PTI)
06 January,2026 10:23 PM IST | Colombo | mid-day online correspondentThe alleged abduction of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro by the United States (US) has triggered widespread international outrage, including criticism from several members of the United Nations Security Council—among them close Washington allies. Cuban Ambassador to India, Juan Carlos Marsan Aguilera, strongly condemned the US military operation in Venezuela, calling it unlawful and dangerous, news agency PTI reported. “This US military aggression towards Venezuela, in my opinion, is a criminal act. It's a terrorist act because it violates all the principles contained in the United Nations Charter and international law. It is a unilateral action against a sovereign country,” he said. He warned that no country alone can restrain Washington and urged global unity through multilateral bodies such as UN and BRICS, saying collective action is the only way to counter what he described as the US’s reckless international conduct. Meanwhile, Russia’s Ambassador, Vassily Nebenzia, said the US cannot “proclaim itself as some kind of a supreme judge, which alone bears the right to invade any country, to label culprits, to hand down and to enforce punishments irrespective of notions of international law, sovereignty and non-intervention”. Mexico’s Ambassador Hector Vasconcelos said UNSC had an “obligation to act decisively and without double standards” and stressed that it was for “sovereign peoples to decide their destinies”, according to a UN readout. The UNSC members have questioned the legality of Washington’s actions, describing them as a breach of national sovereignty and a violation of international law. Meanwhile, appearing before a court in New York, Maduro described himself as a “prisoner of war” and a victim of “kidnapping”. He and his wife pleaded not guilty to the drug trafficking charges brought against him by US authorities. Following his removal, Venezuela’s Vice-President Delcy Rodríguez was sworn in as interim president, in line with a ruling by the Venezuelan Supreme Court. While Rodríguez signalled her willingness to cooperate with the US, she referred to Maduro and his wife as “hostages”. Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump has warned of further military action against Venezuela and also issued threats toward Colombian President Gustavo Petro. Petro dismissed the warning, calling it “illegitimate”. (With PTI inputs)
06 January,2026 06:47 PM IST | Mumbai | PTIIsrael's Air Force struck areas in southern and eastern Lebanon on Monday and early Tuesday, including in the country's third-largest city. A strike around 1 am on Tuesday leveled a three-story commercial building in the southern coastal city of Sidon, a few days before Lebanon's army commander is scheduled to brief the government on its mission of disarming militant group Hezbollah in areas along the border with Israel. Lebanese President Joseph Aoun in a statement Tuesday condemned the attacks as counter to both international efforts to deescalate hostilities and Lebanon's efforts to extend the government's authority into areas long dominated by Hezbollah and to disarm militants. An Associated Press photographer at the scene in Sidon said the area was in a commercial district containing workshops and mechanic shops and the building was uninhabited. At least one person was transported by ambulance and rescue teams were searching the site for others, but no deaths have been reported. Israel's military said Tuesday they targeted weapons storage sites and infrastructure belonging to the militant groups Hezbollah and Hamas. They acknowledged the sites were located in civilian areas but blamed the groups for operating there. The strikes were the latest in near-daily Israeli military action since a ceasefire signed more than a year ago that included a Lebanese pledge to disarm militant groups, which Israel says has not been fulfilled. They took place nearly two hours after Israel's military Arabic language spokesman Avichay Adraee posted warnings on X that the military would strike targets in two villages in the eastern Bekaa Valley and two others in southern Lebanon. Lebanon's state-run National News Agency said a home struck in the village of Manara in the Bekaa Valley belonged to Sharhabil al-Sayed, a Hamas military commander who was killed in an Israeli drone strike in May 2024. The areas were evacuated after Israel's warning. There were no reports of casualties in those strikes. Earlier Monday, Lebanon's Health Ministry said a drone strike on a car in the southern village of Braikeh earlier Monday wounded two people. The Israeli military said the strike targeted two Hezbollah members. The Lebanese army last year began the disarmament process of Palestinian groups while the government has said that by the end of 2025 all the areas close to the border with Israel "known as the south Litani area" will be clear of Hezbollah's armed presence. The Lebanese government is scheduled to discuss Hezbollah's disarmament during a meeting Thursday that will be attended by army commander Gen. Rudolph Haikal. Monday's airstrikes were in villages north of the Litani river and far from the border with Israel. The disarmament of Hezbollah and other Palestinian groups by the Lebanese government came after a 14-month war between Israel and Hezbollah in which much of the political and military leadership of the Iran-backed group was killed. The latest Israel-Hezbollah war began Oct. 8, 2023, a day after Hamas attacked southern Israel, when Hezbollah fired rockets into Israel in solidarity with Hamas. Israel launched a widespread bombardment of Lebanon in September 2024 that severely weakened Hezbollah, followed by a ground invasion. The war ended in November 2024 with a ceasefire brokered by the U.S. Israel has carried out almost daily airstrikes since then, mainly targeting Hezbollah members but also killing at least 127 civilians, according to the office of the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever.
06 January,2026 03:42 PM IST | Sidon | APAfter the United States military intervention in Venezuela, the Mexican government and analysts discounted the likelihood of unilateral US military action against Mexican drug cartels, despite threats from President Donald Trump. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum's administration has been complying with Washington's demands and the economic ties between the two countries are vital, they say. Nonetheless, many expect more such threats as a way to extract more concessions from Mexico. No one dares rule out completely an unexpected move by the US president. Sheinbaum downplayed the possibility of US military action Monday. 'I don't see risks (of that),' she said. 'There is coordination, there is collaboration with the United States government.' 'I don't believe in (the possibility of) invasion, I don't believe even that it's something they are taking seriously,' she said. 'Organised crime is not taken care with (foreign military) intervention.' Here are some of the reasons: Mexico is not Venezuela Mexico has a radically different situation from that of Venezuela or other countries Washington is eying, like Cuba. First, Sheinbaum is a popular and legitimately elected president. Second, Mexico is the main commercial partner of the United States, a country where 40 million Mexicans live. Third, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio 'has recognised that there is high-level cooperation with Mexico,' said Martha Bárcena, former Mexican ambassador to the United States. Threats, a 'negotiation weapon' Trump and his collaborators have flirted with the idea of invading or attacking the cartels in Mexico since his election campaign, but in increasingly measured tones. Sheinbaum has confirmed that the idea of US military intervention in Mexico has been brought up repeatedly in her conversations with Trump, but said she has always rejected the offer. She sees it has a non-starter and insists that her relationship with Trump is one of mutual respect. The threat though, similar to those about tariffs on Mexican imports ' some carried out and others not ' have been a 'negotiation weapon' to get 'commercial, diplomatic and political advantages,' said Mexican security analyst David Saucedo. Rubio and Trump "play good cop, bad cop,' with Trump threatening and Rubio smoothing over, he said. Mexico is doing what the US asks Mexico is doing almost everything that Washington has requested since Trump began imposing tariffs, experts say. Sheinbaum's administration became more aggressive toward the cartels than her predecessor. There have been more arrests, drug seizures and extraditions. Mexico has agreed to receive more deportees from other countries. 'Intervention, military action in Mexico would suspend that cooperation,' said Carlos Pérez Ricart, a political analyst at Mexico's Centre for Economic Research and Teaching (CIDE). That would be a great risk to the US because it would be left without a partner to work with, he added. Saucedo said that US military action in Mexico would require money, logistics and risks, while 'a comment, a post on social networks doesn't cost anything' and has been very effective. More pressure to come Analysts believe the threats will continue to be the Trump administration's negotiation style, especially this year when the US-Mexico-Canada free trade agreement (USMCA) is up for revision. Saucedo said Trump could demand more access for US security agencies, even if operations are presented publicly as coordinated and carried out by Mexico. He could also pressure Mexico for more high-profile captures or to stop exporting oil to Cuba, or threaten new tariffs. 'With the ongoing negotiations over punitive tariffs, the statutory revision of the USMCA and the delicate antidrug cooperation agenda, the Mexican government will have to be very meticulous in its position and statements,' Arturo Sarukhán, another former Mexican ambassador to the US said. Rallying around Maduro 'would cost Mexico dearly,' as could Mexico's ongoing support of Cuba. Bárcena, the diplomat, said that what Mexico still needs to address is political corruption tied to organized crime while still defending international law. No one is willing to rule out US military intervention even if the possibility is very slim. 'The United States does not function under rational logic,' Pérez Ricart, the analyst, said. 'At this moment all possibilities are open, including those unimaginable a year ago.' This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
06 January,2026 10:36 AM IST | Mexico City | APDuring their first court appearance in New York, Venezuela's deposed dictator Nicolas Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, pleaded not guilty to all charges and accused the United States government of abducting them from their home country, CNN reported. As per CNN on Monday (local time), both Maduro and Flores denied the drug trafficking and weapons-related charges filed against them and, for now, did not contest their continued detention. The appearance marked a historic moment and the beginning of what is expected to be a prolonged legal battle, as their defence is likely to challenge the legality of their military capture. After the military operation to arrest Maduro, US President Donald Trump said, "We're in charge." Meanwhile, the Trump administration has signalled that it will closely monitor developments in Venezuela under interim leadership. However, Maduro's long-time vice president, Delcy Rodriguez, was sworn in as acting president on Monday, according to CNN. When asked to confirm his identity, Maduro stood up and spoke in Spanish, with his remarks translated into English in court. He told the court that he "was captured at my home in Caracas, Venezuela," and, as Judge Alvin Hellerstein attempted to interrupt him, added, "I am still president of my country." Responding to the charges for a second time, Maduro said, "I am innocent. I am not guilty of anything that is mentioned here. I am a decent man." As per CNN, it remains unclear how much of his statement was translated aloud in the courtroom. Judge Hellerstein said Maduro would be given an opportunity at a later stage to speak in detail about his arrest and the allegations against him. Maduro's lawyer confirmed that a not guilty plea had been entered on all four charges. Maduro's wife, Cilia Flores also pleaded not guilty, telling the judge in Spanish, "Not guilty, completely innocent." When asked to verify her identity, she said through an interpreter, "I am first lady of the Republic of Venezuela." She appeared in court with visible bandages on her forehead and right temple and required assistance to take her seat at the defence table. Her lawyer said she would need a medical evaluation and possible treatment for "significant injuries" sustained during what he described as her "abduction." Attorney Mark Donnelly said Flores may have suffered a fracture or, at a minimum, severe bruising to her ribs. Maduro's lawyer, Barry Pollack, also told the court that the Venezuelan leader has "some health and medical issues that will require attention," without providing further details. Pollack said he intends to file multiple motions challenging both the indictment and Maduro's arrest, which he described as a "military abduction" carried out by US operatives early Saturday morning, CNN reported. He also argued that Maduro holds privileges and immunity linked to his position as the leader of a sovereign nation. As per CNN, both Maduro and Flores requested a "visit" with representatives of the Venezuelan consulate. Under US law, detained foreign nationals are entitled to consular access, though it remains unclear how that request will be handled. Their lawyers did not seek immediate release during Monday's hearing but indicated that a formal bail application would be submitted at a later stage. The next hearing in the case has been scheduled for March 17, CNN reported. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
06 January,2026 10:33 AM IST | New York | ANIThe death toll in violence surrounding protests in Iran has risen to at least 35 people, activists said Tuesday, as the demonstrations showed no signs of stopping. The figure came from the US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency, which said more than 1,200 people have been detained in the protests, which have been ongoing for more than a week. It said 29 protesters, four children and two members of Iran's security forces have been killed. Demonstrations have reached over 250 locations in 27 of Iran's 31 provinces, The group, which relies on an activist network inside of Iran for its reporting, has been accurate in past unrest. The semiofficial Fars news agency, believed close to Iran's paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, reported late Monday that some 250 police officers and 45 members of the Guard's all-volunteer Basij force have been hurt in the demonstrations. The growing death toll carries with it the chance of American intervention. US President Donald Trump warning Iran on Friday that if Tehran 'violently kills peaceful protesters,' the United States 'will come to their rescue.' While it remains unclear how and if Trump will intervene, his comments sparked an immediate, angry response, with officials within the theocracy threatening to target American troops in the Mideast. The comments took on new importance after the US military on Saturday captured Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, a longtime ally of Tehran. The protests have become the biggest in Iran since 2022, when the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini in police custody triggered nationwide demonstrations. However, the protests have yet to be as widespread and intense as those surrounding the death of Amini, who was detained over not wearing her hijab, or headscarf, to the liking of authorities. Iran has faced rounds of nationwide protests in recent years. As sanctions tightened and Iran struggled after a 12-day war with Israel, its rial currency collapsed in December, reaching 1.4 million to USD 1. Protests began soon after. Understanding the scale of this latest round of protests has been difficult. Iranian state media has provided little information about the demonstrations. Online videos offer only brief, shaky glimpses of people in the streets or the sound of gunfire. Journalists in Iran also face limits on reporting in general, such as requiring permission to travel around the country, as well as the threat of harassment or arrest by authorities. But the protests do not appear to be stopping, even after Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Saturday said 'rioters must be put in their place.' This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
06 January,2026 10:31 AM IST | Dubai | APA new portable device can detect food allergies or gluten directly in a meal with laboratory-level precision. Unveiled by Allergen Alert, it enables people with food allergies or coeliac disease to test their food autonomously, wherever they are. Unlike barcode scanners or apps attempting to interpret a photo of a dish, this pocket-sized mini-lab relies on a patented, single-use pouch derived from bioMérieux’s laboratory technologies, which miniaturises and automates every step of a professional analytical test. The new device provides a simple, reliable, and accessible preventive solution to a major public-health challenge. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
06 January,2026 10:28 AM IST | Texas | AgenciesDeposed Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro was set to appear on Monday in an US courtroom on the narco-terrorism charges the Trump administration used to justify capturing him and bringing him to New York. Maduro and his wife are expected to appear at noon before a judge for a brief legal proceeding that will likely kick off a prolonged legal fight over whether he can be tried in US. As a criminal defendant, Maduro will have the same rights as any other person accused of a crime, including the right to a trial by a jury of regular New Yorkers. Cuba says 32 killed in US op Cuba announced that 32 of its citizens were killed during the US military operation in Venezuela that led to the capture of Nicolas Maduro and his wife in Caracas. Cuba said it would observe two days of national mourning on January 5 and January 6 to honour those killed in the operation, all of them Cuban military personnel who had been deployed in Venezuela on official missions. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
06 January,2026 10:25 AM IST | New York | AgenciesADVERTISEMENT
