Industry

Protectionist measures will deal blow to country’s budget as it defends itself against Russia, says Metinvest chiefNew EU limits on steel imports could destroy Ukraine’s industry and deal a big blow to the country’s budget as it defends itself against Russia, according to the head of its biggest steelmaker.Yuriy Ryzhenkov, the chief executive of Metinvest, said the new EU quota system due on 1 July could “kill the Ukrainian steel industry”. Continue reading...

• French producers have issued a formal warning to the Culture Minister regarding a new austerity push targeting public-broadcasting funding. • The industry warns that these budget cuts pose "deep risks" to the national production sector and could significantly diminish content diversity. • This conflict highlights the tension between government fiscal tightening and the need to sustain a competitive domestic media ecosystem.

• A new outbreak of the Ebola Bundibugyo virus has emerged, affecting the Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda, and surrounding neighboring countries. • Pharmaceutical and biotech companies are collaborating with global health and humanitarian partners to coordinate a rapid medical response. • This industry involvement is critical to accelerating the containment of the virus and providing necessary treatments to affected populations.

• A European Medicines Agency (EMA) report reveals a surge in AI adoption by pharmaceutical companies across the entire drug development lifecycle. • Industry applications currently range from optimizing clinical trial site selection to the automated drafting of complex regulatory documents. • The report warns that significant "gaps remain" regarding the AI tools used for regulatory assessments, questioning if regulators are equipped to keep pace.

• A $160 million chip smuggling ring has been uncovered, highlighting critical vulnerabilities in the global semiconductor supply chain and international trade security. • OpenAI is facing significant controversy regarding a new military contract, sparking a broader debate over the ethical use of artificial intelligence in warfare. • Technological breakthroughs in optical semiconductors and AI memory features are emerging, promising to fundamentally reshape data center operations and efficiency.

Exclusive: deal in 2020 had sought to stimulate local battery making but industry says it still cannot meet targetsThe EU and UK car industries are urging the European Commission to adjust the Brexit trade deal and suspend, for a second time, tariffs on imports of electric vehicles.They have expressed concerns that they will not be able to meet the conditions set for 1 January 2027 for tariff-free sales. This is because of strict rules of origin over what products can qualify for tariff-free trade under the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement which has applied since 2021. Continue reading...

Oil tankers may be stuck behind strait of Hormuz, but holding the Iata AGM in Brazil defies warnings of impending shortagesNothing says jet fuel crisis, as one prospective attender put it, like flying everyone to Rio de Janeiro. Aviation leaders will converge in Brazil this weekend for the Iata AGM, the annual global airline summit, with the industry still, for the most part, looking resolutely skyward.The oil tankers may still be stuck behind the strait of Hormuz as the conflict between the US, Israel and Iran flickers on, but for now, airlines continue to defy dire warnings of impending shortages which had stoked fears of a summer of chaos for European holidaymakers. Continue reading...

• The first working session between independent film distributors and international film agencies was held in Cannes, hosted by Europa Distribution and Marché du Film, to improve collaboration. • The session was part of the Sorrento Industry Days, which also included an Italy-Spain comparison on distribution and the CinemaHora Forum in Moldova to support new filmmakers. • Other notable events include the Europa Distribution Network Conference in Brussels and the upcoming launch of HBO Max in six European countries on 13 January.

• In June 2026, the AI industry is shifting toward the democratization of AI agent creation, moving the process beyond specialized developers. • IBM reports that business users can now design and deploy agents due to significantly lower technical barriers. • This trend matters as it allows companies to unlock widespread, small-scale experimentation and build smarter internal workflows.

• The tech industry has seen 123,000 job losses so far this year, according to the latest report from Challenger, Gray and Christmas. • In May, artificial intelligence surpassed market and economic conditions as the primary reason companies cited for implementing layoffs. • This shift highlights a critical transition in the labor market where AI is actively replacing human roles rather than just augmenting them.

US president accused of ‘putting polluters first’ by invoking Defense Production Act to prop up coal outputDonald Trump is to use a wartime presidential authority to hand $700m to coal-fired power plants in the US, the latest move by the president to bolster what he calls “beautiful clean coal” despite it being the dirtiest of fossil fuels.Trump is using the Defense Production Act, a cold war-era statute used to accelerate American industrial output in times of national need, to provide grants to more than a dozen existing coal plants across the US, including facilities capable of exporting coal. Continue reading...

• The European Audiovisual Observatory held a panel at the Marché du Film to analyze how public funding and fiscal incentives are evolving amid declining cinema admissions and SVoD growth. • Key regional updates include Italy introducing stricter transparency rules for tax credits, Spain seeing a 33.6% drop in foreign film investment in 2024, and the UK launching a £380 million Creative Industries Sector Plan. • These shifts highlight the critical role of state aid in maintaining the competitiveness of the European audiovisual sector against global market pressures.

Silicon Valley is fighting against regulation, taxes and growth of AI and will benefit from having political leverageSilicon Valley had a big night in California’s primary election, proving that the tens of millions of dollars funding candidates across the state was money well spent. While the tech industry’s preferred candidate for governor came in a scant sixth place, donations to smaller elections proved to be a successful strategy.Tech billionaires have in past months thrown their full weight into politics as the industry fights regulations, taxation and promotes the unfettered growth of artificial intelligence. Getting the right candidates in office, especially in its home turf of California, is existential. With favorable candidates, tech companies can gain both political and regulatory leverage to maintain their dominance in business. Continue reading...

• SoftBank has announced plans to invest up to 75 billion euros in artificial intelligence infrastructure in France, marking its largest AI-focused investment in Europe to date. • During his appearance in Paris, SoftBank CEO Masayoshi Son compared the current state of AI development to the early days of the internet, suggesting significant growth potential. • This massive capital injection underscores the global race to build the physical and digital infrastructure necessary to support advanced AI scaling.

• South Korea’s Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Korean Film Council (KOFIC) have launched a public-private committee to address theatrical windows for films. • The initiative aims to establish standardized timeframes between a movie's cinema release and its availability on streaming platforms. • This move is critical as the global screen industry grapples with streaming disruption and the need to protect traditional theatrical revenue models.

• China's AI industry is facing a talent drain as top researchers are lured by high salaries offered by US giants like Meta and OpenAI. • To counter this "talent war," Beijing has implemented travel curbs and restrictive measures to prevent domestic experts from migrating to American firms. • This struggle highlights the strategic importance of AI leadership and the growing geopolitical tension over intellectual property and technical expertise.

• India's TV broadcast industry is facing severe structural pressure in FY26 as viewers and advertisers migrate toward digital platforms. • Major broadcasters, including Zee Entertainment Enterprises and Sun TV Network, report declining advertising revenues, particularly from FMCG companies. • This shift is driven by the superior targeting and measurable returns offered by performance-led digital media, impacting even high-draw sporting events.

• Between May 18 and 25, 2026, the AI industry saw major updates including Google I/O, the release of Composer 2.5, and the launch of Qwen 3.7 Max. • Microsoft expanded its AI capabilities by making computer-use agents generally available to all Power Platform tenants via Copilot Studio. • Anthropic introduced new security primitives designed for enterprise needs, while "Code with Claude" events were held in London.

• Europa Cinemas has launched the sixth edition of "Collaborate to Innovate," providing €947,000 in funding to support nine collaborative exhibition projects. • The initiative will benefit 51 member cinemas across Europe, focusing on innovative business models and operational improvements. • A key project includes Cineville Denmark, coordinated by Reprise Teatret in Holte, which aims to implement an unlimited subscription model for independent cinemas.

• Micron Technology, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing (TSMC), and Broadcom are identified as three breakout AI stocks disrupting the industry beyond the "Magnificent Seven." • These companies have achieved significant technological breakthroughs that have helped shape the current AI landscape. • Their market leadership has remained strong and consistent since 2023, signaling a broadening of AI investment opportunities.

• European cinema attendance declined by 5.5% in 2025, with the total number of cinemagoers dropping to 796 million. • Despite the fall in attendance, overall box-office revenues remained stable at €6.36 billion. • This trend highlights a shift in consumer behavior and pricing dynamics within the European film exhibition market.

• North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum delivered a speech to the oil industry praising the integration of artificial intelligence and the expansion of AI data centers to boost the state's economy. • During his remarks, Burgum controversially described the ongoing conflict involving Iran as a "gift to the world," suggesting that geopolitical instability strengthens the global position of U.S. energy production. • The speech highlights Burgum's strategy to leverage North Dakota's energy resources to attract high-tech infrastructure, positioning the state as a hub for AI-driven industrial growth.

• The European Union is preparing a targeted trade clampdown against China to protect flagging domestic industries from what officials describe as a "Chinese steamroller." • Brussels is developing a standalone package of measures that can be deployed on a case-by-case basis, rather than implementing broad "Buy European" criteria. • This strategic shift is designed to secure essential backing from Germany, which has historically resisted blanket protectionist policies that could disrupt its trade relations.

• Asia Pioneer Entertainment Holdings Limited (APE) is expanding its casino tourism services across Asia to revitalize the gaming and entertainment markets in Macau and Hong Kong. • APE has partnered with Germany-based CountR GmbH to implement "smart CountR" casino payment technology, moving beyond the supply of traditional gaming equipment. • This strategic shift aims to accelerate resort growth by integrating modern digital payment solutions to enhance the guest experience and operational efficiency.

• Non-English original content has overtaken English originals on Netflix for the first time, accounting for 52% of the platform's originals in 2025 compared to 49% in 2024. • According to Ampere Analysis, Spanish and Korean productions recorded the strongest growth, driving the shift toward a more globalized content library. • This trend highlights a strategic pivot by Netflix to prioritize international markets and diverse storytelling to sustain global subscriber growth.

Singer Skye Newman also highlights how becoming a performer is becoming inaccessible to those without moneyThe music industry risks becoming a more hostile place for working-class artists, musicians including Tinie Tempah and Skye Newman have said.Without work to save small music venues that act as cradles to nascent music scenes – as well as specific efforts to find and promote talent from diverse backgrounds – the industry is likely to miss out on the next big thing, they argued. Continue reading...

Young Americans are suing the president for violating rights with executive orders that fuel the climate crisisEva Lighthiser was at a dorm party on her Colorado college campus last month when she had to call it an early night.“I said, ‘Hey, I’ve got to go to bed, I’m flying out to Portland tomorrow,’ and then of course follow-up questions get raised,” she said. “I’m like, ‘Well, it’s a lot to explain.’” Continue reading...

Rising volume of components imported from China prompts warning of cannibalisation of European industriesEurope is facing a fresh China shock that threatens to cannibalise local factories, leading to job losses and de facto colonisation of industry by Beijing, trade analysts and representatives have said.They fear the plunging exchange rate and support for Chinese “zombie firms” has echoes of the crisis in the US 25 years ago when the term “China shock” was coined. It referred to the impact of China bursting on to the global trade stage after becoming a member of the World Trade Organization, with soaring imports displacing local industries and causing the loss of up to 2.5m jobs. Continue reading...