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 impact 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…

Experts link soaring temperatures and shrinking rainfall to worsening forest fires worldwide.Europe faces its most destructive wildfire season on record in 2025.Blazes have already consumed over one million hectares in the EU, larger than Corsica’s landmass. Europe’s Devastating Fire Season The EU has reported more than 1,800 wildfires this year, releasing over 38 million tonnes of CO₂.Italy and Romania recorded more than 450 fires each, topping the list in outbreaks.Cyprus reported only three fires, yet those few caused catastrophic damage.Spain lost more than 400,000 hectares, while Portugal saw over 260,000 hectares burned.These losses equal 3% of Portugal’s land and 0.8%…

Nvidia continues to post rapid growth as global demand for artificial intelligence rises, even while political tensions cloud its outlook. On Wednesday, the California-based chipmaker reported $46.7bn (£34.6bn) in revenue for the second quarter, a 56% jump compared with the same period in 2024. Its shares, however, slipped in after-hours trading as the company admitted it was still “working through geopolitical issues”. Nvidia remains caught in the trade battle between Washington and Beijing. Shifting policies from the Trump administration, designed to secure America’s lead in artificial intelligence, add further uncertainty to the company’s prospects. Demand from tech giants drives growth…

A new study warns that ocean acidification may erode sharks’ teeth, threatening their ability to feed and destabilizing marine ecosystems. While sharks naturally replace lost teeth with new rows, rapidly acidifying seas could damage enamel faster than replacement can keep up. Researchers found that teeth exposed to projected future pH levels (7.3, down from today’s 8.1) suffered about twice as much corrosion and serration damage after just eight weeks. The findings suggest sharks could struggle to catch prey efficiently in the future, compounding pressures from overfishing and habitat loss. Although some experts believe sharks may adapt by replacing teeth more…

Wild bees deliberately visit different flowers to regulate their intake of protein, fats, and carbohydrates, according to a new long-term study. Researchers from Northwestern University and the Chicago Botanic Garden tracked eight bumblebee species in the Colorado Rockies over eight years, creating a detailed nutritional map of their pollen sources. By analyzing pollen samples, scientists found striking differences in nutrient content: some flowers offered as little as 17% protein, while others contained up to 86%. Seasonal changes also influenced pollen makeup, with spring blooms providing protein-rich pollen and late-summer flowers offering more fats and carbohydrates. Nutritional Needs and Conservation The…

A gunman opened fire Wednesday morning at Annunciation Catholic School in Minneapolis during church mass.Police confirmed he used a rifle, shotgun, and pistol while shooting through church windows.Authorities reported at least two children dead and 17 others injured in the attack.The victims killed were aged eight and ten, according to police chief Brian O’Hara.The shooter eventually turned the gun on himself and died at the scene.Officials have not yet identified a motive for the tragedy. Officials Condemn the Attack and Support Families Police chief Brian O’Hara denounced the “cruelty and cowardice” of the attack during a press conference.Governor Tim Walz…

South Korea has passed a law that bans smartphones and other smart devices during school hours. The country now joins a growing list of nations restricting students’ phone use. The law will take effect in March 2026. Lawmakers from both ruling and opposition parties supported it. They say it aims to reduce smartphone addiction, which more research links to harmful effects on young people. Growing pressure from parents and teachers Supporters argue that phones disrupt lessons and weaken academic results. They say children lose valuable time scrolling instead of studying or building friendships. Parents fear smartphones dominate their children’s daily…

For the first time, surgeons have transplanted a genetically modified pig lung into a brain-dead human, with the organ functioning for nine days. The procedure, carried out in China and reported in Nature Medicine, represents a new milestone in xenotransplantation, a field aiming to address the global organ shortage. Currently, only about 10% of the worldwide demand for transplants is met. The pig lung, taken from a donor with six genetic modifications, was transplanted into a 39-year-old male recipient. The lung remained viable without signs of hyperacute rejection or infection, but within 24 hours began to show fluid buildup and…

The European Commission authorized a twice-yearly injection to prevent HIV, following drugmaker Gilead’s announcement.Regulators at the European Medicines Agency recommended the medicine one month earlier.Officials hailed the approval as a major step in the fight against HIV across the European Union. Yeytuo Marks Medical Milestone The drug, named lenacapavir and branded as Yeytuo, prevents HIV from replicating in the body.It offers protection for both adults and adolescents at risk of infection.Clinical trials showed the jab achieved 100 per cent effectiveness against HIV transmission.Experts called the twice-yearly option one of 2024’s most important medical advances.The injection replaces daily pills, providing the…

US President Donald Trump has declared he will remove Federal Reserve governor Lisa Cook from her post without delay. The move heightens his showdown with the central bank. Trump claimed there was “sufficient reason” to accuse Cook of giving false information in mortgage filings. He cited constitutional authority he said gave him the power to act. Cook swiftly rejected the decision, stressing that the president had no legal right to dismiss her. She stated she would not resign. No president has ever attempted to fire a Federal Reserve governor. Trump’s action comes amid his growing frustration with the bank’s policies…