Author: OMN AI

Pressure on Career ScientistsDuring a Senate hearing, ex-CDC director Susan Monarez described being asked by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to approve advisory committee recommendations ahead of schedule and to remove experienced vaccine staff. She said she refused these demands and was subsequently removed from her position after just a few weeks in office. Concerns Over Undermining Scientific IndependenceDebra Houry, former chief medical officer at the CDC, also expressed alarm at Kennedy’s handling of vaccine policy. She warned that replacing long-standing advisory committee members with politically aligned appointees could compromise the agency’s evidence-based decision-making processes. Implications…

Food prices climbed again in August, marking the fifth straight monthly increase. The jump was the fastest since early last year. The cost of food and non-alcoholic drinks rose 5.1% over the year. Beef, butter, milk and chocolate saw the biggest rises. Other sectors, including air fares, rose more slowly. That kept overall inflation unchanged at 3.8%, the same as July. Economists said supermarkets are passing higher minimum wage and National Insurance costs directly onto customers. Bank of England under pressure Inflation remains well above the Bank of England’s 2% target. Analysts expect rates to stay on hold this week.…

Democratic Senators Press Bureau ChiefFBI Director Kash Patel came under intense scrutiny in the Senate Judiciary Committee as Democrats accused him of politicizing the agency. Patel pushed back strongly, arguing that the dismissal of several senior officials stemmed from professional failings and violations of duty, not political motivations. He dismissed the accusations as partisan attempts to discredit the FBI’s leadership. Handling of Epstein Records and Kirk Case QuestionedLawmakers also challenged Patel over the bureau’s management of files linked to Jeffrey Epstein and the investigation into the killing of conservative figure Charlie Kirk. Senators criticized his decision to announce an arrest…

Sky has placed 900 jobs at risk as part of its latest restructuring to compete with US streaming giants. The broadcaster, owned by Comcast, expects around 600 roles to be cut and 300 redeployed among its 23,000 UK staff. The move marks Sky’s third round of cuts in just over 18 months, following product launches such as the updated Sky Glass smart TV and the budget Sky Glass Air. Technology, product teams, and related corporate functions will be most affected. Since early 2023, Sky has cut nearly 3,500 roles while shifting from traditional satellite pay-TV toward streaming services like Sky…

The Taliban banned fibre optic internet in Afghanistan’s Balkh province, cutting cable access for homes, businesses, and institutions. Spokesman Haji Attaullah Zaid said leader Hibatullah Akhundzada ordered the ban to “prevent immorality.” Authorities imposed a “complete ban,” marking the first restriction of this type since the Taliban regained control in August 2021. Mobile Data Remains but Connection Slows Residents can still use mobile data, but many complain about speed and cost. One Balkh resident said his service provider initially blamed “technical issues” for the loss of connection. He added that slow, expensive mobile data makes his work with international contacts…

US President Donald Trump announced he will sue the New York Times for 15 billion dollars, citing defamation and libel. Trump posted on his platform Truth Social that the newspaper has lied and smeared him for too long and that this must end immediately. Criticism of Kamala Harris endorsement The president condemned the Times for endorsing Kamala Harris in the 2024 election. He accused the paper of acting as a mouthpiece for the Democratic Party. Trump said he will file the lawsuit in Florida, a Republican stronghold. The New York Times has not responded to the claim. Frustration with hostile…

Investors surged after a US judge blocked the forced sale of Google’s Chrome browser. The ruling preserved Alphabet’s core businesses and ended a nearly five-year antitrust battle. Shares jumped more than 4% in Monday trading, pushing Alphabet’s market value past $3 trillion (€2.55tr). The gain places Alphabet in an elite club of tech giants alongside Nvidia ($4.2tr/€3.57tr), Microsoft ($3.8tr/€3.23tr), and Apple ($3.5tr/€3tr). Court Shields Google’s Chrome and Android The Department of Justice had demanded that Alphabet sell Chrome and possibly Android over competition concerns. Google’s search division generates over half of the company’s revenue. The judge ruled Alphabet can retain…

US and Chinese negotiators have reached a framework agreement to transfer TikTok into US-controlled ownership, officials confirmed on Monday. The deal marks a breakthrough in a years-long dispute over the app’s Chinese parent ByteDance, which has faced scrutiny in Washington over national security risks. US trade representative Jamieson Greer and Chinese negotiator Li Chenggang both confirmed that the framework resolves core issues, though commercial terms remain private. Treasury secretary Scott Bessent said final details would be settled during a meeting between Donald Trump and Xi Jinping on Friday. The ownership battle dates back to 2020 when Trump ordered ByteDance to…

Lawyer Henry Clack has long dealt with Nigerian criminal gangs. Clack, a solicitor at London-based law firm HFW, represents shipping firms caught in cyber attacks. He says Nigerian groups are the most frequent counterparties. They have staged several high-value “man-in-the-middle” frauds in recent years. How cyber criminals operate This fraud lets hackers intercept communication between two parties. They impersonate both sides to steal login details, financial information, or even system control. Criminals then demand ransom to release stolen data or give up access. HFW data shows attacks on ships and ports are rising sharply. Between 2022 and 2023, the average…

VIENNA/KYIV — Europe has long prided itself on being a refuge for the persecuted, a place where dissidents, whistleblowers and political opponents could find safety from authoritarian regimes. But the story of Kyrylo Shevchenko, former governor of Ukraine’s National Bank, suggests that promise is faltering — and that Austria, in particular, is being drawn into a dangerous balancing act. A Sudden Fall Shevchenko was once celebrated by Western partners for steering Ukraine’s monetary policy during the chaotic early months of Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022. But that recognition didn’t last. By the fall, he resigned abruptly. Within 24 hours, prosecutors…