Author: OMN AI

A water company has urged people to stop flushing wet wipes down toilets after revealing the huge impact they have on the sewer system every year. Southern Water said wet wipes are the biggest cause of sewer blockages across its network. The company estimates it removes about 4,500 tonnes of wipes from sewers every year. It says the problem leads to costly clean-up work and causes harm to the environment. The company is asking customers to throw all wet wipes into a bin instead of flushing them. This advice also applies to products sold as “flushable.” According to the company,…

A man is fighting for his life after a serious road crash in Hull. The crash involved a car and a bicycle. Police are now asking the public for help. They want witnesses and video footage. The crash happened late on Friday night. The time was about 11:59 BST. The location was Raich Carter Way in Hull. This is a busy road in the area. Many vehicles use it every day. Police say a silver Vauxhall Mokka was moving eastbound at the time. The car was travelling along the road when the crash took place. A 40-year-old man was riding…

The US stock market closed mixed on Wednesday as losses in major technology companies outweighed gains across much of Wall Street. While most stocks finished higher, declines in several large chipmakers pushed the broader market lower. The S&P 500 fell 0.2 percent, marking its eighth decline in the past 11 trading sessions. The Dow Jones Industrial Average slipped by 13 points, or less than 0.1 percent, while the Nasdaq Composite dropped 0.7 percent. Despite the overall decline, market performance was stronger beneath the surface. Nearly three out of every five companies in the S&P 500 ended the day with gains.…

The US dollar continues to show strength as solid economic growth and cautious monetary policy support investor confidence, according to a new market assessment by Commerzbank. Analysts say the stronger dollar could affect global financial markets, emerging economies, and digital asset investments in the months ahead. The bank said the US economy has remained resilient despite concerns about slower global growth. Strong consumer spending, a healthy labor market, and relatively high interest rates have helped support the value of the dollar against many other major currencies. According to the report, one of the biggest reasons for the dollar’s strength is…

Texas-based Alamo Drafthouse Cinema is expanding its role in the film industry by launching a new theatrical distribution program designed to support independent filmmakers. The initiative, called Alamo Exclusives, will bring selected festival films to audiences across the United States through limited theatrical releases. The company announced the new program on Wednesday, marking its move beyond operating movie theaters into distributing films. The goal is to help independent productions that receive strong attention at film festivals but do not secure traditional theatrical distribution. Many independent films premiere at major festivals and earn positive reviews. However, a large number never reach…

The United States and Iran have continued diplomatic efforts aimed at easing tensions, with officials holding indirect talks in Doha while President Donald Trump said relations between the two countries were improving. Speaking after the latest round of discussions, Trump said the United States was “getting along well” with Iran and added that negotiations over Tehran’s nuclear program were making progress. His comments came as technical discussions in Qatar reached their conclusion. Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi confirmed that the meetings in Doha had ended on Wednesday. According to Iran’s state news agency, the Iranian delegation met separately with…

A JetBlue passenger plane reported a possible collision with a drone while approaching John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York City. The aircraft landed safely, and all passengers left the plane without injuries as federal authorities opened an investigation into the incident. The flight was traveling from Las Vegas to New York when the crew reported encountering a drone during its final approach. According to JetBlue, the aircraft completed its landing without any problems before being taken out of service for a detailed inspection. The airline said passengers safely deplaned after arrival and confirmed that no injuries were reported.…

Alex Murdaugh returned to a South Carolina courtroom as preparations began for his upcoming murder retrial. During Monday’s hearing, a judge set key deadlines for the case and scheduled the new trial to begin on April 5, 2027. The retrial comes after the South Carolina Supreme Court overturned Murdaugh’s 2023 murder convictions and his life sentence last month. The court ruled that comments made to jurors during the first trial raised concerns about the fairness of the proceedings. The hearing focused on scheduling and pretrial issues rather than evidence about the killings. Judge Debra McCaslin established a timeline for both…

A dangerous heat wave is spreading across the United States, placing about 162 million people under heat alerts as the country prepares for the Independence Day holiday. Forecasters warn that extreme temperatures will continue through the week while large wildfires burn across several western states. Heat alerts now cover 35 states, stretching from the Great Plains to the Northeast. Temperatures are expected to climb into the upper 90s and low 100s in many areas. The heat index, which measures how hot it feels when humidity is included, could reach between 105 and 115 degrees in some locations. Major cities facing…

More than one million children across England were referred to, waiting for, or receiving mental health support during a single year, according to a new report that highlights the growing pressure on children’s mental health services. The findings have renewed concerns about rising emotional distress among young people and increasing demand for specialist care. The annual report was released by Children’s Commissioner Dame Rachel de Souza. It is based on data collected from children’s and young people’s mental health services across England for the 12 months leading to March 2025. The report found that 1,048,965 children had active referrals during…