Author: OMN AI

The NCAA has approved two new championship sports: stunt and acrobatics & tumbling. Both will officially start national competitions in spring 2027, creating historic opportunities for student-athletes. Stunt, a team-based sport derived from cheerleading, focuses on technical skills, strength, and coordination. Teams perform lifts, tosses, and tumbling routines while being judged on precision and execution. With NCAA recognition, stunt gains national visibility and structured competition similar to other championship sports. Acrobatics & tumbling, which combines flips, jumps, and synchronized routines, also becomes an official NCAA championship sport. The recognition allows athletes to compete at the highest collegiate level, with formal…

EU leaders close ranks amid trade threats European leaders have pledged to stand shoulder to shoulder after US President Donald Trump threatened a new wave of tariffs unless Denmark agrees to sell Greenland. The warning has rattled capitals across Europe, raising fears of a fresh trade war and a serious rupture in transatlantic relations. Leaders including European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz stressed that Europe would respond in a united and coordinated way to defend its sovereignty. Trump announced that goods from Denmark, Sweden, Norway, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Finland…

Chinese customs officials have blocked shipments of Nvidia’s H200 artificial intelligence chips, prompting parts suppliers to pause production amid growing confusion, according to reports. The move comes despite the United States government approving exports of the advanced processors to China. Sources say Chinese authorities have warned domestic technology firms against buying the chips, without clarifying whether the restriction is temporary or a formal ban. The situation is further muddied by US rules requiring the Taiwan-made chips to pass through US testing facilities, triggering a 25% tariff. Analysts remain split over whether selling the powerful H200 to China is strategically wise,…

Google has filed an appeal against a landmark antitrust ruling from a US district judge. The court found the company illegally held monopoly power over online search. Google said users select its services voluntarily, not under pressure. Lee-Anne Mulholland, vice president for regulatory affairs, responded to the August 2024 decision. She argued the ruling misrepresented why people rely on Google products. Company disputes court’s take on competition Google announced the appeal on Friday and criticised Judge Amit Mehta’s conclusions. The company said the ruling ignored rapid technological innovation. It also argued that the court underestimated competitive pressure from rivals. Google…

A controversial US-backed study on hepatitis B vaccination among newborns in Guinea-Bissau has been cancelled following widespread criticism over its ethics. The decision was confirmed by Yap Boum of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, who said the trial’s design raised serious concerns about withholding proven vaccines in a country with a high burden of hepatitis B. The $1.6m study, funded under the authority of Robert F Kennedy Jr and the US Department of Health and Human Services, had drawn strong opposition from scientists and ethicists. Critics argued it would deny thousands of infants access to a life-saving…

Washington signals readiness to escalate The United States has warned that it is prepared to consider military action if Iranian authorities continue using lethal force against protesters, US officials told an emergency session of the UN Security Council on Thursday. Speaking before the council, US Ambassador Mike Waltz said President Donald Trump remains open to all options in response to the ongoing violence linked to nationwide demonstrations in Iran. Waltz stressed that Trump would not hesitate to act, describing him as “a man of action” and warning Iran’s leadership that continued bloodshed could trigger a strong response. While the threat…

India’s aviation regulator launched an investigation after an Air India aircraft ingested a cargo container while taxiing at Delhi airport. No passengers or crew members were hurt. The right engine suffered significant damage, and Air India grounded the aircraft for inspection and repairs. Flight returned after sudden airspace restriction The Airbus A350 was en route to New York when it returned to Delhi shortly after take-off. Iran temporarily closed its airspace, forcing airlines to reroute flights. The aircraft landed safely on Thursday morning. After landing, it exited the runway and taxied toward the parking bay with passengers onboard. Dense fog…

European forces touch down as Washington presses its case Troops and reconnaissance teams from several European countries have begun arriving in Greenland’s capital, Nuuk, in what allies describe as a short-term mission to bolster surveillance and training in the Arctic amid rising geopolitical tensions. France, Germany, Norway, Sweden and other partners have dispatched small contingents to work with Danish and local authorities on security tasks in the coming days. (Al Jazeera) White House says deployments won’t change U.S. agenda; Denmark pushes back A White House spokesperson said the arrival of European personnel “does not impact” President Trump’s interest in Greenland…

West Ham United are willing to sell Lucas Paquetá this month only if the deal includes a loan-back agreement keeping the midfielder until the end of the season, a condition currently resisted by Flamengo. The Brazilian club have seen an opening €35m bid rejected and are prepared to increase their offer to around €40m, but they are reluctant to loan Paquetá back, believing they could secure him more cheaply in the summer. West Ham are locked in a relegation battle and fear losing Paquetá now could severely damage their survival hopes. The Brazil international has become disillusioned in England after…

2026 opens amid global uncertaintyThe year 2026 began with intense political and economic pressure. President Donald Trump threatened decisive action against Iran. The warning followed US forces capturing Venezuela’s leader. His administration launched a criminal investigation into the Federal Reserve chair. Officials also targeted major profit sources at banks and institutional investors. These actions rattled markets worldwide. Stocks remain steady despite turmoilInvestors expected a sharp equity selloff. That decline never occurred. Traders largely ignored the political chaos. US stock indexes reached record highs early in the week. Prices later dipped only slightly. Despite growing geopolitical and economic risks, equities remained…