Author: OMN AI
OMN AI
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A commanding mandate at the polls Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi looks set for a decisive victory after snap elections, with media projections showing her ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and its allies securing a two-thirds majority in the lower house. If confirmed, it would mark the party’s strongest performance since 2017, during the era of her mentor, former prime minister Shinzo Abe. Estimates suggest the LDP alone could win around 300 of the 465 seats, reclaiming a dominant position in parliament and potentially governing without coalition support. LDP Secretary General Shunichi Suzuki said voters had endorsed Takaichi’s “responsible, proactive…
BP faces growing pressure from investors as it prepares to publish full-year results expected to show weaker profits. Analysts forecast earnings of about $7.5bn, down from nearly $9bn in 2024, after oil prices fell sharply in 2025. The company also suffered a fourth-quarter hit as crude dropped below $60 a barrel. Incoming chief executive Meg O’Neill will face demands to present a clear long-term strategy. Shareholder groups, including the Australasian Centre for Corporate Responsibility and Follow This, want BP to explain how it will manage spending as fossil fuel demand declines. Activists argue BP’s recent return to oil and gas…
Gigafactory Plans Put on Ice Automotive Cells Company (ACC) has scrapped plans to build major electric vehicle battery plants in both Italy and Germany, dealing a blow to Europe’s push to strengthen its homegrown battery industry. The decision comes as demand for electric vehicles has grown more slowly than expected, making large-scale investment harder to justify. Italy’s metalworkers’ union UILM confirmed the move, saying ACC management had officially ruled out the long-planned gigafactory in Termoli, along with a similar project in Germany. Both sites had already been on hold since 2024. EV Demand Falls Short of Expectations ACC, which is…
Houston’s rent growth has slowed, offering relief to renters and creating new opportunities for prospective homebuyers. The increase in rental options, combined with more affordable housing, is helping balance the local market. After years of rapid rent increases, Houston’s rental market is easing. Monthly rent hikes have moderated, allowing households to better manage living costs. Analysts say this slowdown gives renters more flexibility to save for down payments or explore homeownership. Stronger rental inventory is also contributing to a more balanced market. More available units mean renters have increased options when searching for housing. In some neighborhoods, the additional inventory…
A South Korean cryptocurrency exchange accidentally sent customers more than 40 billion dollars in bitcoin. The mistake briefly turned some users into multimillionaires. The company had intended to give a small reward of 2,000 won, worth about 1.37 dollars. Instead, it sent 2,000 bitcoins to customers on Friday. The platform Bithumb apologised for the error and described the incident. The company said it quickly noticed the mistake and recovered almost all missing tokens. It restricted trading and withdrawals for 695 affected customers within 35 minutes of the glitch. Exchange Recovers Nearly All Misplaced Bitcoin Bithumb said it retrieved 99.7 percent…
Researchers say testing menstrual blood could offer a simple alternative to cervical screening.A sanitary pad with a sample strip can detect human papillomavirus, which causes most cervical cancers.Women could use the test at home, avoiding invasive clinical procedures. Researchers in China compared menstrual blood samples with clinician-collected cervical samples.The study involved 3,068 women aged 20 to 54 with regular menstrual cycles.Findings were published in the BMJ. The pad-based test detected serious cervical cell abnormalities with 94.7% sensitivity.This matched the accuracy of samples collected by clinicians.Specificity was slightly lower, but negative results proved equally reliable. Experts say the method could help…
US President Donald Trump has signed an executive order threatening tariffs on countries that continue trading with Iran. The order does not set a fixed rate but uses 25 percent as an example. It states the tariff could apply to goods imported into the United States from any nation that directly or indirectly purchases goods or services from Iran. Trump did not comment directly on the order but emphasized that Iran must not acquire nuclear weapons. He spoke from Air Force One while senior US and Iranian officials held talks in Oman after weeks of escalating threats. Trump had already…
A major review published in The Lancet finds most statin side-effects are not caused by the drugs. Researchers analysed 19 randomised trials involving 124,000 people followed for over four years. Evidence supported only muscle pain, diabetes risk, and four minor effects, including liver test changes and tissue swelling. The study found no strong evidence linking statins to memory loss, depression, sleep problems, or nerve damage. Lead author Christina Reith said benefits clearly outweigh risks for most patients. Experts called for updated labels to reduce misinformation and help patients make informed decisions.
The European Union has warned TikTok to change its platform design or face massive financial penalties. The European Commission said the video app breached EU online safety rules. Officials reached this decision after an investigation launched in February 2024. Regulators examined how TikTok’s features shape user behaviour. The Commission said TikTok failed to properly assess risks to mental wellbeing. Investigators focused on autoplay and endless content feeds. They said these features can harm users, particularly children. Regulators also said TikTok did not implement enough safeguards to reduce these risks. TikTok rejected the findings through a company spokesperson. The firm called…
Pressure Builds Ahead of 2027 Deadline From January 2027, companies importing oil and gas into the European Union will be required to understandingly monitor, report, and verify methane emissions tied to their supplies. As that deadline approaches, a group of US lawmakers is urging Brussels not to water down the rules—particularly for American energy producers. In a letter seen by Euronews, 24 members of Congress argue that the EU’s methane regulation is essential for cutting emissions of the powerful greenhouse gas, which is far more potent than carbon dioxide in the short term. They warn that granting exemptions to US…
