Author: OMN AI
OMN AI
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Food prices rose again in August, marking the fifth straight month of increases. Official data shows the sharpest pace since early last year. The cost of food and non-alcoholic drinks climbed 5.1% year on year. Beef, butter, milk and chocolate drove the surge. Other areas such as air fares slowed, leaving overall inflation steady at 3.8%, the same as in July. Economists explained that supermarkets are passing higher wage and National Insurance costs directly onto shoppers. Central bank decision in focus Inflation remains above the Bank of England’s 2% target. Analysts expect interest rates to stay unchanged at this week’s…
Sky has placed 900 jobs at risk as it adapts to the shift from satellite pay-TV to streaming. The company, which employs 23,000 staff in the UK, expects about 600 roles to be cut and 300 redeployed following a consultation. This marks the third round of cuts in 18 months, bringing total job losses to nearly 3,500 since early 2023. The changes will mainly affect Sky’s technology, product, and corporate teams as the broadcaster focuses on digital-first services. Sky said more than 90% of new subscriptions now come through internet-based products such as Sky Glass and Sky Stream. Earlier this…
Taliban leader Hibatullah Akhundzada banned fibre optic internet across northern Balkh province to “prevent immorality,” officials confirmed Tuesday. Cable Internet Stops, Mobile Data Persists Authorities cut cable internet access for government offices, businesses, schools, and homes, though mobile data remains available across the province. First Long-Term Internet Ban Since 2021 This marks the first permanent-type internet ban since the Taliban took power in August 2021, officials said. Officials Cite Morality Concerns Provincial spokesman Haji Attaullah Zaid said authorities aim to prevent immorality and promised to build an alternative network within Afghanistan. Residents Face Work and Communication Challenges One resident reported…
US President Donald Trump announced that he will sue the New York Times for 15 billion dollars over what he calls defamation and libel. Trump declared on his platform Truth Social that the newspaper has lied and smeared him for too long and that this will now stop. Attack on endorsement of Kamala Harris The president criticised the Times for endorsing Kamala Harris in the 2024 election. He claimed the paper had become a mouthpiece for the Democratic Party. Trump revealed that his lawsuit will be filed in Florida, a Republican stronghold. The New York Times has not yet responded…
Authorities Describe Widespread Trafficking NetworkFlor Bressers, a Belgian national, appeared in a Brussels courtroom this week facing charges of heading a major cocaine-smuggling operation. Prosecutors claim he earned approximately €230m from ten shipments, while co-defendant Sérgio Roberto de Carvalho, from Brazil, is said to have made close to €200m. Officials assert that the 30 defendants on trial collectively gained around €500m through the network. 2020 Rotterdam Seizure Sparks InvestigationThe legal case originates from a 2020 discovery in Rotterdam, when customs officers uncovered 3.2 tonnes of cocaine hidden inside manganese ore. Authorities argue the interception revealed a sophisticated trafficking network moving…
Investors poured money into Alphabet after a US judge stopped a forced sale of its Chrome browser. The ruling protected Google from breakup and reassured markets. Shares jumped over 4% in Monday trading, adding to gains exceeding 30% since January. Tech Giant Joins Elite $3 Trillion Club Alphabet now joins a small group of companies valued above $3 trillion (€2.55tr). Nvidia leads at $4.2 trillion (€3.57tr), followed by Microsoft at $3.8 trillion (€3.23tr) and Apple at $3.5 trillion (€3tr). Legal Victory Shields Google’s Core Assets The Department of Justice had demanded Alphabet sell Chrome and possibly Android over competition concerns.…
US trade representative Jamieson Greer announced a framework agreement with China to transfer TikTok into US-controlled ownership. Treasury secretary Scott Bessent confirmed that commercial terms are settled but withheld details, saying they are between private parties. Chinese negotiator Li Chenggang said both sides agreed on a basic framework through cooperation. The deal marks progress in the long-running dispute over TikTok’s Chinese ownership, which raised security concerns in Washington. President Joe Biden’s 2024 law required ByteDance to sell TikTok within nine months or face a ban, a deadline extended multiple times by Donald Trump. Previous acquisition attempts by Microsoft, Walmart, and…
Lawyer Henry Clack has grim experience with Nigerian criminal gangs. Clack, a solicitor at London-based law firm HFW, represents shipping firms hit by cyber attacks. He says Nigerian organised groups are the most common counterparties. They have carried out several high-value “man-in-the-middle” frauds in recent years. How hackers trick the shipping industry This fraud allows hackers to intercept communication between two parties. They then impersonate both sides to steal log-in details, financial data, or even control of a company’s system. Criminals later demand payment to release stolen data or to give up control of computers. HFW data shows hacking in…
Former members of the Bank of England’s monetary policy committee (MPC) have called on governor Andrew Bailey to scale back or halt the central bank’s bond-selling programme, warning it is driving up government borrowing costs. Britain’s long-term borrowing costs are now at their highest level in 27 years, piling pressure on chancellor Rachel Reeves ahead of her 26 November autumn budget. The Bank has attributed much of the rise to global factors, including Donald Trump’s trade war and his attacks on the US Federal Reserve, but admitted its £100bn of recent bond sales are also playing a role. The Bank…
Romanian authorities have confirmed that an unmanned aerial vehicle entered their airspace during Russian attacks on Ukraine, prompting a NATO response. Meanwhile, Poland increased its air patrols and activated defense systems along its eastern border. Drone Incursion Over Southeastern Romania The Defence Ministry in Bucharest reported that a drone flew about 10 kilometers into Romanian territory before disappearing from radar near Chilia Veche in the Danube Delta. Officials stated that the aircraft maintained a low altitude and avoided crossing populated areas. In response, Romania scrambled two F-16 fighter jets, with NATO Eurofighters assisting in the operation. Residents of Tulcea County…