Author: staff

Published on 01/06/2026 – 15:28 GMT+2 The European Union is set to join Pax Silica, a Washington-led initiative to coordinate export controls and co-investment in advanced chips aimed at curbing China’s technological rise, particularly in AI. In recent weeks, Brussels has been debating whether to sign up to the initiative, which the US launched last December to secure global supply chains for AI chips, critical minerals and advanced technologies. The UK, Japan, South Korea, India and Australia have already joined, as have three EU member states — Greece, Finland and Sweden. The initiative has not been without its critics, however.…

Published on 01/06/2026 – 15:57 GMT+2 As FIFA prepares for the World Cup to kick off in North America, it is set to deploy new technologies to improve both the game and the fan experience. From AI-generated player avatars and sensor-equipped match balls to a generative AI platform for team analysis, the governing body is introducing tools designed to support referees, teams and broadcasters in reshaping how the game is experienced on and off the pitch. “We are ensuring that innovation benefits every player, every team, and every fan everywhere in the world … and of course benefits the greatest…

The operation was undertaken with the support of the United Kingdom, which recently expanded its military powers to detain Russian ships evading sanctions. Moscow’s envoy in Paris told Russian state media the Tagor’s captain is a Russian citizen. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov on Monday condemned the seizure, describing it as “illegal” and bordering on “international piracy.” Moscow will be “taking into account, so to speak, this existing negative experience,” as it tries to ensure the safety of its cargo, he added. The latest incident marks France’s fourth seizure of a Russian ship this year. European capitals have clamped down on…

Published on 01/06/2026 – 15:34 GMT+2•Updated 15:40 An international court rejected a claim by Rwanda on Monday for Britain to pay more than £100 million (€115 million) it said London still owed from a scrapped deal to deport migrants. Judges from the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) in The Hague ruled that Britain was not liable for two years of outstanding costs from the scheme that was shelved in 2024. “The UK robustly defended its position and the tribunal has now ruled in favour of the UK on all grounds,” a government spokesperson in London said. “We are now focused…

The world is getting more uptight about lending money to President Donald Trump’s government — causing interest rates to climb in ways that are worsening affordability pressures, hampering economic growth and creating a new risk for Republicans in November’s midterm elections. The rise in energy prices following the Iran war has fed into bond markets that help finance the US government. Yields on 10-year US Treasury notes have climbed above 4.44%, up from 3.95% before the conflict began in late February. Mortgage rates have risen to their highest level in nine months, while auto sales have weakened. The trend is…

LONDON — The British government on Monday began releasing a second batch of documents covering Peter Mandelson’s appointment as U.S. ambassador to Washington despite his ties to Jeffrey Epstein. Keir Starmer’s embattled administration vowed to begin releasing files related to Mandelson’s controversial — and ill-fated — appointment as envoy after U.S. disclosures showed he continued to correspond with the sex offender for years after his conviction. The second tranche of documents is intended to include extensive caches of emails, text messages, and WhatsApp logs passing between government officials, ministers, and special advisers concerning Mandelson’s time in the role — and direct correspondence with…

Published on 01/06/2026 – 14:59 GMT+2 A powerful explosion at a fireworks factory in Malta on Monday injured two, sending a massive plume of smoke and debris into the air, police said. The blast and subsequent explosions at the Ta’ Lourdes fireworks factory on the north side of the Mediterranean island shook buildings and shattered glass, according to videos posted by local newspapers the Times of Malta and Malta Today. A first blast occurred at about 6:35 am and was followed by a second powerful one, according to witnesses who spoke to the papers. Two men who suffered minor injuries…

Published on 01/06/2026 – 13:23 GMT+2 Japanese technology investment group SoftBank announced plans to develop and operate 5 GW of AI data centre capacity in France, in an investment worth €75 billion. The project forms part of a broader wave of technology-related investments coming to France. President Emmanuel Macron said on Monday that the country was expecting €93 billion in foreign investment commitments at this year’s Choose France summit, including projects in artificial intelligence, data centres, semiconductors, critical minerals, transport, steel and healthcare. It would include an initial €45 billion by 2031 from Softbank for the first phase of its…

British travellers heading home from Europe this summer could face significantly longer airport waits, with Wizz Air warning passengers to arrive up to three hours before departure as new post-Brexit border checks continue to cause disruption. The budget airline says some travellers have already missed flights due to lengthy passport control queues linked to the EU’s Entry/Exit System (EES), which requires non-EU visitors to register biometric data when entering and leaving the Schengen Area. Across Europe, airports have confirmed that there have been significant queues, which are getting worse as the busy summer season approaches. While the European Commission has…

European countries and the U.K. have carefully avoided any direct military role in the Iranian conflict, and their refusal to allow American bases on the continent to be used for combat operations caused major transatlantic strains, frustrating U.S. President Donald Trump. However, Kallas argued that the EU — which played a major role in negotiating the now-lapsed non-proliferation deal with Iran, the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) — can now step forward to help solidify the ceasefire and address the nuclear issues. “With Pakistan’s help, there is now a tenuous diplomatic push underway to extend the U.S.-Iran ceasefire and reopen…