Author: OMN AI

Experts link higher temperatures and reduced rainfall from climate change to worsening forest fires.The 2025 wildfire season in Europe has already broken records for land destroyed.Fires have consumed more than one million hectares across the EU this year, larger than the island of Corsica.That figure is over four times greater than last year’s total. Scale of Destruction Across Europe Authorities declared more than 1,800 forest fires in 2025, releasing over 38 million tonnes of CO₂.Among EU member states, only Estonia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, and the Czech Republic avoided wildfires.Italy and Romania reported the most incidents, with over 450 blazes each.Yet…

Nvidia continues to grow rapidly as artificial intelligence demand soars, even while political disputes create uncertainty for its future. On Wednesday, the US chip designer reported revenue of $46.7bn (£34.6bn) for the second quarter, marking a 56% rise from the same period in 2024. Despite the strong results, shares slipped in after-hours trading after the firm admitted it was still “working through geopolitical issues”. The company remains entangled in the trade battle between Washington and Beijing. Fast-changing rules from the Trump administration, intended to secure America’s lead in artificial intelligence, add further pressure on Nvidia. AI demand drives record sales…

A new study suggests that rising ocean acidity could weaken sharks’ teeth, threatening their ability to hunt and survive. Sharks rely on multiple rows of teeth that are constantly replaced, but acidification may cause damage faster than new teeth can grow. Researchers warn this could disrupt shark populations and destabilize marine ecosystems. The experiment tested discarded blacktip reef shark teeth in tanks with current ocean pH levels (8.1) and projected future levels (7.3). After eight weeks, teeth exposed to more acidic conditions showed twice as much damage, including root corrosion and dulled serrations. Lead researcher Maximilian Baum said this could…

Wild bees deliberately visit different flowers to regulate their intake of protein, fat, and carbohydrates, according to new research in the Colorado Rockies. Over eight years, ecologists tracked eight bumblebee species, mapping their pollen diets and analyzing the nutritional value of the flowers they visited. The study revealed striking differences: some pollen contained as little as 17% protein, while others had up to 86%. Seasonal changes also influenced nutrient availability, with spring flowers being protein-rich and late-summer blooms higher in fats and carbohydrates. Larger bees with longer tongues tended to prefer protein-heavy pollen, while smaller bees sought out pollen richer…

Gunfire erupted Wednesday morning at Annunciation Catholic School in Minneapolis, leaving two children dead and 17 wounded.Police chief Brian O’Hara said the shooter fired through church windows while students attended morning mass.He confirmed the attacker carried a rifle, a shotgun, and a pistol.The shooter later killed himself, leaving investigators without a clear motive. Authorities Respond to Tragedy Minneapolis officials said officers contained the shooter and confirmed no ongoing threat to residents.O’Hara condemned the “cowardice and cruelty” of the attack that claimed the lives of pupils aged eight and ten.Governor Tim Walz called the violence “horrific” and urged prayers for students…

South Korea has approved a nationwide ban on smartphones and other smart devices during school hours. The country joins a global movement restricting children’s phone use to protect learning and health. The law will take effect in March 2026. Lawmakers from both government and opposition parties supported it. They say it is necessary to reduce smartphone addiction, which researchers increasingly link to harmful effects. Push from parents and politicians Backers argue that constant phone use disrupts classes and lowers academic performance. They say children waste valuable time scrolling instead of studying or socialising. Parents worry their children lose focus, friendships,…

For the first time, surgeons in China have successfully transplanted a genetically modified pig lung into a brain-dead human recipient, with the organ functioning for nine days. The breakthrough, published in Nature Medicine, marks another step forward in xenotransplantation, a field aiming to tackle the global shortage of donor organs. Currently, only around 10% of patients worldwide receive the transplants they need. The lung came from a Chinese Bama Xiang pig engineered with six genetic modifications to reduce the risk of rejection. Implanted into a 39-year-old male recipient, the organ remained viable for 216 hours without triggering hyperacute rejection or…

The European Commission approved a twice-yearly HIV prevention jab, paving the way for its rollout across the bloc.Drugmaker Gilead announced the decision followed a positive recommendation from the European Medicines Agency.Experts hailed the injection, called lenacapavir, as a game-changer in the global fight against HIV. How the Treatment Works Lenacapavir acts as pre-exposure prophylaxis by stopping HIV from replicating inside the body.It protects both adolescents and adults from acquiring the virus.In clinical trials, the jab proved 100 percent effective at preventing HIV transmission.The drug, branded Yeytuo, will launch in the EU, Norway, Iceland, and Liechtenstein.It offers the first twice-yearly PrEP…

US President Donald Trump has declared that he will remove Federal Reserve governor Lisa Cook from office without delay. The announcement marks a historic escalation in his battle with the central bank. Trump claimed there was “sufficient reason” to accuse Cook of giving false information on mortgage agreements. He cited constitutional authority that he argued grants him the power to act. Cook rejected the decision, stressing that the president has no right to dismiss her. She said she would not resign. No US president has ever attempted to remove a member of the Federal Reserve’s board. The move comes as…

Authorities blocked access roads and tollways around Indonesia’s Parliament, creating massive traffic jams across Jakarta.Thousands of students marched on Monday to protest lawmakers’ lavish housing allowances.Riot police fired multiple rounds of tear gas as protesters tried to storm the Parliament complex.Demonstrators retaliated by throwing bottles and rocks, while fires burned beneath a flyover near the barricaded compound.Officials deployed over 1,200 security forces to protect the heavily guarded building. Anger Over Lawmakers’ Allowances Protesters expressed outrage at reports that 580 lawmakers received 50 million rupiah (€2,637) per month for housing.They argued the payments are unjust when many Indonesians face severe economic…