Author: OMN AI

A massive study of more than a billion social media posts across 157 countries has revealed that extreme temperatures consistently lower people’s moods. Once daily highs move past 35°C, emotional tone becomes noticeably more negative. The strongest effects were recorded in low‑income regions, where residents showed three times the shift seen in wealthier countries. MIT researchers and their partners matched daily sentiment scores from online platforms with local climate data to arrive at these findings. Heat’s Influence on Behaviour Links between hot conditions and human behaviour go back decades. Observations show that drivers in heat honk their horns more quickly,…

US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick announced on Friday that Washington will acquire a 10% stake in Intel. “This historic agreement strengthens American leadership in semiconductors. It will grow our economy and secure our technological edge,” Lutnick wrote on X. He posted the message with a photo of himself alongside Intel CEO Lip-Bu Tan. President Donald Trump confirmed the deal earlier in the Oval Office. He described it as “a great deal for them.” Shares of the Santa Clara-based company rose more than 5% on Friday. Intel confirmed that Washington will invest $8.9bn (£6.6bn) in its common stock. Funding redirected to…

Across the globe, cryptocurrency activity is bursting: Asia remains the leader, and the United States has ramped up its game in recent years. Europe, rather than chasing growth, is prioritizing strict oversight. Since its inception in 2009, Bitcoin has grown from a digital curiosity worth mere cents into a global asset worth nearly $120,000, forcing governments and regulators to pay attention. To respond, the EU established MiCA, a framework obliging companies to hold client assets separately, undergo regular audits, pay licensing fees, and verify transactions. Brussels promotes this as essential for safety and market order. Yet the industry warns that…

Federal Focus Turns to Major Cities President Donald Trump announced plans to extend his administration’s anti-crime drive to Chicago and New York, labeling Chicago “a disaster” and pledging that New York would follow. The initiative builds on federal campaigns that have concentrated on Democratic-led cities with Black mayors, drawing widespread criticism. Guard Forces to Carry Weapons in the Capital Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth directed that National Guard soldiers deployed in Washington DC will now be armed, reversing previous assurances that they would remain without weapons. Nearly 2,000 Guard troops are stationed in the city, including reinforcements sent from Republican-controlled states.…

Elon Musk and his company X have agreed to settle with former employees. The workers had taken legal action demanding $500 million in unpaid severance. The agreement was revealed in a court filing on Wednesday. Both parties asked the San Francisco appeals court to delay a hearing. They said more time was needed to complete the settlement process. Case sparked by mass layoffs The lawsuit followed Musk’s 2022 decision to dismiss about 6,000 workers. That figure made up more than half of the company’s workforce. Many of those affected challenged the severance terms through court action. So far, X and…

The United States will continue imposing a 27.5% tariff on European automobiles until the European Union enacts legislation to lower duties on American exports. A framework agreement released Thursday outlines the path for reducing tariffs to 15%. Trade Agreement Overview The agreement was announced July 27 following a meeting between President Donald Trump and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in Turnberry, Scotland. Under the deal, the EU has pledged to remove tariffs on U.S. industrial goods and expand access for American seafood and agricultural products. In return, the U.S. will cut tariffs to 15% on a wide range…

Duolingo apologised after criticism of a German exercise that called J.K. Rowling mean. The company deleted the sentence immediately. The task asked if learners liked Harry Potter books. The model answer went further by insulting the author herself. Duolingo admitted the example was inappropriate, expressed regret, and promised to ensure lessons remain neutral and focused on language. Rowling continues to polarise public opinion with her views on trans rights, which have been condemned by many actors and activists. Daniel Radcliffe said he was saddened by her stance and pledged to keep supporting LGBTQ people and their rights. Broader Debate and…

Sony will raise the price of the PlayStation 5 in the United States by about $50 starting Thursday. The Japanese tech giant faces higher production costs and a slowing gaming market. Sony executive Isabelle Tomatis said in a blog post that the company is navigating a “challenging economic environment.” All three console models will see price hikes. The Pro version will now sell for $749.99. Tariffs put pressure on prices The price rise follows tariffs introduced by President Donald Trump on multiple trade partners, including Japan. These measures have raised concerns about higher costs for American consumers. Tomatis stated: “We…

Google has introduced new upgrades to its Gemini AI platform alongside the launch of the Pixel 10 lineup, Pixel Watch 4, and updated earbuds. The company is positioning these tools as more proactive assistants, capable of anticipating needs rather than waiting for prompts. A central feature of the rollout is Magic Cue, exclusive to the Pixel 10 series. It blends information from services such as Gmail, Maps, and Calendar to anticipate what might be useful in the moment. For example, flight details will pop up automatically when calling an airline, or a brunch message can trigger café suggestions and calendar…

Natural cycles mask long-term warming effects The pace of Arctic sea ice loss has slowed sharply over the past 20 years, with researchers finding no major decline in its extent since 2005. The unexpected pause is thought to be driven by natural fluctuations in ocean currents, which have temporarily reduced heat flow into the region. A pause, not a recovery Experts caution that the slowdown is only temporary. When ocean patterns shift again, melting is expected to resume — likely at twice the previous long-term rate. “It has bought us a bit of time, but it isn’t good news,” said…