Euro News

Bordeaux, France just surpassed Paris in a new ranking of the world's most beautiful cities, with Europe dominating nine out of the top 10 spots. The rankings are based on buildings that adhere to the 'golden ratio' for balanced and harmonious structures. Venice takes the lead as the most beautiful city, followed by Rome and Barcelona in second and third place respectively. Despite iconic landmarks, Paris lands at 12th place. In fifth place is the only non-European city to make the top 10: New York City.

9 Out of 10 of the World’s Most Beautiful Cities Are in Europe, Says New Ranking

The Cool Down

Scientists have discovered more than 300 underwater canyon systems buried beneath the Antarctic ice sheet, revealing a seafloor far more complex than previously understood — and forcing a rethink on how the continent is melting.

A team from the University of Barcelona and University College Cork mapped 332 canyon networks below the ocean surface, five times more than were previously known. The findings were published in the journal Marine Geology.

“This is the first time we’ve had a unified picture of these systems across the entire Antarctic margin,” said Dr. David Amblà, co-author and researcher at the University of Barcelona. “They’re not just widespread — they’re intimately tied to both ancient and modern ice movement.”

For years, many climate models treated Antarctica’s submerged landscape as relatively flat. This new research challenges that assumption and suggests that ocean-ice interactions are being shaped by rugged, canyon-rich terrain.

The canyons play a key role in regulating global ocean circulation. They help move dense, salty water down into the deep sea and bring warmer currents up from the depths — a dynamic that can accelerate ice melt along the continent’s fringes.

As Antarctic ice melts, it adds around 135 billion tons of water to the oceans each year, contributing to sea level rise around the world. That puts coastal cities and low-lying regions at increasing risk of flooding and erosion.

The new map of Antarctic submarine canyons may help scientists build better models to track ocean circulation and ice loss — and, in turn, provide more accurate forecasts for sea level rise.

While researchers focus on improving predictive models, the broader challenge remains unchanged: curbing the pace of climate change by reducing reliance on fossil fuels and transitioning to cleaner energy systems.

Scientists Say They've Found Hundreds of Hidden Underwater Canyons Beneath Antarctica

People

An 8-year-old horse named Dixie is safe and warm again after falling into a frozen swimming pool in Monroe Township, Ohio, on Monday, February 9.

The black mare had wandered out of her pasture and ended up plunging into the deep end of an in-ground pool, where she became trapped in 8 feet of icy water. Her owner discovered her with only her head above the surface.

Monroe Township Fire & EMS responded to the call with help from Central Joint Fire - EMS District, using specialized ice rescue gear to pull Dixie out.

“Through coordinated teamwork and careful operations, the horse was safely removed and returned to its owner,” the fire department said in a social media post. “Incidents like this highlight the diverse nature of the service we provide to our community.”

Chief Greg Lang of Monroe Township Fire told WCPO that crews initially attempted to use two tow straps to lift Dixie, but quickly realized they’d need extra help.

“We ended up calling in a mutual aid engine company for the wet suits, for ice rescue suits,” Lang said. “Once the crews arrived, we put two personnel in the water. Took a second tow strap, they went in behind it, tied it to the first tow strap, to actually create a harness for the horse.”

Photos from the rescue show firefighters in yellow ice suits surrounding the horse, working to free her from the freezing water. Once out, she was immediately wrapped in blankets to warm up. A veterinarian on site checked her over, and the mare was later seen resting comfortably in her barn wearing a winter coat.

Lang said he’s responded to animals falling through ice before, but this was his first time rescuing a horse.

Dixie is now back home and in good health.

Firefighters Just Rescued a Horse From a Frozen Pool in Ohio Using Ice Suits and Tow Straps

Black News

True was just four years old when he faced major heart surgery with no family by his side. Born with hypoplastic right heart syndrome, the Omaha, Nebraska boy was alone in his hospital bed at Children’s Nebraska when Dr. Amy Beethe, a pediatric anesthesiologist, first saw him.

That image stuck with her.

“I just couldn’t stop thinking about him,” Dr. Beethe said. She went home and told her husband, Ryan. Soon after, the couple visited True in the hospital. The bond was instant.

By February 2021, just a month after his surgery, True moved in with the Beethes. Not long after, they adopted him.

“It didn’t take long to fall in love with him,” Ryan told WLBT. “We knew we needed him in our family.”

Now 9 years old, True is thriving in the Beethe household. He calls Amy and Ryan “mom” and “dad,” and has siblings who support and love him. The Beethes also adopted his sister. Other siblings were adopted by family friends, allowing the children to stay close and connected.

True was born with a serious congenital defect that left the right side of his heart underdeveloped. He’s already been through multiple surgeries and will eventually need a heart transplant.

“We don’t love True’s heart disease. We know it had a bigger purpose, so it was meant to be,” Amy said. “He’s truly become my son. I would battle for him like anybody else when it comes to his health. Yeah, you’re a mama bear, and you fight hard.”

True seems to have inherited that same spirit. Asked what keeps him going, he simply said, “Keep going and don’t stop.”

For now, that’s exactly what the Beethes are doing — surrounding him with care, protecting his health, and giving him what he didn’t have in that hospital bed four years ago: a family.

This Doctor Adopted a Boy She Cared for After Heart Surgery Alone in Hospital

Science Daily

A new study has found that a short brain training program aimed at improving how quickly older adults process visual information may reduce the risk of dementia—even 20 years later.

The training, called speed of processing training, teaches participants to spot visual details on a screen faster and manage increasingly complex tasks. Those who completed five to six weeks of sessions, followed by booster sessions one to three years later, were significantly less likely to develop dementia than those who received no training.

“This suggests that a fairly modest nonpharmacological intervention can have long-term effects,” said Dr. Marilyn Albert, the study’s lead author and director of the Alzheimer's Disease Research Center at Johns Hopkins Medicine.

The findings, published in Alzheimer's & Dementia: Translational Research and Clinical Interventions, come from the ACTIVE study (Advanced Cognitive Training for Independent and Vital Elderly), the first randomized clinical trial to measure dementia outcomes over two decades.

Beginning in 1998–99, researchers enrolled 2,802 adults and randomly assigned them to one of three cognitive training programs—focusing on memory, reasoning, or speed of processing—or to a control group that received no training. Participants were in their early 70s on average at the start.

Over five to six weeks, those in the training groups completed up to 10 sessions lasting 60 to 75 minutes. Half of the participants were randomly selected to receive up to four booster sessions in the years following their initial training.

The long-term results were telling: among the 264 participants who completed speed training and boosters, 40 percent (105 people) developed dementia over the next 20 years. In the control group, the rate was higher: 49 percent (239 of 491 participants). That’s a 25 percent lower incidence in the speed training group.

Notably, only the speed training group showed a statistically significant difference from the control group. Memory and reasoning training did not produce long-term dementia protection.

Researchers assessed dementia diagnoses by analyzing Medicare records from 2,021 participants—roughly 72 percent of the original group—spanning from 1999 to 2019. The sample closely mirrored the original study in gender, race, and health profile. Most participants were women (about 75 percent), 70 percent were white, and the average age at enrollment was 74. Over the two decades, about three quarters of participants passed away, typically around age 84.

The research carries weight at a time when dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease, affects an estimated 42 percent of adults over 55 and costs the U.S. more than $600 billion annually. Alzheimer’s accounts for up to 80 percent of cases.

Speed training appears to stand out because of how it targets the brain. Unlike memory or reasoning exercises, which teach everyone the same strategies, speed training adapts to each user’s performance in real time. It focuses on building skills rather than memorizing facts, engaging a brain system known for “implicit learning.”

“Speed training may have been especially effective because it was adaptive,” the researchers wrote. “Participants who performed well progressed to more challenging tasks, while those who needed more time worked at a slower pace.”

Previous results from the ACTIVE study showed that this training improved thinking skills for up to five years. After 10 years, participants in the speed training group had a 29 percent lower risk of dementia than the control group.

Dr. George Rebok, a co-author and expert in healthy aging at Johns Hopkins, said the findings highlight the value of developing cognitive training programs focused on visual processing and divided attention. “It is possible that adding this cognitive training to lifestyle change interventions may delay dementia onset, but that remains to be studied,” he said.

Researchers believe that combining such programs with other proven strategies—like heart-healthy habits, regular exercise, and managing blood pressure, blood sugar, and weight—could further support brain health.

The study was funded by the National Institute on Aging, part of the U.S. National Institutes of Health. Co-authors include researchers from Johns Hopkins, the University of Pennsylvania, Brown University, the University of Florida, the University of Alabama at Birmingham, and others.

A Simple Brain Training Game May Help Delay Dementia for Decades, Study Finds

A cow that found itself stuck in deep mud near Threlkeld, England, was safely rescued thanks to the combined efforts of three fire crews, a vet, a farmer, and a specialized large-animal rescue team.

The muddy ordeal unfolded on the afternoon of Friday, February 6, when Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service received a call about the stranded animal. Crews from Keswick, Penrith, and Workington stations were dispatched to the scene, located in the rural Lake District region of northwest England.

“Being a firefighter isn't always glamorous!” the department posted on Instagram, sharing photos of the cow submerged up to its torso in thick mud. It's unclear how long the animal had been stuck before help arrived.

Firefighters, alongside the veterinarian and the local farmer, spent several hours working to free the medium-sized cow. They used a hoisting mechanism and heavy-duty straps to lift and guide the animal out of the bog. The photos show the careful extraction process and the cow eventually standing safely on firm ground.

The department credited “coordinated teamwork and patience” for getting the cow “moo-ving” again.

Large-animal rescues like this are often physically demanding and require specialized training. In this case, that training paid off, with no injuries reported for either the cow or the crew.

The rescue came just days after a similar operation in Thaxted, where an 18-year-old pony named Geisha was pulled from a septic tank hole by Hertfordshire Fire and Rescue Service. In a statement to the BBC, Assistant Chief Fire Officer Darren Cook said the team was “highly trained” and ready to respond to a range of animal emergencies.

While these stories may not involve smoke or flames, they underscore the wide scope of work fire crews are prepared for—and their commitment to protecting lives, whether human or hoofed.

A Rescue Team, a Vet and a Farmer Just Saved a Mud-Trapped Cow in England

Upworthy

Police dogs have long been the gold standard for sniffing out missing people, illegal substances, and even bodies. But when the trail leads underwater, canines are at a clear disadvantage. Enter Splash—a highly trained Asian small-clawed otter who may be the first animal of his kind helping law enforcement recover human remains submerged in lakes, rivers, and oceans.

Splash isn’t just a novelty. Since making his search and rescue debut in Alabama—where he helped recover a weapon tied to a 25-year-old murder case—he’s been on 27 missions across the United States. So far, he’s notched six confirmed finds, including four human bodies.

“He’s had more success than many would’ve expected,” said Michael Hadsel, Splash’s owner and trainer, in an interview with Outside magazine. Hadsel has spent nearly five decades working with law enforcement through his company, Peace River K9 Search and Rescue. Until recently, that work focused on dogs. Then, around 2018, Hadsel started to wonder: Could other animals do the job?

It was an article about otters in Bangladesh and India that got him thinking. Local fishermen had trained river otters to herd fish into nets. That, plus the biological quirk that otters can actually smell underwater, sparked a bold experiment.

Unlike dogs, which lose scent in water, otters can exhale small air bubbles and then sniff them back in. It’s a kind of underwater olfaction that no other mammal appears to possess.

By 2024, Hadsel had adopted Splash and started training him. He used human scent markers in a pool and paired them with a tennis ball on the end of a stick. When Hadsel gave the verbal cue “Hoffa” (a wink at missing Teamsters boss Jimmy Hoffa), Splash would sniff the scent, dive in, and begin his search. If he found a match underwater, he’d return to the surface and signal Hadsel—in exchange for a bite of farm-raised salmon. Splash refuses to eat wild.

One of the biggest challenges wasn’t training Splash to smell, but getting him to communicate while submerged. Otters have membranes that cover their ears underwater, so Hadsel developed a tactile system using a tether: one tug means turn right, two tugs means turn left, three means return to the boat.

The results have surprised even seasoned recovery teams. Splash’s nose has helped solve cold cases, locate drowning victims, and retrieve critical evidence that might have otherwise stayed hidden.

He’s also become something of an internet star. The Peace River K9 Search and Rescue Facebook page saw a surge in followers after Splash’s story started spreading. He’s been featured by multiple media outlets and invited to law enforcement conferences, where his work has sparked serious conversation about expanding the use of animals in forensic recovery.

Still, there are limits. Otters are small, and deploying them in open waters comes with risks. Predators like alligators or large fish could pose a threat. It’s also unclear whether Splash’s success can be easily replicated. Training an otter takes patience, deep expertise in animal behavior, and a fair bit of creativity.

But Hadsel sees potential. “We’re just scratching the surface,” he told Outside. Splash might be the only one of his kind for now, but he’s proven that innovation in search and rescue doesn’t always come from newer tech. Sometimes, it comes in the form of a sleek, whiskered swimmer with a nose for the job.

Meet Splash, the Otter Trained to Find Human Remains Underwater

Khaleej Times - Culture

Imagine a two-minute wellness session that clears your mind, or a camera that predicts heart disease just by scanning your eyes. These aren’t future tech dreams—they’re real, operational, and on display at Dubai’s World Health Expo.

The newly rebranded WHX, formerly known as Arab Health, kicked off this week at the Dubai Exhibition Centre in Expo City. The three-day event has drawn 4,300 exhibitors from over 180 countries, all focused on one thing: redefining the future of healthcare. And at the center of that vision is AI.

Here are five standout innovations from the show.

1. Organ-on-a-Chip
Chinese company Xellar is shrinking organ testing into something that fits in the palm of your hand. Its “organ-on-a-chip” tech uses human tissue samples inside micro-devices to mimic how real organs behave. AI boosts the accuracy of results to over 95 percent.

The chips vary in size depending on the organ—simpler ones like the heart require smaller chips, while more complex organs like the liver need larger ones. Developers can recreate disease conditions inside the chips, making it possible to run personalized drug tests in advance. Xellar says building a new disease model can take anywhere from a few weeks to nine months. This is the first time the technology is being shown in the UAE.

2. AI Retina Scan
What if a quick eye scan could predict your risk of cardiovascular disease years before symptoms show up? Emirates Health Services is showcasing an AI-powered retina scanner that looks like a set of binoculars. Users stare into the machine for about 30 seconds as it checks for eye conditions such as glaucoma and cataracts—and flags potential heart and liver issues too.

A detailed health report is sent directly to the user's phone. The goal is to catch silent threats long before they surface.

3. Remote Robotic Intervention
In the northern UAE town of Al Jeer, doctors can now treat patients without physically being there. A remote-controlled robotic arm, already installed and in use, allows physicians to perform life-saving interventions from afar.

It’s part of Emirates Health Services’ effort to bridge the care gap in remote communities. The arm is operated by specialists at a hospital hub, making it possible to treat patients in isolated areas faster and more effectively.

4. Wellness Pods for Public Use
The Dubai Health Authority wants to bring mental resets to everyday spaces. It’s testing a compact “wellness pod” that offers guided relaxation sessions. Each pod fits one person and offers three mood modes—calm, grounding, or boosting.

Users sit inside for just two minutes, during which soft lights and calming music guide them through a breathing exercise designed to reduce stress. If trials go well, DHA plans to place the pods in malls, airports, and government buildings.

5. AI Hiring Assistant for Nurses
Emirates Health Services has also started using an AI assistant named Maitha to streamline hiring. The system screens applications, conducts interviews, and generates a shortlist of candidates, dramatically cutting down the time it takes to fill nursing roles.

As demand for healthcare workers grows, tools like Maitha could help facilities respond faster and more efficiently.

AI-Powered Innovations Unveiled at Dubai's World Health Expo Revolutionize Healthcare

ABC News

A 410-pound manatee pulled from a Florida storm drain is now recovering at SeaWorld Orlando after a complex rescue effort involving multiple agencies.

The male manatee was discovered Tuesday in Melbourne Beach, about 110 kilometers southeast of Orlando, by a city worker surveying infrastructure. “We’re in the process of improving the storm drain across Melbourne Beach,” said Vice Mayor Terry Cronin. “One of the surveyors noticed a manatee in what is called a bethel box."

The sighting triggered a swift response. Fire rescue teams, biologists from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), representatives from the University of Florida, and even Jack’s Wrecker Service were called in to help extract the sea cow from the tight concrete enclosure.

Once freed, the manatee was taken to SeaWorld Orlando, where he is now receiving treatment in one of the facility’s specialized medical pools. According to SeaWorld spokesperson Stephanie Bechara, the animal is stable and showing encouraging signs. “He’s breathing on his own, moving independently and showing interest in food,” she said. “Our teams are adjusting water levels to support buoyancy and comfort as part of his care.”

Bechara noted that the park's long-term goal is to return rescued manatees like this one to the wild, once they are healthy enough to survive on their own.

Florida’s manatee population has faced steep challenges in recent years. A mass starvation event in 2021 caused by widespread seagrass loss led to more than 1,100 manatee deaths. The die-off prompted a large-scale emergency response, including supplemental feeding programs in the Indian River Lagoon.

While the situation has improved slightly, the numbers remain worrying. The FWC reported 555 manatee deaths in 2023 and 565 in 2024. Although lower than in 2021, those figures are still above pre-crisis levels.

SeaWorld Orlando plays a key role in the state’s manatee rescue and rehabilitation program. The park rescued 56 manatees last year and has already taken in seven since January.

Florida manatees, also known as sea cows, are a protected species. They are especially vulnerable to cold temperatures and often seek refuge in warm-water areas like power plant outflows and shallow coastal springs during the winter. That instinct may have led this individual into the storm drain in Melbourne Beach, where water temperatures were relatively higher.

Officials say it’s not entirely unusual for manatees to get trapped in drainage systems, but the narrow, confined spaces and poor access points can make rescues complicated.

This latest case, however, ended with the manatee in safe hands—and officials are hopeful he’ll eventually return to the wild, stronger and healthier.

Trapped in a Storm Drain, This Rescued Manatee is Now on the Road to Recovery

Good News Network

In a moment of crisis, one Arlington Heights resident didn’t wait for help to arrive—he became it.

On the morning of Tuesday, February 3rd, a house fire broke out in the Illinois suburb with two elderly residents trapped inside. The 90-year-old husband was able to escape the flames, but his wife, 85, was still stuck inside, unable to move from her wheelchair.

Desperate to save her, the man reportedly tried to reenter the burning home but had to be physically restrained by neighbors. The fire department had already been called—but time was running out.

That’s when another neighbor, still unidentified, stepped up with a sledgehammer.

Smashing through the door, the neighbor made it inside and emerged moments later carrying the woman in his arms. All three—the couple and their heroic neighbor—were taken to the hospital as a precaution and later discharged.

“We want to recognize and commend the quick thinking and decisive action taken by one of our Arlington Heights residents that helped save a life,” said officials from the Arlington Heights Fire Department in a statement.

“This situation serves as an important reminder that every second matters. The willingness of a community member to step in and help before first responders arrive can make all the difference.”

The fire department praised the resident’s bravery and composure, calling him an example of the kind of neighborly care that defines their community.

“We are proud to serve a community that looks out for one another,” the department added, “and we thank this resident for their actions when it mattered most.”

Heroic Neighbor Uses Sledgehammer To Rescue Wheelchair-Bound Woman From Burning Home

A decade after launching its Women in Tech programme, Web Summit is starting to see results—and not just in the numbers.

At this year’s Web Summit Qatar, a 7 percent rise in women-founded startups was recorded, marking what many called a clear signal of progress. Participation among female founders in Qatar alone jumped from 31 percent in 2024 to 38 percent in 2025, according to Dima Wahbeh, Deputy Country Manager of Web Summit Qatar.

“Globally, we’ve seen an increase in women’s participation at our events,” Wahbeh told Euronews. “Looking at Qatar specifically, we saw an increase in terms of female founders... it shows we’re on the right path.”

The Women in Tech programme, first launched in 2015, was designed to address the gender gap in technology and entrepreneurship. Over the years, it’s grown into a platform for mentorship, networking, and access—connecting rising female talent with global leaders in AI, business, and innovation.

That access was on full display in Doha, where women like IBM’s Justina Nixon-Saintil and Lumo Hubs’ Anie Akpe took the stage to lead discussions on artificial intelligence, access, and opportunity.

For Nixon-Saintil, the future of work will belong to those who don’t just use AI but understand it. “Real workforce readiness is not just about access to tools,” she said. “It means having AI fluency and understanding how AI impacts your role.”

To help build that fluency, IBM has been scaling up its free SkillsBuild platform, partnering with schools, universities, and nonprofits to deliver AI training that leads to credentials and, crucially, real jobs. “Seeing people move into new jobs because we’ve upskilled them... that’s where we see actual lives being changed,” Nixon-Saintil said.

At the Summit, IBM announced a partnership with Qatar’s Ministry of Communications and Information Technology to launch a global request for proposals under its Impact Accelerator—part of a growing commitment to workforce development through tech.

Anie Akpe, meanwhile, focused on inclusion as a driver of innovation. Through her African Women in Technology initiative, she’s spent the past 10 years helping young women across Africa get free training in AI and cybersecurity. The mission, she said, is to ensure women at every level—from tech labs to local markets—have the tools to grow their businesses.

“AI is not going to be a complete solution for a lot of organisations, but AI will be a tool,” Akpe said. “It will give you the opportunities that you need.”

She hopes the tech won’t remain exclusive or intimidating. “Innovation doesn’t have to sit at a table they don’t understand,” she said. “The goal is that they can use it however they see fit—to build a website, reach new customers, or grow their income.”

This year, one of the standout startups at Web Summit Qatar was founded by a woman who knows that feeling of exclusion all too well. Dr Golnoush Golsharazi, a molecular biologist with a PhD from Cambridge, started ScreenMe after years of being dismissed by doctors while struggling with health issues.

“That really pushed me to ask: what’s wrong in the system?” she said. “We don’t have sufficient screening. We don’t have sufficient research in women’s health. We deserve better.”

ScreenMe offers at-home testing kits to monitor the reproductive microbiome, aiming to prevent infections and fertility complications through better early detection. The startup was selected as one of the top 10 women-founded ventures at this year’s summit.

“The good bacteria act like a gate to your house,” Dr Golsharazi explained. “When that gate is broken, harmful bacteria can grow, increasing risks like HPV infection, miscarriages and unexplained infertility.”

The platform’s recognition was about more than a business pitch—it was a statement. “They allow women like me to stand up and say: I have something important to say and I want you to listen,” she said.

As the gender gap in tech persists, the tone at Web Summit Qatar was far from complacent. But there’s growing momentum—and optimism—that things are starting to shift.

“This is just the start,” said Dr Golsharazi. “The region will see growth in women-led innovation and especially in women’s health.”

Download the world's only news app designed to spread joy and happiness.

What's Good Now!