Author: OMN AI

US President Donald Trump will meet Chinese President Xi Jinping in South Korea on 30 October. The White House confirmed the long-awaited meeting, which will take place on the sidelines of a major Asian summit. The encounter has been in preparation for weeks, though rising friction between Washington and Beijing nearly derailed it. It will mark the first in-person meeting between the two leaders since Trump returned to the presidency. Trump recently warned he would impose a 100% tariff on Chinese imports in November if Beijing fails to ease its limits on rare earth exports. White House confirms meeting during…

Lithuania reported that two Russian military aircraft entered its airspace on Thursday for about 18 seconds. The Lithuanian military identified the aircraft as an Su-30 fighter jet and an Il-78 refuelling plane. Officials believe both aircraft conducted refuelling training when they crossed into Lithuania from Russia’s Kaliningrad region around 1600 CET. Spanish Eurofighter Typhoon jets from NATO’s Baltic Air Police immediately scrambled and began patrolling the region. Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda denounced the intrusion on X, calling it a blatant violation of international law and national sovereignty. He strongly condemned the act in a video statement, declaring that Lithuania must…

The popular weight-loss drug semaglutide – used in treatments such as Wegovy – significantly cuts the risk of heart attacks and strokes regardless of how much weight a person loses, according to a large international study published in The Lancet. Researchers from University College London (UCL) examined data from 17,604 adults aged 45 and over, across 41 countries, who were either overweight or obese. Half received weekly semaglutide injections, while the other half took a placebo. Results showed a 20% reduction in major cardiac events – including heart attacks, strokes, and deaths from heart disease – among those taking the…

Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, is eliminating 600 positions in its AI division, US media reported. The company confirmed the move on Wednesday, stating it will continue hiring for its superintelligence lab while executing these layoffs. Axios revealed that the cuts will hit Meta’s Fundamental AI Research (FAIR) group, along with its product-related AI and infrastructure teams. However, Meta’s newer TBD Lab will remain untouched. Impact on Teams and Employee Transition Chief AI officer Alexandr Wang informed staff about the changes in a memo. He urged affected workers to apply for other internal positions, expecting most to…

New Economic Measures Broaden Trade and Banking Restrictions The European Union has agreed on its nineteenth sanctions package against Russia, tightening controls across financial, energy, and transport sectors. The new measures add several Russian banks and logistics firms to the sanctions list while stepping up oversight of vessels accused of evading oil-related restrictions. EU officials said the expanded package is designed to close enforcement gaps and further weaken Russia’s ability to finance its war in Ukraine. Bloc Takes First Step Toward Cutting Russian LNG Supplies A centerpiece of the sanctions is a ban on Russian liquefied natural gas imports, marking…

Tesla reported its highest quarterly revenue yet, but profits fell steeply. Rising costs, tariffs, and heavy investment in research weighed on earnings despite strong sales. Revenue surges while profits drop For the three months ending in September, Tesla earned $28 billion (£21 billion), a 12% increase from last year. Profits, however, dropped 37%, driven by higher tariffs and growing research and development expenses. Investors reacted cautiously. Tesla shares fell 3.8% in after-hours trading after the announcement. Despite this, the company still holds a market value near $1.4 trillion, fueled by confidence in Elon Musk’s vision for artificial intelligence and robotics.…

Aerospace stocks rose sharply after major companies reported strong earnings for the latest quarter. Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, and Raytheon Technologies delivered results that exceeded market expectations, driving investor optimism across the sector. Lockheed Martin reported robust revenue growth, supported by defense contracts and increased demand for advanced aerospace systems. Northrop Grumman also posted higher-than-expected earnings, fueled by its work in missile defense and space technology programs. Raytheon Technologies saw solid gains in its aerospace and defense segments, reflecting improved operational efficiency and strategic contract wins. Analysts said the strong earnings demonstrate the resilience of the aerospace and defense industry,…

A major UK study has found that antidepressants vary widely in their physical side-effects, with some causing significant weight gain, while others lead to weight loss or changes in heart rate and blood pressure. Researchers from King’s College London and the University of Oxford analysed data from 151 clinical studies involving more than 58,000 participants, comparing 30 commonly prescribed antidepressants. They found weight changes of up to 4kg between different drugs. Patients taking maprotiline gained about 2kg on average, while those on agomelatine lost around 2.5kg. Nearly half of people on drugs like maprotiline or amitriptyline experienced weight gain, whereas…

Donald Trump said he did not want a “wasted meeting” after plans for direct talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin about the war in Ukraine were suspended. Speaking at the White House on Tuesday, the US president said Moscow’s refusal to stop fighting along the current front line remained the main roadblock to progress. White House freezes plans for Budapest summit A White House official confirmed there were “no plans” for a Trump-Putin meeting “in the immediate future.” That statement came only days after Trump had announced both leaders would meet in Budapest within two weeks. Differences between Washington and…

France Launches Fee on Cheap Clothing to Cut Waste France has approved a new environmental surcharge on low-priced fashion items in a bid to tackle pollution and overproduction in the clothing sector. The policy sets a €5 charge per garment, scheduled to increase to €10 by 2030, depending on a company’s environmental performance. The fee will be capped at 50% of the product’s pre-tax price. The plan also introduces a mandatory labeling system that rates each item’s ecological footprint, aiming to guide shoppers toward more sustainable choices and discourage short-term consumption. EU to Reform Rules on Imports and Online Sales…