Author: OMN AI

US Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick announced on Friday that Washington will take a 10% ownership stake in Intel. “This historic agreement strengthens American leadership in semiconductors. It will boost our economy and protect our technological edge,” Lutnick wrote on X. He shared the statement with a photo of himself alongside Intel CEO Lip-Bu Tan. President Donald Trump confirmed the deal earlier in the Oval Office. He called it “a great deal for them.” Shares of the Santa Clara-based chipmaker rose more than 5% on Friday. Intel confirmed that the US government will invest $8.9bn (£6.6bn) in its common stock.…

White House Extends Effort to New Cities President Donald Trump announced that his administration will expand its law-and-order push to Chicago and New York, calling Chicago deeply troubled and promising that New York would follow. The strategy continues a federal focus on Democratic-run cities with Black mayors, prompting backlash from local leadership. Armed National Guard Deployment in Washington Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth confirmed that National Guard troops assigned to Washington DC will now be armed, reversing earlier decisions to keep them without weapons. About 2,000 Guard members remain on duty in the capital, including reinforcements sent from Republican-led states. Officials…

Asia continues to dominate crypto growth, while the United States has increased its participation under Trump’s second presidency. Europe, by contrast, has placed most of its focus on regulation rather than market speed. Bitcoin, the first major cryptocurrency, has grown from negligible value in 2009 to nearly $120,000 today. What began as an alternative to traditional money has evolved into a central focus for investors and governments worldwide. The EU responded with MiCA, a regulatory framework enforcing audit obligations, wallet segregation, registration fees, and verification of transfers. Officials believe this framework adds safety and consistency. However, industry experts warn that…

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said the Ukraine security pact includes two layers: a stronger Ukrainian military and Western commitments deterring Russian aggression. He emphasized NATO’s “unwavering” support during a Kyiv visit and promised funding to maintain US arms supplies. After meeting President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Rutte confirmed Donald Trump assured Washington’s involvement in guarantees. He stressed that US, European, and Ukrainian cooperation must deter Vladimir Putin from attacking again. Rutte added discussions continue about troop deployments, intelligence sharing, and naval or aerial presence. Zelenskyy insisted Ukraine requires lasting security guarantees for future generations. Trump Pushes for Zelenskyy-Putin Talks Donald Trump…

Elon Musk and his company X have reached a settlement with former employees. The staff had sued for $500 million in unpaid severance. The agreement was revealed in a court filing on Wednesday. Both parties asked the San Francisco appeals court to delay a scheduled hearing. They said more time was needed to complete the paperwork. Lawsuit followed massive job cuts The case arose after Musk dismissed about 6,000 employees in 2022. That accounted for more than half of the company’s workforce. Many of the affected workers challenged the severance packages in court. Representatives of X and the employees’ lawyers…

German prosecutors confirmed the arrest of Ukrainian citizen Serhii K., suspected of organizing the Nord Stream pipeline blasts. Authorities detained him in Italy’s Rimini province overnight. Prosecutors stated he acted as one of the operation’s coordinators. Explosions Intensify Energy Crisis Explosions on 26 September 2022 destroyed parts of Nord Stream 1 and damaged Nord Stream 2. Nord Stream 1 had carried Russian gas to Germany until Moscow cut supplies in August 2022. Nord Stream 2 never entered service after Germany froze certification before Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The blasts fueled European efforts to cut reliance on Russian energy. Disputes Over…

Duolingo apologised after one of its German lessons described J.K. Rowling as mean. The example was later deleted from the app. The lesson asked if learners liked Harry Potter stories. The provided answer included a personal insult towards the author. In a statement, Duolingo said it regretted the incident and promised to prevent similar content from appearing in its courses. The case reignited debate around Rowling’s views on trans rights, which have divided opinion and attracted anger from many public voices. Actor Daniel Radcliffe distanced himself from Rowling, saying her remarks upset him and affirming his support for LGBTQ people.…

Car duties tied to EU legislation The United States will continue imposing a 27.5% tariff on vehicles from Europe until the European Union introduces laws reducing trade barriers on American exports. Under a new framework deal, the tariff will drop to 15% once Brussels presents the required legislation. Deal announced after high-level talks The agreement was revealed on 27 July following talks between Donald Trump and European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen at Trump’s golf resort in Turnberry, Scotland. As part of the arrangement, the EU committed to phasing out tariffs on US industrial products and widening access for…

Sony will raise the price of the PlayStation 5 in the United States by roughly $50 starting Thursday. The Japanese company faces higher production costs and slowing demand in the gaming sector. Sony executive Isabelle Tomatis said in a blog post that the company operates in a “challenging economic environment.” All three console models will become more expensive. The Pro edition will now retail for $749.99. Tariffs push prices higher The increase follows tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump on several trade partners, including Japan. These measures raised fears of rising costs for US consumers. Tomatis explained: “We made the…

A Taiwanese court sentenced Huang Chung-wei, son of a former legislator, to 28 months in prison. Prosecutors proved he illegally supplied thousands of tons of fuel oil to North Korea. Five other defendants also received prison sentences. The court in Kaohsiung found them guilty of loading fuel in Taiwan and transferring it at sea. They collaborated with Singaporean businessman Kwek Kee Seng, who remains wanted by the United States and whose location is unknown. Court Cites Violations of Taiwan’s Laws The Kaohsiung court ruled the scheme violated Taiwan’s Counter-Terrorism Financing Act and related statutes. Illegal fuel transfers remain one of…