Author: OMN AI

The United States has ended a long-standing tariff exemption that supported global trade in low-cost goods. From Friday, imports worth $800 or less will no longer enter duty-free and will face stricter customs checks. The change will affect millions of packages daily. In 2023, nearly 1.4 billion parcels entered the US duty-free under the de minimis exemption, worth more than $64bn. Experts warn the shift will hit small businesses hardest. Shoppers should prepare for higher prices and fewer choices until markets adjust. “I’ve reached the point of acceptance, but when I first heard the news, I thought it might be…

Rising heat and falling rainfall worsen wildfires, experts confirm.Europe’s 2025 wildfire season has shattered records for land destroyed.Over one million hectares have burned in the EU this year, exceeding Corsica’s land size.The burnt area is four times larger than last year’s total. Countries Struggle Under Unrelenting Flames Officials declared more than 1,800 forest fires, releasing over 38 million tonnes of CO₂.Among EU’s 27 members, only five nations reported no fires: Czech Republic, Estonia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, and Malta.Italy and Romania led in number of blazes, each surpassing 450 incidents.Cyprus recorded just three wildfires, but their destruction was extreme.Spain lost more than…

Nvidia continues to accelerate as demand for artificial intelligence rises, though global political frictions pose serious challenges. On Wednesday, the chipmaker reported $46.7bn (£34.6bn) in second-quarter revenue, a 56% increase compared with the same period in 2024. Despite the strong numbers, its shares fell in after-hours trading after executives admitted the company was still “working through geopolitical issues”. Nvidia remains heavily exposed to trade disputes between Washington and Beijing. Shifting US policies under the Trump administration, aimed at preserving America’s lead in artificial intelligence, add more uncertainty for the company. Strong appetite for AI chips Nvidia’s processors are at the…

Gunfire at Annunciation Catholic School in Minneapolis killed two pupils and wounded 17 others on Wednesday morning.Police chief Brian O’Hara said the shooter fired a rifle through church windows during morning mass.O’Hara confirmed the attacker carried a rifle, a shotgun, and a pistol.The shooter killed himself at the scene, leaving no known motive behind.Authorities identified the two victims as students aged eight and ten. Authorities Respond and Families Reunite Minneapolis police declared the shooter contained and said residents faced no active danger.Governor Tim Walz condemned the attack, calling it “horrific,” and expressed sympathy for families and teachers.Children’s Minnesota treated five…

South Korea has passed a new law that bans smartphones and other smart devices during school hours. The measure places the country among several nations limiting phone use to protect education and health. The law will begin in March 2026. Lawmakers from both major parties supported the bill. They argue it is essential to fight smartphone addiction, which researchers increasingly warn has damaging effects. Supporters call for discipline in schools Backers say phones disrupt lessons and weaken academic performance. They believe students waste time scrolling instead of focusing on studies or friendships. Parents argue that devices stop children from engaging…

The European Commission authorized a twice-yearly HIV prevention injection, opening distribution across the European Union.Drugmaker Gilead confirmed the approval of lenacapavir, a groundbreaking pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) medicine.EMA regulators recommended the treatment one month earlier, calling it a milestone in the fight against HIV. Lenacapavir Redefines HIV Prevention The injection prevents the virus from replicating and spreading within the body.It protects both adults and adolescents, lowering the risk of HIV infection.Clinical trials showed 100 percent effectiveness, leading experts to call it a major breakthrough of 2024.The drug, branded Yeytuo, will launch in the EU, Norway, Iceland, and Liechtenstein.It offers the first…

US President Donald Trump has announced that he will immediately remove Federal Reserve governor Lisa Cook from office. The move dramatically escalates his confrontation with America’s central bank. Trump alleged there was “sufficient reason” to accuse Cook of making false declarations on mortgage documents. He pointed to constitutional powers that he argued give him authority to dismiss her. Cook dismissed the claim, insisting the president has no legal power to remove her. She made clear she would not step down. No president in US history has ever tried to fire a Federal Reserve governor. Trump’s step follows his ongoing criticism…

Riot police fired tear gas at thousands of students marching toward Indonesia’s Parliament on Monday.Protesters expressed anger at reports of lawmakers receiving lavish housing allowances since September 2024.They attempted to breach police barricades but officers pushed them back with tear gas volleys.Demonstrators retaliated by throwing rocks and bottles and setting fires under a flyover near the Parliament compound. Lawmaker Allowances Spark Outrage Reports revealed 580 House of Representatives members have received monthly housing allowances of 50 million rupiah (€2,637).The allowance equals nearly 20 times the minimum wage in poorer provinces, fueling public outrage.Protesters argued the payments insult citizens struggling under…

Vintage once ruled the wine world In wine, the vintage has always been king. Every bottle of red, white, or rosé almost always carries the year of harvest on the label. Non-vintage still wine, which blends grapes from several years, has long been seen as cheap and undesirable. It is also far less common. But climate change is now shaking this tradition. Heatwaves, droughts, and extreme weather push winemakers to seek consistency. A small but growing group of respected wineries now release non-vintage bottles. They argue blending ensures quality when nature brings chaos. Napa Valley feels the heat Chris Howell,…

Illinois Governor JB Pritzker condemned President Donald Trump’s plan to send troops to Chicago. He called it an abuse of power. Pritzker said there is no emergency that justifies National Guard deployment in Illinois. He accused Trump of fabricating a crisis. Trump already sent about 2,000 troops to Washington DC. The city’s Democratic leaders oppose the move. Trump presents the deployment as a fight against crime in major US cities. On Friday, he announced that Chicago and New York could face the same measure. Chicago mayor raises alarm Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson said he had received no official notice about…