Author: staff

Published on 22/10/2026 – 12:28 GMT+2 US software company Palantir has sought to reassure European allies that its military AI system used by NATO has no “kill switch”. Palantir’s executive vice president for the UK and Europe, Louis Mosley, told Reuters on Wednesday that neither the company nor the US could switch off the Maven Smart System AI platform used by NATO’s military headquarters and several European armed forces. “What we have seen in the news over the past few days around Starlink is extremely concerning,” Mosley said in an interview in Brussels. “But as concerns Palantir, I can provide…

Published on 22/10/2026 – 13:17 GMT+2 Running a marathon is undoubtedly a bucket list ambition for many people – and the rise of “race-cations” has seen active travellers plan holidays around running and endurance events. But what if you could complete a marathon without watching your pace or hitting the dreaded “wall”, and instead enjoy regular stops for cinnamon buns, festive lights and warming drinks? Sounds pretty good, right? That’s exactly what the Go Vilnius tourism development agency is proposing with its new “Europe’s slowest marathon” campaign, which encourages visitors to explore the Lithuanian capital at a leisurely pace this…

The diplomats — all of whom were granted anonymity to speak freely about ongoing talks — said the proposal would involve asking the U.K. to commit to finalizing an agreement on tuition fees within six months. The proposal was first reported by the Financial Times. The EU is pushing for European students to pay the domestic rate for tuition fees when studying at British universities, as they did before Brexit. But one of the diplomats highlighted that the tuition fee demand was still part of a wider “package” linked to the other three agreements slated for the summit, and that…

In the Kharkiv region, a separate wave of Russian attacks killed one person and injured 15 others, including three children, according to regional governor Oleh Syniehubov. In the city of Kharkiv, drones damaged houses, a shop, cars and an office building, while a strike on a lorry park set four lorries, a trailer and a car on fire. In the capital, one person was killed and 22 others injured, including four children, as ballistic missiles and drones struck six districts. Fires broke out in residential and non-residential buildings, while homes, vehicles and infrastructure were damaged. In the Dniprovskyi district, one…

There are plenty of milestones in the first two years of life. Baby’s first smile, baby’s first words, baby’s first steps… but what about baby’s first holiday? According to a new survey of 2,000 British parents who have taken their little ones abroad at least once before the age of five, 82% agreed that it was a landmark family moment, while more than half called it “one of their proudest parenting milestones”. Now, easyJet is making it a little cheaper for those looking to head away with their sprogs as the airline group is offering to pay for the cost…

A new prize for AI-written books has launched this week in France, and the timing couldn’t be worse. The Prix Pascal de Littérature IA comes after weeks of controversy over the use of AI by finalists for a number of literary prizes, including the Prix Goncourt, France’s most prestigious literary prize. Since September, the French literary world has been rocked by the Thélyson Orélien affair, triggered by allegations of extensive use of AI in the Canadian-Haitian author’s novel, “C’était ça ou mourir”. Yesterday, Orélien’s Canadian publisher confirmed that AI had indeed been used in the writer’s book and dropped the…

Despite the budget allocation, Macron does not yet appear to have found his next place of work. The Elysée told POLITICO the provision was a “precautionary measure … based on the experiences of previous presidents.” Nicolas Sarkozy and François Hollande are the only two living former presidents currently benefiting from the arrangements — even though Hollande has since returned to parliament as a lawmaker. Hollande said last month that he is receiving a monthly pension of €5,000 for his time at the Élysée, on top of pensions from previous roles and his current income. Macron, the youngest president in modern…

Australian Broadcasting Corporation reporter Will Murray was covering the floods when a vehicle stalled after entering deep water on Buchanan Road. As it began to sink, Murray handed his phone to camera operator Liz Pickering, called emergency services and waded into the floodwater. Another bystander quickly joined him. The pair first tried to open the nearest door, then climbed onto the vehicle and considered smashing the rear window. Murray eventually forced open the rear passenger-side door, allowing the driver to escape before the ute disappeared beneath the water. Footage captured the dramatic rescue, followed by an emotional moment as the…

Published on 22/10/2026 – 12:14 GMT+2•Updated 12:16 Barclays shares edged lower in London after the bank said on Thursday it would cut around 5,000 jobs, including around 1,000 already cut in the first half of the year. The announcement came alongside an earnings update that showed Barclays’ net profit grew 13% in the third quarter, helped by surging income in its equities division. Barclays said in an earnings presentation that it was implementing “organisational simplification and technology change efficiency driven by AI”. About 60% of the job cuts affect support functions, including developers, as AI makes staff more productive, according…

One of the New 7 Wonders of the World, Machu Picchu is a bucket list destination for many travellers. And if you’re planning a trip there soon, we have good news, as securing a ticket is now much easier. That’s because Peru’s Ministry of Culture has scrapped advance reservation tickets to the UNESCO World Heritage Site. Instead, travellers will now have just 15 minutes to complete their purchase on the official ticketing website, Tu Boleto, before the reservation is dismissed and returned to circulation. The new system also means that only named tickets are available for purchase, so your ID…