Author: OMN AI

Solar bursts threaten vital flight systems Airbus grounded thousands of aircraft after learning that strong solar radiation can disrupt crucial flight control computers. The move caused global delays because roughly 6,000 A320 planes share the same flaw. Most aircraft will return to service after a quick software update. Regulators warn passengers about delays The UK aviation regulator warned travellers about possible delays and cancellations, though airports report only limited impact so far. Airbus uncovered the problem during an investigation into an October incident where a jet flying between the US and Mexico suddenly lost altitude. The JetBlue aircraft diverted to…

Premier League clubs may soon face significantly increased wage costs following a government decision to classify players’ image rights payments as taxable income from April 2027. Image rights — often paid to players through limited companies for sponsorships, endorsements and commercial work — are currently taxed at the 25% corporate rate. Under the new rules, they will instead be taxed at the top income rate of 45%, meaning many players will face sharply higher tax bills. Agents say these increased costs are likely to be pushed onto clubs, especially during upcoming contract negotiations. Many footballers sign deals based on net…

Global measles deaths fell dramatically since 2000, yet officials now report signs of a resurgence. The World Health Organization (WHO) reported a 47 per cent rise in measles cases in Europe and Central Asia last year, largely due to declining vaccination rates. Experts warn that decades of progress in reducing infections and fatalities are now slipping. In 2024, measles killed roughly 95,000 people worldwide, mostly children under five. That represents a sharp drop from 780,000 deaths in 2000. The WHO stressed that every preventable death remains unacceptable. Vaccination campaigns have saved nearly 59 million lives since 2000. Infections Climb as…

Tesla opens its biggest sales and service hub in India while facing slow demand. The new Gurugram centre hosts a showroom, charging facilities and after-sales services in one place. The company sold just over 100 cars since its widely promoted July debut, according to dealership data. People familiar with Tesla’s plans say the firm now focuses on strengthening India’s EV ecosystem to regain momentum. Tesla did not give a direct response when asked about the weak sales numbers. Tesla’s expectations meet a difficult reality The company has tried to establish itself in India since its July launch, after reports showed…

A lack of park rangers and inaccurate weather predictions led thirty tourists to tackle the O Circuit trek despite worsening conditions. Torres del Paine National Park, in remote and icy Patagonia, attracts 250,000–300,000 visitors annually. Thousands aim to complete its iconic trekking routes. On 17 November, a violent blizzard struck the O Circuit, killing five trekkers and leaving dozens stranded in whiteout conditions for hours. This tragedy, triggered by severe weather, highlights ongoing safety problems in Patagonia’s parks, which critics have increasingly questioned. Chaos on John Garner Pass The group left Los Perros campsite between 5 and 7 am to…

Archaeologists say they have confirmed that a huge circle of deep pits near Stonehenge was deliberately carved by Neolithic people more than 4,000 years ago. The structure, known as the Durrington pit circle, is thought to be made up of around 20 enormous pits stretching more than a mile across, centred on the Durrington Walls and Woodhenge sites. Some pits measure up to 10 metres wide and 5 metres deep, and their scale suggests advanced planning and engineering. First identified in 2020, the site was initially met with scepticism, with some experts suggesting the pits could be natural. A new…

China unveiled a new plan to boost domestic consumption, reflecting a policy shift aimed at supporting economic growth amid global uncertainties. The strategy focuses on upgrading consumer goods in rural areas while promoting niche sectors such as pets, anime, and trendy toys. Officials say the plan is designed to diversify consumer markets and stimulate spending by tapping into evolving lifestyle trends. By targeting areas with high potential for growth, policymakers aim to strengthen domestic demand and reduce reliance on external markets. The plan emphasizes the development of rural consumer markets, encouraging businesses to provide higher-quality goods and services. Analysts note…

Under the bright lights of an operating theatre in Delhi, a woman lies motionless as surgeons prepare to remove her gallbladder. She sleeps under general anaesthesia, her body paralysed and her mind unconscious. Yet a gentle stream of flute music plays through headphones resting over her ears. Even as anaesthetic drugs silence much of her brain, the auditory pathways remain partially active. When she wakes, she regains consciousness more quickly and clearly because she needed lower doses of propofol and opioid painkillers than patients who heard no music. A new study from Maulana Azad Medical College and Lok Nayak Hospital…

Scientists have identified five major phases of brain development, with key turning points at roughly ages 9, 32, 66 and 83, based on brain scans from nearly 4,000 people aged from infancy to 90. The study found that childhood brain development runs from birth to about age nine, followed by an adolescent phase lasting until the early 30s. True “adult” brain organisation begins around age 32, marking the longest and most stable phase of neural wiring. Researchers discovered that early life involves intense “network consolidation,” where unused neural connections are trimmed and brain structure rapidly changes. During adolescence and young…

Dozens rallied in central Paris on Tuesday to condemn rising domestic violence and honour its victims.Activist Marie-Josée, 78, signed a banner, mourning five women killed last week by partners or ex-partners.The protest preceded the government receiving a report urging radical reform in handling domestic abuse.Officials submitted the report to Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin, recommending magistrates focused solely on intrafamilial violence cases.Le Parisien revealed the report before the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, highlighting domestic violence’s complexity.Protesters said conditions for women continue to worsen despite longstanding political promises.Marie-Josée said equality has regressed since the 1990s and criticized…