Author: staff
The race to develop the energy source of the future is gathering pace. Who will win? The US and China? Or Europe? German start-up Focused Energy, based in Darmstadt, aims to become the global leader in the construction of commercial laser fusion power stations. The development of fusion energy is on top of the political high-tech agenda of Germany and the European Union. Fusion start-ups are being founded in great numbers around the planet, especially laser based fusion technology, which attracts huge amounts of risk capital. This spring, Focused Energy raised $240 million dollars alone – the largest figure ever…
Dozens of protesters marched through San Francisco on 17 September, calling on AI companies to “stop the AI race”. The demonstration began outside OpenAI’s headquarters in Mission Bay before moving to Anthropic’s offices at 500 Howard Street, next to the Dreamforce conference. The march ended at City Hall, where protesters urged Mayor Daniel Lurie and the Board of Supervisors to declare a local AI state of emergency. Organisers called for a pause in the development of increasingly powerful AI systems until stronger safeguards and international rules are in place. They also want a global treaty to limit the capabilities of…
Published on 18/09/2026 – 16:18 GMT+2•Updated 16:20 Emmanuel Macron has condemned what he calls Russia’s “intent” to “intimidate” and to “undermine efforts to support the Ukrainians”. In his view, “the outcome will be the opposite”. The French president was speaking after a confidential meeting at the Élysée with the main presidential candidates or their closest associates. Macron warned the “nature of Russian aggression and threats in Europe is changing”. One example cited by Macron was the discovery of a drone loaded with explosives at Leipzig airport this summer. “We are not intimidated because we know that what is at stake…
Published on 18/09/2026 – 22:26 GMT+2 President Donald Trump has said he is banning three major news organisations, CNN, MS NOW and Politico, from the White House with immediate effect, accusing them of publishing “fake news”, “fiction” and “lies”. It is not yet clear what the ban will entail. Trump also warned that restrictions could be extended to other media outlets. In a post on his Truth Social platform on Friday, the president said the three outlets “constantly write or report fiction and lies” about his administration, although he provided no specific examples. The move is the latest test of…
“The situation we face is serious. It is serious due to the international situation and the consequence of wars that we endure,” Macron said. “In this context we need to stay united.” France’s dire fiscal outlook, which has prompted the government to pursue a €54 billion budget squeeze next year, will make it difficult for the state to massively subsidize increasingly expensive energy bills. Macron told reporters, however, that the government was working on targeted assistance proposals. Macron also said he was seeking to firm up French access to oil and gas supplies during recent meetings with leaders from Saudi…
Police moved hundreds of migrants from the beaches of Ceuta to a temporary camp in the port area on Friday. During the transfer, crowds of migrants rushed towards the site, with police struggling to contain people jostling for one of the 1,700 places available at the new tented camp. The migrants had been living on the beaches for weeks following a record influx into the Spanish enclave. More than 70,000 migrants streamed into Ceuta from Morocco on July 30 and 31 in an unprecedented, chaotic surge that left scores dead and sparked European Union infighting over the sensitive topic of…
Russia has begun a three-day parliamentary election to fill all 450 seats in the State Duma, with about 111 million people eligible to vote. Polling stations opened first in Kamchatka, Chukotka, Magadan and other eastern regions, where local officials urged residents to turn out. The Kremlin is closely watching participation, with Vladimir Putin presenting high turnout as a sign of national unity and support for the war in Ukraine. The vote is taking place in a tightly controlled political environment. United Russia is expected to remain dominant, while the main registered anti-war party, Yabloko, has been excluded from the national…
German Air Force Chief Lt. Gen. Holger Neumann said at the show that he has asked the defense ministry to procure “fifth-gen-plus platforms beyond 2035,” adding: “I’m not saying the new system has to be ready [in 2035], but we have to pick up there.” One option is for Germany to boost the number of F-35s in its fleet by buying 15 additional jets. “The F-35 has a clear mission in nuclear sharing,” said Marie-Christine von Hahn, managing director of Germany’s aerospace and defense industry association BDLI. But she warned that the procurement should not distract policymakers from a larger…
Published on 18/09/2026 – 20:14 GMT+2 Russia has launched attacks on several areas of Ukraine, with two killed in Balakliia in Kharkiv and missiles launched at the capita, Kyiv. In a post on Telegram, the head of Balakliia’s military administration Vitalii Karabanov gave an update on the damage and loss of life: “Sadly, the consequences of this attack are terrible. Early reports indicate that two people have been killed in the strike. I extend my deepest condolences to the families and loved ones of those killed.” There have been further attacks on the Kyiv on Friday evening. Ukrainian media reports…
Canadians in Vancouver have reacted to Prime Minister Mark Carney’s proposal to deepen ties between Canada and the European Union. Carney said closer cooperation with Europe could help Canada reduce its dependence on the United States and strengthen its economic and political position. Speaking in Vancouver, residents welcomed the idea of stronger links with Europe, while noting that Canada’s trade with the EU remains far smaller than its trade with the US.