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The fight against antibiotic resistance
Common painkillers can increase antibiotic resistance

Common painkillers containing ibuprofen and paracetamol contribute to antibiotic resistance worldwide, according to new research from the University of South Australia.

In a study, which is the first of its kind, researchers have concluded that the substances help bacteria resist different types of antibiotics when used individually – and that the effect is enhanced when used together.

Extreme weather in Europe
Disaster zone declared in over 100 Spanish towns

The Spanish government is declaring 114 communities in the country as disaster zones due to the forest fires that have raged during the summer, writes El País. In this way, it wants to be able to implement measures more quickly in towns that have been affected in one way or another.

More than a million hectares of land have been burned in forest fires in EU countries so far this year – the highest figure since the EU began carrying out such measurements in 2006. That is equivalent to an area larger than Cyprus and Spain and Portugal have been hit hardest, especially during the 16-day heatwave in August.

The heatwave ended last week and the situation has improved, but 10 forest fires are still raging in northern Spain, writes Reuters.

The call on the London Underground: Use headphones

How do you get people to stop forcing the rest of the subway car to listen to loud music? London is investing in a targeted campaign against “headphone avoiders”, writes the BBC.

Through posters and posts on social media, travelers are being urged to use headphones when making calls or listening to something on their mobile phones this autumn.

According to a survey, 70 percent of the city's subway riders say they are disturbed when fellow passengers play movies or music loudly, or take calls on speakerphones. At the same time, Emma Strain, customer manager at Transport for London, says that most people already turn off the sound or find a pair of headphones when told to do so.

South Korea completely bans mobile phones in classrooms

South Korea has passed a law banning the use of mobile phones in classrooms, writes the BBC. The ban will come into effect in March 2026, when the next school year begins, and is described as an attempt to curb mobile phone addiction among young people.

The law has the support of several parties, who believe that smartphones affect students' academic performance. There are also opponents of the ban, who question how it should be implemented and whether it really gets to the root of the problem.

The country will now become one of the first in the world to pass laws restricting mobile phone use in schools, although similar initiatives have been taken elsewhere in the world.