Author: OMN AI

US President Donald Trump delivered his latest ultimatum to Iran on Thursday during a Board of Peace meeting. Trump created this Middle East coalition to stabilise the region. He could soon drag that region into a new war. The contrast between peace rhetoric and military threats exposed competing impulses in Trump’s second-term foreign policy. The standoff between Washington and Tehran shows this contradiction most clearly. The escalation could now trigger the largest US air campaign in years. Trump said he prefers diplomacy and wants a deal that ends Iran’s nuclear weapons programme. A White House official said Iran would be…

Airbus has proposed building two separate fighter jets to rescue Europe’s stalled Future Combat Air System.The €100bn programme is shared by Germany, France and Spain. The dispute centres on who leads development of the next-generation aircraft.Airbus represents Germany and Spain, while Dassault Aviation speaks for France.Clashing military requirements have deepened the stalemate. Chief executive Guillaume Faury said a split solution could protect Europe’s long-term defence capability.He added that governments must decide whether to proceed with one jet, two designs or drop that pillar entirely.German chancellor Friedrich Merz recently signalled the current concept does not meet Germany’s needs, especially on nuclear…

Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor was taken into custody on Thursday on suspicion of misconduct in public office linked to his former position as a UK trade envoy. Authorities confirmed that officers carried out searches at properties in Berkshire and Norfolk, while a man in his sixties remains in custody. Investigators said they are working with partner agencies and stressed the need to safeguard the integrity of the inquiry. They acknowledged the intense public interest surrounding the case and indicated that updates would be shared when appropriate. Unmarked police vehicles were seen outside the Sandringham estate in Norfolk, where Mountbatten-Windsor has been residing…

Mark Zuckerberg appeared in court Wednesday to defend Meta against claims it targeted children and teenagers. Lawyers presented internal documents suggesting the company prioritized younger users. Zuckerberg said the communications were misrepresented. This was his first jury appearance amid years of criticism of Meta, which owns Instagram, Facebook, and WhatsApp. YouTube is also part of the trial, which could influence thousands of related lawsuits. TikTok and Snapchat settled shortly before the trial, with terms undisclosed. Meta maintained it protects young users and blocks accounts under 13. Still, lead plaintiff lawyer Mark Lanier presented emails and research showing Meta employees discussed…

Top athletes including Lindsey Vonn, Mikaela Shiffrin and Federica Brignone have raised alarm over rapidly shrinking glaciers during the Winter Olympics in Cortina.They say warming temperatures are already changing how and where they train. Glaciers once visible from the host town have largely disappeared.Major ice now survives only at higher elevations, with the Marmolada melting quickly.Scientists report Italy has lost more than 200 square kilometres of glacier area since the late 1950s. Vonn said many glaciers she skied as a child no longer exist.Shiffrin added that snow-sport athletes witness climate change first-hand on mountain peaks.Brignone said the retreat of ice…

Safeguarding Against Price Shocks EU countries have agreed to update a key financial tool designed to prevent sudden spikes in carbon prices, as the bloc prepares to launch a new carbon tax covering road transport and buildings. The updated system, part of the European Union’s emissions trading system (ETS2), will take effect in 2028, and the revisions aim to ensure that prices remain stable and predictable for households and businesses relying on fossil fuels. While some countries, including Slovakia and the Czech Republic, have pushed to delay the tax until 2030 due to social concerns, Sweden, Denmark, Finland, the Netherlands,…

China is making fast progress in brain-computer interface technology. Shanghai-based startup NeuroXess recently reported early human trial results that suggest major potential for neuroscience innovation. In the trial, a patient was able to control a computer cursor just days after receiving a brain implant. This success demonstrates both the speed of learning and the precision possible with advanced BCI devices. NeuroXess’ breakthrough highlights China’s growing expertise in cutting-edge neuroscience. While much BCI research has focused on labs in the United States and Europe, China is rapidly closing the gap with practical human applications. Brain-computer interfaces connect the human brain directly…

“Life is becoming more expensive,” says Alexander, an advertising specialist from Moscow who works for a large corporation. His monthly food budget jumped by more than 22% within one month, rising from 35,000 roubles to 43,000 roubles. Russia’s economy now sits between stagnation and decline, and many citizens feel the financial impact of the war in Ukraine as it approaches its fourth year. Alexander noticed price increases for almost all essential goods in supermarkets, including eggs, chicken fillets, and seasonal vegetables. Journalists changed all names in this report to protect sources. Even his daily Americano on the way to work…

Brussels Signals Independent Action The European Union is prepared to impose a full ban on maritime services for Russian oil tankers, even if G7 allies cannot reach a consensus, Valdis Dombrovskis said. EU officials are pushing to approve the 20th sanctions package by 24 February, marking four years since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. If enacted, the ban would effectively override the G7’s existing oil price cap within the EU. European companies would be forbidden from servicing Russian tankers regardless of the price of Urals crude, which is currently capped at $44.10 per barrel. Dombrovskis emphasized that coordination with G7…

Senior UK banking figures will meet this week to begin work on a domestic card payments network.The project aims to reduce reliance on US-owned systems run by Visa and Mastercard. The talks will be chaired by Vim Maru of Barclays and involve major lenders and payment firms.City investors will fund the new company, known as DeliveryCo, with government support.The Bank of England is preparing the technical blueprint. Concern about geopolitical risk has accelerated the long-running plan.About 95% of UK card transactions currently depend on the two US networks.Executives warn that losing them would severely disrupt the economy as cash use…