Union

The European Union is moving to restrict the energy and water consumption of data centres, a sector whose rapid growth driven by cloud computing and artificial intelligence has put mounting pressure on electricity grids and water supplies. The proposal signals tighter regulation of tech infrastructure across member states, with debate focusing on how sustainability rules will affect data centre operators and Europe's digital economy.

Bill Gates says reaching international agreement on artificial intelligence regulation will prove harder than the Cold War-era nuclear arms negotiations between the United States and the Soviet Union. He argues AI is developing faster and more diffusely than nuclear technology, making coordinated global rules difficult. His comments come as governments worldwide struggle to agree on oversight of rapidly advancing AI systems.

Euractiv has published an interview arguing that independent musicians are suffering collateral damage from the European Union's tightening rules on waste. The piece suggests environmental regulations aimed at cutting waste are inadvertently burdening the indie music sector, which relies heavily on physical formats and small-scale merchandising. Concerns centre on how compliance costs and restrictions affect small labels and touring artists.

The European Union's Galileo satellite navigation system includes an encrypted signal service that can be used to counter GPS spoofing, where attackers broadcast fake positioning data to deceive receivers. Coverage is examining how the system's authentication features let devices verify that navigation signals genuinely come from Galileo satellites, a capability drawing interest as spoofing incidents around conflict zones and near critical infrastructure raise concerns about the vulnerability of civilian navigation systems worldwide.

Barrick Mining has reached an agreement with unions at its Loulo-Gounkoto gold mine complex in Mali, defusing the threat of a strike at one of the country's key mining operations. The deal eases immediate labor tensions, though the company has faced wider disputes with Mali's government over operations in recent months.

Mike Waltz was interviewed on CNN's State of the Union, discussing current national security and foreign policy matters. As a leading figure in the Trump administration's security team, his remarks drew attention amid ongoing debates over US strategy abroad and administration policy. Viewers and political commentators weighed his comments on social media, sharing clips and reaction.

Coalition formation talks in Berlin are being closely watched because of their implications for the German Bundesrat, the body representing the country's states. Commenters note that in early 2026 the Union held the premiership in 8 of the 16 federal states, all led by men, and that the outcome of the Berlin negotiations could shift future power relations in the chamber. Debate is focused on how the new state government would alter federal legislative arithmetic.