Author: OMN AI

France Launches First Nationwide Levy on Cheap Apparel France has introduced a landmark environmental tax targeting ultra-fast fashion brands, aiming to reduce the environmental cost of mass-produced clothing. The new policy starts with a €5 fee per item sold and will climb to €10 by 2030. The rate will vary according to each company’s sustainability record and is capped at 50% of the garment’s retail price before tax. The legislation also mandates an environmental rating label for clothing, giving shoppers clearer information about production impacts and encouraging longer-lasting purchases. European Union Closes Gaps in Import Rules At the EU level,…

Pizza Hut’s UK franchisee, DC London Pie, has entered administration, leading to the closure of 68 restaurants and 11 delivery-only sites across the country — from Finchley Lido in London to Carlisle and Rhyl in north Wales. The restructuring will put around 1,210 jobs at risk, while a rescue deal by Yum! Brands, Pizza Hut’s US parent company, will preserve 64 restaurants and secure 1,276 jobs. These surviving outlets will now be directly operated by Yum!, which also owns KFC and Taco Bell. FTI Consulting has been appointed as administrator to oversee the transition. Joint administrator Matt Callaghan said the…

European markets gained ground on Tuesday morning after several sessions of weakness. Investors cautiously bought back shares despite ongoing geopolitical tension. Most major indexes opened slightly higher as Asian markets extended their gains while US futures drifted lower. Milan led Europe’s rebound, climbing 0.80% before midday. Banks including UniCredit and Intesa Sanpaolo boosted the rally, joined by energy giant Eni and aerospace leader Leonardo. Germany’s defence sector also rose, though the DAX still slipped 0.13%. Newly listed shipbuilder TKMS surged 6.28% after debuting in Frankfurt at €60 per share. Rheinmetall AG added 0.48%, while BAE Systems in London dropped 0.91%.…

Amazon Web Services (AWS) said late Monday that it had resolved a widespread outage that left thousands of websites and apps offline worldwide for much of the day. More than 1,000 platforms — including Snapchat and banks such as Lloyds and Halifax — were affected by problems in Amazon’s US-based cloud network. Downdetector, a global outage tracker, recorded more than 11 million user reports during the disruption. Experts said the incident highlighted the risks of concentrating critical digital infrastructure in the hands of a few cloud giants. Single fault sparks massive disruption Professor Alan Woodward from the University of Surrey…

Millions of young people could miss out on safe and effective treatments because too few take part in medical research, new data reveals. Members of Gen Z (aged 18–24) are significantly underrepresented in health studies across England, prompting warnings that future treatments may not meet their needs. According to an analysis of National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) data, young adults make up 8% of England’s population but only 4.4% of medical research participants. Between 2021 and 2024, just 32,879 people in this age group took part in 5,042 NIHR-backed studies — fewer than seven participants per study.…

Boeing 747 ends in sea following failed landing attemptTwo airport workers were killed early Monday when a cargo aircraft overshot the runway during landing at Hong Kong International Airport and crashed into the water. The Boeing 747-400 freighter, operated by ACT Airlines under contract with Emirates SkyCargo, had been arriving from Dubai when it ran off the north runway at approximately 3:50 a.m. local time. The plane tore through the airport’s perimeter fence, struck a patrol vehicle, and came to rest with its nose partially submerged in the sea. All four crew members were rescued and sustained only minor injuries.…

After 11 months and 35 matches, Rúben Amorim finally delivered a breakthrough for Manchester United. The Portuguese coach had once admitted his team might be “the worst in the club’s history.” Criticism had piled up, his position seemed uncertain, and only minority owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s public backing kept him in charge. Then came Anfield — the home of United’s fiercest rivals. There, Amorim’s squad showed resilience, determination, and belief. A victory forged through grit This was no fortunate win like last December’s shock at Manchester City. United started the game with intensity and focus. Bryan Mbeumo scored early, giving…

A new “smart jab” has shown remarkable success in shrinking head and neck cancer tumours within just six weeks, offering hope to patients with advanced disease that has stopped responding to other treatments. The drug, amivantamab, works through a triple-action mechanism and is administered as a simple injection under the skin — a far less invasive option than traditional intravenous chemotherapy. Results from the Orig-AMI 4 trial, presented at the European Society for Medical Oncology conference in Berlin, were described by doctors as “incredibly encouraging.” Head and neck cancer is the sixth most common cancer globally, and treatment options are…

Signs of Stability After Years of VolatilityEurope’s automotive industry is beginning to find its footing following a turbulent stretch marked by supply disruptions and wavering consumer confidence. Recent data from the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA) show that new vehicle registrations across the European Union have remained steady through 2025, halting the declines seen in previous years. The rebound has been aided by smoother logistics, a more predictable energy landscape, and recovering demand. Electric vehicles have become a cornerstone of the market’s resilience, now accounting for around 20% of new sales thanks to sustained government support and growing consumer acceptance.…

Afghanistan and Pakistan agreed to resume discussions in Qatar to create terms for long-term peace. The agreement ended a week of deadly cross-border clashes that claimed dozens of lives. Qatari mediators in Doha facilitated the negotiations, leading both nations to announce an immediate ceasefire, according to Qatar’s Foreign Ministry. The ceasefire concluded one of the deadliest confrontations between the two countries in recent years, which killed dozens and wounded hundreds. Both governments committed to forming systems that strengthen stability and ensure the truce lasts. They also decided to meet again soon to maintain progress toward peace. Turkish negotiators played a…