Author: OMN AI

The 2026 housing market is showing early signs of activity as spring approaches. Although the pace of sales remains slow, new listings are rising, mortgage costs are easing, and real estate agents are optimistic about increased buyer interest later in the year. Homebuyers have more options as inventory slowly grows. Rising listings mean families have more choices when searching for a home. At the same time, moderate mortgage costs reduce monthly payments, improving affordability for many buyers. Analysts say these factors could encourage more purchases as spring markets typically see higher activity. Experts note that slower sales do not signal…

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 planned to send 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 explained 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 Retrieves Nearly All Incorrect Transfers Bithumb said it recovered 99.7 percent of…

Gigafactories in Italy and Germany Abandoned Automotive Cells Company (ACC), a major European battery venture, has decided to scrap plans to build large electric vehicle battery plants in Italy and Germany. The move was confirmed by Italy’s metalworkers’ union UILM, which said ACC management had acknowledged that the proposed gigafactory in Termoli, as well as a planned site in Germany, would not go ahead. Both projects had already been frozen since 2024, as the company reassessed the market and its long-term strategy. Slower EV Demand Forces Rethink ACC, which is backed by carmaking giant Stellantis, said the expected surge in…

Researchers say a menstrual blood test could offer a simple, non-invasive alternative to cervical cancer screening. The test uses a standard sanitary pad fitted with a blood sample strip to detect human papillomavirus, the main cause of cervical cancer. Women can use the test at home, which could help reach those who avoid clinic-based screening. In a large study in China, researchers compared menstrual blood samples with clinician-collected cervical samples. The study involved more than 3,000 women aged 20 to 54 with regular menstrual cycles. Results were published in BMJ. The menstrual blood test detected high-grade cervical cell abnormalities with…

US President Donald Trump signed an executive order threatening new tariffs on countries that continue trading with Iran. The order does not set a fixed rate but uses 25 percent as an example. It says 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 reiterated that Iran must not obtain 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…

Most side-effects listed for statins are not caused by the drugs, a major review finds.Researchers published the analysis in The Lancet after examining 19 clinical trials.The study included 124,000 participants followed for an average of four and a half years. Evidence supported only muscle pain, diabetes risk, and four minor side-effects.These included liver test changes, mild liver abnormalities, urine changes, and tissue swelling.Researchers found no strong evidence for 62 other listed side-effects. These unsupported effects included memory loss, depression, sleep problems, and nerve tingling.The study found benefits far outweighed risks for most patients. Lead author Christina Reith said statins did…

The European Union has warned TikTok to overhaul its platform design or face substantial financial penalties. The European Commission said the video platform breached EU online safety regulations. Officials reached this conclusion after an investigation launched in February 2024. Regulators focused on how TikTok’s mechanics influence user behaviour. The Commission said TikTok failed to properly evaluate risks to user wellbeing. Investigators examined autoplay and continuous content delivery systems. They said these features can harm users, especially children. Regulators also said TikTok failed to implement sufficient risk mitigation measures. TikTok dismissed the findings through a company spokesperson. The firm described the…

Calls for equal standards on energy imports From January 2027, companies importing oil and gas into the European Union will be required to meet strict monitoring, reporting and verification standards tied to methane emissions from their suppliers. A group of US lawmakers is now urging the EU to stick firmly to those rules and resist any move to exempt American energy producers if US regulations are not enforced rigorously enough. In a letter obtained by Euronews and signed by 24 members of Congress, the lawmakers describe the EU’s methane regulation as a vital measure to curb the venting and flaring…

Alphabet Drop Sends Wall Street Lower US markets fell sharply on Thursday after Alphabet shares slid more than 4%, dragging major indexes down and unsettling investors across asset classes. The S&P 500 dropped 1.2%, putting it on course for its sixth decline in seven sessions since reaching a record high. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was down 606 points, while the Nasdaq fell 1.5%. Alphabet weighed heavily on the market despite beating profit expectations for the latest quarter. Investors instead focused on the company’s warning that spending on equipment and infrastructure could surge to around $180 billion this year —…

Online sellers promote unlicensed weight-loss drugs through WhatsApp and Telegram giveaways.They market powerful injectable medicines as prizes. The Guardian found groups advertising retatrutide, an experimental drug without approval.Posts pressure users with 24-hour entry deadlines. Experts warn these tactics pose serious health risks.They say marketers apply aggressive sales techniques to unlicensed medicines. One group offered prizes including retatrutide, Glow pens, and melanotan II.None of these injectable products hold UK approval. UK law allows weight-loss injections only with prescriptions.Unapproved drugs cannot be legally sold or advertised. Researchers say giveaways trivialise medical risks and bypass safety controls.