TEC

French President Emmanuel Macron announced that France will send soldiers and air defense systems to Saudi Arabia to help protect Yanbu's critical oil-export facilities from Houthi attacks. Macron also did not rule out an additional deployment of French Air Force fighter jets, signalling a deepening French security role in the Red Sea region amid ongoing threats to global energy infrastructure.

Russia has started rationing fuel following a large-scale Ukrainian drone strike, with reports saying Ukrainian drone technology is outpacing Russia's jet-powered drones. The strikes are said to have disrupted fuel supplies, prompting restrictions as the war of drones between the two countries escalates.

Technology industry leaders have appealed to the United Nations, arguing that governments must move quickly to regulate the artificial intelligence tools they themselves built. The appeal frames unchecked AI development as a risk to humanity and calls for international oversight akin to treaties governing other global threats. The UN Security Council has already held discussions on AI risks, and the push is intensifying debate over whether global bodies can agree on binding rules for a fast-moving technology.

Leading figures from the artificial intelligence industry are set to meet President Trump at the White House for discussions on the technology's future. The meeting comes as prominent voices in AI have issued stark warnings about potential risks posed by increasingly powerful systems. Details of the agenda and who will attend have not been confirmed, but the talks are expected to cover regulation, safety and American competitiveness in the sector.

Executives from Anthropic and OpenAI are publicly warning that advanced artificial intelligence systems could endanger humanity, while simultaneously pushing to influence how the technology is governed. Commentators are asking what the companies stand to gain from sounding the alarm, with critics suggesting safety messaging doubles as a bid for regulatory influence and market positioning in an increasingly AI-fatigued public debate.

Ireland's Data Protection Commission has fined Google €403 million for breaching the EU's General Data Protection Regulation, according to the Irish Times. The penalty from Google's lead European regulator ranks among the larger GDPR fines issued to a major technology company, and the ruling is likely to fuel ongoing debate about how EU watchdogs police the data practices of large US platforms.

The United Nations has announced a renewed commitment to protecting the world from future pandemics. The pledge, also referenced by the Council of Europe, signals continued international focus on pandemic preparedness and cooperation between states. Details on specific measures or funding commitments attached to the declaration remain limited in the available reporting.

Kazakhstan's record in nuclear diplomacy, from giving up its Soviet-era arsenal to hosting disarmament talks, is being held up as a rare useful model as negotiations over Iran's uranium stockpile stall. Observers argue Astana's experience could help overcome the mounting technical and political hurdles now blocking progress in the Iran file.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has called for the creation of a new Eurasian security architecture, appealing at the United Nations for a regional order that would reduce the role of existing Western-led alliances. The proposal signals Moscow's continued push to reshape security arrangements across the continent, and it is drawing attention given the ongoing war in Ukraine and wider tensions between Russia and NATO members.

Posts discuss a state dinner at the White House where President Trump hosted Chinese leader Xi Jinping, with technology executives reportedly among the guests. Users are sharing clips and reactions to the meeting, with commentary focused on the symbolism of the two leaders dining together and the presence of tech industry figures at the table. The discussion appears to centre on US-China relations and what the gathering signals.

The World Health Organization's Regional Office for Africa is highlighting efforts to protect women and girls from sexual abuse and exploitation during the ongoing Ebola outbreak. The agency stresses that emergency responses must include safeguards against exploitation, as women and girls in crisis-affected areas face heightened vulnerability to abuse.

A US jury has ruled that Apple must pay a record $5.7 billion in damages in a patent dispute over haptic technology, the vibration and touch-feedback systems used in its devices. The verdict is described as a record award in a patent case, and it is expected to draw scrutiny over Apple's licensing practices and potential appeals.

Speaker Mike Johnson is set to join Donald Trump for meetings with leading technology executives focused on the risks posed by artificial intelligence. The talks come as Washington weighs how to regulate fast-moving AI development while keeping the US competitive, and they signal that AI policy is moving up the agenda for lawmakers and industry leaders alike.

Ireland's Data Protection Commission has fined Google €403 million following an inquiry into how the company processes users' location data. The regulator concluded that Google's handling of location information breached EU data protection rules, with concerns centring on how users were informed and asked to consent. It is one of the largest privacy fines issued under the GDPR to date.

US House Speaker Mike Johnson says President Trump's meeting with technology chief executives will focus on finding the right balance on artificial intelligence. The discussion is expected to weigh innovation and industry growth against regulation and safety concerns. The meeting brings the Trump administration face to face with leading AI companies as Washington shapes its approach to governing the fast-moving technology.

Walmart's chief executive says the retailer will not raise prices for individual customers based on their shopping histories, addressing concerns about the electronic shelf labels it has been rolling out in stores. The pledge is meant to reassure shoppers that the digital price tags will not enable personalized or surveillance-style pricing, even as other retailers experiment with dynamic pricing.

New York City officials have identified a victim of the September 11, 2001 attacks using a first-of-its-kind genetic genealogy technique, marking a new milestone in the long-running effort to name all of the nearly 3,000 people killed at the World Trade Center. More than two decades on, forensic teams continue matching remains to families using advancing DNA methods.

The large robotic arm on the International Space Station has stopped working, and NASA says it is currently unable to move it. The Canada-arm2 manipulator is a critical tool for capturing cargo vehicles and supporting spacewalks, so any outage draws close attention. Engineers are assessing the fault, and officials stress the problem is described as temporary while troubleshooting continues.

Kazakhstan is positioning itself as a possible technical partner in Iran nuclear diplomacy, offering its experience should talks turn to handling or storing Iran's enriched uranium. The move comes as the uranium dispute intensifies and negotiations over Iran's nuclear programme remain unresolved. Kazakhstan, which hosted a low-enriched uranium bank in Astana under IAEA oversight, is seen as a neutral Central Asian player with relevant expertise.

Sudan has rejected claims that it supports Ethiopian opposition movements, saying it remains committed to good relations with its neighbour and will protect its own sovereignty. Khartoum's denial comes amid regional tensions, with officials stressing that Sudan does not interfere in Ethiopia's internal affairs and views such allegations as attempts to strain bilateral ties.

World leaders have renewed their commitment to protecting the world from future pandemics, according to a post from the World Health Organization. The announcement appears to be part of ongoing international efforts to strengthen pandemic preparedness, though the posts collected do not include details on which leaders were involved, what specific commitments were made, or the occasion for the statement. Discussion of the news is limited in the available evidence, so the broader public reaction is not yet clear from the posts collected.

A US jury has ruled that Apple must pay a record $5.7 billion in a patent dispute over haptic technology, the vibration feedback used in iPhones and other devices. The verdict, reported by Reuters and other outlets, is described as one of the largest patent damages awards against Apple, which is expected to appeal.

China has released a new innovation blueprint that puts artificial intelligence and other frontier technologies at the center of its national development strategy. The plan signals Beijing's intent to accelerate self-reliance in advanced tech and strengthen its position in global competition over AI, semiconductors and emerging industries.

Reports say China could permit its major technology companies to purchase new Nvidia chips, a shift in its stance on the US chipmaker's products. The move would matter for both Chinese AI development and Nvidia's access to a key market, though details on which chips and under what conditions remain unclear.

Anthropic has filed a prospectus revealing substantial financial losses alongside rapid revenue growth, and including an unusual risk disclosure that its artificial intelligence could in extreme scenarios threaten humanity. The filing marks a step toward a public listing, and the candid warning about catastrophic AI risk is drawing attention as one of the starkest risk statements ever included in such a document.

US Congressman Ro Khanna is preparing to introduce an AI safety bill that would ban the development of 'recursive' artificial intelligence — systems that improve themselves — until adequate safeguards exist. The proposal adds to a growing debate in Washington over how to regulate advanced AI, with lawmakers weighing innovation against risks from systems that could evolve beyond human oversight.