Author: OMN AI

A carnivorous pitcher plant has been found to drug its prey with a chemical nerve agent before digesting it, researchers have discovered. The plant, Nepenthes khasiana, produces a sweet nectar along the rim of its pitcher-shaped traps to attract insects, especially ants. While the liquid appears harmless, it is laced with a toxic compound called isoshinanolone that interferes with the insects’ nervous systems. After feeding on the nectar, ants become sluggish, lose muscle control and begin excessive grooming. Many eventually fall into spasms, sometimes dying before tumbling into the pitcher, where they are broken down by digestive fluids. The nectar…

France’s Interior Ministry suffered a cyberattack that lasted several days, Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez confirmed. The attackers targeted professional email accounts at the Place Beauvau ministry, which employs nearly 300,000 people. Nuñez revealed the breach after officials noticed unusual activity in the ministry’s systems, explaining that the intrusion allowed hackers to access sensitive police information. While the ministry responded quickly, the attack highlighted vulnerabilities within internal communication networks and the challenges of protecting data in such a large institution. The minister described the incident as a serious breach but emphasized that authorities acted promptly to contain it. Investigators immediately began…

Board plans swift advice to investors Warner Bros Discovery plans to urge shareholders to reject Paramount Skydance’s $108.4bn takeover bid. Reports say the board could issue its recommendation as early as Wednesday. Directors see serious financial and strategic risks. They believe the proposal delivers too little certainty. Paramount says its offer surpasses a $72bn agreement Warner Bros reached with Netflix. That deal covers film and streaming businesses. Paramount describes its bid as more attractive. Warner Bros executives dispute that view. Financing risks dominate concerns Warner Bros plans to point to funding concerns as a main reason for rejection, according to…

A U.S. House committee is set to vote on legislation aimed at protecting the pay of air traffic controllers and key aviation workers during government shutdowns. The move seeks to prevent disruptions in air travel and maintain safety in the nation’s skies. Air traffic controllers play a critical role in managing flights across the country. Delays in their pay during past shutdowns have raised concerns among aviation experts and lawmakers, as uncertainty can affect morale and performance. The proposed legislation would ensure that these essential workers continue receiving compensation even if the federal government temporarily closes. The bill has drawn…

Labour leaders said 400 employees voted unanimously to strike, but the duration remains uncertain.Workers closed the Louvre on Monday, protesting poor working conditions and long-standing complaints.The strike adds another blow to the museum following October’s high-profile jewellery heist. Striking employees blocked the museum’s iconic glass pyramid with banners, flags, and placards.The Louvre posted a notice online saying it was “exceptionally” closed and promised ticket refunds.Staff may meet again Wednesday to decide whether to extend the work stoppage. Visitors express frustration amid closures Tourists arriving at the museum faced disappointment and anger over the strike.Lindsey Hall from Sacramento, California, said she…

The first new treatments for gonorrhoea in decades have been approved in the US, offering hope in the fight against rapidly rising drug-resistant strains of the infection. Gonorrhoea infects more than 82 million people worldwide each year, with cases at record levels in England and tripling across Europe since 2014. Health officials are increasingly alarmed by resistance to existing antibiotics, with the World Health Organization classifying the disease as a priority pathogen. Two new antibiotics have now received approval from the US Food and Drug Administration. Zoliflodacin, approved on 12 December, cured more than 90% of genital gonorrhoea cases in…

US President Donald Trump has filed a five-billion-dollar defamation lawsuit over an edited January 2021 speech. He filed the case in Florida, accusing the UK public broadcaster of defamation and violations of trade practices law, according to court documents. The organisation apologised last month for the edit but rejected compensation demands and denied any legal basis for defamation. Trump’s legal team accused editors of deliberately altering his words. The lawsuit described the edit as malicious and deceptive, aiming to harm Trump’s reputation. The broadcaster has not yet responded publicly to the legal filing. Documentary broadcast triggers legal escalation Trump announced…

The US company behind the Roomba robot vacuum cleaner has filed for bankruptcy protection and agreed to be taken over by one of its Chinese suppliers, Picea Robotics. iRobot said it had entered Chapter 11 proceedings in Delaware as part of a restructuring deal that will see the company acquired by a Picea subsidiary. The company has struggled in recent years with declining profits, supply chain disruption and growing competition from cheaper rivals, and warned earlier this month that bankruptcy was a possibility. Chief executive Gary Cohen said the takeover would strengthen iRobot’s financial position by combining its design and…

Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim admits the team performs below required standards. He says criticism from former players comes naturally at a club like United. Amorim accepts responsibility for results. He believes the squad should have more points. United approach Monday’s Premier League match against Bournemouth under pressure. A win would keep them inside the top six for a second consecutive week. That achievement has remained rare this season. Inconsistent Form Highlights Wider Issues United last stayed in the top six for consecutive weeks late in the 2023-24 season. That run ended with a heavy defeat at Crystal Palace.…

A new review suggests psychedelic treatments, particularly psilocybin, may help reduce symptoms of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), while cannabis shows little lasting benefit. The review, led by Dr Michael Van Ameringen of McMaster University and published in the Journal of Psychiatric Research, examined alternative treatments for OCD, a condition in which up to 60% of patients see limited improvement from standard therapies. After analysing published studies, conference data and early trial results, the researchers found stronger evidence supporting psychedelics than cannabinoids such as THC and CBD. Van Ameringen said the difference may lie in how the substances affect the brain. Cannabinoids…