Author: OMN AI

A South Korean cryptocurrency exchange accidentally sent customers more than 40 billion dollars in bitcoin. The mistake briefly turned some users into multimillionaires. The company had planned to send a small reward of 2,000 won, worth about 1.37 dollars. Instead, it sent 2,000 bitcoins to customers on Friday. The platform Bithumb apologised for the error and explained the incident. The company said it quickly noticed the mistake and recovered almost all missing tokens. It restricted trading and withdrawals for 695 affected customers within 35 minutes of the glitch. Exchange Recovers Nearly All Mistaken Bitcoin Bithumb said it retrieved 99.7 percent…

Gigafactory Plans Scrapped in Italy and Germany Automotive Cells Company (ACC) has dropped plans to build large-scale electric vehicle battery plants in both Italy and Germany, according to Italy’s metalworkers’ union UILM. The union said ACC management confirmed that the long-discussed gigafactory in Termoli will not go ahead, and that a similar project in Germany has also been abandoned. The projects had already been paused since 2024, but the latest decision makes clear they will not be revived in the near future. Slower EV Uptake Forces Rethink ACC, which is backed by carmaker Stellantis, said the slower-than-expected growth in electric…

A new study suggests menstrual blood could offer a convenient alternative to cervical cancer screening. Researchers found that a simple sanitary pad fitted with a sample strip can detect human papillomavirus, which causes most cervical cancers. The test can be used at home and avoids invasive clinical procedures. Researchers in China compared menstrual blood samples with clinician-collected cervical samples in more than 3,000 women. The findings, published in BMJ, showed the pad-based test detected serious cervical cell changes with similar accuracy to traditional screening. Sensitivity reached 94.7%, slightly higher than clinician-collected samples, while negative results proved equally reliable. Experts say…

US President Donald Trump has signed an executive order threatening tariffs on countries that continue trading with Iran. The order does not set a fixed rate but uses 25 percent as an example. It states the tariff could apply to goods imported into the United States from any nation that directly or indirectly purchases goods or services from Iran. Trump did not comment directly on the order but stressed that Iran must not acquire nuclear weapons. He spoke from Air Force One while senior US and Iranian officials held talks in Oman after weeks of escalating threats. Trump had already…

A major review published in The Lancet finds that most statin side-effects listed on drug labels are not caused by the medicines. Researchers analysed 19 randomised trials involving 124,000 people and found evidence for only a few risks. Aside from muscle pain and diabetes, only minor liver test changes, small liver abnormalities, urine changes, and tissue swelling showed links to statins. The study found no strong evidence that statins cause memory loss, depression, sleep problems, or nerve damage. Researchers say the benefits of statins in preventing heart attacks and strokes far outweigh the small risks. They call for updated labels…

The European Union has ordered TikTok to change its platform design or face massive financial penalties. The European Commission said the video app broke EU online safety rules. Officials reached this decision after an investigation launched in February 2024. Regulators analysed how TikTok’s features influence user behaviour. The Commission said TikTok failed to properly assess risks to mental wellbeing. Investigators focused on autoplay and endless content feeds. They said these features can harm users, especially children. Regulators also said TikTok did not implement sufficient safeguards to limit these risks. TikTok rejected the findings through a company spokesperson. The firm called…

Calls to Treat All Energy Suppliers Equally From January 2027, companies importing oil and gas into the European Union will be required to meet strict monitoring, reporting and verification standards tied to methane emissions from their suppliers. A group of US lawmakers is now urging the EU not to weaken those rules or offer exemptions to American energy producers if US standards fail to match the bloc’s level of accuracy or enforcement. In a letter obtained by Euronews and signed by 24 members of Congress, the lawmakers describe the EU’s methane regulation as a vital tool to curb the wasteful…

Alphabet’s Spending Plans Rattle Wall Street US markets slid sharply on Thursday after Alphabet shares sank more than 4%, dragging major indexes lower and setting off a broader sell-off across asset classes. The S&P 500 fell 1.2%, marking its sixth decline in seven sessions since hitting a record high, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 606 points. The Nasdaq composite fared worst, sliding 1.5%. Alphabet weighed heavily on the market despite posting quarterly profits that exceeded expectations. Investors instead focused on the company’s warning that spending on equipment and infrastructure could surge to around $180 billion this year —…

Hidden sellers promote unlicensed weight-loss drugs through WhatsApp and Telegram competitions.They offer injectable medicines such as retatrutide as prizes. The Guardian observed groups using countdowns and giveaways to attract users.Experts warn these tactics pose serious health risks. Retatrutide remains experimental and lacks approval anywhere in the world.Other prizes include unapproved peptides such as melanotan II. UK law allows weight-loss injections only with valid prescriptions.Unlicensed drugs cannot be marketed or sold legally. Some sellers disguise drug sales as fitness or coaching programmes.Researchers say these practices undermine safety and medical oversight.

U.S. hospital-associated infections continued to decline in 2024, according to new CDC data. The ongoing improvement reflects stronger safety protocols and better infection control measures in hospitals across the country. The decline follows higher infection rates during the pandemic era, showing that hospitals have successfully adapted practices to protect patients. Medical experts credit stricter hygiene procedures, enhanced staff training, and more vigilant monitoring for the positive trend. Infections such as bloodstream infections, surgical site infections, and pneumonia in hospitalized patients showed significant decreases. Hospitals are increasingly using evidence-based practices, including hand hygiene, sterilization protocols, and patient screening, to prevent the…