Author: OMN AI

AstraZeneca has reached a deal with Donald Trump’s administration to lower prices for some of its medicines in exchange for tariff relief. The British drugmaker will sell certain drugs at discounted rates to the U.S. government’s Medicaid program, adopting a “most-favored-nation” model that matches the lowest prices offered in other developed countries. Trump announced the agreement from the Oval Office on Friday, saying it would help make prescription drugs “the lowest price anywhere in the world.” AstraZeneca’s CEO, Pascal Soriot, who attended the event, described the negotiations as “tough” and said the talks “kept me up at night.” The deal…

A new bipartisan infrastructure bill has advanced in Congress after passing a key committee vote, demonstrating strong support from both parties. The legislation focuses on modernizing transportation systems and expanding broadband access across the United States. Lawmakers have emphasized that the bill is a critical step in upgrading aging roads, bridges, and public transit networks. By investing in infrastructure, the initiative aims to improve safety, efficiency, and connectivity for millions of Americans. The expansion of broadband is also a key element, designed to provide reliable internet access to underserved communities. The bill has garnered attention for its cross-party backing, signaling…

Amazon has introduced a new wave of AI-powered features across its devices, bringing advanced capabilities to products like the Kindle. These upgrades allow users to receive book summaries and ask questions about characters, creating a more interactive and personalized reading experience. The AI enhancements mark a significant step in Amazon’s strategy to integrate artificial intelligence into consumer electronics. By providing tools that help users quickly understand content, the company aims to make reading more accessible and engaging for a wide audience. Kindle users can now receive concise summaries of books, allowing them to grasp key themes and ideas without reading…

In Sengawacho, a quiet suburb of Tokyo, the Ben Thai restaurant has only four bottles of Asahi Super Dry left. Owner Sakaolath Sugizaki hopes for a new delivery soon, but her supplier is saving stock for larger clients. Japan’s biggest brewer, Asahi, shut down almost all 30 of its factories after a devastating cyber-attack froze production and crippled its computer systems. Breweries Slowly Restart but Systems Stay Down Asahi has reopened several factories, including six major breweries, but its digital systems remain offline. Workers now process every order and shipment manually, using pens, paper, and fax machines. The change has…

Donald Trump has warned he will impose 100% tariffs on Chinese imports from 1 November, accusing Beijing of “very hostile” trade tactics. The US president’s threat followed China’s decision to tighten controls on rare-earth exports — critical materials for electric vehicles, semiconductors, and aircraft engines. Posting on Truth Social, Trump said: “One of the policies we’re calculating is a massive increase of tariffs on Chinese products.” He added that the US could also impose export controls on “any and all critical software.” Financial markets reacted sharply. The S&P 500 fell 2.7%, the Nasdaq dropped 3.6%, and Nvidia shares slid nearly…

“This technology is our future threat,” warns Serhiy Beskrestnov as he inspects a newly captured Russian drone. It is unlike anything he has seen. Controlled by artificial intelligence, it can locate and strike targets without human input. Beskrestnov, a consultant to Ukraine’s defence forces, has analysed countless drones since the invasion began. But this one is different. It neither transmits nor receives signals, making it impossible to jam or detect. Both Ukrainian and Russian forces now test AI-driven tools on the battlefield. They use it to identify enemy positions, analyse intelligence, and clear mines faster than ever before. AI becomes…

Researchers in the UK say they’ve developed the first reliable blood test for diagnosing chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS). The test, created by scientists at the University of East Anglia and Oxford Biodynamics, identifies a unique DNA-folding pattern in blood samples. It correctly detected ME/CFS in 92% of cases and ruled it out in 98%, according to results published in the Journal of Translational Medicine. “This is a significant step forward,” said lead researcher Prof Dmitry Pshezhetskiy. “For the first time, we can reliably identify ME/CFS.” The discovery could speed up diagnosis and improve care for patients who often wait years…

Elon Musk has reached a settlement in a $128 million lawsuit filed by four former top executives of Twitter, now rebranded as X. The case centered on severance payments the executives said Musk refused to provide after taking control of the platform in 2022. Executives claim they were dismissed unfairly The group, including former CEO Parag Agrawal, said Musk fired them without cause and denied them the severance promised in their contracts. In a court filing, their lawyers stated, “The parties have reached a settlement, and the settlement requires certain conditions to be met in the near term.” The financial…

A new study has revealed that 90% of marine aquarium fish sold by major US retailers are taken directly from the wild. Researchers found most species come from reefs in the western Pacific and Indian oceans, with little transparency from “reef to retail.” “The trade is opaque and murky all along the supply chain,” said Dr Bing Lin from the University of Sydney, who led the study. The global aquarium fish industry moves about 55 million animals annually and is worth more than US$2 billion. Among fish sold online were 45 species listed as threatened or declining, including Banggai cardinalfish…

Gold has broken through the $4,000 (£2,985) mark for the first time in history. Investors are seeking safety in the precious metal as political tensions and economic worries spread worldwide. The rally marks gold’s strongest surge since the 1970s. Prices have soared by almost a third since April, when US President Donald Trump’s new tariffs sent shockwaves through global trade and financial markets. Shutdown chaos shakes investor confidence The US government shutdown, now stretching into its second week, has heightened investor anxiety. Analysts say delays in releasing key economic data have deepened market uncertainty. Gold, traditionally viewed as a safe…