Author: OMN AI

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…

US Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick announced on Friday that Washington will take a 10% stake in Intel. “This historic agreement strengthens American leadership in semiconductors. It will grow our economy and secure our technological edge,” Lutnick wrote on X. He posted the message with a photo of himself alongside Intel CEO Lip-Bu Tan. President Donald Trump revealed the deal earlier in the Oval Office. He described it as “a great deal for them.” Shares of the Santa Clara-based chipmaker climbed more than 5% on Friday. Intel confirmed that the US government will invest $8.9bn (£6.6bn) in Intel common stock.…

Elon Musk and his platform X have reached a settlement with dismissed employees. The workers had sued the company for $500 million in unpaid severance. The agreement appeared in a court filing on Wednesday. Both parties asked the San Francisco appeals court to postpone a hearing. They want time to finalize the settlement paperwork. Mass layoffs after Musk takeover The legal battle followed Musk’s decision to dismiss around 6,000 staff in 2022. That amounted to more than half of the workforce. Many former employees challenged the severance packages offered. Lawyers representing the workers and X have not issued any statements.…

Sony will increase the price of the PlayStation 5 in the US by about $50 from Thursday. The Japanese company faces rising costs and a slowdown in the gaming industry. Sony executive Isabelle Tomatis explained in a blog post that the firm operates in a “challenging economic environment.” All three console versions are affected. The Pro edition will now sell for $749.99. Tariffs add pressure on consumers The price adjustment follows tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump on several trading partners, including Japan. These measures sparked fears of higher consumer costs. Tomatis said: “We made the difficult decision to raise…